A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1411 Huang Ling: From now on, I'll raise Pengfei as my own son! (Please subscribe!)
When I returned to Textile Lane 3, it was dinnertime, and wisps of smoke were rising from the chimneys of every household. The air was filled with the aroma of coal stoves and cooking oil.

There's also the unique, sweet, homely atmosphere of Suzhou families.

Hua Shier carried the still-throwing grass carp into the alley. The splashes of water from the fish's tail shimmered in the setting sun, immediately attracting the attention of the neighbors.

Aunt Li, who lives at the entrance of the alley and is also Li Yiming's mother, was picking vegetables at the door when she looked up in surprise and said:

"Wow, this fish is huge! It must weigh over ten pounds!"

Wang Yong, who was repairing bicycles in the neighboring yard, also came over:
"Pengfei, where did you get this? This fish is not easy to catch."

"I caught it myself," Hua Shier replied with a smile, without stopping.

"You caught it yourself? You know how to catch fish?" More neighbors gathered around, asking questions all at once.

At this moment, Lin Dongzhe, who was following behind, jumped out and began to tell the story vividly:

"Let me tell you, Pengfei is amazing! Aunt Huang was sick, and the doctor said she needed more nutrition, so Pengfei took us to the Xiaoqing River to catch fish. He jumped in with a 'plop' and caught this big fish in no time!"

The child's voice was clear and loud, carrying far through the alley.

The neighbors, who were initially just curious, all became serious when they heard the words "Aunt Huang is sick".

"Is Huang Ling sick? Is it serious?"

"Yes, she didn't look too well the other day."

"This fish is good for your health."

Those neighbors who had initially intended to say, "It's such a big fish, let's share some," silently swallowed their words. A few even offered to help:

"Pengfei is such a good boy, he knows how to care for his aunt."

"Teacher Zhuang's family is so lucky to have such a filial nephew."

Hua Shier responded politely with a proper smile.

He could feel that the warmth of human connection in the alley was particularly strong at this moment. Although everyone was struggling financially, they knew that the fish was for the patient to nourish their body, and no one asked for any.

This was the neighborhood relationship in the late 1970s: simple, kind, and with a restrained warmth—much better than the traditional courtyard houses.

Jia Zhangshi: You little beast, who are you calling a monster?
Hua Twelve: Old Jia, hurry up and take your wife away!
Jia Zhangshi: These are my words.
Carrying the fish back to the courtyard, Hua Shier threw the fish into the pond.

Once the grass carp entered the water, it regained some energy, its tail slapping up a splash.

"Tu Nan, go get the knife and the cutting board," Hua Shier instructed.

"Yes!" Zhuang Tunan responded readily, turned around and ran into the house. He was now completely convinced by Pengfei and would do whatever he was asked to do.

Zhuang Xiaoting had already moved a small stool and sat by the pool, propping her chin up as she looked at the fish, whispering:
"Oh, fish, I'm so sorry, we need you to nourish our mother. Thank you."

Lin Dongzhe, who was listening nearby, grinned and said, "Xiaoting, what are you talking to the fish about? It doesn't understand."

"What do you know!" Zhuang Xiaoting rolled her eyes at him. "Mom said that all things have a spirit, and we should be grateful."

Hua Shier listened to the two children bickering, a slight smile playing on his lips. He took the knife and cutting board from Zhuang Tunan and squatted down by the pool.

The moment the technique was used, it startled Song Ying and Lin Wufeng, who had come out upon hearing the noise.

Scaling, gill removal, gutting, and washing – Hua Shier's movements were fluid and efficient, without the slightest hesitation.

The knife seemed to come alive in his hand, swimming along the fish's body, scales fluttering like snowflakes, its internal organs cleaned thoroughly.

In just two or three minutes, a large, cleaned fish was placed on the cutting board.

"Pengfei, did you really catch this?" Song Ying asked again, her eyes wide.

"Hmm." Hua Shier responded, her hands still busy, and looked up with a smile, "Aunt Song, do you have any starch? I'd like to make some fish ball soup."

"Yes, yes, yes, I'll get it for you." Song Ying turned and went into the house, muttering, "This child is so capable."

At this moment, Huang Ling also reluctantly got up and came out of the house.

Her face was still a little pale, but much better than before. When she saw the big fish by the pool, she was stunned for a moment: "What is this?"

"Mom, it was Pengfei who caught it!" Zhuang Xiaoting blurted out. "He said he wanted to help you recover!"

Zhuang Tunan added, "Brother Pengfei took us to the Xiaoqing River. He jumped into the water and caught a fish in no time."

Huang Ling's eyes reddened as she listened. Just as she was about to say something, Hua Shier stood up:

"Aunt, please sit down and rest for a while. You'll be fine in a bit."

"Pengfei, you..." Huang Ling's voice choked with emotion, "How could you go fishing? It's so dangerous! If you get hurt, how am I supposed to explain it to your uncle when he comes back?"

"Aunt, I'm a good swimmer, I'll be fine." Hua Shier looked up and smiled, her smile clean and bright. "You go and rest, you'll have some fish soup in a bit."

Lin Wufeng stood aside, watching Hua Shier's skillful techniques, secretly marveling at them.

He was worried that Hua Shier, being a child, wouldn't be able to make fish soup well, so he offered to help:
"Pengfei, why don't you take a break? Uncle will show you what he's got to do."

“No need, Uncle Lin.” Hua Shier’s tone was gentle but firm: “You can just watch from the side. If I do something wrong, please give me some pointers.”

Having said all that, Lin Wufeng couldn't insist any further.

Hua Shier began processing the fish. He first cut the fish body into several sections, leaving two sections to marinate with scallions, ginger, cooking wine, and a little salt for later use. He then began mincing the remaining parts into fish paste.

The knife made a rhythmic 'tap-tap' sound on the cutting board, a crisp and clean sound that soothed the listener.

As the fish meat gradually turned into a smooth paste under the knife, Hua Shier added scallion and ginger water, salt, a little starch and egg white, and then stirred it in one direction.

His movements were slow, but extremely rhythmic. The fish paste gradually became sticky and elastic in the basin, finally trembling as if it had come to life.

Lin Wufeng watched intently. As an engineer, he was particular about procedures and methods. In his eyes, Hua Shier's operation was simply a work of art. Every step was just right, with no superfluous movements or missing links.

"This kid," Lin Wufeng murmured, "is not simple."

Take the prepared ingredients to the shared kitchen of the two families, boil a pot of water, and when the water is about to boil, Hua Shier grabs a handful of fish paste with his left hand, squeezes it between his thumb and forefinger, and a round ball is formed. He then catches it with a small spoon in his right hand and gently puts it into the water.

Each fish ball floats to the surface as soon as it hits the water, its white and tender flesh tumbling in the pot like a flock of playful little white geese.

Once all the fish balls have floated to the surface, Hua Shier uses a slotted spoon to scoop them out and sets them aside for later use.

Next, he put the fish head and bones into the pan and fried them until golden brown on both sides. The oil sizzled in the pan, and the aroma burst out instantly.

Hua Shier added boiling water to the pot, placed a steamer basket on top, put the two pieces of marinated fish into the steamer basket, and then covered the pot with the lid.

Before long, wisps of steam rose, carrying the unique aroma of fish.

Ten minutes later, he opened the pot lid. The broth in the pot had turned thick and white like milk, and the fish in the steamer was cooked through. He had controlled the heat perfectly.

Remove the steamer, arrange the steamed fish on a plate, and sprinkle with chopped green onions.

Add the fish balls back into the soup, season with salt and pepper, and finally add a few drops of sesame oil before serving.

A plate of steamed fish and a pot of fish ball soup, that's it.

The aroma was so rich it almost had a physical form.

The freshness of the fish soup, the sweetness of the steamed fish, the spiciness of the scallions, and the slight spiciness of the pepper powder—all these flavors intertwined, filling the entire courtyard and drifting into the alley on the evening breeze.

"Who's making this? It smells so good!" someone shouted from the other end of the alley.

"It looks like Teacher Zhuang's house? They're making fish soup!"

"This aroma is amazing!"

The three children, Zhuang Tunan, Zhuang Xiaoting, and Lin Dongzhe, were drooling with envy and refused to leave the stove.

Lin Dongzhe stared at the pot of milky white fish soup, swallowed hard, and asked, "Brother Pengfei, when can we eat?"

"It'll be ready soon," Hua Shier said with a smile, and began to ladle out the soup.

Lin Wufeng watched the whole thing from the sidelines, and the shock he felt was beyond words.

Why would he need to give me pointers? I should do it myself tomorrow and have Pengfei give me some pointers.

"Pengfei, who did you learn this skill from?" Lin Wufeng couldn't help but ask again.

"I just figured it out myself after seeing others do it."

Hua Shier spoke casually, his hands still busy, "Aunt Song, let's eat together!"

Lin Dongzhe immediately clapped his hands: "Let's eat fish balls! Let's eat fish balls!"

"Child, stop shouting!"

Song Ying patted her son, then quickly waved to Hua Shier:

"That won't do. There are many people in your family, and Sister Ling also needs to nourish her body. You should keep it for yourselves."

Hua Shier put down the soup spoon and looked at Song Ying intently:

“Aunt Song, this fish is quite big; we can’t finish it in one meal. Besides, you and Uncle Lin have been so good to my aunt, bringing her meat and soup. We can’t keep all the good food to ourselves.”

It's strange, Song Ying and Fan Shengmei look exactly alike, but Hua Shier doesn't like Fan Shengmei at all, while he thinks Song Ying is quite nice.

He paused, then smiled and said, "Aunt Song, please don't refuse. Dongzhe also deserves credit for this."

Song Ying asked curiously, "Dong Zhe also deserves credit?"

"Ah, he was watching my clothes on the shore!" Hua Shier said seriously.

Song Ying and Lin Wufeng both laughed. What kind of achievement is this?
Huang Ling spoke up at this moment: "Song Ying, there's no need for formalities between us."

Having said that, Song Ying no longer declined and nodded with a smile:

"Okay, then I'm welcome."

She turned and went back into the house, sliced ​​a few salted duck eggs, and brought out a plate of fried peanuts. "Let's add two more dishes and eat together."

This dinner was exceptionally lively.

The children ate until their bellies were round, and the adults nodded in approval. Huang Ling drank a bowl of fish soup and ate several fish balls. The milky white soup was delicious and rich, and the fish balls were tender, smooth, and bouncy, melting in her mouth.

As she drank, tears fell into the bowl.

"Sister Ling, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Song Ying asked with concern.

"It's nothing." Huang Ling wiped away her tears, her voice choked with emotion. "It's just that this soup is so delicious, it warms my heart."

She looked up at Hua Shier, who was sitting with Zhuang Tunan. Under the dim light, the boy was serving food to Zhuang Xiaoting, his eyes gentle and his expression focused.

"Pengfei, thank you."

Huang Ling said softly, "But promise your aunt you won't go fishing anymore, it's too dangerous."

Hua Shier nodded: "Yes, I promise you."

But the next afternoon, he took several children to the river again.

I didn't bring back any fish this time, but I did bring back an old turtle.

Turtle soup is the best for replenishing qi and blood, so Hua Shier specially added extra ginger and stewed it for a whole afternoon.

When the soup was ready, it was thick and white like milk, with a fragrant aroma that was even more tempting than yesterday's fish soup.

Huang Ling looked at the pot of turtle soup, then at Hua Shier's sunburned face, and wanted to say something, but in the end she just sighed:
"What did you promise me, child?"

"Aunt, I'm a really good swimmer." Hua Shier sang soup: "Look, I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? Getting you healthy is more important than anything else."

For the next few days, Hua Shier went fishing once a day.

Sometimes it's grass carp, sometimes carp, and occasionally you can catch snakehead.

He kept the larger pieces for his own family, and shared the smaller ones with the neighbors. He would also give the scraps, such as the fish heads and tails, to families in the alley who were in even more difficult circumstances.

The neighbors all said, "That nephew of the Zhuang family is really generous. He caught the fish himself and he still knows to share them with everyone."

"That child is sensible and has good cooking skills. The fish soup he makes smells so good that it can waft through half the alley."

"Master Huang is so lucky to have such a filial nephew."

The children in the alley had previously been convinced by Hua Shier's strength and recognized him as their elder brother. Now that they had all eaten the fish and meat that Hua Shier gave them, they were even more convinced.

Hua Shier's prestige among the children had reached the point where his word was law.

Huang Ling's health improved day by day under the nourishment of the fish soup. Her complexion was no longer so pale, she felt dizzy less often, and she had more energy to work.

As she watched Hua Shier bustling about, the initial estrangement caused by economic pressure had long since vanished.

This child has become a true family member in her heart.

A week later, Zhuang Chaoying returned from Nanjing.

As he walked into the alley carrying his luggage, he sensed something was different. The neighbors greeted him with smiles.
"Teacher Zhuang is back!"

"Teacher Zhuang, your nephew is such a good boy!"

"Teacher Zhuang, how did you raise Pengfei? Could you share your experience with us later?"

Zhuang Chaoying nodded with a smile, but she was completely confused and could only hurry home.

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I saw Huang Ling hanging up clothes. Although her face was still a little pale, she was in much better spirits.

"came back?"

Huang Ling greeted him with a smile and took the luggage from his hands.

Zhuang Chaoying put down his bag and carefully looked at his wife: "You don't look well?"

"It's much better."

Huang Ling pulled him into the house, saying, "You have no idea how much has happened at home while you were gone."

She recounted everything that had happened during this period: how she fainted, what the doctor said, how Song Ying brought her meat, how the children went to their grandparents' house for help but were turned away, and how Hua Shier caught fish to nourish her body.
Zhuang Chaoying's expression grew increasingly complicated as she listened.

When he heard that Huang Ling had fainted, he held her hand with heartache, his face full of guilt.

He was away on a business trip when his wife collapsed from exhaustion, but he was completely unaware of it.

He nodded gratefully when Song Ying brought him meat. The saying "a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative" is absolutely true.

But when he heard the result of the children seeking help from their parents, his expression froze.

"Tu Nan and Xiao Ting," he asked with difficulty, "did they hear it with their own ears?"

"Yes, that's what you're saying to the child."

Huang Ling sighed, "You have no idea how much Xiaoting cried when she told me. Her father said that everyone has their difficulties and that we should figure it out ourselves; her grandmother said that I was just being spoiled and faking illness; and her second uncle and aunt implied that I was trying to take advantage of my in-laws."

Zhuang Chaoying fell silent.

He knew his parents were biased and that his younger brother and sister-in-law were selfish.

Hearing with my own ears how they treated their sick wife and their grandchildren who came to them for help still felt like my heart was being pricked by needles.

Those are his parents, the parents he was taught to be filial and respectful to from a young age.

But how did they treat his wife and children?
"Chaoying," Huang Ling said softly, her voice slightly choked, "As for Mom and Dad... we'll just do our part from now on. As for Pengfei, that child..."

She paused, then grasped Zhuang Chaoying's hand:

“We’ll raise this child as our own son. Didn’t you say that Hualin wants him to register his household back in Suzhou? If your parents don’t agree, then he can register with our family!”

When Zhuang Chaoying heard his wife talk about his parents, he didn't say anything, his face full of guilt.

But when he heard his wife say that Pengfei could register his household in their home, he held his wife's hand and showed a grateful expression.

How could he not know his wife's grievances? How could he not know how good his wife was?
Just then, the sound of children playing came from the courtyard. Hua Shier, Zhuang Tunan, Zhuang Xiaoting, and Lin Dongzhe returned with fish, this time seven or eight, filling a bucket.

Hearing the noise, Zhuang Chaoying stood up and went into the yard.

"Dad, you're back!" Zhuang Xiaoting, with her sharp eyes, was the first to spot him and ran over to hug Zhuang Chaoying.

The children all quickly greeted him.

Hua Shier raised his head, the golden light of the setting sun shining on his face, his eyes bright and clear: "Uncle is back."

Zhuang Chaoying walked over, looked at her nephew, a thousand words stuck in her throat, and finally only one sentence came out:
"Pengfei, thank you for taking care of the family."

Hua Shier smiled, a clean and open smile: "Uncle, we're family, no need for formalities."

Zhuang Chaoying looked at him and suddenly understood why his wife said, "We'll raise him like our own son." It wasn't just about the fish soup to nourish their bodies; it was also about the responsibility of stepping forward in times of difficulty and the warmth of keeping them in her heart as a family.

That evening, the Zhuang and Lin families ate together again.

Zhuang Chaoying tasted her nephew's cooking for the first time and couldn't help but exclaim, "This fish soup is even better than what restaurant chefs make!"

“That’s right.” Song Ying laughed. “Teacher Zhuang, you don’t know how well we’ve been enjoying ourselves these past few days. Pengfei’s cooking skills are truly exceptional.”

Lin Wufeng nodded in agreement:

"The key is that she is sensible; this kind of sentiment is rare."

Zhuang Chaoying listened with mixed feelings, but she was extremely satisfied with her nephew.

He picked up a piece of fish; it was tender and flavorful, truly a testament to his skill. But behind this delicious dish lay the risk of an eleven-year-old child jumping into the river, and a profound expression of filial piety.

After dinner, Zhuang Chaoying lay in bed with her eyes open, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating his wife's peaceful sleeping face.

Huang Ling was indeed exhausted these days and slept soundly, but Zhuang Chaoying's mind was in turmoil.

He knew that his parents' behavior had hurt his wife.

Although Huang Ling didn't say it, Zhuang Chaoying could feel the chill in her heart from the tone she used when she mentioned her parents and from her determination to have Pengfei settle in her family.

He didn't want to see this situation. On one side were his parents who had raised him, and on the other side was his wife with whom he had shared a deep and abiding love. He was caught in the middle, torn between two difficult choices.

Zhuang Chaoying turned over, sighed, and fell into a deep sleep sometime later.

The next day, Zhuang Chaoying still went to his parents' house. When he went, he brought back pastries from Nanjing and a carp that Hua Shier had caught, weighing more than three pounds and still very lively.

In the Zhuang family's old house, Grandpa Zhuang was listening to the radio, and Grandma Zhuang was mending clothes. When they saw their eldest son return, they both smiled.

"Chao Ying is back? How was the exchange meeting?" Grandpa Zhuang turned off the radio.

"It's alright, I learned a lot." Zhuang Chaoying put her things down.
"Dad, Mom, these are pastries I brought from Nanjing. Please try them. This fish was caught by Pengfei; I brought it to help you recover."

Grandma Zhuang took the fish and weighed it in her hand: "Oh, it's not small at all. Pengfei, that kid, can even catch fish?"

Zhuang Chaoying sat down in the chair and carefully began to speak, "Dad, Mom, there's something I want to tell you."

He recounted how Huang Ling fell ill and how the children came to him for help.

He spoke calmly, without accusation, simply stating the facts: "The doctor said Huang Ling is anemic and needs nutritional supplements. The children had no other choice but to ask you for help."

Grandpa Zhuang and Grandma Zhuang looked a little guilty as they listened.

After Zhuang Chaoying finished speaking, Grandpa Zhuang finally spoke:
"Everyone has their difficulties. We're old and can't really help much."

Grandma Zhuang continued, "Huang Ling's health definitely needs to be taken good care of. But then again, she doesn't seem to be like that when others work in the factory. Why is she so delicate?"

Zhuang Chaoying sighed. He knew his parents' attitude was wrong, but he didn't know what to say.

Grandpa Zhuang changed the subject about Huang Ling, saying:
"Pengfei can catch fish? That's quite capable. We should have him bring some over more often. Zhendong and Zhenbei are growing and need nutrition."

Grandma Zhuang nodded: "Yes, we're family, it's only right to help each other out. Go back and tell Pengfei that next time he catches fish, he can send half over, and you can keep the other half for yourselves."

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