Seeing that Aunt Li was pretending not to hear, Xia Mingshi stepped forward and said, "I'll burn it."
Xia Chunmei stopped her: "No, Grandma Ming, you have to help me with other things. I'll go ask Village Chief Wang to send someone to help us. Otherwise, we don't know how long we'll be busy."
Aunt Li looked at Xia Chunmei in surprise, not expecting that this young girl was not so easily fooled.
If I call Wang Dagui over, wouldn't that be the same as telling him that I'm not cooperating and that I'm delaying his fish meal, which would be bad for me?
Aunt Li glared at Xia Chunmei, then obediently went to start the fire.
Seeing this, Xia Chunmei said no more and started working.
The Wang family has four generations living together, and there are many people in the family, so Xia Chunmei killed two fish.
Xia Huohua and her son were initially worried, but when they saw how skilled and experienced Xia Chunmei was at cleaning and skinning the fish, they suddenly felt more confident.
"Grandma Ming, please help me."
Although Xia Mingshi didn't know how to cook these dishes, she was perfectly capable of assisting.
Xia Mingshi minced the fish meat, sliced the fish, and fried the fish skin. When Xia Chunmei did these things, Xia Mingshi was in an orderly and skillful manner. She had some doubts in her heart, but she also began to believe that she really had cooking skills!
"Chunmei, cooking skills can put food on the table. Be careful later, don't let anyone steal your skills," Xia Mingshi whispered a reminder. "When you're cooking, tell her to go outside, I'll keep watch for you. This village chief Wang especially likes to eat fish. If you catch his eye, even if you have to cook for his family, you sisters will have a way to make a living."
Xia Chunmei never expected that this old lady would think so much for her!
It would be a lie to say I wasn't moved.
"Thank you, Grandma."
"Don't take this lightly. I know you're a kid and shy, so I'll say it for you."
After the preparations were completed, the bone broth was almost ready.
Xia Mingshi said very directly: "Our child is about to cook, so please excuse us for a moment."
Aunt Li was furious: "Do you think I want to stay here?! I want to see what kind of good dishes you can cook, you brat!"
Xia Mingshi didn't go in either, but just stood guard at the door. Xia Chunmei felt there was no need to be so strict. Those who knew how to make it had seen it, tasted it, and tried it a few times. They could actually make it themselves.
However, Xia Mingshi didn't think so: "If it were that simple, wouldn't everyone be a master chef? Your sister Ping has been cooking for so long, and the rice she cooks is still undercooked."
Xia Chunmei, seeing that she couldn't reason with her, let her be.
The Wang family was quite curious when they heard that Wang Dagui had hired someone from outside to cook, especially since he had even kicked Aunt Li out. They wondered why he would be so strict if the person wasn't really skilled. They were also starting to have expectations for Xia Chunmei's cooking.
Once everything is prepared, it's actually quite quick to get started.
Soon, a delicious aroma filled the kitchen.
Xia Huohua and Xia Mingshi's stomachs were rumbling, and the Wang family came running after smelling the commotion.
Xia Chunmei made sauerkraut fish, sweet and sour fish skin, braised fish chunks, pan-fried grass carp cakes, and spicy fish balls.
Every dish is something that has never been seen here before, and every dish is a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate.
The aroma alone is enough to whet your appetite.
"It smells so good!" Wang Dagui sniffed the air several times.
Xia Chunmei was wondering whether she should introduce it, but the Wang family couldn't resist the aroma and couldn't wait to start eating.
"Delicious, delicious."
"It smells so good."
"I can eat several bowls of rice with this fish soup."
"It really is delicious. Look, even An'an can eat quietly now."
An'an is Wang Dagui's grandson. He used to be a very picky eater, but now he eats rice mixed with pickled fish soup with great gusto and doesn't need to be fed anymore.
When Aunt Li smelled the aroma and saw how much the Wang family was enjoying their meal, she no longer dared to underestimate Xia Chunmei.
Xia Chunmei and Xia Mingshi have been busy here for most of the day. The Wang family also provided them with a meal, but they couldn't eat at the same table with them; they ate in the kitchen.
There was some leftover food in the kitchen, and Xia Mingshi and Xia Huohua couldn't resist the aroma, so they practically wolfed it down.
He kept saying how delicious and tasty it was.
Xia Chunmei ate three bowls of rice and two grass carp cakes by herself!
About half an hour later, the Wang family had finished eating and drinking.
Wang Dagui was probably too full; he slumped in his chair, rubbing his stomach with one hand.
Immediately afterwards, someone came to call Xia Chunmei, saying that Wang Dagui wanted to see her.
Xia Chunmei walked over with a slight smile: "Village Chief, are you satisfied with your meal?"
"That's really good. Where did you learn such skills?"
Xia Chunmei had long anticipated that the Wang family would ask this question. Even if they didn't ask, Xia Huohua and his mother would, so she had prepared an excuse beforehand.
"I learned it from my dad."
Your dad is a cook.
"I guess so. He used to cook for the doctor at the clinic. That doctor also liked to eat fish and was kind to my father. My father would think about how to cook fish all the time, and then he taught me. But later my family was not well-off, so no one in my village knew that I could cook."
This was actually said to Xia Huohua and his mother, as a way of giving an explanation for his superb culinary skills.
"My birthday is the day after tomorrow. I'm going to buy all these fish of yours. Could you come and cook for me?"
Upon hearing this, Xia Chunmei was overjoyed and immediately said, "Village Chief, are you planning a whole fish feast?"
"Your fish dish is absolutely delicious and visually appealing, and it's all new recipes. I'd love to host a whole fish feast; it would be so impressive! If you can cook this, I'll definitely treat you well!"
Wang Dagui, a farmer, has managed to build such a large business, so he must have some foresight.
He could tell that although Xia Chunmei was young, she was different from other village girls; she had inner beauty.
Hearing this, Xia Huohua and Xia Mingshi were even more excited than Xia Chunmei!
The Xia Chunmei sisters were having a hard time making ends meet. If they could succeed in this, they might be able to make a living with this skill in the future, and their husbands' families would look up to them.
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