Chapter 714 They Are Very Pitiful
The children lived all year round in this impoverished village. Naturally, they had never had any snacks before.
Their eyes lit up with delight at her offer.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Clarissa smiled and thought that the children were quite cute despite feeling a little awkward that they had been tagging around her since she woke up.
To her, making rice cakes was the least she could do for them.
She was like any mother with a natural affection for children and would not be wary of them.
The kitchen was dark and gloomy.
Fortunately, there was a big window on the left. The kitchen became bright with the sunlight streaming in once the window was open.
Since there was no electricity in the countryside, it was impossible to expect that there would be a gas stove.
Clarissa turned around and looked at the little heads bobbing behind her before asking, "Who can start a fire?"
Everyone enthusiastically raised their hands and shouted, "I will!"
"I can! I can!"
"I can do it too."
Clarissa glanced around and selected the oldest one among them. She pointed at him and said, "Alright, you come up here and do it."
The child who was selected for the task was overjoyed.
Enthusiastically, he walked to the back of the hearth. The other children followed behind, staring with eager eyes.
Clarissa was concerned that they would be rowdy with enthusiasm, so she pointed to a few short stools nearby.
"Don't stand there watching. Sit over there and wait. Snacks will be ready soon."
The children nodded happily, walked over to the stools, and sat down quietly.
Fortunately, Clarissa was used to taking care of children. Otherwise, she would be overwhelmed by such a large group of children.
The facilities here were limited, so she could not cook any fancy food.
Rice cakes were simple snacks that she learned to make when she was bored at home. It was Penny, her maid who taught her. The rice cakes she made during her first try came out not bad, so she planned to make the same thing again now.
First, the rice from the jar next to her needed to be washed and steamed. Then, she put it into a bowl, pressed it into flat round pieces and fried them in a saucepan.
It was a very simple snack, but the fragrant aroma of the rice being fried managed to make the children drool.
They were fidgeting with impatience as they kept staring at the saucepan with their eyes opened with anticipation.
Clarissa was amused by the children's antics, and at the same time, it also made her feel disheartened.
The fact was that these children were very pitiful.
Although she would not know how their daily lives were like, it would be hard to be very happy in a village that lacked all sorts of facilities and basic amenities.
Clarissa quickly finished preparing the rice cakes.
The rice cakes looked and smelled deliciously. No doubt they would taste delicious too.
She cut them into smaller pieces and then asked the children with a smile, "Who wants some? Raise your hand if you do."
Immediately, the children shouted and raised their hands.
Some were so excited that they jumped from the stools.
Cheerfully, Clarissa passed the rice cakes over to them as she reminded, "Be careful. It's still hot."
The children's eyes twinkled with happiness as they dug into the rice cakes. The waiting was worth it.
As their happiness hit the brim, the children became more affectionate towards Clarissa.
While the children were eating, Clarissa ate a piece as well before dividing the rest amongst them. Only then she walked out of the kitchen.
The time now was eleven o'clock in the morning.
She stood at the door, thinking what to do next. When she looked behind, she was puzzled to see the children still following her. So she told them,
"Guys, I don't have any more rice cakes. Don't follow me, or I won't make any more for you next time."
The children shook their heads and replied, "We are not here for rice cakes."
Clarissa was a little amused and asked. "Why are you following me then?"
The older child, who helped to start the fire, answered, "Aunt Anne asked us to keep an eye on you. She is worried that you may lose your way if you wander around alone."
His answer surprised Clarissa.
She found it strange and felt uneasy.
Thinking that perhaps Aunt Anne was just being kind, she smiled and replied, "I see. Don't worry. I won't get lost."
Then, she thought of something and asked, "How about this? You can follow me, but you have to take me around the village. Is that all right?"
The rice cakes had softened the children, and they felt that this missy was kind and gentle.
After all, Aunt Anne only asked them to keep an eye on her, but did not say that Clarissa was not allowed to walk about.
All the children happily agreed.
The children and Clarissa went on to explore the village.
The village was not small, but almost as big as a town anywhere else.
There was plenty of space in the countryside, so the houses were far apart. The paths crisscrossed all over. There was hardly anybody walking around, and it was quiet most of the time.
With the children as her guide, Clarissa soon visited the entire village.
About three o'clock in the afternoon, they returned to Aunt Anne's home.
By then, Aunt Anne had come back from the mountains.
Unable to find Clarissa in the house, Aunt Anne went to enquire the neighbor and was relieved to hear that Clarissa had gone around the village with the children.
As Clarissa approached the house, Aunt Anne greeted her with a smile, "Back from your stroll in the village? How was it? Our village isn't that small, is it?"
Clarissa smiled and nodded. "It's pretty big."
Concerned that Aunt Anne might be tired, Clarissa asked her, "Did you just come back from the mountain? Are you tired? Do you need me to pour you a bowl of water?"
Aunt Anne waved her hand and laughed, "Not at all. I can get the water myself."
Then, she poured a bowl of water, sat on the stone ledge at the door. While she drank, she looked at Clarissa, and said, "The men that I sent to Uncle Jasper's house in the morning to find out about the young woman, will be back in a moment. My husband will come back with them. Then, you will know whether she is your friend."
Her words made Clarissa wonder.
When she came, there was only Aunt Anne at home. She thought that she did not have a husband.
Although she was curious, she did not ask. She only just met Aunt Anne, and the relationships and customs in this village might be different. So, she refrained from asking.
It was only now that she knew that Aunt Anne had a husband.
Pleasantly surprised, Clarissa smiled and replied. "Thank you."
Aunt Anne waved her hand again, finished the water in the bowl, and stood up.
"It's my pleasure. Anyway, you can stay here with me during this time. If that girl is really your friend, she will come to look for you."
Clarissa did not reply, and followed her into the room.
Dusk came early during this time of the year.
Thus, dinner was served early in the village since eating in the dark would be inconvenient.
Around four o'clock in the afternoon, everyone would start to prepare dinner.
Probably because her husband would be back today, Aunt Anne prepared an exceptionally lavish dinner.
She even went to the pool nearby and caught two fishes.
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