Chapter 90 Spicy Noodles "Is there some misunderstanding?"...
"What's wrong, Hehe? Did something happen?"
"No, we're getting married, why don't you agree?"
Along the way, Ji Yu had already dreamt of taking his beloved wife and daughter on a picnic. The smile on his lips was even harder to suppress than someone else's. Suddenly, he heard someone say, "I disagree."
With a "snap," the dream shattered.
Ignoring Ji Yu's breakdown, Chen Muhe continued to explain the various disadvantages of marriage to her sister, trying to pull her back from the brink of disaster.
She has been reflecting on her past memories and the current situation at home, and her final conclusion is that her older sister is still young and should wait a few more years before getting married.
Chen Muhe argued, "We are twin sisters. We've always done everything together since we were little, so of course we'll get married together."
"Shen Hetong proposed to you too?" Chen Mian knew their progress wasn't that fast, so she teased her on purpose.
When the familiar name was spoken by her family, Chen Muhe's eyelashes trembled slightly, her heart skipped a beat, and the image of that handsome figure in a suit and leather shoes involuntarily flashed through her mind.
Along with that came another persistent figure.
Chen Muhe quickly shook her head, kicking the two mischievous figures out of her mind, and forced herself to remain calm as she dropped a bombshell: "Professor Shen already has a wife, so don't joke about him anymore, sis."
"?!"
Not only was Chen Mian surprised, but even Ji Yu, who was still sulking, showed a look of shock.
Ji Yu and his fiancée exchanged a quick glance. Something was off; they seemed perfectly fine the last time they met. Could his sister-in-law be here to cause trouble because she'd suffered a heartbreak herself?
Faced with Ji Yu's gossipy yet gloating gaze, Chen Mian opened her round almond-shaped eyes wide, glared at him fiercely, and then turned to comfort her younger sister.
"Is there some misunderstanding?" Considering her sister's taciturn nature, Chen Mian offered a tactful suggestion: "If there's a misunderstanding between the two of you, just talk it out. Don't keep it to yourself."
Chen Muhe replied sarcastically, "What misunderstanding could there be? He admitted it himself."
She looked up at the azure sky, her eyes slightly moist. The next second, she quickly blinked a few times to change the subject.
"Let's not talk about me anymore. Your matter is the most important thing right now."
"But yours is still more important."
"You are important."
"You are more important."
Lin Huijun lifted the curtain and saw her two daughters bickering in the yard. She didn't seem surprised by her younger daughter's sudden appearance.
"What's this about importance? What are you talking about? Come in and eat."
Just as Chen Muhe was about to speak, Ji Yu greeted her warmly with bags and packages, "What are you having for dinner today, Aunt Lin? It smells so good."
After saying that, he exaggeratedly took a deep sniff and said, "It smells amazing, I could smell it from far away."
Lin Huijun was so amused by Ji Yu's exaggerated performance that she laughed uproariously.
These kids have never been so talkative before. What's wrong with them all today?
The Chen family's dining table was unusually full today, with four members of the Chen family and three members of the Ji family.
After several months, the once somewhat monotonous living room has been transformed into a warm and comfortable space.
On the dining table and coffee table, there was an oddly shaped vase, which Lin Huijun bought at the market. Inside were wildflowers and weeds that Chen Yongliang had picked by the field that morning.
The colorful plaid blanket on the sofa was a gift from Aiyili, and even the wooden stool had a cattail-woven cushion thoughtfully provided.
On the sideboard, there was a cushion that Lin Huijun had half-crocheted. The pink and blue pattern was already taking shape, and the yarn used was taken from Chen Mian's old sweater.
By the time she finished crocheting, winter had arrived.
Lin Huijun looked at Ji Yu's family and said, "I'm so sorry, I didn't expect you to come today. We didn't prepare any dishes at home."
"These are the chilies that Ayili gave me a few days ago. They're called spicy skin chilies. She said they're especially good for mixing with noodles, so I tried it according to her recipe. Please don't think they're too cheap."
Several exquisite plates with patterns characteristic of Xinjiang were set on the wooden dining table.
Each plate was evenly arranged with chewy hand-pulled noodles and stir-fried pork with spicy peppers, along with several small cold dishes carefully prepared by Lin Huijun.
The bright red chili peppers have a soft, chewy, and slightly sweet taste. To make them, fresh chilies need to be picked, dried, and then soaked in warm water.
The flesh is thick and has a unique flavor.
The type of meat used in stir-fried pork with spicy skin is also important; some families use mutton, while others use beef.
However, the same thing applies: the sliced meat must be marinated in advance with seasonings such as soy sauce, cornstarch, eggs, and cooking wine, and then oil is used to lock in the moisture.
This way, the stir-fried meat won't become dry. Adding onions and tomatoes further enhances the overall flavor.
To make hand-pulled noodles, the dough needs to be kneaded and rested three times. After resting for a period of time, roll out the smooth dough with a rolling pin, spread a layer of oil on it, and cut it into strips about the thickness of a finger.
After the second proofing, gently pull the noodles, spread oil on the bottom of the bowl, and coil the noodles up like mosquito coils to continue proofing.
Only after the final proofing is complete can the noodles be stretched for the final time. The longest noodles can be wrapped around outstretched arms several times without breaking.
Before her mother could finish introducing the dish, Chen Mianmian had already eagerly mixed the spicy stir-fried meat and hand-pulled noodles in the plate.
With one bite, the richness of the spicy skin, the freshness of the mutton, and the chewiness of the noodles collide in your mouth, making your mouth water.
"Your cooking tastes just like the ones in restaurants!" Ji Yu said, racking her brains for words as she ate, but in the end, she simply gave a thumbs up.
He was truly at his wit's end. He had finally managed to appease everyone, and they were about to set a date for their wedding when suddenly a heartbroken sister-in-law appeared out of nowhere.
Now all I can do is cling to my future mother-in-law, hoping she'll take pity on me.
Yu Xiaoyue had met Chen Muhe once before. She was very quiet and well-behaved, and Yu Xiaoyue had a good impression of her, so she also started calling her Hehe.
"Hehe, how long will you be staying at home this time?" Yu Xiaoyue asked with concern.
The wedding preparations for the two families' children have just begun. The eldest son of the Chen family is in the army and trains year-round, while the younger daughter is said to be doing scientific research at school. Both of them are very busy, and it is unknown whether they will have time to attend the wedding.
Chen Muhe replied softly, "I'm not leaving again after I come back this time."
She explained the situation to everyone in a soft voice. Although everyone felt it was a bit of a pity, being assigned to the Agricultural Bureau was still a very good job.
Moreover, since the girl lives close to home, it's easier for her family to take care of her. Yu Xiaoyue was already secretly considering whether there was a suitable young man she could introduce to her.
Lin Huijun looked at her youngest daughter with a mixture of surprise and worry. As parents, they would naturally want their children to stay by their side if possible.
But at the same time, I also worry about whether it will affect my child's future.
None of her children are easy to deal with; they all have very strong opinions.
The eldest brother gave up a perfectly good university education and went to the army without saying a word.
Her second son was staying at home doing well, but suddenly he was determined to come to Xinjiang. Fortunately, the whole family is here now, so she feels a little more at ease.
But now, the only college student in the family, the most sensible and obedient third child, why did he suddenly do this?
Before Lin Huijun could voice her concerns, Chen Muhe cut her off.
"Mom, don't worry, I'll tell you the details tonight." Chen Muhe turned to look at her sister, changing the subject.
"My sister and I are twins, born on the same day. I just graduated from university and I'm not that old. My sister and I share the same birthday, so we shouldn't be in such a rush to get married, right?"
After saying that, she avoided her parents' gaze and turned to stare fiercely at Ji Yu.
Facing the intimidating gaze of her sister-in-law, who seemed heartbroken, Ji Yu felt uneasy and anxious, fearing that the wedding would be ruined.
He knew that Chen Mian was still young and could get married in a few years, but he was getting old.
"What nonsense are you talking about, child? There are adults here. You're being rude."
Lin Huijun was startled when she heard her youngest daughter's words. She quickly patted her daughter and tried to smooth things over with a laugh.
"Please don't be offended, in-laws. The two children are very close, and we just can't bear to part with them."
With tears in her eyes, Chen Muhe stubbornly continued, "It's not that I'm reluctant to let her go, it's just that I don't want her to get married and have children so early."
She was terrified that the story would repeat itself, even if the male protagonist in the story was a different person.
Ji Yu had no idea that her sister-in-law was worried about this, and said helplessly, "My family doesn't have a throne to inherit. Even if your sister doesn't want to have children in the future, that's fine with her."
"real?"
"Absolutely true."
Chen Muhe: "Swear it."
"Alright, let's continue eating. We can talk about the wedding another day," Chen Mianmian said, changing the subject as her sister's words became increasingly inappropriate.
"I saw today that the peaches on the tree are almost fully colored, so I estimate they can be picked in a few more days."
Yu Xiaoyue, who has extensive experience, inquired about the workers.
Xinjiang is rich in fruits, and June is a major harvest season. Although many migrant workers will arrive during this period, it's best to make arrangements in advance to be on the safe side.
On the other hand, the merchants who want to buy the fruit need to be contacted in advance, because fruit, unlike dried goods, cannot wait.
Chen Mian smiled mysteriously, keeping everyone in suspense, "You'll find out when the time comes. Everyone, please try the peaches first."
As they were talking, Ji Yu brought out freshly washed peaches from the kitchen.
Lin Huijun helped distribute the fruit to the group; there weren't many, so each person only received one or two.
Yu Xiaoyue knew that this was the first year and the peach yield was not high. The Chen family was counting on selling the peaches from the trees to make money, so she declined, saying, "I don't know what's wrong with me lately, I don't like sweet things. Lao Ji and I will just have one each."
"No need, there's plenty in the field. I'll pick some for you to take back with you when you leave," Lin Huijun said warmly.
Not to mention that the two families will be in-laws in the future, just considering the help the Ji family has given to the Chen family in the past, she would never be stingy.
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Author's Note: A new round of struggle [melted]
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