Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Even a crab is so pretentious...
Yellow croaker, swimming crabs, and oysters are all fresh seafood. Liang Xin prepared the frozen lamb and put it in the living room to cool and solidify, then returned to the kitchen to process the oysters.
Oysters come in different sizes. Liang Xin shells the small ones, picks out the meat, and washes them in salt water. She prepares a charcoal brazier and wire mesh for the big ones, and puts garlic, chili rings, mung bean vermicelli on them to make grilled oysters.
Clean the oyster meat and set it aside.
I carried the basket of swimming crabs to the pool in the yard, got a knife and a chopping board, and scrubbed the big, plump swimming crabs with a toothbrush. I wanted to open the crab shell, but the shell of a live crab was difficult to open.
The swimming crab knew that it was facing a life-threatening crisis. It stared at Liang Xin with its two small round eyes and raised its claws to attack.
Liang Xin brushed its eyes with a toothbrush, and the crab's claws immediately became more fierce.
A pair of scissors was poked into the crab shell to pry it open, and the crab claws instantly drooped down obediently.
I cut off the crab stomach, heart and gills. I don't know why, but I got goose bumps when I saw the soft hair on the crab gills. I didn't need to touch them directly with my hands like I did when eating hairy crabs. I just cut them off with one snip of the scissors, cut off the little legs, put them on the chopping board, split them in half with the claws, and then split them in half again.
The green onions I bought at the vegetable market today were not enough, so I went to the vegetable garden of Deputy Battalion Commander Lei’s house next door, pulled some green onions, peeled them and cut them into sections. Then I heard footsteps coming from the door.
Liang Xin looked outside while stirring the eggs. When she saw Zheng Xiaojun, she said, "Here? We can eat soon."
"Such a big event." Zheng Xiaojun smiled flattered, "I've never seen so many dishes during the Chinese New Year at home!"
"Don't listen to him."
Lu Chongfeng walked to the sink and turned on the faucet. "In his stomach, there is nothing but ink and oil. He spends half of the month in state-owned hotels, foreign restaurants, and Lao Mo's restaurant."
"You are slandering us intellectuals!"
Zheng Xiaojun patted the pen on his chest, "Be careful, otherwise I will let you know what it means to offend the pen holder... Eating noodles is good enough, Comrade Liang Xin."
Lu Chongfeng retracted his gaze and walked to the kitchen to see the seafood on the plates, bowls, and baskets. "The service center has brought in so many seafood products."
"It was sent by the secretary of Xiahe Brigade and the members of the commune. I exchanged it for candy, eggs and bacon."
To avoid the trouble of different understandings in the future, Liang Xin explained clearly and looked at his hands, "Did you wash them with soap?"
“I used it.”
Lu Chongfeng had just finished answering when he saw Zheng Xiaojun coming over after washing his hands. He then looked at Liang Xin and discovered that Liang Xin had already picked up the oysters and poured them into the egg and sweet potato starch.
No one cared whether Zheng Xiaojun washed his hands with soap.
special?
This is special, right?
Liang Xin is only special to him!
Lu Chongfeng straightened his chest and walked to the stove, "What are you doing?"
"Oyster omelet." Liang Xin realized that he didn't seem to understand. "It's oyster omelet. Oyster omelet. These oysters are too small, just perfect for this snack."
Zheng Xiaojun: "What's the big one for?"
"barbecue."
"Barbecue?" Zheng Xiaojun was puzzled. "Is it the grilled lamb skewers under the archway? Can oysters be grilled?"
Lu Chongfeng said, "I'll go buy a charcoal basin and iron net this afternoon and bring them back to you."
Liang Xin looked up and gave Lu Chongfeng an appreciative look.
sweet.
This is the sweet feeling!
Lu Chongfeng raised the corner of his lips and was about to go around to the stove to light a fire when Zheng Xiaojun ran over and sat down.
Liang Xin quickly said, "I don't need your help, Chong Feng can help me."
I only need him, no one else's help is needed.
special.
Still special!
The corners of Lu Chongfeng's lips curled higher. He grabbed Zheng Xiaojun's collar, pulled him up and threw him aside. He looked at him proudly, picked up the newspaper, lit the fire, put it in the stove, and added firewood.
"What kind of look?"
Zheng Xiaojun looked at the bowl in Liang Xin's hand. "I never thought I could eat fresh seafood today. I haven't eaten live seafood in all these years in Jiangjing. Comrade Liang Xin, you are really good at both being a lady and a cook. Whoever marries you will be like a top scholar."
Liang Xin was amused. "You cultured people not only write beautiful manuscripts, but also speak beautifully."
"I'm speaking the truth from my heart." Zheng Xiaojun glanced at Lu Chongfeng, a strange smile appeared on his face, "Whoever marries you will be blessed."
"Fu Lu is one of the four old things, a feudal superstition that hinders social progress." Lu Chongfeng snorted, "However, Liang Xin is indeed my blessing."
Liang Xin's hand slipped and she poured too much oil. She looked up at Lu Chongfeng who was sitting in front of the stove and put away the oil bottle. "Don't use too high a heat. Just medium heat is fine."
Lu Chongfeng picked up the fire tongs, moved the ashes and adjusted the fire.
"Comrade Liang Xin." Zheng Xiaojun wiped the clean stove tiles with a rag, "Is Lu Chongfeng your blessing?"
A bowl of sweet potato noodles, eggs, and oysters were all slid into the pot. Under the fire in the stove, they immediately took shape. Liang Xin hurriedly picked up the spatula and spread it into a pancake shape. She turned to look at Zheng Xiaojun, "Shouldn't you scholars be more careful about the impact of your words?"
"that is!"
Lu Chongfeng smelled the aroma that instantly aroused his taste buds, "His brain has been damaged by reading banned books, don't bother with him."
Zheng Xiaojun looked at Lu Chongfeng and shook his head. The reason why his IQ was so high was because he lacked a large part of his EQ.
The delicious and fragrant oyster omelet was cooked and taken out of the pan. Zheng Xiaojun smelled the unique seafood flavor and felt hungry. He temporarily put the matter of love behind him.
Liang Xin poured oil into the pot, picked up the swimming crabs, dipped them in corn starch, and put them into the pan one by one by holding the crab claws. Tiny bubbles sizzled in the big pot, and the crabs were fried in oil. Even she couldn't help swallowing her saliva. The other two people who had never eaten this way were staring in amazement.
"Hey, Liangxin, what's burning in your house again!"
Li Mao's head popped up from the top of the wall again, "How come the aroma of my fried yellow croaker can't cover the aroma of your cooking? Look how greedy our children are!"
Liang Xin shouted toward the window: "Stir-fried swimming crab with scallions and ginger!"
Li Mao: "Crab? Aren't crabs eaten steamed? Why are they stir-fried? That would waste a lot of oil!"
Liang Xin lifted the lid of the pot and saw that the crab meat in the pot had all turned into an attractive golden color, with fat and roe filling the house with fragrance. She sprinkled a handful of chopped green onions on the crab meat and stir-fried it until the sauce thickened.
First, he put a large enamel plate on the lid of the steamed rice pot, then took out another enamel plate, took out another portion, and specially placed a crab shell on it.
The crab shell instantly brightens up a plate of fried crabs, making you drool.
"Take it to the three kids next door."
Zheng Xiaojun: "I'm free, I'll do it."
Lu Chongfeng slapped his hand away, picked up the steaming crab and walked out of the kitchen with his head held high. When he saw Li Mao on the wall, he raised the plate and said, "My family asked me to serve it to your three children."
Li Mao was stunned. "How can this be so embarrassing? This dish must have been fried with a lot of oil to have such a delicious taste."
Lu Chongfeng was too lazy to talk too much, "Daqiang, come and serve the dishes."
"oh!"
A flurry of hurried footsteps ran from the next yard to the front hall. Daqiang took the lead, followed by Erqiang and Xiaodan. The three little faces were flushed and filled with excitement.
When Daqiang saw the crabs, he couldn't help but exclaimed "Wow" and looked towards the kitchen. "Thank you, aunt! Thank you, uncle!"
Lu Chongfeng laughed, "You are quite smart."
Liang Xin had just used the sorghum broom to clean the big pot when she heard Li Mao's exclamation from the top of the wall, swallowing his saliva:
"Oh Liang Xin, I've lived for so many years, and this is the first time I know that crabs can be so delicious! Your hands and brain are really different from ordinary people. Do books teach this?"
“It’s really delicious!”
Zheng Xiaojun grabbed the crab claws with his hands and bit off the fried crab meat. His mouth was full of crab meat. It was so delicious that he couldn't help but close his eyes and enjoy it. He sighed, "Comrade Liang Xin, if I had known earlier..."
Lu Chongfeng gave him a murderous look and Zheng Xiaojun suddenly shut his mouth.
"Knew what?"
Liang Xin was holding a plate of stir-fried shredded pork with artemisia and dried tofu, and looked at the frozen lamb on the low cabinet. "The frozen lamb is not frozen yet, I'll get some lamb out for you to drink with."
"No."
Zheng Xiaojun waved his hands quickly, "Let it freeze tomorrow, I'll come back to eat it."
Lu Chongfeng: “….”
Liang Xin chuckled and put the dish cover back on, "That's fine too."
He turned around and walked back to the kitchen.
Lu Chongfeng: "What are you going to do?"
"handwashing."
Zheng Xiaojun came up to Lu Chongfeng and said, "I take back what I said before."
The corners of Lu Chongfeng's lips curled up.
"There are indeed many good women, but a good woman like Liang Xin is not comparable to ordinary people."
Lu Chongfeng's lips tightened slightly, ".......be careful with your words, kid."
"Don't let your imagination run wild." Zheng Xiaojun gnawed on a crab. "I'm happy for you, and at most a little envious."
"Liang Xin treats me very special." Lu Chongfeng looked at the backyard.
Zheng Xiaojun: "What's so special about it?"
Lu Chongfeng: "...Are you blind?"
“I really didn’t see that.”
"...Compared to you, I am special."
"What are you competing with me in?" Zheng Xiaojun bit his crab claws, unable to move. "But what exactly do you mean?"
Lu Chongfeng didn't want to say.
"It can only be understood, not expressed in words."
"I think you are just imagining things." Zheng Xiaojun pointed at the bowl. "According to your imaginings, I still think I am special. Liang Xin picked up the fattest crab for me right away, and your bowl is still empty."
Lu Chongfeng's face darkened, and his dark eyes stared at the crab claws that Zheng Xiaojun couldn't bite.
Liang Xin washed her hands and came back to sit at the dining table. Looking at Zheng Xiaojun, who was eating with oil dripping from his mouth and a happy face, she no longer needed to ask if the food was delicious. She looked at Lu Chongfeng, who had a bad face, and asked, "Why don't you eat?"
Lu Chongfeng: "...I can't eat it."
Zheng Xiaojun looked up in surprise.
Liang Xin was also surprised. "These are all cleaned before cooking. There is no need to peel them. You can just pick them up and bite them. Remember to spit out the shells."
Lu Chongfeng pointed at the crab claws and said, "I want to eat this, but I can't eat it."
Liang Xin got up and went to find a pair of scissors. After cleaning them, she picked up the crab claws and cut them open with force. She peeled off half of the crab shell and handed the crab meat to Lu Chongfeng. "If you have good teeth, it will taste better if you bite it directly."
Lu Chongfeng hid a smile in the corners of his eyes and lowered his head to bite off the crab meat.
Zheng Xiaojun was struck by lightning.
I remember when we were teenagers, they played military games and made chain guns out of bicycle chains.
They had to use pliers to break a bicycle chain into two sections, but Lu Chongfeng could break a chain into several sections with just his hands.
They took tools and went to remove the nuts from the door panels, sweating profusely. When Lu Chongfeng came, he not only removed the nuts, but also the door hinges and the door.
His brute strength was a shadow in the childhood of the children in the compound. No matter whether they were playing horse fighting or cockfighting and catching robbers, everyone wanted to form a pair with him, but no one was afraid to be his opponent.
Later, when he joined the army, he heard that he encountered rebels beating school teachers on the border. He simply broke out the rebels' teeth, which scared the rebels so much that they avoided him.
Not to mention how many enemies he had killed and how many medals he had earned on the battlefields over the years.
Now, this combat hero is feared by everyone in the military compound.
He was so pretentious that he couldn't even peel a crab!
Zheng Xiaojun's face was filled with indescribable expression as he looked at Lu Chongfeng.
Lu Chongfeng tasted the crab meat and glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
Zheng Xiaojun: “….”
"How about it?"
Lu Chongfeng sent Zheng Xiaojun out the door and propped one hand on the door. "Now you can see how close Liang Xin and I are?"
"I see."
Zheng Xiaojun looked at Lu Chongfeng's lips that turned up for a moment, "Love is indeed like fire, it can burn a person's strength into ashes, and make him become artificial and hypocritical."
Lu Chongfeng stood up straight, "I knew you couldn't say anything nice, I won't listen to your bullshit, anyway, Liang Xin and I are very good friends!"
Zheng Xiaojun: "I can see that you are deeply trapped in it and can't extricate yourself, Liang Xin..."
Lu Chongfeng, who had just said he would not listen, stared at Zheng Xiaojun again after hearing this, “What happened to Liang Xin?”
Zheng Xiaojun shook his head. "Liang Xin is very nice to you, but I think that's because Liang Xin is a nice person. Tell me, if I couldn't bite the crab claws just now, would Liang Xin help me cut the crab claws?"
"Bang!"
The small door of the teahouse closed instantly and the bolt was locked tightly.
The movement of the door attracted the people next door.
Xie Kangmei took a look, then retracted his gaze, walked into the main room with a large bowl in hand, and placed it in front of Yu Honghong, "Honghong, I cooked your favorite roasted potatoes and pork today."
"The food next door was cooked and they just sent it to Deputy Battalion Commander Lei's house without even asking us." Yu Honghong put down the handwritten novel and looked at Xie Kangmei, "You have offended two heroes like this, and you don't even have any neighborly feelings."
"That was just a coincidence."
Xie Kangmei served himself some rice and said, "If we had seen someone fall into the water that day, I would have been the hero."
Yu Honghong snorted, "Do you have the guts?"
"If I didn't have the guts, would I go and threaten Section Chief Lu's family for you?"
"......"
Seeing Yu Honghong not saying anything, Xie Kangmei heaved a sigh of relief and walked over with the rice. "Just because I'm not as lucky as them now doesn't mean I won't be as lucky as them in the future."
"luck?"
Yu Honghong suddenly sneered, "I was wondering why my luck is so bad. Section Chief Lu found someone worse than you. He didn't even have a job before coming here. As a result, Liang Xin not only became a water rescue hero, but also gave Section Chief Lu a third-class merit and advanced model. With just a mouth, he solved a major problem for the entire division. You, on the other hand, not only ruined your own future, but also almost implicated my dad."
"Third class merit?!"
Xie Kangmei's breathing was rapid, his eyes full of jealousy, "Why haven't I heard that Section Chief Lu is going to be awarded the third-class merit?"
"You're still asking me?" Yu Honghong put down her chopsticks. "You're the staff officer of the barracks department. Your section chief will be awarded the third-class merit soon. Everyone in the department knows about it, except you. And you're still talking to me about luck."
"It must be the leaders of the division and the base who wanted to please Commander Lu, so they awarded the third-class merit to Lu..."
"Just shut up!"
Yu Honghong glared at him angrily, "I find that you are becoming more and more out of character. You are completely different from before you got married. Who doesn't earn their medals with their lives? According to what you said, don't all the children in the chief's family have a drawer full of medals?"
Xie Kangmei knew the importance of the matter. She suppressed her jealousy, forced a smile, picked up a piece of meat and put it in Yu Honghong's bowl. "I was talking nonsense, Honghong, don't be angry with me. It's okay to scold me. I'm just worried that you will get angry and hurt yourself."
"It's all because of you acting on your own and causing so much trouble."
Yu Honghong's expression improved. "Even if I like gardens, the policy has just been relaxed. All those gardens in previous years have been destroyed. You know this well. Is it necessary to offend two popular heroes at this time?"
Xie Kangmei stroked Yu Honghong's back and said, "My wife taught me that I am not well-educated and short-sighted. Although I lost my mind and went to her house to take the house for her sake, I was indeed wrong."
"It's good that you know you're wrong." Yu Honghong's expression completely improved. "These houses are nothing. What you should look at are the newly built regimental and divisional houses, or even the general's houses in the base."
Xie Kangmei's eyes flashed with desire, and the hand that stroked Yu Honghong's back became softer. "It's a pity that I have offended Chief Lu and his stupid family members, and left a bad impression on the leaders of the base. I don't care about it myself, but I'm afraid that you will suffer with me in the future."
"My eyelids are shallow again."
Yu Honghong stood up and picked up a box of high-quality fabric from the cabinet. "This is bamboo-patterned Dacron curtain fabric. Section Chief Lu and his team are still in the process of preparing their new home. We brought generous gifts to apologize. As long as Section Chief Lu has no estrangement with you, the base commander will naturally have no problem with you, and my father will also look up to you."
Xie Kangmei looked unhappy. "I have already apologized. Do I need to bring such an expensive gift to apologize again?"
"Did your apology work?"
Xie Kangmei took a deep breath and went over to hug Yu Honghong, "You are the only one who truly cares about me. In this life, I will be your long-term worker and will never let you down."
Yu Honghong blushed, "What are you doing in broad daylight?"
The weather was cold, and Liang Xin woke up from a nap. She lifted the cover and saw that the frozen lamb had solidified into a translucent jelly. She didn't have to wait until the next day and could enjoy it in the evening.
Thinking of the taste of frozen lamb dipped in rice vinegar, Liang Xin swallowed her saliva and picked up a piece of spicy cabbage to satisfy her craving.
At noon, the crabs on the plates were eaten up by Zheng Xiaojun and Lu Chongfeng, but there were still eight swimming crabs in the basket. Liang Xin took out two of them, cleaned them, and prepared to cook seafood porridge with the leftover rice from lunch.
There was a sudden knock on the door.
Liang Xin put down the crab she had just chopped, washed her hands, and ran to open the door.
Lu Chongfeng walked in against the cold wind, holding a charcoal basin and a round iron net in his hands. "The coal is outside. Don't move. I'll get it."
"Chief Lu, let me help you carry it in."
Xie Kangmei suddenly walked over from the door of his house, picked up the sack of coal on the ground, smiled at Liang Xin, and was about to go in.
Liang Xin: “….”
"Liang Xin, just let him move." Yu Honghong held a box of cloth in her hand. "My mother insisted that I stay until after the Lantern Festival, so I didn't make it in time to pay New Year's greetings to you. I didn't expect that we not only lived in the same compartment on the train, but also got married on the same day and are now neighbors. It's really fate. By the way, this is something I brought for you when I went to the city to buy curtains. I wish you a happy wedding and peace in your new home."
Liang Xin held the two doors open, in the same posture as when Xie Kangmei came to threaten her that day.
She blocked the door, so the couple carrying the sack and the cloth box could not get in. "Have you been staying at home at the base?"
Yu Honghong smiled and nodded, "Yes, by the way, we came here today to formally apologize to you. My husband was anxious for me and offended you by coming to your house. I am really sorry."
"If you stay at home, you should be able to see Minister Yu every day." Liang Xin said, "Our family is in a special situation now. We cannot accept gifts, and we cannot ask comrades from the division or regiment to help us with work. Otherwise, if outsiders find out about our mistakes, the hard work of the entire writing team may be affected. Honghong, you are the child of a high-ranking official, you understand better than me."
Yu Honghong was originally embarrassed and was not very happy in her heart. The word "Honghong" immediately made her face bloom with a smile, and her tone became affectionate, "I forgot about this, Liangxin, fortunately you reminded me, otherwise I might have done something bad with good intentions. Then I will keep this cloth first, and I will give it to you after this period of time is over."
When Lu Chongfeng walked out, Xie Kangmei subconsciously took two steps back. He remembered the fatal feeling of suffocation on his neck that day, and even his breathing became abnormal.
"lay down."
As soon as Xie Kangmei heard Lu Chongfeng's words, he immediately put the sack on the ground.
Lu Chongfeng stepped forward, picked up the sack, and prepared to close the door.
Yu Honghong suddenly put her hand against the door, looked at Lu Chongfeng and said, "Chief Lu, I am really sorry for what happened that day. You should understand Kang Mei's desire to satisfy my preferences. I hope that you will let go of what happened that day because you are both sincere people. Our two families are so predestined, so we should get along as good neighbors in the future. What do you think?"
"Bang!"
Xie Kangmei hurriedly supported Yu Honghong, whose bangs were blown by the door wind, and angrily looked at the two tightly closed copper-ringed wooden doors, "This is too much!"
Yu Honghong's face was not very good either. This was the first time she had been treated so badly in her life. She turned around and said angrily, "Did you do something to Liang Xin that day that was even more excessive than what you admitted?"
"No!"
Xie Kangmei quickly explained: "He just said some threatening words. Liang Xin told the base leaders word for word. There is nothing else. It's Chief Lu who is petty. We have humbled ourselves so much, but he is still so angry and refuses to forgive us. This is the first time I have seen such a person!"
When Liang Xin heard what was said outside, she smiled and looked at the back of the "very angry" person.
Seafood porridge was stewing on a low fire in a honeycomb coal stove. A wire mesh was placed on the charcoal brazier, and it was filled with big, plump oysters that sizzled and emitted a fragrant aroma.
"Oh my god."
Li Mao appeared on the wall for no apparent number of times. "I climbed more walls in one day than I do in a year. It really took my life. Liang Xin, your family's life is too enviable!"
Liang Xin laughed out loud, and even Lu Chongfeng couldn't help laughing a few times.
"How can you talk like that?" Deputy Battalion Commander Lei also appeared on the wall. "Chief Lu, don't mind it. She didn't mean any other things and she won't say anything when she gets out."
"Yes, I won't say anything nonsense." Li Mao looked at the oysters sizzling with charcoal smoke on the charcoal basin, "How can this thing emit such a strong fragrance?"
Liang Xin picked up the roasted oysters and placed them on the enamel tray. "Would you like to try one?"
"No, if I eat any more, I will be too embarrassed to face people. Mainly, we don't have anything to give you."
Li Mao smelled the aroma of the cigarette that could make one drool. "How come so many unwanted things become so fragrant in your hands? I don't think there is much oil in these oysters. You are well-read and know much more than us."
After watching, Deputy Battalion Commander Lei felt that it was not good to keep staring at what others were eating, so he pulled his wife downstairs and said, "Alright, alright, go downstairs, let's cook dinner."
Liang Xin picked up the chopsticks, lifted up the oyster meat with the garlic and chili rings, put it in her mouth and took a bite of half. The tender and plump oyster meat with the garlic was extremely delicious. If it wasn't too hot, she would have wanted to swallow it in one bite.
Lu Chongfeng just opened his mouth slightly, thinking that it was food for him: "......"
He closed his mouth.
frown.
It seems that he is not that special to Liang Xin.
The oysters were roasted, and she first gave them to the family of Deputy Battalion Commander Lei next door.
The second one was given to herself.
The third one...I haven't asked him the third one yet.
I ate fresh and delicious grilled oysters and drank fragrant and smooth seafood porridge.
Liang Xin was walking around the backyard while Lu Chongfeng was tidying up the kitchen.
After they finished washing and lay down on the bed, Lu Chongfeng untied Liang Xin's braids.
Liang Xin remained calm. She didn't know if it was a psychological effect or if oysters really had that effect, but she felt that she was clinging tonight more than before.
But after untying her braids and helping her cover herself with the quilt, he didn't do anything else.
Liang Xin turned over, yawned, and slowly fell asleep.
I don’t know how much time had passed. Liang Xin had already had several dreams, and suddenly she was hugged and rocked.
It doesn't seem to be a psychological effect.
It's a matter of time.
Liang Xin was thinking in a daze, hesitating whether to push him away or hug him.
Suddenly, she heard Lu Chongfeng lean over to her ear and say, "If Zheng Xiaojun says at noon that he can't bite the crab claws, will you help him cut the crab claws?"
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