When the two returned to the house, Chen Ran had already bought all the groceries.
Pork belly, beef, and various odds and ends of vegetables.
It was obvious that he didn’t know how to choose, so he simply bought all the vegetables he saw.
Lin Nian took one look and immediately discovered the key problem.
Chen Ran hadn’t bought any staple food.
But luckily, there was enough food to cook a hot pot.
Gu Zeyun stopped the bike and turned to help Lin Nian down, but found that she had already left and was hopping up the steps on one foot.
She was smart enough to protect her injured foot.
He snorted and followed her.
“You rest, just tell me what to do.”
“Come back when it’s almost time to stir-fry the dishes.”
Lin Nian didn’t stand on ceremony with him.
Going to the hospital had taken up some time, and if she did it all by herself, it would be too late for dinner.
Anyway, he was going to eat the food later, so it was fine to have him help.
She thought for a moment, asked Gu Zeyun to help wash the vegetables, and directed Chen Ran to start the fire, while she neatly sliced the beef and pork belly.
Then, she heated the pot and oil, rendered some of the fat from the pork belly, and took out a small bowl to store the lard separately.
When the chili peppers were put into the pot, the pungent smell made Chen Ran sneeze several times, and he quickly pulled Gu Zeyun out with him.
Looking at Lin Nian, who was still busy in the kitchen, he looked worried.
“Is this girl okay?”
“Bro, are you going to marry an ancestor home?”
Gu Zeyun chuckled.
“What, you can’t afford to eat?”
“Do I have to marry a servant?”
Chen Ran didn’t say anything, and looked at Gu Zeyun with a bit of resentment.
Didn’t he remember that his brother could swim?
How did it feel like Yun-ge was drowning in the river of love?
He was so focused on love and neglected his friends, and was scolding him, his friend of over twenty years, for a little wife he had only known for a day and a half?
Chen Ran’s boyish heart shattered all over the ground. He suddenly looked up and sniffed hard, unable to control himself from drooling.
It smelled so good.
After the pungent smell of chili peppers passed, the oily and spicy aroma wafted out, making people want to eat two bowls of rice.
Chen Ran belatedly slapped his forehead.
“Crap, I didn’t buy rice!”
Gu Zeyun looked at him helplessly and laughed in anger.
That was it? And he had the nerve to say bad things about Lin Nian all day long?
He thought he might as well throw Chen Ran away and have him remade.
After thinking about it, he sighed again.
“I’ll go to the restaurant later and buy a few bowls of rice.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a voice suddenly came from the corner.
“No need to buy! No need to buy! I have steamed buns!”
“Comrade, can I trade some steamed buns for some of your dishes?”
The few people looked over and saw a middle-aged man in his forties squatting in the corner, looking at them with a flattering expression.
“I’ll trade two steamed buns for some meat and vegetables, pure white flour, I won’t take advantage of you.”
Chen Ran was overjoyed and was about to agree when he heard Gu Zeyun reply coldly.
“Sorry, we didn’t make the dishes, I have to go in and ask.”
The man was stunned.
“What’s there to ask? You’re her man, won’t she listen to you?”
Gu Zeyun smiled, didn’t argue with him, and turned around to go inside and ask.
Lin Nian was overjoyed when she heard this.
“Trade! Of course, trade!”
“Most of the people coming and going around here are steel mill workers. If he tastes it and likes it, he might be able to help us promote it.”
“But there aren’t any extra bowls here, tell him to bring a bowl when he delivers the steamed buns.”
Gu Zeyun nodded, turned around and went out to relay the message.
That person did indeed live nearby, and came over with steamed buns and bowls and chopsticks in a short while. Lin Nian served him some stir-fried pork and put in a few slices of beef dipped in sauce.
Only then did the others see the pot next to her, which was bubbling as it cooked the vegetables.
Chen Ran was shocked.
“I bought such good meat, and you’re cooking it in plain water?”
Lin Nian rolled her eyes.
She didn’t expect to be so lucky that someone would trade steamed buns for their dishes, so she simply made a Guizhou clear soup hot pot, using lard and scallions in the pot, and dipping it in seasonings after cooking.
In her previous life, Lin Nian had traveled all over the country and seen the delicacies of different places.
She had learned a few tricks, and although they weren’t authentic, they tasted good. Plus, they had a bit of novelty, so she would definitely be able to win over the residents in this area.
She made this dish today to thank Gu Zeyun, mainly to suit his taste.
Gu Zeyun didn’t like too greasy flavors, it had to have a little bit of spiciness, but not too spicy, as it would hurt his stomach.
In addition, there was no special pot for hot pot now, so she simply chose clear soup, which was easy to cook and didn’t have to worry about the dishes getting cold at the end and the red oil congealing into a large piece, which wouldn’t look good.
As for what Chen Ran thought, it didn’t matter at all.
Unfortunately, there were no chili flakes here, so she could only finely chop green peppers to add some flavor.
Lin Nian handed the dish over and smiled at the person.
“Uncle, thank you for the steamed buns.”
“I’m going to open a small restaurant here in the future. If you like it, please come and support me, and I’ll give you a discount.”
Hearing that she was going to open a restaurant, the person was stunned, and his face quickly sank.
But he still didn’t say anything and left with the bowl.
Chen Ran saw it and was also a little unhappy.
“What kind of person is that? He was thanking us profusely just now, but he turned his face as soon as he got the food.”
“If you ask me, we shouldn’t have traded! This kind of…”
Before he could finish speaking, he remembered that it was because he forgot to buy the staple food that they traded steamed buns with others, so he stopped.
Lin Nian smiled and explained to him in a good mood.
“Think about it, what kind of person can have so many white flour steamed buns?”
“I guess he works in the cafeteria and is afraid that I’ll affect their business.”
In this day and age, the cafeteria was still public. Sometimes, the leftover food might be secretly distributed by the cafeteria staff, or bought cheaply to avoid waste.
Although there were restaurants outside, it wouldn’t hurt them, but if there was too much leftover food in the cafeteria, it would be easy for the leaders to talk to them.
Therefore, the person was immediately unhappy when he heard that Lin Nian’s skills would be used to make a restaurant.
But well…
If you want to do business, you have to learn to be flexible.
Lin Nian planned to talk to them about cooperation, making some stir-fried dishes to sell in the cafeteria, and the store outside would make some breakfast, selling pancakes, wonton noodles, and the like.
It was getting cold, and some people wanted something hot.
Anyway, breakfast was mainly tiring, but it was quick to make money.
When the time came, she could use the excuse that she was too busy to call her mother from the village to help.
Zhao Shuzhen was soft-hearted. If she couldn’t come up with some good reasons, she would definitely not feel at ease leaving the father and son alone.
The more Lin Nian thought about it, the more reliable it felt. She couldn’t wait to hold the bowl and sit outside to eat, to see if she could attract other potential customers.
She turned her head and glanced at Gu Zeyun, but gave up.
This meal was a thank-you gift, so she shouldn’t make any trouble.
After he left, she could do whatever she wanted.
Unexpectedly, Gu Zeyun misunderstood.
He raised his eyebrows and couldn’t help but be curious about what the little girl meant.
Could it be that she wanted to be praised?
He seemed to have heard his teammates in the army say that little girls loved to hear nice words…
But, to suddenly praise her…
Would be very strange, right?
He looked at Chen Ran, who was staring eagerly at the stir-fried pork, waiting for him to move his chopsticks first, and slowly opened his mouth.
“Chen Ran, do you see that?”
“You’ve been a soldier for more than ten years, and you’re not as smart as a little girl.”
“Aren’t you ashamed?”
Chen Ran: “….”
Did he have anything to do with it again?
Bro, why didn’t the river of love drown you?