Pei Dalang squatted down in front of his second brother, smiling broadly: "Come here, second brother, your leg is injured, but your hands can still help."
Pei Erlang's lips twitched. He glanced speechlessly at his cheerful older brother. His mood, which had been somewhat gloomy just moments before, improved considerably, and he helped his brother pick vegetables.
Pei Dalang secretly glanced at Pei Erlang, who was diligently picking vegetables, and didn't forget to chat with him about some interesting things.
When Pei Dalang first came out, he actually intended to ask Chen Fang to help him pick the fruit, but when he looked up, he saw Pei Erlang sitting there alone in a daze, seemingly in a bad mood.
He knew his younger brother, who had grown up with him since childhood. In his youth, his brother was a spirited and dashing young man, but now, due to family misfortunes and a broken leg, he was naturally feeling very bad.
Although Pei Erlang has been telling them these past few days that he doesn't really care about that leg and that he's content as long as his family can be reunited and safe, Pei Dalang knows that his second brother is only saying that to keep them from worrying.
Pei Dalang was a rough man who didn't know how to say sweet, soft, and comforting words. He could only use his own methods to amuse his second brother and make him a little happier.
Pei Yao scooped the bone and kelp stew from the pot and put it into a clay pot that had been prepared in advance.
This clay pot was a new one that Pei Yao bought in town. I don't know if it's an occupational hazard of Pei Yao, but she always likes to buy any pretty pots and pans she sees.
I don't have much desire for clothes and jewelry. I always feel that enough clothes are fine, and a few gold pieces are enough...
When Pei Yao bought the clay pot, she also bought a small stove, which matched the clay pot perfectly. She originally planned to buy it so that the whole family could gather around the house and eat hot pot together when it got cold.
"Mother, please put all the embers from the stove into this small stove, and then put it on the table later."
Yunniang took the stove from Pei Yao and, following her instructions, took the embers from the stove and put them into the small stove.
Pei Yao then wrapped both sides of the casserole with a damp cloth and carried it to the dining table outside.
As Pei Yao passed by Pei Yichen, who had just returned, she called out to him, "Dinner's ready! There's some cold seaweed salad in the kitchen; take it with you when you come out."
Pei Yichen agreed and went inside, drawn by the aroma.
Pei Dalang's side of wild vegetables were all picked, washed, and brought over.
Pei Yao placed the small stove that Yun Niang had brought on the table, and then put the casserole containing bone broth on it.
Although Yunniang and the others had recently eaten many novel things with Pei Yao, this was the first time they had seen this way of eating, and they all found it quite novel.
Pei Yao brought over several freshly prepared dipping sauces. Yun Niang and the others had become more tolerant of spicy food after eating with Pei Yao for some time. Pei Da Lang and Pei Er Lang were still getting used to it, but they were gradually getting used to it.
Once everyone had gathered around the table, the original small square table became a bit crowded, so Pei Dalang found an old table from a corner of the yard and put it together with the original one.
Pei Dalang found the combination of the casserole and stove rather novel. It reminded him of the time when they used to go on spring outings in Kyoto. They would bring their own iron pots and cook food in the countryside, eating as they cooked.
But bringing these things home and eating them like this was a first for him, and it was quite novel.
"Yao'er, you're just going to put these wild vegetables directly into this pot to blanch them, right?" Pei Dalang asked, holding up the vegetables.
Pei Yao nodded: "That's right, everyone can blanch whatever vegetables they want. The vegetables don't need to be blanched for too long, just until they're cooked and soft. If you feel the flavor isn't strong enough, you can dip them in this sauce."
Pei Yao said, dipping the water in front of her into the bowl.
Except for Xiao Xuan'er, who can't handle spicy food very well, almost everyone had a dipping sauce bowl. They knew that Yao'er's dipping sauces weren't very spicy, but they were very fragrant and went well with everything.
Pei Yichen sometimes even thought that his cousin's dipping sauce would be delicious even for dipping shoe insoles...
After Pei Yao taught everyone how to blanch vegetables, she then taught them how to eat these big bones, the most valuable part of which is the marrow in the middle of the bone.
Holding the bone with the exposed marrow end, Pei Yao first used chopsticks to break up the marrow inside, then put it in her mouth and sucked it in. Instantly, the marrow was smoothly sucked into her mouth.
The bone marrow is tender and soft, melting in your mouth, which is Pei Yao's favorite. However, this varies from person to person; some people find the bone marrow oily and greasy, and find it disgusting to eat.
Then there are the cartilage and tendons next to the bones, which are all edible and taste quite good, being crunchy, but they do require a lot of teeth.
The Pei family tried the bone marrow using Pei Yao's method, and everyone, just like Pei Yao, loved eating it.
Even Pei Erlang, who hadn't had a good appetite these past few days, ate bones and drank several bowls of soup today, and also ate a lot of wild vegetables cooked in bone broth.
He finished all the red snapper that Yunniang served him, especially the cold seaweed salad, which was very sour and spicy and appetizing.
His legs aren't very good, so he can't stand for long periods, but most of the time he sits on a stool and tries his best to help his family with whatever chores he can.
He had been wondering before when he helped wash the kelp strips that this food, which he had never seen before, could be eaten and sold in high-end restaurants.
He didn't realize how delicious seaweed was until he tried it today.
Hearing Yunniang say that these were all things Yao'er had researched, he looked up and glanced at Pei Yao, who was gnawing on a bone.
Her eyes were filled with heartache.
These past few days, Pei Yao has been busy with the Gu family's orders, so she has hardly had time to cook. It's been Yun Niang who's been doing all the cooking in the kitchen.
This was the first time Pei Erlang had tasted his daughter's cooking, and he hadn't expected that his daughter's culinary skills had become so good.
He thought, during those days when she was lost, her Yao'er must have suffered a lot...
Pei Dalang picked out the best piece of meat from the fish's belly and gave it to Pei Yao: "Come on, Yao'er, this tenderest piece of meat is for you. You're a great contributor to our family, thank you for all your hard work."
Pei Yao quickly put down the bone in her hand, took the bowl to take the piece of fish, and smiled so much that her eyes narrowed: "Thank you, Uncle."
This red snapper truly lives up to its reputation as a sea fish; not only are there few bones, but the flesh is also incredibly tender and has a rich, savory flavor.
It's really good.
The family enjoyed the meal very much.
Shen Yu, who was passing by outside, smelled the fragrance through the courtyard wall and stood outside the door listening to the sounds inside. His lowered eyes seemed to be filled with some kind of emotion.
He was thinking…
The Pei family's meal...
It smells so good...
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