"Chapter 41"

"Shen An promised to share some treats with Shen Jin, finally sending the little trio on their way. He and his sister-in-law then washed their hands and headed to the Chen family for dinner."

"Dinner was still a feast, with some leftovers from the midday's braised pork with pickled mustard greens. The flavorful greens, soaked in the meat's aroma, were more than half a bowl left, and the vegetable dishes were stir-fried in pork fat, providing a rich blend of veggies and meat."

"After a hearty meal, Sang Luo thanked everyone who helped that day, and then everyone headed back to their own homes."

"Sang Luo, along with Shen An and Shen Ning, hurried to fetch spring water to wash the leaves of the miraculous tree before it got dark. Back home, while sorting things out, she pulled out a handful of sour dates from under the wild vegetables in the basket and handed them to the siblings."

"Shen An and Shen Ning's eyes lit up instantly."

"'Big sister, you picked sour dates? Are they ripe already this year?'"

"It was evident they were longing for this treat."

"'They are ripe now. Try them if you don’t mind the sourness,' she said with a smile, handing a bunch to Shen Ning and then grabbing another handful for Shen An: 'Go wash them before eating.'"

"The siblings thanked her and ran outside joyfully."

"Village children, with little to eat throughout the year, always looked forward to the seasonal wild fruits in the mountains. Sour dates, growing on several hills to the west of the village, were highly anticipated despite their tartness."

"This year, busy with household chores, Sang Luo had completely forgotten about these sour dates."

"When Sang Luo came out carrying a bucket and a basket of leaves, she saw the siblings grinning at each other, their necks retracted, their small bodies and faces, along with the hands holding the sour dates, all shivering and trembling with delight."

"Despite this, they seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, peeling another date after finishing one."

"Seeing Sang Luo emerge, Shen Ning peeled a date and fed it to her. Sang Luo had just eaten, but sour dates had a kind of magic; just thinking about them made her mouth water. She took one from Shen Ning's hand, and then her face also scrunched up in reaction, amusing the siblings greatly."

"Shen Ning offered another, but Sang Luo shook her head, 'No more, two is enough. They're too sour. You eat them yourself.'"

"Shen An and Shen Ning continued to eat them happily until they finished all the sour dates in their hands, then contentedly started helping with the work."

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