Adding three bamboo strips to make a handle, she untied the thread used for fixing, and a handmade bamboo basket was completed.
Looking at the bamboo basket she had made, Su Yunyi admired it back and forth, extremely satisfied. Unfortunately, there was no camera to record it.
Seeing that it was getting late, Su Yunyi went out and looked around. Xiao Ze had not returned yet, but from a distance, she could see that the members who had gone to work were returning.
After working all afternoon, the fish soup she had drunk at noon had been mostly digested. Her stomach seemed to sense her thoughts and protested in unison.
There was still fish at home, but she had eaten fish at noon, so she wanted to eat something with flavor. In her previous life, she loved spicy food. After eating bland food for several consecutive meals, her mouth felt like it was about to grow birds.
When she entered the village that day, she saw what looked like a supply and marketing cooperative next to the village office.
Su Yunyi put on her army green small bag, picked up the bamboo basket she had just woven, put the two empty bottles from the kitchen into the basket, and prepared to go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some things.
Walking on the road, everyone looked at her with curiosity. Su Yunyi didn’t know who they were or what to say, so she could only smile at everyone who looked at her.
She was already plump, and her smile made her even more approachable. She didn’t know that this action would make her the topic of conversation among the aunts and elder sisters when they went to work the next day.
Everyone loves to hear gossip, especially when work is tiring and boring. Talking about fresh gossip can significantly reduce the pain of working. So, for a time, everyone was spreading the word that Xiao Laosan had struck gold, and the city girl he brought back smiled sweetly at everyone.
Meanwhile, the gossip subject, Su Yunyi, was still agonizing over whether to buy a bottle of canned fruit. She touched the fifty yuan she had in her pocket. After much deliberation, she gave up on the legendary orange preserves.
This fifty yuan was her last resort.
If Xiao Ze really hit her, she would run away.
Money couldn’t be spent carelessly.
She took out the bottles and bought a pound of soy sauce and a pound of vinegar. Soy sauce was 8 fen per jin, and vinegar was 6 fen per jin, costing one jiao and four fen. Su Yunyi then realized that she was practically carrying a fortune.
She also discovered that they sold fermented bean curd, and it didn’t require coupons. Unfortunately, she hadn’t brought a bowl.
She bought some salt and spices. She wasn’t sure if spices were not selling well here, as the salesperson had to rummage through the bottom of the cabinet for a long time before taking them out, and they didn’t require coupons.
Recalling the things the family lacked, Su Yunyi bought laundry detergent and several bowls, filling the basket to the brim.
On the way home from the supply and marketing cooperative, she looked into the courtyards. Other people’s walls were hung with large strings of chili peppers and corn, but their house was bare all around.
An elder sister saw her observing as she walked and invited her to her home to play. At this time of day, people were eating, so it was inconvenient for her to visit someone else’s home. However, people in this era were truly warm and hospitable.
“Sister, can I buy some chili peppers, ginger, and potatoes from your house?”
The elder sister looked into her basket and saw that they were all ingredients for cooking. She was a practical person who knew how to live a good life, but unfortunately, she was married to Xiao Laosan.
Then she looked at her with a hint of pity. Her hands were busy as she plucked a large handful of chili peppers from her own string and put them directly into Su Yunyi’s basket. Then, carrying Su Yunyi’s basket, she ran to the corner of the kitchen wall, picked up a pile of potatoes and what should have been onions and ginger for their own use, and put them in the basket.
“Why buy? We’re neighbors. Sister is giving them to you. Hurry home.”
Su Yunyi couldn’t force the 3 jiao in her hand to be accepted.
Back home, Xiao Ze was still nowhere to be seen.
Su Yunyi took a fish from the door.
She gutted it according to her memory, cleaning the black film inside the fish’s belly thoroughly, and even removed the fish’s teeth, mainly because she didn’t have cooking wine and was afraid of the fishy smell.
Then, starting from the tail along the backbone, she began to slice the fish. She had to admit her knife skills were excellent; each slice was of similar thickness. The washed and drained fish slices were seasoned with salt and ginger water and stirred in one direction until they were firm. She originally wanted to add egg whites but decided against it, not wanting to use up her only two eggs.
She used the same method as at noon, throwing it into the fish oil and simmering it for a while. Then, she cut the dried chili peppers given by the aunt into sections, and sliced ginger and green onions to stir-fry until fragrant. After adding water and bringing it to a boil, she put the blanched fish slices into the pot.
She added the Sichuan peppercorns she had bought at the supply and marketing cooperative today. The ingredients at this time were not adulterated and were very authentic.
Soon, a captivating aroma wafted out.
Su Yunyi found herself drooling as she cooked the fish.
Xiao Ze, who had just come down from the mountain and was ravenously hungry, smelled the spicy and numbing aroma from afar. Thinking about his still unfound dinner, he lowered his eyes and gave a self-deprecating smile.
As he got closer to the low courtyard wall, the aroma grew stronger. An unbelievable thought entered his mind.
He pushed open the door. Su Yunyi was adding firewood to the stove and stirring the bottom of the pot. Her fair, small, round face was smudged with black soot, and her hair, damp with sweat, stuck to her forehead. She looked quite disheveled.
The aroma continuously wafted out from the pot she was stirring.
Her eyes sparkled. Even in this disheveled state, Xiao Ze found her somewhat cute. He cursed himself, thinking he had gone mad.
He roughly threw the several dead rabbits he was carrying on the ground in the kitchen.
With a dark expression, he turned and left the kitchen with the basket on his back.
“Is this person sick! No wonder he can’t find a wife. He throws tantrums for no reason.”
Su Yunyi looked in the direction the man had left, completely bewildered.
But seeing the wild rabbits on the ground, Su Yunyi’s anger instantly dissipated. Anyone who said Xiao Ze was lazy and good-for-nothing, she would be the first to disagree.
She had only been married for two days, and Xiao Ze had caught fish and rabbits. It wasn’t something anyone could do in the mountains. Eating so well, even a formal worker in the city couldn’t compare.
Anyone who could keep her fed was her boss. If the boss was angry, what could she do? Of course, she had to appease him.
Having figured this out, Su Yunyi poured out the fish and put it into the newly bought sea bowl.
She added more firewood and, using the broth in the pot, stirred the shredded potatoes that had been soaking in water. Finally, she added a spoonful of salt and a shovel of vinegar. She secretly ate two pieces; they were sour and crispy, and incredibly delicious.
“Xiao Ze, dinner is ready!”
Su Yunyi heard the sound of someone showering outside and quickly poked her head out to call.
A moment later, a figure carrying moisture walked into the kitchen. He was too tall, making the already small kitchen feel even more cramped.
Seeing the new bowls of fish and shredded potatoes on the stove, he raised an eyebrow, “Where did these bowls come from? And potatoes?”
Speaking of which, Su Yunyi remembered the elder sister who had given her a pile of vegetables.
She casually explained a few things to Xiao Ze.
She scooped a bowl of fish soup and fish from the pot and said to Xiao Ze with a flattering smile, “The elder sister next door gave me a lot of vegetables and chili peppers today. Can I take this bowl of fish soup to her?”