Chapter 397: A Splendid Lunch
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
In Jiang Qing’s perception, their family’s situation was not very good, with nothing to their name and having been driven out of the house by their grandmother. Even after hearing their explanation on Grand Cloud Mountain, Jiang Qing still harbored doubts, so much so that when she saw the new house with three rooms and a large courtyard, she was shocked and worried that building this house might have exhausted all of their family’s savings.
Jiang Xia told Jiang Qing that nothing needed to be prepared, but Jiang Qing thought it was just because Jiang Xia was too young to understand the need to economize and spoke so casually.
They had come early to help build the house, considering the family’s modest circumstances and not wanting their father to overexert himself. They even brought two carts of luggage, including various kinds of game and a hundred kilograms of rice and flour, enough to feed the family for a long time. The journey took twice the usual time to complete.
Jiang Qing’s concerns continued until Jiang Xia took out the lamb meat. Seeing how easily Jiang Xia produced half a lamb, wild chickens, and various vegetables, even better than what they had in the mountains, Jiang Qing finally relaxed and didn’t say more.
She realized she had been away from home too long and was out of touch with many things.
Jiang Xia said, “Big sister, could you help me cut the lamb into two-centimeter cubes for stewing? And chop the carrots into chunks with a rolling cut, thank you.”
Jiang Qing hesitated, asking, “What’s two centimeters?” Jiang Xia then realized that she was used to communicating with Zhou Lan and had not adjusted her speech.
If Jiang Qing had attended primary school, she would have definitely learned about the metric unit of centimeters. Unfortunately, due to their grandmother’s preference for boys over girls and using the excuse of the family’s lack of money to dismiss Jiang Chuan, Jiang Qing had never attended a day of school and naturally did not recognize the unit of centimeters.
Jiang Xia explained, “It means to cut the pieces as wide as two fingernails.”
While chopping vegetables, Jiang Qing casually chatted with Jiang Xia, “Did Mom say anything about when you guys will start school?”
Jiang Xia thought for a moment, “Probably in the spring.”
Jiang Qing’s eyes held a hint of envy as she said, “That’s really nice.”
Jiang Xia sensed Jiang Qing’s dispirited mood.
She hugged her sister’s waist and cooed, “My sister is the smartest in the world. I’ll teach you everything I learn at school, so you can go to school just like us.” Jiang Qing was amused by her words and said, “Silly girl, then I’ll be your first student.”
Jiang Xia boasted, “Not really, I’ve already taught Jiang Gu how to write, along with her little friends. I have many students.”
Jiang Qing looked at Jiang Xia with a fond gaze.
Since iron pots were hard to come by, Jiang Xia’s family only had one. With the beef and carrot stew already cooking, there was no pot left for stir-frying.
Jiang Qing suggested, “Why not set up our iron pot from home? It’ll make cooking faster, especially with so many people waiting in the yard.”
Jiang Xia agreed, “Then please bring out the iron pot, big sister.”
At that moment, Jiang Gu ran in, smiling at her sisters, “I bet you need another sister to make fire for cooking.”
Jiang Qing picked up Jiang Gu, pinched her cheek, and said, “So my little sister has become so capable, even learning to make fire.”
Jiang Gu grinned broadly, then hopped down from Jiang Qing’s arms to start the fire. Jiang Xia continued stir-frying, while Jiang Qing prepared some staple food.
She mixed flour and cornmeal together, kneading a pot of dough using the method for making sweet potato cakes. In a blink, Jiang Qing effortlessly pulled out several pounds of noodles and cooked a pot of pulled noodles in the soup.
Jiang Xia was astonished by her sister’s skill, “Big sister, do you know magic?”
Jiang Qing just smiled without speaking, and the meal preparation went exceptionally smoothly with her help.
Jiang Xia, fearing there wouldn’t be enough food for everyone, nearly took out all the fresh meat stored in her interspace for cooking.
It turned out that Jiang Xia’s decision was right. Almost everyone close to Jiang Chuan, drawn by the aroma or by word of mouth, came for the meal.
Even Shen Mo, who was training in the mountains, came to the Jiang family’s home.
Unable to fit everyone inside, Jiang Chuan set up a table in the yard. Initially, they thought it might be cold in the winter, but with hot soup and noodles, plus the lively atmosphere, everyone ate warmly and happily..
