The next day, before dawn, Ruan Meng got up to prepare medicine for her elder brother.
We can't let our busy schedule these past few days ruin my brother's health, which he's finally managed to recover from.
The second brother, Ruan Yi, was on duty outside. Hearing the commotion, he quickly came over to help. Looking at his younger sister's pointed chin, he felt a pang of heartache.
Ruan Meng got up and prepared to go up the mountain, putting hoes, machetes, and other tools into her basket.
After taking stock of the remaining wild millet peppers, wild Sichuan peppercorns, and wild peppercorns, the remaining amount will only last for four or five days at most.
If no new ones can be found, ordinary chili peppers can be used as substitutes, but the taste will be different.
Before dawn, Ruan Meng took the konjac out of the basket, washed and peeled it, cut it into pieces, and pounded it into juice using a mortar and pestle. She then mixed it with the alkaline water that Xiao Kai had bought for her, and added spring water...
The third brother woke up at some point, walked to Ruan Meng's side, saw the solidified konjac paste in the basin, and asked curiously:
"Little sister, can we eat this?"
Ruan Meng smiled and said, "It's edible! It's the konjac we dug up on the mountain. It's originally poisonous, but after processing, it becomes a delicious treat!"
“I found that there are still many on the mountain, but they are troublesome to process. A few days ago, we were still missing a bit of lye water, so we didn’t dig them up.”
"Today, I'll let my brothers and sisters-in-law try it. If it's delicious, I plan to make another fortune with it!"
The third brother looked at the konjac paste, then at his sister's face, and a hopeful smile appeared on his face.
Ruan Meng suddenly asked, "Third Brother, what were your ideals in the past?"
The third brother was taken aback, then lowered his head. "When Dad was still alive, I never thought about anything. With Dad and my eldest brother at home, I didn't need to worry at all..."
"You know your third brother, he's interested in everything, but he doesn't seem to have any ideas about the future."
"But now, all I want is for my elder brother to be healthy, for you all to be safe, and for you all to be doing well."
"Third Brother's dream is not important. As long as he can earn money, do his work, and help his sister, that's enough!"
After listening, Ruan Meng looked at her third brother, feeling indescribably moved.
She had actually discovered her third brother's hobby, though he might not even be aware of it.
She comforted him, saying, "It's okay, I'll accompany Third Brother in his search. Maybe we'll find our dreams along the way."
Third Brother is a foodie!
Ruan Meng plans to mentor her third brother when she starts making food, allowing him to gradually enter the food business.
"What about me? What about me?"
A head popped out of the house, a faint smile on its face. "Little sister, you're being unfair! Why don't you ask your second brother what my dream is?"
Ruan Meng chuckled lightly and replied perfunctorily, "Alright, what is Second Brother's dream?"
Ruan Yi answered earnestly, "My dream is for my family to be together forever, happy and healthy!"
Ruan Meng was amused by this simple idea; it was indeed unoriginal.
But it was very heartwarming.
She smiled and said, "Alright, I'll help my second brother achieve that!"
Ruan Qian opened his eyes in the darkness and slowly curled the corners of his lips into a smile.
What seems like a simple wish is that one's own body is the biggest variable.
He knew perfectly well that his younger siblings cared about their health even more than he did.
The eldest sister-in-law was in bed, her eyes slightly red, but she had a smile on her face.
After the konjac paste had settled, Ruan Meng asked her second and third brothers, "Second brother, third brother, do you want the spicy or non-spicy version first? Do you want it in soup or stir-fried?"
"Spicy!"
"Not spicy!"
The second and third brothers exchanged a glance and answered again.
"Boiled!"
"Stir-fried!"
The two looked at each other again, but Ruan Meng ignored them completely.
The third brother likes spicy food, while the eldest brother and sister-in-law prefer milder flavors, and the second brother has a more tolerant palate.
So, Ruan Meng cut the solidified konjac paste into large chunks, and then into shreds and slices.
Konjac noodles are cooked like regular noodles in spring water, with wild amaranth added. A little salt is added before serving, resulting in a light yet delicious soup.
Konjac slices were stir-fried with scallions, chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and garlic cloves, mixed with wild amaranth. When it was served, the third brother swallowed his saliva.
Ruan Meng filled two small bowls with stir-fried konjac slices and asked her second brother to help deliver them to the Song and Fan families so that they could also try them.
The eldest brother and sister-in-law were awakened by the choking on the chili peppers; it was almost time to go beachcombing.
The family washed up and then enjoyed a hearty meal.
The elder brother and sister-in-law, with elegant postures, sipped the clear soup, a delicacy they had never tasted before.
The second and third brothers' lips were red from the spiciness, and they were sweating slightly on their foreheads.
Inhale deeply, and exclaim in admiration:
"Delicious, so delicious!"
"Little sister, I want to eat this again today!"
Several voices came from nearby at the same time, "We want some too, is that okay?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
