"Sister-in-law, we are here!"
Xiao Jian was the first to rush into the yard happily. As soon as he entered the door, he went straight to the pot.
Following closely behind are Zhao Weiguo and Sun Ming.
Zhao Weiguo joked, "Watch out, kid, don't let it fall into the pot by mistake."
Hear the sound.
Zhou Xingze and his wife hurried out of the house to entertain the guests.
Ruan Xiaotang greeted warmly, "Come in, come in quickly, the food will be ready soon."
"We're going to taste the cooking of my sister-in-law."
"Sister-in-law's cooking skills must be good."
Xiao Jian stood by the pot, smelling the aroma of chopped pepper fish head, which was the smell of his hometown that he longed for.
"Sister-in-law, is this the chopped pepper fish head?"
Ruan Xiaotang replied affirmatively, "Yes, this dish is specially made for you, a Hunanese. Try it later and give me some advice on whether it tastes authentic."
After hearing this, Xiao Jian felt warm in his heart. It felt so good to be thought of by others when he was alone in a foreign land.
"Just the smell is authentic, so the taste must be good too."
"Okay, let's go inside. The yard is so small and we can't turn around here."
Zhou Xingze, the male host, invited several of his comrades into the house.
Ruan Xiaotang quickly started preparing the meal.
…………
Several grown men sat around an octagonal table, smoking, eating watermelon and drinking tea.
Xiao Jian, "Sister-in-law is really capable. I wish I could marry a wife like her in the future. Captain, does your sister-in-law have any other girls at home?"
Zhou Xingze slowly blew out a smoke ring, "She is the only girl in her family. Your wish has failed."
Zhao Weiguo took over the conversation, "Old Zhou, don't discourage Xiao Sichun's enthusiasm. There will be a social gathering held by the department in a few days. There will definitely be many beautiful female comrades. Maybe you will find a partner."
Sun Ming said, "I won't go."
Xiao Jian stopped eating the watermelon and looked at him in surprise, "Don't you want a wife and children to live in?"
Sun Ming answered very straightforwardly, "No, I think being alone is good. Getting married is a very troublesome thing."
Xiao Jian: "You..."
Zhao Weiguo said, "Comrade Xiao, everyone has different plans for the future, so let's seek common ground while reserving differences."
Zhou Xingze handed a cigarette to Sun Ming, "Have one."
"Thank you, Captain."
Sun Ming struck a match to light the cigarette in his mouth, took a deep puff, squinted his eyes, and blew out smoke rings.
"Xingze, clear the table and come and serve the dishes."
Hear the feeding cue.
Xiao Jian was the first to jump up, holding a half-eaten watermelon in his mouth. In no time, he cleared the things on the table and piled them on the low cabinet at the back.
He swiftly picked up the rag and wiped it.
"Sister-in-law, let me serve the dishes."
He ate half a watermelon in a second, wiped his mouth with his hand, and trotted out of the house.
The three people in the room looked at this funny scene and laughed at the same time.
The laughter almost ripped the roof off.
"What are they laughing about in the room?"
Ruan Xiaotang had been busy outside the house and had no idea what was going on inside. She asked Xiao Jian behind her with a confused look on her face.
Xiao Jian was also confused and scratched his head, "I don't know either. Maybe we are all too excited to finally taste the food cooked by our sister-in-law."
"Yeah?"
Ruan Xiaotang frowned in confusion. Why did she feel that there was a hint of sarcasm in the laughter?
He took the cumin beef out of the pot and handed it to Xiao Jian.
Xiao Jian smelled the fragrance and drooled as he walked towards the house.
His eyes were full of awe and desire for food.
Zhou Xingze set the table and put the dishes on the table. "Xiao Xiao, do it. I'll serve the dishes."
"But……"
Zhao Weiguo said, "We are guests today, and the regiment commander should treat us with courtesy. Please sit down. There is no distinction between superiors and subordinates at this table. There is only a strong sense of comradeship."
Xiao Jian sat on the wooden stool anxiously. He was the youngest and the least experienced of the four.
The night before he went to join the army, his mother told him to build good relationships with others when he was away from home, to be eager to do work, to share hardships, to share delicious food with everyone, and to bear the consequences if he suffered a loss or was bullied.
Only in this way will others like you and make friends with you.
He always kept his mother's words in mind and put them into practice.
"I……"
Zhou Xingze saw his concerns, and pinched his shoulders with his big hands, holding down Xiao Jian who was about to stand up again.
"That's an order."
"yes."
Sun Ming shook his head. This kid is always a worry.
Outside the house, Ruan Xiaotang stood on tiptoe with a spoon like a professionally trained chef. He held the iron spoon in the iron pot and flipped it up and down. The aroma filled the air and the dishes he cooked were so delicious.
In a short while, the table was filled with delicious food.
There are fried peanuts for drinking, mushrooms and rapeseed with rich sauce, green garlic moss fried meat, sweet and sour sweet and sour strawberry pork, crispy fried bean sprouts with leeks, volcanic snow, fat but not greasy twice-cooked pork, refreshing cucumber and pig ears, attractive braised spareribs, and the last dish is chopped pepper fish head.
Ruan Xiaotang walked into the house carrying a handful of soft and delicious steamed buns.
"Pick up your chopsticks and eat. I don't know if it suits your taste, but I'm afraid I haven't treated you well enough."
Ruan Xiaotang looked at everyone in front of her with trepidation in her heart.
Xiao Jian picked up a piece of chopped pepper fish head with chopsticks. The taste was exactly the same as the taste of home that he missed so much, sour, spicy and delicious, leaving a lingering fragrance in his mouth. It was exactly the same. He gave a thumbs up and quickly swallowed the fish in his mouth to praise it.
"This roll is pretty good, really delicious, and chewy. It's just as good as the ones my mom in the countryside makes."
Zhao Weiguo, a big man from northern Shaanxi, has a special liking for noodles, which are delicious and can fill you up.
He picked up a steamed bun and started taking big bites.
"If you don't like noodles, there's rice."
When she received the positive praise, all the hard work Ruan Xiaotang endured was worth it.
Sit firmly on the stool.
"Brothers, how about we finish this bottle of Moutai today!"
Zhou Xingze took out the best wine from the bottom of the box and placed it on the table.
Zhao Weiguo's eyes widened as he asked, "Is this the bottle of good wine the chief of staff gave you? I haven't had Moutai yet, I have to taste what this famous wine tastes like."
He added, "Fill it up for me quickly."
Zhou Xingze stood up, picked up the wine bottle and filled the glasses of the three brothers who had shared weal and woe with him.
Finally he sat back on the stool and filled his own glass.
Zhao Weiguo raised his glass excitedly and said, "I wish our leader a happy wedding, a long-lasting marriage, and a son soon. Let's cheers."
"Do one."
"Do one."
Several grown men shouted like slogans, so loud that it shook the earth.
Ruan Xiaotang lowered her head shyly, picked up the bowl, and ate the rice in the bowl like a cat.
Listen quietly to some of the interesting and embarrassing things that happened to them in the army.
Several grown men raised their glasses and drank while reminiscing about the passionate years.
After three rounds of drinks, everyone was full.
…
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