Zhu Yanyi helped Qi Qiao’er bring the food out and served everyone before sitting down. She took a bite of rice, then a bite of the stir-fried pine pollen. The rich pine fragrance filled her mouth, bringing her a sense of full happiness.
"It’s so delicious! I love Grandma’s stir-fried pine pollen," she said happily. She turned to Ouyang Manqing and added, "We have pine pollen cakes and sticky rice balls here too, but I still like the stir-fried kind best. The cakes and balls aren’t as tasty as this."
Ouyang Manqing took a bite of the stir-fried pine pollen. Surprise flashed in her eyes. "No wonder Ani likes it. It really is fragrant."
"Right? It’s truly delicious," Zhu Yanyi beamed. "It’s a pity that collecting pine pollen every year is hard. Otherwise, I’d want to eat it every day."
Qi Qiao’er laughed. "Most of our stir-fried pine pollen is saved for you." Nowadays, everyone had jobs, so fewer people went to the river to gather pine pollen. Only Qi Qiao’er and Xie Zhong went when they had free time, and Xie Shengyu could only go on her days off. Therefore, the amount of pine pollen collected had decreased each of the last two years. The family didn’t eat much of it anymore, but because Zhu Yanyi liked it, they saved it all to cook for her when she visited.
Zhu Yanyi giggled, looking particularly sweet and innocent. "I knew Grandpa and Grandma love me the most."
"Ani-jie, you’re stealing Grandpa and Grandma from me again," Zhu Zhibin said, looking up from his bowl. A grain of rice stuck to his cheek. "Grandpa and Grandma like me now."
"That’s right, that’s right," Qi Qiao’er kissed Zhu Yanyi’s cheek. "Grandma likes Doumiao the most now. She doesn’t like you, Ani-jie."
Zhu Zhibin raised his eyebrows proudly. "Grandma, that’s not right. You can’t love the new and forget the old. Although I admit I’m much cuter than Ani-jie, she’s actually quite nice too. You should like her, but of course, you must like me more."
As soon as Zhu Zhibin finished speaking, everyone at the table burst into laughter. Xie Shengyu nearly choked on his food, and Qi Qiao’er laughed even harder, hugging Zhu Zhibin tightly. "Oh, my sweet baby is so cute."
The family sat together, enjoying the happy meal. After eating, Qi Qiao’er went to boil the medicine. Zhu Yanyi went over, reminded Qi Qiao’er of a few precautions for boiling the herbs, and then left it to her. She walked into the room where Xie Yijun and the others were staying.
Zhu Yanyi took out a porcelain bottle and handed it to Ouyang Manqing. "Manqing Amu, this is an ointment for external use. When Grandma brings the medicine later, you just drink it. After you take a bath, apply this ointment. You only need to apply it after bathing every day. You can put it on your face or body. This bottle will last for three days. After three days, I will adjust the ingredients based on how your bumps heal. There are six packs of Chinese medicine. One pack per day, and each pack can be boiled twice. After six days, the internal toxin will be cleared. Then, you only need to apply the ointment. I’m going back now, but I’ll come over early tomorrow morning."
"Okay, Ani. Thank you for your trouble," Xie Yijun and Ouyang Manqing said in unison.
Zhu Yanyi waved her hand slightly. "It’s nothing. If I didn’t know how, I wouldn’t help. But luckily, I do know how." She smiled, waved goodbye again, and left.
After Zhu Yanyi went out, she spoke to Xie Zhong. Xie Zhong originally wanted Xie Shengyu to see her home, but knowing she had bodyguards with her, she said nothing. She only urged her to head back before it got completely dark.