"We're back!" After the women finished washing the vegetables, they waited for another half an hour before Bai Yu and the others returned. Xia Donglai and Lu Ying were carrying two large buckets.
Qinghe ran over and exclaimed, "Girl, they caught a lot of shrimp!"
Bai Nuo had Xia Donglai pour everything into the basin. There was half a bucket of shrimp and crabs, and half a bucket of river clams and snails. Bai Nuo quickly sorted the items, opened the river clams on the spot, cleaned the shrimp and crabs, and left the snails aside to keep.
At the hour of You (5-7 PM), the Bai family finally started their performance.
"Are we just going to eat like this?" The sun had already begun to set by 5 PM, and the entire Bai family courtyard was no longer bathed in sunlight. At this moment, a gentle breeze was blowing, and everyone felt refreshed.
Bai Nuo then placed both tables in the yard.
On the table was a stove with a pot on top, half-filled with soup. However, there was no fire under the stove, only glowing red charcoal.
None of Jiang San Niang and the others had ever seen this way of eating before, but Lu Ying had. Seeing Jiang San Niang's puzzled expression, he whispered, "This is called hot pot. The young lady invented it!"
"Is it edible?" Jiang San Niang asked in a low voice.
Lu Ying nodded. "See that pot? That's what you use to cook food!"
Bai Nuo came out of the kitchen carrying a tray with minced garlic, minced scallions, minced ginger, chili powder, chili peppers, soy sauce, and aged vinegar. All the seasonings were in pairs.
Aunt Liu and Qinghe followed behind her, carrying everyone's bowls and chopsticks.
"Alright, Auntie, go and push Grandma out. Bai Yu, go and call Uncle Long Er and the others back for dinner," Bai Nuo said with a smile.
"Everyone, come sit down!" Bai Nuo said with a smile, placing the side dishes on the table.
Although we're having hot pot today, dinner was an extremely lavish meal. The hot pot broth was made with pork bones, and the side dishes included river clam meat, shrimp, crab, duck intestines, duck gizzards, pork liver, kidney slices, green vegetables, radishes, potatoes, mixed mushrooms, and more.
The same dishes were placed on both tables. No one said anything, but everyone still sat down according to gender.
Although we are all easygoing people, there are still some taboos we should avoid.
Long Er and the others haven't returned yet, so we'll have to wait a bit. Bai Nuo went to Hu Mingmei's side and asked softly, "Shall I get you some sauce?"
Hu Mingmei nodded slightly.
So Bai Nuo took Hu Mingmei's bowl, added a spoonful of minced garlic, a little ginger, a little chopped green onion, a little chili, two spoonfuls of soy sauce, and half a spoonful of aged vinegar to make a dipping sauce for Hu Mingmei. She placed it in front of him and whispered, "If you finish it, tell me, and I'll make you more..."
Hu Mingmei gave her a doting smile and nodded.
Neither of them spoke much, but Lu Ying and Xia Donglai, who were sitting next to Hu Mingmei, heard them and couldn't help but glance at Hu Mingmei and Bai Nuo with a sour look. They also wished they had someone to make the sauce.
Thinking this, Lu Ying took action, picked up her bowl, walked to Jiang San Niang's side, put it down with a clatter, and said indifferently, "Make me a bowl of sauce."
Jiang San Niang never expected Lu Ying to come. It had been more than a month since they last met. When she saw him, Jiang San Niang's face immediately turned red.
Bai Nuo was still beside Hu Mingmei when Jiang Sanniang looked at Lu Ying uneasily, her face flushed, and stammered, "I...I don't know how to mix it."
Jiang San Niang naturally saw Bai Nuo preparing the sauce for Hu Mingmei, but she had never eaten hot pot before, so how was she supposed to prepare the sauce? It was only after Lu Ying explained that Jiang San Niang realized these sauces were for dipping!
"One spoonful of minced garlic, minced scallions, minced ginger, and that red stuff, plus two spoonfuls of soy sauce and one spoonful of aged vinegar!" Lu Ying recalled Bai Nuo's recipe.
"Oh!" Jiang San Niang immediately stood up and poured Lu Ying a bowl. "Here you go!"
Lu Ying then left, satisfied, carrying the bowl of condiments.
As soon as he returned to his seat, Xia Donglai immediately reached out and snatched it, saying, "Oh, when did you guys get involved together!"
Lu Ying quickly raised the bowl of seasonings, "What do you mean by mixed together? Don't talk nonsense, that didn't happen!"
"So they made this for you?"
Thinking that Jiang San Niang might hear him, Xia Donglai lowered his voice.
"I'd be happy to let her do it!"
It was completely irrelevant. Xia Donglai immediately stood up and said, "Then I'll ask Manager Jiang to make me a bowl too."
Lu Ying pulled Xia Donglai down and said irritably, "Can't you adjust it yourself?"
Seeing that his brother was really angry, Xia Donglai chuckled and said to Hu Mingmei, "Young master, could you ask the young mistress to make me a bowl?"
Hu Mingmei shook her head, "No, this is the recipe for love!"
Xia Donglai: ......
After Long Er and the others returned, the Bai family officially started their hot pot feast. The weather in August had already turned cold, but the steaming hot pot, with everyone gathered together, dispelled the chill. Jiang Qiao'er and Jiang San Niang were originally unwilling to eat duck intestines and other offal, but after being tempted by Bai Nuo, they tried the first bite and became happier and happier as they ate.
Halfway through the meal, Aunt Liu smiled at the old woman and said, "Auntie, didn't you get a few jars of wine at the end of April? Since you're so happy today, why don't you bring them out for everyone to drink?"
The day was lively, and the old lady was very happy. Upon hearing this, she immediately nodded.
So Aunt Liu went and brought out two jars of wine.
The meal lasted for an hour, and they didn't leave until the moon came out.
After dinner, Aunt Liu and Qinghe tidied up in the yard, while Jiang Sanniang kept the old woman company. Qiao'er and Bai Yu had gone off somewhere, while Lu Ying and the other roughnecks chatted over wine and snacks.
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