Pastoral little master

Chapter 162 Strange Things
After answering Qiduo's question, Xu Youxuan suddenly remembered something.

"Xiao Qi, how do you know this name?" He frowned and asked.

Qiduo collected her thoughts, and said with a faint smile, "Oh, there is an aunt in our village with the same name as yours, so I just asked casually. However, I didn't expect to have the same name and surname as your eldest aunt. It's really a coincidence Woolen cloth."

The old lady broke with the Xu family, and she would never reveal a word before she proposed to reconcile with the Xu family.

Besides, she is not uncommon for such a grandparent's family.

When I first met Xu Youxuan, I thought he was an out-and-out profiteer. Fortunately, after contacting him, I found that he was remarkable and a good partner.

It doesn't matter whether he is a cousin or an outsider, since there is already a cooperation contract, let's continue to cooperate like this for the time being, anyway, I won't take a penny from their Xu family for nothing, and all the money that goes into my pocket is my own. Got it.

"Really, may I ask how old this aunt is, and is she extremely beautiful?" Xu Youxuan asked.

He thought about it, and wanted to see his eldest aunt, whom he hadn't seen for more than ten years.

It's just a pity that he didn't know which village his eldest aunt married in, otherwise, he might have secretly visited her long ago.

"It's almost fifty, with average looks." Qiduo replied, and then asked him pretending to be puzzled, "Brother Xu, why are you asking this so carefully? You don't doubt that this aunt is your eldest aunt, do you?"

"Ah, how could it be? I was just asking casually." Xu Youxuan denied it with a busy smile.

Qiduo's age did not match at all. He knew that he was not the person he was looking for, so he was a little disappointed.

Qiduo didn't say anything more, and the two talked about things related to the food city.

"Xiaoqi, wait." When Qiduo was tidying up and preparing to go home, Xu Youxuan trotted over from the direction of the back kitchen.

Qiduo hurriedly stopped, and changed direction to meet her.

"Brother Xu, what else is there?" Qi Duo asked.

Xu Youxuan handed the small basket in his hand to Qiduo, and said in a warm voice, "Here, Xiao Qi, these are fresh mandarin fishes just caught, my father specially asked me to bring you two, so that you can go back and try them out. "

Although Tonglin County is located in the Mianjiang River, the production of mandarin fish is not large, and it is not easy to get.

Mrs. Xu loves mandarin fish very much. Xu Shengkang sent someone to buy it by the riverside. It was just taken from the net and it was very fresh.

Only six were bought in total, but Xu Shengkang took two and asked him to give Qiduo.

He was surprised and happy at the same time, happy that his father has no hostility towards Qiduo, and the future cooperation should continue.

It was only then that Qiduo noticed that there were two fruit-green piebald fish in the basket, and recognized at a glance that they were mandarin fish from the previous life.

The two fish are really not small, each weighing about one or two catties, and the tails of the fish are still moving, so they are really fresh.

Even if Osmanthus fragrans was in the previous life, it was a very rare fish. Ordinary people are rarely willing to buy and eat it on weekdays. They only buy one or two to try it out during the Chinese New Year.

"Brother Xu, I don't dare to take such a precious fish." Qi Duo hurriedly waved her hand and refused.

She was also surprised that Xu Shengkang suddenly gave her fish.

Looking at Old Master Xu's attitude before, he was clearly very dissatisfied with himself, didn't Xu Shengkang see it?
What an oddity!

Just when she was puzzled, Xu Shengkang, with his hands behind his back, also turned from the direction of the back kitchen.

Looking at Qiduo's delicate little face, he seemed to see his sister, a warm feeling of intimacy gushed out from the bottom of his heart, and he had the urge to hug her, and then asked, children, how have you been all these years? How is the family doing?

"Son, just accept what is given to you. Don't be polite. The food city's business is booming, but it's all thanks to you. This mere kindness is my gratitude to you. Thank you for helping Xuan'er so much. In the future, the food city will return to you." I need to trouble you a little bit." Xu Shengkang said gently.

He tried his best to make his words sound polite, making Qiduo think that he gave the fish just to thank him, nothing else.

But Xu Youxuan felt strange about the sound of a child. Although his father was not as strict as his grandfather, he didn't show his kindness easily to outsiders.

"Master Xu, you're being polite. I'm doing my duty. I really don't need to say thank you." Qi Duo said seriously.

"Little Qi, what are you doing politely with Big Brother? Take the fish and go back quickly, otherwise the fish will die, and it won't taste good then." Xu Youxuan stuffed the basket into Qiduo's hand .

"It's really unacceptable." Qiduo declined.

She really didn't want to accept this gift, if it was from Xu Youxuan, she wouldn't care.

Especially now that she knew everyone's relationship, she felt a little awkward when asked her to accept the fish that Xu Shengkang gave her.

I really want to eat this fish, so I just buy it myself.

Seeing that Qiduo was really unwilling to take it, Xu Shengkang moved his eyes and said with a smile, "Qiyatou, it's just two fish, not as precious as you think. Actually, if I give you fish, what else do you want?"

"Oh, what's the matter, Mr. Xu, just tell me." Qiduo said.

"Seventh girl, your culinary skills are extraordinary. I don't know how to make this mandarin fish so delicious?" Xu Shengkang asked with a smile.

This is not a lie, my father loves mandarin fish, and loves its delicious meat, less thorns and tender meat, but it is a pity that my cook has no other tricks except steaming and braised.

He very much hoped that he could make mandarin fish into new patterns, so that Mrs. Xu could have a different taste.

Seven eyes turned slightly, and immediately said like a few treasures, "The mandarin fish has many small bones, the meat is tender, and the taste is delicious. It is comparable to the pork in the river and the dragon meat in the sky. It can be braised in soy sauce, steamed, fried, and stewed, like squirrel mandarin fish and stinky mandarin fish. , sweet and sour mandarin fish are very famous dishes.”

"Smelly mandarin fish? Why does it have such a strange name? Maybe the guests will be scared away when they hear this sentence?" Xu Youxuan asked very puzzled.

Generally, when choosing the names of dishes, they will choose those that are pleasant to hear, easy to remember and have good meanings. Try to rely on the fragrant characters. This is the first time I have heard that there are bad characters in the names of the dishes.

"Pfft, brother Xu, you don't know something. Although the smell of stinky mandarin fish is a bit stinky, it can taste delicious and leave a fragrance on your lips and teeth, and you will never forget this wonderful taste." Qi Duo said with a smile, and said Casually told a little allusion about stinky mandarin fish.

After listening to the little story she told, Xu Youxuan and his father nodded at the same time.

That's what happened.

Xu Shengkang looked at Qiduo more lovingly, okay, okay, I am also happy that the girl is so promising.

"Xiaoqi, since you have said so, you must make it for us later." Xu Youxuan said with a smile.

"Success, no problem." Qiduo nodded readily.

"Qi girl, can you help me make this squirrel mandarin fish tomorrow?" Xu Shengkang asked seriously.

"Tomorrow? Well, okay." Qiduo hesitated a little, then nodded in agreement.

"Well, Qiyatou, these two mandarin fishes will be given to you to go home and practice your hands. Don't refuse, otherwise, you will look down on me, an old man." Xu Xingkang stuffed the basket into her hands himself, no doubt.

Qiduo knew that this was an excuse, but she couldn't shirk it anymore. She was sincere, and even found out this excuse, how could she be hypocritical.

So he took the basket, thanked him, and waited for Tan Dejin to pick him up.

In order to prevent the mandarin fish from dying, Qiduo drew out the Lingquan water and rubbed it on the fish to keep them alive.

Tan Dejin took Liuju to sell lotus root today, and it went smoothly, without any accidents.

A total of [-] catties of lotus root were sold for a little over seven taels of silver. The whole lotus root and the broken lotus root were sold in half each.

The two of them went home in the middle of the morning, and there were still many things to do at home.

After waiting for a while, Tan Dejin's ox cart arrived.

Seeing the fish in the seven baskets, he couldn't help asking.

She said briefly.

On the way home, Qiduo bought fish meat and some accessories needed to make squirrel mandarin fish, and prepared to cook this dish at home, so that everyone in the family could try it. At the same time, she gave one to Zheng Wanru so that she could try it too.

"Father, did you ask about that barren mountain?" Qi Duo kept this matter in mind.

"Well, after I got home in the morning, I went to Lihezhuang with your fourth uncle to ask questions, and then I found out that the barren mountain does not belong to Lihezhuang. If you want to buy it, you have to go to the county government to find the ancient county magistrate." Tan Dejin replied. .

"That's it." Qiduo nodded slightly.

The ancient county magistrate didn't know him, nor did he know how virtuous this person was.

It's just a pity that Wang Honglei's intentions are not right, otherwise, he can introduce him, acquaintances are easy to talk to.

It seems that he is going to trouble Aunt Shen.

The father and daughter did not continue this topic, and Qiduo asked about the situation of digging lotus root today.

With the joining of Tang Hu and everyone becoming more and more proficient, more than 500 catties were dug today, and the damaged lotus root is less and less.

Qiduo is very happy, this is the result I am happy to see.

Then, the next step is to start selling lotus root, and this matter cannot be delayed.

At the same time, Qiduo suggested that the lotus roots should not be transported back, and that they should be dug directly in Luhuapo for storage. More and more lotus roots are dug every day, but the amount that can be sold every day is limited, and the weather is getting warmer. Go on, the lotus root will be completely broken.

This matter of course depends on Tang Hu's help.

The Food City has just opened, and Qiduo is worried, so she has to go and have a look, but there are more things going on in the Outang, and she needs to think of ideas.

She wished she could have the technique of avatar, and one person could become several people to do things.

After returning home, Mrs. Xu told Qiduo that Zheng Wanru asked her to go to dinner at night, she must go.

Qiduo narrowed her eyes and smiled, she happened to have something to ask her aunt, so let's take the opportunity of eating to talk about it.

She didn't plan to go there empty-handed to eat ready-made ones. She had ready-made ingredients at home, so she happened to make some food and take them there.

Prepare three dishes of glutinous rice lotus root, lotus root and squirrel mandarin fish.

"Mother, this mandarin fish is very rare, and sometimes it's hard to buy if you have money. How about this, call grandma over tonight and let them try it too. Their attitude seems to have changed a little these days." Qiduo and Xu to discuss.

In the past two days, Mr. Tan asked Sanlang to help transport the lotus root for free, and asked Tan Decai and Sanlang to help look at the lotus root at night, and it was not difficult. The salary was at the discretion of the old man. Although these were not particularly big things, she remembered them all. heart.

People respect me one foot, and I return to others.

This is the principle of Qiduo's life.

"Success, that's what it should be. No matter what, they are elders. We shouldn't hold grudges. Mother is very glad that you have such tolerance." Xu said gently stroking her hair.

"Hey, by the way, there are also Uncle San and Brother Sanlang, all calling together." Qi Duo said again.

Xu nodded in agreement.

When Tan Dejin heard his wife and daughter's decision, his cheeks flushed with joy, which was exactly what he wanted.

After he was going to tidy up the lotus root, he went to the front yard to call Mr. Tan.

After settling down, Qiduo went to slaughter and wash the fish, Liuju helped wash and peel the lotus root, and Mrs. Xu helped wash the glutinous rice and cut the meat, and the kitchen became lively.

Erxia, on the other hand, took the three sisters-in-law of the Wang family to wash the lotus roots. Since the separation, Erxia has become more and more like the eldest sister, rushing to do everything, and she is completely different from before.

Qiduo also wants to take this opportunity to teach everyone how to make these dishes, which may come in handy in the future.

To make squirrel mandarin fish, the head of the cleaned mandarin fish should be cut off, and the fish bones on the back of the fish should be removed with a knife, but the belly of the fish should not be cut, and some spines should be left at the tail of the fish.

Spread the boneless mandarin fish skin down, cut it into a flower knife with an oblique knife, cut deeper, but do not cut through the skin, make an opening at the tail, pull the tail out from the knife edge, and soak it in salt water for a while Remove the fishy smell, and at the same time make the fish open and stylish.

Over there, according to what Qiduo said, Liuju had poured the glutinous rice into the lotus root and started cooking it in the pot.

Mrs. Xu also cut the lotus root clips and minced meat, Qiduo cleaned her hands and put the meat stuffing into the lotus root clips with her.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Qiduo quietly asked Mrs. Xu if that matchmaker ever came again.

Mrs. Xu nodded and said that Shang Chen was here, but she directly refused.

Qiduo nodded, and hoped that Han and Cheng would stop having those beautiful daydreams, and if you were as handsome as a god, you would never want to marry Erxia.

When the glutinous rice and lotus root were almost cooked, Qiduo started another pot, poured in rapeseed oil, and began to fry the lotus root and mandarin fish.

"Ah, what delicious food is this? It smells so good." Qiduo was working hard, when suddenly Zhao's annoying voice came from afar.

Qiduo looked out, and saw Mrs. Zhao walking towards here with an unfamiliar middle-aged woman.

(End of this chapter)