Chapter 55 Two Aunts Each Performing Their Own Duties
In the afternoon, the warm sun gently shines on the earth, giving everything a golden edge. Jiang Ruoxi took Lu's mother, Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan to buy groceries.
"Auntie Lan, Auntie Chen, look, if you go straight along this road and turn a corner you will reach the vegetable market. You usually come here to buy vegetables. The vegetables are fresh and the prices are reasonable!" Jiang Ruoxi introduced patiently as she walked.
Mother Lu followed behind, interjecting from time to time, "For the cucumbers in the market, pick the ones with thorns, you can't go wrong!" As she spoke, she gestured to measure the size of the cucumbers.
Aunt Chen smiled and nodded, "Big sister, you are really experienced. I used to like to pick this kind of cucumber when I was in my hometown. It is very refreshing to make cold dishes!"
"Yes, this kind of cucumber is tender and delicious!" replied Lu's mother.
"Of course not!"
Auntie Lan narrowed her eyes slightly, carefully observing the buildings along the way, fearing that she would miss any important landmarks, and kept muttering, "Well, remember, go straight and turn the corner, the vegetable market."
When they arrived at the vegetable market, Jiang Ruoxi took them to visit various stalls, "Look, the vegetables here were just picked from the fields this morning, they are so juicy!" She picked up a handful of vegetables and handed them to Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan, letting them have a look. The vegetables looked good, so they bought a handful.
After buying the food, Jiang Ruoxi led everyone to the military service center. "The service center has a wide range of items, such as oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and other condiments, as well as daily necessities, can all be bought here!"
After everything was explained clearly, Jiang Ruoxi said with a smile: "I'll trouble you two to buy groceries in the future. If there is anything you don't understand, just ask!"
Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan quickly responded: "It's not hard, it's not hard, Ruoxi, don't worry, we will definitely get it done!"
Mother Lu watched all this with satisfaction, her heart filled with joy. Everyone was carrying bags full of dishes, talking and laughing as they walked home. The afterglow of the setting sun stretched their shadows out.
After arriving home, Jiang Ruoxi called Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan over and told them, "Aunt Chen, Aunt Lan, if you meet someone outside and ask what your relationship is to us, you can say that you are our distant relatives. Because I am pregnant, my in-laws and my parents are worried, so they asked you to come and take care of me. And you can just call me by my name. To me, you are all my elders. I am sorry to trouble you during my pregnancy and childbirth. You may have to help me take care of the child in the future!"
"Ruoxi, what are you talking about? It's not hard for us to take care of you. Isn't this what we should do?" Aunt Chen said.
"Aunt Chen, Aunt Lan, I will give you 30 yuan each a month, including food and accommodation. Is that okay with you?" Jiang Ruoxi asked the two of them.
Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan looked at each other and said, "Okay, we will take care of the house from now on!"
"Aunt Chen, Aunt Lan, if someone outside asks you whether you will give money or not, just say that you are all relatives and you are here to help. We will provide you with food and accommodation, and don't say anything else!" Jiang Ruoxi added.
"We know. You guys take a rest first. We'll go to the kitchen to cook. Each of us will cook two dishes. You can try whose cooking you like, and that's who will cook from now on!" Aunt Lan said.
"Okay, go ahead and do your work. I'll talk to my mom!"
As the lights come on, the warm yellow light softly shines in the living room, adding a touch of warmth to the entire space.
Jiang Ruoxi and Lu's mother sat side by side on the soft sofa. Exquisite tea sets were placed on the coffee table, and the aroma of tea filled the air.
The topic was slowly unfolding around the salary arrangements for the new aunt Chen and aunt Lan.
Mother Lu took a sip of tea, a kind smile on her face, and said in a gentle voice: "Xixi, as long as you and Tingxiao feel it's okay! I trust you two to do the work, you can just make the decision on these trivial matters!"
Jiang Ruoxi nodded slightly and responded seriously: "Mom, I want to give them appropriate treatment according to the market conditions and their experience and ability, so that they can work more attentively in the future. Aunt Lan said that she and Aunt Chen will each cook two dishes tonight for us to try. Whoever likes the dish will cook in the future, and the other will take care of the chores at home!"
The two were talking quietly when, with the sound of the door being pushed open, Lu Tingxiao returned from get off work.
"Tingxiao, you're back!" Mother Lu stood up first, her face full of concern.
Lu Tingxiao walked quickly into the living room, took off his military uniform, and replied with a smile: "Mom, wife, I'm back!"
Then, he walked over to Jiang Ruoxi and sat down, gently holding her shoulders, and asked, "What are you talking about? You look so serious."
Jiang Ruoxi smiled and repeated to him the salary arrangement that they had just discussed. After listening to it, Lu Tingxiao thought for a moment and said, "I think it makes sense. Let's do as you say. Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan can take care of the family, and we can worry less!" The family sat together, talking to each other, and the warm atmosphere became more and more intense.
Seeing Lu Tingxiao coming back, Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan quickly served the carefully prepared meal to the table.
On the dining table, four dishes and a soup are neatly laid out, with the colors complementing each other.
The first dish is stir-fried meat with fresh mushrooms. The tender mushrooms and the tempting meat slices are nestled together. The mushrooms absorb the aroma of the meat, and every bite is smooth and mellow.
The second dish is stewed pork ribs with green beans. The green beans are cooked just right, soft and tasty, and the pork ribs are full of meaty aroma. The meat and bones can be easily separated with a light bite.
The third dish is scrambled eggs with green peppers. The green peppers and eggs are yellow and green. The refreshing green peppers and the golden and fluffy eggs blend perfectly, and the aroma is fragrant.
The fourth dish is cabbage in vinegar. The cabbage is crisp and delicious, and the rich aroma of vinegar instantly stimulates the taste buds.
There is also the loofah and meatball soup. The emerald green loofah floats on the milky white soup, and the tender meatballs are hidden in it. It makes people salivate just by looking at it.
Lu Tingxiao rolled up his sleeves and walked quickly to the dining table. He took a deep breath and exclaimed, "It smells so good. Thank you for your hard work, Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan!" Just as he was about to reach out for the chopsticks, Jiang Ruoxi rushed him to wash his hands.
When Lu Tingxiao came back from washing his hands, Jiang Ruoxi had already set the table for him, and Lu's mother was there, asking everyone to take their seats.
The family sat around the dining table. Lu Tingxiao picked up a piece of fried mushrooms with meat and chewed it carefully. A satisfied look appeared on his face. He said, "This tastes so authentic. Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan's cooking skills are incredible!"
Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan stood aside, with simple smiles on their faces, and kept thanking them.
Jiang Ruoxi also tasted the beans and pork ribs stew and nodded in praise: "The beans are so flavorful and the pork ribs are so soft, so delicious!"
After dinner, the family sat in the living room, and the warm yellow light created a cozy atmosphere for this special "food selection".
The aroma of food still lingered on the dining table. Lu Tingxiao, Jiang Ruoxi, and Lu's mother were having a heated discussion.
Lu Tingxiao leaned back on the sofa with a smile on his face, and spoke first: "I think this stewed pork ribs with beans has to be on the list, the meat is rich in flavor, the beans are soft, and the cooking time is just right!" As he spoke, he gave a thumbs up, his face full of aftertaste.
Jiang Ruoxi nodded slightly, writing on the paper with the pen in her hand, "I also vote for the stewed pork ribs with beans, but this pickled cabbage is also amazing, crisp and delicious, the sour and salty taste is just right, I will vote for it too!"
Mother Lu picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said with a smile: "This loofah meatball soup is really good. The soup is delicious, and the meatballs are tender and springy. I vote for it! This mushroom fried meat is also delicious. The mushrooms are tender and the meat is full of flavor. I also vote for it!"
After some discussion, the vote was finalized.
Pork ribs stewed with green beans, cabbage with vinegar, and loofah meatball soup each received 3 votes, while stir-fried meat with mushrooms and scrambled eggs with green peppers each received 2 votes. Jiang Ruoxi looked at the number of votes and smiled helplessly, "It's really hard to choose. Both aunts are so good at cooking that we don't even know which two dishes were made by Aunt Chen and which two were made by Aunt Lan. We can't even tell whose skill is this soup. We voted purely based on taste."
"Let Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan reveal the secrets and see which one was done by Aunt Chen and which one was done by Aunt Lan!" Lu Tingxiao suggested, touching his chin.
"Okay, let them reveal the secret!" Jiang Ruoxi responded, and turned to Aunt Chen and Aunt Lan and said, "Aunt Chen, Aunt Lan, come over and reveal which dish you made!"
Hearing Jiang Ruoxi calling them, the two walked over quickly. Aunt Lan said, "I made the stir-fried meat with mushrooms, the vinegar-fried cabbage, and the loofah meatball soup, while Aunt Chen made the stewed pork ribs with beans and the scrambled eggs with green peppers!"
"Auntie Lan is slightly better!" Jiang Ruoxi said with a smile.
"If it weren't for the soup, Aunt Chen and I would be tied!"
Lu Tingxiao thought that the food they cooked was delicious, so he suggested, "How about this, Aunt Lan and Aunt Chen each cook for a day, Aunt Chen will be responsible for buying the ingredients, and whoever of you is free will clean up the house, is that okay?"
"Sure!" the two of them agreed hurriedly.
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