When Xie Yuyao saw Jiang Yan again in the evening, her eyes were red and she was crying. Her acting skills were comparable to those of the big stars who were formally trained in later generations.
Seeing Xie Yuyao's mocking gaze, Jiang Yan defiantly provoked, "I really didn't expect them to spread rumors like that, causing Brother Zhao to be implicated as well. But it's a good thing you two broke up, otherwise, if you were involved, I would have even more trouble feeling at ease."
Xie Yuyao laughed. Did she really think she could force someone to submit with such a cunning trick? She was underestimating him far too much.
"Jiang Yan, Jiang Yan, you are so ruthless to yourself, willing to use your own reputation to set up a scheme. Should I admire your courage to burn your bridges?"
Jiang Yan choked up, looking as if she had suffered a great injustice, "Xie Yuyao, do you have no heart? I'm already like this and you still want to ridicule and slander me!"
Xie Yuyao felt disgusted and nauseous at the sight of this victim.
"Aren't you tired of pretending for so long?"
Xie Yuyao stopped wasting words with Jiang Yan, whose face was flushed with shame and hatred, and turned to make braised meat.
First, pour the previously prepared braising liquid into the pot, then add the pig's trotters, duck necks, duck carcasses, and duck feet. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer slowly until the meat is tender and cooked to the desired consistency.
Once the braised pork is done cooking, add lotus root slices, dried tofu, and bean curd sticks, and you'll have another plate of braised dishes.
The rest of the duck meat is boiled over high heat, then cut into pieces, plated, and drizzled with soy sauce, chili oil, sugar, and other seasonings to make delicious "saliva duck."
Yang Shumei glanced at the courtyard from time to time, wondering why Zhao Jianbin hadn't arrived yet at this hour.
Unbeknownst to her, Zhao Jianbin was being bossed around by his mother, which had completely tripped him up.
By the time he realized what was happening, Wang Qiufen said, "There are all sorts of rumors about Honghui saving people, and we don't know how it will end. Just stay home for the next couple of days and don't go to the educated youth compound anymore."
Zhao Jianbin jumped three feet high in anxiety, "What does this have to do with me and Yang Zhiqing!"
“How can it be unrelated!” Wang Qiufen reached out and tapped her eldest son’s head. “Don’t you think about it? Who is Honghui? Do you think he would marry that Jiang educated youth just because of this? Tell me, who can Jiang educated youth, whose reputation is ruined, marry?”
"Who cares who it is? Is it any of my business?" Zhao Jianbin retorted, still not understanding what his mother was thinking.
"It's none of my business now, but what if she's desperate and clings to you?"
Zhao Jianbin said confidently, "No way! She knows that I only have Yang Zhiqing in my heart."
"Even though she knew Honghui had someone else in his heart, she still thought about him, didn't she?"
Wang Qiufen knew perfectly well that such rumors were bound to be spread by someone!
Upon hearing his mother's words, Zhao Jianbin's mouth gaped open wide enough to fit a whole duck egg. "You mean, Jiang Zhiqing did it on purpose?"
"Silly boy, when has your mother ever misjudged someone?"
"No! She's so cunning, I have to warn Yang Zhiqing." Zhao Jianbin turned and rushed out.
"return!"
"I'll be right back!"
When Zhao Jianbin arrived at the educated youth compound, Yang Shumei and the others were setting out bowls and chopsticks to prepare for dinner.
Since there were other people present, he did not sit at the table but called Yang Shumei outside the courtyard.
"Shumei, did that Jiang educated youth deliberately fall into the water?"
Yang Shumei was a little surprised; how could he, who was always so simple-minded, have thought of this?
Before she could answer, Zhao Jianbin continued, "It was my mother who said that. She also said that Jiang Zhiqing and my older brother definitely have no chance, and that she might desperately try to find a solution and come here to cling to me. So she told me not to come here these days."
After hearing these words, Yang Shumei thought about it and realized it wasn't impossible. "Then come back in a few days. Anyway, I don't have anything to do."
"Then I'll come find you at the lawn mowing area this afternoon. Be careful."
If Yang Shumei hadn't told him to study hard, he would have preferred to come and build houses every afternoon.
As they were talking, Xie Yuyao came out carrying a bag. "This is a braised pig's trotter that hasn't been chopped yet. You can take it back with you."
This morning when I went to Zhao Jianbin to get pork, he said he would use his connections and wouldn't ask for any coupons or extra money. I suppose he paid a lot out of his own pocket.
"No need, thank you, educated youth. You can keep it for tomorrow."
Xie Yuyao handed the bag to Yang Shumei, raised her eyebrows and said, "You give it to him."
After saying that, she turned and walked back.
Yang Shumei handed the bag to Zhao Jianbin, and this time he didn't refuse. "I'll bring you some more meat tomorrow afternoon."
Inside the main room, Zhao Jiefang saw the various braised meats on the table, their aroma filling the air, and couldn't help but swallow hard.
However, none of them touched their chopsticks, waiting for Xie Yuyao and Yang Zhiqing to return so they could eat together.
"Uncles, please eat quickly, there's no need to wait for Shumei." Xie Yuyao hurriedly called to them after returning to the house and seeing that they hadn't started eating yet.
Zhao Jiefang picked up a piece of braised pig's trotter, took a bite, and exclaimed repeatedly, "How is this made? It's so delicious!"
The group tried every kind of braised food, and to their surprise, even the braised lotus root slices, dried bean curd sticks, and dried tofu were fragrant and delicious.
During the meal, Zhao Jiefang gave a thumbs up, "This braised meat is absolutely worthy of being served in a state-run restaurant. Your culinary skills are truly superb!"
"Hehe, you flatter me."
Unsurprisingly, the dinner was completely devoured that night. Zhao Jiefang patted his bulging belly and said apologetically, "Thank you, Educated Youth Xie and Educated Youth Yang, the food you made was so delicious. I accidentally ate too much again."
"I'm glad you like it." Xie Yuyao and the other woman smiled at each other.
Nothing makes a chef happier than receiving praise for their dishes.
When Zhao Jianbin returned home with the braised pig's trotters, his mother, Wang Qiufen, was at a loss for words when she learned that Yang Shumei had given them to him.
She had strongly opposed the two being together, largely because her son was head over heels in love and easily manipulated by the woman.
Later, seeing that he picked up his textbooks and studied diligently, and seemed happy every day, I let him be.
Unexpectedly, Yang Zhiqing was so generous that he let his son bring back a whole pig's trotter.
Even if the pig's trotters were a gift from his eldest son, how many people could make cooked meat fly away?
It was from this point that Wang Qiufen began to accept their relationship.
After his family tasted the uniquely flavored pig's trotters, they repeatedly asked Zhao Jianbin to buy more meat the next day and send it to the educated youth compound to ask Yang, an educated youth, to help them braise it.
Wang Qiufen ate with great relish, nodding in agreement repeatedly. At this point, she had completely forgotten the earnest admonitions she had given to her eldest son before the meal.
The neighbor's sister-in-law wasn't in such a good mood. Yang Chunhua looked at her eldest son, who had returned home late at night, and thought about all the rumors. She was so worried that she didn't know what to do with him.
At the dinner table, Zhao Chunling looked at her worried sister-in-law and, unusually, offered a caring suggestion: "That Jiang educated youth, anyone with eyes can see she's doing it on purpose. We can't fall for her tricks! Sister-in-law, how about I introduce you to a girl?"
Zhao Honghui glanced at her and continued eating.
Yang Chunhua, however, took it to heart. If her eldest son had a girlfriend, the rumors would naturally disappear. "Chunling, who is it? Tell me quickly."
"That's Xie Yuyao from our lawn-cutting team!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Honghui's hand, which was picking up food, froze. He felt as if a needle had pierced his heart, causing him unbearable pain.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
