Chapter 8 Treating Guests to Dinner

Liu Zhixia quickly made up an excuse: "Oh, something fell under the bed just now, and I was picking it up while I was crawling over. You probably didn't see it. What do you need me for?"

Liu Xuejun scratched his head, half believing and half doubting: "Mom saw you take the bracelet back to your room and haven't made a sound for a long time. She was afraid you might be thinking of doing something rash, so she sent me over to check on you." As he spoke, he saw Liu Zhixia's red and swollen eyes and immediately assumed that she was still heartbroken over that scumbag.

Liu Zhixia smiled at him: "I'm fine, it's just that my bracelet broke, and I'm heartbroken."

Liu Xuejun breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help cursing, "That bastard, I'll settle the score with him sooner or later!"

Liu Zhixia's eyes turned cold: "Don't do anything rash. His father is the brigade leader. If you really anger him, our family will have no good days. But this matter can't be left like this. You just focus on your studies and leave the family matters to me."

Liu Xuejun nodded reluctantly: "Okay, I understand, sis."

Liu Zhixia turned and went into the kitchen, while Zhang Xiuying cast a worried glance at her. She smiled and said to her mother, "Mom, I'll cook today."

Zhang Xiuying quickly waved her hand: "You've suffered so much today, go and rest in the yard. I can do this little bit of work."

“Mother, this meal is to entertain our benefactor, so it’s more sincere for me to cook. Besides, I just broke off the engagement, and I’m afraid I’ll overthink things if I’m idle. It’s better to find something to do.”

She knew her family wouldn't believe she had given up on Lu Huaiyuan so easily, and this explanation made it easier for them to accept.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiuying indeed stopped stopping her and quickly gave up the stove.

"Okay, just call me if you need my help."

"No need, Mother, you go and do other things. I can handle things here by myself."

Seeing her daughter's smile, Zhang Xiuying felt a little relieved.

"I'll tidy up the house first, so it won't look messy when the guests come. Call me if you need anything."

"Okay."

As soon as Zhang Xiuying left, she quickly added some spring water to the water tank at home.

She was used to doing chores from a young age; when her family was working in the fields, she was basically in charge of cooking. So this was a piece of cake for her, and with her experience from her previous life, her skills only got better.

To entertain the guests, her mother even brought out the cured pork she had been saving. She sliced ​​the cured pork and stir-fried it in a large bowl. She also used the leftover oil from stir-frying the cured pork to stir-fry a plate of greens, which were infused with the aroma of meat, making one's mouth water just by smelling them.

She stir-fried two vegetable dishes, made scrambled eggs with some eggs, and used the remaining egg to make an egg drop soup. This meal wasn't considered top-notch for entertaining guests in the village, but for their family, it was the best they could afford. Worried that the guests wouldn't have enough to eat, she added sweet potatoes and potatoes to the rice, making it more flavorful and filling.

Just as the last dish was finished cooking, Liu Xiangyang returned alone.

He said to his parents in the courtyard, "My wife stayed at her parents' house. She said she'll come back tomorrow after she finishes the chores at home."

Liu Shouren nodded: "Okay, you must be tired too. Go take a shower, don't wait until the guests arrive before you're still showering."

"Okay!"

Zhang Xiuying called into the house, "Fourth brother, the brigade should be done with work by now. Go to the supply and marketing cooperative and get some wine!"

Liu Xuejun responded, took the money and the soy sauce bottle, and went out the door.

Not long after, Liu Xuejun led Lu Kai and the others into the courtyard, chatting and laughing.

As soon as the three entered, they greeted the two elders and placed the things they were carrying on the table.

When Zhang Xiuying saw the bags and packages they were carrying—malted milk powder, White Rabbit milk candy, brown sugar, and apples—her face immediately fell: "I invited you to dinner, why did you bring these things? Take them back right now!"

Lu Kai chuckled: "Aunt Zhang, how can you come to visit empty-handed?"

Shen Yi added, "Looks like we're in for a treat today. These things aren't worth much; they were all issued by the army. We grown men don't like sweets, so we brought them for you."

Xu Zhigang quickly chimed in, "That's right, Auntie! It's worth it for us to exchange this little bit of food for a hot meal! We've been eating dry steamed buns for days on the road, and our mouths are practically tasteless. This trip to you has saved our lives!"

Shen Yi cleared his throat, glared at Xu Zhigang, and complained that he spoke too rudely.

Xu Zhigang didn't care and just chuckled at him.

Zhang Xiuying wanted to decline, but Liu Shouren quickly smoothed things over, urging them to sit down: "Comrades, you've worked hard, please sit down. It's just some coarse tea, don't mind it. Old woman, since it's the children's kind gesture, let's accept it. It's not right to keep refusing!"

Liu Shouren gave her a wink, and Zhang Xiuying immediately understood. She put her things away, then took the money and ran to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a piece of meat, intending to add another dish.

When Liu Zhixia saw the things they brought, she casually made candied apples with brown sugar and apples. She also shredded the meat her mother had just bought and stir-fried it with pickled vegetables.

Seeing the two newly served dishes, the guests understood that these were extra dishes specially prepared for them because they had given gifts. They had intended to avoid troubling the guests, but it seemed they had only made things worse.

"These are just some home-style dishes, please don't be shy." Liu Zhixia brought out the last plate of pickled mustard greens and shredded pork and placed it in front of Shen Yi.

Shen Yi picked up a piece of candied apple, took a bite, and then looked up at her sharply: "This is how Shandong cuisine is made. Have you been to the North?"

Liu Zhixia's heart skipped a beat. Oh no, she had forgotten that she learned this dish from a northerner in her past life, and that person hadn't even appeared yet.

She quickly smiled and pretended to be clueless, saying, "What dish? I just saw you brought apples and brown sugar, and I was just thinking of making something new. I've never even left the village, how would I know so much?"

"Really?" Shen Yi's doubtful tone made her feel as if he had seen through her.

Xu Zhigang, oblivious to everything else, picked up another large piece and stuffed it into his mouth: "Delicious! Truly authentic! Comrade Liu, your skills are unmatched, even by the chefs of state-run restaurants!"

"If you like it, eat more, but don't leave any."

"Absolutely! I'm definitely eating my fill today!"

Lu Kai looked up at Liu Zhixia and said, "Xia, you've been busy all day, come sit down and eat with us."

This meal was not only praised by Shen Yi and his group, but even the Liu family members were stunned by what they ate.

After shoveling a mouthful of rice into his mouth, Liu Xuejun stared at his sister in astonishment: "Sis, this food is absolutely delicious! It's a hundred times better than what you used to make! Did you... somehow unlock your culinary skills just by breaking off the engagement?"

Zhang Xiuying glared at Liu Xuejun, annoyed: "Even eating all this can't shut you up!"

Liu Xuejun chuckled dryly twice, then immediately shut up, secretly glancing at Liu Zhixia, afraid that he might bring up something she shouldn't have and remind her of that scumbag Lu Huaiyuan again.

Knowing this, Liu Zhixia showed no extra expression on her face. She sat down and started eating a piece of cured meat, as if she hadn't heard what he said at all.

Seeing that she was really alright, Liu Xuejun became bolder and immediately lowered his voice to make amends: "Sis, anyway, that guy surnamed Lu is off the hook. I think these three comrades are pretty good. Any one of them would be better than him as my brother-in-law!"