Xiao Yunying made sweet and sour sauce for the two carp and verbally instructed Zhang to make garlic paste for eating mutton.
"Sister-in-law, there are two small jars on the table containing dried ingredients, one spicy and one non-spicy, and a jar of chive blossom sauce. Bring them up with the jars, and whoever wants some can scoop it into their plate with a spoon."
The bowls were for drinking mutton soup, and she asked her mother to give each person a plate to put flatbread and dipping sauce for eating mutton.
While making pancakes, Wang chopped cherry radishes and made a cold salad with sweet and sour sauce: "Yunying, is this enough for us?"
Xiao Yunying was reducing the sauce on the lamb chops: "I'll just stir-fry some shredded potatoes, sister-in-law and second sister-in-law, you should go eat after you finish what you're doing."
The variety of dishes wasn't extensive, but the quantity was generous. A large pot of mutton soup and mutton was stewed, enough for so many people.
If you don't eat lamb, there are shredded potatoes, sweet and sour carp, and cold cherry radish salad, which is not bad, but there's not much meat and it's mostly vegetarian.
Mrs. Wang placed the cherry radishes on a plate: "No rush, I'll cut you some potato shreds when I get back."
Zhang brought the shredded mutton head and trotters to the reception room. Xiao Shanhai greeted the guests and then went to the kitchen.
"My daughter."
Xiao Yunying put lamb chops on a plate: "What's wrong, Dad?"
"You must be tired from cooking so many dishes."
Xiao Yunying asked Fang Rou to help serve the dishes while she washed the pot herself: "Dad is here to ask for wine, right?"
Xiao Shanhai paused for a moment, the words he had prepared stuck in his throat and he couldn't say them.
"Daughter, how did you know?"
Xiao Yunying smiled and said, "It's so obvious. So many meat dishes are on the table. If Father doesn't eat meat, what is he doing in the kitchen? There's no other reason than drinking."
Mu Lianrong sensed something was wrong when she saw her old man come in. She had been listening at the door, so she came in and said:
"Why are you drinking? Does your daughter think buying wine is free? All you know is drinking. Don't you have any idea how expensive this wine is?"
“My daughter hasn’t told me, so how would I know how much money it is? Besides, all the money I earn is with you, so why don’t you give some to my daughter?”
Mu Lianrong feigned reluctance and said, "I'll give my daughter some money tomorrow and have her buy some for you."
My old man doesn't have any other flaws; he doesn't gamble or visit prostitutes, he just likes to drink a little alcohol.
Moreover, he knows how to be moderate and even when he gets drunk occasionally, he won't cause trouble. He'll just go to bed and fall asleep without bothering anyone.
So she didn't really mind the old man drinking; she was just grumbling a little.
The wine her daughter bought looked expensive, and although she was a little reluctant to spend it, she wasn't a stingy person.
The old man is capable; money can be earned back after it's spent. He can't buy much, but buying him a small amount to satisfy his craving is fine.
Xiao Yunying said, "We'll talk about the money later, Father. The wine is under the cupboard. There are two jars, one with white wine and one with red wine. There are also small jars next to it. Could you spare some red wine for Mother and Aunt Yang to try?"
She didn't intend to accept the money; she just wanted to keep her mother calm for now and tell them about the distillery at a suitable time.
Xiao Shanhai happily carried out two jars, opened them, and smelled them: "Is this dark color wine? Why is it this color?"
"Because it's fruit wine made from grapes, it tastes quite good. Dad, you can try it yourself in a bit."
"It smells nice."
Xiao Shan Hai was overjoyed to have good wine to drink, and he poured half a jar into a small vat, saying, "Dad will carry it out for you."
Xiao Shanhai carried the wine jar out, and Xiao Yunying said, "Mother, I want to send some mutton to Third Grandmother's house to thank her for bringing me back that day."
Although it makes little difference whether she helped the elderly person or not—she didn't dare to use her strength at all—she was still much better than those who only talked the talk but didn't walk the walk.
"Alright, we should thank them. Your third grandparents have helped you a lot in the past. I'll pick out two good pieces of meat for your older brother to take over; he walks fast."
"Pour some more mutton soup, and wrap some of the various seasonings in oil paper. The food box is in the cupboard."
"Mom knows. You go ahead and cook the dishes. Hurry up and finish cooking so we can eat."
Mu Lianrong scooped a large piece of mutton out of the pot, let it cool slightly, sliced it, and arranged it on two full plates.
I wrapped various dipping sauces in oil paper, added a few leavened flatbreads, and put them all into a food box.
She took a porcelain basin, filled it with soup containing more mutton than offal, and asked Zhang to have her two sons deliver it to her.
"Talk to your third grandfather properly about how to eat it with the dipping sauce, which one is spicy, and how to avoid choking."
The two brothers carried the food out the door, and being long-legged and with big strides, they soon returned carrying a food box and a porcelain basin.
Xiao Yunsong said, "Third Grandfather said that mutton is good for replenishing qi and nourishing the body, and it warms the middle and lower body... Second Brother, what else did he say?"
He carried it all the way, but forgot about it as soon as he entered the door.
Xiao Yunbo placed an oil paper package on the table: "I don't remember exactly what it said, but it was something about getting too much internal heat from eating too much, and they gave me this herb to boil in water and drink."
Xiao Yunying washed the wok clean after stir-frying the shredded potatoes and set it aside.
"I know that mutton is warm in nature. Many doctors consider it to be a sweet, warm, and very hot food. Eating it in winter has a warming and nourishing effect, but eating too much can cause internal heat. Our family doesn't eat it every day, so it's fine."
She wiped her hands, came over, and opened the oil paper package. She recognized several of the herbs inside.
"Monk fruit, red dates, bamboo leaves, and licorice root—this should be a herbal tea recipe to clear heat and reduce internal fire. I'll brew it for you all in a bit."
The two brothers both looked disgusted and complained. Xiao Yunbai said, "Who would drink bitter medicine if they weren't sick or in pain?"
Xiao Yunying said, "This is herbal tea, it's not bitter. Winter is dry, and with the stove burning in the house, it's easy to feel hot inside. Drinking some herbal tea is good. Alright, the food is ready, go eat quickly."
She turned around, poured out some water, rinsed the herbs lightly, poured them into an earthenware pot, added water, and simmered them over a low flame.
Fang Rou asked, "What else do you need to do?"
"I'll get the kids some drinks, Mom. Hurry up and take my sister-in-law to eat. I'll be done in a bit."
The adults have wine to drink, so the children can't just stand by and watch.
Fang Rou stayed behind: "Let me help you, how do I do it?"
Xiao Yunying took out mugs and scooped two spoonfuls of honey grapefruit tea into each mug:
"Please bring me the kettle over there, pour water into the cup, and stir the honey in it."
Fang Rou poured water into a glass and stirred it: "What is this? It smells sweet and sour, is it made with honey?"
"It's made with honey and a fruit called pomelo. It's very delicious. I'll bring you a jar back later."
"No way, these are rare fruits you got from Young Master Chen, right? Honey isn't cheap either. Our whole family is already getting a good deal by coming to your house for a meal, how can we bring more things home?"
Xiao Yunying couldn't explain that these things were free, so she just gave them away and the supermarket would restock them on its own.
"Take it if you want; I need your help with something."
Fang Rou put down her cup: "What is it? Tell me."
"No rush, let's not talk about work during the New Year. Let's talk about it after the New Year."
"Alright, just let me know if you need any help."
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