Chapter 82 Good things come late
Let’s talk about tomorrow’s things tomorrow. Shi Xiaoai decided to make dinner first.
She looked at the children and asked, "What do you want to eat tonight? Chicken or fish? Or should we have ribs?"
All four children blinked at her, but no one answered immediately.
Mingrui and Mingxi think that whatever their mother cooks is delicious and they have a bit of a choice problem; Cheng Kai and Cheng Lin did not expect that the dishes that their eldest brother bought for tomorrow's dinner party would be cooked for them tonight by their sister-in-law!
They looked at Cheng Yang together.
Noticing their looks, Cheng Yang smiled and said, "I don't care. It's up to you guys."
Cheng Lin was finally sure his brother and sister-in-law were not joking. He immediately said, "Eat fish! Lots of fish!"
The other children nodded quickly.
"Then let's eat fish." Shi Xiaoai said as she picked out the largest black fish and carried it into the kitchen.
The brothers took the two idle kids with them and moved things from the yard to the warehouse one by one. Shi Xiaoai didn't need their help.
She first cleaned the fish, cut it into large pieces, marinated it with scallion, ginger slices, cooking wine, salt, pepper and star anise, and then began to process the vegetables.
Except for a few onions, the other vegetables at home are still the same old ones.
Cut the onion into shreds, wash the potatoes, cabbage, red and white radishes and cut them into diamond-shaped pieces, take some of the tofu puffs and bean curd sheets that Cheng Yanggang brought back today and soak them in water, then Shi Xiaoai started to prepare the seasoning.
Today she wants to make a three-juice pot roast.
The reason I wanted to make this is that it tastes good when hot, and it's also easy to make. Just stew a big pot and the whole family can eat rice together, which is simple and quick.
Otherwise, with a family of six, three of whom are big eaters, how many dishes do I need to cook to feed them all?!
The seasoning for this stew pot is actually very simple. It is nothing more than making a thick and red sauce. The richer the flavor, the more pleasing the dish will be.
Shi Xiaoai poured soybean paste, sweet bean paste, soy sauce, cooking wine, sugar, and the remaining half bottle of tomato sauce together, mixed them evenly, set them aside, and then started cooking.
Open the stove door as wide as possible, wait until the fire comes on, heat the iron pan and add oil, sauté star anise and whole garlic and ginger slices, then add potatoes and red and white radish cubes and stir-fry.
When the vegetables are fried until fragrant, add onions and finally the marinated fish pieces.
Evenly spread the prepared sauce over the fish, then pour boiling water along the edge of the pot. Cover the pot, lower the door, and simmer over medium-low heat. Once the water starts to boil, it will be cooked in about 15 to 16 minutes.
While Shi Xiaoai was busy, the people outside had already finished their work and ran over. They gathered at the kitchen door and stared at her intently.
Shi Xiaoai turned around and saw this scene. She couldn't help but laugh: "Why are you all looking at me? We can eat in a while."
"It smells so good! Sister-in-law, how can you make a fish smell so good?" Cheng Kai smacked his lips and sighed.
"Everything my mother cooks tastes delicious. My grandma said that even if you give her a shoe sole, she can cook it so well that it will make people drool!" Mingxi interrupted proudly.
He made everyone burst into laughter.
As the steam gurgled, the rich aroma filled the whole house.
Cheng Lin sniffed and said with a bit of regret: "Oh, if there was a pinch of cilantro, it would be perfect."
Xiao Ai hadn't thought about it until he mentioned it, so she immediately said, "Cheng Lin, go to your sister Xiao Feng's house and ask them for some cilantro. I remember seeing a row of them planted against their wall. See if there are any green onions there, and pull some over too!"
There is such a good thing?
Cheng Lin immediately agreed and ran out.
"Let him go. He's not familiar with anyone in Aunt Liu's family." Cheng Yang said as he walked in.
"He's not familiar with them? After this trip, I'm afraid he will be more familiar with Aunt Liu and the others than you are." Shi Xiaoai couldn't help laughing as she said this.
Cheng Lin had been in a state of tension until this morning, always afraid that they would chase him away.
Ever since Cheng Yang promised him and Cheng Kai that they could stay at noon, the child completely relaxed and let go of himself.
Shi Xiaoai had never known that this guy was actually a social stunner.
He followed Xiaofeng around the dock for an entire afternoon and actually learned most of what was going on in her family. There were many things that the guy asked her that she didn't even know!
For example, Xiao Ai only knew that Xiao Feng's brother was adopted out early, but she didn't know that he was not actually adopted out, but went to Jingping in the name of adoption to take over their uncle's job.
It was said that their uncle was a railway worker who had no children in his life. He didn't want to waste his job when he got old, so he took his nephew in as an adopted son and took over his job.
On the way back, Xiao Ai was shocked to hear Cheng Lin muttering gossip!
I can't believe that these words were squeezed out of Xiaofeng's mouth by this little thing.
How did Cheng Lin find out so much about Xiaofeng in just two or three hours, even though she hadn't asked him about it in all the time she had known her?!
After listening to his wife's story, Cheng Yang rubbed his eyebrows speechlessly.
"He's loved crowds since he was little. He'd go wherever there were people. If no one talked to him, he'd just chat and play with himself all day long, making a lot of noise."
Recalling his brother's childhood, Cheng Yang's eyes were filled with tenderness.
Shi Xiaoai listened with a smile and didn't say much, but she actually liked Cheng Lin's character very much.
After all, in business, people who are more active always get more benefits. If someone is introverted and doesn't dare to say a word, then she will be worried.
With the coriander and green onions that Cheng Lin brought back, this three-juice braised fish dish can be said to be quite perfect.
Since there was no big casserole, Shi Xiaoai put the fish in an enamel basin and continued to stew it on a small honeycomb coal stove. Then the whole family gathered around the stove to eat, just like they did before when they ate from the stewed pot.
At this time, the fish in the pot was bubbling under the stewing fire. The rich aroma made everyone want to drool.
Shi Xiaoai handed Cheng Lin a bowl of fish chunks she had prepared in advance. "Don't bother two people with one thing. Just make another trip and deliver it to Aunt Liu and the others."
She glanced towards the stove and promised, "Hurry up! I won't let them start eating until you come back!"
Cheng Lin laughed and agreed, then ran outside with the fish.
But what no one expected was that Cheng Lin came back with the fish pieces a few minutes later, with a strange look on his face.
Seeing him like this, Cheng Yang asked, "What's wrong? Why did you bring it back again?"
Cheng Lin shook his head. "Nothing much. It's just that Sister Xiaofeng is talking to someone at the door. I don't want to disturb them. How about I deliver the fish tomorrow morning?"
Cheng Yang and Shi Xiaoai exchanged a quick glance, and the same question popped up in their minds -
Who is Xiaofeng talking to outside?
Who can Cheng Lin talk to that would make him feel uncomfortable to disturb?
However, seeing the boy's embarrassed look, the couple didn't ask any more questions.
Shi Xiaoai pointed to the kitchen and said, "Put it in the room first. When Xiaofeng comes to make pancakes in the evening, ask her to take it away."
Cheng Lin was obviously relieved and quickly agreed.
When he put down the bowl and came back, he had regained his previous lively appearance. He sat down on the small stool, swallowed hard on purpose, and said intoxicatedly: "Sister-in-law, can we start eating? This fish is so delicious, isn't it? I can smell it at the gate of our yard. The neighbors around here must have fainted from the fragrance!"
Cheng Yang glared at him and scolded him with a smile: "Eat your food, why are you talking so much?"
Cheng Lin chuckled and didn't seem angry. He looked at Shi Xiaoai and asked, "Then I'll go get the food first?"
"Don't rush to serve. Let's eat fish first. Once we're full, we can talk about dinner. If this pot isn't enough, we can add more water later to continue cooking. Anyway, today's main dish is the vegetables, so let's eat as much as we can!"
After hearing this, the little guys cheered.
Cheng Lin and Cheng Kai were really happy, while Mingrui and Mingxi joined in the fun seeing their adults happy. For a moment, the atmosphere in the whole room became cheerful.
The two children were too young to hold the bowl in one hand and pick up the food with the other. Shi Xiaoai brought them a high stool as before, and then she picked out a few pieces of boneless fish belly meat and put them in a small bowl. She also put in some side dishes and let the two children sit on the stool to eat.
While others gathered around the big pot and feasted.
The meat of black fish is extremely tender, and after being stewed in the soup for so long, the flavor has permeated the meat.
Pick up a piece and put it in your mouth. It is fresh, tender and smooth. The taste makes you want to swallow your tongue together.
"Delicious!" Cheng Kai let out a hissing sound due to the burn from the fish, but he still did not forget to cheer loudly.
Shi Xiaoai quickly picked up another large piece of fish and put it into his bowl, saying with a smile, "Don't be in a hurry, eat slowly. If it tastes good, eat more. Eating more fish makes children smarter."
Cheng Kai nodded heavily, not even having time to respond.
Shi Xiaoai picked up another piece and put it into Cheng Lin's bowl: "Xiaolin, eat too. Boys need to eat more. Eating more can help them grow stronger. You are a little too thin."
Cheng Lin nodded repeatedly, then picked up a piece of food and handed it to Cheng Yang: "My brother is thinner, so he has to eat more too."
"Yes, your brother has to eat more too." Shi Xiaoai said as she picked up a piece of fish and gave it to Cheng Yang.
"Eat some yourself." Cheng Yang looked at the fish pieces that took up most of the bowl with a helpless look on his face.
He looked at his wife and said, "Stop serving food to others and eat your own food."
As he said that, he picked up the only piece of fish in the pot, the one with the fattest belly, and gave it to Shi Xiaoai.
The meal took quite a while, ending at almost seven o'clock. As soon as Wang Xiaofeng entered the courtyard, she sniffed and exclaimed, "Wow, what delicious food is this at home? It smells so good!"
"It's time to eat fish. My sister-in-law stewed fish for us today." Cheng Kai, who came to open the door, said proudly.
Shi Xiaoai, who followed over, handed her the fish piece she had specially brought out: "Take it back and let Aunt Liu and Uncle Wang try it. I think it tastes okay. See if they like it."
Wang Xiaofeng didn't hesitate and took it naturally.
She leaned over to smell it and smiled, "This must be good! I think it's better than what the chef at Yunfeng Pavilion makes."
When Wang Xiaofeng returned with the fish, Shi Xiaoai had already prepared the seasonings for several bowls of noodles, and all she had to do was add water and mix them.
Wang Xiaofeng rolled up her sleeves and went to wash her hands.
Shi Xiaoai looked at her and asked with a smile, "Who were you talking to at the door just now? It made our Cheng Lin feel embarrassed to go out."
Wang Xiaofeng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Was it him just now? I was wondering who it was, he popped up and then suddenly disappeared. Why didn't he say hello when he saw me? It's not like he didn't know me."
Seeing that she didn't look embarrassed as if she was caught, Shi Xiaoai felt relieved and even dared to joke around.
"I guess Cheng Lin thought you were dating your boyfriend? Didn't you see how he acted just now? You must be so embarrassed."
"What date? Stop talking nonsense." Wang Xiaofeng suddenly became anxious.
She stamped her foot fiercely: "That's someone from the village where I worked in the production team before. He came to give us some things. Sister, please don't talk nonsense. I haven't had a boyfriend yet!"
"You've never had a boyfriend?" Shi Xiaoai was really surprised this time.
Wang Xiaofeng is twenty-two years old this year, not counting her age in Chinese. Most girls her age are married by this time. Her sister is a year older, and her son is already over a hundred days old.
"I really haven't had a relationship. My mother didn't let me look for one in the countryside, and I haven't met anyone suitable after returning to the city," Wang Xiaofeng explained.
"Don't worry, good things come to those who are late. This just means that our destiny has not arrived yet. Ask your brother-in-law to pay attention to you in the future. If you meet a suitable boy, he will introduce you to him." Shi Xiaoai said quickly.
"Let's talk about it later, there's no rush." Wang Xiaofeng pulled the corners of his mouth together, his smile a little forced.
Before, her mother was reluctant to let her find a country man, fearing that she would never be able to return to the city after marrying into the countryside.
But now she is back, she is older.
Most men of her age have families, so if she hasn't found one yet, there must be various problems with her own conditions.
So, just like her job, her life was delayed in this mediocre way.
Before, Wang Xiaofeng was always secretly worried and felt a little panic every day. She always felt that living like this was really boring.
But now it's different.
Thinking of the small treasury at the bedside, Wang Xiaofeng's eyes became more confident.
She remembered what Sister Xiao Ai had said before, that girls are brave if they have money.
She thought this was so true!
It's only been a few days, and she's already earned nearly 30 yuan with Sister Xiao Ai. If that's the case, she can make over 100 yuan a month!
With so much money, what does it matter whether you find a man or not?
She would be more comfortable without a man!
Thinking of this, Wang Xiaofeng became more motivated. She walked to the basin, added water to it skillfully, and kneaded the dough. Then she asked, "Sister, do you want me to bake more tonight? Tomorrow morning, after I finish baking the nut-filled ones, I can go straight to the elementary school gate for a walk."
Shi Xiaoai was about to answer when someone suddenly called out at the gate: "Cheng Yang, Cheng Yang, does he live here? Come out and sign for the telegram! It's an urgent telegram!"
Shi Xiaoai and Wang Xiaofeng stopped talking at the same time, and the door of the small house outside was opened from the inside by Cheng Yang.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
