Chapter 19: I won’t disturb you, will I?
"You're lucky. The tide just rose two days ago, and there was a strong wind last night. There are indeed a lot of things."
Fu Ming had actually been observing Xia Mi on the reef for quite some time.
He arrived before Xia Mi. While lying on the reef, he suddenly heard a sigh and then noticed that there were people other than him.
Every time he saw Xia Mi lifting a stone with great effort, the crabs would quickly run away and she would rush to catch them, he wanted to laugh.
Xia Mi was also really scared when she saw Fu Ming, and thought that he was going to jump into the sea again because of depression.
"There was a typhoon yesterday. There are a lot of crabs on the island today. If you are not afraid, I can take you to catch crabs."
Fu Ming took the initiative to give Xia Mi a way out.
This suggestion hit the mark exactly what Xia Mi wanted. What she lacked was someone who could teach her some practical experience. What she knew now was just the basics.
"Thank you for your help."
Fu Ming was brought to Zhuifeng Island since he was a child. Catching crabs, picking up snails and collecting snails were no problem for him. He took Xia Mi to touch crabs in the cracks of the rocks.
He clasped the stone slab tightly with his hands and moved it slightly, and the crab hiding underneath jumped out.
Fu Ming was quick-witted and quick-handed. He grabbed the crab and then threw it. The first crab appeared in Xia Mi's bucket.
Xia Mi still couldn't let go. Fu Ming also saw her fear and silently caught many crabs, a total of half a bucket, mostly small crabs.
She weighed it and estimated it to be about three or four pounds.
The relationship between the two gradually became closer while catching crabs.
"Sister Xia Mi, I heard that you are from Suzhou?"
The two were tired from catching fish and sat on the rocks to rest.
"Well, what else have you heard about me?"
Fu Ming was silent for a moment, lowered his head and stammered, "Nothing else..."
"Come to my house for dinner tonight. I'll make some extra to thank you for helping me catch crabs this afternoon."
Xia Mi changed the subject in time and looked at the full bucket of crabs. She thought about picking some oysters and snails to make some stir-fried snails and seafood in sauce.
Fu Ming refused without even thinking about it.
"I won't go. This little thing is nothing."
Xia Mi thought he was being polite, "No problem, I'm moving this afternoon, and besides you, there are two other comrades coming to eat."
Fu Ming was determined and refused to go no matter how Xia Mi tried to persuade him.
Finally, Fu Ming made up an excuse to leave, jogging as if there was a flood or a beast behind him.
Xia Mi looked at the back, feeling strange. Captain Fu and Huo Jingchen must know each other, so Fu Ming should also know him. Why did Fu Ming avoid her gaze when she mentioned Huo Jingchen just now? She didn't think much about it and prepared to go back to make dinner.
After Xia Mi prepared the seafood, she began to have trouble with firewood.
Although cooking in an iron pan cannot be turned over, cooking on an earthen stove is delicious and has a nice aroma. However, the firewood here is just some wood and old scrap wood boards.
Xia Mi had no choice but to tear off the bark of the dried wood, then go to the space to buy a lighter and light it.
After blanching the seafood and preparing to make the marinade, Xia Mi discovered that most of the seasonings needed were missing.
She can only buy space, and finally she has to put it away after using it up.
It takes no effort but time to scoop up small seafood.
Xia Mi spent ten cents to buy some ice cubes at the mall. She poured the ice cubes into a large basin and then put the basin full of seafood into it to chill it.
It's still early now, four o'clock in the afternoon, and it's just in time to wait for Huo Jingchen and the others to come home.
Finally, there are snails.
After washing and blanching the snails repeatedly, pour oil into the pot. When the oil is hot, add peppercorns, chili peppers, garlic slices and bean paste. When the oil turns red, add the snails and stir-fry over high heat until ready to serve. Finally, add chopped green onions to enhance the flavor.
The spicy aroma instantly filled the entire kitchen, mixed with the sweetness of rice.
Xia Mi packed up everything and the dinner bell rang.
Huo Jingchen led the people home.
As soon as he entered the family compound, Shi Daqiang smelled the fragrance. "The instructor's wife is making delicious food again. I really envy the instructor for having such a good meal."
Among the military family members, the best cook is Fan Chunhua.
As a result, the three of them had a preconceived idea and mistakenly thought that it was Fan Chunhua who was cooking.
"Why don't you guess whether this fragrance comes from Captain Huo's house?"
Zhang Erqiao was really worried about his good brother's emotional intelligence.
"My sister-in-law looks like she has never been involved in any cooking. This meal must be..."
After that, Daqiang patted his chest and assured Huo Jingchen, "Don't worry, Captain. No matter how bad my sister-in-law makes it, I will never show any bad reaction."
At this moment, Zhang Erqiao wanted to wrap Daqiang's mouth with tape.
Huo Jingchen was amused and nodded in praise of Daqiang's ideological awareness, "It's great that you have this awareness."
Daqiang laughed and expressed his own views.
"Yes, if Erqiao and I say that the food is unpalatable and hurt my sister-in-law's feelings, you will be the one who will have a headache, Captain."
"I heard that it is the most difficult to coax a woman. Captain, you definitely don't have the patience to coax her, so we are the ones who suffer in the end."
Zhang Erqiao finally understood that Shi Daqiang was just pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger. He thought he had low emotional intelligence.
It not only protects my sister-in-law's face, but also considers the leader.
When they got home, Shi Daqiang was the first to rush into the kitchen and shout for help. Zhang Erqiao followed him in unwillingly.
Xia Mi asked them to bring the dishes to the living room.
As Shi Daqiang's hand just touched the porcelain basin, the sudden chill made him let go of his hand and look at the basin in surprise.
"Sister-in-law, why is your porcelain basin so cold? What did you put in it?"
Xia Mi explained calmly and deliberately asked back: "I made the cold seafood and put it in the well water for a while. Is it very cold?"
When Shi Daqiang heard about the dish of seafood salad, his heart sank. Such a fishy thing was not fried but served cold.
Zhang Erqiao on the side was also disheartened and regretted that he should not have agreed to have dinner this afternoon.
Unexpectedly, their expressions completely changed when they sat at the table.
"Sister-in-law, you are such a great cook. How did you come up with this? It's so delicious." Shi Daqiang chewed the snails and pointed at them. "Snail, did you knock off the tails one by one?"
"Get a colander, stick their tails in it, and break them off."
He had never heard of this method before.
Zhang Erqiao praised generously, "Sister-in-law, you are so smart."
Huo Jingchen was also surprised by Xia Mi's craftsmanship.
The seafood in sauce tastes sour and spicy and goes well with rice.
When you eat the braised snails, you will eat the soup along with them, which is spicy, fresh and fragrant.
Huo Jingchen ate very quietly and quickly, and was the first one to finish eating among everyone.
After dinner, the two of them were responsible for washing the dishes.
Xia Mi took out the fabric and realized that she had overestimated herself. All she could make were some simple short-sleeved shirts, which she had watched her grandmother make since she was a child.
After failing to come to any conclusion, Xia Mi took her drawings and questions to consult Jiang Shengmei.
When Jiang Shengmei saw the material, she washed her hands, and then carefully touched the fabric. She couldn't let it go.
"I made it for you."
When Jiang Shengmei heard that they were about making clothes, she had no intention of helping at all and just wanted to do it all by herself.
Seeing that Xia Mi was about to be polite again, she quickly interrupted, "Don't be polite with me. Before I came to the island, I was a worker in a garment factory. I was very good at making clothes. I haven't made clothes for so long, and my hands are itching."
Xia Mi was indeed embarrassed, "Sister-in-law, thank you very much. I knew how to do this before, but I forgot about it because I haven't done it for so long."
Just as she was thinking about what gift to return, Jiang Shengmei saw through her.
"Don't send me anything anymore. If you really want to thank me, don't think I'm annoying when I come to your house to borrow your sewing machine."
Xia Mi nodded quickly.
Then Jiang Shengmei asked Xia Mi, "Have you set a date for your wedding?"
"Well, it's the day after tomorrow, so I'm a bit anxious. How about I give you a hand?"
Jiang Shengmei thought to herself, "Time is a bit tight, but it's just a coat, and you can make a sample in one day."
Jiang Shengmei asked when they were almost home after leaving the house.
"I'll go. I hope I don't disturb you and Captain Huo."
(End of this chapter)
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