Chapter 132 Not One Less
Shen Liuhe came out carrying a large iron pot and called out, "Coming, coming!"
Xiao Li and Yu Yuan opened the door to Sister Liu's restaurant, and the olive-green-clad men filed in, each finding a seat without needing Shen Liuhe's arrangement.
"Don't serve them fish yet, they might choke if they gobble it down," Shen Liuhe said knowingly. "Serve them the country-style fish ball soup first, one bowl per person, and then serve the main dishes later."
"Understood." Shen Yuyuan had already come to the kitchen and picked up the Country-Style Fish Ball Soup, placing the bowls on the table with one hand.
Shen Zhenzhu came to the kitchen and saw Shen Liuhe silently stir-frying vegetables with a large ladle in her hand. She walked behind her, hugged her sixth sister's waist, pressed her face against her back, and whispered, "Mom, I'm back."
"I saw it a long time ago." Shen Liuhe casually stuffed a quail egg into Chen Zhenzhu's hand and said with a smile, "I knew you would be alright."
"Of course, I'm the hope of Tie Si New Second Village." Chen Zhenzhu chewed on a marinated quail egg and said in a sticky voice, "Have you missed me?"
Shen Liuhe's generation wasn't good at expressing affection, so she stuffed a quail egg into her hand and said, "Don't mess with me. Your colleagues are all outside. Look, go out and see."
Shen Zhenzhu happily chewed on a quail egg, picked up her bowl and plate, and was about to leave. Shen Liuhe stopped her and asked, "How many people are participating in the operation in total?"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Not counting the armed police officers who came to support us, there are 47 people in the criminal investigation team alone."
"Fine, get out of here." Shen Liuhe wiped her hands on her apron and deftly began cutting meat on the cutting board.
After Shen Zhenzhu left, Shen Liuhe stopped wielding the kitchen knife and silently looked outside.
Shen Liuhe didn't understand the impact of this case, nor did she realize that "Operation Sharp Sword" wasn't just for one person. She only thought positively, believing that everyone had helped protect Shen Zhenzhu regardless of the circumstances, and that alone was enough for her to use her best skills.
"I heard this is run by Section Chief Shen's mother." Song Xinchen closed his eyes and sniffed the milky white fish soup.
"Xiao Bai also said that it tastes very good," Liu Yiyang said.
Each person's soup is served in an old-fashioned wide-mouthed blue bowl. The soup base is made by carefully simmering the best fresh fish bones to create a milky white broth. Ten snow-white, round fish balls float halfway up the bowl, amidst tender green scallions and a few shredded ginger.
"It smells quite delicious." Song Xinchen didn't know much about his sixth sister's cooking skills. He scooped up a spoonful of fish balls and brought them to his lips. The moment they touched his lips, he could feel their amazing elasticity resisting the attack of his teeth. With a little force, they broke open quickly. There was no powdery texture of flour at all. They were all firm, tender, and fragrant fish meat.
The pure umami flavor carries the salty freshness of sea fish, perfectly enveloped by the spiciness of ginger and the fragrance of scallions.
Song Xinchen swallowed the fish ball impatiently and took a sip of the soup from the large bowl. The temperature of the fish soup was carefully considered, so that it wouldn't hurt his throat if he was too impatient. The pure and sweet broth made from fish bones and fish head slid down his throat, and a feeling of satisfaction and relaxation immediately spread throughout his body.
There was no one around to talk to, only the sound of white porcelain spoons and large bowls clattering together.
After finishing the bowl, Liu Yiyang felt a light sheen of sweat on his forehead, and his whole body felt relaxed. He realized that the seemingly ordinary fish ball soup contained a warm sense of love.
He let out a sigh, finally understanding at this moment why Lu Ye and the others called him "Mom's Rice".
The Liancheng Criminal Investigation Team is indeed lucky with their food.
The large bowl of fish soup didn't fill me up, but rather whetted my appetite, leading to two rich, dark-sauced, and comforting home-style dishes—
"Braised pork trotters with soybeans and braised turtle are here!" Shen Yuyuan bustled about, moving between the tables. Each dish was met with cheers.
"Two main dishes!" The casserole was placed on the table, and a rich aroma of steam suddenly rose up, instantly making Chen Zhenzhu and her colleagues feel an urge to feast.
"So tender!" Little White's mouth was greasy from eating, but she didn't forget to quickly scoop two pieces of pig's feet for her Pearl Sister.
The pig's trotters were chopped into large pieces and roasted until extremely tender. The skin and meat were an enticing, glossy, translucent reddish-brown color.
The thick broth bubbled and steamed in the clay pot, tightly coating every piece of meat and tendon.
"No, I need to mix the broth with my rice." Lu Ye got up and called out from outside the kitchen, "Mom, I want rice."
“Return the ‘food’.” Little White learned as he ate.
“You can’t exactly say ‘beggar,’ can you?” Shen Zhenzhu chuckled as she ladled two spoonfuls of broth for her. The soybeans inside, soaked in the broth, had become plump and round, each one resembling a yellow agate in the bowl.
"Wow, good heavens, I can't even pick up the pig's trotter with chopsticks!" Tian Yongfeng from the next table stood up and used a spoon to scoop up the slightly trembling, soft and tender pig's trotter. Before even sitting down, he took a bite, as if it were melting in his mouth, sticking to his lips and incredibly chewy.
"I heard that pig's feet are rich in collagen, and eating them is great for the skin." Shen Zhenzhu scooped two spoonfuls of pig's feet for Zhang Jie, who was eating delicately next to her, trying to feed her sisters before Lu Ye's "meal" arrived.
As for Brother Zheng, well, he can put him aside in front of his sisters; he won't suffer any loss anyway.
"Then I have to eat more." Zhang Jie had thought that eating would make her fat, but when she learned that it was good for her skin, she couldn't resist.
"This braised pig's feet is absolutely delicious." After tasting the pig's feet, Wu Zhongguo, the gourmet, commented, "The meat is tender yet firm, the sauce is savory and slightly sweet, it's rich and satisfying, flavorful and succulent, and melts in your mouth. The soybeans are even more wonderful, they've absorbed the savory aroma of the pork fat and meat juices, they're playful and soft, powdery and glutinous inside, they melt into a paste with a gentle touch, the aroma of the soybeans and the tender meat and tendons unfold in succession, Sixth Sister's cooking skills are truly superb."
"Anyway, this soup can't be wasted." Lu Ye mixed the rich, dark sauce into the steaming white rice. The rice grains were glistening with oil, and the aroma made him devour the whole bowl in one go.
After the soybean stewed pig's feet were almost finished, the lid of the braised turtle, another main dish simmering in the casserole, was opened.
In the brown earthenware pot, the turtle pieces and pork belly glistened brightly. The broth was reduced to just the right consistency, and the turtle's skirt was thick, cooked until straight and translucent, like trembling jelly—the highlight of the entire dish.
Ignoring the dishes that followed, everyone picked up pieces of turtle one after another, with those who knew how to eat it choosing the skirt edge first.
Shen Zhenzhu naturally wouldn't be left behind. Seeing Gu Yanzheng go out to answer the phone, she picked up a trembling piece of transparent skirt hem and put it in his bowl, then picked up a piece of her own chopsticks and put it in her mouth.
Soft, smooth, sticky, and chewy, its exquisite richness and freshness melt between your lips and teeth, and the gelatinous texture sticks in your mouth, providing a satisfaction that no other sea cucumber or fish maw can match.
After eating a piece, Xiaobai touched her face and exclaimed, "These are all very nourishing! I'll definitely be eighteen again tomorrow!"
Turtle meat is firm and tender, similar to chicken but more tender, and has similarities to fish but is more chewy.
The meat, its fibers soaked in the rich sauce, has rendered the fat of the pork belly into juices, while the lean meat is incredibly flavorful. The aroma of the meat and the unique umami of the turtle intertwine, creating a savory and slightly sweet aftertaste that is simply irresistible.
"It's perfect for dipping steamed buns." Wu Zhongguo broke off half of a steamed bun, dipped it in the bowl, and ate it without wasting a single drop.
"Three Treasures of the Earth, Sichuan-style Stir-fried Chicken, Braised Pork Knuckle with Bok Choy, Pork Ribs with Yam, Radish Stew in Pork Bone Soup, Shrimp Paste Tofu, Braised Mixed Fish in Soy Sauce, Steamed Egg in Pancake, Iced Lotus Root Slices, Caramelized Apples..."
Liu Yiyang raised his wrist, chopsticks dangling from his hand, and repeated, "The Liancheng Criminal Investigation Team is really lucky to have such a good meal!"
Song Xinchen was so engrossed in picking up the turtle that he didn't have time to reply.
One steaming dish after another was served. There was no fancy plating, but no skimping on ingredients; the food was all about authentic flavor.
Those who dine there can taste the warmth and comfort of a mother's cooking. This is the most solid and comforting secret of Sixth Sister's Restaurant.
“35, 36...46...47.” Shen Liuhe finally took a breather, wearing an apron and standing at the kitchen door. She silently counted three times, and it was “47 people” each time. Now her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally relaxed.
Although several children were injured, they didn't seem to miss a meal and ate with relish. Shen Liuhe put herself in their shoes; thankfully, none of her children were missing, nor were any of the other children.
"Eat slowly, I'll serve you more rice." Shen Liuhe turned and went back to the kitchen, quickly bringing out overflowing rice bowls. When she saw that someone's bowl was empty, she would put rice into it: "If you don't want to eat, just tell me, and I'll make you shredded pork noodles."
"That's enough, thank you, Mom! You're an insurmountable mountain on my weight loss journey."
"Mom, you're such a kind person, and your cooking is amazing. I have a huge appetite, I hope you're always happy... Could you have some more rice?"
"Life is too short, give me another bowl, Mom, I want rice!"
......
"No wonder you're a police officer, you have a big mouth. I think your sister can eat a lot too." Xiao Li specially cut the braised beef into thicker pieces and put it on top of the ramen he made himself.
"That's good, you look healthy and energetic. Being able to eat is a blessing." Shen Yuyuan, who came over to help, ignored her injured arm and served the beef noodles to Chen Zhenzhu with one hand, sprinkling some bright green scallions on top.
Shen Liuhe was waiting for customers with the shop closed when someone suddenly shouted outside.
The commercial street was bustling with people at this moment. Shen Liuhe said to Shen Yuyuan, "Tell the people at the door that we are not open for business today. We would appreciate it if everyone could come again tomorrow."
Shen Zhenzhu shared a bowl of beef noodles with Xiaobai and Zhang Jie, and even then, she felt quite full. She stood up and said, "I'll go and have Yuyuan come and eat some. You guys don't need to do anything else."
Shen Yuyuan picked up a pair of chopsticks: "Okay."
When Chen Zhenzhu walked to the door, she saw several customers lingering outside. She spoke to them kindly and gave them four coupons.
Turning my head to look at the source of the howling not far away, I was shocked by what I saw.
Two people started fighting in front of the Yuanjiang Snow Shop.
Shen Zhenzhu took two steps forward and looked around again. One of the people was actually Yuan Jiangxue!
She used her forearm to wrap around the other person's hair and press their head to the ground, while holding the mop handle high in her other hand, looking just like a female Wu Song.
Shen Zhenzhu rushed over, but stopped abruptly before she reached the spot. She realized that the person Yuan Jiangxue had beaten was none other than Wu Yan.
Yuan Juan stood to the side, her face full of anger. Yuan Jiangxue had clearly given her a lot of courage. She picked up a broom and wanted to join in, but Yuan Jiangxue was busy dealing with people, so there was no room for anyone else to interfere.
The neighbors formed a circle, seemingly trying to break up the fight, all looking for an opportunity to strike: "Hey, stop fighting, stop fighting!"
Shen Zhenzhu realized that Wu Yan was definitely coming to cause trouble, but she didn't expect to stir up such a hornet's nest.
Are the residents of Tiesi neighborhood easy to mess with?
Yuan Jiangxue took their words as encouragement, and even while wearing a cheongsam, she still pressed Wu Yan's head down and cursed, "You think you can break through the sky by doing a split? How dare you bully people like this, even coming here to bully your grandma! If I don't carve the character 'Yuan' on your forehead today, you'll forget what your ancestors were called!"
Wu Yan originally wanted to ask Yuan Juan for some money to pay off her debts, but she was spotted by Yuan Jiangxue as soon as she walked down the street. She didn't know which mouthy person had told her.
Thinking that Yuan Jiangxue, with her cunning and seductive nature, wouldn't be good at fighting, Wu Yan pushed Yuan Jiangxue first, demanding that she hand over Yuan Juan. Who knew she would be met with a slap across the face and a torrent of verbal abuse.
After Yuan Juan arrived here, she did not deliberately hide anything. Knowing what the Wu family had done, the neighbors on the whole street were furious.
It's bad enough that they bullied people at the Wu family's house, but they actually dared to chase us all the way here.
Everyone separated Wu Yan and Yuan Juan, and tried to teach her a lesson by raising their arms and clenching their fists, but Uncle Lu eventually persuaded them to stop.
"One person fighting another is called mutual fighting, but a group fighting one person is called gang fighting, which is a much bigger offense. Think about what our daughter does for a living, and calm down."
So, at Uncle Lu's urging, everyone could only stand aside and watch Yuan Jiangxue's street performance with regret.
"I was wrong... I'll never come again." Wu Yan was beaten black and blue. She didn't expect Yuan Jiangxue to be so fierce. But she started the fight, so even if she went to the police station, she would be in the wrong.
With her face still pressed against the floor tiles, Wu Yan explained desperately, "I was out of my mind for a moment. My brother is dead, but she and her daughter are perfectly fine. I came here because I was angry..."
These words earned him two more slaps from Yuan Jiangxue: "Pah, your brother deserved to die! If he hadn't fallen into my hands, I would have sent him to be reincarnated long ago."
Uncle Lu coughed twice to remind Yuan Jiangxue to look in that direction.
Yuan Jiangxue turned her head and saw Chen Zhenzhu standing a few meters away, hesitating, wanting to come but not daring to.
"Go back to your food, mind your own business!" Yuan Jiangxue twisted Wu Yan's head and continued to press it down, then pointed at Chen Zhenzhu with the head of a mop and said nonchalantly, "Get out."
"Eh!" Terrified! Terrified! Shen Zhenzhu ran towards her mother's shop, but she hadn't seen anything.
Upon entering the restaurant, they saw Gu Yanzheng about to leave. Chen Zhenzhu quickly blocked the door, saying, "Brother Zheng, why don't you go and have another bowl!"
Gu Yanzheng, who had already eaten two bowls of rice and a bowl of fish soup, said: "...It's not that I can't eat it if I really want to."
Shen Zhenzhu hooked her heel over the stool to block the doorway, dragging Gu Yanzheng into the sea of olive green.
Not one can be missing!
The next day, Chen Zhenzhu and Xiaobai, who had been chatting all night, got up, looked at each other for a few seconds with their hair disheveled, and then burst into laughter.
Last night, everyone ate and drank beer at Sister Liu's restaurant until the very end, and Chen Zhenzhu and Xiaobai couldn't resist joining in the "battle." They were so carefree until midnight that they woke up this morning with both of their faces swollen.
"It's a pity you're leaving tomorrow, so you won't be able to go to People's Square for fried chicken again." Chen Zhenzhu combed Xiaobai's hair. Like mother, like daughter, she had turned Xiaobai into a miniature Zhang Fei.
Little Whitey let out two loud cries, and it was her turn to comb Chen Zhenzhu's hair. Hearing Chen Zhenzhu's cries, she was so happy she was shaking.
Karma came too quickly. Shen Zhenzhu decided to ignore Xiaobai for three minutes. The two sat across from each other at the dining table, blowing on the wontons and taking small bites.
"The Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here, cough cough." Xiao Bai coughed twice, probably because he had been drinking and kicking off the covers last night and was likely to catch a cold.
"Yes, persimmon cakes, blood sausage, and sauerkraut with boiled pork are coming soon. Let me tell you, there's a place in the big market that sells mutton soup, it's really authentic, and I can expect to be able to drink it again next month," Chen Zhenzhu said happily.
"Wow, another great tonic!" Xiaobai glanced at her Pearl Sister. As expected of her healthy, sunny, and cheerful personality, the bleak atmosphere of autumn could easily breed pessimism, but in Pearl Sister's words, it was all so exciting.
"Hmm...very nourishing, hahaha."
When the topic of nourishing the body came up, the two sisters exchanged a glance and started laughing, remembering Song Xinchen's embarrassing moment yesterday.
"He was saying things like, 'What's so good about pig's trotters and turtle?' and then his nose started bleeding, hahaha." Shen Zhenzhu laughed wildly, showing no respect for Song Xinchen. Anyway, nobody gave him any face.
"He ate so much, it's no wonder he got a nosebleed." After finishing his wontons, Xiaobai glanced at the clock on the wall and said, "That's enough, time to go."
Shen Zhenzhu went to the kitchen with her to wash and put away their dishes. She changed into long-sleeved sportswear and white sneakers, and her high ponytail swung over her shoulders, looking energetic.
They went out together, first buying a large bag of snacks at the supermarket at the entrance of the community. When they arrived at Tiesi Commercial Street, they saw that Yuan Juan, Yuan Jiangxue, Uncle Lu, Brother Leng, and others were already ready.
“405 goes right to the reform school, let’s go.” Yuan Jiangxue said, “It’ll be gone in about ten stops, all bumpy and clattering.”
It was originally planned that Chen Zhenzhu and Yuan Juan would go see Niu Niu today. After Yuan Jiangxue and Wu Yan had a fight yesterday, they agreed to go see Niu Niu together today.
Upon hearing that Yuan Jiangxue was going, Uncle Lu also clamored to go, and even wanted to bring his camera along.
Brother Leng was used to being with them, so he naturally joined in.
Unfortunately, Shen Yuyuan had to go to SanSan Department Store early on the weekend to help shake milk tea, otherwise she would have gone too.
"Hey, wait a minute." Shen Liuhe came out of the restaurant carrying five aluminum lunch boxes and said, "I'm taking these to my daughter to eat. I'll visit her next time too."
After being closed for a few days, the store is finally open today, and the owner has to stay in the store to keep things in order.
Yuan Juan's eyes have been red since yesterday. The courage and emotion that are growing stronger on Tiesi Commercial Street are enough for her to stand up to the whole world.
...
Municipal Work-Study School.
"Wu Xue, do you have relatives visiting you today?" The teacher came to the classroom door and called her out.
"Teacher Shen, my mother is coming." Wu Xue was wearing an old sports jacket with a pearl on it, the sleeves of which were a little short, but she liked wearing it.
"Wu Xue doesn't have a father, only a mother. She and her mother have no home and are homeless." The boy with a pointed face and a monkey-like appearance whispered to the girl next to him, "Her mother doesn't look like her at all, and she might not even be related to her."
The girl next to me, engrossed in her homework, whispered, "That's still better than having a mother who gave birth to you but didn't teach you."
"What...what did you say?" the boy shouted angrily. "I'll beat you up if you don't listen!"
The girl had beautiful almond-shaped eyes, a tall figure, and short, boyish hair. There were several knife wounds on the back of her hands, from when she was bullied and stabbed. Later, she was desperately watching the ringleader and accidentally killed him. That's why she came here.
"Give it a try," the girl said casually. "You should thank us for retiring from this life."
The boy with the pointed face and monkey-like features glanced at the horrifying scars on the back of her hand and swallowed the curse he was about to utter.
Wu Xue was unaware of the little squabble in the classroom. When the bell rang, she happily went to the school gate to greet her mother, carrying the visitation slip approved by the instructor.
"I'm not lying, that girl is just a homeless person, why should she be so arrogant towards us?" The weasel-faced man wanted to drag his friend over to make fun of her, so he followed her to the school gate without even eating.
"Mom, Sister Pearl!" Wu Xue was pleasantly surprised to see so many people visiting her, and greeted them one by one as Yuan Juan introduced them.
Knowing that Yuan Juan was doing well in the Tie Si Commercial Street and had even gained weight in her cheeks, Wu Xue really didn't know how to thank these kind adults.
Shen Zhenzhu frowned when she saw three male classmates standing behind Wu Xue from afar.
Uncle Lu waved them over.
"What are you doing, you bunch of kids?" Uncle Lu and Brother Leng glared at them menacingly.
With a sharp, monkey-like face, he steeled himself and asked, "What's your relationship with Wu Xue?"
“I am her uncle.”
"I am her older brother."
"I am her aunt."
"I'm her older sister!"
"I'm the second sister!"
"Many relatives haven't come yet!"
Yuan Juan stood at the door and said loudly, "I'm her mother, what's your problem?"
The man with the pointed face and monkey-like features hurriedly waved his hands: "Please be kind, everyone. We were just passing by and didn't mean anything by it. We're leaving now."
He then punched the man with a sharp, monkey-like face hard in the back, saying, "He has so many relatives. If he spreads rumors again, you'll see how I deal with him."
Back in the meeting room, Chen Zhenzhu put down the aluminum lunchbox and tilted her head to listen to the mother and daughter talking.
"Mom, don't worry. They bully the weak and fear the strong. The handsome guy in the back seat is on good terms with me. We can take care of them with just a flick of our fingers."
Yuan Juan asked, "Xiao Shuai? A boy?"
"Can't girls be cool?" Wu Xue smiled as she opened the aluminum lunchbox in front of her. Seeing the carefully prepared food inside, she quickly grabbed her chopsticks and took a bite: "It's delicious! It must have been made by Sixth Sister!"
“That’s right.” Chen Zhenzhu and Xiaobai sat to one side and said with smiles.
"No, I have to talk to the teacher. Boys' mouths are so sharp they're like shards of glass, and they're not being disciplined at all." Uncle Lu couldn't sit still. He paced back and forth in the meeting room, then slapped his thigh and said, "You guys eat your food, I'll go ask where the teacher is."
Wu Xue almost choked, and quickly pulled Uncle Lu aside, saying, "Uncle, please don't go. The teacher is actually very nice. She takes good care of me and is very strict with the boys. If there are any problems, I will definitely report to the teacher and will never let the adults worry."
“...Alright then.” Uncle Lu sat back down, took a new pencil case out of his pocket, shook it a couple of times, and handed it to Wu Xue: “Here’s a little gift for you.”
Wu Xue opened the trendy pencil case and saw that it was filled with fountain pens and ballpoint pens: "Thank you, Uncle. I will study hard."
Xiao Bai quickly replied, "I have one too."
She took out a talisman and handed it to Wu Xue, saying, "Niu Niu, this is a talisman that my dad got from Lingshan Temple and had blessed. Although he doesn't let people believe in this stuff outside, he always feels at ease knowing I'm wearing it."
"I can't take this, sister. You should keep it for yourself." Wu Xue knew that she was also a police officer and was really afraid that she might be in danger.
Xiao Bai pulled out another handful from his pocket and divided them out one by one: "It's okay, there are still plenty left."
"That's wonderful, I love it." Chen Zhenzhu also had to get one, embroidered with "Safe Travels," and carefully placed it in her wallet.
When it was Yuan Jiangxue's turn, she took out a wool sweater from her clothing bag: "It's pure wool, so you have to hand wash it because it shrinks easily. Wear it under an undershirt when it's cold, otherwise it will feel itchy."
"This sweater is so beautiful." Wu Xue put down her chopsticks, wiped her hands, and then touched it.
Children are children after all; when faced with an expensive gift, they hesitated to make a decision and turned to look at their mother.
Yuan Juan smiled and said, "Take it. I even helped you choose the size."
"Thank you, Auntie! I will definitely cherish wearing it."
"Hey, our family is in the clothing business, you'll need plenty of clothes from now on, wear whatever you like."
"Hey!" Wu Xue said, but still carefully folded the warm yellow wool sweater. To her, it was as warm as the winter sun.
Caught off guard, Brother Leng only had a small sandalwood coffin in his pocket that he played with, and after thinking about it, he didn't dare to take it out.
They're all so cunning.
Brother Leng, who arrived empty-handed, coughed and said when he saw everyone looking at him, "I also brought you a gift."
"Wow, what is it?" Wu Xue said expectantly, "Everyone has been so kind to me, I really don't know how to repay them."
"Just give me a round of applause," Brother Leng cleared his throat and said, "I'll sing you a popular song called 'Xiao Fang,' and I sincerely hope you'll like it."
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Author's Note: Pearl: Brother, I think your head looks a bit square.
***
See you tomorrow, there's a red envelope coming! [Let me see]
Don't miss the lottery draw tomorrow at noon!
***
The food section references and modifies recipes, Junxingshi, and online resources.
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