Traveling through the mountains and farming

Chapter 39: Small Controversy

Lin Wan, who was busy at home, had no idea.

After she left the village, the new clothes of the two siblings caused a sensation among the children.

Everyone gathered around and stared at the new clothes the two siblings were wearing, their eyes full of envy and curiosity.

Zhang Sanya exclaimed: "Wow, Xiaoke, your skirt is so beautiful, and it's yellow, it's even prettier than cousin Cui'er's skirt last time!"

After hearing this, Li Ke cooperated by turning around, showing off her new skirt, and said with a bright smile on her face:

"This is made of cloth dyed by my sister-in-law herself. I also helped dye this yellow cloth!"

Li Ke only felt excited when she wore new clothes for the first time. In the past, she could only envy others for having new clothes. Today, she could finally show off her new dress.

Li Chongle, who was standing next to him, quickly reached out to cover Li Ke's mouth, but when he raised his hand, it was too late. Li Ke had already finished speaking.

At this time, Li Cui came over with a jealous look on her face, curled her lips, and said with disdain:

"Humph, it's just a yellow skirt, what's the big deal?"

She was just about to go home, but she heard Zhang Sanya praising Li Ke's skirt as being prettier than hers.

Thinking back, in the past, that girl Li Ke wore all the old clothes she didn't want anymore, but now she wears clothes more beautifully than her, and at this moment, Li Ke looks like the daughter of a wealthy family.

How could she tolerate this? She started to make sarcastic remarks.

If Lin Wan were here, she would probably think that this was due to Li Ke's good looks, the new clothes, and Li Cui's limited knowledge and experience in the village, which is why he received such a high evaluation.

The more Li Cui thought about it, the more upset she felt. She glared at Li Ke fiercely and said sourly:

"How could your sister-in-law have such amazing dyeing skills? And she even said that you helped with the dyeing, you must be lying." She didn't believe that Li Ke could dye cloth.

Li Ke smiled and explained: "It was really my sister-in-law who dyed it. She is really amazing. Not only can she dye cloth, but she can also dye it in many beautiful colors."

Li Chongle was standing aside with a look of regret on his face, blaming himself for not taking action faster. He was sulking.

When she heard others deny her sister-in-law, she quickly stood up and said, "Li Cui, don't talk nonsense, my sister-in-law really can dye cloth."

Li Cui disagreed and sneered, "Humph, I don't believe it."

Li Ke got a little angry when she heard Li Cui keep denying her sister-in-law, and said angrily:

"It was made by my eldest sister-in-law. I asked my third aunt to help sew the clothes. If you don't believe me, ask Brother Chong'an and Sister Tao."

Li Tao and Li Chong'an beside them also spoke up for the two siblings: "Yes, this colorful linen was made by Lin Wan's sister-in-law, we all know that."

Li Cui still looked unconvinced. "Humph, I don't believe it. There is no colored linen in the whole village. You must be liars."

Uncle Li, who happened to be going to work in the fields, passed by and heard their conversation. He walked over and said with a smile:

"Xiao Cui, this is really dyed by your sister-in-law, and the clothes were indeed sewn by your third aunt."

Li Cui frowned, but still said stubbornly: "It's impossible. I have never seen self-dyed cloth in the village. It must not be real."

Li Tao, who was standing by, said, "My grandfather said so, so it must be true. Why don't you believe it?"

Seeing the children continue to argue, Uncle Li said slowly again:

"Kids, stop making noise. There are many new and strange things in this world that you have never seen. Just because you haven't seen them doesn't mean they don't exist. Just because you haven't seen something in the village before doesn't mean it won't happen in the future." After saying this, Grandpa Li left.

Indeed, soon Uncle Li's family was able to dye linen in several colors and sell it to cloth merchants at a good price.

Li Cui was still a little unwilling, and it was not easy to argue anymore. She just curled her lips and said, "Humph, even if it's true, what's the big deal."

Li Ke muttered to himself, "But my sister-in-law is amazing."

She can do everything. She can weave fish baskets, cook delicious food, and dye cloth. It's true!

At this time Li Chongle realized that he was too impulsive, so he pulled Li Ke away and went to play with Li Chongan and the others.

He was worried that telling others that his sister-in-law could dye cloth would cause her trouble.

Afterwards, he continued playing with his friends for a while with his worries on his mind, and went home with Li Ke in a depressed mood.

When they got home, they saw Lin Wan teaching Aunt Li and others how to dye cloth in the backyard, but they didn't disturb her.

The two of them quietly returned to the house, changed out of their new clothes, put on their old clothes, and went out together with baskets on their backs to pick litchi fruits.

When they came back with two baskets of ficus carica, they happened to see Aunt Li and her group leaving the house. They deliberately avoided them and only went home after Aunt Li and her group left.

As soon as he entered the yard and saw Lin Wan sitting in the pavilion to rest, Li Ke smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, we are back from picking litchi fruit."

Li Chongle helped Li Ke put down the backpack, then put down his own backpack, and then walked to Lin Wan, with a little trepidation on his face, and said:

"Sister-in-law, I'm sorry. I just accidentally told others that you can dye cloth. I wonder if it will cause you any trouble?"

Li Ke, who was standing next to him, suddenly realized that she had made a mistake when she heard what the young man said. She was careless for a moment and accidentally told others about her sister-in-law dyeing the cloth.

She quickly said, "It wasn't my brother who said that. I was careless and said it out loud. I'm sorry, sister-in-law."

Lin Wan was stunned at first, then smiled and comforted:

"It doesn't matter. My great-uncle's family has also learned it, and they will be the ones running this business in the future. They won't cause me any trouble, so don't worry too much."

When Li Chongle heard what his sister-in-law said, he immediately felt relieved and the expression on his face relaxed.

But he still confirmed with Lin Wan again: "Sister-in-law, you really don't blame us?"

Lin Wan nodded and said with a smile: “Well, it’s not a big deal, don’t worry.”

Then she stood up and took the two siblings to deal with the litchi fruit.

The three of them quickly prepared what they needed according to their previous division of labor, then sat down in their respective seats and began to process the ficus carica fruit.

What’s different from before is that now they have tables, chairs and benches, which is much more convenient.

Lin Wan sat there quietly cutting the pomelo fruit, and suddenly asked, "Xiao Le, are there any prickly pears in our back hill?"

Li Chongle thought for a moment and replied, "Sister-in-law, I seem to remember seeing it."

Lin Wan smiled and said, "Then let's go up the mountain to pick sea buckthorn later."

After she finished speaking, she moved her hands faster.

Li Ke asked curiously, "Sister-in-law, what can we do with sea buckthorn? It has a lot of thorns and is sour, but no one picks it."

"I plan to make sea buckthorn jam, which will become a new drink after brewing it with hot water." Lin Wan explained with a smile.

Li Chongle and Li Ke's eyes lit up immediately, and Li Chongle said excitedly: "Then let's go to the back mountain to pick them."

Lin Wan smiled and said, "Then let's hurry up and try to finish processing these Ficus microcarpa fruits as soon as possible."

So the three of them continued to concentrate on processing the ficus carica fruits, and each of them moved faster and faster.