Chapter 114 New Kitchen Utensils - So Dry They're Dying
The next morning, as soon as Ning Jia opened her eyes, she suddenly sat up abruptly in bed!
Ahhh, today is the day Bai Su goes out to train!
She quickly got out of bed and ran to the living room, looking left and right, searching high and low, but couldn't find Bai Su anywhere.
Most of the little people sat quietly in the work area, concentrating on making a new batch of sachets.
Since Ning's Sachet made it possible to order boxed sachets, orders for all kinds of sachets have been nonstop. It feels so good to be able to make money every day!
Seeing everyone working enthusiastically, Ning Jia quietly pulled He Meng aside, who was preparing herbs, and asked:
"He Meng, where is Bai Su?"
He Meng looked at her strangely, "You got up too late, Bai Su left a long time ago."
What? They've already left?
Ning Jia glanced at the clock on the wall again with some suspicion:
It's only a little past six o'clock, and it's only just gotten light. She's already leaving? She didn't even have a chance to properly say goodbye to Bai Su!
Ning Jia sighed regretfully. She had wanted to express her sadness, but seeing that everyone was going about their business as if nothing had happened, and even Bai Su's family members were calm, she suddenly had no one to confide in, and her sadness choked up.
She looked around blankly, then simply picked up her phone and sent a message to Zhou Chi, informing him that Bai Su had already left home.
Zhou Chi replied to the message immediately, expressing that he was feeling very sad at the moment!
Ning Jia's eyes lit up. Without even washing up, she picked up her phone and started sending messages non-stop.
After the two of them used various abbreviations, nicknames, hints, and even ugly cat and dog emojis to express their melancholy, Ning Jia finally felt relieved.
Ah, it's so nice to have someone to talk to about these things.
Just then, she suddenly remembered something she'd forgotten to record in her journal yesterday, and quickly sent Zhou Chi a picture of the "remains" of a chocolate cake, highly praising his baking skills:
[Ning Jia: My family members were absolutely blown away by this cake! If I hadn't stopped them, there probably wouldn't have been a crumb left...]
[Zhou Chi: Ugly dog smiling face.jpg Hope you like it!]
[Zhou Chi: I really hope they can have such a good appetite when they eat my cooking...]
[Ning Jia: Ugly cat patting head.jpg Keep going, that day will come!]
[Zhou Chi: Yeah, the intensive cooking training camp I signed up for starts tomorrow. I'll work hard!]
[Ning Jia: Keep it up! I wish you great success in your cooking!]
[Zhou Chi: Ugly cat with tears in its eyes.jpg Thank you!!]
After the two finished discussing their "illness"—no, their feelings—Ning Jia put down her phone, suddenly remembered something, and quickly asked Cang Lan:
"Chieftain, did Bai Su have breakfast before she left?"
Canglan shook her head, "They've all gone out to train, how could we possibly provide breakfast?"
Good heavens, did Bai Su not even have breakfast before leaving home?
Ning Jia couldn't help but feel a little sad, but seeing that everyone was calm, she tried her best to put all her worries aside and went to make breakfast for everyone in the family.
...
On Bai Su's first day away from home, things were the same as usual: people were working, studying, or playing.
Ning Jia looked at the densely packed to-do list in her notebook and began another busy day.
As soon as she finished breakfast, Ning Jia immediately rode her bike out to buy groceries.
She hasn't decided on today's menu yet because a new situation has arisen—
During dinner, she chatted with Chief Canglan about yesterday's physical examination. Canglan said that several young children had some stomach heat and stagnation, and several middle-aged children had some spleen dampness, but the symptoms were very mild and not a big problem.
Ning Jia listened for a while before she understood: it meant that these little guys were all a bit chubby, but the reasons for their chubbyness were different; some were too hot, and some had dampness.
If you have a hot stomach, eat something to cool down, such as winter melon, lotus root, and pear, which are all seasonal fruits and vegetables right now.
If you have dampness in your body, eat some light and warm foods, such as winter melon, yam, red beans and barley.
After talking about "fat people", they started talking about "thin people".
For example, Bai Su's little sister, Shan Nai.
Canglan told Ningjia that Shannai had been weak and sickly since childhood, and her digestive system was also weak. In addition, due to the hardships she had experienced, her health had never been properly restored.
Even though life is stable now, she is still thin and small, and needs to be taken care of slowly.
Ning Jia was also concerned about Xiao Shannai's health, so she suggested that she could give Shannai and a few other weaker members of the clan special treatment.
Canglan thought this was too much trouble and immediately shook her head in refusal.
But Ning Jia then said that she would provide specific guidance on the meals for this group, with Dong Kui actually in charge. Cang Lan hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
At this moment, Ning Jia was thinking about the special menu he would prepare for Shan Nai and Ze Lan.
Hmm, a nutritious and easy-to-digest dish... First and foremost, the ever-reliable steamed egg custard is a must.
Go buy some fresh shrimp, peel them, and make shrimp balls—they're delicious and nutritious!
Tofu is also a good choice. It's rich in plant protein, easy to digest, and kids love it.
Buy some more winter melon. Winter melon stewed with pork ribs is refreshing and nourishing. Autumn is here, everyone should nourish themselves.
There's also yam. Yam is good for the stomach. It's good to eat it steamed or mashed.
Ning Jia strolled around the market and quickly bought all the groceries for the day. In addition to the special menu items, she also bought vegetables and a lot of chicken legs, preparing to cook a big meat dish for the others.
A familiar stall owner at the market chatted idly with Ning Jia with a smile:
"You bought so many groceries again today?"
Ning Jia nodded with a smile, "Yes, there are a lot of people in my family, so I have to cook a lot of dishes every day!"
After all, it's a large family of over thirty people, so the amount of groceries we buy every day can't be taken lightly.
...
Ning Jia quickly took the groceries home. As soon as she put the groceries down, she checked the text messages on her phone and then hurriedly went to the delivery station to pick up a few newly arrived packages.
When Ning Jia changed into her slippers at the door, she saw little Dong Kui already squatting at the door, her little face propped up on her hands, looking like she had been waiting for a long time.
Upon seeing Ning Jia return, his eyes lit up immediately. He stood up abruptly, bowed deeply to Ning Jia, and said respectfully:
"Teacher Ning Jia, you're back."
This unexpected address caught Ning Jia off guard, and she thought she had misheard.
Seeing that Ning Jia wasn't as happy as expected, Dong Kui scratched her curly hair in confusion.
Didn't Dad tell him that since he became someone's student, he must know how to respect his teacher?
Why does Teacher Ning Jia look unhappy at all, instead of frightened?
Ning Jia had recovered from her shock and asked Dong Kui:
"Did the clan chief tell you everything?"
"Yes, Teacher Ning Jia, please guide me in the future."
Dongkui nodded with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness, and under Ning Jia's gaze, she involuntarily puffed out her small chest.
Seeing the child suddenly become reserved, Ning Jia also felt uncomfortable, especially when Dong Kui kept calling her "Teacher Ning Jia," which almost gave her goosebumps.
"Winter Okra, I need to talk to you about something."
"Please don't call me teacher anymore. I'm not a professional cooking instructor. Let's just get along like before."
"Oh, okay."
Dongkui nodded obediently, swallowing back the "Teacher Ning Jia" that almost slipped out. She blinked and asked impatiently:
"So, when can I start cooking?"
Ning Jia understood Dong Kui's eagerness at that moment, so she patted his little head and comforted him:
"Wait a moment, let me finish my other things and then we'll cook."
As for the other things Ning Jia mentioned, there was actually only one thing: the trial use of the sewing machine.
...
The sewing machine they had been looking forward to for several days suddenly appeared before their eyes. Gan Cao and Su Mu stood there in disbelief, staring at it for a long time before cautiously reaching out to touch the white casing.
Wow, it's completely different from what Ning Jia drew before. And it's much bigger than they imagined!
Gancao stared blankly at the machine, which was so much bigger than herself. "How are we going to use such a big sewing machine?"
Ning Jia had already found the instruction manual and was saying as she flipped through it:
"Don't worry, this sewing machine is quite easy to operate. I'll teach you how to use it in a bit."
Amidst everyone's expectant gazes, Ning Jia, who is not good with her hands, fiddled with the instructions for a long time before finally managing to embroider a crooked circle on a piece of cloth...
Wow... so that's how it's used!
The little people clapped in amazement.
This machine embroiders so fast! And it doesn't just embroider a single line; it embroiders such complex lines, and it looks very sturdy. It's really amazing!
Ning Jia shook her head helplessly, put down the fabric in her hand as if in surrender, and stopped trying to demonstrate.
"Forget it, I shouldn't force myself."
After confirming that the sewing machine worked, she immediately asked the seller for a lot of videos.
These videos cover basic sewing machine operation, how to make various small handkerchiefs and clothes, and how to use the included tool kits, etc.
Ning Jia projected all the videos onto the TV screen at once, so that the children could learn how to use them while watching the videos.
"Remember, when using a sewing machine, never stand under the needle, and also..."
Gancao and the others' faces flushed with excitement as they eagerly chimed in:
"Don't worry, we'll be careful."
This big thing called a sewing machine is so much fun! It's powerful and saves so much effort, making it incredibly convenient for making clothes.
Su Mu looked at the sewing machine with a face full of admiration:
"Brother Gancao, this sewing machine is really capable! It's much faster than sewing by hand!"
He realized what he was doing as soon as he finished speaking, quickly covered his mouth, and glanced at Gan Cao's face.
Gancao, standing to the side, chuckled, not at all bothered that she wasn't as good as the sewing machine, and excitedly said:
"With this sewing machine, making clothes will be much easier for us in the future. We just need to design the pattern in advance and then sew it according to the pattern."
Su Mu: "Yes, that's great!"
As the sewing machine started running, many little people curiously gathered around to watch Gan Cao and his team try it out.
Seeing licorice and sappanwood standing on either side of the sewing needle, working in perfect harmony to sew the fabric, a little figure suddenly raised his hand and asked:
"So, can this 'Sewing Chicken' also help us sew sachets?"
Ning Jia thought for a moment, "Ordinary sachets should be fine, but cat or dog sachets might not work?"
"After all, a sewing machine is a machine, a standardized operation, emphasizing efficiency and neatness. The cats and dogs made from it will probably be the more normal kind, without the... soul that people sew?"
"Our customers buy our own handmade personalized sachets. It's best to keep the original characteristics of these unique styles."
Yunzhu and Muxi from the planning team nodded in agreement, secretly regretting that Bai Su wasn't there, otherwise they could have had another little meeting.
Hearing Ning Jia's words, the little people were not disappointed; on the contrary, they were delighted.
"Great! Then we can still do our own work! Making sachets is the best!"
So, all the children who had been watching rushed back to the work area, leaving only the sewing machine on the coffee table and the two young tailors, Gancao and Sumu.
Ning Jia glanced at the long power cord next to the coffee table and felt that it wasn't very safe to leave the sewing machine there.
After all, the little ones are always walking back and forth on the sofa, either watching TV or resting and chatting. It would be so dangerous if they tripped over the power cord.
Besides, the coffee table is the dining room, and when the little ones eat, the sewing machine will have to be moved away, which is too much trouble.
She glanced around the living room and temporarily moved the sewing machine next to Gan Cao's embroidery group's workstation, but soon received protests from the other group members:
The embroidery group is usually quiet and takes their time to produce fine work. This sewing machine is capable, but it's so noisy that it makes it impossible for anyone to work!
Ning Jia had no choice but to move the sewing machine to the TV cabinet, where it was a distance from the work area and less noisy.
But this is only a temporary solution, because if you watch TV, the sound of the sewing machine will also interfere with the TV's sound, just like other noises...
Ning Jia shrugged helplessly.
It seems Bai Zhi was right. With more and more things to do at home, it is indeed necessary to re-plan the layout of the house.
"In short, you can use the sewing machines here for now, and we'll set up a separate tailoring room for you later."
Both licorice and sappanwood nodded, having no objections.
Their minds are now entirely focused on this new tool, the sewing machine, and they're still wondering how many new clothes it can make in a day.
Even if they put the sewing machine on the concrete ground outside, they can still happily sew clothes.
"Don't forget, this sewing machine is electric. If anything happens, turn it off immediately, and also..."
Ning Jia repeated the precautions for the appliances several times, and watched Gan Cao and the others operate them a few times before she felt relieved and walked towards the kitchen.
...
In the kitchen, Ning Jia took out a small, round, black object that she had just opened, placed it flat on the counter, and introduced it to Dong Kui:
"Winter Okra, this is called an induction cooker, it's a kitchen appliance that uses electricity to cook food."
Dongkui looked at the round pancake machine, which could support several of her own pancakes, with a puzzled expression, thinking she had misheard.
"Is this also a stove that can be used to start a fire?"
"This stove is different from the gas stove in the kitchen. It doesn't have an open flame. It mainly uses electricity to heat the food, so it's safer and more suitable for you to cook."
Ning Jia gave a simple explanation of the principle of the induction cooker. Dong Kui listened with a blank expression, seemingly understanding but not quite, and couldn't imagine how she could cook with this "big round pancake".
After Ning Jia took out a small round pot, slightly larger than a regular cup, placed it on the induction cooker, plugged it in, turned it on, and demonstrated to Dong Kui how to boil water, Dong Kui's eyes widened suddenly:
"Ah, I see, I understand now."
"Now you understand!"
Ning Jia said with a smile:
"Just use this induction cooker like a stove. I've already bought a matching steamer, soup pot, and frying pan, which should be enough to meet my daily cooking needs."
As she spoke, she magically placed miniature cooking utensils one by one next to the induction cooker.
Among them were not only various small pots, but also small spatulas, small soup spoons, and even a glass health pot, which dazzled Dongkui.
He was somewhat flattered. "Are these... all for me?"
"yes!"
Ning Jia nodded with a smile, "From now on, you'll be the head chef of our little kitchen, Chef Dong. Good luck!"
Ning Jia kept calling him "Master Chef," which made Dong Kui's face turn bright red.
Seeing that the child's face was as red as a small tomato, and with his green curly hair, he looked exactly like a small tomato with leaves, Ning Jia quickly looked away to avoid bursting out laughing.
"Okay, okay, I was just joking, don't be nervous."
She glanced at the time and said with a serious expression:
"It's getting late, Dongkui, let's start making lunch now."
"Um!"
Dongkui looked at the induction cooker with anticipation and nodded vigorously.
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