After dinner, Zhao Shiyun boiled some hot water and brought it to the room to give Lin Yan a bath and wash his hair. Lin Yan took off his clothes and stepped into the bathtub. He used both hands to push his hair out of the tub to make it easier for Zhao Shiyun to wash and comb his hair.
Zhao Shiyun combed Lin Yan's hair, then scooped water from a gourd ladle and poured it over his hair, wetting it completely. He then dipped some bath beads into the water and rubbed them slowly through his hair, creating foam. Zhao Shiyun's fingernails were short, and he used his fingers to skillfully and gently massage Lin Yan's scalp. Lin Yan closed his eyes slightly, savoring this rare comfort. He felt a little warm all over his body and face.
Zhao Shiyun washed his hair attentively, occasionally his eyes fell on Lin Yan's flushed cheeks, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously raised. After washing his hair, Zhao Shiyun picked up the cloth and wiped Lin Yan's hair carefully. Lin Yan opened his eyes and looked at Zhao Shiyun who was so close to him. Their eyes met, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little ambiguous. Zhao Shiyun's hand paused for a moment, then continued to wipe. Neither of them spoke. A different kind of emotion filled the air, as if time had stopped at this moment, leaving only the sound of each other's heartbeats echoing in the room.
After Lin Yan finished taking a shower, Zhao Shiyun rinsed him briefly with the still-warm water. After getting on the bed, he asked Lin Yan to lie down and he massaged his calves.
Lin Yan felt a little sleepy, and he said dazedly, "The drink hasn't been brewed yet..."
"Don't worry, Ah Mo has stayed up all night." Zhao Shiyun said softly, "If you feel sleepy, go to sleep quickly."
"Hmm..." Lin Yan muttered softly, and soon fell asleep. Zhao Shiyun massaged her for a while, put up the curtains, and fell asleep too.
The next day, cousin-in-law Sun Ruoqing arrived at the door of the Zhao family at the time Li Yuemei told her yesterday. At this time, Lin Yan and the others were packing their things and were about to set off.
"Brother Yan, Shi Yun." Sun Ruoqing greeted them, then stuck his head into the yard to greet Li Yuemei and Zhao Qiming, and then followed Widow Liu and the others into the donkey cart.
After arriving at the shop and unloading the things, Lin Yan simply told Sun Ruoqing what work they were supposed to do. Sun Ruoqing was also a hardworking person and got the hang of it quickly. If she didn't know something, she would ask Widow Liu.
At noon, the two of them worked together and quickly finished cooking, about two quarters of an hour faster than usual. Lin Yan handed his cousin's wife a bamboo cup and asked her to drink.
"Cousin, when you drink, please bring some for Aunt Liu and Brother Yue as well. They are embarrassed to drink it, and I can't make it for them every day." Lin Yan instructed.
"Okay, I'll make a note of that."
Lin Yan was at the counter all day today, and Zhao Shiyun brought him his meals. Yu Ge'er was afraid that Lin Yan would feel uncomfortable if he sat for too long, so he sewed a backrest and a cushion for him. They were so soft that Lin Yan almost fell asleep while sitting on them.
After all the ingredients were sold out, Lin Yan and Zhao Shiyun went to North Street to buy a duck. They originally wanted to buy one, but when they passed by Zhou Wanan's shop, they saw half a duck on his chopping board. Lin Yan was surprised and went over to ask. It turned out that Zhou Wanan had started selling chopped ducks. Well, where there is demand, there is business. Lin Yan immediately decided to buy the half duck and asked Zhou Wanan to help him chop the duck into small pieces.
I don’t know if there are any sour bamboo shoots at home. I forgot to check when I came out. But it doesn’t matter if there are none. I definitely have sour radish, and the sour radish and old duck soup is also delicious.
On the way back, several people were chatting in the donkey cart. Lin Yan asked, "Cousin, are you used to working in the shop today?" The cousin smiled and said, "This little chore is not as much as what I do at home. There is nothing to be unaccustomed to."
"That's good. If you have anything, please tell me."
"I understand. Don't worry too much. Just focus on taking care of the baby."
Lin Yan nodded shyly and stopped talking.
After returning home, Lin Yan went to the storage room to look for some pickled bamboo shoots, but found that they were gone. So he picked out two pickled radishes and went to the field to pick some onions.
This old duck soup needs to be stewed for a long time, so Lin Yan has to start preparing it now.
Wash the cut duck, put it in a pot with cold water, add ginger slices, green onion segments and white wine and blanch it. After the water boils, skim off the foam, take it out and wash it clean. Wash and slice the pickled radish.
Put the blanched duck meat into the pot, add appropriate amount of water, put in ginger slices and peppercorns, bring to a boil over high heat, then turn to low heat and simmer for about half an hour, then add the pickled radish and continue to simmer for another half hour, until the duck meat is soft.
Here, all we have to do is wait. Lin Yan washed the rice and started to steam it, then went to sit in the yard to rest. Zhao Shiyun washed him a peach, and he ate it slowly. Yu Ge'er was embroidering a purse under the eaves of the corridor. Seeing Lin Yan leisurely in the yard, he picked up the needlework basket and came over to sit next to Lin Yan. "Brother, do you think my purse looks good?"
Lin Yan leaned over to take a look. He had embroidered the mandarin ducks, and it was almost finished. "Looks good, you've made progress," Lin Yan praised with a thumbs-up. Yu Ge'er covered his mouth and laughed.
The old duck soup was almost ready. Lin Yan took a look at it, stirred it with a spatula, sprinkled in a handful of chopped green onions, scooped it out in a bowl, and brought it to the main room. Yu Ge'er was in the back, serving the rice.
The family sat around in the main room, looking at the steaming sour radish and old duck soup, smelling the sour taste, and their mouths began to water.
Zhao Shiyun first served Lin Yan a bowl and whispered, "Try it, be careful of the heat." Lin Yan took it and blew on it several times before slowly taking a sip. The delicious taste of the old duck soup spread in his mouth. The sour and sweet taste of the pickled radish and the mellowness of the old duck complemented each other, neutralizing the greasiness of the duck meat and adding a refreshing feeling. Lin Yan smiled with satisfaction.
"It tastes so good! Brother Yan's cooking skills are getting better and better." Li Yuemei praised. Everyone started to eat, and for a while the hall was filled with the sound of slurping soup and the sound of tongues sticking out from being burned. Brother Yu picked up a piece of duck meat and gave it to Lin Yan, "Brother, eat more to replenish your body." Lin Yan touched Brother Yu's head, "Thank you, you should eat more too."
Zhao Qiming also had a great appetite. "This sour radish and old duck soup is so delicious. I think I can eat three bowls of rice."
Li Yuemei glared at him and said, "Be careful of indigestion."
"I know, I know." Zhao Qiming responded without raising his head.
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