Chapter 2 Braised Fish
Forcing herself to finish a bowl of braised rice, Qiao Mianmian had no appetite. Her mother was going out to deliver the mended clothes and pick up some new jobs.
She wanted to go along to see, but Lin refused, saying, "You've only been recovered for a short time, so you should stay at home and not go anywhere."
In the Lin family's view, it was true that Qiao Mianmian had taken a liking to Xu Tongsheng, but they felt that Qiao Mianmian would not have jumped into the river; it must have been an accident.
The family kept quiet about it, afraid that Qiao Mianmian would feel uncomfortable.
Lin went out with bitter bamboo shoots and mended clothes, and Qiao Mianmian's grandmother, Zhang, came to pull Qiao Mianmian into the house.
"Try it quickly." Zhang first opened the camphor wood cabinet, then took out a red cloth bag, which contained dried red dates. "It's too cold, and the rice your mother made was too oily. You must not have eaten enough. This was sent by your second uncle. Keep it to yourself and don't let anyone else see it."
The old lady herself was reluctant to eat it; she had given birth to three sons and longed for a daughter, but alas, she was not destined to have one. Although the two girls brought by Madam Lin were well-behaved, they didn't bear the surname Qiao. Therefore, she doted on her little granddaughter, Qiao Mianmian, the most, secretly giving her any good food she had.
Zhang grabbed a handful of red dates and put them in her granddaughter's hand, then wrapped them in red cloth and locked the camphor wood cabinet again.
Qiao Mianmian looked at the red dates in her hand, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. For the Qiao family, red dates were a very good snack. Seeing that she wasn't eating them, Zhang Shi took two and stuffed them into her mouth.
"Grandma, you can eat too." Qiao Mianmian handed it over. "If you don't eat, I won't eat either."
Zhang pretended to eat one, then said, "Alright, alright, you eat now, I'm going to help your grandfather mend the fishing net."
Qiao Youfu can swim, and when it doesn't rain, he sets out nets to catch fish. If he's lucky, he can catch a big carp weighing four or five pounds, but sometimes he comes back empty-handed.
Everyone in the family is busy with their own lives, except for Qiao Mianmian, who is pampered and treated like a treasure at home. Today, she was able to deliver a meal, and Zhang Shi was already praising her filial piety to others at the door.
“My Mianmian is an exceptionally filial daughter. As soon as her mother finished cooking, she rushed to deliver the meal to her father, afraid that he would go hungry.” Zhang said with a smile as she mended the fishing net and chatted with the neighbors who came over for a chat.
"Your family is full of good fortune. If we're talking about the prettiest girl in our alley, it has to be your Mianmian."
"That's true, my Mianmian is wonderful in every way." Zhang Shi smiled from ear to ear, she was even happier when others praised her granddaughter than when they praised her herself.
Just then, Zhang saw the Xu family's maid coming over and immediately stopped smiling.
Yunzhu carried an oil paper package in her hand, her chin slightly raised. "Madam Qiao, my wife heard about your granddaughter's situation and felt very guilty. She asked me to bring you some tonics. We appreciate Miss Qiao's kindness, but everyone is struggling financially. Please don't let Miss Qiao bring meat anymore."
"No need for tonics. I just saw that you had just moved in, so I sent my kids to deliver some meat and drop by. After all, we're neighbors now. People in our alley are all friendly and friendly, and I thought you would be too."
Concerned about her granddaughter's reputation, Zhang only said that she had asked someone to deliver it, adding, "Your family didn't accept the meat I sent, so I'm embarrassed to accept your family's tonics. You should go back now; I'm busy."
After saying that, Zhang turned around and continued chatting and laughing with her neighbors, ignoring Yunzhu.
Yunzhu was left standing there, so embarrassed that she blushed. After a while, she quickly left.
"I heard that the Xu family, who just moved in, are arrogant and won't accept anything from anyone. They consider themselves scholars and look down on us ordinary folks."
"If you don't like someone, then don't associate with them. We may be just ordinary people, but we have our pride." Zhang snorted twice, but she was worried. What if her granddaughter still had feelings for Xu Tongsheng?
Besides, surely no one in the alley knows what the little granddaughter is thinking?
With more worries in her heart, Zhang lost her mind to mend the fishing net. When she entered the house, she saw her granddaughter and her brothers sharing red dates. She thought her granddaughter was too naive. She entered the house and kicked the old man in bed awake with a bad attitude.
Qiao Youfu went to collect the nets before dawn and had just caught some sleep. He was still groggy when someone woke him up. Seeing his wife's unhappy face, he turned over and lay on his side. "What is it now?"
“Mianmian will be fifteen after the New Year, which is the age to be married, but her older siblings are still unmarried, and I’m really worried about it,” Zhang sighed. “And next year, Jiawang’s wife will be moving in. Look at our three rooms, they’re already cramped, where can we find room for Jiawang to get married?”
Currently, in the Qiao family, Qiao Mancang and Lin Shi live in one room, while Qiao Youfu and Zhang Shi's room is divided into two rooms by wooden boards. The other half can only fit a bed, and now Qiao Mianmian and her fourth sister live there.
The Qiao brothers shared a room with just one bed, a table, and a cabinet. Dividing it into two rooms was too difficult.
The family was living in cramped conditions and couldn't afford to rent a new house. They couldn't very well let their son and daughter-in-law rent a place separately after the new bride moved in.
More people make it lively, but if there aren't enough places to stay, that's a problem.
Qiao Youfu, a bit carefree, yawned and went back to sleep. "Things will work themselves out. Lin is the most frugal person in our alley. She's saved money for so many years, she'll find a way. She's a stepmother, if she doesn't settle things properly for Jiawang and his brother, she'll ruin her reputation."
"You heartless wretch! Lin Shi recommended Jiawang's wife, and she's already taken good care of her. You just eat and sleep all day; when have you ever worried about anything at home?" Zhang Shi was furious with Qiao Youfu. She pinched his arm twice and turned to leave.
"Grandma, my brothers say they'll finish building the wall today." Qiao Mianmian ran over happily and affectionately took her grandmother's arm. "Can I ask you something?"
Zhang thought she wanted some change to buy snacks and was about to agree when her granddaughter said she wanted to cook dinner. Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Why do you want to cook all of a sudden?"
Looking at her granddaughter's fair and tender face, she quickly shook her head, "We don't need you to do chores at home. Cooking produces a lot of oil fumes, and we don't want you to get smoked."
“During the first month of the lunar year, I went to my maternal grandparents’ house. It just so happened that the cook next door was home visiting his family, and I learned some cooking skills from her. I was too lazy before, but after escaping death this time, I want to be more filial to you.”
Qiao Mianmian said coquettishly, "Look, my mother is busy sewing and mending for others, and my fourth sister comes back late. You are getting old and should be enjoying your retirement. Shouldn't I be the one to do it? Grandmother, please let me try. Besides, if I don't do it now, what will I do after I get married?"
The last sentence touched on Zhang's biggest worry.
Ordinary families like theirs can't afford to hire maids or servants. The new bride has to cook and do laundry. Even if she could be taken on laundry duties, she still has to cook for herself, right?
Thinking of Yunzhu's haughty attitude when she brought the tonic, Zhang felt a surge of anger. She was just a poor, down-on-her-luck woman; if she were truly wealthy and powerful, who would live in their alley?
"Alright, Grandma will help you." Although Zhang said this, she was actually planning to do it herself and let her granddaughter watch and learn first.
"Grandma, you're the best. I love you the most." Qiao Mianmian hugged her grandmother and said sweet words, which made Zhang Shi smile happily.
Qiao Jiaxing, who was building the wall nearby, said in a worried whisper, "Brother, Fifth Sister has never cooked before. Why don't you try to persuade Grandmother? At least Mother's cooking is enough to fill our stomachs. What will we do tonight if Fifth Sister messes it up?"
Qiao Jiawang said, "At worst, we'll go hungry for a meal. As older brothers, we shouldn't discourage our younger sister. Are you tired? Why don't you take a break, and I'll continue?"
As the eldest brother, he has always taken on the responsibility of caring for his younger siblings. He is not afraid of hardship and always tries to do as much as he can.
Qiao Jiaxing was indeed exhausted. He had been working for three days straight, and his arms and legs were sore. It was even more tiring than carrying goods in the rice shop.
But he felt bad letting his older brother do it all himself, so he helped finish up. He just had no expectations for dinner, since his younger sister probably couldn't even tell the difference between salt and sugar.
Qiao Mianmian, on the other hand, was full of confidence. In her previous life, her parents divorced and neither of them wanted to raise her. After dropping out of high school, she stayed in the old house left by her grandmother and learned cooking from her neighbors.
Later, I became a head chef entirely through my own abilities. Now, cooking a dinner is not a difficult task.
After appeasing her grandmother, and before her mother, Madam Lin, returned, Qiao Mianmian wanted to check on her father's business, so she quietly slipped out.
At this moment, Xu Yunzhu was replying, her tone filled with anger, "She's just a commoner, yet she gave me attitude. If it weren't for her daughter shamelessly getting close to Second Brother, our family wouldn't have had to spend money to send medicine."
"Yunzhu, watch your words." Wang Shi, standing by the window, coughed twice. Her health had been poor since her eldest son passed away. "Since the Qiao family won't take him in, then forget it. We've only been here a short time, so it's best not to make enemies. Xuan-ge'er will be taking the provincial examination in the second half of the year. If he can pass the county-level examination this time, then I'll have the face to write to his maternal grandfather and ask the Wang family to help Xuan-ge'er get into the academy."
"But you should also keep an eye on things and make sure no irrelevant people interfere with Xuan-ge'er's studies. The most important thing for our family is Xuan-ge'er's imperial examination."
"Don't worry, Madam, I will definitely not let anyone interfere with Xuan'er's studies, especially that girl from the Qiao family." Yunzhu snorted inwardly. How could such an ignorant little girl be worthy of her Xuan'er? When her eldest brother was still alive, he said that Xuan'er had a talent for studying and would become a Jinshi in the future.
Thinking of this, Yunzhu blushed and went to the kitchen to prepare afternoon snacks for Xuan-ge'er.
Xu Mingxuan had just returned from the bookstore when he saw a girl skipping and jumping in the alley. She was fair-skinned and cute, and looked very familiar.
As the man approached, he recognized her as the girl who had brought him meat a few days earlier. He had returned with other classmates; they were all scholars, yet suddenly a girl offered to bring him meat, and he refused without a second thought.
Qiao Mianmian didn't recognize Xu Mingxuan. She just wanted to get to the stall quickly, but she didn't expect that his eyes would keep falling on her. Just as she had a question in her mind, she thought of the three words "Xu Tongsheng".
The man was fair-skinned and had a scholarly air about him, which made him stand out from the noisy alley. No wonder the original owner of this body took a liking to him.
However, she is not the original owner of this body. Handsome men are even less valuable in ancient times. As long as she has money, even more handsome men will definitely come looking for her.
Without even glancing at Xu Mingxuan, she turned the corner and headed straight for the pork stall.
Xu Mingxuan: ...This girl is pretending not to know me?
Qiao Mianmian didn't care what Xu Mingxuan thought. When she arrived at the pork stall, the meat was almost sold out, but the offal remained unsold.
"Mianmian, is something wrong at home?" When Qiao Mancang saw his daughter, his first thought was that something must have happened at home, which was why his daughter had to go out in the middle of the afternoon.
Qiao Mianmian said it was nothing, "I wanted to see how your sales went, Dad. Dad, what do you do with all this offal if it doesn't sell?"
"It's hot now, if we don't sell them today, they'll all spoil by tomorrow. I can only take them to the tavern to sell cheaply. Although I lose money, at least I can get a few coins back. But sometimes, the tavern isn't doing well, and they don't want these things." Qiao Mancang looked at the unsold pig offal with great worry. He had just asked the tavern owner, who said he didn't want any today.
If he can't sell all that offal, he won't make any money today.
Qiao Mianmian's mind raced. Pork offal is difficult to clean and cook, and most people can't cook it well, so they wouldn't buy it.
But she can do it!
After accompanying her father to sell the offal for another half hour, and hearing him say that the offal could only be eaten by themselves or given away, Qiao Mianmian immediately said, "Dad, I have a way to help you sell all the offal!"
Qiao Mancang was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, taking it as his daughter joking with him. "It's okay. Next time we sell meat, it'll be our turn to get the pig's head, and your Uncle Hu will get the offal. Hey, don't do it, it's too dirty, Dad will do it."
"It's okay, I can take it." Qiao Mianmian carried the bamboo basket forward, and as soon as she entered the alley, a neighbor greeted her.
"Mancang, you're something else! Today, your daughter is helping you carry the bamboo basket."
Qiao Mancang smiled so hard his eyes narrowed into slits. "I told her not to come, but she insisted on coming to help me. My daughter has grown up and knows how to care for me now."
On the way back, Qiao Mancang was overjoyed. But when he got home, his mother saw the scene and punched him.
"Did you give birth to your son for nothing? How can you let Mianmian carry such a heavy bamboo basket?" Zhang asked with heartache, and went to borrow the bamboo basket from her little granddaughter.
Qiao Mianmian refused, saying, "Grandmother, I can handle this little thing. You should let Father rest, and we'll go cook."
Qiao Mianmian led her grandmother into the kitchen. Zhang had already informed Lin, but Lin was still worried. She came in with her mouth open, wanting to speak, but Qiao Mianmian pushed her out again, saying, "Mother, please wait patiently. I'll make sure you have a good meal today!"
After heating the oil in the pan, Qiao Mianmian sprinkled a little salt, then put the cleaned fish in to fry until one side was golden brown, then flipped it over.
Ms. Zhang intended to offer some pointers, but by the time she came to her senses, the fish had already been fried to a golden brown on both sides. Watching her granddaughter skillfully flip the fish over, she realized that her granddaughter really knew how to cook.
The fish skin gleamed with a golden sheen, sizzling and releasing its aroma as ginger and cooking wine were added. Qiao Mianmian then drizzled soy sauce from the side of the pot, coating the fish and giving it an enticing reddish-brown color.
Add sugar and vinegar for seasoning, along with a little hot water to simmer. When the lid is lifted again, the rich broth will be fragrant, and the fish meat will have a clear texture. Sprinkle with chopped green onions as a garnish, and the simple braised fish is ready.
At this moment, the fragrance filled the entire courtyard and wafted out from the Qiao family's residence.
The stomachs of the Lin family members all started growling simultaneously.
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