Chapter 211: Tsk tsk, what a resentful cook

When Lu Xiu Bai was discharged from the hospital, time quickly slipped to early August.

The fruit on Sea Island ripens quickly, and from time to time fellow villagers push handcarts and set up stalls beneath the shade trees outside the east gate of the Junqu Jiayuan.

With a few cheap cash coupons or grain tickets, one can exchange for the desired fruit.

There is also Qing Bu Liang.

Sometimes, you can even find villagers cooking a pot of hot, spicy flower snails, steaming and fragrant.

At first the villagers worried they couldn't trade, fearing the officers would warn them against speculation.

But evidently they overthought it; the unit leadership, the Political Commissar's office, all tacitly allowed the villagers to pull small carts to the shaded area outside the east gate of the family courtyard to exchange goods.

Bartering is not speculation.

The villagers need to support their families, and the military families have some spare cash and vouchers.

Mutual benefit and reciprocity let both sides get what they want; why not?

No wonder coastal cities later become more open, economically developed, and have built many port fortresses.

Shen Man hadn't known this until Ye Qinghong and the others dragged her to pick things, and then she discovered a row of villagers' stalls outside the east gate of the family courtyard.

There are wind chimes made of shells, bead bracelets, and ornaments.

There are flower snails, cat‑eye snails and other snail varieties she doesn't recognize, made into snacks.

There are also charcoal‑grilled oysters, scallop vermicelli with garlic sauce, and with chili sauce.

There are mangoes larger than her palm, hanging bananas, peeled coconuts, bright yellow pineapples, rambutan, longan, mangosteen…

Shen Man was truly amazed; the villagers' preparations were so complete!

"That doesn't count as speculation, does it?"

Because she's a military family member, she worries whether trading is allowed.

"It doesn't count; don't worry, this is an equal exchange, bartering."

Ye Qinghong blinked, full of implication.

From top to bottom, everyone greets each other like this.

These days, outside trade is discouraged; supplies are strictly rationed.

But Sea Island has an overabundance of fruit, and seafood is everywhere along the coast.

The island's villagers live off the sea; the surplus is unrealistic to transport, and no one leads the effort.

The fruit would rot in the fields; better to swap vouchers with the military families.

It's mutual help, so why talk about speculation?

Shen Man understood and couldn't help admiring how clever the method was.

She didn't know whether Section Commander Duan or Regiment Commander Han came up with it…

In any case, it's good; her mouth watered, and she wanted to trade for a portion of sea snails, garlic‑vermicelli scallops, grilled oysters—she wanted them all!

"Let's go ask the villagers how to trade, and taste it."

Ye Qinghong was also swallowing saliva, how fragrant.

A pregnant woman's mouth gets greedy; she usually restrains herself, but this time she truly can't.

Want to eat!

"Just a little bite, should be fine."

Shen Man likewise, usually pampered, but eating the same dishes the man makes repeatedly has become a bit tiresome.

So, change the flavor, satisfy the craving, should be fine, right?

Regarding hygiene, she observed carefully; the villagers are quite particular about cleanliness.

The two instantly agreed, queued up to the interested villagers to ask how to trade food.

It was Shen Man's first time out shopping with her girlfriends; she couldn't restrain herself and ate until she was full.

Her stomach didn't hurt at all; she even wanted more!

"Manman, I'm full."

"Sister Qinghong, I'm about the same."

Both held bamboo tubes of Qing Bu Liang, exchanged a satisfied smile.

But the next second, Shen Man couldn't smile anymore.

"Manman, your Jiang Regiment is coming to take you home; I'll leave first, not to disturb you."

Ye Qinghong shivered, quickly finding an excuse to slip away.

Shen Man wanted to cry but couldn't, holding Qing Bu Liang; as the man approached, she let out two belches.

"Full?"

The man's expression was natural, seeming not angry.

But as his pillow‑side companion, Shen Man could sense he was a bit angry.

Shen Man, trying to please, scooped a spoonful of Qing Bu Liang, placed it at the man's lips, and while acknowledging, smiled brightly as if presenting a treasure—

"Hmm, couldn't hold back; I ate a little of each, just a little."

The man obediently opened his mouth, tasted the Qing Bu Liang his wife‑to‑be had offered, and sharply commented:

"Hmm, it's tastier than mine, overly sweet; no wonder you forgot to go home, eating your fill out here......."

Tsk tsk, what a resentful cook.

"It's not that yours is any better; I just came out with Sister Qinghong to stroll, saw how hard the villagers work, and wanted to look after them."

Shen Man immediately wrapped her arm around the man's, nuzzling his ear and whispering.

A man also needs to be coaxed, especially a jealous one.

If you don't coax him, he'll get increasingly angry, and the marital relationship and life will be affected.

There's no need to start a cold war over these trivial matters and damage the marital bond.

"Is that so?"

The man's expression indeed softened a bit, but his mouth remained stubborn.

Shen Man brushed her cheek against the man's palm and enthusiastically suggested:

"Of course—how about I treat you and let you try the garlic‑buttered oysters? And the sea snail; I think the grilled fish would be good too."

"Then, okay."

Having soothed things, Shen Man let out a sigh of relief, completely overlooking one thing...

The gluttonous diners from East Gate aren't just the military wives from Jiashuyuan.

There are also the old gentlemen from the Rest House, and look, they've all arrived.

Both sides exchanged a smile, skipped any small talk, and went looking for foods that interested them.

For example, Lin Lao Ye Zi likes soft, fluffy foods, such as bananas and durian.

When he saw the fried bananas and charcoal‑grilled durian, his face mirrored the expression from Shen Man's old chat emoji pack—the subway old man looking at his phone.

But his body was honest; he asked how to exchange, then pulled out a ticket and exchanged!

Try the high and low ones!

Take Lu Lao Ye Zi, who enjoys eating sea snails; sucking the snail is super satisfying, and it would be great if there were a bottle of wine to drink.

Unfortunately, the wine in his own room's cabinet isn't fully ready yet, so he'll have to endure a bit longer.

The snail can be exchanged right now, but the wine can't be opened yet.

Even if it could be opened, he'd still be sneaky, sipping alone while no one else notices...

"Old fellow, how's your raw‑marinated crab claw? Will I get diarrhea if I eat it?"

Pei Lao Ye Zi hesitated a bit; it smelled delicious, but being raw, he couldn't quite accept it at first.

Besides, he's an old Chinese doctor, and the parasites in the raw marination also gave him some dread.

"Comrade, you look new here. My raw marination is guaranteed clean and hygienic. Do you smell the vinegar? And the chilies—home‑grown and really spicy..."

The stall owner, Old Fellow, kept pushing the sale; not only Pei Lao Ye Zi, but everyone else gathered around.

It's so fragrant, the texture fresh and tender, just like eating jelly!

Vanilla, garlic and other seasonings fully brought out the crab claw's fresh sweet flavor.

Even if it causes diarrhea, for gluttonous diners it's still worth it!