Back in their hometown, they love to cut grass carp into chunks, fry them in oil until golden brown on both sides, and then stir-fry them with chili peppers or chopped chili peppers—it's incredibly fragrant!
During the Chinese New Year, almost every household prepares fried grass carp in advance, storing it in jars or bowls containing blood-tonifying powders. When they want to eat it, they take out a few pieces and stir-fry them.
Mr. and Mrs. He also love to eat fish.
They used two pans together and it took almost an hour to fry all the fish. He Qian came over as soon as she smelled the aroma.
"Looking at your fish makes my mouth water."
"I've made some for you at noon."
"No need for that, you're in business."
"I put two pieces in one boxed meal, so there's definitely more than that."
"Sis, I've finished writing." He Wenjun handed over his summer homework.
He Wenlin washed her hands, checked his work, and circled the mistakes.
"Come here, I'll tell you..."
I spent another ten minutes explaining the wrong questions to my younger brother, and then sent him off to peel potatoes.
He Wenlin prepared the washed chili peppers, pickled peppers, ginger, and garlic by chopping them.
Finally, shred the potatoes.
The rice was cooked at 10:30, and the younger brother packed it up at 11:00. He Qian and He Jian, who had nothing else to do, also helped pack it up for a while.
He Wenlin is cooking.
At 11:40, the braised fish pieces were ready.
He Wenlin put a portion on a plate and gave it to He Qian next door: "This is for you two."
"No."
"Don't be so polite with me."
"I'm afraid you won't have enough to sell."
"That's enough! Little brother, only two pieces of fish in one box, and add some chili peppers too, they're good with rice, don't forget!"
"Don't worry, sis."
He Qian swallowed hard: "Then I won't be polite, your cooking is really delicious."
After saying that, He Qian even picked up a piece and ate it: "Delicious, fragrant!"
"It's delicious. I'll make it for you again next time. I have to go now."
At 11:55, He Wenlin and her younger brother set off for their usual spot to set up their stall.
She prepared seventy boxes today!
At 12:05, the stall was set up.
"Fast food, fast food with fish and eggs, three yuan a serving, Hunan-style home-style fast food, with fish and eggs, only three yuan!"
"Hey, ma'am, give us five portions." It was that same uncle from yesterday. "What do you want to eat today?"
"Today we're having hot and sour shredded potatoes, stir-fried eggs with chili peppers, and fish." He Wenlin opened a box and showed it to them.
The fish was fried until golden brown and then stir-fried with green peppers, making it incredibly fragrant.
"The hot and sour shredded potatoes are really delicious, sour and spicy, perfect with rice! But there's not enough rice, I don't want rice, can you give me a discount?"
"I can give you a discount of two cents."
"Then I won't buy rice anymore. We can steam rice at our factory."
He didn't steam rice for lunch today, so we still need this portion for lunch.
"Linlin." Her three roommates from the same hometown, Xu Jing, Zhang Xiaojuan, and Zhou Liping, also arrived.
Besides them, there were also several male fellow villagers living in the next room: He Hui, Zhou Libo, Li Haibing, Li Haihua, and Li Haifei.
He Hui is He Wenlin's neighbor. He was also brought out to work by her parents. He is nineteen years old this year.
These male fellow villagers were all unmarried and around the same age. They often ate and drank together, and He Wenlin was quite familiar with them.
Yesterday they heard that He Wenlin was selling boxed lunches here, so today none of them cooked rice and they all came to support her.
These few people alone bought eight boxed meals.
He Wenlin didn't have time to chat with them; there were too many guests at the moment.
He Wenlin and her brother were busy collecting and giving change, having a great time.
She didn't even need to shout out; one for you, one for me, and by 12:20, they were all sold out!
"Little sister, do you still have any boxed lunches?" As He Wenlin was packing up her stall, a young woman rode up on a bicycle. He Wenlin remembered her; she had bought a boxed lunch from her yesterday.
"Sorry, ma'am, we're sold out."
"So fast! I just took a dump! Why didn't you do more?"
"I made extra today, but I didn't expect everyone to like my boxed lunches so much. It was all friends bringing friends to come, and they sold out in no time."
"Sigh, looks like I'll be eating instant noodles again for lunch."
The young woman rode away on her bicycle, looking dejected.
He Wenlin and her younger brother packed up their stall and gave him three yuan to buy three popsicles from a roadside shop. He took one, He Qian and her brother each took one, and He Wenlin didn't eat any.
He Wenlin went to the farmers' market and bought three jin of pork for the afternoon, which cost twelve yuan.
This time, she also spent 130 yuan to buy a wok and a rice cooker.
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