Is it just a matter of losing a piece of meat?
No!
Wang Weimin embarrassedly hid in the room.
Then, he rushed out again in less than three seconds.
"Okay, you can turn around now."
Pei Yunxi turned around and saw that Wang Weimin had put on a white shirt, the same style as the one he had thrown to Pei Yunxi before.
"Um, thank you for saving my life today. I've washed your clothes, and I'll return them to you when they're dry."
"Well, you're welcome. Anyone would have done the same."
As soon as Wang Weimin finished speaking, Pei Yunxi quickly added,
"Come to my home for dinner with the Village Chief and Aunt Lanhua tonight. Consider it a token of my gratitude."
"No, thanks!" Wang Weimin waved his hands quickly. "It's too much trouble. I appreciate the thought."
"It's not trouble."
Pei Yunxi interrupted Wang Weimin.
"That's settled then. Your whole family will come to my home for dinner tonight."
"If you don't come, it means you're looking down on my family."
Pei Yunxi's words effectively silenced Wang Weimin.
At this time, a woman's voice came from inside the house, "Weimin, who's here?"
As soon as Yu Lanhua stepped out, she saw Pei Yunxi. "Oh, Girl Yun, why are you here?"
"Hello, Auntie."
Pei Yunxi greeted her politely.
"I'm here to thank Comrade Wang Weimin for saving my life. I'd like to invite your whole family to my home for dinner tonight."
After a moment's thought, Pei Yunxi also "complained" to Yu Lanhua,
"Comrade Wang Weimin has been rejecting me, saying that the food cooked by my family isn't good."
Wang Weimin: ...
When did he ever say that?
He himself had no idea.
Yu Lanhua knew Pei Yunxi was joking and broke into a big smile.
"Son, since Girl Yun has come all the way here to invite us so sincerely, how can we refuse?"
"Let's accept the invitation gracefully."
Wang Weimin looked a bit flustered. "Mom, she just moved to the countryside. The living conditions are tough..."
Pei Yunxi: ...
This guy must have a different understanding of "tough living conditions".
"You silly boy!" Yu Lanhua gave Wang Weimin a glare and then said to Pei Yunxi, "Don't mind him, Girl Yun. We'll definitely arrive early."
Pei Yunxi nodded with a smile. "Okay, Auntie. It's a deal then."
"No problem. I'll bring some salted duck eggs that your sister - in - law likes." Yu Lanhua was quite familiar with going to the Pei family for dinner.
"Alright, then I'll take my leave, Auntie."
Just as Pei Yunxi was about to leave, she seemed to suddenly remember something. She turned back to Wang Weimin and said,
"By the way, you have a good figure."
Without waiting for his reaction, Pei Yunxi walked briskly out of the yard.
Wang Weimin's face turned as red as a beetroot all the way to his neck.
Yu Lanhua looked at her eldest son curiously.
"What figure?"
"Weimin, why is your face so red?"
"Nothing, really."
"Mom, I'll go help Dad with the work."
Wang Weimin made an excuse and slipped away.
"You rascal, running so fast."
Yu Lanhua smiled and picked up a basket to go to the vegetable garden.
The Pei family had rice and meat, but no vegetables.
Yu Lanhua planned to pick some vegetables from her own garden and take them over.
Thinking about Shen Nanchu's taste, Yu Lanhua quickly filled the vegetable basket.
Adding some salted duck eggs, everything was ready.
Zhang Yun and Sun Hui, one was busy in the kitchen and the other was sitting in the yard resting.
"Mom, where are you going?" Sun Hui felt extremely jealous.
Since the family split up, the two elders had been out all day, enjoying good food.
"Mom, since big brother is back, shall we have a reunion dinner tonight?" Zhang Yun was craving meat.
Since the family split, she hadn't tasted meat for a long time.
Yu Lanhua really didn't know what to say to these two daughters - in - law.
The two sons were okay. They knew they had made mistakes and were vying to show their good sides in front of their parents.
Oh well.
Let the younger generation handle their own affairs.
Too lazy to care.
"Someone has invited your big brother, your dad, and me to dinner. We won't have dinner with you tonight."
With that, Yu Lanhua carried the vegetable basket and walked out the door.
Behind her, Sun Hui and Zhang Yun's faces wrinkled like bitter gourds.
...
At the Pei family's home,
Shen Nanchu was overjoyed to see Yu Lanhua coming so early with so many vegetables.
"Auntie, you really understand me."
"Of course."
The understanding between the two of them needed no explanation.
Shen Nanchu had already laid out all the ingredients needed for tonight's dinner in the kitchen.
When Yu Lanhua saw such a thick cured pork leg, she almost let out a scream.
"My goodness, where did you get this?"
"Pei Zhengnian got it. I don't know either."
Shen Nanchu only cared about eating.
"Your husband is amazing."
Yu Lanhua gave Shen Nanchu a thumbs - up.
"Having a good pork leg is useless without you, Auntie! I wouldn't know how to cook it."
Shen Nanchu blinked her eyes, looking pitiful.
Yu Lanhua was amused.
If only her eldest son could marry a daughter - in - law like Shen Nanchu, who could get along well with her.
"Auntie, there's also pickled fish here."
"Oh, right. Last time Pei Zhengnian brought back some dried fish. Let's cook it together." Shen Nanchu remembered.
Yu Lanhua quickly stopped her.
"Girl Chu, next time. Let's cook it next time."
"We have enough food today."
"Enough? How can it be enough, Auntie?"
Pei Yunxi walked out of the room, holding a basket of eggs in her arms.
"Comrade Wang Weimin saved my life."
"One should repay a great kindness generously."
"We need to cook more food."
Pei's Mother and Grandma Pei also agreed.
"The girl is right. Cook more."
"Let's eat to our hearts' content today."
Now, the kitchen became extremely lively.
Pei Yunxi and Pei's Mother helped Yu Lanhua in the kitchen. Pei Yunzhou was in charge of stoking the fire. Shen Nanchu, who was useless in the kitchen, sat with Grandma Pei shelling beans.
It was full of the warmth of daily life and extreme liveliness.
Yu Lanhua was a great cook.
She soaked the cured pork leg in hot water until it softened, then separated the meat from the bone.
She used the bones to make a soup, adding some soybeans. The soup was milky - white and nutritious.
The cured pork was sliced thinly. She fried the slices in a hot iron pan until they developed a transparent sheen, then added homemade rice wine and dried wild mushrooms and simmered slowly.
When the meat turned an alluring amber color, she sprinkled a handful of green garlic shoots on it, and the whole room was filled with the rich aroma mixed with the smell of pine smoke.
As for the pickled fish, she fried both sides until they were slightly brown, then added half a ladle of well - water, some dried chili peppers, and ginger slices.
When the soup started to bubble, she sprinkled some scallions on it, and the room was filled with the enticing smell of fermented wine and fresh spiciness.
Shen Nanchu was sitting obediently by the stove, holding a coarse porcelain bowl and chopsticks, waiting for Yu Lanhua to serve her.
With her cheeks puffed up and her eyes curved like little crescents, she looked like an adorable little kitten.
So cute!
...
