Chapter 17 Will She?

Jiang Xia glanced at Tian Caihua and said, "If sister-in-law thinks this house is better, I can exchange it with her."

Tian Caihua: “.”

Zhou's mother came in at this time, carrying a red, white and blue bag, and asked casually, "What are you exchanging with your sister-in-law?"

Tian Caihua immediately said, "No, Jiang Xia was just joking. Mom, is there anything else you want to move? I'll go move it!" Then she ran out.

Zhou's mother was puzzled and ignored her. She handed the big red, white and blue bag to Jiang Xia and said, "These are A-Lei's clothes. Put them back in your room."

"Okay." Jiang Xia paused, then agreed.

Zhou Chenglei told her about it when he was cleaning the house today. He was afraid that his parents would not agree to the separation, so he did not mention their divorce, but only talked about the separation, and asked her not to say anything for the time being.

Jiang Xia had no choice but to take it and carry it into his room.

She thought about it and didn't help him tidy up.

The bed and wardrobe in Jiangxia's room were both new. Zhou's mother also cut some "囍" characters of different sizes from the leftover red paper from their wedding and pasted them on the walls, windows, and door, making it look like a newlyweds' room.

Jiangxia’s wedding dowry included all thirty-six legs, two Phoenix brand bicycles for a boy and a girl, a South China brand sewing machine, a Shanghai brand watch, and a Red Star brand radio.

It was only the early 1980s, and these dowries were already very prestigious, especially in rural areas. Of course, in the city, some people's dowries were televisions instead of tape recorders.

In a few years, washing machines, refrigerators and televisions will become high-end items for marriage.

Jiang Xia took his clothes out of the red leather suitcase and put them in the closet.

Zhou's mother came in carrying a black plastic bucket with a long-handled wooden lid. She said to Jiang Xia, "Xiao Xia, take out A Lei's clothes and give me the bag. I'll use it to pack my quilt."

Jiang Xia had no choice but to open the red, white and blue bag and take out Zhou Chenglei's clothes.

Most of them were white shirts and military uniforms, as well as boxer shorts and vests. Jiang Xia quickly stuffed these underwear into the closet as if they were hot.

After taking out everything, Jiang Xia took the bag out and gave it to Zhou's mother. Her face was still a little red. However, when she saw Zhou's mother put a black bucket behind the door, she asked curiously, "Why is this bucket behind the door?"

Zhou's mother: "This is a urine bucket. It's used at night. It can also be used to water vegetables."

Jiang Xia: “…”

Wouldn't it stink if I put a urine bucket in the room? Seeing Jiang Xia's surprised expression, Zhou's mother thought that Jiang Xia was a city dweller and asked, "Do you want to put one in the room?"

Jiang Xia hurriedly shook his head: "No need."

Zhou Chenglei walked in at this time.

Jiang Xia quickly changed the subject: "Grandma and Big Brother have helped us with work all day today. Go buy some seafood and I'll cook two tables of meals to thank them and celebrate our move to a new home."

Jiang Xia didn't say anything, but Zhou Chenglei had the same idea. He came in to tell his mother that he was going to buy seafood and asked her to pick some vegetables from the vegetable garden.

Jiang Xia brought this up, which surprised him a little.

Zhou's mother was also a little surprised that Jiang Xia would think of these things. As for what she said about cooking two tables of meals, Zhou's mother didn't take it to heart.

She smiled and said, "I'll go to the vegetable garden to pick vegetables. Alei, you go buy some seafood."

Zhou Chenglei nodded: "I was just about to buy it."

Then he said to Jiang Xia: "Let my mother cook the food, and don't get your hands wet."

Jiang Xia nodded, "I know."

After hearing what her son said, Zhou's mother glanced at Jiang Xia and went out with the urine bucket.

Her son is very nice to her, but she doesn't know if his true feelings are misplaced.

As for asking Jiang Xia to cook? Will she do it? Zhou's mother doesn't dare to hope for it!

Today she helped with the small chores and didn't make any noise at all, which made Zhou's mother very happy.

Zhou's mother didn't know that Jiang Xia had a part in cleaning the yard, otherwise she wouldn't have thought so.

Next, Zhou Chenglei went to buy seafood, Zhou's mother went to pick vegetables, Jiang Xia washed the pot, wiped the stove clean, then washed rice and cooked, while Tian Caihua washed the dishes and put them aside. These dishes had not been used for a long time and were covered with dust.

Grandma brought over a piece of pork belly, which weighed more than three pounds, and some fresh cucumbers. Jiang Xia felt quite embarrassed.

The great grandmother said cheerfully: "Then, I will make braised pork for everyone tonight, so that everyone can move into the new house and have a prosperous and happy life."

Since the great-grandmother had said so, it would be bad to refuse. Jiang Xia accepted the favor with a smile, "Thank you for your words, great-grandmother. I will make braised pork for you."

Grandma smiled and said, "I have bad teeth, and I like to eat braised pork that melts in my mouth."

"It's guaranteed to melt in your mouth!" Jiang Xia said with a smile.

Grandma went to light the fire with a smile on her face.

It is not difficult to make melt-in-your-mouth braised pork, but it does take time.

Zhou Chengxin went home and brought over a large iron pot. He used two iron pots together to cook, which was very fast.

When the family split up, each family had a big iron pot.

Tian Caihua was worried that Jiang Xia couldn't cook, so she said, "I'll do it, you wash the dishes!"

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

Jiang Xia smiled and said, "It's okay. Sister-in-law, you've worked hard today. I'll cook and you can help me."

Tian Caihua didn't insist after hearing this. It wasn't her family's dinner party, and if things weren't done well, she wouldn't be the one to be embarrassed.

Moreover, cooking for so many people makes you unable to eat due to the smoke.

Zhou's mother had just picked two large baskets of vegetables, including beans, eggplants, cucumbers, melons, and Chinese cabbage.

Tian Caihua went out to wash the vegetables.

Seeing Jiang Xia cooking, Zhou's mother looked at Tian Caihua and said, "Why did you let her cook? Is the food edible?"

Tian Caihua: "She doesn't want my help, she insists on doing it herself."

Tian Caihua felt that her mother-in-law was partial to her, so she went to wash the vegetables with a gloomy face. Her great-grandmother's daughter-in-law also helped to wash them. She didn't want to show her gloomy face in front of outsiders, so she didn't refuse.

Zhou's mother hurried in to help.

Jiang Xia was making smashed cucumbers. She just took a look at the vegetables that Zhou's mother picked and knew what to make.

She has soaked the braised pork cut into uniform sizes in light salt water. The meat soaked in light salt water will become softer and firmer, easier to cook, and taste better. The blood can also be soaked out to remove the fishy smell.

While the food was soaking, she made a cucumber salad.

When Zhou's mother saw that Jiang Xia did everything right and had made no mistakes with the salt and sugar, as well as the wine and vinegar, she was a little surprised, and then she went out to wash the vegetables with peace of mind.

After the pork belly has been soaked and dried, Jiang Xia pours the meat into a hot iron pan without adding any oil. He stir-fries it over a low heat to release the oil until the surface of the meat turns golden.

Jiangxia scoops up the excess oil and uses it to fry eggplants or stir-fry vegetables, which will be very fragrant.

Then she added ginger, onion, dried chili, sugar, salt, soy sauce and other seasonings to the braised pork and continued to stir-fry until the rock sugar was completely melted and the pork belly was colored. She added water and wine, brought them to a boil, and then put them directly into the casserole and simmered them over low heat next to the big stove.

Jiang Xia cleaned the big iron pot, fried the eggplant and cucumber in oil, and then made a dish of perilla and beans stewed eggplant together with perilla.

Tian Caihua brought in the washed vegetables and was shocked to see that she used so much oil to stir-fry the eggplant and cucumber. My god, is this the eggplant and cucumber or the oil? Fortunately, the family split up. If not, she would not dare to let her cook.

But, it smells good! It smells so good!

Just looking at the shiny purple eggplants and green beans makes me want to eat them.

Zhou Chenglei also bought some seafood, including bamboo shrimp, blue crab, tiger grouper, mud fish, small red squid, and white clams.

When he saw Jiang Xia cooking, surprise flashed in his eyes, and then his gaze fell on her fair little hands. Thinking of the blisters on her hands, he walked over and reached out to take the spatula handle from her hand, "I'll do it."

A tall figure suddenly approached, Jiang Xia subconsciously turned around to look back, and her elbow accidentally hit his waist. Because of this turning movement, Zhou Chenglei stretched out his big hand and held her small hand.

(End of this chapter)