Chapter 171: Big Brother’s Birthday
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“Fengnian, ignore him. He’s just a freeloader. Buttface, 1 don’t know how he got to dig the canal. Let me tell you, if you have nothing better to do and like gossip, when the bailiffs see you, they’ll chase you home. Don’t cry then! Go away!”
Ning Erlang felt that his sister was smart from the bottom of his heart. Actually, he had never been afraid of becoming enemies with the people in the old residence. However, if he lost his good reputation in Fortune Village, he and his brother were not afraid of being told that they could not find a wife, but they were worried that his sister would not be able to find a good husband without a marriage proposal.
After ail, Grandma was used to distorting right and wrong outside, and Second Aunt was addicted to gossiping. Whenever they made a small mistake, the two of them would shout it out everywhere.
It was better now. Before they could explain anything, the villagers already hated the old residence to the core. No one listened to them pretend to be pitiful and aggrieved. Even though they knew that they didn’t like the old residence, they would only sigh and say, “Serves them right.”
He heard that after what happened to Second Aunt yesterday, the village chief specially went to the old residence to warn them. It really made him so happy that he couldn’t help but laugh.
“I know that. Previously, Buttface’s eldest brother was the one who signed up. However, for some reason, he fell and injured his leg before he came. That’s why Buttface replaced him.”
Ning Erlang frowned. Why did this sound so familiar? Oh right, Buttface seemed to have a good relationship with Second Uncle? Tsk, no wonder his words were so annoying.
After eating and drinking their fill, they continued to work at noon. The father and son did not like to play tricks and were not careless when they needed to work. Others had just dug out a six-meter ditch, but the two of them had already drawn it to more than nine meters. The person in charge had always admired them. Hence, when he heard that the Ning Family’s eldest son’s birthday was today and his family had invited guests, he took the initiative to approve their leave and asked them to go back early.
Ning Fengnian and Ning Erlang naturally thanked him. Before they left, Ning Erlang did not forget to say to the head, “My sister said that she wants to make snacks today. I’ll send some over when she’s done. If you don’t mind, why don’t all of you try them together, Big Brothers?”
That was good! To be honest, the villagers who came to work were not the only ones who craved the Ning Family’s food. The bailiffs were too embarrassed to ask when they smelled it every day.
The two of them went home happily and saw that the courtyard was bustling.
Shen Tianci carried the dog named “Walnut”, but it quickly pushed him away in disdain. At this moment, he was yapping and saying it had turned hostile. He was much more eloquent than when he first came. Now that he was asked to quarrel with someone, he would definitely not only say “rebound”.
Mrs. Shen and Shopkeeper Liu sat under the bamboo shelf in the courtyard, each drinking a cup of tea with very enjoyable expressions.
Shopkeeper Xu had a bitter expression on his face. He looked at the tea in his hand as if he was looking at an enemy. It was bitter hatred.
County Magistrate Shen nodded at the wall with his hands behind his back. “This vegetable farm is well-kept.”
Madam Song said enthusiastically, “Come, come, choose two pots and bring them back. It’s very convenient to cook. They’re even more lively than those bought at the market!”
Mrs. Shen and Shopkeeper Liu really went to choose. Ning Erlang listened to his mother’s story about the growth of the scallions and suddenly wondered what his mother’s expression would be if she knew Mrs. Shen and County Magistrate Shen’s identities.
The moment she returned, Xiaoxiao asked her father and second brother to wash their hands and gave Rong Yan a secretive look.
The latter nodded and took the lead to circle out of the courtyard. Xiaoxiao said that she wanted to borrow chairs and cutlery next door and followed him out. The others did not take it seriously. Yun Yi and the others chuckled and followed them back to carry the things.
In the end, they only returned mysteriously after a while. There were too many tables and chairs, so no one noticed the huge food box that Xiaoxiao hid behind the table. They did not see her avoid everyone’s gaze and sneak back to her room with the food box.
The dishes had been prepared long ago. The broth continued to smell fragrant. When she realized that everyone was looking at the kitchen more frequently, Xiaoxiao suggested tentatively, “Since everyone is here, should we start eating in advance? It’ll save us the trouble of walking back in the dark.”
This proposal was good. Everyone approved it—they were already hungry, especially Shen Tianci. In order to eat more at night, he especially did not eat much at noon!
Seeing that he was holding his stomach for the umpteenth time, Xiaoxiao asked him if he wanted to eat some snacks first. The experienced Shen Tianci shook his head firmly. “I want to wait for the main meal!”
If the servants at home heard this, wouldn’t they be moved to tears?
Young Master was the same as Madam. They were both people who could fill their stomachs with snacks and would never eat more than a grain of rice for their main meal!
Reality proved that Shen Tianci had made the right decision. Other than the ones he had eaten in the past, Xiaoxiao also served a few new dishes.
The first dish was Shredded Chicken with Pea Sprouts. The chicken’s tendons and skin were peeled off. The chicken breast meat that had been cut into fine filaments, was mixed with egg white and a little fine salt, wine, and corn flour. Then, the pea sprouts were cut into inch-long segments. The cooked lard was heated up and the chicken shreds were added in. After their color changed, they were scooped up. The stir-fried pot was left with the oil and the scallions and ginger were added to the pot. Then, the pea sprouts, chicken shreds, and seasonings were added. They were stir-fried evenly and drizzled with chicken oil before they were out of the pot.
The second dish “Jadeite Fan” was a vegetable core washed and craved. The tender bamboo shoots were cut into suitable sizes. After stir-frying the vegetable cores with hot oil in the pot, she added in a broth and a little cooking wine, fine salt, and white sugar. She placed the tender bamboo shoots into the stew for 3 minutes and poured in a spoonful of clean soup. They neatly formed a fan shape on the plate. After steaming the shiitake mushrooms, they were also added in. Then, she poured the chicken oil on the dishes with broth.
The third one was “All is Well”. It was stir-fried with bean sprouts and shredded ham from the head and tail and arranged in the shape of a wish. Then, she added a circle of seasoned quail eggs to the edge of the plate. It meant that they would have a safe life and everything would go their way. [Ding… Gourmet Shredded Chicken with Pea Sprouts has been successfully recorded for the first time. You have received 300 points. Gourmet “Jadeite Fan” has been successfully recorded for the first time. You have received 300 points. Gourmet “All is Well” has been successfully recorded for the first time. You have received 300 points. Current total points are 1,300.]
Ning Dalang was all smiles the entire time. The way he looked at Xiaoxiao was as gentle as the spring breeze. Ning Erlang was proud. After taking two bites, he sighed with emotion. “My sister’s culinary skills are simply amazing!” Fortunately, he did not forget his promise to the bailiffs. Before the dishes were served, he had already rushed to the place where the canal was dug and sent a basket of sponge cakes to the bailiffs.
This not only left a good impression on the bailiffs, but also made everyone remember Ning Dalang’s name. This was because Erlang specially emphasized when he went to deliver the snacks, “Today is my brother Ning Ansheng’s birthday.”
His sister had said that if his brother wanted to study, he could not call him “Dalang” or “Eldest Brother” in the future. He had to earn face for his brother in front of his classmates. Although Erlang curled his lips, he did not mutter the words “why are you so confident that Big Brother will definitely get into the academy”.
Speaking of which, it was strange. After his sister said that, he felt that it was a matter of course for Big Brother to go to the Bowen Academy. Sometimes, he even suspected that he had been tricked by his sister. Now, she did not need to say anything more, and he could not be bothered to resist…
It was one thing to think about it, but it was another to eat. The Ning Family had long practiced a skill that they talked about while eating.
After County Magistrate Shen finished studying Ning Ansheng’s knowledge, he looked at his brother, Erlang, who was also using his formal name Ning Anhui now.. “Anhui, after digging the canal, do you still plan to set up a stall in the county?”
