Wang Panlan's resounding words made Fu Wanye, Xiao Cui, and Jiang Chunlan all look at her.
At this moment, Wang Panlan was completely different from the timid rural woman she had just been. Her eyes were firm, and her already beautiful face was now even more radiant.
"Okay, then I'll go ask for you!"
Ye Xiaocui slapped her thigh and stood up. It wouldn't be good to go to someone's house empty-handed. Thinking that Fu Dazhuang's family didn't go out to sea, she went straight to the bucket and scooped out a tiger grouper weighing about eight ounces.
This gift isn't particularly extravagant, but for a simple visit, it's quite thoughtful.
Fu Dazhuang hadn't returned from his stall yet. When Ye Xiaocui knocked on the door, Fu Dazhuang's parents were chopping firewood in the yard.
"Big strong girl, big strong girl!"
Fu Dazhuang's mother responded, "Who is it?"
As soon as she opened the courtyard gate, she saw her old friend Ye Xiaocui, whom she hadn't seen for several days.
"Oh, Xiao Cui!"
Knowing that this woman was the type who wouldn't come to the temple without a reason, Da Zhuang's mother quickly let her in.
Is something the matter?
They used to chat and gossip under the trees at the village entrance, rarely coming to their homes.
Ye Xiaocui handed over the fish in her hand, saying, "I have someone you'd like to take a look at."
After saying that, she brought up the story of how Fu Sanlaizi and Shen Guoliang had conspired to kidnap her granddaughter a few days ago, and how Wang Panlan had risked her life to deliver the message.
Da Zhuang's mother also knew about her old friend's family's search for their child throughout the village a few days ago. Now that she knew the truth, she was filled with hatred for Fu Sanlaizi and the others.
"Such a beast should be paraded through the streets and eaten with peanuts!"
Ye Xiaocui nodded in agreement before explaining her purpose for coming.
“Wang Panlan wants to remarry, but her family is a bunch of bloodsuckers. She’s looking for someone to take care of her, and that’s when I thought of your Dazhuang!”
Speaking of her youngest son, Da Zhuang's mother's brows furrowed with worry. "My dear sister, tell me in detail what kind of person Wang Panlan is."
She rarely saw Wang Panlan in the village. She only knew that she was pretty, but she was really unlucky to have been tricked by Da Laizi's family.
Ye Xiaocui recounted everything she knew in detail, including Wang Panlan's family situation, the troublesome nature of Fu Dalaizi's family, and Wang Panlan's current predicament.
Da Zhuang's mother frowned as she listened, "The girl is a good girl, but she can't be too concerned about her own family, otherwise our family will never have a good life."
"Don't worry about that. She wants to cut ties with her family now, which is why she asked me to find someone to take care of her."
"How much should the bride price be?"
How much should the bride price be? This really stumped Ye Xiaocui, as Wang Panlan hadn't mentioned this at all before!
The two old friends looked at each other, and finally Ye Xiaocui couldn't help but laugh awkwardly.
"Look, I've been so busy bringing you news that I haven't even asked her this question."
"This is my first time being a matchmaker, I have no experience at all!"
Da Zhuang's mother was amused by her embarrassed appearance and said directly, "It's settled then. I'll ask Da Zhuang when he comes back. If he's willing to go on a blind date, I'll take him to your house."
Having said that, Ye Xiaocui felt that she had completed more than half of her task and was about to say goodbye and go home.
Rural families are always busy with so many things to do; they can't afford to be idle.
Da Zhuang's mother didn't insist on keeping her, and quickly took several bones from the ones she had removed that morning and stuffed them into Ye Xiaocui's hands.
"These are all dishes with very little meat. This is all the food I have at home, so please don't be disgusted by them."
Those tiger-spotted tigers would cost a few cents at the market, and she wasn't one to take advantage of her sisters.
Ye Xiaocui didn't stand on ceremony with her, "If you want to eat fish or crabs later, just come to my house, and I guarantee you'll eat your fill."
What else is there to say? Da Zhuang's mother was so happy that she stuffed another big bone into her mouth. Anyway, she and her husband were tired of eating bones like this.
Ye Xiaocui didn't refuse and happily carried a large handful of bones home.
Because they were bones for their own consumption, Fu Dazhuang habitually left some meat when he was trimming them. Fu Wan was stunned when she saw Ye Xiaocui bring back so many ribs.
"Mom, did you go on a robbery?"
Ye Xiaocui rolled her eyes at her, "Dazhuang's mother gave it to me, hurry up, I'll take another basket and fill it with some fish and crabs, I can't take advantage of her."
That's how relationships work between people. You give to me, I give to you. If one side suffers too much loss, the relationship is likely to deteriorate.
Fu Wan liked the clean and pretty ribs. With so many ribs, she could steam them, braise them, or make rib soup. This would be a nice change of pace for the Fu family, who were tired of eating fish every day.
Just then, Fu Wan took out the jellyfish skin that she had pickled a few days ago, cleaned it, blanched it, rinsed it with cold water, added cucumber shreds, minced ginger and garlic, and her homemade chili oil and mixed it all together.
Fu Wan took a bite herself first. It was sour, spicy, and very crisp. It was a pity that no one in the countryside grew cilantro at this time. If some cilantro were added, the taste would be unparalleled.
Fu Wan made a lot of cold jellyfish salad, and she filled a rice bowl with it and asked Ye Xiaocui and Yu Xie to deliver it to Fu Dazhuang's house.
Then he filled several bowls himself, giving one to Honghong's family next door, one to Jiang Chunlan, and another to Wang Panlan.
Everyone was intrigued by the jellyfish skin. Jiang Chunlan, being a straightforward person, went straight to the kitchen, washed a pair of chopsticks, and tried it.
He then immediately gave Fu Wan a thumbs up.
"Ah Wan, putting everything else aside, I wouldn't trade this bowl of vegetables for meat!"
Fu Wan was amused by her, "Auntie, don't worry, we have plenty more at home. If you like them, we'll go out to sea and bring back some more jellyfish next time."
Jiang Chunlan nodded hurriedly.
Since Fu San would be coming to settle the bill that evening, Fu Wan simply asked Jiang Chunlan to cook at her home that night.
Anyway, there are only two people in their family, so they can settle the bill after they finish eating.
On her way back with the empty bowl, Fu Wan ran into Ye Xiaocui, who was returning from chatting. When the mother and daughter reached their door, they found it open and heard a somewhat familiar voice coming from inside.
"Honey, whose house is it?"
Ye Xiaocui entered the house with a bowl in her hand, somewhat puzzled, only to burst into laughter upon seeing two tall men standing in the yard.
"Big brother, Ah Lin!"
Fu Wan followed behind, and was also very happy to see the person who had arrived.
"Uncle, cousin!"
The visitors were Ye Jianguo and Ye Lin, whom I hadn't seen in a long time. They had just entered the house and hadn't even put down the baskets on their backs yet.
"Big brother, how did you get here!"
Ye Xiaocui handed the bowl in her hand to Fu Wan and quickly called to Ye Jianguo.
Ye Jianguo smiled憨厚ly, revealing a slightly old bicycle next to him.
"Did we buy a bicycle?"
Ye Lin quickly replied, "Thanks to Awan, the family has made a lot of money selling lobsters lately. Dad found someone to buy a second-hand bicycle, which is perfect for riding over."
After saying that, he proudly took off his basket and showed it to Fu Wan, "Awan, look what I brought?"
Fu Wan was a little curious, but she had a bit of a phobia about looking into the contents of the basket.
However, she figured Ye Lin wouldn't scare her right away, so she went over to take a look.
"Oh, it's a puppy!"
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