Having to get up early in the morning to fuss about in the kitchen would be considered a chore for many, but for Hua Xiaomai, it was precisely her heart’s desire.
Only in this place, constantly filled with the scent of cooking oil, could she do as she pleased. In this not so spacious space, everything was willing to heed her command. She handled everything with ease, and what was troubleso to others beco unadulterated pleasure in her eyes.
...However, trouble wouldn’t stay away just because she was enjoying the pleasure of cooking. Just as she untied her apron, leisurely surveying her surroundings and planning to eventually make this still incomplete kitchen her own territory, a very displeased shout suddenly ca from behind her.
"What are you doing?!"
Though it was a shout, it wasn’t exactly that either. This noise was fundantally different from Hua Erniang’s usual roaring; it wasn’t as violent, but it held an underlying chill of nace, causing a cold shiver to run down Hua Xiaomai’s neck.
Turning around, she saw ng Lao Niang with a stern face standing at the kitchen door, her sharp gaze scanning over the stove, and her brows knitted together in a frown.
Hua Xiaomai hurriedly called out "Mother" and then touched her own forehead sowhat bewilderingly: "I am... cooking..."
"Does your family need to eat a al in the morning, being so particular?" ng Lao Niang curled her lips and rolled her eyes, "No wonder everyone says that ever since Jing Taihe and Hua Erniang housed that little auntie, their days have been getting more and more luxurious. Humph, my family doesn’t have that much spare money, eating two als a day is plenty for us!"
Isn’t this deliberately picking a quarrel? Hua Xiaomai secretly grumbled in her heart. She certainly knew that the people of Fire Knife Village didn’t have the habit of eating breakfast, but as a new bride trying to make a good impression and showcase her skills, that couldn’t be wrong, could it?
"There were still so many leftovers from yesterday, and even if you were truly starving, just reheating sothing would’ve been fine. Why make new dishes? Have you been running a restaurant for so long that you’ve lost the concept of frugality? Wasting things for nothing!"
Hua Xiaomai took a deep breath, and suddenly rembered Hua Erniang’s words: "If it’s a trivial matter, let her have her way, it won’t cost us a piece of flesh." Her eyes darted about and she forced a smile, chose not to pick up on ng Lao Niang’s hints, and directly offered a dried fried crispy roll, shaking it in front of her: "Mother, would you like to taste?"
The surface of the dried fried crispy roll was fried to a beautiful golden color, extrely appealing, and the rich aroma of the pork filling seeped through the thin bean curd skin, wafting in waves, truly tempting. ng Lao Niang originally intended to assert her dominance over Hua Xiaomai, but sohow, her throat, betraying her intentions, involuntarily swallowed twice, and with an impatient flick of her hand, she said, "You can’t just eat things that haven’t been served. Doesn’t your family have any manners? Don’t waste words on , the proper thing to do first is to offer incense with Yuhuai to your father-in-law."
With that, she turned and walked out quickly.
Hua Xiaomai busily responded obediently, and once ng Lao Niang left, she covered her mouth and giggled secretly.
...
In the hall, the incense and candles were all prepared, and on the ground, two cushions had been laid out. Hua Xiaomai and ng Yuhuai washed and changed their clothes again, and they paid their respects to Old Master ng’s spirit tablet with solemn bows. ng’s mother inevitably murmured a few words beside them, but soon they gathered themselves and brought out the prepared dishes one by one.
For so reason, since entering the hall, ng’s mother’s face turned as dark as charcoal. When ng Yuhuai spoke to her, she would reluctantly respond with a few words, but if Hua Xiaomai spoke, she would completely adopt a "I can’t hear, I can’t hear" attitude, continuing to eat silently.
Sitting between the two, ng Yuhuai’s expression beca noticeably displeased, and several tis he almost couldn’t help but say sothing. Each ti, Hua Xiaomai would kick him under the table, and he would swallow his words.
Whether it was the village gossips or Hua Ermother, who had many grievances about ng’s mother, they had all hinted, more or less, that the relationship between mother and son was not close, and sotis, even quite tense. Hua Xiaomai didn’t know the reason, but she at least couldn’t let them start arguing on the second day of their marriage because of her; that would make her life very difficult in the future.
After thinking for a mont, she picked up a fried "crunchy bell," placed it in ng’s mother’s bowl, then turned to give ng Yuhuai a piece, saying with a smile, "Mother, try this fried ’crunchy bell’ and see how it tastes. If you like it, I’ll make more in the future."
ng’s mother still did not speak but gave her a sidelong glance. She didn’t refuse, took a golden bite into her mouth, and imdiately furrowed her brow.
"You cook without using onions? There’s fresh coriander and onions right behind the house; you could just cut a bunch. How much effort could that take? Ah, everyone in the village praises your culinary skills, and you even run your own restaurant, yet you don’t even know such a trifle?"
Hua Xiaomai wasn’t annoyed and pushed two small dishes with salt and pepper and sweet sauce closer to her, "Mother, if you prefer more onions and coriander in the dishes, I’ll rember and add more in the future. But this fried ’crunchy bell’ should be eaten with salt and pepper and sweet sauce. Both of these condints have strong flavors, and with the taste of tofu skin and pork already so rich, adding onion would be a bit too much and overpower the flavors."
Hearing this, ng’s mother rolled her eyes and muttered softly, "Don’t give that rigmarole. I’m a layman, I don’t understand your professional jargon!"
"You complain if it’s not to your liking, and when it’s explained to you, you get sarcastic. Why bother, mother?" ng Yuhuai could barely hold back and finally retorted sharply.
ng’s mother felt wronged on the spot, glared at him, and her throat tightened, "Just after getting a wife, you forget your mother. I only said a few extra words, and you have to defend her like this? It’s only the second day, how will I live in the future?!"
With that, she was close to crying.
Hua Xiaomai’s head ached with the situation, and she quickly kicked ng Yuhuai under the table again, then turned to ng’s mother with a smile, "Hehe, mother, please eat quickly. If the fried ’crunchy bell’ gets cold, the tofu skin will soften and the taste will be greatly reduced, ah haha..."
She put on a thick-skinned face, making ng’s mother feel it was difficult to keep complaining. ng’s mother took a couple more bites of the fried ’crunchy bell’, followed by a few spoonfuls of porridge, then suddenly threw her spoon into the bowl, raised her head, and fixed her stare on Hua Xiaomai’s face.
"I want to ask you, where did you take the things from the hall?" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to co to Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation ticket, monthly ticket, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian to read.)
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