Then she turned back to the kitchen and continued the pea flour grinding work that she had not finished last night.
Under her patient operation, those slightly rough pea grains gradually turned into fine silky powder, and the air was filled with a faint bean fragrance.
The moonlight shone through the window lattice onto her focused face. It was not until late at night that Xu Qinghe stopped her work.
In a blink of an eye, it was the day when the bean sprouts were ripe. Xu Qinghe got up at dawn and began to cook busily.
She first mixed pea flour with water and simmered it until it became a fine paste. After it cooled, she cut it into small square pieces, and the cold pea flour was ready.
On the other hand, the stir-fried bean sprouts, stimulated by hot oil and chopped green onions, release bursts of fresh fragrance, which is mouth-watering.
At the breakfast table, Xu Qinghe looked at Zhu Yunxiu expectantly.
"Grandma, please try it and see how it tastes. Is it really delicious?" Her voice was filled with both anxiety and anticipation.
Zhu Yunxiu praised repeatedly, her eyes full of love: "It's delicious! My granddaughter's cooking skills are better than any chef! I have never tasted these flavors before."
When Xu Qinghe heard this, she felt both relieved and helpless. Fearing that Zhu Yunxiu's evaluation was too emotional, she begged her grandmother to give her the most honest feedback.
Zhu Yunxiu responded seriously, "Granddaughter, I'm speaking from the heart. These two dishes you made are truly delicious, even for my not-so-good teeth. The bean sprouts are fresh and tender, and the pea flour is soft and glutinous, and goes well with rice. It's effortless to eat, and every bite is a real treat."
The stone in Xu Qinghe's heart finally fell to the ground. A mysterious smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he had already made a plan in his mind.
"Grandma, just wait, I'm going to do something big that will make our family proud!"
Although Zhu Yunxiu was confused about her granddaughter's plan, her trust and support for Xu Qinghe remained unwavering. She raised her fist, which was covered with traces of time, to cheer Xu Qinghe on.
At noon, Xu Qinghe visited the village chief's house with this thoughtful gift and delicious food.
Along the way, the neighbors' eyes were full of curiosity and speculation, and they whispered about whether Xu Qinghe was trying to win the favor of the village chief through delicious food.
Faced with such suspicion, Xu Qinghe just responded with a gentle smile without making too many excuses.
She knew very well that only action was the best answer.
The sun was high in the sky and the village chief's home was quiet and peaceful. Only the village chief's aunt was playing in the yard with a few lively children.
Xu Qinghe stepped forward and politely requested, "Auntie, I have something I want to discuss with the village chief. Could he please spare some time to come home?"
After she finished speaking, she carefully took out the two plates of dishes that had been prepared with such care from the basket and went straight to the point: "I have an idea. I'd like to see if our village can cooperate with an outside supply and marketing cooperative and start some business. I wonder what the village chief would think?"
Upon hearing this, the village chief's aunt realized that the matter was of great importance, and immediately sent her youngest grandson to the field to call back the village chief. She then warmly entertained Xu Qinghe and even made a cup of sweet sugar water for her.
The little grandson didn't understand what was going on, he just knew something big had happened, so he ran and called out to his grandfather to come home, saying that he had something urgent to discuss.
When the village chief heard the news, his heart suddenly tightened, fearing that something had happened at home again, and he rushed back home with a serious expression.
As soon as he stepped into the door, he asked anxiously: "What happened at home?"
During this period of time, the family has been in turmoil one after another, making the middle-aged man exhausted. Although he feels sorry for Xu Qinghe's understanding, his face still cannot be relaxed at this moment.
When Xu Qinghe saw that the village chief mistakenly thought that some misfortune had occurred, he quickly clarified his purpose and proudly presented two of his signature dishes. All the misunderstandings and tension gradually dissipated in the aroma of the food.
"Grandpa Village Head, you see, the vegetable sales at the supply and marketing cooperative are booming. They're practically sold out as soon as customers arrive. I've been thinking for a long time, if our village could supply seasonal vegetables to the supply and marketing cooperative, it would not only fill a gap in the market but also become the cornerstone of a solid partnership between the two sides."
There was a sense of determination in Xu Qinghe's words, and his eyes were shining with longing for the future.
"Although each household has limited land and there will inevitably be gaps in the supply of seasonal fruits and vegetables, if we can make reasonable plans, such as growing bean sprouts and processing pea flour, which are not restricted by seasons, we can ensure an uninterrupted supply throughout the year. I can teach the villagers myself and let them master these skills. In this way, everyone's pockets will be fatter. At the end of the year, our village will be rated as a model village. Isn't it a good thing to gain both fame and fortune?" She continued, her tone full of confidence.
Whether the village can be selected as a model is not only a big stone in the heart of the village chief, but also related to the development lifeline of the entire village in the coming year.
The amount of resources is directly related to the quality of life of the villagers. Winning the award will undoubtedly bring a more comfortable living environment to the villagers.
Therefore, when faced with a person like Sun Youfang who may affect the selection process, the village chief has always advocated a low-key approach, not wanting any negative factors to affect the village's reputation and the year-end selection results.
At this moment, Xu Qinghe proposed this plan.
"This... Qinghe, are you telling the truth?" The village chief's voice trembled slightly, and there was a gleam of disbelief in his eyes.
He had never dared to imagine such a good thing before.
"It's absolutely true, Village Chief," Xu Qinghe said firmly. "The supply and marketing cooperative's vegetables are in short supply right now. This is our opportunity. If we don't seize it and let others take advantage, we'll just have to watch it slip away. Time waits for no one, we must act now."
The village chief frowned in thought and said slowly, "That being said, I've never heard of a precedent for the supply and marketing cooperative to directly cooperate with a village. Even if they do cooperate, they will prefer villages with solid foundations and superior conditions. We are remote and our conditions are inferior to others in all aspects. I'm afraid cooperation won't be that easy."
After hearing these words, the village chief sighed softly.
Seeing this, Xu Qinghe expressed his determination even more earnestly: "No matter what, I'm willing to give it a try. This is for the welfare of the villagers. Village Chief, you've done so much for us, and I want to do my part to help you solve your problems. Perhaps, then, things will work out."
Her sincerity touched everyone present. The village headwoman was also moved by her sincerity and agreed, "Yes, it's always right to give it a try. There's nothing to lose. If it succeeds, it's a happy occasion. If it doesn't, it's still an attempt. At least we tried our best, right?"
After being persuaded by everyone, the village chief thought for a long time, and finally slapped his thigh and made a firm decision: "Okay, then I'll let you give it a try. If you can really do it, you will be a great hero of our village! By then, who will dare to look down on you!"
The village chief was so excited that he couldn't express it in words. This was the first time in his life that he had to do such a bold thing.
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