Yang Mengchen said with a laugh, "Hearing Hei Kid talk about it makes me crave it so much that I could drool."

The peanut and red date cake symbolizes good fortune right from the start, and most families only make it during the New Year because glutinous rice and red dates are quite expensive ingredients. Farmers simply can't afford to make it often, and even during the festive season, they can't bear to use too much of these materials.

The most important thing is that making it is time-consuming and laborious, requiring a deft touch.

Out of all, Grandma Zhang makes the tastiest peanut and red date cake—fine, soft, and chewy, with a sweet fragrance that's unforgettable.

Besides New Year's, the only other time she would make it, and with ample ingredients, was whenever the original owner visited Wu Family Village.

Hei Kid and the others were also quite eager for a taste.

"Let's hurry back, then we can have some of Grandma Zhang's peanut and red date cake," Seeing everyone's longing looks, Yang Mengchen said with a smile, "Second Brother, please put their baskets on the carriage."

"No need, Sister Mengchen, we'll make our way back. We don't want to dirty your carriage," Stone hurriedly refused, and the others shook their heads as well.

"The carriage can be cleaned if it gets dirty, and besides, the road is long, the sun is hot and the baskets are heavy. If you suffer from heat stroke, your families will worry," Yang Mengchen persuaded. "I'd still like to have a good chat with you all."

After looking at each other, the children nodded in agreement, helping Yang Chengning and Mo Mei place their baskets on the back of the carriage, and after patting off the dust and grass bits, they lined up to get into the carriage.

Yang Chengning then cracked his whip and steered the carriage toward the village.

After introducing Long Yingtong and the children to each other, Yang Mengchen took out a box of pastries and distributed them.

Smelling the enticing aroma emanating from the pastries, everyone swallowed hard and then hesitantly but politely refused with a shy gesture.

"These were made by us, at home, so go ahead and eat up," Yang Mengchen insisted, putting the pastries into their hands.

The children chorused, "Thank you, Sister Mengchen." Even though they were really eager to eat, no one gobbled down the food but ate in small careful bites instead.

Yang Mengchen nodded inwardly, appreciating that the children were well-mannered and polite without being pretentious, a testament to their families' good upbringing.

"Stone, is that grassland part of the village?"

After swallowing the pastry in his mouth, Stone responded, "Mm-hm, those hills over there belong to the village too."

"Why not clear the grass and till the land for crops?" she asked.

"Grandpa said that people from the village had thought about clearing the grass to plant crops, but the next day, they found new shoots where the grass had been removed. It was impossible to clear it all, so they had to give up the plan. The good thing is, those grasses are lush all year round, so villagers cut them to feed the pigs, chickens, and ducks."

Yang Mengchen pondered upon hearing this.

"Grandpa Zhong, Sister Mengchen and Brother Chengning are here. Come out quickly," called out Stone.

When they arrived outside Wu Grandfather's House, the carriage had just stopped when Stone, unable to wait, lifted the curtain and jumped down, running towards the gate while calling out loudly.

Yang Mengchen shook her head with a smile, Stone was still as impatient as ever. After helping Long Yingtong down from the carriage, the rest of the children slowly made their way out.

The Wu family members, hearing the noise, hurried out and happily greeted upon seeing the three of them, "You're here! Come inside and have a seat."

"Sister Mengchen, we'll go home first and come find you later," the children said in unison to Yang Mengchen. They then paid their respects to the Wu family members before shouldering their baskets and hurrying home.

After instructing Bai He and Wu Tong to distribute the pastries among the children, Yang Mengchen, holding Madam Wu Chen's arm with her right hand and holding Long Yingtong's hand with her left, entered the main house.

Holding Yang Mengchen's hand, Madam Wu Chen spoke with a mix of chiding and concern, "In such hot weather, why did you come over? Aren't you overheated? If there's anything, just send someone to tell us, and that would be fine."

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