After meeting with Wang Xiuxiu in the morning, Xu Ruantang stayed at home and did not go out.
Someone gave Huan Yuanliang a box of lemons from Haicheng. He took them to the shop and distributed them to everyone, but no one wanted them because they were too sour.
Wang Xiuxiu couldn't bear to see it rot, so she moved the whole box back to her family's courtyard.
Just as she was wondering what to eat, Xu Ruantang's eyes lit up when she saw the lemons, and so the box of lemons ended up in her hands.
Xu Ruantang found some white sugar in the kitchen and planned to make lemon honey.
She likes sour foods, and her favorite fruit drinks are lemonade and passion fruit.
Unfortunately, these things are very rare in this era.
She first found a large bowl, poured all the lemons in, added a spoonful of baking soda and a spoonful of salt, and soaked them in water.
Soak for a while, scrub clean, take out four peeled lemon peels and marinate with 400 grams of white sugar.
Without weighing equipment, she had to estimate the weight in grams.
While the lemons were marinating, Xu Ruantang squeezed all the juice from the four peeled lemons.
Pour the marinated sugar and fruit peel into a pot, add water and bring to a boil over high heat until the sugar dissolves, then add lemon juice.
Once the fruit syrup in the pot has thickened slightly, remove the fruit peels and simmer for another five or six minutes to make the lemon fruit syrup.
You don't need that many lemons to make lemon syrup, so cut the rest into lemon chips and freeze them.
After finishing all that, Xu Ruantang couldn't wait to make herself a cup of tea.
Slice the lemon and squeeze out the juice. Add honey and lemon syrup, then pour in chilled boiled water taken out of the refrigerator beforehand.
After stirring, she took a big bite, and it was exactly the taste she wanted—more sour than sweet, and refreshingly cool.
Wang Xiuxiu's family doesn't have a refrigerator, so the lemon honey has to be refrigerated, otherwise it will spoil in this hot weather.
Xu Ruantang thought that she would invite her to her house for a drink next time, or she would bring her a water cup.
Just as she was thinking this, Wang Xiuxiu brought Lu Xiaozhao to her door.
Xu Ruantang smiled and invited them into the house, serving them two replicas of the lemonade she had drunk.
"Thank you, Auntie." Lu Xiaozhao was as polite as ever.
Xu Ruantang replied softly, "You're welcome."
Wang Xiuxiu walked a lot today. She picked up the glass and took a big gulp, almost spitting it out.
"It doesn't taste good?" Xu Ruantang was full of doubts, because it was clearly delicious.
Wang Xiuxiu frowned and forced herself to swallow before speaking: "Why is it so sour? Give me some sugar."
Sure enough, she drank it happily after sugar was added.
After finishing the drink, he slapped his thigh in regret, "Oh no, this is sugar! I don't know how fat I'll get if I drink this. I was so careless!"
Remembering the important matter, Wang Xiuxiu quickly sat up straight and said, "As we agreed, the whole family has moved out. Just like you thought, the guesthouse wouldn't take them in, so they found that courtyard in the alley."
The courtyard belonged to Qiu Liang's friends, and their real names weren't Tiger or Leopard; those were just names Wang Xiuxiu made up on the spot.
Xu Ruantang lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment, "So they didn't cause any trouble? They should have already tried to find me by now, right?"
The more Wang Xiuxiu looked at Xu Ruantang, the more she felt that this girl was incredibly smart. She smiled and said, "Yes, your younger brother is standing right at the entrance of the family compound. With such a bright sun, I'm afraid he'll faint there."
Xu Ruantang said calmly with a cool gaze, "No, that family knows how to take care of themselves. Don't worry about them, let them worry first."
It's estimated that the next step will be taken soon.
Although the Xu family was mean-spirited, they were also foolish. When they couldn't think of any other way to stop her, some of them became anxious.
With their help, it's only a matter of time before the Xu family dances in front of her.
That evening, Chen Ji brought back some shocking news.
At that moment, Xu Ruantang was making lemonade for Chen Ji. After she finished, she handed the glass to Chen Ji, and said with a smile, "Try it. It's the result of my hard work today. It tastes especially good."
Chen Ji took a sip, stood still without moving, but also did not swallow.
His expression remained relatively calm, but his furrowed brows betrayed him.
"So you don't like sour things either." Xu Ruantang poured a mug of plain water and took the lemon water from his hand. "Alright, stop being stubborn, drink some water to help you go."
In the past, when Xu Ruantang ate with Chen Ji, he always liked to order spicy and sour dishes, and she thought he had the same taste as her.
So all this time, he's been the one accommodating her.
Even when cooking at home, Chen Ji always cooks according to her tastes.
But he never said it.
Chen Ji gulped down a large glass of water before the sour taste in his mouth subsided. He closed his eyes and said, "It's so sour it hurts my teeth."
Xu Ruantang was amused by him and leaned closer to observe his expression. "Is this a kind of torture?"
Chen Ji paused for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and said, "Fine."
"So if you make me angry in the future, you'll punish yourself with a glass of lemonade?" Xu Ruantang teased him.
Chen Ji frowned slightly. "Okay."
That's what he said, but in his heart, Chen Ji still felt that he shouldn't make his wife angry.
After all, there was nothing that could make her angry.
During dinner, Xu Ruantang thought for a moment and asked, "Isn't Lu Lei raised in Beijing? How does he know a girl from the countryside?"
Chen Ji said calmly, "The girl's father works in the factory, and she was admitted to a university in Beijing. The meeting was an accident. Lu Lei hit her with his car, took her to the hospital, and they said it wasn't serious, so they took her home."
Xu Ruantang nodded. "I see. The Cheng family didn't know?"
"I don't know." After saying that, Chen Ji stood up and went into the kitchen.
The familiar smell of Chinese medicine wafted through the room. Xu Ruantang leaned back in her chair, wondering what to do next.
Lu Lei and Cheng Dan are also getting engaged soon, on the same date as the Li family.
Originally, this matter had nothing to do with her, but now it seems that it should be related.
Some people, still harboring wicked intentions, continue to cause trouble behind the scenes.
Sure enough, at noon the next day, Xu Ruantang went out carrying a basket.
As soon as she reached the notice board, she saw several people walking together in the distance, and Cheng Dan walked towards her with a bright smile.
"Comrade Xu, I ran into your family in front of the compound gate!" Cheng Dan's voice was loud and clear, and everyone turned to look at them.
It was lunchtime, and the courtyard was bustling with people.
The Xu family's attire was already out of place in the compound, and their sideways gait and the fact that four or five of them insisted on standing in a row made them particularly eye-catching.
"You brat, what have you been doing these past two days?!" Xu's mother strode forward, her tone fierce and her voice booming: "You said you went to your in-laws for help, took the money and ran away, and now you're hiding here doing nothing?!"
"You seem to be doing quite well, but have you thought about your family?" Xu's mother stepped forward and grabbed Xu Ruantang's clothes. "If it weren't for this kind comrade, would we even be able to see you again?!"
Mr. Xu's face darkened, but he didn't say anything to stop Mrs. Xu from making a scene.
As Xu's mother fired shots like a machine gun, she jumped up, raised her hand, and slapped Xu Ruantang across the face—
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