Chapter 263: Simmering Dishes

Yang Qing's food is very fragrant, because he doesn't stint on ingredients; for this meal he used a spoonful of just the lard, and the meat alone amounted to two taels, over one and a half jin.

Who usually eats like this at home? Yang Qing prepared this as if he were entertaining relatives.

Add in some steamed white-flour buns, and it's enough to make anyone drool.

And that's not all—fried fish is also served.

Fried fish is exactly what you eat at a time like this.

When such a lavish spread is brought out.

(At this point, it's truly abundant—many people only get to eat meat like this once a year, and this meal alone would consume about half a year's meat ration for one person.)

He Yushui's tears just wouldn't stop.

This is way too abundant, way too abundant—how can I possibly eat this? I'm being excessive.

Yang Qing held out his bowl and passed a steamed bun to the old lady.

I'm not specifically rewarding you, so why are you getting so worked up?

Our family has worked hard all year—shouldn't we treat ourselves at the end?

Our family—I have no relatives in the capital, your sister-in-law Chen Hong has relatives in Henan.

Old lady, there's no one in the capital either, so our family doesn't need to entertain anyone for the New Year.

So we just entertain ourselves.

Hurry up and eat, stop being shy—you just happened to catch this meal.

Chen Hong also shoved the bowl into He Yushui's hands.

Eat up, you'll stay warm when you're full.

Yu Shui, you graduated around 1965, right?

He Yushui held the bowl, feeling the portion was excessively generous—big slices of fatty meat, their edges sticking up.

Upon hearing Chen Hong's words, she replied.

Sister-in-law, I graduated in '65; back then I was eighteen and could support myself.

Chen Hong saw her hesitating, so she shoved another bun into her hands.

Hurry up and eat, don't stand on ceremony.

It's good to graduate—once you graduate, you can support yourself.

With money, you can spruce yourself up—that's how you'll find a handsome young guy.

Living this way, two people find it easier than one; once you start a family, everything's fine.

Look at me and your Brother Qing—our life just keeps getting better.

By then you'll both be dual-income workers, far better off than when we started.

Chen Hong was just giving He Yushui a pep talk.

The old lady also said.

Yu Shui, you're so pretty you'll never lack a suitor—you'll surely find someone good who knows how to cherish you.

He Yushui nodded.

Yeah, when the time comes, find someone like Brother Qing.

Hearing this, everyone burst out laughing.

Yang Qing was the first to tease her.

Finding someone like me isn't easy—first you'd need my wife's skills, and if your sister-in-law were just a bit gentler, she'd definitely be the one cooking now.

As for me, I'm off to the market right now.

I've heard the flower and bird market has fun stuff.

Chen Hong pointed outside.

Go on, go—am I stopping you?

Yang Qing gave a grudging smile.

What's there to go see? It's just a bunch of old men; if I go, I'm just going to look at the women.

Chen Hong grabbed a bun and threw it.

Yang Qing caught it with one hand.

Thanks, wife, for the bun.

Woooo—

Really fragrant.

He Yushui watched everyone joking around, feeling comfortable, as if a family ought to be just like this.

Of course the dishes are fragrant too; He Yushui can't hold back her manners anymore—she just can't stop eating.

In the afternoon, the sun shone bright and warm, bathing everyone in its warmth.

Lou Xiao'e came over, laughing happily.

This year she's not afraid to go home with Xu Damao, because she has a reason—their son is disappointing, and it's not her fault.

If they dare to pressure her again, she'll expose Xu Damao's 'five-point man' nature.

Xu Damao fears losing face.

So this year Xu Damao voluntarily said he wouldn't let her go.

That's why she's so cheerful.

Chen Hong, whose cotton jacket is this? It's so small.

It's a woman's cotton jacket; Chen Hong can't even wear it, which naturally makes Lou Xiao'e curious.

Chen Hong looked at her gossipy eyes and replied irritably.

"Xiao'ezi, why are you so happy today?"

Lou Xiao'e took out a piece of chocolate from her pocket, held it up, and shoved it into Chen Hong's mouth.

"Try it, I just got it from my dad's place."

At this time, the chocolate was more bitter; but this taste, which I hadn't really tried before, was what made it high-end.

The moment it hit her tongue, it was bitter; Chen Hong almost couldn't keep from spitting it out, and after a while she managed to utter a sentence.

"Mmm, delicious."

Lou Xiao'e immediately knew from hearing that Chen Hong didn't like this thing.

"Hey, you country bumpkin, you can't enjoy this high-end stuff."

"That's how chocolate is—first it's a bit bitter, but it leaves a sweet aftertaste; the more you eat, the more fragrant it becomes."

"I only brought back two pieces, and I gave you one, Chen Hong—I've been more than generous to you."

Chen Hong nodded.

"Mm-hmm, yes yes, we're good sisters, right!"

Then she whispered.

"But, in order to make you feel better, I even pushed my man out there."

"One piece of chocolate can't satisfy me."

As soon as she said that, Lou Xiao'e's body went a little weak.

"By the way, Red Sister, is what you're saying true—can Brother Qing manage an hour?"

"I don't believe it; I've asked around, and nobody can last that long."

Chen Hong glanced at her slightly flushed face.

"I'm warning you—don't have designs on my man, or we won't be sisters anymore."

Lou Xiao'e gave a sly smile.

"Good sisters, let's share it!"

"Get lost."

Chen Hong laughed and scolded.

Then she whispered.

"My man is a virgin, and he's trained in martial arts—his body is top-notch, his natural endowment is exceptional."

"Lasting longer is also normal."

Lou Xiao'e looked doubtful.

"You talk as if nobody else's man isn't a virgin."

"I heard Yan Jie Cheng can't either—only two minutes."

"San Da Ye's family upbringing surely wouldn't let him go astray."

"What do you say is going on with him?"

Chen Hong pinched her ticklish spot.

"Why are you so concerned about this today? You couldn't be lovesick, could you?"

Lou Xiao'e pouted, looking a bit worried.

"No way, I just want to know how long is considered normal for a man."

"Does what we have at home count as normal?"

"Two minutes?"

Chen Hong was a bit surprised.

"I never expected that, in order to make you feel better, the thing I said would actually rescue a female compatriot."

"When you say that, I'm a bit dazed—my family's this guy, his ability isn't exactly human."

"I still keep calling him useless all day."

Lou Xiao'e quickly grabbed Chen Hong's arm and shook it.

"Don't give it to me—I don't mind."

"Give it to me and go aside."

Chen Hong struck the cotton jacket hard, and a swirl of smoke and mist enveloped it.

"Cough cough..."

"Whose cotton jacket is this? How is it so filthy?"

Chen Hong shushed.

"This is Yu Shui's; keep your voice down, the young lady is at an age when her self-esteem is strong."

"Yu Shui's?"

Lou Xiao'e asked.

Chen Hong nodded.

"Yu Shui's—her cotton jacket no longer keeps warm; I baked it, then patted and fluffed the cotton, and it became warm."

"Why not just change it?"

Lou Xiao'e asked a brainless question.

Chen Hong rolled her eyes.

"You think everyone's like you, with several outfits? Yu Shui only has one set; mine, as you've seen, is too big for her, so I can only beat it, beat it."

"Let her make one next year."

Lou Xiao'e joked.

"I didn't expect, Chen Hong, you're still a good person."

"Get lost..."

As soon as Chen Hong spoke, Lou Xiao'e burst out laughing. Then she turned and headed home.

"Stop fighting, I have an old cotton-padded jacket I don't want anymore; help me dispose of it."

Upon hearing that, Chen Hong tried to stop her.

Lou Xiao'e had already disappeared.

Soon, she came back, holding a large floral cotton-padded jacket.

Coming to Chen Hong's side, she handed it over.

"Then, you give it to her."

Chen Hong asked.

"Why don't you go?"

Lou Xiao'e was very carefree.

"Because Xu Damao and Sha Zhu don't get along."