When Zhou Chengning and Xu Xiangjuan returned home together, the two little ones rushed over and called out "Mom" and "Dad".
Calling dad is just a by-product, mom is the most important thing.
"Got it. I'll give each of you a chicken foot first." Xu Xiangjuan stirred the braised chicken feet first, then took a bowl and gave each of the two little ones one.
The chicken feet were scalded last night, but the two little ones didn’t feel much when they were scalding. This morning she started frying them and preparing to stew them, and then the two little ones came over after smelling the aroma. They said they would wait for daddy to come back before eating.
Recently, there have been incidents of wild cats or other animals sneaking into the house to steal food, so the two little ones said they wanted to stay at home guarding the chicken feet and would not accompany their mother to wait for their father.
Xu Xiangjuan also picked up one for Zhou Chengning, "Aning, you eat one. I'll take out the chicken feet later and use the broth to stew the eggs and tofu oil... and the potatoes. The rice is ready, serve it first and eat slowly."
The chicken feet have been braised until they are soft enough. If we braise them any further the meat will fall off. Although the taste is still good, we cannot taste the essence of the braised chicken feet, as the tendons of the chicken feet are gone.
There is still a lot of broth left, so we can use it to stew other things, so that there will be enough for lunch. How can we divide all these chicken feet?
Zhou Chengning was responsible for serving the rice, while Xu Xiangjuan continued to braise the stew.
Xu Xiangjuan was just dicing potatoes and about to throw them into the stew when she saw chicken feet in front of her. She leaned forward and bit off half of the meat. "Go sit back down, you won't have to wait too long."
His wife also ate the chicken feet, and only then did Zhou Chengning finish the rest and sit back in his seat.
The two children supervised each other and no one could continue eating chicken feet until their mother prepared lunch.
The potatoes will take a while to cook, but the fried dough and tofu will cook faster. Xu Xiangjuan took them out first and said, "Hurry up and eat. If you don't, the chicken feet will get cold. Let's eat. Mom should start eating too."
The eggs are boiled in the morning and the shells are peeled and put in. It will take some time for the flavor to absorb, so you can braise them for a longer time together with the potato cubes.
After mom sat down, the family started to eat.
The braised food seemed to be well cooked this time. Before the potatoes and braised eggs were ready, Niu Niu had already scooped out half a bowl of rice with a spoon and ate it.
You can consider selling braised food in restaurants, such as chicken feet, chicken legs, duck legs, braised eggs, dried tofu... there are many choices.
After coming here, I thought about building good relationships with the uncles and aunties who sell vegetables and meat in the market. By comparing prices from different stores, I can always save money and create a convenient source of ingredients for opening a restaurant in the future.
...
After getting off the car, Yin Yue asked his wife to show him a good face, "Qianqian, don't be so cold, give me some face, okay?"
Guan Qian: "I usually have this expression. Is this the first time you've seen it?"
Yin Yue: "It's not easy for the Da Zhou family to come here, and the rumor is that Da Zhou's wife helped a bunch of kids teach Wu Zehao a lesson. The kids didn't think too much about it, but the adults thought it was a rural couple who came here...
You know your parents, people you know will ask if they are relatives from your hometown when they see them? Maybe when someone asked, it was not malicious, but after the word got out, it became more and more...
Qianqian, you know, they are not as the couple rumored...
We shouldn’t be prejudiced against rural people. I came from a small rural village in Huadu. Isn’t it because this rural village is in Huadu? "
Guan Qian: "I didn't say I have prejudices against rural people. I can't smile at people even if you ask me to. Don't you know who I am?"
"Mom and Dad, it's hot." Yin Haizhuo, a boy less than two and a half years old, felt hot when he saw his parents talking non-stop and not moving under the scorching sun.
The little boy interrupted the quarrel that was about to break out between his parents.
The couple had no choice but to stop and go over first.
"Come on, sit down and get some fresh air." Xu Xiangjuan smiled and asked the guest to sit down.
Yin Yue put Xiao Haizhuo down. The child who was less than two and a half years old could already walk. When Niu Niu saw Xiao Haizhuo, he was actually shorter than himself. The two children faced each other and were speechless at first. In the end, it was Gua Gua who spoke first to introduce him.
After the siblings introduced themselves, it was the turn of little Yin Haizhuo, "I'm Zhuzhu, pork."
Just say pork and you will know which pig it is.
After listening to Yin Haizhuo's unique self-introduction, Niu Niu added, "I am Niu Niu."
"Gua Gua take the younger brothers in to play for a while, dinner will be served soon." Not only did the children look at each other in silence, but the adults also seemed awkward when they met for the first time.
The cold dishes were already on the table, and Xu Xiangjuan and Zhou Chengning brought over the hot rice and dishes one after another.
Yin Yue and Zhou Chengning were the ones talking the whole time. Guan Qian didn't say anything. When Zhu Zhu Haizhuo came out with a bottle of milk, she said the first sentence she had said today. "Zhu Zhu, what did mommy tell you? Why did you end up drinking milk from your uncle and aunt's house?"
Niu Niu gave it to Zhu Zhu. Seeing that Auntie seemed a little angry, Niu Niu explained on behalf of Zhu Zhu: "Auntie, it's mine. I didn't drink it today, so I gave it to Zhu Zhu."
His mother gave him and his sister a bottle of milk every week. He knew that his younger brother was coming, so he saved some for him.
Yin Yue hurriedly adjusted the atmosphere: "Qianqian, it's okay for a child to drink a bottle of milk. Let's eat quickly. Zhuzhu, put the milk aside first. Eating is more important."
The atmosphere eased a little when dinner started. Zhuzhu forgot that his mother had just been yelling at him and he wanted to eat this and that.
The table was a square table, with the four adults sitting on each side. Xu Xiangjuan and Gua Gua sat on one side, Zhou Chengning sat with Niu Niu in his arms, and Yin Yue sat with Zhu Zhu in his arms. Only Guan Qian sat on one side of the table, so the space was quite spacious.
Zhuzhu is already over two years old. Although he cannot eat everything without abstinence, at least he can eat most things. Yin Yue seems to be quite skilled in taking care of children. If the child cannot eat something, he will coax him and then pick up food that the child can eat. The child will not make a fuss after eating it.
After the child finished eating, he put the child down and started eating to his heart's content.
You really can't be too indulgent when you have a child. Haizhuo's nickname Zhuzhu comes from the fact that he was taught to pronounce "Zhuozhuo" but he pronounced it as Zhuzhu. That's how his nickname came about, but I only found out today that it's really Zhuzhu.
Zhuzhu went downstairs and brought back the milk. After brother Niu Niu finished eating, he went to the balcony to look at the flowers.
Feeding pigs is actually quite troublesome. Cow Cow eats faster than the pigs. When the pigs have finished eating, he is almost done too. He quickly gets off his father's lap, takes his younger brother to wash his hands and face, and then goes to the balcony to look at the flowers.
Compared to watching the flowers with the two little boys, Gua Gua felt that eating this hearty lunch was more important, so he sat down to eat.
It was much quieter now without the two little boys.
"Qianqian, don't you want to buy a watch?" Yin Yue suddenly spoke when the meal was almost over.
Guan Qian secretly glared at Yin Yue, but Xu Xiangjuan didn't notice the quarrel between the couple. "If you want to check your watch, I can go to the department store with you in the afternoon."
Yin Yue: "It's better for you to go. You'll have more common topics. Every time I go with Qianqian, I spoil her fun."
Xu Xiangjuan: "Okay, we can have more fun if we go alone, and the kids can stay here."
After dinner, Xu Xiangjuan asked Zhou Chengning to put away the dishes and chopsticks first.
When she said that the dishes were left there, she implied that Zhou Chengning would wash the dishes later.
The kitchen and dining area was left for the two men. Guagua followed his mother and aunt into the bedroom, which was separated only by a curtain.
Guan Qian didn't say much, nor did she refuse directly.
Xu Xiangjuan: "You still need to put on makeup before going out. Qianqian, sit here and wait for me for a while."
Guan Qian couldn't help but ask, "Did you buy the lamp at the department store as well?"
"Well, my husband is still preparing for the exam. He has to sit at the desk to study for several hours every day. It's okay when it's daytime like now, but once it rains or is cloudy, the light is neither bright nor dim, which is uncomfortable. So I simply bought him a desk lamp for studying." Xu Xiangjuan was also putting on makeup while speaking.
It turns out that she is an expert in makeup. It was not easy to put on makeup when she went out in the village, so she put on makeup when she took wedding photos. When she came to Huadu, her skills were a little unfamiliar, but after going out and putting on makeup a few times, she got the hang of it.
When Aning went for the written test and interview, she dressed up beautifully and waited for people.
"The curtains are also very beautiful, and there are flowers on the balcony." Guan Qian couldn't help but want to buy one when she saw it.
There are many small decorations in this bedroom, which make it very warm.
Xu Xiangjuan: "After all, it is a place to sleep, and the most important thing is to be comfortable. Although it cost some money, both children and adults like it, so it is worth buying it."
Fortunately, the house is bright and tidy, which makes people want to dress up.
When they were almost done cooking, Xu Xiangjuan and Zhou Chengning changed their clothes. She didn't smell as heavily of cooking fumes, and she didn't need to change clothes after putting on makeup. Xu Xiangjuan let her long hair down.
Before the guests arrived, she changed into a skirt. The skirt she got for her birthday last year was going to become her "formal dress" for meeting guests.
Guan Qian was surprised: "You permed your hair? I didn't notice when you braided it just now."
"Yes, I had it permed not long ago. If you want to get it permed, I can go with you. I think the place I went to is pretty good. Look." Xu Xiangjuan had already combed her long hair and had it permed into big waves. She turned around to show Guan Qian her hair.
"It looks good." Guan Qian did want to perm her hair, but she never mustered up the courage.
"The hair styles on the street are all small waves, which are too curly. I don't like them. They make people look older. I prefer this kind, which suits me." Those are not small waves. According to later statements, they should be ramen noodles that were ruined by perming.
She couldn't bear to look at it.
"It really suits you."
When I first saw Xu Xiangjuan, I thought she was a gentle and pretty girl, quite different from the image of women I had in mind.
Now her hairstyle has changed and she has put on makeup, she looks like a completely fashionable woman.
Guan Qian always puts on makeup when she goes out. She always considers herself a fashionable woman. Although her man doesn't understand what fashion is, she still thinks she is fashionable. Today, when she saw Xu Xiangjuan dressed up, she immediately felt inferior to her.
Xu Xiangjuan said to Guan Qian in a very low voice, "I have a lot of hair to begin with, and it looks even thicker after being permed like this. I look a lot thinner. My husband always thinks I am vain and hungry."
Her daughter Aning did say that she felt she was hungry and had not eaten.
How could she be hungry? She ate every meal happily.
"You are really amazing." She can cook and dress up, and her home is so warmly decorated.
Xu Xiangjuan: "You are also very capable. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Let's go out. I will take you on my bike."
Guan Qian: "Are you available?"
Xu Xiangjuan: "It's convenient for me. This is not the first time I bring someone with me."
Before Guan Qian and Xu Xiangjuan went out together, Guan Qian warned her son not to cause trouble.
After dinner, Gua Gua stayed on the balcony with her brothers and told her brother Zhuzhu what those flowers were. When Auntie talked to her brother, she told Auntie that she would take good care of her brother and not let him cause any trouble.
Niu Niu also said that he would keep an eye on his younger brother.
Little Pig brother thinks that he is not a troublemaker and tells his mother that he will not cause trouble.
Guan Qian saw that nothing would happen, so she followed Xu Xiangjuan out.
After their respective lovers left, Yin Yue breathed a sigh of relief, "It seems that my wife has a good impression of your wife. They can also make an appointment to have dinner and visit the building in the future."
Zhou Chengning: "I also want my wife to go out and play with friends. Recently, in addition to choosing kindergartens and elementary schools for my children, I have also been working on opening a restaurant. I can't stop. I am still very happy to be able to go out and play."
Yin Yue: "Your lover wants to open a restaurant? No wonder he looks like a very opinionated person, and the food he cooks is also very delicious."
Zhou Chengning: "It's also because I don't have much ability. We run a restaurant at home. I relied on my wife's money to come here for a year or two."
Yin Yue: "Da Zhou, you are amazing. You were always the best in your class. Don't underestimate yourself. You and your wife just have your own jobs. My wife and I work in the same school. Fortunately, we are in different grades, otherwise we would quarrel every day when we see each other... It's good to open a restaurant. For example, in ordinary restaurants in Huadu, as long as they are in a good location, waiters earn more than teachers, but it is indeed harder than teachers."
Zhou Chengning: "It is indeed very hard. I have also been busy. When there are many customers, I don't have time to eat and can only eat a few bites at a time."
Two men were chatting while three children were admiring the flowers on the balcony. They were all doing their own things and did not disturb each other.
...
"I'll ride the bike and you hold the umbrella." After going downstairs to the bicycle parking area, Guan Qian was worried when she saw Xu Xiangjuan pushing a bike that didn't fit her body shape. After all, she was half a head taller than her and was also wearing pants today.
Xu Xiangjuan: "Then try to see if you can ride it."
"You can definitely ride it." Guan Qian has a women's bicycle, which is relatively small. She now relies on public transportation for transportation and has never ridden this kind of bicycle.
After running for a while, I still couldn't get on the bike.
Xu Xiangjuan didn't laugh at others and demonstrated it to Guan Qian.
Her skirt was not tight, so it was convenient for her to ride a bike. She was also wearing shorts underneath so she wouldn't expose herself.
Seeing that Xu Xiangjuan looked very relaxed while riding the bike, Guan Qian told herself not to be nervous and sat in the back seat.
At first, neither of them spoke. Only after Xu Xiangjuan had ridden for a short distance and gained stability did she start to chat with her.
Xu Xiangjuan was basically able to strike up a conversation, so the journey was not boring at all.
When they arrived at the department store, Xu Xiangjuan parked the car, Guan Qian put away her umbrella, and the two went in together.
When I went to the watch counter, I passed by the cosmetics counter.
Huadu is a big city with a wide variety of department stores and a large variety of women's cosmetics.
She was actually demonstrating how to put on makeup at the moment, and since it was a weekend, there were quite a few women watching.
Xu Xiangjuan looked like she was in a cosmetics commercial because the makeup artist kept saying how great the lipstick was.
She couldn't tell how good the lipstick was, but the salesperson dressed as a makeup artist was quite eloquent, and she was moved just by listening to her.
Xu Xiangjuan was also noticed. "Everyone, take a look. Isn't she just as good as this lady?"
The makeup artist is very satisfied with her work, but of course, her main task is to sell the new lipstick.
Xu Xiangjuan didn't even need to say anything as a group of women watching turned their eyes to her and said that the models could not compare to her.
Xu Xiangjuan was afraid of being accidentally injured, so she took Guan Qian and left quickly. "Normally there aren't so many people. Let's go around and come back. They will definitely be gone."
Guan Qian was puzzled: "Doesn't this prove that you look good in makeup?"
Xu Xiangjuan: "Even though it's pretty, I don't like being watched like this."
Guan Qian: “That’s right.”
Xu Xiangjuan: "Are you going to buy underwear later?"
"Ah?" Guan Qian didn't react.
Xu Xiangjuan: "I seldom go shopping in department stores alone. My husband has to prepare for an exam and is more free at home, so I usually go to department stores with him. I feel embarrassed to buy this."
Even though it might be her daughter Aning who washes it in the end, she would rather buy it herself.
"Okay... okay." Guan Qian stuttered.
Xu Xiangjuan's shopping desire was satisfied in Huadu Department Store, where she could try on clothes and smell samples of perfumes.
At this moment, the two of them were actually picking up underwear in a relatively remote location in the building. Because most women are still conservative nowadays, the department store sells underwear in a relatively remote location, and it is not a counter where you can see what is sold when you pass by. It is a literal store, which gives customers enough privacy.
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