vrcanaries Chapter 237: Spare Ribs and Eight Treasures Soup
Chapter 237: Spare Ribs and Eight Treasures Soup
When Li Zhengde returned to the old house at night, he was already starving. He was so hungry at noon that he couldn't stand the hunger, so he ate a white flour bun. However, according to Li Zhengde's height, weight and age, the bun was completely useless and couldn't even serve as a base.
It’s not that Li Zhengde is picky and refuses to eat more, but he has really been spoiled by Li Mingxia. Thinking that he can eat the food prepared by his elder sister when he gets home in the evening, Li Zhengde doesn’t force himself to eat something he doesn’t like.
"Sister, when are we going to eat?"
When Li Zhengde passed by the kitchen, he saw Li Mingxia busy and couldn't help asking.
Li Mingxia was stunned, and found it somewhat funny to see Li Zhengde touching his belly with a wronged look on his face.
"Did you not eat well at noon? Come here." Li Mingxia said as he picked up a steamed bun that had just been out of the pot from the chopping board, cut it in half with a kitchen knife, stuffed the stewed beef into the gap in the middle, and brushed a layer of secret sauce on the bun.
"Fill your stomach first. The beef is ready, but the spareribs are not out of the pot yet. We also have your favorite Eight Treasures Soup tonight. Go inside. You are not needed here." Li Mingxia said with a smile.
Li Zhengde hadn't put down his schoolbag yet, but he was holding the steamed bun in his hand as he quickly walked into the house to see Zhang.
He had been thinking about it for a whole day and had to see Zhang in person, otherwise Li Zhengde would not be able to eat at all.
This time, Li Mingxia gave Li Zhengde special treatment, and the whole process was seen by Old Lady Zheng.
However, this time, Old Mrs. Zheng did not scold Li Mingqiu and Li Mingdong like she did. She kept her head down and was busy doing something, and no one knew what she was busy with.
Perhaps Mrs. Zheng was not frightened, but felt that there was nothing wrong with such behavior.
Li Mingqiu and Li Mingdong were girls, not valued. In the eyes of Old Lady Zheng, they were money-losing goods, cheap girls. It was good enough for them to have a bite to eat, but they dared to eat so well? Isn't this a sin?
But Li Zhengde is different. As a male, and now a literate male, he is naturally different in the eyes of Old Lady Zheng. Even if he is not precious enough, he is far superior to the two sisters Mingqiu and Mingdong.
Li Mingxia served the ribs and did not forget to sprinkle a handful of chopped green onions on them when serving. The whole family loved the Eight Treasures Soup. Although it was not as nutritious as chicken soup, so many meat dishes were enough for Zhang to eat. She didn't need another pot of soup and it was time to change the taste.
Everyone liked the plate of vegetables yesterday, and they all seemed to be reluctant to eat more at the end, so Li Mingxia made a little more today.
Li Zhengpin came back a little late, and when he came back he gave Li Mingxia a purse full of copper coins and silver.
"The accounts have been settled. You can put them away. I'll go chop wood and add more fire." Li Zhengpin was busy working without stopping.
Now that the weather is cold, the old house has not been renovated before winter. I don’t know if it’s because they want to save money or if everyone is lazy and doesn’t want to move. In short, the old house, including Mr. Li and Mrs. Zheng, where Zhang lives now, is a bit drafty. If you don’t burn more firewood at night, you might be woken up by the cold in the middle of your sleep.
Li Mingxia put the purse in his arms without even looking at it, thinking that he had already burned a lot of firewood and it would be enough. He didn't want to bother his elder brother anymore. Just as he was about to speak, Li Erlang came in with a large bundle of chopped firewood.
"Mingxia, I've chopped some firewood for you. See if it's enough." Li Erlang asked, pointing to a pile of neatly arranged firewood on the ground.
Li Mingxia resisted the urge to look towards Old Lady Zheng, "Thank you, Uncle, these are all useless! Thank you so much, Uncle!"
When Li Erlang heard what Li Mingxia said, he smiled innocently, "It's okay, we can still go into the mountains. We have a lot of firewood at home, and we can never burn it all. If it's not enough, just tell Second Uncle. I'll earn a lot of money from your family in the fall."
Li Mingxia was stunned when he heard this. Li Erlang had already turned around and left. There was still complete silence over there at Old Lady Zheng's place. The only sound that could be heard was the clashing of pots and pans.
Li Mingxia looked at the pile of firewood on the ground, and then looked at Li Zhengpin who had squatted down to start making a fire. She suddenly felt that she seemed to have underestimated this second uncle who had always been quiet.
At dinner time, Li Mingxia served a pot of eight-treasure soup and a small bowl of pork ribs to Mr. Li.
"What's this for? Mingxia, just eat it, why do you need to send us anything?" Mr. Li was happy in his heart, but he was still making excuses.
Li Mingxia smiled and insisted on putting the Eight Treasures Soup and spare ribs in front of Mr. Li.
"Grandpa, you don't know that today, my second uncle gave us some of the firewood he chopped in the mountains!"
As soon as Li Mingxia opened his mouth, Mr. Li was stunned. Firewood? What does that mean? It's not a valuable thing, why is it worth mentioning?
Looking at Grandpa Li's confused eyes, Li Mingxia couldn't help but find it a little funny. Look, look, things that everyone thinks are not worth mentioning will be at risk of being used as an excuse by Grandma Zheng. It can be seen how far this person has reached.
"Just use it if you want. Aren't there plenty of them on the mountain? Besides, he's your second uncle. It's easy for him to help you with anything. So--"
"Even if there are plenty of them on the mountain, they still need people to go up and cut them back. You're just a kid, but you dare to order your second uncle around for nothing. Who knows what will happen in the future!" Old Mrs. Zheng said hatefully as she looked at the Eight Treasures Soup and pork ribs placed in front of Old Man Li.
To be fair, both the soup and the pork ribs were enough for two people, but Mrs. Zheng felt it was not enough. Moreover, Li Mingxia didn't even look at her when he spoke, and it was obvious that he didn't care about old people, which made Mrs. Zheng very unhappy.
"Yes, I thought so too. I thought that Second Uncle must have cut those firewoods to honor Grandpa and Grandma. Although I am a junior, I am not completely ignorant. Second Uncle loves us juniors, so we can't pretend to be stupid, right? Please have Grandpa and Grandma taste these ribs and soup. We are able to use firewood to make a fire today because of you!"
Li Mingxia's words were very clear. I used the firewood that Li Erlang chopped for you, but I also gave you pork ribs and eight-treasure soup. These things are much more valuable than your firewood. After you receive the things, you are not allowed to use this as an excuse to cause trouble!
Mr. Li is a smart man. What else does Li Mingxia not understand? He wanted to smooth things over, but suddenly he thought of Mrs. Zheng's sarcasm and sarcasm. He closed his mouth and his face turned pale and ugly.