The stone courtyard became lively and bustling with the arrival of guests.
Grandma Xiang and Aunt Cui each carried a jar of rose vinegar and a jujube wine, and walked in with faltering steps.
Jiang Hexi was startled when she saw the glass jars in the arms of the two elderly people. She led Chu Yang over and each of them snatched the jars and hugged them to their arms.
"Grandma and Grandpa, you can just bring a bottle of wine as a token gesture, why are you carrying the whole jar around?"
"One bottle of jujube wine isn't even enough for me to drink like water."
Grandma Xiang patted the glass jar in Chu Yang's arms triumphantly, "With my drinking capacity, I can down half a jar of jujube wine tonight!"
Cui Atai squinted his eyes and said with a smile, "Axiang is a really good drinker. She can take down Guangzheng and his gang all by herself."
Chu Yang, not understanding, asked, "Who is Guangzheng?"
Jiang Hexi: "The village chief's full name is Zhou Guangzheng."
She suddenly realized the seriousness of the situation. It would be best if Granny Xiang could take down the village chief and the others. If she couldn't, and they started acting crazy while drunk, Director Chen would probably kill her.
"Tonight you can only drink rose vinegar, no jujube wine."
Upon hearing this, Granny Xiang's eyes dimmed, and she said pitifully:
Just a little bit.
How much is one point?
"Just a sip is enough."
Seeing Granny Xiang's humble attitude, Jiang Hexi softened and said, "Then I'll give you just a little bit. There's no more than that."
Grandma Cui always doted on Granny Xiang, and after the two of them had walked away carrying the jar, she couldn't help but say:
"You're always trying to get drinks wherever you go. Once you start having a sip, who can stop you?"
"Grandma is right."
Grandma Xiang readily agreed, but she just wouldn't change her ways, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
Lu Jiu and Li Youtian, carrying handfuls of salted fish, went straight to Jiang Hexi as soon as they entered the door and said:
"Xi-mei, these are wild fish that came online from the shore of Sanxi Lake. I've pickled them all into salted fish for you. Keep them safe."
Jiang Hexi carried two heavy strings of salted fish, which she estimated to be at least thirty in number. She handed them to Chu Yang with difficulty, asking him to hang them under the eaves to continue drying.
"Uncle Youtian, you're giving me way too much."
"Not much. Don't you like salted fish?"
"Who said I like salted fish?"
Li Youtian awkwardly began, "I just wanted to give you a good omen, a chance for a turnaround, the more the merrier."
Jiang Hexi was used to being ridiculed by the entire internet, but when she suddenly received blessings from others, she was deeply moved.
"Uncle, I'm going to like salted fish from now on."
Uncle Zhong and Uncle Ge also arrived, bringing a large jar of wild acacia honey, which they insisted on giving to the five-person chaebol group.
Professor Luo and his wife brought six boxes of duck eggs to his door, saying they were eggs laid by Yan Jie's ducks, and insisted on sending them over for him to try.
The village chief was the last to arrive at the small stone courtyard.
He brought a bunch of snacks to go with drinks, and even brought the secret sauce for braised pig's head, saying he was going to cook for Jiang Hexi. He hurriedly went into the kitchen.
Before he could open the large iron pot, Jiang Hexi rushed to the stove and clung tightly to the lid, refusing to let him open it.
"Village chief, this grand finale dish can only be opened after it's served."
"I brought some sauce with me. Add some on, and I guarantee this pig's head will be tender and flavorful."
"This pot already contains our exclusive secret braising sauce; we can't add any more seasonings."
The village chief sensed something else in her words: "Did you make this braised pig's head?"
"She did it all by herself."
Yan Jie entered the kitchen and saw Jiang Hexi slumped over the wooden pot lid. He turned his head away, unable to bear the sight, and said:
"Chu Yang and I helped her lift the pig's head into the big iron pot, and she closed the door and secretly cooked it alone in the kitchen for half a day."
The village chief was so shocked he could barely speak. "Why were you doing it secretly in the kitchen?"
"Our family's secret braising method is not easily passed down to outsiders."
Yan Jie pondered for a moment, then added, "She removed the production crew's surveillance cameras and strictly forbade the cameras from following her in to film. You can imagine how skilled she is at making braised pig's head."
"I'm really in for a treat this time, but can Xi-mei cook?"
"Won't."
The village chief's surprise lasted less than three seconds before he collapsed, "Then how dare you let her make braised pig's head?"
"She chopped up the pig's head, made the braising liquid herself, and took care of all the work of starting the fire, boiling water, and cooking by herself."
Yan Jie spoke frankly: "I can't think of any reason to stop her selfless dedication."
Jiang Hexi has been too nice to Yan Jie lately, to the point that he's become so arrogant that he's started to be sarcastic towards her.
"Are you finished speaking?"
"That's all."
Yan Jie was scolded by her and corrected his attitude, saying, "Village Chief, it won't make a difference if we wait a little longer. Let's go to the table and wait."
Jiang Hexi watched as the village chief was ushered out of the kitchen before straightening up from the iron pot lid.
Laymen only watch the show. Whether you can cook or not is a different matter from whether you can make a good braised pig's head. The key is the secret braising sauce passed down from her grandfather. If you cook it properly and control the heat, you can bring the dish to life.
All sorts of dishes were served on the round table.
Everyone, including the nanny, sat at the table, waiting for the final dish to be served, but no one touched their chopsticks for a long time.
Chu Yang and Yan Jie carried the large iron pot out of the kitchen and steadily placed it on the round hole in the middle of the table.
Jiang Hexi brought out two bowls of dipping sauce, one spicy and one non-spicy.
With great ceremony, she invited everyone to sit facing the pig's head. Before lifting the lid, she first made sure everyone was seated and said:
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