Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 75

Wei Ying hurriedly said, “How could I possibly—”

But Madam Li cut him off, “There’s nothing that needs your help. Besides, the kitchen is small, no need for you to squeeze in. Our Cuihua and Chuncao are both excellent cooks. Today, you’ll all get to taste their skills!”

Only then did Wei Ying stop insisting and instead pulled Li Zhen and her husband along to meet Old Man Li.

Madam Li took Ying Su and Liu Chuncao into the kitchen. The two already knew that Ying Su’s cooking skills were outstanding, so they let her take charge of the wok. Madam Li tended the fire, while Liu Chuncao helped on the side. The three worked together seamlessly.

Truthfully, Ying Su wasn’t naturally gifted at cooking, she simply loved eating, which made her meticulous. With food, the more carefully one studied it, the better one could cook.

It was Madam Li and Liu Chuncao’s first time witnessing Ying Su’s knife skills. A blur of flashing blades later, the vegetables on the table were all neatly and evenly cut, even the potatoes had been sliced into thin, delicate shreds.

Madam Li exclaimed in surprise, “Cuihua, who taught you knife work like that?”

Ying Su poured oil into the pan. “I don’t really remember, must’ve learned it in the past.”

Liu Chuncao smiled brightly. “No wonder your food tastes so good! Judging by those knife skills, you must’ve practiced a lot before!”

Madam Li suddenly cried out, “Oh heavens, why did you cut the potatoes into shreds? Potatoes are best when stewed!” She looked at the pile of shredded potatoes on the chopping board in astonishment.

Ying Su countered, “You’ve never stir-fried shredded potatoes before?”

Liu Chuncao shook her head. “Never. We’ve only ever boiled or stewed them, but never stir-fried them.”

“So potatoes can actually be stir-fried into shreds? Cuihua, how did you even know that?” Madam Li asked curiously.

Lifting the spatula, Ying Su’s dark eyes flickered. So that’s why everyone here only stews potatoes, they’ve never tried stir-frying them. No wonder all the potatoes she’d eaten recently had been stewed.

She raised her face to Madam Li. “I don’t know either. I just saw the potatoes and sliced them. Maybe I really have cooked them like this before.”

“Then… can you still remember how to fry them? Didn’t you say you’ve forgotten everything from before?” Liu Chuncao asked suddenly.

Ying Su smiled faintly. “I’ll just have to try.”

In the village, tradition dictated that when guests came or events were held, women usually weren’t allowed at the main table. They could only eat in the kitchen. But today was Old Man Li’s eightieth birthday, so they made an exception and set up two tables in the main hall: one for the old patriarch, Elder Zhang, the village head, and the men; another for the women and children.

Soon, the dishes were ready, and waves of delicious aromas drifted out of the kitchen. Neighbors nearby sniffed the air and muttered to themselves, “Looks like Old Man Li’s eightieth birthday feast has some fine dishes! That smell is enough to make you drool.”

Even Elder Zhang and the village head, chatting in the hall, found themselves salivating, sniffing the air while glancing toward the kitchen.

The fragrance made Old Man Li smack his lips. He turned to his eldest son, Li Zhi, and said, “Go see if the food’s ready.”

Li Zhi had already smelled it long ago. He entered the kitchen and greeted Madam Li with a smile, “Sister-in-law, what delicious dishes are you cooking? Father sent me to check if the food’s ready.”

The chopping board was covered with dishes. Li Zhi only glanced once before swallowing hard, the rich fragrance made his mouth water. He even peeked again to make sure, but they were all just ordinary vegetables. So why did they smell so heavenly?

Because Li Zhi and his wife earned money in town, they indulged their pampered children and were generous with food, often buying meat. Unlike most villagers, who only ate meat a few times a year, Li Zhi had even dined with Father Feng at inns before. Yet he felt even tavern food wasn’t this aromatic.

“It’s ready. We can start anytime,” Madam Li said.

Li Zhi grinned, “Sister-in-law, your cooking keeps getting better, this smell alone makes me drool.”

“This wasn’t me. It was Cuihua,” Madam Li said with a frown.

By then, Ying Su had already washed her hands and gone to play in the yard with Huzi and Bai Lefu.

Li Zhi assumed Madam Li was just giving Cuihua credit for show and paid it no mind. He urged Madam Li to serve the dishes and returned to the hall.

Outside the gate, Feng Qiufang anxiously waited for her eldest son, Li Yin. Still not seeing him, she turned and noticed Madam Li bringing the dishes in. She hurried over.

“Sister-in-law, Yin-ge’er hasn’t come back yet. Shouldn’t we wait a bit longer to start?” Feng Qiufang asked.

Madam Li glanced at the food in her hands, then at the sky. “Where did Yin-ge’er go? It’s this late, why isn’t he here?”

Feng Qiufang forced a smile. “A classmate had something urgent, so he went to help. Before leaving, he promised he’d be back in time for the meal.”

“But it’s already this late. Yon-ge’er is still just a junior, while Elder Zhang and the village head are here, it wouldn’t be proper to keep them waiting. Father already urged us earlier. Besides, maybe Yin-ge’er got caught up with something and lost track of time.” Madam Li said as she carried the dishes into the hall.

Fuming, Feng Qiufang stomped her foot and stalked toward the gate, muttering angrily, “When my son passes the exams and becomes a scholar, let’s see if you, Madam Li, still dare to be so high and mighty!”

The dishes were all laid out in the hall, but Li Yin still hadn’t returned. Though Feng Qiufang was worried, she couldn’t just stand at the door. 

When Li Zhi noticed his son wasn’t back, he quickly said to Old Man Li, “Father, Yin-ge’er left early this morning saying he’d return to wish you a happy birthday. He must’ve been held up. Please don’t be upset with him. Once he’s back, I’ll make sure to scold him!”

Old Man Li had always doted on Li Yin, dreaming that one day he’d pass the imperial exams and bring honor to the family. To him, the boy was as precious as his own eyes. How could he bear to scold him? 

Smiling, he said, “If Yin-ge’er had something important to do, it’s not the same as just fooling around. That child has always been filial. I know his heart well. And you, don’t you dare lecture him over such a trivial matter! Otherwise, I won’t allow it!”

Li Zhi seized the chance to “borrow the slope to get off the donkey” and quickly echoed with a smile, “I knew you loved him most, Father!”

The family gathered around the tables, the whole house buzzing with joy. Madam Li thought to herself that when Old Man Li was cheerful from food and wine, she would bring up the matter of adding Cuihua’s name to the family genealogy.

Once Old Man Li picked up his chopsticks, everyone else began eating. The moment the dishes touched their tongues, Elder Zhang couldn’t help praising, “Well now, these dishes are truly delicious!”

The village head swallowed his bite and added with a grin, “I smelled the fragrance earlier, but eating it is even better than smelling it!”

With their praises, Old Man Li felt immeasurably proud. Laughing, he said, “Since you like it, eat more! Eat to your heart’s content!”

Seizing the moment, Li Zhi brought out the wine he had bought from town, unsealed it, and the aroma of alcohol filled the room. Smiling broadly, he said, “How can good food go without good wine? This was fetched early this morning by Yin-ge’er himself. Elder Zhang, Village Head, please taste it and see if it’s any good!”