Chapter 109 Jiang Yuan Returns

Chapter 109 Jiang Yuan Returns

Xie Daoheng didn't stand on ceremony with his daughter. When he saw something that interested him, he asked directly, "These rare items in your house, did you figure them out yourself? Do you have the blueprints?"

Xie Wanniang nodded, "Yes. I'll bring it to you after we finish eating."

She plans to make cucumber salad, stir-fried green beans, eggplant with garlic sauce, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, stir-fried shredded pork with shepherd's purse, stir-fried liver tips, braised pork, stir-fried chicken, chive pancakes, and preserved egg and amaranth soup.

"Oh dear, look at my memory!" Xie Wanniang was secretly lamenting that there was only pork and live chicken at home when Xie Bao suddenly slapped his forehead.

Before Xie Wanniang could react, he dashed off to the carriage in the backyard.

A short while later, he came over, carrying the load on his shoulders and in his hands, panting heavily.

Seeing his appearance, Xie Daoheng and Xie Wei finally remembered something they had forgotten—they hadn't come empty-handed!

"Sixth Miss, this was specially bought by Master in town. Please keep it and use it slowly."

When Xie Wanniang heard Xie Bao say this, she went out of the kitchen and took a look. She found that her father had not only brought her cloth, snacks, red dates, eggs and other things that were easy to identify at a glance, but also two bags of some kind of grain and a large piece of pork in a basket with only one pig's trotter sticking out.

"These two bags contain rice and wheat flour, and this one contains a pig's hindquarters and some ribs."

As Xie Bao spoke, he picked up the pig's trotter and pulled out the pig's hindquarters.

Xie Wanniang asked in confusion, "Why were pig's trotters bought along with this?"

Pig's trotters are priced differently from other parts of the pig.

Xie Bao explained, "The pig's trotters were a gift."

They bought a lot, and since pig's trotters aren't worth much, the pork vendor gave them one for free.

Xie Bao had personally witnessed the pork vendor weighing the pork and was certain that the vendor had already deducted the weight of the pig's trotters when calculating the price.

Hearing him say that, Xie Wanniang didn't say anything more.

She gestured for Xie Bao to take the meat into the kitchen, saying, "Since we have spare ribs, I'll make some sweet and sour spare ribs too."

Before she could return to the kitchen to continue her work, Xiao Yang's clear and cheerful voice rang out from the courtyard gate, "Sister, I'm back!"

The little girl didn't know how to wrap zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and couldn't help Xie Wanniang, so she simply ran out in the morning to collect common herbs such as mugwort, plantain, and purslane.

She left with Jiang Yuan, and it was Jiang Yuan who brought her back.

The two men each carried a basket on their backs, and Jiang Yuan also carried a few pheasants and rabbits.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, their eyes met those of Xie Daoheng and the other two, who had all turned to look at the door upon hearing the sound.

Xiao Yang paused for a moment, and when she saw Xie Wanniang, the little girl immediately ran to her side, "Sister?"

“This is my father, my cousin Wei, and Uncle Bao.” Xie Wanniang introduced the three strangers present to Jiang Yuan and Xiao Yang one by one.

Upon hearing the words "my father," Jiang Yuan's expression immediately became complicated.

There was the nervousness and trepidation of an ugly son-in-law meeting his future father-in-law for the first time, as well as deep concern for Xie Wanniang's situation and feelings, and a sudden strong sense of unease because he was dressed in coarse clothes and carrying pheasants and rabbits.

He suppressed the surging emotions within him and respectfully bowed to Xie Daoheng and the other two.

"Junior Jiang Yuan greets Uncle Xie, Brother Wei, and Uncle Bao."

Xiao Yang followed suit, bowing and greeting everyone, "Xiao Yang greets Uncle Xie, Brother Wei, and Uncle Bao."

Xie Daoheng, Xie Wei, and Xie Bao quickly sized up Jiang Yuan. Seeing that he had clear eyes, handsome features, and a sturdy build, they were slightly satisfied.

"No need for formalities." Xie Daoheng smiled and waved to the two of them. "Go and put your things down first, and we can talk slowly later."

Jiang Yuan subconsciously looked at Xie Wanniang.

Xie Wanniang smiled and reached out her hand to him, "Give me a rabbit, and I'll add some vegetables to my meal."

Jiang Yuan: "Shall we kill one of the chickens too?"

Xie Wanniang nodded, "Then you'll kill him?"

Jiang Yuan nodded, "Okay, I'll do the killing."

Xie Wanniang originally planned to kill the chicken that Jiang Yuan had brought over yesterday, but now that Jiang Yuan had brought even more, she would let him kill whichever one he wanted.

She said to Xie Daoheng and the other two, "Make yourselves at home, I'll go prepare lunch."

Xiao Yang, who had just put down his basket, immediately said, "I'll help you, sister."

"Okay, you can be my assistant."

The three of them quickly got to work under Xie Daoheng's watchful eyes. Jiang Yuan picked out the fattest rabbit and chicken to start processing. Xiao Yang first went to the vegetable garden in the backyard to help pick vegetables, and then helped with sorting, washing, and cooking. Xie Wanniang was responsible for cutting meat, chopping vegetables, kneading dough, mixing fillings, wrapping dumplings, and cooking.

After Jiang Yuan followed Xie Wanniang's instructions, cut the prepared rabbit and chicken into pieces, blanched them in a pot to remove blood, impurities, and odors, he then automatically went to get firewood and add water to the water tank.

Their teamwork was seamless and perfectly coordinated, clearly demonstrating that they often collaborated and divided tasks like this.

Xiao Yang's special status makes his diligence and hard work understandable, but Jiang Yuan, a man, being so adept at housework is somewhat unexpected for the three of them.

After a brief silence, Xie Wei whispered to Xie Daoheng, "No wonder Sixth Sister said he 'does all kinds of chores inside and outside the house,' even in the kitchen. He really does 'do all kinds of chores.'"

It was only now that he belatedly realized that Xie Wanniang's words were most likely not exaggerated at all, nor did they use any rhetorical devices; they were simply stating objective facts.

Thinking about it this way, Xie Wei suddenly understood Xie Wanniang a little better.

Indeed, a fine young man like Jiang Yuan, even if not unique or one of a kind in the world, is absolutely rare and extremely rare.

After all, even Xie Daoheng, the famous model husband of Xie Family Village, never went into the kitchen.

Even the male servants of the Xie family would never help the women cook when they were at home.

It's no exaggeration to say that this was the first time Xie Wei had ever seen a man chop meat, blanch it, and wash the pot so skillfully. It really broadened his horizons.

What he didn't know was that if they hadn't suddenly arrived, Jiang Yuan had actually planned to help Xie Wanniang wrap zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).

That's why Jiang Yuan brought Xiao Yang home early, even before it was mealtime.

The three of them worked quickly and soon prepared ten fragrant dishes.

After Jiang Yuan brought all ten dishes and a soup to the table, Xie Wanniang asked him to help her get a jar of wine from the storeroom.

"Go and entertain my dad and the others for me. I'll go over after I finish making the boxes."

She had already packed most of the boxes, and it wouldn't take long to finish.

Jiang Yuan nodded. "Okay."

Although he was nervous, he still tried his best to do what Xie Wanniang wanted him to do.