In her previous life, one of Jinxiu’s roommates had been from Yunnan. She once ate some wild mushrooms her family had mailed to her, ended up hallucinating from mushroom poisoning, and spent several days in the hospital.
After she recovered, all she lamented was that she hadn’t gotten to enjoy the mushrooms properly.
She didn’t blame the mushrooms at all.
Instead, she blamed herself.
“Next time, I’ll still eat them!”
It was absolutely ridiculous.
Were they really that delicious?
Well…
The proof was in the tasting.
She’d cook them herself and find out.
Old Madam Tian nodded.
“All right. Dinner’s yours tonight.”
“Okay! It’s about time anyway. I’ll start preparing now.”
Jinxiu rubbed her hands together, accepted the pork from Old Madam Tian, and headed toward the kitchen.
Xie Xiaoyu and Xie Jinnan followed her inside.
“We’re having meat tonight! Sister-in-law, I want to help too!”
“Of course. Xiaoyu, take these outside and wash them.”
Jinxiu deftly trimmed the roots off the pine mushrooms and handed them, along with the morels and shepherd’s purse, to Xiaoyu to wash in the front yard.
Xie Jinnan wasn’t idle either.
He picked up two wild yams and began peeling them.
Jinxiu took a dishcloth from the wooden cupboard and handed it to him with a smile.
“Be careful—they can make your hands itchy. Wrap them with this while peeling.”
The corners of Xie Jinnan’s lips lifted.
“All right.”
Then he went to one side and continued peeling the yams.
Jinxiu opened the rice jar, scooped out two bamboo cups of brown rice, rinsed it once, added water, and placed the pot over one of the stove openings to cook.
A short while later, Xie Eryong came in.
“Sister-in-law, I’ll tend the fire.”
Jinxiu hesitated.
“Is your hand really okay?”
“I’ll do it.”
Xie Jinnan placed the peeled yams onto the chopping board and told Eryong to gather some scallions and garlic from behind the house instead.
“Brother, it’s just my left hand that’s injured. My other hand still works. I can manage the fire.”
He hated sitting around doing nothing.
Unfortunately…
Jinnan ignored him completely.
He sat down on the little stool by the stove, his gaze unconsciously following Jinxiu as she bustled around the kitchen.
The corners of his mouth curved upward without him realizing it.
Eryong rubbed his nose.
Getting the message, he wisely went to the backyard to pick scallions.
Jinxiu cut the yams into diagonal chunks, added two slices of ginger along with the morels, and placed everything into a clay pot to simmer.
Originally, she had planned to mince the pork belly and cook it together in the soup.
But there were too many mouths to feed.
Instead, she decided to make an extra stir-fried pork belly dish.
The stove had three burners.
The rice steamed on the left.
The soup simmered in the middle.
The large iron wok on the right was perfect for stir-frying.
She rinsed the wok with water.
Once the moisture evaporated over the fire, she tossed in the sliced pork belly.
The meat sizzled loudly.
She slowly rendered out the excess fat before frying it until both sides turned beautifully golden and crisp.
It was only one simple step…
Yet it released the rich aroma of the pork completely.
Xiaoyu’s eyes kept darting back and forth.
One moment she stared at the fragrant yam and mushroom soup bubbling away.
The next, she gazed longingly at the sizzling pork belly.
A thin string of drool escaped the corner of her mouth before she even noticed.
Jinxiu couldn’t help laughing.
The embarrassed little girl hurriedly wiped it away with her sleeve.
“Sister-in-law… my drool just won’t listen to me.”
She was the youngest in the family.
Of course everyone spoiled her.
Jinxiu picked up a crispy slice of pork belly, blew on it until it cooled slightly, then held it to Xiaoyu’s mouth.
“Open wide. Have a taste.”
“Thank you, Sister-in-law.”
As greedy as she was for the food, Xiaoyu still remembered her manners.
She thanked her first before popping the meat into her mouth.
Her eyes immediately narrowed into happy crescents.
“It’s delicious!”
Jinxiu smiled.
“It isn’t even finished yet. Once I add the scallions and garlic, it’ll taste even better.”
Guaranteed to make any child drool.
Xie Jinnan looked at Xiaoyu’s expression of complete satisfaction.
Then he silently looked toward Jinxiu.
The meaning in his eyes couldn’t have been more obvious.
Jinxiu burst into laughter.
She picked up another slice and held it toward him.
“Here. You try it too.”
Jinnan obediently opened his mouth.
There wasn’t even any salt in it yet.
But it was wonderfully crispy and fragrant.
“…Mm. It’s delicious.”
Eryong had no desire to remain in the kitchen watching the newlyweds feed each other.
Unfortunately…
The smell lured him back inside.
The moment he stepped through the door, Old Madam Tian chased him right back out.
“Go, go, go! All of you out! I only need one person tending the fire. You’ll get plenty to eat soon enough.”
If everyone kept sneaking bites…
There wouldn’t be anything left for dinner.
Jinxiu tossed a few slices of garlic into the wok, followed by a generous handful of chopped scallions.
The aroma instantly became even richer.
Old Madam Tian looked genuinely surprised.
It seemed the girl hadn’t been exaggerating.
She truly knew how to cook.
“Grandma, two more dishes and we’re ready to eat.”
Jinxiu plated the pork belly.
Using the rendered pork fat left in the wok, she added the torn pine mushrooms and stir-fried them quickly over high heat.
She had to admit—
Jinnan was excellent at managing the stove.
He adjusted the fire exactly as she instructed.
At least…
Jinxiu herself couldn’t have done it.
In her previous life she’d only cooked on gas stoves or induction cookers.
She’d never used a traditional wood-fired stove before.
She’d have to learn when she had the chance.
After finishing the pine mushrooms, she stir-fried the wild shepherd’s purse as well.
“Dinner’s ready!”
Jinxiu called toward the front of the house.
The family ate together in the main hall.
A square wooden table surrounded by four long benches.
Eryong wiped down the table.
Xiaoyu arranged the bowls and chopsticks.
Jinnan served the soup.
Jinxiu and Old Madam Tian carried the dishes out.
Just as the food was placed on the table, Old Master Xie and Xie Changsheng walked in one after another.
“My goodness!”
Old Master Xie exclaimed.
“I could smell the food all the way from the backyard.”
Changsheng nodded with a smile.
“Even with Xiuhong’s door closed, I could smell it. Jinxiu’s cooking is incredible. We’re in for a treat tonight.”
On the table sat:
Stir-fried pork belly.
Pine mushrooms with pork.
Stir-fried shepherd’s purse.
And a steaming pot of soup.
Three dishes and one soup.
For a farming family, it was an exceptionally generous meal.
Jinxiu served bowls of soup first to Old Master Xie, Old Madam Tian, and Xie Changsheng.
“Father, Grandpa, Grandma, this yam and mushroom soup is wonderfully fresh. Please have a taste.”
“You’ve worked hard tonight, Jinxiu.”
Old Madam Tian hurriedly stopped her.
“Let the younger ones serve themselves.”
“We’ll do it ourselves.”
Eryong quickly picked up a bowl.
Instead of serving himself, however, he enthusiastically ladled soup for Jinxiu first.
“Sister-in-law, sit down. I’ll serve you.”
“Thank you, Eryong.”
Jinxiu accepted the bowl and sat down.
Someone had beaten him to it.
Jinnan cast Eryong a cool glance.
Eryong silently lowered his head, pretending to drink his soup.
Then he suddenly looked up.
“It’s so good!”
Hearing that, everyone lifted their bowls and took a sip.
The rich, savory flavor immediately won unanimous praise.
Old Madam Tian’s eyes lit up.
“We’ve always just stir-fried these mushrooms before. I never imagined they’d make such wonderful soup with yams.”
Xie Changsheng picked up a piece of yam.
“Mm. The yam is perfectly soft, and the mushrooms add such wonderful flavor. This will be perfect for Xiuhong.”
Jinxiu took another sip herself.
The morels were silky and tender, infused with the sweetness of the yam.
One bowl of this rich, fragrant soup…
Was enough to make your eyebrows fall off from deliciousness.
One word.
Amazing.
I used to question my roommate…
Now I understand my roommate.
Old Master Xie chewed a piece of crispy pork belly with immense satisfaction, his wrinkled eyes narrowing happily.
He couldn’t help remembering the days before the Xie family had fallen on hard times.
They hadn’t eaten meat every day.
But they could enjoy it every few days.
There had even been white rice.
Sigh…
Those prosperous days were gone.
Feeling bittersweet, he quietly reached over and picked up two more pieces of pork.
Old Madam Tian was so annoyed she put down her chopsticks and secretly pinched the flesh on his arm.
How could this old man be so greedy?
Fortunately, no one else noticed.
Everyone’s attention was entirely captured by the delicious food.
There were many people in the family.
The portions weren’t especially large.
Every single person finished the meal wanting more.
Jinxiu had already set aside Li Xiuhong’s portion before everyone began eating.
Worried that his wife must be hungry, Xie Changsheng was the first to put down his bowl and carry her meal back to their room.
After dinner…
After the dishes had been washed…
The sun still hadn’t set.
The sky remained bright.