The second son started a fire to boil water, while the third son slaughtered the live chicken and plucked its feathers.
While preparing, Ruan Meng learned about the progress made in the afternoon.
The skilled farmers and breeders had already identified suitable plots of land, and Feng Yun and Feng Xi followed suit, marking them out.
Based on the requests of the skilled individuals, the village chief, along with Sister-in-law Feng and Sister-in-law Feng Er, discussed and determined the groups of people to be divided. They have been working with the villagers in the afternoon.
The list of people in the group does not include any newly naturalized citizens for the time being, and everyone expects that there will be some commotion.
Sister-in-law Song, whom Ruan Meng had called to help, brought the latest news as soon as they entered the door.
Dozens of newly registered villagers went and surrounded the village chief's house to argue.
Upon receiving the news, Song Shiwen and Fan Zizhong came to discuss it with Ruan Qian.
Sister-in-law Song asked Ruan Meng, "Little sister, do you think the eldest young master will let us go and help?"
Ruan Meng shook her head decisively, "No."
Sister-in-law Song was puzzled.
Ruan Meng replied, "If we don't intervene, the newcomers will have no choice but to accept it. The village chief is making arrangements based on the actual situation. If one of our families intervenes, those people will be even more dissatisfied, feeling that the village chief is being influenced by us, favoring us, and deliberately isolating the newcomers."
Sister-in-law Song nodded, while Sister-in-law Song the Second still looked puzzled. "But what's the difference?"
Sister-in-law Song tried to explain, “It’s a difference in the village chief’s authority. If we step in, they will feel that the village chief represents our opinions, and we are actually undermining his authority.”
"The village chief's predicament will not only remain unresolved, but will also lead to more people gossiping behind his back."
Sister-in-law Song nodded. "Are we just going to let so many of them bully the village chief's family?"
Ruan Meng confirmed with her two sisters-in-law that Feng Yun and Feng Xi were at home, so that even if they took action, she wouldn't suffer too much loss.
However, Madam Feng and her two children may not have seen such a grand spectacle before, and they might be frightened.
Even so, Ruan Meng showed no intention of stepping forward.
"Fengjia Village doesn't belong to just a few families, that's unreasonable. We've all put in the hard work and effort, facilitating connections. Shouldn't the village chief position belong to everyone?"
"The village chief is so old, and he used to think of everyone... Now, does anyone think of him?"
The arguing on the mountain grew louder and louder.
As soon as A Yuan and Xiao Kai came in, they asked Ruan Meng, "Does the young lady already know?"
Ruan Meng nodded, and A Yuan asked, "Does the young lady need us to arrange for someone to keep an eye on things?"
Ruan Meng thought about it for a moment, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to do it. "I'd like to trouble you to arrange for a few guards to hide around. Don't make a move unless absolutely necessary."
A-Yuan asked, "When would it be a last resort?"
Ruan Meng calmly replied, "When the elderly or children are injured."
As darkness fell, the sounds from the mountainside became especially desolate.
The sounds of arguing could be clearly heard in the backyard.
As Ruan Meng predicted, Song Shiwen and Fan Zizhong stayed at Ruan's house for a while before returning home.
Clean the chicken feathers thoroughly. Ruan Meng demonstrates how to chop one chicken into small pieces, add salt, shallot water, oyster sauce, soy sauce, and pepper, mix well, and set aside.
The remaining chickens were neatly chopped into pieces by the third brother.
To ensure even mixing, each chicken was cut into pieces and seasoned separately.
This process was repeated until the chicken was poured into a clean wooden basin, eventually filling the entire basin.
The second son started steaming rice, while Ruan Meng waited for the chicken. After marinating for 15 minutes, they started frying the chicken.
Deep fry the meat in hot oil over high heat, then reduce the heat and fry until the skin is crispy and fragrant.
Remove the chicken pieces one by one, leaving the oil in the pan. Add the peeled minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Then add the dried chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, followed by the chicken. Stir-fry quickly, then add a little soy sauce...
Ruan Meng first ladled out a plate of chicken, then added chopped green onions to the remaining chicken, ladling out more than a dozen plates. (Image of spicy chicken from the internet) The rice was just cooked when the chicken was done.
Ruan Meng asked A Yuan and Xiao Kai to deliver a plate to both the Song and Fan families.
The craftsmen and skilled workers each presented two plates.
Sister-in-law Song and Sister-in-law Song helped clean the countertop and wash the pots. Ruan Meng made sweet and sour fish from the prepared small fish.
The second son diligently wrote down his notes, and the two sisters-in-law of the Song family cleaned up the scene. Before leaving, Ruan Meng reminded them that the braised food business was about to start, and they could contact the business at home in advance.
Sister-in-law Song and Sister-in-law Song were clearly overjoyed.
The spicy chicken was hot and pungent, and it was obviously delicious, but because everyone was thinking about the village chief's house, they didn't talk much during the meal.
Upon reaching the bottom of the mountain, an even louder commotion erupted. Ah Yuan ran in to report the news:
"The villagers gathered together and went up the mountain to settle accounts with these people!"
The Ruan family members finally smiled and felt relieved.
Xiao Kai added, "When they caused trouble and went to the village chief's house to demand an explanation, the village chief treated them politely and explained things calmly..."
"Even though they were spitting and almost drowning the village chief, and their fingers almost poked the village chief's face, the village chief stopped them and wouldn't let his two sons do it."
"The villagers received the news, reminded each other, gathered together, and went up the mountain. They saw them strutting around arrogantly, bullying the village chief's family..."
"Hahaha! Who would have thought that someone who's usually so honest and unassuming could have such a fierce side? He just swung the stick at me like that!"
"The two sides have started fighting!"
The second and third brothers exchanged a glance and their expressions immediately changed.
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