Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 293

The two people who were called to a halt jumped up and instinctively hid the sweet and sour pork behind their backs. Zhao Da'e scratched his head and said, "Auntie, you're mistaken. I didn't steal any."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chunwen quickly added, "Yes, yes, I didn't steal any food, Mom. You must have seen wrong."

Seeing the two of them trying to argue, Cheng Jinxi found it both funny and helpless. She stepped aside, revealing a small bowl of sweet and sour pork on the table. "You two, stop stealing some. I know you two well. I saved some sweet and sour pork for you. Take it and eat it. These are all for you."

Zhao Da'e's eyes lit up at the sight, while Zhou Chunwen's eyes widened and she couldn't help but swallow. Zhao Da'e rushed over first, picked up the small bowl, took a piece of sweet and sour pork and started eating. She said with a grin, "Then I won't be polite, Auntie."

Zhou Chunwen realized what was happening and quickly rushed over, grabbing several pieces of sweet and sour pork from the bowl to eat. "Big Goose, leave some for me!"

Seeing this, Zhao Da'e made a face at Zhou Chunwen, "Big Cousin, you're too slow! Be careful, or I'll finish this whole bowl of sweet and sour pork!"

Cheng Jinxi couldn't help but laugh, her lips never twitching. She truly thought the goose was a treasure, always able to bring joy to people.

"Eat slowly, and you'll have to come help me with the work after you're done," Cheng Jinxi called out to the two of them, secretly making a mental note that she would definitely buy more meat next time. The two of them loved to eat it, and they finished eating in no time.

Cheng Jinxi was going to make a dish. She let Zhou Chunwen and Zhao Da'e eat slowly while she cleaned the free-range chicken thoroughly, taking out all the internal organs. She washed it four or five times before cutting it into pieces.

Considering that Zhao Da'e's teeth might not be very good, since children are in the process of losing their baby teeth, and the stewed meat might get stuck in his teeth if it's too big, making it difficult to chew, Cheng Jinxi specially cut the meat into small pieces.

After finishing these tasks, Cheng Jinxi asked Zhou Chunwen, who had already finished eating the sweet and sour pork, to pour water into the pot to start boiling it.

Seeing this, Zhao Da'e took the initiative to fetch water from the well in the yard, and then Zhou Chunwen poured it into the pot. After doing this, Zhao Da'e ran to the heated kang to add firewood to increase the fire.

After the water boils, Cheng Jinxi puts the chopped chicken into the water, blanchs the chicken after it boils again, and then removes it and sets it aside for later use.

As she got to this point, Cheng Jinxi suddenly slapped her forehead. "Oh dear, I forgot. Chunwen, go and pour out the water that soaked the dried hazel mushrooms last night, and then rinse them clean."

This needs to be prepared in advance, otherwise you might forget things while you're busy cooking it in the pressure cooker.

Zhou Chunwen shouted, "I understand."

After saying that, Zhou Chunwen ran to pour out the water that had been soaking the dried hazel mushrooms, then washed them and put them in a bowl for later use.

Zhao Da'e had already found ginger slices, scallion segments, cinnamon, star anise, and bay leaves in the kitchen cabinet beforehand, because Cheng Jinxi needed them.

Cheng Jinxi poured lard into the pot. After the oil was hot, he added the ginger slices, scallion segments, cinnamon, star anise, bay leaves, and other ingredients that he had found, and stir-fried them until fragrant.

After finishing these steps, add the blanched chicken and stir-fry continuously until the chicken turns slightly yellow and becomes glossy.

"Hey, Da'e, get me some dark soy sauce." Cheng Jinxi called out to Zhao Da'e.

"Coming!" Zhao Da'e immediately ran over to get some dark soy sauce for Cheng Jinxi.

After opening the bottle cap, Cheng Jinxi added dark soy sauce and stir-fried it to color the sauce.

Then Cheng Jinxi poured the prepared boiling water into the pot, initially enough to cover the chicken.

Zhou Chunwen added more firewood to the kang (heated brick bed), intending to increase the heat.

After finishing all that, Cheng Jinxi saw that it was about time, so she scooped it out and put it into the pressure cooker, then added the hazel mushrooms.

After doing all that, Cheng Jinxi found the lid, put the pressure cooker lid on, pressed the middle button to lock the lid, and started cooking over high heat.

Simmer for about ten minutes, and when it's almost done, Cheng Jinxi opens the lid and adds salt.

Then cover the pot with the lid and press it down for a while. When the aroma comes out, it's almost done. After that, uncover the pot, turn up the heat to reduce the sauce, and when the sauce is thick, pour it out.

The chicken stew with mushrooms was ready, and the aroma was so enticing that Zhao Da'e's mouth watered.

However, Zhao Da'e was too busy washing vegetables to eat, while Zhou Chunwen set up a wooden table in the yard, wiped it clean, and then placed the cooked vegetables on it one by one.

After finishing these tasks, Zhou Chunwen went to wash the dishes and chopsticks.

Zhao Da'e washed the greens and gave them to Cheng Jinxi, who then chopped them. He then put lard into the pot and waited for the oil to heat up before adding the greens. Cheng Jinxi was going to stir-fry some greens this time.

Seeing that it was almost noon, Cheng Jinxi needed to speed things up.

Zhou Chunhong returned from outside. Early in the morning, Cheng Jinxi assigned Zhou Chunhong a task: to go and inform Cheng Jinxiang and the others to come over for the engagement banquet. Zhou Chunhong had already finished the task long ago, but thinking about having to help with chores as soon as she got back, she pretended that she hadn't finished the task yet and wandered around outside aimlessly.

When Zhou Chunwen saw Zhou Chunhong strolling leisurely over from the doorway, he couldn't help but feel angry. He was busy as a bee, while Zhou Chunhong was leisurely walking over, clearly having just finished playing outside before coming home.

Thinking of this, Zhou Chunwen couldn't help but shout, "Chunhong, why don't you come and help me!"

Zhou Chunhong jolted and couldn't help but straighten up. Zhou Chunwen still had a bloodline-based suppression of her, so Zhou Chunhong didn't dare to speak. She quickly ran over to help Zhou Chunwen put the washed dishes on the table one by one.

Around noon, people started arriving one after another, including Cheng Jinxi, Zhu Yufeng, Cheng Rongguo, Zhou Puren, Zhao Tiesheng, and even Zhao Tiegang.

Cheng Jinxi invited a lot of relatives, but one large table was enough to seat them all, and a separate children's table had to be arranged for Zhao Da'e and the others.

Before long, Old Ma arrived with his daughter, Ma Huaihua.

Looking at the gifts Cheng Jinxi had prepared and the delicious dishes on the table, Old Ma nodded in satisfaction. The Cheng family treated their daughter very well, and this engagement banquet was clearly a thoughtful affair.

When Cheng Jinxi came out and saw that Lao Ma and the others had arrived, she became excited, especially when she looked at her future daughter-in-law, Ma Huaihua, she found her pleasing to the eye no matter how she looked at her.

Cheng Jinxi quickly pulled Lao Ma and the others over to sit down, "We've been waiting for you. Come on, I've prepared all the gifts."

Early in the morning, Cheng Jinxi had already deposited the four thousand yuan into her savings account and given the account to the Ma family, which was considered as giving the betrothal money in advance. Now all that was left was to wait for the time to come for Zhou Tianfu and Ma Huaihua to get married.

Zhou Tianfu got up early this morning. He was dressed in all black this time, and being tall, he looked rather handsome.

Ma Huaihua was wearing a red dress, which was rather thin, but in order not to look bulky and to look better, she wore a thin cotton dress.

When Zhou Tianfu saw that Ma Huaihua was dressed so lightly, he immediately felt sorry for her. He took off his coat and put it on Ma Huaihua, then put his hat on her head and said with concern, "It's so cold, you're dressed so lightly, what if you get cold?"

Ma Huaihua's face flushed slightly, and she muttered softly, "Isn't it because I look good in this? Besides, it makes you look good too."

Zhou Tianfu disagreed, saying, "I don't need you to make me look good. I'll work hard to earn a lot of money and buy you nice and warm clothes to wear out. I don't want my dear wife to catch a cold or get chilled; it would break my heart."

Since the two families confirmed their engagement, Zhou Tianfu has been visiting Ma Huaihua from time to time to cultivate their relationship, and he is no longer as shy as he was a few weeks ago when they were discussing marriage.

Ma Huaihua couldn't help but laugh, blushing slightly. She nudged Zhou Tianfu's shoulder and said, "Look at what you're saying. I'm not married to you yet, so I'm not your wife."

After all, the two are only engaged and not married yet. An engagement can be called off, and only marriage can establish a marital relationship.

Zhou Tianfu ignored him and put his arm around Ma Huaihua's waist, saying with a smile, "Soon, you'll be my wife soon."

The interaction between the two was naturally observed by others. Zhou Puren saw it and couldn't help but turn to Zhou Yuren and say with a smile, "Yuren, I think Tianfu is just like you. Look at what he said to Huaihua. Doesn't it sound like what you said to Jinxi when you were young?"

Cheng Jinxi covered her mouth and laughed, "It's just that they're exactly the same. Tianfu is practically a carbon copy of Yuren. The things he said to Huaihua are the same things Yuren said to me when he was young. I'm just recreating that scene. Back then, Yuren wasn't as bold as Tianfu. He pulled me to a grove of trees to bring me food. Seeing that I wasn't dressed warmly enough, he gave me his clothes, saying he was worried my wife would catch a cold and that he would feel sorry for her."

As soon as Cheng Jinxi said that, Zhou Yuren felt a little embarrassed. He scratched his head and said, "I wasn't wrong back then. That's my wife."

Cheng Jinxi and Zhou Yuren have been married for over ten years, almost twenty.

Everyone burst into laughter after hearing what Zhou Yuren said.

Zhao Tiegang added, "That's truly a case of the student surpassing the teacher. Yuren, your son is much bolder than you now. Look at how openly he cares for his wife, unlike you back then who always did it secretly."

Zhou Yuren smiled sheepishly, "No matter how much the student surpasses the master, he is still my son."

To be honest, Zhou Yuren was quite proud to see Tianfu caring about Ma Huaihua. She was his own son, and it was perfectly normal for a son to care about his wife.

Old Ma shook his head with a sigh. He accepted it. Although his daughter, whom he had raised for more than ten years, had been abducted, she had found a good family. Now his daughter should be getting married and starting her own family. Maybe he could even become a grandfather next year.

However, watching the interaction between the two young people, he sometimes missed the time when he first met his wife. He was not as bold as Tianfu and was more shy in everything he did. It was his wife who pursued him.

Everyone was happily eating, but Zhao Tiesheng couldn't help but steal glances at Cheng Jinxiang. This time, he chose a good spot and sat next to Cheng Jinxiang.

Zhao Tiesheng couldn't help but touch Cheng Jinxiang's hand. "Jinxiang, can you come home with me? I miss you so much while you're away."

Zhao Tiesheng drank a little alcohol, which emboldened him, and he spoke his mind quite a bit.

Cheng Jinxiang's expression changed, and she immediately pulled her hand away from Zhao Tiesheng.

He didn't want to pay any attention to Zhao Tiesheng and wouldn't even give him a friendly look.

Cheng Jinxiang has figured it out. She will go back to the Zhao family, but she doesn't want to sleep in the same room as Zhao Tiesheng. She will wait until the new house is built before going back, and she will definitely build more rooms.

Even if Zhao Tiesheng insists on moving in, I can stay in another room.

Seeing that Cheng Jinxiang ignored him, Zhao Tiesheng felt a little lonely, his nose tingled, and he felt a little sad. He finished a bottle of wine and could only get drunk to stop thinking about those things.

Meanwhile, Zhao Da'e was enjoying delicious sweet and sour pork and chicken stew with mushrooms at the children's table. Seeing that Zhao Da'e kept picking at the meat, Zhou Chunwen thoughtfully put a chopstick of green vegetables into Zhao Da'e's bowl, saying, "Da'e, you are growing now, you need to eat more green vegetables, it's not enough to just eat meat."

Upon seeing the greens, Zhao Da'e immediately lost his joy. The greens tasted somewhat bitter and were not as delicious as meat.

Seeing Zhao Yongbo enjoying his meal, Zhao Da'e had a sudden idea. He put most of the vegetables in his bowl on Zhao Yongbo's plate and said, "Little brother, you should eat more vegetables now. After all, you are growing, and you can't do without vegetables."

Zhao Yongbo's mood soured when he saw the vegetables in the bowl. He looked at Zhao Dage with a miserable expression and said, "Sister, I don't want to eat vegetables."

Zhao Da'e smiled, but actually threatened, "No way, children need to eat more vegetables to grow up quickly. Children who don't eat vegetables won't grow up, and they might even become short and stout."

Upon hearing that he might become short and stout, Zhao Yongbo ate several mouthfuls of vegetables out of fear.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Da'e suppressed the smile on his lips, trying his best not to laugh out loud.

But a moment later, Zhou Chunwen reappeared behind Zhao Da'e, staring intently at him. Zhao Da'e suddenly felt a chill down his spine and couldn't help but shrink back. When he turned around, he saw that Zhou Chunwen had already picked up a piece of green vegetable and put it into his bowl.

“Big Goose, you should eat more vegetables too, or you’ll become a short, stout goose,” Zhou Chunwen said to Zhao Da’e, using the same reason Zhao Da’e had just given.

Zhao Da'e felt like crying but had no tears left. It's true what they say, the wheel of fortune turns, and it's her turn so quickly.

Zhao Da'e could only eat the same vegetables as Zhao Yongbo.

Halfway through the meal, Zhao Yongbo couldn't eat anymore. He looked at Zhao Dage with some distress and said, "Sister, I miss my mother."

Previously, Zhang Cuilan had been making a fuss about Wang Guixiang wanting to build a new house for her family, saying she wouldn't come back unless a new house was built. Later, Zhang Cuilan went back to her parents' home. Like Cheng Jinxiang, she was a very stubborn person. Zhao Tiegang went to Zhang Cuilan's parents' home several times, trying to persuade her to come back, but all his attempts ended in failure.

Zhao Yongbo hasn't seen his mother for a long time, and he misses Zhang Cuilan very much.

Children can't distinguish right from wrong. No matter what, they'll always think their mother is right and the best in the world.

Therefore, it is understandable that Zhao Yongbo misses his mother.