Xu Jiang coughed so loudly that Aunt Cao was startled. She hurried over to pat her back, and Zhuang also took out a handkerchief to wipe her face.
Xu Jiang finally stopped coughing, then gave Aunt Cao a resentful look.
Aunt Cao pinched her face amusedly and said, "You're not a stranger, why are you embarrassed?"
Zhuang also smiled and asked, "How long have the boss and Mr. Lou known each other?"
Xu Jiang finished the soup in her bowl and then said a little embarrassedly, "We've known each other for a long time. I ran into you when I first came to the capital. It was just a coincidence."
"So many things stem from the word 'coincidence,' especially the marriages between men and women." Aunt Cao had seen much and had some real understanding. She added, "This young man is handsome, and judging by his attire, he must be from a good family. Yet, he's willing to help with the chores, regardless of the dirt or the tiredness. He's a down-to-earth and easygoing person. Even though he's a bit quiet and seems a bit dull, he always puts you first, so he's definitely considerate."
Zhuang smiled and said, "Just now when he was carrying the bowl out, I saw that the young man's eyes never left the master's house. He was watching us closely."
Xu Jiang's face flushed with anger, and she quickly fanned herself, laughingly saying, "This rice wine is quite intoxicating."
Seeing her embarrassment, Aunt Cao took her hand and patted her, saying, "Marriage is human nature. As long as you meet someone you can trust, it's better to live together than alone. Look at Xu San and Ah Chan. Now they're married. They must have settled down and are moving forward together. Their lives are becoming more and more promising."
Although Xu Jiang's heart was a little moved when she heard this, she still had many concerns, but there were many things she couldn't say to the two of them, so she just smiled.
Speaking of Xu San and Wang Chan, Zhuang whispered the good news to Xu Jiang, "Now the young couple will soon become parents."
"really?"
"It's almost three months. Once it sits more steadily, it can go out and walk around."
Xu Jiang was sincerely happy for them, "This is truly a cause for celebration."
Aunt Cao patted Xu Jiang's hand and said, "Master, hurry up. A marriage where two people love each other is not easy to find. If you don't meet one, forget it. But if you do, you must cherish it."
Aunt Cao thought about Lou Yunchun's talent, appearance, and manners, and then thought about how he looked when he stood with Xu Jiang. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that they were a perfect match. "My dear lady, you are the best woman I have ever seen. Only a man of such talent can match you."
Zhuang also nodded in agreement, "Mother is right."
The drunkenness and shame on her face were all over her heart, but Xu Jiang only felt warm. She covered it up with a joke: "They say that judging others is judging yourself, and they also say that you should extend your own kindness to others. My aunt and sister-in-law praised me, but I think they are indirectly praising themselves."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law both burst out laughing when they heard this. Aunt Cao couldn't help but pat her, "No wonder you coaxed that young master away. Who can beat your sweet mouth?"
The mother and her two daughters laughed and joked for a while, then Xu Jiang suddenly remembered something and said to Aunt Cao, "Come to think of it, he's not only destined to be with me, but also with Lu Zhen."
When the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law heard this, they stopped laughing and asked, "What do you mean?"
Xu Jiang then told them about Lou Yunchun's rescue of Lu Zhen from the kidnapper, which caused the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to blame them, "Why didn't the boss tell us earlier? Why didn't he bring the kidnapper here earlier? We could thank him."
"Please don't." Xu Jiang waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "He's shy. If you were to thank him solemnly, it would make him uncomfortable. Besides, this is his job. He would have saved anyone else as well."
Seeing that Aunt Cao and Zhuang were still unwilling to give in, Xu Jiang scratched her burning ear and said vaguely, "Besides, he and I are like this now. If you continue to stick to these etiquette, it will be a disrespect to me."
Aunt Cao and Mrs. Zhuang paused when they heard this, then looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.
"Okay." Aunt Cao responded emphatically, and said happily, "Since the boss has said so, then we won't be shy. But since we are all family, it's only right that you stay for dinner, right?"
Zhuang also tried to persuade them, "I went back to my hometown yesterday to help till the fields and harvested some local products. I kept them overnight and they are perfect for eating now. Why don't you stay and try some of them, Master Lou?"
Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Xu Jiang had no choice but to nod and said, "Okay, I'll listen to my aunt and sister-in-law."
Seeing that she agreed, Aunt Cao and Mrs. Zhuang were very happy. Since the time was right, they started to prepare the dishes and cook.
Xu Jiang went out and called Lou Yunchun aside, and told him to stay for dinner later, and he had no objection.
After the restaurant incident, Lou Yunchun was originally going to accompany Xu Jiang. Wherever Xu Jiang was, he would naturally be there.
The two happily decided to stay for dinner. Lou Yunchun continued to oil the dishes, while Xu Jiang went to the kitchen to help cook.
The local specialties Zhuang mentioned were cicada fish, loach, and snails. The lean cicada fish could be deboned and deep-fried, while the fatty loach could be cooked with tofu. Currently, perilla seeds were tender enough to be used in a dish called perilla snails, perfect with wine.
In addition, there are some fruits and vegetables, and wild vegetables that can be mixed, cooked, or made into soups, all of which are very delicious.
All three were skilled cooks, efficient workers, and worked in perfect harmony. Aunt Cao scraped the fish, Xu Jiang washed the snails, and Zhuang cooked and washed the vegetables, quickly preparing all the ingredients.
Aunt Cao was in charge of cooking, Xu Jiang was in charge of helping and stewing the soup on a small stove, and Zhuang was in charge of controlling the fire. The three of them each performed their duties in an orderly manner.
Aunt Cao is a skilled cook, skilled at seasoning and controlling the heat. She's frying cicada fish, using just enough oil to cover the fish. Over a low heat, she uses warm oil to fry the cicada fish until it's tender and crispy, leaving only the fresh aroma. Then, she removes the fish from the pan, shreds it into thin strips, and sprinkles it with salt.
"What a nice smell!" Xu Jiang sniffed and felt that the cicada fish seemed to have become an immortal, and the fragrance floated straight into his heart.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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