After school at noon, Xu Mengyao went to Brother Hu's courtyard as usual. Sunlight filtered through the sparse leaves onto the stone slabs. Mother Huang was already busy making sweet noodle sauce. Xu Mengyao smiled and greeted everyone, then joined in frying crispy starch sausage and rice cakes.
The oil sizzled on the iron plate, and the aroma gradually spread, making everyone around them salivate. Xu Mengyao watched the starch sausages and rice cakes gradually turn golden, and her heart was filled with greed. Finally, when the crust became hard and crisp, and the rice cakes made a crackling sound when the iron spatula was gently pressed, she quickly brushed them with sweet bean sauce and cumin powder and took a big bite. The taste was absolutely wonderful.
Wenxia was so fascinated by what she saw that she quickly went over to Huang's mother and said, "Mom, give me a copy of the one my second sister took!"
Huang's mother smiled and replied, "Why are you in such a hurry? There are so many on the iron plate. Come on, try them all."
Soon, the iron plate was filled with fragrant rice cakes and starch sausages. Everyone gathered together, enjoying this fresh delicacy. After eating, they took the remaining rice cakes and starch sausages home.
When they got home, Huang Nai was leaning against a bench with her eyes closed, tapping her fingers to the music from the radio. Hearing them return, she said without even looking up, "I didn't finish my porridge this morning, so I didn't cook lunch. If you haven't eaten yet, go get some for yourselves."
Huang Wenrong quickly put the enamel pot on the table and said, "Grandma, we've already eaten. This is what my mother just made for you. Come and try it."
Huang Nai slowly opened her eyes and saw the delicious food on the table. A satisfied smile appeared on her face. She took the chopsticks, tasted it and said, "Is this the food your mother sells? Not bad, it tastes good."
The eldest brother, Huang Wenbin, nodded and said, "This is what Wenjuan and I brought back from the city yesterday. My mother was selling pies and popcorn this morning and business was pretty good."
Huang Nai thought for a moment and said, "Your mother is a good cook, and this is delicious. When business gets busy, you can eat all three meals at home. Ask your mother to come back for lunch as well. I'm an old lady, so I'm still busy at home and can still cook."
After that, everyone lived according to Huang Nai's instructions. Huang Nai quickly integrated into the circle of old ladies in the village, visiting several old ladies every day.
But Xu Mengyao's popcorn business is busier than ever. Huang's mother is already busy enough, and she and her eldest sister are the only ones who know how to make popcorn. Although they've bought a new coal stove and pot to prevent Aunt Feng from stealing their skills, Huang's older sisters often come to join in the fun.
Whenever the sisters started making popcorn, the group of old ladies would come in and chat.
"Old sister, your two granddaughters are pretty, skilled, and can earn money. You must find a good husband for them in the future."
"That's right! I've tried making popcorn at home and it always got mushy and wouldn't pop. Look how easy it is for them to do it."
"Isn't this cooking oil? It smells really good! And the sugar coating on the outside is delicious and not bitter at all."
The two sisters just smiled and continued their work. Xu Mengyao thought to herself: Wow! It turns out Aunt Feng isn't the only one trying to make popcorn at home! Who knows how long she can keep the secret recipe. But she couldn't just give Huang Nai some face and kick her out.
Fortunately, Huang Nai may have seen through the situation and stopped bringing people home, but recently she has been leaving early and returning late. Apart from cooking on time, she is rarely seen at other times. Xu Mengyao was puzzled and worried, but she could not get anything out of Huang Nai.
One day, while going to the restroom during a break at school, Xu Mengyao stumbled upon a figure rummaging through a garbage pit. The figure's gait and back resembled Huang Nai's. She cautiously approached and tentatively called out, "Nai?"
The figure suddenly froze and slowly turned around. It was indeed Huang Nai. Seeing Xu Mengyao, she was obviously a little panicked and wanted to turn around and leave.
Xu Mengyao quickly shouted: "Grandma, what are you doing?"
Huang Nai stopped, turned around and glared at her: "Girl, why are you shouting? Aren't you afraid of being heard by others?"
Xu Mengyao smiled and moved closer: "What are you afraid of? You are my grandmother after all."
Grandma Huang rolled her eyes at her unhappily and said, "If you don't feel ashamed, then I do! I'm leaving now, and you should go back to class!" After saying that, she turned around and left, her little feet moving very fast.
When Xu Mengyao returned home at noon, she found that Grandma Huang had been avoiding her sight. After everyone had taken a nap, she quietly slipped into Grandma Huang's room, sat beside the bed and whispered, "Grandma, get up. I know you're not asleep."
Huang Nai was exposed and sat up awkwardly. She asked angrily, "How did you know I wasn't asleep?"
Xu Mengyao pointed at the cloth on Huang Nai's head and said, "I'm not stupid. You haven't even taken off your headscarf yet. Tell me, what did you do at school this morning?"
Huang Nai's tone was a little stiff: "You saw it all, I picked up the trash. What else can I do?"
Although Xu Mengyao was puzzled, she tried to speak gently, "I know, grandma. I just wanted to ask you, why did you suddenly start picking up trash? Our family is not short of money. Doesn't my dad give you money every month?"
Huang Nai stammered, "You all make money, so why can't I also make some? Yuan Yuan Nai said she can make some money every month by picking up scraps, so I thought I'd try it."
Xu Mengyao asked tentatively: "Grandma, do you want to save money for your uncle?"
Huang Nai was furious: "What are you talking about, you silly girl? Do I have to answer to you for everything I do? Are you just afraid that I'll pick up trash and throw you away?"
Xu Mengyao quickly comforted her, "Grandma, grandma, don't be angry. I'm not ashamed of you, I'm just worried that you're working hard but still not making much money. How about you learn to make popcorn from me? I'll pay you a salary, how about that?"
Huang Nai's eyes lit up: "Are you serious? How much?"
Xu Mengyao said seriously: "Really, how about giving you one dollar a day?"
Huang Nai couldn't believe it: "One dollar a day? Don't lie to me."
Xu Mengyao smiled and promised, "I'll teach you tonight. Starting tomorrow, I'll give you one dollar a day. Would I dare to lie to you? My dad would beat me if he knew!"
Grandma Huang then smiled with relief: "You can't lie to me, you are really my good granddaughter!"
From then on, Huang Nai became the main force in making popcorn. She toiled from dawn to dusk, always with a satisfied smile on her face. Whenever she received her pay, her smile was the brightest, as if the whole world had brightened up. She no longer chatted with her old friends. When she was making popcorn, she locked the door from the inside and refused to open it even if asked. She was determined to cling to her "iron rice bowl" and not let anyone else learn from her.
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