Chapter 83 - 80: Follow-up After the Dish is Prepared

The fifth dish was a warm dish of yellow-braised fish with soybean paste, which attracted people’s taste and vision as soon as it was taken out of the tightly-covered basket. The fiery red chilies and plump soybean paste covered the fragrant braised little fish, making anyone’s appetite surge at the sight of it.

“The dish is made by frying dried crucian carp until golden, then adding the seasoning to the pot and repeatedly stir-frying until the flavors seep in. A small amount of water is then added to simmer for a while, until the pot’s liquid is reduced. The fish bones inside are already crispy and tender, melting in the mouth as soon as you take a bite.”

As Liu Sisi spoke, a small fish had already entered Dr. He’s mouth.

As he took one bite, everything around him fell silent.

Everyone stretched their necks and stared with wide eyes, unconsciously swallowing their saliva as they fixed their gaze on the old gentleman’s wriggling mouth.

“Mmm— the fish is delicious, the soup is rich and the fish is tender, it has a unique flavor, and it lingers in the mouth. Excellent, truly excellent!”

Dr. He couldn’t help stroking his long beard and swaying his head slightly in a tipsy manner: “Child, bring me wine!”

“Ah? Sir, you said it yourself, no wine is allowed during a medical consultation, as it may cause mistakes! You can’t drink!”

The medicine pageboy beside him dared not agree.

“Hm? Alright! Old me actually forgot that I can’t drink. It’s a pity to have good food but no good wine! Sigh!”

Dr. He nodded and shook his head, sighing continuously: “Next dish!”

“The previous dish was a bit heavy in flavor, which is why you wanted to drink. This is steamed eggs with tofu! Made by steaming a mixture of eggs and tofu, the dish is both tender and smooth, try it.”

The soft, smooth taste of the egg and tofu filled his mouth, and as Liu Sisi had said, it instantly neutralized the intense flavor of the previous dish, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

After shaking his head for a while, the old gentleman opened his eyes again, and couldn’t help giving Liu Sisi a thumbs up: “Delicious! Your cooking skills are simply extraordinary! Excellent! Next dish!”

The medicine boy hurriedly brought up the next warm dish…

Compared with the lively dining scene inside, the people peeking around the doorway and windows in the living room were even more restless, as if they were like dog paws, itching to rush into the room and taste the deliciousness inside!

Especially the rich variety of fragrances continuously stimulated everyone’s taste buds, causing their mouths to water and their saliva to flow uncontrollably.

“Who would have thought that this wretched woman could cook such a good meal!”

Ms. Wang muttered resentfully, nearly tearing the handkerchief in her hand to shreds!

“Damn! Third Son’s family even hid eggs. He’s forgotten his own mother after getting a wife!”

Ms. Zhao’s eyes were bulging out.

“Here it comes! The food is here!”

It wasn’t clear who shouted, but everyone turned their heads in unison, their eyes lighting up! Like starving dogs, they pounced on Di Yelei, who was carrying a large bucket filled with coarse grain porridge.

Di Yelei couldn’t help but feel a little guilty.

When he got home, he found that Sisi had prepared separate meals for the two children and himself. Although they were all drinking coarse porridge, the dishes were quite different.

Thinking of how Sisi was angry with him in the morning, he dared not intentionally annoy her, so he quickly took a shower, changed into clean clothes, ate his meal, and hurried over here with two large buckets of coarse porridge.

Closely following him were Di Xuan and YingEr, each carrying a large bamboo basket.

“Third Son, were you trying to starve us? You’re so slow! Hurry, hurry up and bring out the food!”

Ms. Wang swallowed her saliva fiercely, as if envisioning countless fragrant little fish and delicious delicacies rushing toward her…

“Slow down! Don’t make a mess!”

Di Yelei called out, but he wasn’t quick enough for the crowd.

He had just barely put down the buckets by the well when he was pushed to the side, almost falling into the well, and hastily grabbed the edge!

“What’s the rush! Move aside, let me divide!”

Ms. Zhao was the first to reach the front, the first to pick up the big spoon, ready to face the fragrant chunks of meat…

The large water bucket usually used for fetching water had a crack uncovered, and a large spoon could not wait to stretch in…

As the lid left the big water bucket, the spoon scooped up nothing but coarse grain porridge!

Ms. Zhao could hardly believe her own eyes, the smile on her face suddenly frozen!

The crowded people also suddenly lost their ability to shout and speak, all dumbfounded, unable to speak.

“How could…this be!”

Ms. Zhao, unwilling to accept defeat, searched through the coarse grain porridge and found it was still plain rice porridge.

She suddenly uncovered the other side of the large water bucket, and it was still a big bucket of coarse grain porridge, and her whole body suddenly wilted.

After a long time, Ms. Zhao suddenly bounced up from the ground and pointed at Di Yelei’s nose and scolded angrily: “Where’s the meat? The fish? The vegetables? Where did they go? Did you eat them all, huh!”

Di Yelei was taken aback, looking at the finger pointing at the tip of his nose, and raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Mom, we eat coarse grain porridge at home too.”

“Grandmother, the vegetables are with Xuan’er.”

Di Xuan carefully handed the bamboo basket: “Dad is right, we also eat coarse grain porridge at home. Mom said before that we still owe more than 20 taels of silver in debt and don’t know when we’ll pay it back. My sister and I…we won’t have meat to eat in the future.” Di Xuan’s voice became softer, and his grievance grew.

Hearing this, Ms. Zhao couldn’t help but glare at Ms. Wang. It was this troublemaker who had 8 taels of silver that she didn’t take out yesterday, making her want to tear off her skin.

Ms. Wang also shrank for a moment, and couldn’t help lifting the cloth covered over the bamboo basket first, and there was a full basket of ferns!

“This fern is astringent and bitter! You’re trying to feed beggars! Liu Sisi, you piece of junk, get out here!”

Ms. Zhao couldn’t bear the anger in her heart any longer and shouted loudly!

At this moment, in the living room, it was another scene.

“This is fern, tender fern leaves grown on a burnt hillside. After being briefly washed in water, mixed with various ingredients, it is especially delicious. Old gentleman, have a taste!” Liu Sisi said with a gentle smile.

Following the tender ferns, the old gentleman pulled two mouthfuls of rice, only to find that the rice in the bowl had run out.

“It’s indeed delicious! I didn’t expect that you, a young wife, would have such skills. You’re really ingenious, and I admire you, I really do!”

Liu Sisi did not become particularly happy because of his compliments, her face still composed with a faint smile.

“This is wild mushroom soup, made from freshly picked mushrooms on the mountain. The soup is not only fresh but also more delicious!”

The medicine pageboy quickly served a bowl for the old gentleman and also picked some wild mushrooms.

Only after finishing a bowl of wild mushroom soup did the old gentleman burp in satisfaction, wipe his hands with a handkerchief, and consider the meal finished.

“Hey! I remember now, this elder sister must be the one who sold mushrooms before. Old gentleman, do you remember the chicken agaric I bought back that you praised so much? I bought it from this elder sister!”

The medicine pageboy beside him finally remembered the long-forgotten past. He was ordered by Young Master to buy chicken agaric, and most of it ended up in the old gentleman’s stomach.

“You have a good memory, little brother. Back then, you told me about the drying precautions for tippler’s bane.” Liu Sisi, of course, would not tell the medicine pageboy that she had recognized him a long time ago.

“So that’s it. The chicken agaric was indeed delicious. Today, your wild mushroom soup tastes even better.”

Dr. He could not help but praise.

“Elder sister, you are so lucky! Our master is known for being picky. Even the famous dishes at De Fu House in the county town can’t please him. If he says it’s delicious, then your dishes must be delicious!” The medicine pageboy hastily flattered.

“Indecent words! Do you speak about your master like that?” The old gentleman also laughed, forcefully knocking a chestnut on the medicine pageboy’s forehead.

“Ouch! Old gentleman, you bully me.” The medicine pageboy feigned pain.

Causing the three of them to laugh.

Right now, when they were in harmony, suddenly outside there was a furious roar: “… Liu Sisi, you piece of junk! Get out here for me!”