GBP Chapter 18 New Food
Chapter 18 New Food
Because she was going to town to sell things tomorrow, Wen Luozhi searched around the house and washed and dried the things she would need in advance. The only things she would need for her first trial sale were baskets and the like.
Thinking of Wen Zijin, who was studying in town, Wen Luozhi ran to Xie He's room and asked, "Mother, when is Fifth Brother's ten-day leave?"
Xie He was stunned. It would have been better if her daughter hadn't brought it up, because it seemed like her son, Xiao Wu, hadn't been home for almost a month.
She remembered that Wen Zijin had asked someone to bring back silver from town on the previous two occasions, so it would be another four or five days before he returned.
"There are still several days left, what's wrong? Missing your fifth brother?" Xie He asked jokingly.
Because of Lin Zihuai, Wen Luozhi respected Wen Zijin, a scholar, the most, but she was also most afraid of him.
The reason is that Wen Zijin is not like his other brothers who indulge the original owner without any limits.
Wen Luozhi pouted, looking a little aggrieved, and said, "That's not true. Mother knows I'm most afraid of Fifth Brother; he always has such a stern face."
Xie He smiled and didn't say anything. When her little girl got into a tantrum, only her fifth brother could control her.
"Mother, Fifth Brother is going to the hospital for his exams soon, so he'll definitely need to eat well. Let's go and bring him some food tomorrow."
That's right, Lin Huaizhi wasn't the only student in Shanquan Village. Wen Zijin had been a student for two years before Lin Huaizhi passed the exam.
Wen Zijin told her family not to tell anyone about this, lest the eldest and third wives come and cause trouble.
Later, the original owner became madly infatuated with Lin Huaizhi, but probably because she was afraid that her beloved would be hurt and distracted, she did not tell Lin Huaizhi about it.
In the following two years, the original owner eagerly sent all the money and things in his family to the Lin family. The most serious incident was when he stole Wen Zijin's tuition fee for a year.
Wen Zijin didn't go to school that year, so he naturally missed the provincial examinations held twice in three years.
Later, Xie He and Wen Muchuan simply sold everything they could in their home, and the brothers would work in town whenever they had free time, scraping together their tuition fees by selling their belongings.
No matter how much Xie He doted on his daughter, he knew that Wen Zijin's studies were important, so he would give all the money to Wen Zijin directly and never leave it at home.
Otherwise, Wen Zijin wouldn't still be in school right now; he might be digging potatoes on the mountain!
Xie He felt somewhat relieved to hear Wen Luozhi say this. They had never blamed her, only thinking that she was just a child who didn't understand.
Thankfully, God has eyes, and now that my daughter is awake, she has received the blessing of the old god.
"Your daughter can make the decisions; she can do whatever she wants with the things in the house."
"Your fifth brother will be overjoyed to know you brought him food."
Wen Luozhi rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. Right now, all they have at home is the meat they bought today. If they want to make something, they still have to exchange it in the system!
As her points dwindled, Wen Luozhi's desire for money intensified.
tomorrow!
She absolutely must earn money!
As evening fell, Wen Muchuan and his two sons finally returned carrying several baskets of potatoes on their backs.
When everyone weighed it, the three baskets weighed about 400 jin!
Wen Luozhi was somewhat surprised; this was much more than she had anticipated.
After teaching the group how to choose seeds, Wen Luozhi pulled Xie He into the kitchen.
The first thing to do was to pan-fry the dumplings. Wen Luozhi first poured out some of the oil left over from yesterday's cooking to moisten the bottom of the pan, and then placed the dumplings one by one in the pan.
When the oil had browned the bottoms of the dumplings, she poured an egg into them, covered them, and let them simmer for a while.
When the pot was opened again, an overwhelming aroma of meat mixed with the fragrance of fried eggs wafted out.
Holding a small winnowing basket in one hand and a spatula in the other, she flipped her wrist and a whole pot of golden-brown fried dumplings landed perfectly in the basket.
Xie He rubbed her hands together, eager to try, and Wen Luozhi gestured for her to come.
Although the final result wasn't as perfect as Wenluozhi's, the pan-fried dumplings still looked very good.
Wen Luozhi picked up a piece of food, blew on it to cool it down, and held it to Xie He's lips. "Mom, quickly try it and see if it's delicious."
Xie He didn't stand on ceremony and stuffed the whole fried dumpling into her mouth in one bite.
The aroma of the pan-fried dumplings burst forth between her lips and teeth. The dumpling skin was crispy yet chewy, and the meat filling mixed with scallions was even more delicious.
"Delicious! So delicious!" After finishing a fried dumpling, Xie He couldn't help but lick his lips.
Wen Luozhi tasted one and thought it was delicious. She picked up another one and fed it to Xie He, saying, "Mom, fried dumplings taste best when they're hot."
"Please take these out for everyone to eat first, I'll continue frying."
Xie He nodded happily. She took a bowl, scooped a few pieces into it, and said to Wen Luozhi, "Girl, don't just keep working. Leave these here for you to eat." After saying that, she took the small winnowing basket and went out. Wen Luozhi felt a warmth in her heart as she looked at the bowl in her arms.
The workers outside had already smelled the aroma and entered the canteen. When Xie He entered the room, they all stared longingly at the small winnowing basket in her hand.
"Mom, what delicious food did my sister make today?" Wen Zixun looked at Xie He with anticipation as she placed the food in her hands on the table.
"This is a new dish your sister made. Eat it and get to work faster!" she said, urging the group to eat.
With two buns in her mouth and a few more in her hands, Yang Guilan ran into the house excitedly and said to Wen Zizhong, "Honey, you have to try this! My little sister's new food is delicious!"
"It's really delicious!" she emphasized again, albeit indistinctly.
Wen Zizhong was still somewhat skeptical, but after eating one from her hand, he nodded in agreement, "It really is delicious."
Yang Guilan stuffed the remaining two into his mouth, and then rushed out in a flurry.
When she arrived at the dining table, there was only one lonely fried dumpling left in the winnowing basket.
Xie He picked up the winnowing basket and handed it to her, saying with a hint of disdain, "Next time you get something for the second brother, eat more yourself first! The sixth brother's mouth is worth more than both of yours!"
Wen Zixun scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "I'm so sorry, Second Sister-in-law, it's all because these fried dumplings were too delicious!"
Yang Guilan waved her hand dismissively, since she had seen there was still plenty left in the kitchen, and there would be more delicious food to come!
Wen Zixun loves to eat, and he can't sit still at this moment.
When he went into the kitchen, Wen Luozhi's last batch of pan-fried dumplings was ready, and inside the steaming pan was a basket of steamed dumplings.
"Sixth Brother, quickly help me lift the steamer up," she said, wiping the sweat from her brow as she saw Wen Zixun come in.
Wen Zixun chuckled in response and then easily lifted the steamer.
Wen Luozhi lifted the lid, and plump, round dumplings lay neatly in the steamer.
Unlike the crispy aroma of pan-fried dumplings, steamed dumplings don't have the overpowering fragrance of pan-fried dumplings, but the flavor of fresh meat is much richer.
Wen Zixun could tell from the sight and smell that it was a good thing. Before Wen Luozhi could even pick up his chopsticks, he reached out and grabbed one, putting it in his mouth without caring whether it was hot or not.
He chewed quickly a few times and swallowed it, still savoring the delicious taste in his mouth.
"Little sister, this is delicious!"
"From now on, Sixth Brother will follow you, sob sob sob." He hugged the steamer tightly, determined not to let go.
Wen Luozhi was secretly pleased; she had gained a follower simply by showing off her cooking skills!
She picked up her chopsticks, took a dumpling, blew on it to cool it down, and slowly savored it. The steamed dumpling had all the flavors one would expect, but she always felt something was missing.
Suddenly her eyes lit up, and she turned around and took out scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili powder.
She's going to make a Guizhou-style dipping sauce! Wouldn't that make steamed dumplings incredibly delicious?