While the braised pork was simmering in the pot, Xiao Yunying prepared the next dish.
I cut off a piece of pork belly, and threw the rest of the meat and bones into the supermarket to cook tomorrow.
I washed the pork belly and peeled potatoes with water, then sliced them and then shredded them.
After finishing his candied hawthorn, Luo Chen went into the kitchen and said, "I'll start the fire for you."
Actually, it wasn't necessary, but Xiao Yunying didn't refuse: "Sure."
Anyway, all the remaining materials are prepared, so there's no need to worry about him seeing what I'm doing.
The braised pork in the pot was already emitting a fragrant aroma. Luo Chen sniffed and then watched as the woman skillfully shredded potatoes.
When did she become such a good cook?
Xiao Yunying had no intention of hiding her culinary skills.
In her previous life, due to health reasons, she was a walking pharmacy until she was ten years old, taking all kinds of Chinese and Western medicines, both for treating illnesses and for maintaining health, almost every day.
My health hasn't improved, and my appetite has gotten even worse.
To treat her illness, she couldn't stop taking the medicine, so her mother diligently studied cooking and prepared a variety of dishes for her, successfully spoiling her with her tastes.
She can tolerate a harsh living environment, but she cannot tolerate bad food.
As for whether the children would notice anything amiss, to be honest, she wasn't too worried or concerned.
They're just a few kids. Even if they figured something out, how many people would believe them if they told others?
As long as the original owner's parents acknowledge her, it's impossible for the villagers not to believe her biological parents but to believe these children who "make up stories because they hate their wicked stepmother who always beats and scolds them."
Xiao Yunying quickly shredded the potatoes and put them in a basin of water to soak. She also chopped some garlic and scallions to use in stir-frying.
I scooped out a whole ladle of rice from the rice bag, rinsed it twice, and suddenly remembered something.
"Luo Chen, do you know how to steam rice?"
She had only ever used an electric rice cooker to steam rice, never this kind of large iron pot.
"Aren't you going to cook porridge?"
"No, let's have white rice tonight."
Luo Chen frowned, looking disapproving, but finally said, "I will."
"Then you can steam the rice in a bit."
Xiao Yunying placed the washed rice on the stove and then tidied up the area.
The side dishes are ready, the knife and cutting board are washed and set aside, and the dirty water bucket is taken out to be poured out.
When I got back and washed my hands, the moment I opened the pot lid, a burst of hot steam mixed with a delicious aroma wafted out.
Three heads peeked in through the doorway, especially Luo Li, whose drool was already dripping from the corner of his mouth.
Insert chopsticks into the meat to check if it's almost done, then start stir-frying to reduce the sauce.
He first ladled out a bowl and then called Luo Yang over: "Take this bowl of braised pork to your Grandma Yang."
Luo Li exclaimed, "Why give the meat to someone else?"
"It's because Aunt Yang used to secretly bring you a lot of food."
When she gave it to the original owner, the original owner refused to accept it, so she secretly gave it to the child to eat.
The original owner had discovered it several times, but simply turned a blind eye and pretended not to know.
Luo Li realized she had said the wrong thing: "That's not what I meant, it's just, it's just..."
He didn't know what came over him; he blurted out the words without thinking.
"I know you're not a stingy kid, you're just craving meat. Don't worry, there's still some in the pot."
Xiao Yunying divided the remaining meat in the pot into two portions and gave Luo Chen the rinsed rice: "You cook the rice first, I'll go and take some braised pork to my mother."
To save money on lamp oil, the villagers eat dinner early, and before it gets dark, there are hardly any people on the road.
Carrying the braised pork back to her parents' home, Xiao Yunying pounded on the door: "Mother, open the door."
She realized that you can't knock on doors too gently in the village; if you don't use force or shout, people won't hear you at all.
Her sister-in-law opened the door and was clearly taken aback when she saw Xiao Yunying carrying a bowl of meat: "Yunying is back, come in quickly."
Upon entering the main room, the family was having dinner. Mu Lianrong hurriedly stood up and exclaimed, "It really is my daughter who's back!"
It's no wonder Mu Lianrong was so surprised. Ever since the original owner returned last year to borrow grain and was ridiculed by her second sister-in-law, she has never returned.
"Mom, I made braised pork. I'll bring it over for you to try."
"You silly child, you finally managed to buy some meat and then went to all that trouble to bring it over."
"Have Father and my eldest and second brothers gone into the mountains and not returned yet?"
The original owner's father was a renowned hunter in the surrounding area. He farmed on weekdays and would take his son into the mountains during the off-season. His family was better off than the average family, so they had the means to spoil the original owner.
"That's right. Your dad said to stay a few more days before it snows, because once it snows, we won't be able to go deep into the mountains anymore."
The eldest sister-in-law, Zhang, took a large bowl and poured out the meat: "My sister-in-law's cooking skills have improved a lot. This stewed meat smells delicious."
Xiao Yunying politely replied, "I got into it from cooking so often."
Mu Lianrong asked, "Have you not eaten yet? Sit down and eat with us."
"No need, Mother. The children are waiting for me at home. I'll go back now."
"Alright, then you should go back and eat quickly."
"I'm leaving now, Mother. Sister-in-law, please stay a while. Don't see me off."
After seeing Xiao Yunying off, Mu Lianrong happily picked up a piece of meat and ate it: "Hurry up, everyone try the meat my daughter made, it's so delicious."
Zhang's youngest son took a bite and exclaimed, "Grandma, Auntie's meat is so delicious!"
"That's right, don't you know whose daughter she is? Here, if you like it, have another piece."
The second daughter-in-law, Wang, curled her lip and said, "It's just a piece of meat, how delicious can it be?"
Mu Lianrong's face immediately darkened: "My daughter gave me this meat. Whether it's good or not is none of your business."
“Mother, don’t think we don’t know. She’s using the money you gave her to buy you meat. She’s really good at scheming. If she’s so filial, why hasn’t she come back for so long?”
Mu Lianrong slammed her hand on the table in anger: "I can give my money to whomever I want. That's my daughter, and I can spend it on her if I want. I'm still the one in charge of this family. If you can't stand it, then you should separate from the second son and run the household yourself!"
Seeing that her mother-in-law was really angry, Zhang quickly tried to comfort her: "Mother, don't be angry. My sister-in-law didn't mean it that way. The family is doing so well now, how could she possibly be thinking about dividing the family property?"
Wang dared not say anything else, and lowered her head to admit her mistake: "Mother, please don't be angry, I misspoke."
Mu Lianrong didn't press the matter further: "Alright, let's eat quickly."
Everyone picked up their chopsticks again, and the table became very quiet, the relaxed and joyful atmosphere from before gone.
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