The preparation of the strange-flavored chicken was simple, relying mainly on the seasoning, while the tricky part lay in handling the chicken itself.
After watching the smart teacher complete a full demonstration, Xu Chuan roughly understood the process and the key points. If he tried it himself right then, he could make something passable.
The problem was, if he were to cook this dish outside, he could barely gather the seasonings, but where would he even find a chicken?
He took a bite from the plate. The chicken skin was smooth and thin, almost paper-like, neither oily nor greasy. The meat underneath was tender and springy, not dry or tough, completely unlike the ordinary farm-raised chickens outside.
A thin layer of sauce coated the chicken, savory, sweet, spicy, numbing, and aromatic all at once, topped with fragrant green onions and toasted sesame seeds. It was perfect in color, aroma, and taste.
Xu Chuan pondered for a moment, shaking his head—there was no way to get this kind of chicken from the commune.
Yet, giving up… was simply unthinkable.
Wait. Xu Chuan suddenly remembered that the egg-beating device could be bought in a certain mall, but what about the chicken?
The system immediately displayed the chicken.
On the screen appeared detailed information about the Sanhuang chicken, the raw ingredient for the strange-flavored chicken.
System: [Sanhuang chickens are native to the host world, making them affordable. Roosters cost 10 points, hens 8 points. A scan indicates that the nearest Sanhuang chicken farm is in Ningdu. Due to limited local supply and transportation costs, it is recommended the host purchase through the system mall.]
Xu Chuan: “Isn’t that a bit expensive?”
His point wallet was empty, and saving up 10 points would be very difficult.
System (without change in tone): [The host may also choose to purchase offline.]
Xu Chuan: …
Frustrating!
Thinking it over, Xu Chuan turned his attention to the steamed cake. The ingredients were available locally. The tools were ready. Fine, he’d make this first and worry about the chicken once he had enough points.
After three full days of rain, the sun finally shone on this morning.
The commune members had originally hoped for rain, and then hoped for it to stop over the past two days. If it didn’t, the time to harvest wheat would be missed.
The Cheng family village had just divided grain the previous day. Old Uncle Cheng, tapping his long tobacco pipe, strolled over to the Cheng household to inform the three Cheng brothers.
He sat squarely in the main hall, puffing on his pipe, and spoke bluntly: “Your mother always said the family’s money and grain should be divided fairly. Baozhu was tricked by you into going to the Xu family in Laokeng Village. What needs not be explained—but failing to get the chicken and losing the rice should serve as a lesson.”
He finished, his murky yet sharp eyes scanning everyone, swallowing the words that had nearly slipped out of his throat.
Finally, Old Uncle Cheng fixed his gaze on Cheng Daming: “You’re the eldest, the eldest brother is like a father, so speak.”
At that, all eyes turned to Cheng Daming.
Cheng Daming forced a stiff smile, wiping his face in embarrassment: “You’re right, Old Uncle, but… on Baozhu’s wedding day, we had some trouble with the Xu family. We agreed to live separately going forward…”
“Nonsense! I’ll beat you to death if you talk like that!”
Old Uncle Cheng glared, raising his pipe, making Cheng Daming instinctively step back.
Clutching his head, he stammered: “Uncle, I’ll, I’ll—”
Ultimately, Old Uncle Cheng could not part with the remaining tobacco. With a deeply furrowed face, he said: “The Xu family is the Xu family, Baozhu is Baozhu. It’s not that Baozhu doesn’t recognize you brothers—it’s you and your wives who are unwilling to accept her.”
He snorted heavily, stood, and crossed his hands behind his back: “Go deliver it. What grudge could there be between siblings? Clear it up.”
Despite his shortsighted attitude and dismissive view of the Xu family, he thought Xu Chuan’s brain was far sharper than these brothers.
Old Uncle Cheng left, leaving the Cheng brothers feeling stifled and annoyed.
“Why are you standing there? Pack it up and deliver it!”
Cheng Sanming pouted, as if it were time to disdain them again.
Chengjia Village wasn’t far from Laokeng Village. On foot, it took only half an hour.
Marriages between the two villages were common, and two people randomly mentioned could always tie in some distant kinship.
On the main road between the villages, two men walked carrying two bags of goods.
Cheng Erming felt the weight on his shoulders, and a sense of frustration grew.
His bag contained not just white rice but several jin of glutinous rice. This year, the Cheng village had a plentiful glutinous rice harvest, and they naturally received extra. Usually, people used it to make rice cakes, sliced and dried for New Year.
Their family usually did the same, but now everyone had money and wanted to save glutinous rice for brewing liquor. Yet they still had to give a few jin to Baozhu. If only they had steamed it yesterday to make rice cakes.
Cheng Sanming carried sweet potatoes, not too many since they weren’t scarce.
They set off before sunrise, and upon entering Laokeng Village, saw many workers carrying tools to the fields.
This was Cheng Sanming’s cunning—he knew their family reputation was poor, so he needed to seize the opportunity to restore it.
Grain shouldn’t go to waste, after all.
Reputation mattered immensely in the countryside; a family with a bad reputation would struggle with future marriage arrangements.
“Cheng family, what’s up today?”
Someone asked from the field.
Cheng Sanming beamed: “Delivering grain to Baozhu. Our village distributed autumn grain yesterday.”
“Oh, remarkable. Your Cheng family is the first this year to deliver grain to a daughter getting married.”
Cheng Sanming had no reply, afraid of offending.
He quickened his pace and deliberately paused by the Xu family’s old house, making some noise.
No one came, except a child—the eldest grandson of the Xu family.
“Remember me?” Cheng Sanming teased while walking, “I’m practically your maternal uncle-in-law.”
In local terms, Hutou and Cheng Sanming’s relationship allowed him to call him uncle, reflecting the connection to Xu Chuan’s future children.
Hutou, however, was not pleased; he only had seven aunts, no uncles.
He carried the chive pockets his grandmother made in the morning, meant for his uncle and aunt.
Jiang Yulan had remembered Baozhu’s craving for these a few days ago and made them, hoping to make amends for not persuading her youngest son to work.
She felt ashamed—Baozhu had money, whether or not she worked, she’d be fine. But Xu Chuan had nothing. Could he rely on his eldest sister forever? If she couldn’t support him, should his wife take over?
She felt utterly humiliated.
Unable to persuade her youngest son, Jiang Yulan used the chive pockets to ask for Baozhu’s understanding. She instructed the eldest grandson to deliver them before leaving for work.
Hutou hugged the pockets tightly, his small eyes alert, as if afraid the two Cheng brothers would snatch them.
Cheng Erming and Cheng Sanming: …
Who would steal from a child?
Hutou said stiffly: “Yes, the aunt isn’t big enough.”
He meant that they might take Baozhu’s things.
A few chive pockets weren’t worth stealing.
Hutou puffed out his chest: “Grandma fried them in lard, they smell so good!”
With that, he ignored the Cheng brothers and ran ahead.
The Cheng brothers were confused; were they really so unwelcome?
The village’s outskirts were remote, and during workdays, even fewer people were around. A shaft of sunlight broke through the clouds, warming the land and reassuring the workers.
By the time the Cheng brothers arrived, Hutou was at the door, the gate still tightly closed.
Cheng Erming froze, pointing at the door: “No… it’s still closed. They can’t get up yet, right?”
Cheng Sanming smiled, thinking it impossible, but at that moment, footsteps sounded from inside.
“Creak—”
The gate opened, revealing a half-awake Xu Chuan, his hair messy.
His eyes hadn’t fully opened. He leaned against the door, yawning. His eldest nephew approached to greet him, but the two brothers nearly jumped in fright.
“Whoa!” They stepped back, stumbling.
Xu Chuan composed himself: “Brother, what are you doing here?”
Cheng Sanming kicked the bag at his feet, wearing a face of surprise: “Delivering grain. I was afraid if you earned points, my sister would starve.”
Xu Chuan: …
Had the Cheng uncles changed?
“No,” Xu Chuan asked, puzzled, “why bring grain? There’s no famine, no disaster.”
Cheng Erming, quick-tempered, scolded: “Take it, big man, stop dawdling like a girl.” They didn’t want to deliver it, but refusing outright would get Old Uncle Cheng nagging.
Xu Chuan didn’t resist and accepted it obediently.
The Cheng brothers weren’t so generous; Xu Chuan guessed the grain had been left by Baozhu’s poor parents.
Baozhu’s parents had only been away half a year, still working in the commune. They were capable, so the points they left behind were likely substantial.
“Come in, sit down, Baozhu isn’t up yet.” Xu Chuan opened the door.
The brothers wondered where to sit—this small house had only one room, and Baozhu was still sleeping.
Xu Chuan was smooth-tongued. Just as the brothers waved to leave, Cheng Baozhu peeked out.
She had heard the noise and, initially wanting to nap, suddenly remembered the gold bars left at her family’s home. She sat up quickly, realizing she needed to retrieve them.
“Good morning, Second Brother, Third Brother,” she greeted naturally, with no hint of nervousness.
If her original parents were alive, she’d be just as comfortable with them.
Because her personality and demeanor mirrored that of the original owner, she reflected on past events and found them increasingly astonishing.
The original owner had been like a twin sister.
Cheng Baozhu, thinking of the gold bars, smiled warmly: “Come in, Second Brother, Third Brother.”
Cheng Erming and Cheng Sanming: …
They both felt a chill down their spines.