novelhk Chapter 118 Reunion Dinner
Chapter 118 Reunion Dinner
Old Su and Sun Lan, residing in the city, sent the joyous news to their daughter Zhou Xi, who lived in the countryside, via carrier pigeon. When Zhou Xi unfolded the letter and read the words, a long-lost smile finally appeared on her face—her younger brother had married. For the past few days, Zhou Xi had been confined at home during her postpartum period, her spirits extremely low. This news was undoubtedly the only thing she had heard during this time that brought her any joy.
Therefore, Zhou Xi had an idea: she wanted to go to the capital with her husband, Yang Yuxuan, to present a gift to her younger brother and to see for herself what her new sister-in-law looked like. Thinking of this, Zhou Xi turned to the busy Yang Yuxuan and said gently, "Yuxuan, could you come with me to the city? I really want to see my brother and sister-in-law."
However, to Zhou Xi's surprise, Yang Yuxuan answered without hesitation, "No!"
Upon hearing this answer, Zhou Xi's eyes widened instantly, and she asked with a wronged expression, "Why?" At this moment, she looked like a wounded fawn, pitifully gazing at Yang Yuxuan in front of her, hoping to get a reasonable explanation.
Yang Yuxuan slowly walked to Zhou Xi's side, gently raised his hand to stroke her hair, and softly comforted her, "Darling, you haven't fully recovered yet, so it's not appropriate to go out now. But don't worry, after a while, once you've recovered, I will definitely keep my promise and take you to visit them."
After hearing these words, Zhou Xi's disappointed expression eased a little, but she still pouted with some resentment and replied in a deliberately arrogant manner, "Alright then, but you have to keep your word, let's pinky swear!" As she spoke, she stretched out her slender finger.
Seeing this, Yang Yuxuan couldn't help but laugh and quickly replied, "Okay!" Then, he also reached out and hooked his little finger tightly with Zhou Xi's, completing this simple yet loving promise.
In the scorching summer heat of northern desert, the earth seems to be baking. As far as the eye can see, apart from the tenacious cacti, only a few drought-resistant trees dot the landscape. Occasionally, caravans of camels can be seen slowly moving forward, carrying heavy loads with steady steps; in the distance, herds of cattle and sheep graze peacefully on the grasslands.
On this very day, Ye Beichen and Su Yuning arrived with several baskets full of fresh fruits and vegetables. When the old lord saw them, his wrinkled face immediately broke into a joyful smile, his mouth agape: "Great! Absolutely great! We can finally enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables!"
Looking at the excited old lord, Su Yuning was filled with curiosity. She couldn't help but ask, "Father, why don't we grow our own vegetables here in the northern desert? The climate here seems quite hot. In theory, crops should be able to thrive here."
The old lord smiled and shook his head, patiently explaining to her, "Child, the situation is not as simple as you think. Although our climate is indeed quite hot, the most critical problem is the severe water shortage. Without enough water, even if the temperature is suitable, crops will hardly survive. So, we have no choice but to rely on importing vegetables and fruits from other places to meet our daily needs."
After hearing the old lord's words, Su Yuning nodded in understanding, indicating that she understood the reason: "Oh, I see. Well then, in that case, Father and Beichen, please be patient and wait a bit. Today, let me show off my skills and make some refreshing and delicious summer cold dishes for everyone to try!"
Upon hearing this, the old lord's wrinkled face broke into a bright smile, as warm as the spring sun. He squinted his eyes and replied affectionately, "Oh dear, then I'll have to trouble my good and sensible child!" With that, he reached out and gently patted Su Yuning's shoulder.
Afterwards, the old lord enthusiastically led Ye Beichen to the wilderness to collect cacti. Along the way, the two chatted and laughed, occasionally exchanging cooking tips and creative ideas. They carefully selected the tender, juicy, and perfectly shaped cacti, as if searching for the most precious treasure in the world.
Back home, the two got to work. They sat around the kitchen table, carefully discussing how to use the cacti and other ingredients to cook a delicious meal with unique northern desert characteristics for Su Yuning.
In the sweltering summer, people tend to choose lighter and simpler foods. Many dishes can be easily prepared without cooking, such as cold tomato salad and smashed cucumber. Simply cut fresh tomatoes into small pieces, sprinkle with a little sugar, mix well, and you have a sweet and sour summer salad. Smashed cucumber is even simpler: place a washed cucumber on a cutting board, smash it vigorously, add minced garlic, salt, vinegar, and other seasonings, mix well, and the crisp and refreshing taste is unforgettable.
In addition to these two classic cold dishes, the skillful Su Yuning also meticulously prepared garlic eggplant, stir-fried rice and beans with pork, a spicy and sour cold dish, and cold green bean noodles. She skillfully cut the eggplant, steamed it in a steamer, and then mashed it with minced garlic and various seasonings, so that each piece of eggplant fully absorbed the aroma of garlic and spiciness; the rice and beans and pork danced happily in the pot, emitting an enticing aroma; the various shredded vegetables in the spicy and sour cold dish intertwined, creating a colorful and mouthwatering dish; and the cold green bean noodles were made by rinsing cooked noodles in cold water and then mixing them with stir-fried green beans and a special sauce, resulting in a smooth and chewy texture and a spicy and sour flavor that whets the appetite.
Meanwhile, the old lord was skillfully using the cactus in his hands to showcase his culinary skills. He sliced the cactus thinly, quickly stir-fried it in a hot pan, added a little salt and soy sauce for seasoning, and soon a plate of delicious-looking cactus stir-fry was ready. Not to be outdone, Ye Beichen carefully washed the cactus fruit he had picked and arranged it meticulously on a plate, like a fine work of art. Then, he took some fruit and squeezed it into juice, the rich aroma instantly filling the entire kitchen.
When talking about the delicacies of northern Mongolia, one cannot overlook the renowned beef and mutton! Thanks to the unique environment in which these cattle and sheep graze, the meat is not only tender but also incredibly juicy, offering a truly exceptional taste. Whether cooked in a sizzling, irresistibly fragrant way, roasted until it melts in your mouth with a flavorful broth, or slowly simmered into a rich and delicious dish, each method perfectly showcases the unique and delicious flavor of this beef and mutton.
Sure enough, Ye Beichen meticulously prepared a delicious cumin lamb dish, its aroma so enticing it made one's mouth water. Meanwhile, the experienced old lord showcased his culinary skills, creating a pot of fragrant stewed lamb chops, along with mouthwatering spicy beef and refreshing cold beef salad.
Finally, all the delicious food was served, and the family happily sat around the table, ready to enjoy this sumptuous reunion dinner. Just as everyone was enjoying themselves, the old lord spoke earnestly, "Beichen, Yu Ning, now that you two are married, it's time to consider having a child. This old man has been looking forward to holding his grandson every day."
Hearing this, Ye Beichen was displeased. He retorted defiantly, "Grandpa, why don't you hope I become rich? You only want us to have children, what's the point of that!" The old lord chuckled and said gently, "Silly child, it's perfectly normal for an old person to long for grandchildren. Who doesn't yearn for the joys of family life?"
Just then, Su Yuning parted her lips slightly and asked softly, "Father, have you been on any blind dates lately? Have you found someone you like?" Her beautiful eyes were fixed on the old lord, full of concern.
Upon hearing this, the old lord quickly waved his hand and hurriedly replied, "Oh, my daughter, don't mention this again! Your father is quite old now, and it's better to enjoy life on his own." As he spoke, he stroked the few strands of white beard on his chin.
However, Ye Beichen interrupted, asking with a suspicious look, "By the way, Father, I heard from people back home that you brought a woman back from Xinghua Village to our Mobei region, didn't you? Why haven't we seen her?"
Hearing this, the old lord became somewhat embarrassed. He lowered his head slightly and stammered, "Uh... well, I had a little argument with her, and in a fit of anger, she went back to her hometown." As he spoke, the old lord kept rubbing his hands, looking very embarrassed.
Seeing this, Ye Beichen couldn't help but laugh out loud, and then kindly advised, "Father, you are already so old, how can you still act like a child? You must not be so willful! Finding a soulmate to support each other until the end of your life is a major event in life."
The old lord raised his head, looking at Ye Beichen with a puzzled expression, and asked in bewilderment, "Beichen, I remember you didn't say this before. Back then, you even said you hoped I could enjoy my old age with you. Why are you urging me to get married now?"
Ye Beichen answered truthfully, "I was ignorant before, but now that I'm grown up, I know how hard it was for you to raise me. Besides, we can't always be by your side. We would feel at ease if someone could stay here to take care of you."
Looking at his son, who had grown into a sensible young man, the old lord couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. He slowly exclaimed, "Son, you've really grown up and become more and more sensible!" His tone was full of a father's pride and satisfaction.
Hearing this, Su Yuning, who was standing to the side, felt a little disappointed. She acted like a child and asked coquettishly, "Father, why do you only praise Beichen and not me?" Her big eyes blinked as she looked at the old lord, looking very cute.
Seeing this, the old lord quickly smiled and praised, "Oh my, my daughter-in-law is so sensible! Look at the tomatoes you made, they're absolutely fantastic! The sweet and sour taste is just wonderful!" As he spoke, he picked up another piece and put it in his mouth to savor it.
Hearing her father-in-law's praise, Su Yuning smiled happily and quickly explained to everyone, "Actually, this dish is quite simple to make. You just need to cut the tomatoes into small pieces, add some white sugar, stir well, and you're done! You can enjoy it right away! Moreover, the broth is also very delicious, sweet with a strong tomato flavor."
As the old lord savored his meal, he couldn't help but sigh, "Ah, if only we had more fresh vegetables here, it would be so much easier to cook!" His words revealed his longing for a bountiful harvest.
Upon hearing this, Su Yuning smiled slightly and replied softly, "Father, you don't know, do you? I bought dozens of acres of land in Xinghua Village and set up a vegetable garden there. Now the garden is full of all kinds of vegetables. As long as we take good care of it, I estimate that we will have a bumper harvest of vegetables next year! Then, our family can eat fresh and delicious vegetables every day!" As she finished speaking, her eyes were filled with anticipation and longing.
"That's truly amazing! I'm impressed! Hahahaha!" The old lord gave a thumbs-up with a broad smile, sparing no praise, and burst into hearty laughter that seemed to echo throughout the entire territory.
However, at this moment, Su Yuning frowned slightly, a hint of helplessness on her face, and said softly, "But... the sales of our vegetable garden are still a big problem. Right now, besides selling the vegetables at the market, we can only go door-to-door to restaurants to promote them. As you know, making a profit from growing vegetables is really not an easy thing." She sighed softly as she spoke, seemingly filled with worry.