Braised Chicken with Dried Bamboo Shoots

As the car arrived at the entrance of the village, a tall and thin boy rushed out, running out of breath.

Song Qiu Sheng opened the car window and waved.

"Dong Dong!"

Song Dongdong is as thin as a bamboo pole, but he looks energetic and has the youthful vigor that is unique to young people.

His eyes were shining as he stared at the co-pilot's seat in the car.

Song Shixia also saw him and waved to him.

This is the rebellious child Song Dongdong in the letter, who looks quite well-behaved on the outside.

As soon as the car stopped, Song Dongdong ran up to her with sparkling eyes.

"Sister!" Song Dongdong looked longingly at his sister whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

Song Shixia looked him up and down: "Why are you still so thin? Are you secretly fasting?"

Song Dongdong said dissatisfiedly: "I eat three meals a day, but I just don't gain weight. What can I do?"

Song Shixia patted his shoulder and said, "Okay, help move the things home first. Your brother-in-law bought a lot of things."

Song Dongdong didn't like his brother-in-law who was said to have two children. He racked his brains to figure out what kind of man his sister couldn't find with her looks? The people who had proposed marriage to his sister almost broke the door threshold. There was also the son of the deputy director of the county food station. Even if he was a little short, he would have no worries about food and clothing after marrying him. Why did his sister insist on marrying a divorced man?

Ji Weiqing got out of the driver's seat.

"Hello, brother."

Song Dongdong was reluctant to call for help.

"Hello, brother-in-law." He suddenly understood that his sister probably wanted him because he was pretty.

His parents told him not to show his displeasure in front of his brother-in-law so as to avoid making it difficult for his sister to get caught in the middle. Even if he disliked his brother-in-law, he still had to do his best to save his face.

Many children from the village gathered around the car, and they surrounded the car curiously.

Song Qiu Sheng took out a bag of fruit candies from the car, grabbed a handful, and gave the rest to his sister.

"You should send it. It's been a while since I got back to you."

Songjia Village was a large clan in ancient times, with 85% of the people in the village having the surname Song.

Song Shixia had secretly entered the city by deceiving his second uncle who was the team leader, and only entered the city after getting a letter of introduction.

Song Shixia grabbed a handful for herself and left half a bag for Ji Weiqing.

"Come with me to distribute it, so that they can recognize people." In the eyes of children, whoever gives them milk is their mother, and whoever gives them delicious food is a good person.

Ji Weiqing followed her example and clumsily distributed fruit candies to the children.

The children ate candies and looked at the strange man with curiosity.

"Uncle, are you from the city?"

Ji Weiqing replied stiffly: "I live in the capital, so I'm in the city."

Song Shixia helped him out: "If you call him uncle, you should call me aunt. He is my groom."

If you tell children what the word "husband" means, they may not know what it means, but as soon as you say "groom", everyone will know it.

Song Dongdong's dissatisfaction was overshadowed by joy after seeing the jacket, but he did not show it on his face. He was not the kind of person who could be bought by a piece of clothing.

Song Qiu Sheng patted his shoulder earnestly and said, "I, your brother, can't bear to buy such an expensive coat. Your brother-in-law is generous to you because of your sister. Your sister usually lives a fairy-like life at home."

Song Dongdong had never believed her sister's words of comfort in her letters. His sister was so proud that she would only report good news and not worries. The letters were full of good things, but I'm afraid she would have to hide in her quilt and wipe her tears at night. Being a stepmother is not that easy, especially when you have to see the child's expression. Even a child like him understands that his sister can't deceive him.

Song Qiu Sheng continued, "All these big and small packages cost your brother-in-law at least two or three months' salary. I have met your brother-in-law's family and relatives. They went to a big hotel for dinner and invited me to go with them. Now you have seen it with your own eyes, right?"

Song Dongdong said nothing, holding his gift, two bottles of wine, and neatly stacked cloths. There were so many things that only his eyes were exposed.

Song Qiusheng hadn't been home for two months, and he was carrying a lot of bags. Ji Weiqing was carrying brown and white sugar in his left hand and meat in his right hand. Song Shixia wanted to help but he avoided her.

Song Shixia walked behind him: "Why don't you let me take it?"

"It's not much, I'll just take it."

Song's parents were waiting at the door, and there was a large table of food on the square table in the main room.

Song's father squatted at the door and smoked a cigarette. There was nothing in it, he was just satisfying his craving.

Mother Song stretched her neck to look, and finally saw a figure in the distance.

"Why is there one more person? Could it be that the son-in-law from the city is here too?"

Song's mother didn't have a very good impression of Ji Weiqing, and felt that he was too dull. She knew that her daughter would have a very chaotic life, and it was even more annoying that the man didn't like to talk.

But look at what she saw, her girlfriend was talking and laughing with others with empty hands, while the other three men all had things in their hands.

Song's mother sighed, wondering why her daughter was still so ignorant after getting married.

Song Shixia saw his parents from a distance.

She waved excitedly: "Mom, Dad, we are back."

Song Shixia chatted with Song Dongdong on the way and got to know this family better. Generally speaking, it was a simple and honest peasant family. No one in the family had any bad intentions and they had a harmonious relationship with the villagers and had no enemies.

The Song family's house is considered to be relatively grand in the brigade. The cement sunbathing area in front of the gate alone can be used as a basketball court.

The first thing Song Qiusheng did after he made money was to rebuild his house. Although it was only one and a half stories, it was large enough and made of concrete, so he could add a second floor later.

In Song Shixia's eyes, this is a small country villa. Although the conditions are a bit poor, the house is really big.

As soon as Song Shixia entered the house, she smelled the aroma of hot pot rice and braised chicken.

"Why do you carry so many things? Are you tired from the journey?"

Song Dongdong quickly replied: "My brother drove back in a car and looked so stylish!"

Song's mother was surprised and asked, "You can drive a car? Where did you get the car?"

Song Qiusheng replied cheerfully: "My friend knew I was going back to my hometown so he lent me the money. I gave him the money."

Song's mother was relieved: "When you leave, I'll pack two pieces of bacon for you to take with you, and you can give them to your friends."

Song Shixia waited for her mother to finish talking to her brother before she spoke with a smile.

"Mom, this is a gift that Weiqing bought specially for our family. Last time, he was in a hurry and only took a week off, so he didn't have time to buy anything for you."

Song's father knocked on the cigarette holder and said, "Why did you buy so many things? That TV must have cost a lot of money."

Before Song Shixia could answer, Ji Weiqing beside him took the initiative to reply: "The TV is a betrothal gift. I sent it here because I already have one at home."

Song Shixia looked sideways at him curiously. Why did he suddenly come to his senses and speak?

Song's mother smiled and said, "As long as you two live a good life, I will be relieved. Don't spend money next time. I thought you were buying New Year's goods when you brought so many bags."

Mother Song invited everyone to take their seats.

Song Shixia looked around the house.

"Mom, where's my sister?"

"Maodan is sick and is receiving an IV in the town clinic. Your sister will be here this afternoon."

Maodan is my sister's son, and he is ten years old this year.

"Hurry up and take a seat to eat, or the food will get cold."

Song's mother specially slaughtered a chicken and bought a few pounds of meat. There were chicken and pork on the table. It was no different from the New Year.

In the middle of the table was a large pot of braised chicken with dried bamboo shoots. The chicken was raised in the village and was chewy and not dry.

Next to it are braised pork, stewed pork elbow, fried meatballs, Xihe meat cake, and braised lion head.

Mother Song looked at her daughter and said with emotion, "We finally get to sit together, and you, a picky eater who can't live without meat, have this whole table full of your favorite dishes."

Song Shixia was a little shy. It was obviously her original gluttonous cat who liked to eat this, but she really liked this braised chicken with dried bamboo shoots.

Song Shixia took out a Maotai from under the table to divert everyone's attention.

"How can we not have some good wine with such a rich meal? This is the Maotai liquor he specially gave to you two elders as a gift. My brother is at home today, so you can drink until you are drunk."

Song Qiu Sheng joked with her: "Hey! I have to snatch the meat from you, I won't even drink a sip of this wine!" He doesn't like wine, even if the king of the world comes he won't drink.

Song's father's hands were shaking: "Maotai is a good wine!"

Ji Weiqing stood up: "Dad, let me toast you."

He poured a glass of wine for Song's father and the bottle stopped in front of Song Qiu Sheng.

Facing his father's death gaze, Song Qiu Sheng chewed his elbow as if nothing had happened.

He waved his hands: "Come on, come on, you two will team up to bully me alone."

It was the first time that Song Shixia saw Song Qiu Sheng's expression change so quickly. It was indeed the blood pressure from fatherly love.

She looked at the large table of dishes and said, "Since my sister and Maodan are not here, let's pick out some of the dishes."

Song's mother felt that her daughter had become more sensible after getting married. In the past, she would have started eating and would not have cared about others.

"Don't worry about it. The kitchen is reserved for them."

Song Shixia kept using her chopsticks when she heard this, eating the braised chicken with dried bamboo shoots the whole time. This can only be found in farmhouses, and even the ones she makes herself don't taste this good.

Song's mother couldn't stand her daughter's eating habits.

"Look at your mouth, all grease on it. You're so grown up but you're acting like a child." The subtitle is that there's still food in the pot, so don't eat so quickly.

"It's all because you cook it so well. I eat meat every day at home, but I've never tasted such delicious bamboo shoots and chicken stewed in it." She was also trying to show her mother that she was living a good life.

Song Qiu Sheng said with a big tongue: "I can prove this. My sister eats meat every two or three days at home. I feel my chin has become rounder after living there for a week."

Song's mother didn't quite believe it. What family could eat meat every day?

"Mom, it's easy to buy meat in the city, and I live in the school district. My neighbor works in the cafeteria, so I can often buy meat at a reasonable price."

Song's mother nodded half-believingly. If she said that, she could understand. It was probably the leftover meat from the canteen. It was really good to have meat every day. No wonder the girl became so fair and stylish. She didn't even dare to recognize her just now. People would believe her if she said she was a girl from the city.

Song Dongdong was busy gnawing on the pork elbow. He just wanted to eat meat every day. When he made a lot of money in the future, he would treat his sister to dinner in a restaurant every day.

Ji Weiqing's face turned red after drinking only two cups, and his ears also turned red.

Song Qiusheng drank so much that his tongue couldn't straighten out: "Brother-in-law, you're not doing well. You're going to fall down after just two drinks?"

Ji Weiqing said nothing, but kept toasting him and Song's father to prove that he was capable.

Song Shixia put a lot of dishes in his bowl.

"Eat some food and drink less, won't that make you feel uncomfortable?"

Ji Weiqing turned his head and looked at her without blinking. His eyes seemed to have a magical power that could suck people in.

He answered slowly: "It's not uncomfortable. I can still drink."

Song Shixia didn't look at him: "You're drunk, I don't take care of drunks."

Tenosynovitis has recurred, and typing is very painful. I want to go to the hospital on Monday, but I am afraid that the doctor will wrap my hands up so that I cannot move them. Does anyone know how to treat this kind of tenosynovitis, which is not too serious but makes my hands sore and weak?