Bai Shi also came over, glanced at the houttuynia cordata on the ground, and put it into the basket without noticing that the quantity was wrong.
Tang Youyou breathed a sigh of relief. It's good to be careless.
When the mother and son returned home, it was already dark, and the eldest son had already prepared dinner.
Seeing the two of them return, he breathed a sigh of relief and complained a little: "Second Brother, Mother is still injured, why didn't you hold her back? Climbing the mountain is so tiring."
"Don't blame him, I insisted on going."
After Tang Youyou took out all the houttuynia cordata, she instructed: "Huer, go and wash them all clean."
She herself went into the room, looking at the dazzling array of goods on the panel, feeling extremely happy.
Without hesitation, she clicked on salt. There happened to be a large porcelain bowl in the room, and half a catty of salt cost exactly five copper coins. She also bought a steamed bun, spending all six copper coins.
Looking at the other goods, she sighed. She could not afford to be too extravagant right now; the house was dilapidated, and she wouldn't be able to keep an eye on too many things.
It was also very inconvenient that she was still living with her three sons.
In the kitchen, the four boys were whispering to each other.
"I say, Second Brother, why didn't you stop her? How is this stuff supposed to be eaten?"
"Eldest Brother, I already said, Mother wouldn't listen. This bit was even found inside a thorn bush, and it took quite some effort."
"Even pigs won't eat this stuff, and there are plenty of them in the small stream. Has Mother lost her mind?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Mother hurt her head; she'll be fine after a while. Let's just wash it clean first. If it's inedible, she won't pick it anymore in the future."
"Mother has really changed..."
"Ahem! What are you talking about? It's not right to talk about people behind their backs!" Tang Youyou's voice came over.
The children stood up straight like they had done something wrong.
She looked at the four of them by the dim oil lamp with some emotion. In modern times, these children would still be primary or junior high school students, the darlings of their families.
Yet in this ancient era, they had to bear the responsibility of supporting the family.
"I remember we have already separated from the old family residence, and your grandfather said that day he would divorce me. Are you willing to follow me, or go back to the old residence?"
The four children answered in unison: "We'll follow Mother!"
Go back for what? Wouldn't it still be the same—not enough to eat, not enough to wear, still getting scolded, and it wouldn't be impossible to be sold off one day. Following Mother at least meant no scolding.
Tang Youyou was somewhat comforted. After pondering for a moment, she said, "In that case, let's change your names today. Your eldest sister will be called Ruoxue, First Child, you will be called Bai Ruoyi, Second Child, you will be called Bai Ruoer, Third Child, you will be called Bai Ruoshan, and Fourth Child, you will be called Bai Ruosi."
She didn't want to think of animals every time she called her children's names.
One, two, three, four—the homophones were also easy to remember. She was simply too talented.
Surprise flashed in the eyes of the four children.
"Mother, the names you chose sound so nice!"
"Mother, when did you become so learned?" The third child looked puzzled.
Knowing that this fellow was cautious, Tang Youyou showed a bitter smile. "What? Do you really think I was turned into a spirit? You still have a large mole on your bottom. And you, First Child, you have a large mole on your chest. You, Second Child, that year you got into a fight with your second uncle's child and left a scar on your knee..."
The third child's eyes filled with tears, and he hugged her tightly. "Mother, stop talking. Your son was wrong, I'll never doubt you again!"
Tang Youyou stroked his hair. "Silly child, Mother died once and hates the people at the old residence to the bone. Some things suddenly became clear to me. All those years were wasted in the past just because your father left and we lost our pillar of support."
"Now, your eldest brother is married and has become the pillar of the family. Mother will definitely live a good life, and our family's days will surely get better."
The four boys wiped away their tears, their eyes filled with determination. It was wonderful—Mother seemed like a different person now, and this family finally seemed to have hope.
Tang Youyou's eyes also turned somewhat red. "What are you all standing around for? Dish out the food!"
As for her, she put the houttuynia cordata into a basin, sprinkled salt on it, and began to rub it. With no other seasonings, this was all she could do.
She placed the rubbed houttuynia cordata on a plate and looked at the others.
"Let's go, time to eat!"
A moment later, she took the steamed bun from the room and handed it to the eldest son, then picked up some houttuynia cordata and placed it on top of the porridge: "Take this to your wife..."
She looked at the thick mush in the bowl and frowned. Was this the buckwheat mush from the original owner's memory?
She picked up the bowl, took a sip, and almost spat it out.
"Ahem..."
Bai Ruoer, the second child, asked timidly, "What's wrong, Mother?"
Tang Youyou waved her hand. "It's nothing!"
She forced herself to hold the bowl, closed her eyes, and took a bite along with the houttuynia cordata. How should she describe the taste? It was slightly bitter, and it seemed chaff had been added inside, making it rather scratchy on the throat.
She wanted to roar: Disgusting, too disgusting, this meal is simply indescribable.
"Slurp, slurp..." The three children drank with great relish.
"Eldest Brother's porridge is cooked so thick, it's so good!"
"This wild vegetable isn't bad-tasting either, it goes really well with the meal!"
Bai Ruoshan, the third child, thought of something and asked, "Mother, there are a lot of these weeds by the small stream. Why don't we go pick some more tomorrow?"
"That's great! When the time comes, we can sell them and buy shoes for every one of you."
All three children shook their heads like rattle-drums. "No, Mother, Eldest Sister-in-law made us straw sandals, we just can't bear to wear them. We should save the money to buy grain."
Tang Youyou choked up a little, put down her bowl, and said, "These are not things you should worry about. I'm done eating, you guys go to sleep early after you finish."
She got up and went into her room, leaving the three boys looking stunned.
"Second Brother, did I say something wrong? Mother seems unhappy."
Bai Ruoer shook his head. "Mother is a bit tired, hurry up and eat!"
He picked up Tang Youyou's bowl and poured the remaining porridge entirely into the bowls of the third and fourth children.
"Second Brother, it's enough, it's enough..."
Lying on the bed, Tang Youyou tossed and turned, the straw beneath her creaking. She looked at the stars on the roof.
"The primary task right now is to fill our stomachs, then teach the old residence a lesson, get the children registered under my own name, and take them all away."
[Ding, ding, ding! System error, Newbie Gift Pack is being distributed...]
Tang Youyou sat up with a start.
She couldn't help muttering internally: Even this can have an error? Are they trying to make the time-traveler's life too short?
[Ding! To compensate for the error, the Gift Pack has been recalled. The Host may spin the Lucky Wheel three times!]
She cursed outright: "Damn it, no way, tell me what was in the Gift Pack first?"
A screen appeared before her. Gift Pack: A box of instant noodles, a roll of toilet paper, two packs of sanitary napkins.
She muttered again: "So stingy! Is this considered a gift pack?"
She looked at the Lucky Wheel, her eyes widening as she swallowed hard: Ox-Strength Pill, Fertility Pill, Dragon-Phoenix Pill, Exotic Fragrance Pill, Mustard Seed Bag, Slimming Pill, Lightness Skill Manual, Recipe, Rare Herbs of the World...
Without hesitation, she chose: "Spin, spin, spin!"
[Please shout start and end!]
She pressed her palms together, bowed in several directions, and chanted silently in her mind: Recipe, Lightness Skill Manual, Mustard Seed Bag.
That's right, those were the three things she wanted most.
"Start... End!"
[Ding! Congratulations on obtaining one Fertility Pill!]
Tang Youyou cursed her mother in her heart: Was this intentional? Giving a widow a Fertility Pill, did they expect her to cheat on her husband?