Li Ying is in much better spirits and drinks the chicken soup spoonful by spoonful without needing to be fed.
She finished the whole small bowl of chicken soup in one go, then laughed and said, "I'm so lucky! I have chicken or fish soup every day, and eggs are plentiful. I'm definitely going to gain ten pounds after this month of confinement!"
Li Lan smiled broadly as she looked at her sleeping nephew. Hearing Li Ying speak, she quickly took the empty bowl from her hand, turned around and filled another bowl for her sister. "Eat as much as you can. Taking good care of your health is more important than anything else."
Back when she gave birth to Zhang Huan, her ex-father-in-law and ex-husband were unhappy because it was a girl, but her stepmother-in-law was quite happy. However, she was all sweet talk but bitter heart, feeding her millet porridge and cornbread three meals a day, with so many millet grains in the porridge that you could count them...
Thinking back to those days, it was truly awful. Thankfully, I escaped from there!
Seeing her younger sister able to have a proper postpartum recovery, Li Lan felt happy too.
Li Xiangdong chatted with Li Ying for a few more minutes before coming out.
Zhao Sufang was cooking crucian carp soup in the outer room. She originally intended it for her daughter to drink at noon, but Li Xiangdong brought over chicken soup, so she decided to have the fish soup for dinner instead.
As a mother-in-law, she is supposed to take care of her daughter during her postpartum period. However, she is currently the head of the canned food department at Baiyanghe Food Factory, and staying here for more than ten days is already her limit.
She had already discussed it with Grandma Hong and Hong Shui, and she was going home tomorrow.
After discussing it, the mother and son decided to take Daxia back to Lijiapo, so that the Hong family mother and son wouldn't have to worry about taking care of her, and also because they were afraid that Daxia would be mistreated.
Hearing this from inside the room, Li Lan lifted the curtain and came out, whispering, "Mother, I'll take care of Third Sister during her postpartum period for the remaining two weeks!"
Zhao Sufang pondered for a moment, "That's fine, but are you giving up your braised food business?"
Li Lan's braised dishes are now not only sold wholesale and retail at large markets, but also supplied to restaurants in counties and cities.
"We have to do it. How about this: I'll go home and make some first, and then my second brother can help me deliver it?"
"no problem!"
Li Xiangdong readily agreed.
Anyway, the eldest sister owns shares in her braised food business.
Of course, the eldest sister insisted on giving her these shares. She said that Li Xiangdong taught her how to do the braised food business, so it was only right that he take half of the shares.
Li Xiangdong didn't want half the shares, only one-tenth, but when it came time to divide the money, he found that his older sister had already given him half.
Li Xiangdong couldn't argue with her, so he gave in, since the money was more useful to him anyway.
He will never mistreat his older sister and niece again.
Because of their lack of concern for money, the relationship between the siblings became even more harmonious.
Once it was settled, the Hong family mother and son were very grateful when the conversation was told.
After all, Old Mrs. Hong was getting on in years, and Hong Shui, being a man, couldn't be as meticulous as Li Lan.
With the matter settled, Li Xiangdong and Li Lan didn't dawdle any longer. They packed a small bundle of clothes for Daxia, put it on their bicycle, and went home.
Tomorrow, Li Lan will come to Quanshui Village to replace Zhao Sufang once she has prepared the braised food.
Daxia was especially happy to come to her second uncle's house, and she chattered non-stop the whole way there.
She was even happier when she saw Li Ping, Li Jiabao, Li Yan, and Zhang Huan after school. The children chased and played around in the yard, attracting the dogs to run and whimper along with them.
Seeing that the two siblings had finally returned, Zhou Hongsong clutched his stomach and said with a worried look, "If you two hadn't come back, I would have starved to death!"
Bai Yulong guarded the big pot and wouldn't allow him to steal any chicken from it!
Li Lan smiled upon hearing this, "My dad's coming right away, let's put the table down first!"
There were many people today, and everyone hurriedly set up tables, chairs, chopsticks, and bowls.
Li Xiangdong took out a copper pot from the side room and put some lit charcoal inside. This was prepared for eating hot pot with mutton in winter, but he didn't expect to use it now.
Transfer the stewed chicken to a copper pot, pour in the broth, and wait for the charcoal to bring the broth to a boil before eating the chicken!
After you finish the chicken, dip the vegetables, tofu, and glass noodles in the broth and eat it with the flatbread. It's absolutely delicious!
The charcoal fire was blazing, and the pot was soon boiling vigorously, but Li Jin didn't come, no matter how long he waited.
Seeing everyone practically drooling, Li Xiangdong waved his hand and said, "Let's eat first!"
Zhou Hongsong was the first to pick up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. It was so hot that he kept gasping for breath.
"Ugh, I should just throw it up first!"
Li Xiangdong felt that his mouth must have been scalded with large blisters by now.
Zhou Hongsong refused, chewed it a few times, and then swallowed it.
He took the cold water Li Lan handed him, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then let out a long sigh, "Delicious! Spicy and flavorful!"
Seeing his high praise made everyone even more eager, but none of them were as brave as him.
Li Xiangdong picked up a piece of chicken leg meat with his chopsticks, dipped it in the vinegar and garlic sauce, took a small bite, then dipped it in the vinegar and garlic sauce again and took another bite.
He closed his eyes and savored the changes in the chicken on his taste buds. It started with a fresh and fragrant taste, then became spicy and fragrant, and finally numbing and fragrant. Add to that the sweet and sour taste of vinegar and the spiciness of garlic, and different stimulating flavors took turns appearing, as if a thousand horses were galloping in his mouth without stopping for a moment!
"Cool!"
Li Xiangdong swallowed the last bite of chicken and exclaimed in admiration.
What are we waiting for?
Once they knew the correct way to eat it, everyone swung their chopsticks quickly, dipping the chicken in the vinegar and garlic sauce and eating it, not even having time to talk.
Of the people at the table, only Da Xia and Li Yan didn't like it; they both thought it was too spicy.
Li Lan served them some non-spicy chicken that she had prepared in advance, and told the two girls to eat it with steamed buns.
She looked up at the door and saw only the wind constantly blowing the curtain, making a "pat-pat" sound.
When she and Li Xiangdong returned, they ran into Li Jin on the way. She had already told him that she had come to Xiangdong's place for dinner, so why hadn't he arrived yet?
Could something have tripped him up?
For a moment, Li Lan became somewhat absent-minded.
While the others were busy eating and didn't notice, Li Xiangdong noticed his older sister's unusual behavior.
"What's wrong, sis? Eat up!"
Li Xiangdong placed a plump chicken wing into Li Lan's bowl.
"Why hasn't Dad come to eat yet?"
Li Lan said in a low voice.
Li Xiangdong also felt strange, because his father had clearly promised to come right away.
"Perhaps something else has happened!"
Li Xiangdong wasn't quite sure either.
"Okay, let's eat first. Anyway, there's some left in the pot for Dad!"
The siblings couldn't figure it out for a moment. Now that there are no cell phones, they can't get in touch with anyone by making a phone call. All they can do is guess and wait.
As a result, after waiting and waiting, and with everyone almost finished eating, Li Jin still hadn't appeared.
Li Xiangdong felt inexplicably flustered.
Just then, Zhao Xiaojun ran in, shouting, "Second Brother, Second Brother, hurry and see Sixth Uncle! He, he, something's happened!"
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