131. Division of Labor, A Master Craftsman Cannot Cook Without Rice

With a deep smile, Gao Shen said, “Godfather, you always sit in the courtyard drinking tea. Please help me and Qing Xin pick a good date for the wedding banquet soon! Also, tomorrow I want to take you both to my parents’ place to discuss the marriage!”

“Alright! Leave it to me. I will definitely find an auspicious day for you!” Zhang Liangping replied frankly. He had the foresight to bring a calendar with him when he left.

Everyone’s tasks were arranged. Gao Shen changed into a light military training uniform, and Liu Gang put on a set of old clothes. Knowing that helping out in the countryside would inevitably involve some hard work, he also wore his old military-issued clothes.

Gao Shen stuck the army knife that Qing Xin had given him into his waistband, then handed Liu Gang the only iron hoe displayed in the yard. He slung a bamboo woven basket on his back and placed a few thin ropes inside.

As the two were about to leave, Jing Qingxin handed Gao Shen a small bottle without explanation and then returned indoors. Gao Shen understood immediately upon receiving it and slipped it into his pocket.

In the main room, Aunt Liu laid out all the items brought back this time, checking and counting the essential wedding supplies. Nearby, Jing Suyun held a notebook and pen, writing and pausing as she compiled statistics.

The main room was never spacious. Zhang Liangping watched the two women spread everything out, leaving no extra space. He picked up a bench, carried his bowl of tea, and sat in the courtyard, leafing through the calendar.

Jing Qingxin returned indoors to see the elders bustling about, then took Jiang Min to the kitchen to clean.

The two thoroughly cleaned inside and out, then began preparing the ingredients for the evening meal. With so many people—seven on their side and four from the Li family—there would be eleven in total.

Suddenly, Qingxin felt the ingredients she had brought were too few in variety. How could she make a grand feast with so little?

She looked at the few items in the basket: potatoes, eggplants, green peppers, and lettuce.

For the potatoes, she could make a simple hot and sour shredded potato dish. The eggplants could be braised or served cold with chopped chili. As for the green peppers, she could make tiger-skin peppers, which were both appetizing and refreshing. The lettuce could be sliced and stir-fried with wood ear fungus. If there was chicken, she could make a braised chicken with lettuce. There was also dried kelp among the supplies, which could be shredded and tossed with spicy kelp strips.

This was the menu Qingxin could come up with for now. The rest depended on Gao Shen. If he could bring back a wild chicken, she would be very pleased. It was certainly better than having a table without a single meat dish.

Although everyone had grown accustomed to a frugal life and wouldn’t mind plain vegetarian food, she did mind.

Everyone had come to help her and Gao Shen. The godmother and Liu Gang had even taken leave to come to the countryside, which made her feel deeply indebted. At least in terms of food, she wanted to do her best to take care of them. How could she bear to let them down?

By five in the afternoon, the villagers returning from work began to spread the afternoon's gossip rapidly. Before dinner, the entire production team had heard that the wounded officer was going to marry his fiancée from the city and hold a banquet in the village, inviting everyone to celebrate.

They also heard that the officer’s fiancée’s family had come from the city, bringing more than ten luggage trunks full of dowry. Oh my goodness! More than ten trunks? What did that even mean? Everyone speculated excitedly.

After finishing her chores, Li Xiaomei thought about how many people would be at dinner and how the food might not be enough. She quickly grabbed a bamboo basket and went to pick some vegetables.

Returning home with the vegetables, Li Xiaomei told her family about Qingxin’s instructions. She then hurried next door with her basket. Her parents and older brother, having just finished farm work, planned to change clothes before going to the neighbor’s for dinner, but she couldn’t wait and rushed to help Qingxin.

The courtyard gate was open. Li Xiaomei cheerfully bounced into the Gao family’s small yard, greeted Zhang Liangping who was reading in the courtyard, and then dashed into the kitchen.

“Sister Qing, I brought some vegetables for you!” Li Xiaomei said happily.

Hearing this, Qingxin smiled warmly, “How thoughtful of you! I was just worried about not having enough ingredients.”

Pleased by Qingxin’s praise, Li Xiaomei’s smile grew even brighter, as if she had accomplished something remarkable.

Jiang Min sat by the stove tending the fire. Seeing Qingxin chatting happily with the girl, it was clear they were close. The girl looked younger and called Qingxin “sister,” so Jiang Min wondered if Qingxin had accepted her as a younger sister.

Suddenly, Jiang Min felt a pang of sadness. She didn’t quite understand her feelings but disliked what she saw.

Noticing Jiang Min’s expression, Qingxin paused, then quickly understood. Jiang Min was sensitive and delicate, having grown up without much love. Qingxin becoming her sister had given her new support.

Seeing Qingxin so friendly with Xiaomei, Jiang Min must have felt left out and disliked it.

This story is first published by XiaoXiang Academy. Please do not reprint.