My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 31 Wang Lixian

"Uncle Fugui, my father and I are bringing you some mountain produce."

Before Wang Lixian could speak, Liu Nier grabbed a handful of glass marbles, stood up, and answered first.

Chen Ling then discovered that Wang Lixian had hidden two pheasants and two large rabbits behind him, each tied with straw rope.

As Wang Lixian stood up, Chen Ling also saw a bamboo basket of green-shelled eggs, which were much larger than ordinary eggs and did not seem to be wild eggs.

"I hunted a lot of wild game in the mountains, and we can't finish it all at home, so I brought some over for you."

Wang Lixian put out his cigarette, stood up, and said.

Wang Lixian's family and Chen Ling's family had a close relationship in their grandfather's generation, and they were also distant relatives, with Wang Lixian being Chen Ling's distant cousin.

After Chen Ling's father passed away, he helped Chen Ling a lot.

When Chen Ling and Wang Susu encountered a troublesome situation during their marriage, it was Wang Lixian who resolved it.

Unfortunately, Chen Ling became increasingly outrageous, and Wang Lixian, who had many children at home, lost interest in him after several disappointments.

In short, he was an honest and kind farmer with messy hair, thick stubble, and wearing worn-out light blue work clothes, standing in front of Chen Ling.

He wasn't very tall, and his frame was somewhat thin, but he wasn't frail.

When Chen Ling first saw him, besides the impression he had in his memory, he felt that this man had an indescribable tenacity.

"Haha, I'm so happy that Brother Xian thought of me when he had something good!"

"Susu, open the door! Tonight I'm having a couple of drinks with Brother Xian and Brother Jusheng!"

Chen Ling walked over, hooked his arm around Wang Lixian's, and laughed loudly.

He knew perfectly well that Wang Lixian had brought wild game to his door this time because of the half-piece of fresh pork that he had asked Liu Nier to take back last time.

But Wang Lixian is straightforward and cannot be directly confronted.

Furthermore, he had helped Chen Ling a lot in the past, and Chen Ling really didn't want to damage that friendship again.

So there was no need for formalities, just a warm greeting.

"Fugui, you drink with Brother Xian, I won't drink anymore. I'll just grab some peanuts and head home. It's getting late, and your sister-in-law Qiaoling is cooking for me!"

Wang Jusheng smiled. He wasn't very familiar with the villagers. It was fine to greet them when they met, but if they sat down to eat together, he wouldn't know what to say and would just feel awkward.

"Hey, look at what you're saying, Jusheng. You help me with my work and I won't even provide a meal? What am I then?"

Chen Ling immediately frowned and said unhappily, "Besides, if you really go back like this, what will Fifth Uncle think of me?"

"Get out of the car now, stop talking nonsense. Tonight, I'll let you taste my cooking."

"Fugui, I really have to go home..."

Wang Jusheng was in a bit of a dilemma. His social circle wasn't here. It would be fine if it were just the two of them, as he got along quite well with Chen Ling.

But if we add Wang Lixian, it would be really awkward for them to sit together for a meal and drinks.

"Stop talking nonsense. If your sister-in-law is upset with you, I'll go and explain for you."

At this moment, Wang Susu opened the courtyard gate, and Chen Ling snatched Wang Jusheng's bicycle and pushed it into the courtyard.

"Fugui, you..."

Wang Jusheng had no choice but to follow them into the courtyard.

Wang Lixian was quite curious when he saw this scene. He wondered how Fugui had gotten together with the Party Secretary's son. But then he thought that Wang Jusheng was a policeman, and being with him was better than spending all his time aimlessly hanging around in the county town.

Thinking this, he entered the courtyard without saying a word.

"Look at Ah Ling, she has no sense of propriety. Brother Xian, let me help you with your things."

Seeing that Wang Lixian was carrying a bunch of things by himself, Wang Susu hurriedly stepped forward and took some of them.

As for Liu Ni'er, she had no time to pay attention to her father and was busy teasing Heiwa and Xiao Jin around the donkey cart.

"Ah Ling, Brother Xian's back is bad, why didn't you come over and help him?"

Wang Susu pretended to complain.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ling quickly came over with a smile, and then diffused the slight awkwardness with just a few words. Wang Lixian was immediately surprised; when did Fugui and his wife have such a harmonious relationship?

Look at how well these two were in sync just now. If he hadn't been familiar with Chen Ling's temper before, he would have doubted whether he was seeing things.

“Fugui, you don’t need to worry about me. The doctor in the county town said that I can’t drink alcohol anymore because of my back. Just take good care of Jusheng.”

While marveling at Chen Ling's dramatic transformation, Wang Lixian placed a bamboo basket of green-shelled "eggs" on the ground.

"I don't know if it's a wild duck egg or something else's egg. It smells quite fishy when cracked into a bowl, but it tastes pretty good when stir-fried. You two can try it."

After saying that, he prepared to call Liu Nier to leave.

"No, no, no, Brother Xian, why are you doing this to me? If we can't drink, let's just eat!"

Chen Ling immediately became anxious and grabbed Wang Lixian's arm.

"No way, I can't leave today no matter what. I brought all this stuff, so I have to let you try my cooking and show off a bit."

"Yeah, Brother Xian, you guys haven't tried it. Actually, A-Ling's cooking is amazing. He's been cooking for me every day lately. I can't even eat the food I make myself."

Wang Susu also offered advice from the side.

This time, Wang Lixian fell silent, couldn't help but glance at Chen Ling twice, and then looked at Wang Jusheng, who was also somewhat surprised.

The two exchanged glances that conveyed almost the same message.

Does this guy really cook at home?
I thought Chen Ling was just being polite.

Outsiders laugh at Chen Ling for being a good-for-nothing and lazy bum, but in reality, very few men in the village cook at home, including themselves.

So Wang Lixian and Wang Jusheng were a little confused.

Are you really going to cook?

Wang Jusheng, in particular, asked a question with uncertainty.

"Of course it's true. It's just cooking two dishes. Why would I need to lie to you?"

Chen Ling raised an eyebrow and asked a question in return.

"Anyway, I haven't tasted it yet, so it's hard to say."

Wang Jusheng stood up with his arms crossed. "You hurry up and get ready. I'm going to feed my donkey."

This guy really got quite rude after getting to know Chen Ling.

Chen Ling smacked his lips, then picked up the pheasants and rabbits that Wang Lixian had brought and put them aside, preparing to clean them up.

"Tonight, we'll have braised wild rabbit and pheasant stewed with mushrooms."

"Hmm, two dishes aren't enough..."

"I still have fish in my backyard, so I'll cook a sweet and sour carp."

Liu Ni'er listened with her mouth watering. Goodness, no wonder everyone says Uncle Fugui is lazy and gluttonous. He really knows how to eat.

Just hearing the name of this dish makes my mouth water!
"Susu, start steaming the buns first, and I'll start cooking the dishes in a bit."

Before winter, Chen Ling soaked dried mushrooms and dried wood ear fungus. He then skinned the wild rabbit, hung the skin up, cleaned out the internal organs, chopped the rabbit meat, and marinated it with scallions, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and cooking wine.

Then, together with Wang Lixian, they plucked the pheasant in boiling water, took out a clay pot, put in soaked mushrooms and wood ear fungus, as well as many seasonings, and started stewing the pheasant and mushrooms.

Even though it wasn't ready yet, just watching from the sidelines, Wang Jusheng couldn't help but drool.

She looked even worse than Liu Nier.

"Sixth Sister, go buy some cigarettes for your uncle. I won't let you run errands for nothing. You can use the money to buy candy."

Wang Jusheng swallowed hard, took out a dollar from his pocket, and handed it to Liu Nier.

"Alright, Uncle Jusheng!"

When Liu Ni'er heard there was candy, how could he refuse?

"It's dark outside, take the flashlight from your Uncle Fugui's house."

(End of this chapter)