Chapter 128: The Vacation Ends 2.0

"This Dahu, I've told it many times not to roar and shout, but this time it was just excited to see me, so never mind, I'll spare it this once," Zhang Ping'an thought to himself.

"Uncle, I know what I'm doing; you could say I watched this Dahu grow up."

"Hmm, you still need to be more careful in the future; there isn't just this one tiger in these deep mountains."

"Uncle, have you seen other tigers?"

"I have, but that was many years ago. They weren't as big as this one, and they usually stay in the deep mountains. Let's go, let's head down the mountain." Although he had Zhang Ping'an's assurance, Zhang Laiyuan's body remained tense.

"Alright, I'll go tell Dahu."

"Be careful."

Zhang Ping'an walked in front of Dahu, blocking Zhang Laiyuan's line of sight, put the basin into his space, and ruffled Dahu a few times before shouldering the wild sheep and leaving.

"Go back now. Don't come out of the deep parts unless I call you."

"Awoo."

Zhang Ping'an waved his hand, and only then did Dahu run back into the deep mountains. As for the yellow-haired eagles, he would have to wait until he had time to collect them.

"Phew~" Seeing the tiger disappear, Zhang Laiyuan finally relaxed.

"Uncle, look, this is what Dahu gave me," Zhang Ping'an began to show off the wild sheep.

"I really don't know whether to say you're lucky or bold. Try not to go into the deep mountains in the future," Zhang Laiyuan shook his head.

"Alright," Zhang Ping'an knew Zhang Laiyuan meant well, so he didn't argue.

At the foot of the Back Mountain, Zhang Ping'an carried the sheep, and Zhang Laiyuan carried a few wild rabbits as they parted ways.

It was just past six when he returned home. Zhang Ping'an began to gut and clean the wild sheep, skinning and deboning it, and used his space to clean the sheep wool thoroughly.

"Mother, we're having Lamb Soup for breakfast."

"Alright, I'll go boil some water."

"Good."

Zhang Ping'an put all the bones into the pot; there was still plenty of meat left on the ribs. After blanching them, he started the boil again.

After boiling over a high flame for an hour, the clear soup turned slightly milky white. He switched to a low flame and simmered it for another hour.

"It smells so good."

Wang Xiaoling woke up at this time. Seeing that she wasn't in the facilities of her home, her hazy eyes cleared up completely, and she hurried to get up and wash.

"Grandpa, Grandma, Father, Mother, I woke up late."

"Hehe, it's fine, it's fine. Since you work in the city, waking up at this time is just right."

"Mm."

"Brother Ping'an, you didn't call me earlier," Wang Xiaoling said in a low voice.

"There was no need to get up early. Look, this lamb soup still needs another hour. Why don't you come and tend the fire?"

"Okay." Having something to do was better than having nothing to do.

At the Siheyuan, He Daqing had bought another Bicycle yesterday, and it became Shazhu's daily routine to carry He Daqing to and from work again.

Cai Quanwu no longer had to take a detour to wait for them. After a full day yesterday, he had become completely familiar with the kitchen work, and now his main task was just chopping, chopping, and chopping.

"Quanwu, you should chop it like this."

He Daqing corrected Cai Quanwu from time to time, and Cai Quanwu did not disappoint, managing to correct himself basically every time he was told.

It must be said that the He family has some hereditary genes in them; they might not be outstanding in other areas, but their talent as a Chef is not bad.

He Daqing nodded with satisfaction from the side; this was much smarter than teaching Shazhu when he was ten.

He Daqing didn't avoid others when teaching chopping techniques, nor did he when teaching how to cook large-batch dishes, but when teaching family-secret dishes, only three people could be present; others were not yet qualified.

However, no one had any objections; after all, being able to teach them how to cook large-batch dishes was enough for them to eat for a lifetime.

The Rolling Mill Canteen was busy, while Zhang Ping'an's family was sweating while drinking Lamb Soup.

"Brother, the Lamb Soup is really delicious."

"Hehe, even if it's delicious, you can't drink too much. Just taste it."

Zhang Xile wouldn't turn two until July, so she only had a small bowl of soup and two pieces of meat. She was currently struggling with the meat, but fortunately, the lamb had been stewed long enough and was already tender.

"Xiao Ling, you're too thin, drink more to nourish yourself."

"Yes, Mother."

Wang Xiaoling probably knew her mother-in-law was talking about her small chest, so she responded with a blushing face and began to drink the soup with her head down.

"By the way, Ping'an, Xiaochen is twenty this year. Your eldest sister came over two days ago to ask me if Xiaochen has a partner?"

"I don't know about that. I haven't been to the shop for a while. I'll ask when I go back."

"Mm, you should put some heart into it as his uncle."

"Alright, I know."

At night, after the battle between Zhang Ping'an and his wife ceased, Wang Xiaoling looked at her chest and felt a bit depressed.

"What's wrong?"

"Brother Ping'an, is mine very small?"

"Not small at all. It's just right to hold; any bigger wouldn't look good."

"Oh."

"Alright, don't I know the size? If it's not enough, I'll just help you develop it more."

"Oh my~"

…………

The next morning, after Zhang Ping'an finished exercising, he went to the Back Mountain to collect the two yellow-haired eagles into his space, and after breakfast, he prepared to return to the city.

"Take both of these lamb legs. Xiao Ling, you keep one for yourselves, and send one to your father and mother."

"This..." Wang Xiaoling looked at Zhang Ping'an.

"Take this."

"Mm, okay, thank you, Father and Mother."

"This child, we're all one family, what's there to thank? Be careful on the way back."

"Brother and Sister-in-law, take care."

"Hey! Xiao Le is such a good child, next time we come over, we'll bring you something delicious."

"Mm, okay."

"Brother Ping'an, I don't even want to go back to the city after these two days here."

"Hehe, we can just come back often whenever we have time in the future."

"Mm."

Returning to the Siheyuan, Zhang Ping'an gave the lamb leg to his father-in-law, Wang Xiaoling was kept behind for the mother and daughter to chat, while Zhang Ping'an went to give the other lamb leg to his master.

"Mm, you haven't become obsessed with it," Lao Wang observed Zhang Ping'an's expression for a long while before blurting out this sentence.

"..." This old man.

Afterwards, Lao Wang tested Zhang Ping'an on various things, and only after he answered them all did he let him leave; Lao Wang was also afraid that if Zhang Ping'an didn't touch his medical knowledge every day, he might return it all to him.

"Dongxu, what have you been busy with these ten days?" Zhang Ping'an hadn't seen Jia Dongxu these past few days.

"I was helping build a house at my father-in-law's place. The current house is old and in disrepair, and I'm afraid it won't hold up through the summer rainy season, so I just took the opportunity to rebuild the house before the summer harvest."

"No wonder I haven't seen you these days. Is everything finished?"

"The main earthen walls are mostly rammed, and the rest will be quick. It just so happens that my vacation time is up, so I came back."

"Mm, call San Jie Fu tonight, let's have a good get-together."

"Good."

Ever since Jia Dongxu got married and Zhang Ping'an built his own courtyard, the number of times they had gathered to eat together could be counted on one hand.

It just so happens that this time, San Jie can also give Wang Xiaoling a crash course on the affairs among the women in the courtyard.

Zhang Ping'an simply prepared a few items, planning to make shredded pork in Beijing sauce, abalone, stir-fried chicken, lobster, kelp, sea cucumber, and seafood porridge—all set.

After preparing the ingredients, Zhang Ping'an went to find Wang Xiaoling; he couldn't let her waste the seafood cooking techniques she learned from Tao Daniang.

"Great, my hands are just itching for it; I haven't cooked once since I got back," Wang Xiaoling said, eager to return as soon as she heard Zhang Ping'an's words.

"We'll eat tonight, it's still early now."

"Don't the sea cucumber and kelp need to be soaked? Mother, we're heading back now."

"Go on, go on."

Returning home, Wang Xiaoling tied on her apron and went into the kitchen; she didn't ask where Zhang Ping'an got the fresh goods, but picked up the kelp and sea cucumber one by one to soak them.

"Brother Ping'an, there's not enough time for the sea cucumber; it takes at least a day."

"Ah?" Zhang Ping'an really didn't know that sea cucumber needed to be soaked for such a long time.

"Just start soaking it; if it doesn't work out, we'll just eat it ourselves tomorrow."

"Mm, okay."