Chapter 232 Becoming Stronger
After hesitating for a while between hot pot and barbecue, I finally decided to have it all.
Place the equipment for brewing tea around the stove next to the fireplace in the house, cook hot pot on the stove, and grill meat next to it.
I still have some premium beef that I stocked up on, so I picked out two pieces of top-quality beef, cut them into thick slices, and prepared to grill them later.
However, fresh beef is delicious, so I picked out two pieces from the beef that the base manager gave me.
Cut a large piece into thin slices, and you can eat it directly in the hot pot later.
After cutting the other piece, mix it with chopped green onions, cilantro, sugar, and various seasonings to make a knock-off version of Qiqihar roasted meat.
Sumi is well protected and doesn't know how to cook. It's better to use Mancang instead of Sumi to help out.
So Sumi moved a chair and sat by the kitchen wall to chat with me, watching Mancang and me busy with chores.
Su Min is the guest I most wanted to treat well, so I was extra careful when preparing the dishes, hoping to make them more plentiful.
Preparing the food took more than an hour. I went to the small west room to find the sweet wine that I was reluctant to drink, and put two bottles on the table.
Finally, each person received a plate with barbecue seasoning and chili sauce, and another bowl with hot pot dipping sauce, and then the meal began.
The bright red liquid is poured into a wine glass, and a layer of fine foam floats on top. Just by listening to the delicate sound of the foam, you can tell how delicious this sweet wine is.
The crisp sound of glasses clinking rang out, and we each took a big gulp—it was absolutely delicious!
Mancang can't drink alcohol, so he drinks fruit juice made with cherry jam instead.
Fresh beef is added to the bubbling red oil hot pot, cooked until it changes color, then taken out, dipped in the sauce, and popped into the mouth.
The aroma of the beef, combined with the red oil from the bottom of the pot and the fragrance of the dipping sauce, makes every bite incredibly satisfying.
The charcoal in the grill pan was glowing red, and the beautiful slices of beef were placed directly on the grill rack to sizzle and emit small plumes of smoke, releasing the aroma of grilled meat.
Once a piece of beef is cooked, cut it into small pieces and give each person a few pieces.
Sumi chewed contentedly: "Mmm~ It's so delicious. Why don't I ever think of enjoying this before?"
Don't you guys usually eat barbecue?
"I do eat, but it doesn't taste as good as eating with you. My dad doesn't eat, so I eat by myself."
Sumi didn't mention her mother, so I wisely refrained from asking. I knew without asking what she had gone through.
I nodded and picked up where Su Mi left off: "That makes sense. Food tastes better when there are more people around. It doesn't taste as good when I eat alone as it does now when the three of us are eating together."
The three of them, sweating profusely, finished off all the barbecue and hot pot meat, and finally ate a bowl of boiled noodles before ending the battle.
Sumi slumped in the chair, not wanting to move. I knew her spoiled habits, so Mancang and I quickly cleared away the dishes and then sat down in the chair next to Sumi, slumping together.
They started talking about the topics they had discussed before.
I asked with concern, "Speaking of which, Uncle Su is really amazing. The Eagle Base was built just like that. By the way, after your second uncle died, was your uncle very sad?"
"Well, to put it simply, my second uncle did contribute to the construction of the Eagle Base, but he's a wicked man, and I've never liked him. My dad knows a little about it, but he's always been mindful of our long-standing relationship and can't bear to touch him."
I tilted my head and looked at Sumi: "So, you were helping Uncle make a decision that day, right?"
Sumi sighed, "Well, I guess so, but I can finally breathe a sigh of relief."
Actually, Su Mi has changed quite a bit. She's lost her previous delicate and sweet demeanor and gained more maturity and a fierce edge.
However, it's better in front of me; most of the time it feels familiar.
Feeling that Su Mi seemed a bit more robust, I casually asked, "Your physique looks like you've been practicing martial arts?"
Sumi gave a thumbs up: "Good eye! A martial arts instructor came to the base before, and I learned from him when I had nothing to do."
"That's good, at least it can protect us."
As we chatted, I started to feel sleepy, and Sumi gradually couldn't keep her eyes open either; perhaps it was the alcohol taking effect.
I got Sumi a set of clean sheets and duvet cover, put the quilt on her, and laid it on the kang (heated brick bed).
I drifted off to sleep for a nap.
When I woke up, it was almost dark. Sumi showed no sign of leaving, and I was thinking of letting her stay another night.
"Stay tonight, and leave tomorrow."
Without saying a word, Sumi took out his satellite phone and called his father.
After listening to Sumi's father's instructions on more than a dozen points, she finally received permission.
Once the gate is open and Sumi drives the car into the yard, there's nothing else to worry about.
Sumi really likes puppies and sat on the sofa playing with several of them.
Of course, he also loves cats. He was petting a cat with one hand and playing with a dog with the other, having a great time.
I was genuinely curious; why did they act like they'd never seen a dog before? "Aren't there any dogs at the Eagle Base?"
"Yes, but they're all wolfhounds, not as fun as your puppy."
I promised Sumi that I would give her one of the puppies when she has her next litter.
It got dark quickly, and for dinner I ate my specialty, stewed chicken with potatoes.
After dinner, we lay on the kang (a heated brick bed) and talked about our experiences over the years.
After listening to her talk about the Eagle Base, I learned that the Eagle Base is actually quite good. Its initial purpose was similar to that of the White Town Base: to help some poor people.
It's just that as the number of people in the base increased, it became more and more organized, and later it became powerful, which gave people the feeling of the big bullying the small.
I thought Mancang was quietly doing his own thing, but he suddenly looked up and started listening to the Eagle Base story, becoming quite engrossed in it.
Just as we were about to end our conversation and go to sleep, Mancang suddenly asked, "If I work at the Eagle Base and learn martial arts from a martial arts instructor, will I become very powerful?"
His words caught the attention of Sumi and me.
I asked, "Do you want to go to Eagle Base?"
Mancang's voice came through after a long time: "I want to become stronger."
Sumi didn't say anything, perhaps because she felt it was a matter between Mancang and me.
"The Eagle Base was established by Aunt Sumi's father. If you want to go there, you can indeed get a lot of protection, learn martial arts, meet more people, and grow better."
After thinking for a long time, Mancang asked Sumi, "Aunt Sumi, if I want to go to the Eagle Base, will you accept me?"
Sumi quickly replied, "I've already said it, my dad has always wanted a younger son, and I think you'd be a good candidate."
If Mancang could really become Sumi's father's godson, he would definitely have a bright future.
After careful consideration, I said softly, "Mancang, if you want to become stronger, Eagle Base is a good choice."
Mancang asked, "If I go to the Eagle Base, will you miss me, Aunt Cheng?"
"I will miss you, but I will respect your choice."
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