Little Miss Fortune: I Will Bring Prosperity to My Tang Family!-Chapter 20: Creamy Seafood Tom Yum

Chapter 19

Creamy Seafood Tom Yum

The mother and daughter duo carried coconuts back to their little cottage, with Hui Ning carrying four and Xiaolin dragging two more that had already sprouted along the beach.

"What have you two brought back?" Zhang Ruo asked her daughter and granddaughter, amused by the sight of the little one dragging something along the beach.

"Coconuts, grandmother. Xiaolin will use them to make dinner tonight."

Hearing the promise of a new dish, the gluttonous uncle hurried over to his little niece, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"Can you catch some fish from the waterfall for me, uncle?"

"Of course! I’ll catch a bunch for you right away." The young man dashed off as if on wings.

"Don’t forget to invite Grandmother Liu and Uncle Hao too!!" Xiaolin called out to the swiftly departing figure.

"I can’t with you, Xiaochen..." Hui Ning shook her head and chuckled lightly at her brother-in-law’s enthusiasm.

"Then, let’s head back home. We and Uncle Rong will catch up with us later in the evening," Zhang Ruo suggested, knowing dinner would take a while to prepare.

"Alright, grandmother."

"Do we still have any small squids left at home, mother?" Xiaolin inquired.

"We do. Perfect for adding to the tom yum." Xiaolin nodded eagerly.

Hui Ning then asked her husband to catch some prawns, while she took some shellfish with her. Eager to try the new dish, he readily complied, and soon they had large prawns ready for cooking.

Once everything was prepared, the duo made their way back to the village with their coconuts.

Xiaolin instructed her mother to finely chop the coconut flesh since they didn’t have a grater, but it was still somewhat coarse. So, they decided to grind the chopped coconut flesh, mix it with warm water, strain it through a cloth, and squeeze out the coconut milk.

"What’s next?"

"Grind the chili, mother. We’ll need lemongrass, galangal, and also lime juice." Making tom yum with whatever they had would still be delicious.

The pale chubby little girl stood there supervising her mother. They prepared the chili, galangal, lemongrass, and lime juice, ready to season.

“Once the water is boiled, add the herbs and chili, followed by the meat, then season it with fish sauce and lime juice, please mother. Only fish sauce should be used for the tom yum as soy sauce wouldn’t complement it well.”

Hearing this Hui Ning had to open the fermented fish jar and prepare it as Xiaolin instructed. She did not use this ingredient to cook often as the smell and taste of it sort of repulsed her. However, since her daughter said so, she did not want to object.

"And the coconut milk?"

"We’ll wait until the meat is cooked, then let it boil again and it’s ready to take off the stove," Xiaolin instructed, then stepped out of the kitchen to avoid getting in her mother’s way.

The enticing aroma of the food carried by the wind made those hauling a bucket full of large fish hurry back home, leaving the grandmother and granddaughter looking on with wide-eyed anticipation.

"Is it ready?!" Tianchen burst in, yelling so loudly that Xiaolin jumped and clutched her chest in surprise.

"Oh! Uncle! You scared me," the little one exclaimed, making a face. Tianchen laughed heartily, bringing the bucket inside.

Xiaolin noticed the bulge in his shirt at his belly and looked on curiously until Tianchen pulled out a dozen limes from his shirt and placed them on the table.

"Seeing Xiaolin enjoy cooking with these, I gathered some for her."

"You’re the best, uncle!" Xiaolin hugged him around the waist, causing Tianchen to laugh loudly before pushing her away because his clothes were wet and smelled fishy.

"Go take a bath. I’ll handle the rest," Hui Ning said as she brought the seafood tom yum pot to the table.

Tianchen inhaled the delicious aroma and peered into the pot to see the creamy orange soup with bits of shrimp and squid. He swallowed hard in anticipation.

"Do you want the fish soup too, uncle, or would you prefer it grilled?" Xiaolin asked. With creamy seafood tom yum for today, they could make tom yum fish tomorrow.

"Steaming it is fine, Xiaolin, so we don’t have to constantly watch over it."

"Alright, then I’ll ask mom to make a spicy dipping sauce too. Oh, and hurry up and take a bath, uncle. I want to pick some bok choy to go with the steamed fish. It’s really delicious," hearing this, the young man hurried into the bathroom and disappeared from the scene swiftly.

Xiaolin, eyes twinkling, shouted instructions to her mother to prepare steamed fish with the spicy dipping sauce.

Whether the creamy tom yum, concocted by the plump Xiaolin, would turn out delicious remains to be seen. She merely assumed it would work and decided to give it a try. If it turned out inedible, she would surely shed tears.

After pouting for a moment, Xiaolin turned towards the front door upon hearing a call. Stepping out, she found the elderly grandmother and grandchild from the Liu family waiting outside the fence.

"Great-grandma, uncle, you’re here," the plump figure hurried over, grabbing the old woman’s hand to lead her inside.

"Since you invite me for dinner, what have you caught to bring back this time, child?"

"Hehe, I just found some magical fruits that make dishes delicious. You can even make desserts that you won’t be able to put down," the little one explained animatedly, making Elder Liu laugh with delight.

"Oh, I’m already looking forward to it," Liu Hao chimed in, watching the round, white little figure with amusement.

"Mom is still cooking," Xiaolin informed them.

"Grandma, A’Hao, you’re here already? Just a moment, please. The food isn’t ready yet," Hui Ning said as she emerged to greet them, holding a bucket of fish ready to be cleaned at the back of the house.

"Would you like me to help clean the fish?" The young man offered, taking the bucket and heading to the back, leaving Hui Ning looking bemused but she didn’t object, simply turning back to continue her kitchen duties.

"Xiaolin, your uncle is back!" Tianchen ran into the house in a new set of clothes.

"In that case, great-grandma, please wait here. I will go pick vegetables at your house."

"Of course," the elder said affectionately, stroking the young girl’s head.

The uncle and niece, cheerful and lively, walked into the village with a basket in hand. Xiaolin hummed a tune she remembered from her previous world all the way, and Tianchen looked down at his niece, who sang in an unfamiliar melody and language, yet he found it strangely pleasant to listen to.

Evening was when villagers return from work in the city or the woods, so newcomers walking through the village inevitably attract attention.

Some remembered Tianchen living with his brother far from the village and weren’t too surprised.

But most interest was in the healthy, rosy-cheeked little girl walking beside Tianchen. The two paid no mind to the stares and quickly went about their task, eager to return home due to hunger.

"I’m so hungry," Xiaolin whined, her chubby belly evident as she had expended much energy walking, singing, and jumping along the way, leading to her stomach’s complaints.

"Then hop on, little boss," Tianchen, quite hungry, squatted down, and Xiaolin jumped onto her uncle’s back like a white gecko.

"Let’s go!" The young man ran back with great speed.

This made Xiaolin laugh all the way home. She fondly remembered piggyback rides from her father and brother, though they never ran like this.

She missed those days dearly.

"Again! AHH!"

The cool wind against her plump cheeks was the best feeling, drawing the attention of those waiting for dinner at home to the energetic niece and uncle duo, but especially  chubby Xiaolin.

AH! I feel like I’ve been carrying a piglet," Tianchen joked, barely stopping himself at the door, with Liu Hao helping to ease Xiaolin down.

"Hehe. It was so fun, uncle!" Xiaolin beamed, her cheeks rosy with excitement.

Hui Ning, carrying a plate of steamed fish, shook her head at the contrasting scene: the happy, glowing face of her niece against the exhausted uncle sitting on the ground.

"Careful, or I might end up with a broken back."

"Mom, I’m a lovely little piggy," Xiaolin hugged her mother around the waist,

This elicited laughter from Liu Hao and Elder Liu, even Tianchen, exhausted on the floor, joined in the laughter.

"What’s so funny? Oh, Aunt Liu is here too?" Hui Song entered with his wife and son-in-law.

Laughing at Xiaolin.” She’s really adorable, this child," Elder Liu said fondly. Xiaolin, feeling loved, ran to hug the elder affectionately.

"Now that we’re all here, let’s eat. Look at the delicious dishes A’Ning has prepared today," Elder Liu gestured for everyone to sit down, with Hui Ning and Tianchen helping to serve rice.

"It looks terrifying, but it smells so good," Tianrong leaned over to inspect the large bowl of soup at the center of the table.

"It’s called Tom Yum. I asked mom to add seafood, hence the name Seafood Tom Yum. But you can use other types of meat as well, like fish or pork. But, if it’s pork, it’s best with tender bone pieces for the most delicious flavor,"

Xiaolin explained to everyone, who listened intently, making her puff up with pride.

Though it seemed her belly puffed out more than her chest did...

"Oh! I want to try it now. Tom Yum with tender pork bone, huh? Next time we catch a wild pig, let’s try making it, A’Ning," Hui Song imagined the dish and salivated at the thought, recalling the delicious grilled pork and stir-fried liver with wild onions made by his daughter and granddaughter.

"Sure thing, father."

The young men listened eagerly, swallowing their saliva at the thought.

"Alright, let’s eat then. Please, Auntie," Hui Song invited the elder to start, which led everyone to dig in without much concern for manners!

"It’s delicious! Hot! Ah, spicy," Tianchen exclaimed while eating, despite the heat, unable to stop.

"That’s my shrimp, A’Hao! I claimed it first," a fierce battle ensued between Tianrong and Liu Hao over the shrimp, armed with chopsticks.

"I claimed it before you, Brother Rong, no cheating."

Cough, cough, “Oh goodness, it’s burning my throat," Hui Song gasped for air after getting a taste of the spicy soup.

Xiaolin watched the chaos unfold with an empty mind.

Was she running a daycare here or what..

The little girl sighed, nudging her mother to serve her some tom yum into a small bowl, fearing she’d miss out. Hui Ning complied, deliberately scooping up shrimp and squid that the men were fighting over into her daughter’s bowl.

"It’s spicy, child."

"I can eat it, Mom. I tried it; it’s not too spicy for me."

By the time Tianrong and Liu Hao looked back, the shrimp and squid were nearly all gone from their bowl, both giving each other puzzled looks, unaware of the little girl quietly enjoying her seafood despite the spiciness.

Why didn’t it taste this spicy when I first tried it?

"You men are really embarrassing, acting as if they’ve been starved for years," Elder Zhang shook her head disapprovingly. Elder Liu, hearing this, chuckled softly before adding,

"What you said isn’t wrong, Zhang Ruo. It’s not like our food situation has always been as good as it is now."

"That’s true," Elder Zhang considered Elder Liu’s words and realized they held truth. She looked at her young granddaughter, chewing contently, and thought,

Our better living conditions is all thanks to little Xiaolin, isn’t it?..

After dinner, Tianchen laughed so hard he had to hold his stomach from the cramps, especially upon seeing his little niece. His laughter continued for a ke.

Xiaolin looked at her young uncle with irritation. She pouted and furrowed her brows, which only made Tianchen laugh harder until he had to lie down on the bamboo cot.

Thump!

"That’s too much, A’Chen! Stop it, it’s annoying," Tianrong scolded his younger brother with a slap on the head, causing the young man to finally stop laughing. He sat holding his lips tightly, trying not to burst into laughter again as his nose flared.

"I don’t love you anymore, uncle! Hmph!" Xiaolin’s pout became more pronounced, and she crossed her arms and turned her face away. Seeing this, Tianchen quickly got up and scooped the little girl onto his lap.

"I was just saying Xiaolin looks cute."

"You laughed at me!" The little girl’s round face and slightly swollen lips turned back to glare at her uncle discontentedly.

Tianchen, catching that look, couldn’t help but laugh again before hugging the little figure and gently rocking her.

"There, there, I was just playing. Next time, you shouldn’t eat spicy things, okay?"

Hearing this only irritated Xiaolin even more. She remembered the spicy Thai food that she couldn’t stop eating, forgetting that her current body was only five years old. The result was her little mouth, now swollen as if stung by a bee, making it hard to speak clearly.

"Next time, I will make it less spicy for you, okay?" Hui Ning looked affectionately at her daughter. Xiaolin opened her arms wide for a hug, and Hui Ning scooped her into a warm embrace.

"I’m giving you my thumb now."

"Your thumb, huh?" Tianchen looked puzzled, with Tianrong standing by, arms crossed, watching.

"Giving a thumb means I am mad at you and won’t share any delicious food with you anymore."

Tianchen became anxious as if he was on hot coals. He hurried after his sister-in-law who was carrying the little girl to the back for a bath. The sounds of a young boy’s pleading and a little girl’s refusals echoed to the front of the house, leaving Tianrong to shake his head.

"This house is truly lively."

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