Chapter 26 Sweet and Sour Fish
Lu Zhao had just said "okay" when Qingjiu darted out from behind him, "Don't worry, Miss Qiao, I'll definitely be there!"
"Okay," Qiao Mianmian replied. Hearing her fourth sister calling her from home, she hurriedly ran back.
Today was Lu Zhao's day off, a day when he wasn't on duty. He took some fine wine and went outside the city to catch wanted criminals.
His meager salary was enough for three meals a day, but to make a better life, he needed to earn more money. He had come from Bianjing to Lin'an, vowing that he would live a good life. He had rented a house, which, although not as nice as the old Lu family mansion, would eventually allow him to expand the property and get promoted in time.
Everyone was busy with their own things, and the Qiao family members were especially busy. Today, because Lu Zhao came to eat, they packed up and went home after noon.
After soaking the dried bamboo shoots, Qiao Mianmian stewed the pork ribs. She also chopped some yam, which she would add after the ribs were cooked.
The dinner dishes were almost ready, and Qiao Mianmian sat down to peel and eat peanuts.
Lin Xiahe came over, rubbing her lower back, and said, "I don't want to eat, you eat."
"Fourth Sister, does your back hurt?" Qiao Mianmian noticed that her fourth sister's hands were a little swollen. Thinking that she didn't have gloves at this time, and that her fourth sister had to wash a lot of pig offal every day, she frowned slightly.
Lin Xiahe said it was nothing, "It's just a little sore, much easier than when I was in the embroidery room."
"That won't do either." Qiao Mianmian thought about how her fourth sister had to wash and braise pig offal every day. The family's income had increased, but they were even more tired. Earning money was meant to make everyone's life more comfortable, not more difficult.
She thought for a moment, then got up and went to find Mrs. Lin.
"My little darling, you suddenly ran in and scared me to death!" Madam Lin patted her chest, her hands covering a small wooden box. "What happened?"
"Mother, I need to discuss something with you." Qiao Mianmian glanced at the small wooden box, which was the box where Lin Shi hid her money. "Look, everyone in our family is as busy as a spinning top right now. I just saw that Fourth Sister's hands are swollen."
"What?"
Madam Lin got up and ran to the door, calling her second daughter over. Seeing that her daughter's hand was indeed a little swollen, she asked with concern, "What happened? Why didn't you tell your mother?"
"Mother, it's nothing. Hands get like this after being in water for a while. It'll be fine in a bit. Mianmian, why are you telling me this?" Lin Xiahe really didn't think it was a big deal. Helping with chores gave her a lot of energy, which was much better than going to the embroidery room.
Madam Lin became anxious, "How can you be alright? I'll take you to see a doctor!"
Lin Xiahe said it wasn't that serious; she didn't want to make a fuss over nothing, and she was afraid that if the rest of her family found out, they would think she was being spoiled.
Lin didn't care about anything else; she loved her own daughter dearly and took her to see a doctor.
Before Qiao Mianmian could finish speaking, she could only watch as they went to find a doctor. After a while, her pork ribs were stewed and the dried bamboo shoots were soaked, and she saw her fourth sister return with red eyes.
"Fourth Sister, what's wrong? Is it serious?" Qiao Mianmian asked worriedly.
"No, it's just normal edema. The doctor said to avoid getting it wet." Lin Xiahe had just finished speaking when Madam Lin came in.
"I'll go wash the pig offal tomorrow, Xiahe, you go help out at the stall." Madam Lin was reluctant to let her daughter go to the riverbank again, exposed to the wind and sun. She had just looked closely at her daughter and noticed that there were some white flakes on her face, and her cheeks had become rough.
Lin Xiahe said no need, "You can't squat for long. If it's for a few more days, you definitely won't be able to handle it."
Washing pig offal is a tedious task; once you squat down, you might not think of getting up for even half an hour.
Qiao Mianmian said, "Stop arguing. I was just about to make a suggestion, but I didn't have a chance to say it. Mom, our business is getting better and better, and the supply of braised pork offal is also increasing. It's too hard for us to wash it ourselves. How about this, we can talk to the vendors who supply us and ask them to wash it before selling it to us. They can earn more money, and you won't have to argue. It'll be better for everyone."
Ms. Lin felt that her capital had increased, "It's not like I'm too busy to handle everything. If I grit my teeth, it's better to earn this money myself."
“But as time goes on, your hands and backs will get worse. You feel sorry for your fourth sister, and your fourth sister can’t bear to see you suffer. What are we earning money for? Not to make ourselves sick, right?”
Qiao Mianmian hugged Lin's arm and said, "Think about it, if we don't have to wash pig offal at home, doesn't that save a lot of manpower? Similarly, we can have them process the pig's head and deliver it, so Grandpa and Grandma can rest. They're getting old, and it's time for them to enjoy their retirement. If they're too tired, they're more likely to get sick. And then, seeing a doctor and taking medicine will be more expensive. Besides, since we don't have to wash pig offal and pig's head, you and Fourth Sister can do other things and you'll always be able to earn back this money."
"I..." Lin instinctively wanted to object, but after saying just one word, she felt that what she wanted to say was unreasonable.
Qiao Mianmian continued, "Making money is important, but the health of our family is more important. Mother, you are the smartest and most shrewd person, you should understand, right?"
At this moment, Qiao Mancang came in and asked what had happened.
Qiao Mianmian repeated what she had just said, and Qiao Mancang agreed with her, "Mianmian is right. If we have someone else wash and deliver the food, we can cook more braised dishes and make more money."
Hearing that Qiao Mancang had agreed, Lin Shi pouted and said, "Alright, alright, you're right. We'll do whatever you say, okay?"
"I knew you were the most understanding!" Qiao Mianmian smiled and leaned closer, only to be patted on the shoulder by Lin Shi in disdain. "Get out of here, you're so sweet-talking and good at flattering people."
Qiao Mianmian: "No way! I'm telling the truth."
Qiao Mancang chuckled, "Since you've made up your mind, I'll go talk to them before it gets dark. If possible, it would be best to start tomorrow."
Most people would agree; extra income makes everyone happy. Families with many children can also have the kids do the washing. For the Qiao family, it would definitely be better. Qiao Mancang negotiated the price with his family before heading out.
Lin Xiahe felt a pang of envy as she watched her younger sister cling to their mother; it was something she herself couldn't do.
However, Qiao Mianmian was thoughtful, and with her other hand she held her fourth sister's hand, "Fourth sister, don't you think so? Our mother is the best, right?"
"Mmm." Lin Xiahe couldn't express it so directly, but she agreed in her heart.
"You two are just trying to appease me. Alright, let go of me now, I'll go scoop out a pot of wine." The Lin family brews wine, but they don't usually take it out. After all, grain is expensive, and they only brew one vat of wine a year. They don't drink it unless it's an important occasion.
She scooped out two jugs of wine and went to the kitchen to instruct, "Xia He, light a fire in the pot in the yard, boil more water, and since there's no wine in the wine jar, add some water after it cools down. We'll cook some vegetables later."
The first brew is for drinking, while the second and third brews are for cooking.
"Yes, Mother." Lin Xiahe immediately went to boil water.
Seeing that it was almost time, Qiao Mianmian added the pork belly and dried bamboo shoots to the simmering pot. She also had a six-pound fish left at home, which she planned to make into sweet and sour fish. The vegetables included long beans, sweet potato leaves, and wolfberry leaves, which were a staple in her household.
When guests come to our home, no matter how exquisite or expensive the dishes are, we always prepare a table full of food to express our good wishes.
While stewing the meat, Qiao Mianmian prepared the fish, cutting long strips on both sides of the fish, coating it with flour mixed with egg liquid, and then deep-frying it in a pot.
With a sizzling sound, the fish skin is rolled into a ring by the batter under high temperature, and spoonfuls of hot meat are poured on top, bringing out the crispy and fragrant aroma of the fish.
Lin no longer comes to the kitchen to watch Qiao Mianmian cook, because seeing it makes her feel upset, and if she doesn't see it, she can pretend she doesn't know how much food Qiao Mianmian used.
Only Qiao Jiaxing, after greeting his elders upon returning home each day, would immediately go to the kitchen to ask Qiao Mianmian if there was anything he could help with.
"Fifth sister, I'm here!" Qiao Jiaxing ran into the kitchen, drawn by the aroma.
"Second brother, move aside, don't let the oil splash on you." Qiao Mianmian took out the fried fish, leaving some oil in the pan to use for making the sweet and sour sauce later. "I don't need your help today. Eldest brother picked out the firewood, and fourth sister prepared the dishes for me. You can just wait over there."
Qiao Jiaxing said regretfully, "Alright, I was thinking of doing my part. You're the only one who knows how to care for me. If you hadn't been feeding me sweet potatoes these past few days, I really wouldn't have made it this far."
As he spoke, Qiao Jiaxing mysteriously extended his fist, "Guess what it is?"
Qiao Jiaxing's fist was clenched tightly. It must be something relatively small. Qiao Mianmian thought for a moment, "Could it be a silk flower?"
"Huh, how did you know?" Qiao Jiaxing said, "This isn't funny. I wanted you to guess a little longer. Did you see it beforehand?"
Qiao Mianmian said no, "I don't have X-ray vision, how could I see that? But second brother, why did you think of buying me silk flowers?"
Silk flowers are headdresses made of dyed silk fabric rolled into flower shapes, somewhat similar to hair clips later on. When Qiao Mianmian saw her second brother open his hand, it was still a bright red silk flower, with a strong and intense color. Qiao Mianmian thought to herself that it was indeed a straight man's aesthetic.
"Mom bought some for Fourth Sister and Eldest Sister-in-law before, but you didn't. I figured you probably wanted some too, even if you didn't say it. Girls love to look pretty, and this color was the first one I liked when I was choosing. Do you like it?" Qiao Jiaxing held the silk flowers expectantly, like a child who had won an award, eagerly waiting to be praised.
"I like it, I really like it."
Qiao Mianmian accepted the silk flowers, her nose tingling with emotion. "Second brother, you're so kind."
Qiao Jiaxing chuckled, "I'm your brother, of course I'll be good to you. If Mom scolds me, just help me. Mom loves you the most, if you stand in front of me, she definitely won't have the heart to hit you."
He secretly hid money to buy it, and thinking about his mother's reaction, he was somewhat afraid.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely protect you." Qiao Mianmian put on the silk flower, feeling warm inside. Hearing voices outside, she learned that Lu Zhao and his servant had arrived, so she continued cooking.
Sweet potato leaves are stir-fried with chili peppers, while long beans are stir-fried with a little bit of minced meat. As for goji berry leaves, they are used to make egg drop soup. However, since there are guests, Qiao Mianmian added some lean meat to the soup to make it more flavorful.
After all the dishes were cooked, Qiao Mianmian asked her second brother to take out the yam and pork ribs and the braised pork with dried bamboo shoots. She then prepared a sweet and sour sauce.
It's a pity there's no ketchup, otherwise it would be even more appetizing. The thick sweet and sour sauce meanders down the back of the fish. If the spatula accidentally touches the fish, you can hear a crisp "crack" sound. The steam carries the sourness of aged vinegar and the sweet aroma of rock sugar. Finally, garnish with some chopped green onions, and a delicious sweet and sour fish is ready.
"Mianmian, is everything ready?" Madam Lin had just taken the food out and came over to see if there was anything else.
"Alright." Qiao Mianmian took the sweet and sour fish out. "Everyone, you can sit down and eat now."
She had barely finished speaking when she noticed Qingjiu staring intently at the dishes on the table, constantly swallowing. "Qingjiu, you must eat your fill today. Lord Lu, you too."
She smiled and untied her apron; she was hungry now.
The Qiao family members weren't very familiar with Lu Zhao, so everyone was a bit polite. It was Qiao Jiaxing, who was the same age as Lu Zhao, who stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Lord Lu, please sit down. I don't dare to touch my chopsticks if you don't sit down."
Lu Zhao then sat down and saw the wine glass that Qiao Mancang handed him. He wanted to wave his hand and say that he didn't want to drink, but it was too late. Qiao Mancang had already filled it for him.
"Lord Lu and Qingjiu are both outstanding men, and their alcohol tolerance must be very high. Come, let's have a drink first." Normally, Madam Lin doesn't allow Qiao Mancang to drink, but today was a rare occasion, and Qiao Mancang got a craving for alcohol, raising his wine cup to toast Lu Zhao.
In fact, Lu Zhao's alcohol tolerance was really not that high, so he could only grit his teeth and drink.
Qingjiu took a sip and focused on eating. As he picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks, the sweet and sour sauce dripped down, which he quickly caught with a spoon. First, the strong aroma of vinegar awakened his taste buds, followed closely by the sweetness of rock sugar. The fish was fresh and juicy, and with the addition of scallions to cut through the richness, it was simply perfect. "Delicious, so delicious!"
"Eat more if you like it." Qiao Mianmian also ate several bites of sweet and sour fish. Then she brought up the roasted lamb leg from yesterday, "I saw you left in a hurry, so I didn't want to call you again. It's such a pity. That roasted lamb leg took me a lot of effort. I won't usually make it again."
"ah?"
Upon hearing that he had the chance to taste roasted lamb leg, Qingjiu's mouth dropped open, and he almost cried, "I...I wanted to eat it." It was his master who pulled him away.
Lu Zhao turned his head and said, "There's so much good food today, enough for you to eat. If you keep standing there, everyone will be full."
"Okay, okay." Qingjiu had no choice but to turn her regret into appetite and started eating heartily.
Lu Zhao's favorite food is braised pork with dried bamboo shoots. He picked up several pieces, which Qiao Mianmian noticed. "Lord Lu, I see that you really like braised pork with dried bamboo shoots. Why don't you take some dried bamboo shoots back with you? You can make it whenever you want to eat it."
Without even thinking, Lu Zhao said no, "To be honest, the fish your old lady sent me before was burnt by the green wine, which was a real waste. With our cooking skills, let's just forget about it."
Qingjiu nodded repeatedly, "Yes, Miss Qiao, I really have no talent for cooking, and my master has even less. He doesn't even know what constitutes a cooked rice. You should keep it. Once we catch a few more wanted criminals and get the reward money, we can just patronize your restaurant."
Speaking of catching wanted criminals, Qingjiu praised her master enthusiastically, "Today, the two of us destroyed a kidnapping den. You didn't see it, my master took on three people at once, he was so impressive. Only his clothes were torn, he was completely unharmed. If my master were to take the martial arts exam, he would definitely be the top martial arts scholar!"
In Qingjiu's eyes, his master was the most powerful, and no one could compare to him. He kept praising him, not noticing that his master's cheeks had turned bright red.
Lu Zhao: "That's fine."
"What do you mean, 'can't'?" Qingjiu didn't understand.
"I said you can stop praising me." Lu Zhao said in a low voice. He noticed that the Qiao family members were all looking at him, and his face felt as hot as a branding iron. To hide his embarrassment, he took a big gulp of wine.
Qiao Mancang laughed and said, "Lord Lu is still young and has a thin skin. But you are young and promising, very capable."
Madam Lin then asked, "Yes, he's incredibly capable. How old is Lord Lu this year, and is he married?"
"Twenty...twenty-one." Lu Zhao felt drunk and dizzy. "I...I'm not married yet."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
