Free Web NovelChapter 43: Chapter 43: Thoughts in the Kitchen
The Sun Family’s kitchen was about the same size as the Zhou family’s, as the houses in this area all had a similar layout. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Gu’er looked around. Although the Sun Family’s kitchen was the same size as her own, the inside was very different.
The Sun Family’s kitchen was much better stocked than hers. They had rice and flour, vegetables, and even eggs.
There was no meat. For one, you needed meat ration tickets to buy it these days. For another, you had to go all the way to the city, which was too far. And in this hot weather, the meat wouldn’t keep. That’s why the Sun Family had none.
"I was planning to scramble an egg for Grandma tonight. We also have two fish from the river behind the mountain, and this is brine-cured tofu that Aunt Hua’s family made themselves. Besides that, Sister Gu’er, see if there’s anything else you’d like to eat."
Sun Jiaming pointed to the ingredients, asking for Gu’er’s opinion.
"This is more than enough. We won’t be able to finish it all."
Gu’er thought it was already a lavish meal. Since her rebirth, she hadn’t had fish, meat, or even eggs. She’d rarely even eaten white flour or white rice.
"Then how about we steam some rice, cook the fish, fry an egg, and have some tofu with dipping sauce?"
Sun Jiaming asked Gu’er. Those were all the dishes he could think of.
"Brother Jia Ming, how about we skip the steamed rice? And let’s not have the tofu with sauce. We could stew the fish with the tofu instead and stick some cornmeal cakes to the side of the pot. They’d be delicious soaked in the fish broth. As for the eggs, let’s make a steamed egg custard for Grandma. It’s easier to digest than scrambled eggs. What do you think, Brother Jia Ming?"
Gu’er offered her own suggestions.
"I’m not good at making steamed egg custard. I always overcook it, or it doesn’t cook through. And I don’t know how to stick the cakes to the pot either."
Sun Jiaming said, his face flushing slightly. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to do it; his cooking skills were just average.
"That’s okay. I know how. I’ll do it."
Gu’er washed her hands and rolled up her sleeves.
"Then I’ll help by tending the fire."
Sun Jiaming didn’t stand on ceremony with Gu’er any longer.
Gu’er pan-fried the fish in oil. Sun Jiaming had told her to use as much as she wanted, so she wasn’t as frugal with it as she would have been at home.
Once the fish was golden brown, she added scallion segments, chili pieces, wild Sichuan peppercorns, and star anise. Then she added salt and water.
After putting the lid on the pot, she started preparing the cornmeal dough.
When the pot came to a boil, Gu’er added the tofu. She had cut it into large chunks so it wouldn’t fall apart while simmering. There was a saying in these parts: "Tofu can be boiled a thousand times, and fish ten thousand." It just meant that the longer you stewed these two ingredients, the better they tasted.
She stuck the cornmeal cakes to the upper inside wall of the pot. By the time the fish was nearly done, the cakes would be cooked through.
Meanwhile, Gu’er whisked the eggs with some water, adding a pinch of salt and a drop of sesame oil.
Sun Jiaming added a piece of firewood to the stove, then secretly snuck a glance at Gu’er.
Gu’er hadn’t spoken since she started cooking. She was focused, fast, and deft. She worked very cleanly, and you could tell she cooked often.
’It would be wonderful to marry a wife as capable and kind as Gu’er someday.’
’Someone who wouldn’t mind taking care of the elderly, who is competent... If I had a wife like that, I would definitely treat her well. I’d be good to her for my whole life.’
’Gu’er is pretty and so kind. Whoever marries her will be a lucky man. If only...’
Reflected in the firelight, Sun Jiaming’s face began to redden.
When he realized what he was thinking, he silently cursed himself.
’What am I thinking? Gu’er is a good girl. She’s just trying to show her gratitude to me. How could I be thinking about all that other stuff? It’s completely out of line.’
’Besides, as wonderful as Gu’er is, it’s impossible between us.’
’Putting the Zhou family aside, with a character like Zhou Mazi, I wouldn’t want relatives like that. And on top of that, my mother would never agree to let me marry Gu’er.’
’If the wife I marry doesn’t get along with my mother, our family will never know peace.’
’I once said I would marry a wife my mother approved of, someone who would be good to her, not like my sister-in-law. If I marry someone my mother dislikes, how is that being good to her?’
’Sigh... No matter how wonderful Gu’er is, with a family like hers, we’re just not right for each other.’
Sun Jiaming’s expression darkened. At that moment, he had no idea that Gu’er had already found a place in his heart.
"It’s starting to smell delicious."
Sun Jiaming caught the fragrant aroma of the fish.
"Yes. The fish from our own river here is bound to be good."
Gu’er smiled. This fish was wild-caught, not like the farmed fish of later years. It should taste excellent.
After that, they both fell silent again, waiting quietly.
When Gu’er estimated enough time had passed, she lifted the lid. A blast of steam rushed out, making it hard to open one’s eyes.
Gu’er fanned the air lightly with her hand, hoping the steam in front of her would quickly dissipate.
Sun Jiaming watched her.
Because of the hot weather and being so close to the stove, the steam made beads of sweat appear on Gu’er’s forehead and the tip of her nose.
Involuntarily, Sun Jiaming started to raise his hand. He wanted to wipe the sweat from her face.
His hand froze midway. ’What am I thinking? Gu’er is a young, unmarried woman! How could I wipe her sweat? If anyone saw, her reputation would be ruined.’
Sun Jiaming was annoyed with himself, feeling he had been too forward. Afraid Gu’er might guess his thoughts, he quickly said, "Let me get the cakes."
And just like that, the hand he had intended to use to wipe her sweat changed course and reached toward the pot.
Gu’er didn’t think much of it, completely unaware of what was going through Sun Jiaming’s mind. Seeing his hand reach into the pot for the cakes, she cried out, "Don’t!"
Sun Jiaming’s hand froze in place, not understanding why she had stopped him.
"It’s too hot. Let me get them, Brother Jia Ming. Don’t burn yourself."
Gu’er explained, then used a spatula and chopsticks to remove the cakes from the pot.
The cakes were stuck to the side of the pot. One side was golden and crispy, while the other had formed a firm crust. It would be easy to get burned trying to grab them by hand.
Understanding what Gu’er meant, Sun Jiaming awkwardly retracted his hand, a look of discomfort on his face. But since Gu’er was busy with the cakes, she didn’t notice.
Once the cakes were in the basket, Gu’er placed a steamer rack over the pot and put the bowl of eggs inside.
"Brother Jia Ming, for this steamed egg custard, if you start from cold water, ten minutes is perfect. It comes out smooth, tender, and delicious. Since the pot is already boiling, six or seven minutes will be enough. Any longer and it will get overcooked. Next time you make it for Grandma, you have to keep track of the time."
Gu’er instructed Sun Jiaming.
"Okay, I’ll remember that. I used to steam it for about twenty minutes. No wonder it was always overcooked."
Sun Jiaming nodded, committing it to memory.
When the food was served on the *kang* table, Grandma Sun nodded in satisfaction. One look at the dishes and she knew Gu’er had made them. Her own grandson couldn’t cook this well.
"Gu’er, dear, why don’t you and Jia Ming eat outside? Just set aside a little for me. My room has a smell... I’m afraid..."
Grandma Sun was afraid Gu’er would be put off.
"What smell? I don’t smell anything. Are you teasing me, Grandma? Is it because you don’t want me to eat here?"
Gu’er sniffed the air playfully, insisting she couldn’t smell a thing.
She knew that sick people were often afraid of being a burden or disgusting others, but she truly didn’t mind.
"Good girl. How could Grandma not want you to eat here? I’m happy to have you. Come, sit next to me."
Grandma Sun was very touched, realizing that Gu’er genuinely wasn’t put off by her. She took Gu’er’s hand and had her sit by her side.
