Chapter 293 Heart-wrenching
This is the first time this big shot has ever grilled anything in his past and present lives, and it's shrimp! It's already pretty good that it didn't turn into a burnt mess like Luo Shiliu's. Don't expect too much!
It's just that it wasn't marinated before grilling, and it's just that it wasn't seasoned before grilling. It's no big deal.
Bai Lu felt it was no big deal at all, and her already calm mood instantly subsided.
I started peeling the shrimp shells one by one, picked up a small brush from the side table, dipped it in the seasoning, and brushed it onto the shrimp meat.
After brushing on the seasoning, sprinkle on cumin and chili powder, then put it back on the grill to roast.
Soon we'll be able to enjoy delicious grilled shrimp skewers.
Bai Lu completed her series of actions under Xiao Cheng's silent gaze. While waiting, a string of slightly charred, bright red grilled shrimp suddenly appeared in her right-hand view.
"Sister-in-law, here you go."
To avoid Bai Lu misunderstanding that he was asking her to help with the seasoning, Xiao Wei specifically explained, "It's for you to eat."
Bai Lu paused in her peeling process, looking at the earnest little guy with slight surprise: "Aren't you going to eat it?"
Xiao Wei shook his head: "Sister-in-law, eat first."
Just as Bai Lu was about to say no, three strings of bright red shrimp bypassed Xiao Cheng and stretched out from the left.
"Sister-in-law, have some shrimp!"
Seeing Xiao Cheng's face darken instantly, Bai Lu immediately took the shrimp handed to her by Luo Shiliu, Xiao Dazhuang, and Wang Hao.
"Thank you, you can grill them yourselves, there's no need to grill them for me..."
"Sister-in-law, eat first!" the three of them shouted in unison.
Bai Lu finally realized that Xiao Cheng, Xiao Wei, Luo Shiliu, Wang Hao, and Xiao Dazhuang were acting a bit strange tonight, organizing a barbecue for no apparent reason.
They grilled shrimp for her for no reason at all.
Although everyone else's grilling was a little burnt except for Xiao Cheng's, it didn't diminish the obvious sense of closeness that had suddenly emerged.
Before Bailu could even think about it, another string of freshly grilled meat skewers appeared in front of her.
Although not perfect, slightly burnt, and without any seasoning, it was still fully cooked and perfectly cooked through, edible and healthy.
The neighbors also said, "The female champion ate the first bite; this is the fruit of victory."
"This glory belongs solely to you. You are a great role model for children. You are the best!"
Yu Xiaoling also said, "You are the pride of our new town! You don't make a sound until you do, but when you do, you amaze everyone and bring glory to the province. You must take the first bite. This is the first time my brother and I have grilled pork belly. You must try it!"
Wang Cuihua also emerged from the crowd, glanced guiltily at Xiao Cheng, held up a skewer of half-burnt chicken legs to Bai Lu, and weakly explained, "I've done my best."
Yang Sisi was grilling a skewer of chicken. She glanced at Xiao Cheng, who was grilling chicken wings for Bai Lu, and then looked at Bai Lu again, completely convinced: "You're better than me."
"Bai Lu, look at what I baked..."
"Watch me, mine will be even more fragrant and delicious..."
The boys all came out later. After all, no one could understand their feelings of both admiring Makoto and being afraid that he would get jealous and beat them up. So, even giving him a skewer of grilled meat required a lot of explanation.
They were afraid that Bailu would misunderstand, and they were also afraid that Bailu wouldn't feel their sincerity. It was really too difficult.
Faced with warm and friendly smiles and the kindness of personally grilling the food, Bai Lu couldn't help but be moved.
However, before she could react to what she was thinking, the sound of a car stopping came from the direction of the riverside entrance.
No wonder everyone's attention shifted at the same time; the sound of the car stopping was too loud, and unsurprisingly, it was two large brick trucks.
Unsurprisingly, the people who got off the back of the train were all villagers from Xiaojia Village.
Dozens of ordinary, simple figures, with kind and friendly smiles on their faces, surrounded two kind-looking elders and walked step by step toward Xiao Cheng Bailu.
Before she even arrived, the elders' proud voices preceded her arrival: "We've finally met our Xiao family's top female scholar! The only female scholar in the national college entrance examination to achieve a perfect score, the number one talent! She's our Xiao family's good daughter-in-law, Bai Lu, and good son, Bai Lu!"
"Our ancestors in heaven are all smiles. Bai Lu, who brings glory to our ancestors, has restored the brilliance of the Xiao family genealogy. You are our Xiao family's forever good daughter."
Bai Lu was shocked and stunned. The daughter-in-law of the Xiao family was also... a child of the Xiao family?
Grandma held Bailu's hand, her wrinkled face full of concern: "Our Lulu has worked hard, not only to do business and make money, but also to open up new avenues for the Xiao family's chestnuts."
"You must be very tired from studying hard and preparing for the college entrance examination. Look how thin you've gotten in just a short time."
“Grandpa and Grandma went up the mountain to cut pig feed a few days ago and caught a pheasant. Knowing that they were coming to town to see you today, they specially slaughtered it and made soup for you to nourish your body. They stewed it for several hours, so you must drink more and take good care of yourself.”
As she spoke, the old woman turned around and called out, "Hongying."
"Alright, alright."
Li Hongying held the bowl given to her by Xiao Cheng in one hand and used a spoon in the other to scoop chicken soup from the earthenware pot held by Xiao Guofu. By the time she answered, she had scooped up a large bowl of chicken soup.
To Bailu: "Although this earthenware pot has a lid to keep it warm, it has been a while since it came from the countryside to the town, so it's not as hot as it was when it arrived. Drink it while it's hot, and drink as much as you can, because it won't taste as good when it cools down."
Bai Lu took the soup bowl with both hands. The temperature wasn't hot, but it had already penetrated her palms and burned into her heart, making her eyes sting and swell. A scalding mist instantly filled her eyes.
Li Hongying and Xiao Guofu took off the baskets from their backs and placed them in front of Bailu.
"The lychees and mangoes on the mountain are ripe, as are the corn. We picked some for you. They were all picked this morning and are so fresh they can last for several days."
Li Hongying picked up a few bunches of fresh, ripe lychees and said to Bailu with a smile, "Lychees are best eaten fresh; fresh lychees are the most fragrant, sweetest, and tastiest."
"When you have time, come back to the Xiao family often. Eat whatever you want. The family has everything on the mountain. Whether you're happy or not, go back and play with Xiao Cheng more often and enjoy the scenery."
"My relatives and aunts all miss you so much."
Bai Lu was amused by the last sentence, and the tears that welled up in the corners of her eyes suddenly dispersed, turning her tears into laughter.
"Sister Bailu, these are flowers Uncle Mugen asked me to bring for you." A little boy who looked about seven or eight years old, thin and dark-skinned, carried a large bunch of rapeseed flowers that covered his entire upper body and gave them to Bailu.
He explained shyly, "It rained a couple of days ago, and Aunt Mugen twisted her ankle while picking mushrooms on the mountain. Uncle Mugen has to stay home to take care of her. Uncle Mugen said, 'I wish you success in the imperial examination. You will definitely like this rapeseed flower.'"
Seeing Xiao Cheng staring at the little boy, Xiao Guofu assumed he wanted to recognize him and explained, "He is Sanwazi."
"The family that Xiao Zhenwei ordered chestnuts from last time but didn't buy them, the boss you brought later bought chestnuts. Now Sanwazi's family has the money to support his schooling, and he can go to school with his other friends in September."
Sanwazi looked at Bailu with gratitude and respect in his eyes: "Thank you, Sister Bailu."
"Don't be so polite. Study hard, make something of yourself when you grow up, and don't forget the folks who helped you."
Bai Lu smiled and reached out her hand, but the bouquet of rapeseed flowers was taken away by a large hand that suddenly reached out from the side.
(End of this chapter)
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