"I'm glad you like it."
Hua Ying smiled sweetly, "I'll go cook now."
"I'll help you."
Qin Luo followed Hua Ying into the kitchen.
There were many pieces of smoked cured meat hanging in the kitchen. Huaying took down a piece of pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat.
The stove, built of loess, has two burners, allowing for simultaneous cooking of rice and stir-frying of vegetables. Qin Luo sits on a small stool, responsible for tending the fire and cooking rice, while Hua Ying is in charge of preparing the dishes.
Hua Ying washed the cured pork with warm water, then put it back into the pot to continue cooking. She chuckled and said, "I'm going to pick some toon sprouts. I'll be right back."
"Uh-huh."
Qin Luo looked at the fire.
Hua Ying returned to the kitchen with toon sprouts and chili peppers. She blanched the toon sprouts in a pot and then chopped the chili peppers.
Qin Luo watched as she skillfully prepared various ingredients.
Hua Ying scooped out the cooked cured pork and toon sprouts, and then sliced the cured pork into translucent thin slices.
The kitchen was filled with the aroma of cured meat.
Qin Luo swallowed hard.
Hua Ying picked up a piece of steaming cured meat and held it to Qin Luo's lips. "Try it and see if it's too salty?"
Qin Luo opened his mouth to take the cured meat that Hua Ying handed him, tasted it carefully, and replied with a smile, "The taste is just right, not too salty or too bland."
The stir-fried toon leaves with cured pork were quickly cooked. Hua Ying carried the dish to the yard, while Qin Luo brought the steamed rice to the table. As he served the rice, Hua Ying returned to the house, and then saw her carrying a jar of wine into the yard.
"No food, just more alcohol."
"Haha, okay."
The cured meat smelled delicious. Qin Luo ate heartily, and Hua Ying poured him a bowl of wine. She smiled and said, "This is my homemade fruit wine. You can try it."
Qin Luo picked up the bowl and took a big gulp. The wine was mellow and had a sweet aftertaste. "This wine is good."
Hua Ying's eyes were full of smiles.
The old white dog stood by the table wagging its tail.
Qin Luo picked up a piece of cured meat and threw it out. The old white dog caught it in one bite and wagged its tail even more excitedly.
"Thank you for taking care of me. I've recovered and plan to leave tonight," Qin Luo said softly.
Hua Ying knew Qin Luo didn't want to stay here, "If you want to go back to the Purple Cloud Mountains, I'll take you."
"No need, I want to take a walk."
Qin Luo shook his head.
Hua Ying pursed her lips and said, "I also want to see the scenery along the way. Can you take me with you?"
"good."
Qin Luo nodded.
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