latelenovela Chapter 6 A Trip to the County
Chapter 6 A Trip to the County
Yufei was still a little disappointed by what Granny Chun said, but hearing Granny Chun's explanation, she figured she might have to wait for the space to upgrade.
Yufei silently climbed to the doorway and looked at the data on the door.
Level: lv0 (40% progress)
Personal skills: Brewing (Beginner), Etiquette (Beginner)
Space species: 8
Yufei was filled with anticipation for Aunt Xia Chan. Yufei was a foodie, and hearing what Granny Chun said, Xia Chan's cooking skills must be amazing.
My personal skills are already sufficient; I only need 12 more species to upgrade my space to the next level. I just wonder if Aunt Xia Chan will be coming. If she is, then I'll be in for a treat! It would be even better if I could teach her cooking like Granny Chun did; she loves to eat and loves to cook for others.
Yufei stood by the stove, chuckling to herself.
Granny Chun had already prepared the meal. She tapped Yufei's forehead and told her it was time to eat.
Yufei and Granny Chun quickly cleaned the kitchen together, then carried the food to the inner room.
Today I made braised crucian carp, smashed cucumber, and pickled white radish.
They used the chili peppers that Yufei used to relieve stress, but there were still quite a few left. Yufei had a plan: when her grandma wasn't looking, she would mix them into the chili peppers she was making when she was chopping chili peppers. ╭(╯e╰)╮
Mmm! This fish is really delicious! Yufei quickly moved her chopsticks around, thinking...
Just as Yufei reached for the braised crucian carp with her chopsticks again, a pair of chopsticks stopped her.
Granny Chun said sternly, "Miss, according to table manners, you shouldn't touch a dish more than three times. We don't eat much, but you still shouldn't keep picking at the same dish. It makes it seem like you haven't eaten anything, which is very ill-mannered."
Liu Yufei stuck out her tongue, winked playfully at Granny Chun, and repeatedly said she understood, but Granny Chun's cooking was too delicious to resist.
Granny Chun sighed helplessly.
"You can eat, but you can't just stare at that plate like you're about to fall in."
"Is that so?" Liu Yufei picked up a small piece of fish and put it in her rice, then gently put it in her mouth, ate a small bite of rice, and then picked up other dishes, not repeatedly picking up the same dish.
Granny Chun nodded, indicating that serving chopsticks should be used when dining out.
Liu Yufei's shoulders slumped, giving her a somewhat resigned look.
"Granny, it's too formal for family to eat like this at home. Sometimes being too polite can be a burden!"
"Could I refrain from these etiquette rules at home? I'll be more mindful of them when I'm out."
Yufei pouted and said that doing this at home would be too formal, and the cook might think the food wasn't good, which would make her sad.
Granny Chun suggested that the two of them should pay attention to this when eating in the space, because practical experience is the best way to deepen their understanding and make Yufei remember it. Just having theoretical knowledge won't make her perform smoothly at a banquet; it will feel stiff and awkward.
Once Yufei has formed a habit, she won't remind her anymore. At that time, she can let herself be with her family whenever she wants, and Granny Chun promises not to interfere again.
Yufei's shoulders slumped, and the food she had just eaten didn't seem so delicious anymore.
Four hours outside, four days inside. When Liu Yufei's grandmother returned, she saw Liu Yufei lying on the bed looking like a mushy eggplant.
She couldn't help but reflect on whether she had come home a little late today.
"Darling, have you been waiting long? Look what Grandma brought you!" Grandma Yufei waved the pork in her hand.
"I made my daughter's favorite dish, stir-fried pork with chili peppers, today. Is she happy?"
Hearing her grandmother's words, Liu Yufei's eyes lit up, and she uttered a soft "Oh!"
In this day and age, being able to eat pork is no easy feat, and Yufei even considered buying piglets from a pig farmer to raise herself.
But firstly, I don't have the money; secondly, I don't have the connections; and thirdly, she's still young. Even if I did have the connections, no one would sell to her T^T
Grandma Yufei's Hunan-style stir-fried pork with chili peppers is another masterpiece; Yufei absolutely loves it. Making this stir-fried pork today is a small consolation for her heart, which has been through so much these past few days. ⊙﹏⊙
After Grandma Yufei finished cooking, Grandpa Yufei came home. He pinched Yufei's little cheek and then ate with her.
"Hey~ old man, am I seeing things? I feel like Yufei is a little different," Yufei's attentive grandmother said, turning her head towards Yufei's grandfather.
"You old woman, you're just making a fuss. There's nothing different. My granddaughter is still as adorable as ever," Grandpa Yufei said, looking at Yufei after hearing what Grandma Yufei had said.
"By the way, the station is sending me on a business trip to the county tomorrow. I'll be back in three days," Yufei's grandparents informed them.
Upon hearing this, Yufei exclaimed, "Yay...Can Yufei come along to the county for sightseeing too?"
Yufei looked at the old man nervously, because her grandfather had gone to work, and the hope of him agreeing was very slim, but she still asked, unwilling to give up.
Grandpa Yufei thought for a while, then nodded in agreement. Upon receiving her grandfather's confirmation, Yufei jumped up with a "Yay!" and flew around the dining table.
Grandma laughed and scolded, "You little ungrateful brat! I gave her pork and she wasn't this happy. Hurry up and eat!"
"Grandma, Grandma, the meat is flying with joy too, hehe!" Yufei quickly picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and smiled sweetly at her grandma.
And so they finalized their itinerary to go to the county town tomorrow.
That evening, after her grandparents had fallen asleep, Yufei came to the space to prepare for her trip to the county town the next day.
She went to the storeroom and checked her inventory. The grain was definitely not something she could sell; she'd see if she could buy or sell the rest tomorrow.
The next day
Yufei's grandparents and she took a bus from the station to the guesthouse arranged by her work unit in Longyang County.
Grandpa then went to work, while Grandma and Yufei went to the market. People from the countryside usually go to the market first to sell some agricultural products, and then buy some things they need to take back home.
After arriving at the market, Grandma found a spot, spread the cloth she had prepared on the ground, put the contents of her basket on the ground, and prepared to start selling vegetables.
"Oh no! That old man is so irresponsible! How come these parts are still here with me?" Grandma Yufei took a package out of the basket, looked at it, and then put it back in.
After packing everything up, I prepared to take Yufei to find her old man, but this dish might have to go to waste.
Grandma Yufei sighed. No one would buy vegetables that aren't fresh, so there's no point in wasting time.
Yufei looked around and saw a familiar figure—it was Chunhua's grandmother's youngest daughter-in-law.
A while ago, Grandma Chunhua and Grandma Yufei were chatting when Grandma Chunhua mentioned that her youngest son and daughter are now selling aquatic products at the largest farmers' market in Longyang County.
Liu Yufei had noticed this information that day and planned to put her plan into action after arriving in the county town.
She put Grandpa's bag of parts into Grandma's basket to distract Grandma Yufei, an act that, of course, drew reprimands from Granny Chun.
But she's too young, so this was the only option left.
Yufei tugged at her grandmother's sleeve and said, "Grandma, isn't that Aunt Xiaohua? It's such a waste to bring your vegetables out and not sell them. I can stay with Aunt Xiaohua, and you can leave your vegetables there too, Grandma, and I'll watch them for you."
Yufei looked at her grandma with her big eyes.