In the evening, Lin Qing prepared a whole fish feast. Thinking that she and her friends hadn't gotten together in a long time, she also invited Wang Haoran, Chen Bin, Lu Xianghong and Xu Fengjiao over.
Chen Bin and Wang Haoran brought two bottles of baijiu (Chinese liquor), while Lu Xianghong and Xu Fengjiao brought some eggs and vegetables. Lin Qing accepted their gifts with a smile; she didn't refuse, because reciprocity makes everyone feel comfortable.
Once everyone had arrived, they began to divide the work. Lin Qing and Zhao Xi were in charge of cooking. Lin Qing skillfully handled various types of fish, humming a little tune as she worked. Wang Haoran and Lin Yunfeng volunteered to wash and chop the vegetables, joking and laughing as they worked.
Lu Xianghong helped set the table, while Xu Fengjiao assisted Lin Qing. Zhao Chen sat silently by the fire, tending it. The group occasionally exchanged cooking tips. The rest of the group did small tasks such as peeling garlic and onions.
"Hahaha... Third Brother, you cut these vegetables really uniquely!" Wang Haoran joked, looking at the potatoes that Lin Yunfeng had cut into varying thicknesses.
"Go away, go away, if you're so good, you cut it yourself." Lin Yunfeng replied with a proud smile. He felt that he had cut it very well; it was the most beautiful dish he had ever cut.
"Hey, you two, stop fooling around and get to work," Lin Qing urged with a smile.
Soon, with everyone's joint efforts, the dishes for the whole fish feast gradually took shape. The braised fish sizzled in the pot, emitting an enticing aroma; the steamed fish lay quietly in the steamer, waiting to be served. Everyone chatted as they worked, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
"Waaah... I've been waiting for so long, and today I can finally taste Qingqing's cooking again," Xu Fengjiao said exaggeratedly.
"Then you must eat more today," Lin Qing replied with a smile. She felt particularly proud at this moment. She didn't know if it was because she had taken medication to prevent miscarriage, but she hadn't experienced any morning sickness during her pregnancy. She had been cooking fish here for half a day, and not only did she not feel nauseous at all, but the smell of fish even made her mouth water.
Before long, the whole fish feast was completed. Lin Qing also used the vegetables brought by Lu Xianghong and Xu Fengjiao to make a crisp and delicious vegetable salad (it should still be called a vegetable salad even without salad dressing).
Everyone sat around the table, their appetites whetted by the delicious dishes. On the table were steamed fish, braised fish, pickled fish, spicy fish, and boiled fish. In addition to fish, there was also braised eggplant, hot and sour shredded potatoes, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and stir-fried bok choy.
"Thank you, Qingqing and Xixi, you two are absolutely amazing." Xu Fengjiao praised Lin Qing and Zhao Xi while drooling.
"Yes, thank you, Fourth Sister-in-law and Chef Zhao Xi. Let's toast to the two chefs." Wang Haoran opened the wine he and Chen Bin had brought and poured a glass for everyone except Lin Qing.
Everyone raised their glasses and drank them down in one gulp. Lin Qing watched as everyone ate with relish, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.
"Mmm, this fish is so fresh. Fourth Sister-in-law's cooking skills are getting better and better," Wang Haoran praised.
“Yes, I think it tastes even better than what you get in restaurants,” Lu Xianghong chimed in.
"Is this called boiled fish? I remember Qingqing used to make boiled pork, it was incredibly delicious." Xu Fengjiao looked at the boiled fish with shining eyes and couldn't wait to pick up a piece and put it in her mouth: "Mmm, delicious, just as delicious as boiled pork."
"This boiled fish is made using the same method I use to boil pork, so it should taste pretty good too," Lin Qing said, picking up a piece with her chopsticks.
"Hmm, it's similar to spicy fish, but different. It's delicious." Lin Changyuan's chopsticks kept switching between spicy fish and boiled fish. He used to eat light food when he was at home, but since he went to the Northwest, he has preferred these oily and spicy dishes.
"Oh dear, I should have made another sweet and sour fish. How could I have forgotten?" While eating, Lin Qing suddenly remembered the sweet and sour fish, and her mouth instantly watered, and she couldn't wait to eat it.
"Eat first, and I'll cook for you if you get hungry later tonight." Gu Nanxun put a piece of braised fish in Lin Qing's bowl and said with a smile. Lin Qing has been eating a lot since she got pregnant, and she wants to have another meal before going to bed after finishing this meal.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was lively, with everyone chatting and laughing. They reminisced about interesting things from the past and looked forward to the future.
After the meal, Lu Xianghong and Xu Fengjiao helped wash the dishes, while Lin Qing prepared some fruit and desserts. Everyone continued to sit in the courtyard and enjoy the pleasant evening.
Laughter and conversation filled the courtyard as everyone chatted animatedly for a long time before finally dispersing.
Inside the room, before washing up, Gu Nanxun asked Lin Qing, "Would you like to eat sweet and sour fish again?"
"I don't want to eat right now. I want fried rice with eggs, and I want the kind you make!" Lin Qing said after thinking for a moment when she heard Gu Nanxun's question.
"You know, ever since you got pregnant, your appetite has changed so much. You want to eat this five minutes ago, and five minutes later you don't want to eat it anymore." Gu Nanxun chuckled and pinched Lin Qing's nose as he walked towards the kitchen.
"Brother Nanxun, no way! You're already looking down on me?" Lin Qing followed Gu Nanxun to the kitchen like a shadow, pouting and looking unhappy.
"Where? My baby, how could I dislike you? I love you so much!" Gu Nanxun turned around, hugged Lin Qing, and touched her forehead with his own, saying with a smile.
"Hmph! If you despise me, I won't want you anymore!" Lin Qing said arrogantly. She couldn't even imagine what she would do if Gu Nanxun disliked her. Just thinking about it made her heart ache terribly. Only then did she realize that in her past life, she didn't love that scumbag at all. When he cheated on her, she only felt anger at being betrayed, not heartache. Now, thinking about it, it was because she didn't care that she didn't discover their affair in time. If it were Gu Nanxun, she would have sensed even the slightest change.
Lin Qing knew that Gu Nanxun would not dislike her, just as she would never dislike Gu Nanxun. However, after becoming pregnant, she sometimes couldn't control her wild thoughts.
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