latelenovela Chapter 111 Fish Nuggets
Chapter 111 Fish Nuggets
The next day, as soon as a glimmer of dawn appeared in the sky, Li Xiaoxiao crawled out of the warm bed.
She wore a thick cotton-padded coat and walked briskly into the kitchen. In the kitchen, her mother, Mrs. Bai, was already busy at work, and the curling smoke from the cooking stove added a bit of liveliness to this cold winter morning.
"Mom, are you busy so early?" Li Xiaoxiao greeted as she walked over to Bai, who was busy tending to several large fish she had caught from the river yesterday. The fish were large and plump, their scales gleaming silver in the sunlight, making them particularly attractive.
Mrs. Bai looked up and smiled, not stopping the knife in her hand. "Yes, didn't you say yesterday that you wanted to eat fried fish nuggets? I've never eaten it before, so I didn't know how to make it. I thought I'd prepare the fish first, and then I can start cooking when you get up."
Li Xiaoxiao felt a surge of warmth at the words. She recalled how her home was always bustling with activity during festivals, with relatives gathering to share delicious food and chat. Fried fish fillets were a traditional delicacy that was always a must-try.
She washed her hands, picked up a nearby kitchen knife, and began to help chop the fish. Bai's technique was expert, and she quickly cleaned the large fish. Li Xiaoxiao carefully chopped the fish into evenly sized pieces.
"Xiaoxiao, be careful when chopping. Don't cut your hands." Mrs. Bai reminded him while busy.
Li Xiaoxiao smiled and agreed: "Don't worry, Mom, I will be careful."
The two chatted about family matters while working. The kitchen was filled with laughter and joy, as if the air was filled with the smell of happiness.
After a while, the fish pieces were chopped. Li Xiaoxiao put them in a large basin, rinsed them with clean water, and then drained the water. Then he began to prepare the seasoning and batter for frying the fish pieces. Bai Shi also followed and learned.
"Xiaoxiao, how do you make this batter?" Bai asked curiously, looking at the batter in Li Xiaoxiao's hand.
Li Xiaoxiao smiled and patiently explained, "This batter needs to be prepared carefully. It shouldn't be too thick or too thin. First, mix the flour and egg liquid in the right proportions. Then, slowly add water, stirring as you go, until the batter becomes just the right thickness to coat the fish."
Mrs. Bai listened attentively and nodded. She watched Li Xiaoxiao's deft movements, feeling a surge of relief and pride. Ever since her daughter recovered from her illness, she'd become adept at everything she cooked, as if she were born with a talent for cooking.
After the batter was prepared, Li Xiaoxiao began to coat the fish pieces one by one in the batter and then put them into the already heated oil pan. With the sound of "sizzling", the fish pieces rolled in the pan and gradually became golden and crispy.
Li Xiaoxiao stood aside, looking at the fish in the pot, her heart full of anticipation. She knew that once these fried fish pieces came out of the pot, they would become a hot commodity on the table.
"Mom, please help me keep an eye on the heat so that the fish don't get burnt." Li Xiaoxiao said to Bai while frying the fish.
Bai responded quickly, staring at the fish in the pot without blinking.
Li Xiaoxiao used chopsticks to flip the fish from time to time to ensure that each side was evenly heated. As the fish gradually became golden and crispy, an enticing aroma filled the kitchen.
"Wow, it smells so good, Mom, sister, what are you doing?" Li Linlin ran in from outside and asked curiously. Li Fang, who was following behind, sniffed hard.
"Sister is making fried fish nuggets. You can try them later to see if they are delicious."
Li Xiaoxiao fished out the fried fish and placed it in a bamboo basket to drain the oil. The golden fish exuded an enticing aroma, making people salivate.
Li Linlin couldn't wait to pick up a piece and put it in her mouth. After taking a bite, she exclaimed, "Wow, so crispy and fragrant! Sister, you made it so delicious!"
Li Fang also nodded repeatedly, his mouth full.
Li Xiaoxiao couldn't wait to pick up a piece and taste it. His mouth was immediately filled with fragrance, crispy and delicious, just like the fried fish nuggets he had eaten in his previous life.
Bai looked at the children's satisfied expressions and a happy smile appeared on her face. She also picked up a small piece and put it in her mouth to taste it.
"Xiaoxiao, this piece of fish is so delicious. This is the first time I've eaten this kind of fish." Mrs. Bai praised it highly.
The whole family sat together, enjoying delicious fried fish nuggets, and a warm atmosphere filled the whole house.
"Mom, let's send some to grandma and the others later, so they can also taste my cooking skills." Li Xiaoxiao said to Bai.
Bai smiled and nodded: "Well, we'll go there after lunch."
After lunch, Li Xiaoxiao packed two bags of fried fish nuggets into the basket, and took Li Fang, Li Linlin and Bai to her grandmother's house.
When we arrived at grandma's house, she was basking in the sun in the yard.
"Grandma, we're here to see you and brought you some fried fish." Li Xiaoxiao walked into the yard and said to her grandmother.
When grandma saw them coming, she stood up happily and said, "Oh, you are here and brought so many things. It's really thoughtful of you."
Li Xiaoxiao handed the fried fish nuggets to her grandmother, "Grandma, this is the fried fish nuggets I just made, please try it."
Wang took the fried fish and took a bite. "Hmm, really good. Xiaoxiao's cooking skills are getting better and better. This is the first time grandma knows that fish can be eaten like this."
"Grandma, why don't I tell this method to my aunt and ask her to make some to eat during the New Year? Didn't my cousin Qiwen and his family bring back some fish yesterday? It's a perfect time to cook it." Li Xiaoxiao asked Wang.
"That's a great feeling. Your aunt will definitely like it." Wang said with a smile.
Li Xiaoxiao took Li Fang and Li Linlin and followed Wang and Bai into the house, and explained the method of frying fish nuggets in detail to her aunt Xiuqin.
After hearing this, the aunt-in-law kept praising Li Xiaoxiao for her cleverness and said she would teach her how to cook other dishes.
Everyone chatted and worked hard. Li Xiaoxiao took the opportunity to deliver the remaining bag of fish to his uncle's house. Since the families lived close together, Li Xiaoxiao returned soon. Soon, night fell and warm lights lit up in the Bai family's yard.
After dinner, Li Xiaoxiao and the Bai family said goodbye to their grandmother's family, carrying their empty baskets and walking home in the moonlight. Along the way, they talked and laughed, sharing the joy of the day.
On the way home, Li Xiaoxiao thought that she must make more delicious food for her family in the future so that they can all feel the taste of happiness.