Chapter 81 A Good Meal
This row of houses is not fully occupied. There is a thin quilt on the bed. It’s not very cold here at night anyway, so it’s okay to use it now.
If it's cold, you can also take a slightly thicker quilt from the cabinet to keep warm.
"Mom, this house is really nice!"
After Lin Xiaotong entered the room, she walked around, looked everywhere, and said to Gao Xiulan with a smile.
"I think so too. It's still clean. I guess the last family member who came to visit was a clean person."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law took out the dry food they brought with them, a bag of dried mushrooms and dried wild vegetables, and a few small bundles of sweet potato vermicelli, which were almost crushed.
Gao Xiulan took out the crushed sweet potato flour and soaked it, while Lin Xiaotong took the aluminum lunch box to the cafeteria to get food. People on the island were still having lunch at this time.
Gao Xiulan put down the woven bag, found a chair in the main room, carried it to the door, sat down and basked in the sun. The gentle warm breeze made her feel itchy. She was also very tired, and she squinted her eyes and gradually fell asleep.
Lin Xiaotong took a blanket from the bed to cover Gao Xiulan and went to the cafeteria alone.
Lin Xiaotong walked around with her lunch box in her arms. Looking along the path, she saw that the buildings here were arranged neatly. The dormitories were all built in one place. The lonely buildings were the hospital, canteen and public toilets.
It was noon and the temperature was very high. The children jumping outside were wearing short-sleeved shirts and shorts, holding lunch boxes in their hands, and walking towards the family building.
The children may have seen a new face, as they stretched their necks, looked at Lin Xiaotong with surprised eyes, and whispered to their friends.
Lin Xiaotong also felt hot, so she took off her coat when she went out and only wore a loose long-sleeved shirt.
After walking in the sun for a while, beads of sweat appeared like water, my forehead was covered with sweat, my hair was stuck to my head with sweat, and my fair face was sunburned red.
When Lin Xiaotong walked in, she saw tables and benches placed in the hall. Facing the door was a row of windows, and a row of vegetable bowls were placed on the table.
Aunts wearing white hats and white aprons were serving dishes with big spoons.
There weren't many people in line at this time; the majority had already finished their meals and gone home. Lin Xiaotong stood at the back of the line.
When it was almost her turn, Lin Xiaotong could finally see what was in the lunch box.
The most eye-catching thing is the poached chicken, which looks bland but tastes tender and juicy, cut into small pieces and arranged neatly.
The second dish is pan-fried mackerel with a little yellow bell pepper. The mackerel is cut into sections and marinated before being pan-fried until fragrant. Finally, diced yellow bell peppers are added and stir-fried until cooked. The dish is fresh and spicy, and it goes very well with rice.
The vegetarian dish is a stewed potato, which can be cut into large pieces and stewed before being eaten as a meal.
The staple food is sweet potato and multi-grain rice, half sweet potato and half rice.
"Auntie, give me a spoonful of this white-cut chicken, some fried fish slices, a few potatoes, and two bowls of rice."
"Okay, take the lunch box."
Lin Xiaotong handed over the meal money first. Eating in the cafeteria on the island required money, but no tickets were required, so it was a bit cheaper.
Sometimes when family members are busy, the whole family can go to the cafeteria to eat, which is really convenient.
There are special vegetable fields on the island. The kitchen staff sometimes take a boat out of the island to purchase some meat, and most of the seafood is caught and eaten immediately.
There is one good meal a week, and Lin Xiaotong just happened to catch it today.
The aunties who served the food wielded their spoons vigorously and soon filled the two lunch boxes.
Xie Yi had already eaten lunch, so there was no need to bring him lunch. You could just send it to him in the evening.
The aunt who served the food was working at the window. She knew many people here, so she asked as she handed the lunch box to Lin Xiaotong.
"Girl, are you new here? Are you here on the island looking for your brother?"
Aunt Zhu Fengxia, who was serving the food, looked Lin Xiaotong up and down. She had never seen this girl before, and judging from her young face, she guessed that she was the sister of some soldier.
"Aunt, you have a very good eye. I came here with my mother to visit relatives."
Lin Xiaotong's eyes widened into crescents as she replied with a smile.
"Is that so? I said you looked unfamiliar to me, and since you're visiting relatives, you should live in that small courtyard."
Zhu Fengxia looks about the same age as Gao Xiulan. Her hair is all combed up, making her look neat and tidy.
"Yes, Auntie, I feel very close to you when I see you. You can just call me Xiaolin."
"That's right. My husband always says I'm good-looking and not scary. Xiaolin, you can just call me Aunt Fengxia."
"Hey, Aunt Fengxia, please come and chat with me when you have time. I'll be going back first."
Lin Xiaotong thought that Gao Xiulan would be bored at home alone, so she could find a few more aunts to hang out with so that she could have some company.
"Hey, I'll go when I have time!"
Zhu Fengxia simply replied. She had been on this island for more than ten years, and this was the first time she met someone who was more familiar than her.
It is true that the waves behind push the waves in front, and each generation is stronger than the previous one!
…
Lin Xiaotong returned with two full lunch boxes.
Gao Xiulan had already woken up in the small courtyard and was standing in the yard stretching her arms and legs. She had been tired for several days and her bones felt very sore.
"Xiaotong, are you back? Come over here quickly and wipe your face, it's so sunburned."
Gao Xiulan saw Lin Xiaotong coming back happily, so she went to the kitchen and got a wet towel to wipe Lin Xiaotong.
"Ogawa said he would send some cooking tools to us after the afternoon training. I will cook at home then."
Gao Xiulan and Lin Xiaotong were talking while eating at the table.
…
In the evening, Xiong Chuan came to the courtyard with a few brothers. The young man was carrying things in his hands, including rice, flour, diesel, pots, pans, and other miscellaneous items, which were all placed in the kitchen.
These were taken from the cafeteria by Xiong Chuan and his men. Gao Xiulan gave Xiong Chuan some money yesterday and asked him to help buy some odds and ends.
Xiongchuan also brought a few fish, which he caught.
Although Xie Yi said that the operation was successful, he still needed to take good care of his body. Gao Xiulan prepared to make some soup for Xie Yi to nourish him.
"Chuanzi, thank you so much! Come on, everyone, have a bowl of water."
Gao Xiulan took out a plate of bowls and Lin Xiaotong poured water into each one.
"Auntie, what are you talking about? It's just a small matter."
Xiongchuan took the water and drank it. After drinking, he wiped his mouth, asked others to drink a bowl of water, and left.
"Aunt, we're leaving first. Call me if you need anything."
"Hey, come over to my house for dinner tomorrow!"
Gao Xiulan walked her to the door and only went back to pack her things after everyone had left.
…
On the way back, Xiongchuan and a group of brothers were still discussing.
"Chuanzi, is the short-haired girl in that room really Xie Yi's girlfriend?"
"That girl looks like a student to me. Could she be Xie Yi's sister?"
"She's really Xie Yi's girlfriend. They're already married. I think Auntie and Xie Yi's wife are getting along pretty well."
"Xie Yi is really lucky. His mother and wife came all the way here."
"Who says it's not true? Comparing yourself to others makes you feel nauseous."
…
In the evening, every household on the island began to cook, and smoke rose into the sky.
Gao Xiulan and Lin Xiaotong had dinner early, and the food they sent to Xie Yi was put in a separate lunch box.
"Mom, I'm going to deliver the meal. I'll be back soon."
Lin Xiaotong was holding a cloth bag with two lunch boxes in it. She waved to Gao Xiulan who was standing at the gate of the small courtyard and walked towards the hospital.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
