The next morning, on their way to Changliu Mountain, the Guoer sisters met a little sister from the same village, Chunhua from Lao Ma's family. Ma Chunhua cursed and walked back with frowning eyes. Sheng Guoer stepped forward with concern and asked, "Chunhua, what's wrong with you?"
When Ma Chunhua saw that it was Sheng Guoer, she said aggrievedly: "Guoer, you don't know. I went to pick pine cones this morning. Who would have thought that it rained inexplicably in the mountains. I searched for a long time and only found this small basket." Pine cones, what should I do? The third aunt of the Hong family likes to eat nuts so much, I wanted to sell some to her in exchange for money to buy medicine for dad."
Sheng Guoer was also surprised when she heard this. Ma Chunhua was an expert at picking up pine cones in the village. If she said that, could she still find suitable pine cones on this mountain?
But Sheng Guoer still wanted to give it a try, so she said, "It's okay, I'll go take a look, just in case there is one."
"Forget it, I can't find it, can you still find it?" Ma Chunhua said, "Guo'er, your family is more difficult than mine. If you really need it, I will give you half of this basket. It's not enough anyway. I'm buying medicine for dad. If I share some with you, at least you can exchange for some copper coins."
Sheng Guoer was very touched. She held Ma Chunhua's hand and said, "Chunhua, thank you. It's okay. I'll look for it again. You should keep it."
After the two broke up, Sheng Guoer led his sister up the mountain.
The path in the mountains was winding, and from time to time a few little squirrels jumped out, their furry little heads looking like big question marks, staring at the delicate Sheng Guoer and Sheng Xiaotao.
Sheng Guoer squatted down and teased the little squirrel. At this moment, a pine cone fell and hit Sheng Guoer on the head.
Guo'er frowned and rubbed his head, picked up the fish scale-shaped pine cone, looked up and saw that it was a pine forest. It was late summer and early autumn, and the pine cones should have been ripe for a long time. Cheng Guoer suddenly felt keenly that there should be many pine cones under this pine tree field.
Sure enough, piles of pine cones were hidden under the pine leaves. The sisters happily collected all the pine cones on the ground. Pine nuts are good for strengthening the body and mind, prolonging life and moisturizing the skin.
Thinking of pine nuts, Sheng Guoer couldn't help but salivate. Appetite is a person's first desire. With this thought in mind, and after making up his mind, Sheng Guoer was full of energy, and he and his sister picked up the pine nuts on the ground one by one. At this moment, Guo'er also vaguely felt that since her rebirth, her luck was much better than in modern times, and her intuition was stronger than before.
After returning home, the two sisters poured out all the pine cones from their baskets. Sheng Guoer asked Xiao Tao to find a torn mat, spread it out and spread the pine cones on the mat.
"Sister, what are you doing?" Xiao Tao asked doubtfully.
Sheng Guoer smiled and said: "Of course they are roasted pine cones. Once they are dry, you can get the pine nuts. Then my sister will fry the pine nuts for you to eat, and maybe there will be pine nut cakes!" When she heard about pine nut cakes, Xiao Tao's eyes widened. It lit up like a little star.
The golden sunlight shines on the pine cones that look like small towers. Sheng Guoer burns the dry firewood vigorously, then waits until it becomes charcoal and then throws the pine cones in.
After Sheng Guoer thought for a few minutes, he used a branch to pull out all the pine cones.
At this time, after Shen and Sheng Shi came back from weeding the fields, they looked at the pine cones on the ground in surprise and asked, "Why did you pick up so many pine cones?"
Sheng Guoer smiled and said: "Mom, you are lucky today. When the pine cones are ready, we can take out the pine nuts and go to the countryside to exchange for some money."
Mrs. Shen touched Cheng Guoer's head lovingly.
Then Sheng Guo'er asked Cheng Shi to fetch a basin of water. After the pine cones cooled down a little, the three siblings put the pine cones into the water. Then Guo'er found some hard branches and tilted them gently. The pine cone opened and all the pine nuts inside fell out.
"Sister, you are so smart. We used to dry pine cones and no one dared to burn them." Xiao Tao's eyes were full of admiration for Cheng Guoer.
Mrs. Shen also felt that her daughter was much smarter than before. Sheng Guoer smiled slightly and said, "She knows how to speak nicely."
Mrs. Shen also joined in the process of collecting pine nuts. The family talked and laughed until the sun was shining, and unknowingly took out more than four kilograms of pine nuts.
Sheng Guoer thought for a while and said, "Mom, Uncle Ma is in urgent need of money for medical treatment. Chunhua didn't pick up many pine cones today. I want to give her a pound."
Mrs. Shen nodded and said: "Neighbors need to help each other, and Lao Ma's family has also helped us a lot. Go!"
Sheng Guoer nodded happily, packed up a pound of pine nuts and went to Lao Ma's house.
"What! You actually picked it!" Ma Chunhua looked at the pound of pine nuts in surprise and shouted, "Guoer, you are so awesome!"
Sheng Guoer said modestly: "It's just good luck. I'll give you this pound. After frying it, go to Hong's house to exchange money for Uncle Ma to buy medicine."
Ma Chunhua looked at Sheng Guoer gratefully, suddenly thought of something, and said with a smile: "Guoer, wait a minute!" Then Chunhua turned around and flew back to the house like a little sparrow, and soon brought a full bowl. milk.
"My old cow has given birth to a calf and has a lot of milk. You can take a bowl back."
Sheng Guoer waved her hands quickly: "No, no!" Ma Chunhua said: "You have solved my urgent need. This bowl of milk is nothing, just take it."
Seeing that she couldn't refuse, Sheng Guoer had no choice but to accept. Sheng Guoer said, "One day you follow me up the mountain. I guess there will be pine cones there."
Ma Chunhua nodded, and the innocent smiles of the two girls were as warm as the warm sunshine in winter.
Back home, Sheng Shi went to chop wood, while Shen and Xiao Tao were tending to the pigweed.
Seeing the milk, Shen asked in surprise: "Guo'er, where did you get the milk?"
Sheng Guoer smiled and said, "Mom, Chunhua gave it to me." Then she put the milk in the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Sheng Guoer held her chin with both hands, looking at the bowl of milk and wondering what to do with it. Then she glanced at the millet and pine nuts, rolled her eyes, and suddenly thought of a good idea, and a smile appeared on her face.
