Back to the 1970s: Building My Fortune Through Time Trading-Chapter 399: Canned Seafood

Chen Guanghai’s dim eyes lit up immediately: "Sis, if you have any good ideas, hurry and tell me."

Su Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and then spoke: "Brother Chen, have you ever thought about making seafood cans?"

"Seafood cans?"

Chen Guanghai was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head: "We don’t have that kind of skill. If it’s not tasty, it would be a waste, and the stuff comes with soup, making it inconvenient to transport."

"That’s easy to solve. On the way here, I saw there’s a tinsmith in the area. If the cans are made, we could have them custom make tin cans. Using tin cans for storage can keep them fresh and easy to transport."

Chen Guanghai was still a bit hesitant: "But the flavor... what if it’s not good and doesn’t sell?"

Anyway, with his wife’s skills, whatever seafood she makes has a fishy taste, and most of the village women are like that too.

"You don’t need to worry about that. I know how to cook, and I’m quite good at it. If you have fresh seafood, I can make some for you to try in a bit." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

After all, she was once a modern food blogger, confident in her cooking skills. Many friends who had tasted her dishes urged her to open a shop.

Chen Guanghai got excited again and slapped the table: "There’s still some ribbonfish in the cellar. I’ll get them for you."

Wang Xiujuan slapped him on the back of his head: "Even if you’re in a hurry, let Comrade Xiao Su have a bite to eat first. What are you rushing for?"

"Yes, yes, let’s eat first. Eating is important."

Chen Guanghai showed a foolish smile, busy thinking about making money and forgetting they hadn’t eaten yet, finally realizing his stomach was also hungry now that he had time to relax.

After a busy afternoon without eating, and just had a fight with someone from the neighboring village, he used up a lot of energy, of course he was hungry.

The family sat back down to eat, and only then did Wang Xiujuan notice that the small package of braised beef that Su Xiaoxiao brought was almost finished by the three little rascals and Chen Lingling.

At this point, the four of them were fighting over the last piece of braised beef, their chopsticks almost leaving afterimages in the air.

Wang Xiujuan felt embarrassed: "Comrade Su, I’m really sorry. I’ll buy you half a pound of beef tomorrow."

Su Xiaoxiao had been so focused on discussing the future with Chen Guanghai that she only just realized her cherished braised beef was down to just a piece of greased paper.

Even Old Third Chen was licking that piece of oily paper.

Chen Guanghai’s vision went dark, then darker still. These shameless throwers of face, right when there were guests here.

He tried to save his dwindling face: "Sis, these kids just have a craving for food. Actually, the family isn’t that poor, we can afford meat twice a month."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Old Third Chen exposed him: "Dad, why are you lying with your eyes open? We only eat meat twice a year, once on the Mid-Autumn Festival and once for the New Year. The rest of the time it’s all leftovers and scraps of fish..."

Before he could finish, Oldest Chen pounced and clamped his mouth shut, not seeing his father’s face getting thunderous and their mother about to grab the broom?

This brat’s looking for a mixed double beatdown, isn’t he?

Chen Guanghai felt at that moment like he had lost all his dignity and pride.

Back in those days, most families were like that, only eating meat a few times a year, showing off the few times they did so, to the whole village.

They could be poor, but no outsiders could know they were truly poor. If asked, it was all about face.

"Brother Chen, don’t worry. Once your seafood canning business gets going, your family will surely get wealthier. Maybe you’ll even be able to eat meat every day by then."

"Sis, are you serious?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Old Third Chen stood up right away, nearly rushing to hug Su Xiaoxiao’s leg if it weren’t for Oldest Chen holding him back.

This kid was a foodie too; you could almost see sparks flying from his eyes at the mention of food.

Su Xiaoxiao nodded: "Really, sister never lies."

Chen Guanghai nodded along: "Your Sister Su is from the big city, whatever she says is guaranteed."

The three half-grown kids immediately jumped for joy. If in the future, they could eat meat once a month, they would die of happiness.

Chen Guanghai looked at the three kids and sighed; the oldest was thirteen, the youngest eight or nine, and they were all as skinny as chicks, their ribs clearly visible when they went shirtless in the summer.

Ah, it was his fault as their father for being useless.

He hoped Comrade Su’s canned seafood suggestion could really bring wealth to their village.

After dinner, Chen Guanghai couldn’t wait to get some ribbonfish from the cellar.

Su Xiaoxiao took a look, and they were actually quite nice, all four or five fingers wide.

Getting straight to it, she rolled up her sleeves and got to work.

Wang Xiujuan volunteered to help clean the ribbonfish, while Chen Lingling took on the task of lighting the fire.

With someone to lend a hand, Su Xiaoxiao was happy to relax, needing only to do the cooking herself.

Su Xiaoxiao planned to make a spicy ribbonfish dish, good with rice and tasty.

The method was simple: first, fry the ribbonfish, take them out and remove part of the oil, then add peppercorns, ginger, green onions, and garlic to the remaining oil, fry until fragrant, then return the ribbonfish, followed by chili, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar for seasoning. Without cooking wine, she asked for some white spirits to add, and finally, a ladle of water, then wait for it to finish cooking.

Watching Su Xiaoxiao use so much oil to fry the fish, Wang Xiujuan felt her heart twitch with pain, but remembering the cause was for the whole village, she endured it.

A while later, seeing Su Xiaoxiao adding chilies and sugar, a strong worry arose in her heart.

Would something spicy, salty, and sweet like that taste good?

She wondered, but a delightful aroma soon wafted from the pot.

Smelling the seemingly good scent, she started to relax a little.

If it didn’t taste good after all those good ingredients, she didn’t know how she’d endure it.

Ever since the aroma wafted out, the Chen brothers had been squatting by the stove, watching eagerly, drooling almost to the ground.

As time ticked by, Su Xiaoxiao lifted the lid to check the sauce inside, waiting until it had thickened before she began serving it up.

A plateful of vibrant red, thickly sauced ribbonfish came out, and the whole family gathered around, saliva involuntarily flowing upon smelling the aroma in the air.

The aroma was too mouthwatering.

They’d cooked ribbonfish at home before, but it was always too fishy and bony, which the kids didn’t like much.

Yet now, looking at the steaming hot plate of ribbonfish, the kids couldn’t tear their eyes away.

Su Xiaoxiao amusedly watched the three little guys gulp down saliva and spoke: "Alright, everyone try it and give feedback. If there are any suggestions for improvement, we can make adjustments."

Once Old Third Chen heard they could eat, he excitedly yelped and rushed forward.

But Wang Xiujuan grabbed him by the collar: "What are you rushing for? Let Comrade Su eat first, think of your manners."

Then she turned and smiled at Su Xiaoxiao: "Comrade Su, you first."

Su Xiaoxiao was about to refuse, but suddenly there was a knock on the door from outside.