80s Transmigration: The Young Widow's Hustle to Riches-Chapter 202 - 198: A Culinary Delight
Li Xiangyang took the items out of his satchel: liquor, meat, ham, dried noodles, and two bags of White Rabbit candy and two bags of brown sugar.
Lin Lan looked at the things he was taking out and felt it was all too much. She looked at Li Xiangyang, exasperated. "Why did you buy so much again? It’s not your first time visiting. Why are you being so formal?"
Li Xiangyang said in a low voice, "My dad said since it’s his first visit with your mom here, he couldn’t neglect his etiquette." ’He was thrilled that his old man was being so polite; it proved he valued Lin Lan and her family.’
Lin Lan rolled her eyes at him. "You could have stopped him."
Li Xiangyang glanced at Old Li in the main hall and said with a smile, "It’s fine. Just make some more delicious food for him in the future. My dad loves good food more than anything."
Lin Lan smiled and nodded. "Okay!" With that, she carried the items toward the east wing.
"Xiangyang, you and Uncle Li are here!" Xu Dong’s voice rang out.
Li Xiangyang turned his head, saw Xu Dong and his group, and smiled. "We just arrived!"
Lin Lan came out after putting the things away. Seeing that Yao Xiuyun and Yang Dingbang had also arrived, she looked at Yang Xiaoman and said with a laugh, "We’re all family here, so I won’t greet everyone individually. Please, make yourselves at home!"
"Exactly, everyone just relax!" Yao Xiuyun said with a smile, walking toward the group of children huddled together reading picture books.
"Sister Lin, no need to be so formal. It’s better to be casual!" Yang Xiaoman said, her face all smiles.
"That’s right, you two are busy, don’t worry about us!" the old woman said, walking toward Old Li as he came out of the main hall. "I’m moving over soon. When are you moving? Then we’ll have company!"
Old Li laughed. "Xiangyang says the renovations will take a few more days. I’ll move over as soon as it’s done."
The two elders went inside and sat down. The old woman looked at Old Li with a wide smile. "So you’ve come around!"
"Mmm," Old Li nodded. "I’ve come around. We live our whole lives for our children. Lin Lan is a good person, and Xiangyang is set on her. What’s the use of me being stubborn and disagreeing?"
The old woman smiled. "Don’t you worry. Lin Lan’s character is impeccable. Little Douzi is a smart and sensible boy. I hope you’ll look after him in the future."
Old Li said solemnly, "Third Aunt, you know what kind of person I am. If I didn’t agree, that would be one thing. But since I’ve agreed, I won’t treat the child like an outsider."
"Thank you!" the old woman said with a laugh.
’She had known the Li father and son for many years. She understood them and believed that, given their character, once they gave their word, they would never do anything to make things difficult for Little Douzi.’
Leaning on a crutch, Yang Dingbang was helped into the main hall by Xu Dong. He grinned at Old Li. "Uncle Li, I haven’t seen you in two months, and you’re looking younger and younger!"
Old Li looked at him, smiling so wide his eyes crinkled shut. "You silver-tongued devil!" He then pointed to Yang Dingbang’s injured leg. "How did you get yourself hurt again? The mission is important, but so is your health. You still have a grandmother and a son to think about!"
Yang Dingbang nodded. "I know. It’s just a small injury, nothing serious."
In the courtyard, Yang Xiaoman was sizing up Lin Lan’s home. The vegetable patch was full of all kinds of vegetables, some unknown green plants grew at the base of the courtyard wall, and a flock of plump chickens was penned inside a wattle fence. There were also two large geese, craning their necks and squawking, "HONK HONK!"
"Xiuyun, life in the countryside here in Lexing isn’t that different from the city. Look, the houses are much more spacious than in the city."
’In the city, houses didn’t even have a proper place to cook. All the coal-briquette stoves were kept on the balconies, which was time-consuming and made the food taste bad. Whenever it was time to cook, the entire building would reek of food and oily smoke!’
Yao Xiuyun smiled and shook her head. "Only the houses are more spacious. Nothing else can compare to the city!"
’As far as she knew, commune members worked hard all year round but ended up with very little money and not much grain. Take Lin Lan’s family, for example. If she didn’t have the skill of making pastries, the mother and son would have to rely solely on work points, and they probably wouldn’t even be able to fill their stomachs!’
’Not to mention all the different ration coupons. An ordinary commune member’s family had no way of getting things like industrial coupons.’
After hearing this, Yang Xiaoman thought for a moment. "You’re right. Besides the spacious houses, there’s really no comparison."
Lin Lan, Li Xiangyang, and the others brought the dishes from the kitchen and set them on the large round table. They called Yang Xiaoman and Yao Xiuyun, who were by the vegetable patch, and the children to come and eat.
The adults sat at the large round table in the main hall, while the children had their own table in the east wing.
Lin Lan said to the older Xiaoyun, "You’re the big sister, so help your auntie look after your little brothers and sisters, okay?"
Xiaoyun said with a smile, "I know, Auntie!"
Yang Liying came in carrying warmed-up sodas and fried fava beans. She smiled. "Lin Lan, we’ll just eat with the children!"
Lin Yuezhen, who followed her in, nodded in agreement.
Lin Lan gave them a mock-reproachful look. "The round table is so big. Why are you two adults squeezing in with the children?"
"Yuezhen and I will keep an eye on them, in case any of the kids get a fish bone stuck in their throat!" Yang Liying said, pushing her out the door. "Go on, entertain your guests!"
Lin Lan could only nod. "Alright. I’ll go check on them."
Steamed soft-shell turtle, braised swamp eel with garlic cloves, fish with pork intestines, fish with soft tofu pudding, sautéed pork liver with pickled peppers and green onions, chicken stewed with dried mushrooms...
"Oh! Just look at all this food. You’d only get a spread like this at a restaurant," the old woman said, taking Wu Shufen’s hand affectionately. "My dear in-law, you must have been busy all afternoon. We just showed up and got to eat this wonderful meal!"
Wu Shufen laughed. "With Yuezhen and Liying helping, it wasn’t busy at all!"
Old Li looked at the dishes on the table and praised, "Your culinary skills are truly superb, my dear in-law!"
"You’re too kind, Master Li!" Wu Shufen laughed. "The pork intestines you make are the ones that taste truly amazing!"
Old Li chuckled. "Pork intestines are the only thing I’m really good at, but I can’t eat too much of them these days!"
The old woman watched the two of them, chuckling. "You two in-laws are both excellent cooks. And since we’ll be neighbors soon, we won’t have to worry about a lack of good food!"
Yao Xiuyun also nodded with a smile. "That’s right. The pastries are delicious, and the dishes are delicious. We’re really in for a treat!"
Li Xiangyang opened a bottle of liquor, filled everyone’s glasses, and then looked at Yang Dingbang with a smile. "You’ve got an injured leg, so you should stick to soda."
Yang Dingbang nodded and looked at Old Li, Zhao Dehai, and the others. "Uncle Li, Third Brother-in-law, once I’m recovered, I’ll drink with you all!"
The two of them smiled readily. "Alright, we’ll drink together when you’re better!"
Everyone drank and savored the delicious food on the table. The steamed soft-shell turtle was fresh and succulent, the braised swamp eel was tender and savory, the fish with soft tofu pudding was numbing, spicy, and fragrant, with a smooth and delicate texture, and the fish with pork intestines had a unique flavor...
When they got tired of the rich fish and meat, a bite of the soft, smooth, and refreshing cold-dressed spinach or the pickled radish—sour and crisp with a hint of sweetness—would instantly revive their appetites.
At the children’s table, the kids weren’t fond of the soft-shell turtle or the eel. They preferred the braised pork ribs with potatoes, the pork intestines, and the chive and egg pancakes.
The meal concluded with everyone in high spirits, both hosts and guests. Old Li and the old woman couldn’t stop praising Wu Shufen’s cooking.
Yao Xiuyun even said that once they were living closer, she wanted to learn how to cook from Wu Shufen.
After dinner, Lin Lan brewed some tea. The group drank tea and chatted for a while, arranged a time to help Yang Dingbang move the next day, and then said their goodbyes and headed home.
