FH Chapter 43:
亲妹子！
Pro sister! Dear Sister! /Sister (relatives by marriage)
After leaving the shop, both siblings were excited, Li Jin Hu because of the close contact with Little Peach Red, and Li Haitang, because of the theater tickets, it was as if she saw the shining white silver entering her pocket.
“All chosen well?”
Xiao Lingchuan had bought pork jelly and another duck in sauce, and came over head on from across the street.
“Alright, alright.”
Li Haitang and her own little brother winked, Li Jin Hu nodded his head to show understanding, the siblings concealed the scene just now and decided to give Xiao Lingchuan a pleasant surprise.
The sun was setting in the west, a layer of fiery red as fire clouds in the sky, reflecting on the ancient green stone road, giving the northern border city a bit more heaviness.
It is not yet time to light the lamp, Chun Niang prepares a few dishes, stands at the door and looks around, sees Li Haitang’s shadow, rushes to beckon, “I’ve bought all the dishes, I invite you to come and have a meal, for what you bring that something ah!”
Even though she said so, as a courtesy (return politeness for politeness), Chun Niang was not bad about this stuff, but was happy for Li Haitang’s attitude.
“Is it proper to come to the door empty-handed?”
Li Haitang smiled, followed Chun Niang’s back and entered the door, her house is a courtyard house with a fully enclosed courtyard (type of Chinese residence), the east room is near the street, the main house has three rooms, the west room is used as a warehouse, the north corner, there is a stove room (kitchen).
The Clothes shop is open, welcoming customers, Chun Niang also has to take care of her husband, so she hired an honest middle-aged couple. The man has the strength to help unload and transport while the woman will do some chores, in the time Chun Niang is too busy to cook.
“My husband just drank the soup and medicine, he should have fallen asleep by now.”
Chun Niang looked at the main room [principal rooms (in a courtyard, usu. facing south)], with a worried look on her face, but she quickly hid it, “We were originally outsiders, over the years in the border city, all we came into contact with were businessmen, we really didn’t have many friends, he was happy that you guys were able to come here.”
Inside the hall, the meals were already set up, they were all the special home cooked dishes of the Northlands, boiled pork slices, hot and sour shredded potatoes, carp and tofu, peppered mushrooms and a plate of deep fried shelled peanut.
“Chun Niang, did you make this? Not to mention anything else, the knife works (food prep) on the shredded potatoes, so there is nothing to complain about.”
Li Haitang took a bite of the dish and immediately praise profusely, the carp tofu was fresh and fragrant, the carp was thorny and had been crisped up by deep frying, with the addition of tofu, the stew came out in a milky white soup, with a layer of chopped green onions sprinkled on top, the smell, (look) color and flavor were great.
Li Haitang is a good cook, she is mainly good at cakes, pastries and snacks. This dish, she is not sure that she could make a better one.
“Eat more, don’t treat me as an outsider.”
Her husband was seriously ill, and there were taboos on food, Chun Niang was eating by herself, and usually didn’t even have a confidant to talk to other than doing business.
Ordinary people’s families did not have the habit of eating without speaking, during eating was a good opportunity to make friendly contacts with each other, Chun Niang learned that they lived in the mountains, and made a strong effort so they willing to stay, hoping that Li Haitang could stay for a few more days.
“In fact, Big Brother Xiao and I haven’t married yet, this time also for picking up things and preparing to decorate the new house.”
The other party was sincere in their friendship, Li Haitang was not a pretentious person, and told her situation truthfully and apologized, it really wasn’t that she intended to hide it, but she couldn’t say it.
“Haitang, you will be my own sister from now on, those people, they simply bully people intolerably!”
Chun Niang didn’t blame Li Haitang at all, instead she reddened her eyes, pulled her hand and choke with sobs, “Don’t be afraid, in the future, if you are aggrieved, you come and find me, your sister, the family’s business is still good, no matter what, we still have food for you to eat!”
“Chun Niang …”
Li Haitang was very deeply moved, relatives are still like this, the last to pity her is actually a person who has only known her for a day, this may be fate.
At this moment, Chun Niang was just outraged by the injustice for Li Haitang. For many days to come, every time she recalled that time, she felt funny; she leaned on a big tree by herself, knowing Li Haitang was the biggest luck in her life.
