Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Shao Yunduan was taken aback by the repulsive proposal put forth by his father-in-law. It was so distasteful that he almost felt physically sick.
He had hoped that if his father-in-law treated Qiao Xuan kindly, their relationship might not be too strained, or at least remain intact on the surface.
It would have been ideal if Qiao Xuan had a reputable family supporting her, or at least the appearance of it.
He didn't look down on her, and he had no intention of playing any tricks on her. However, he couldn't guarantee that others wouldn't try to undermine her.
He didn't want anyone to belittle her or plot against her.
When Qiao Xuan informed him and her family about the unsavory matters, she should have realized that she needed to be cautious.
If he were to become an officer in the future, would there be those who would conspire against her, knowing she lacked a strong family background?
Perhaps he was being overly cautious, but it was better to be prepared for any potential challenges.
Shao Yunduan had not anticipated the selfishness of the Qiao Family. They did not deserve the support of Qiao Xuan's family.
"Father-in-law, it's getting late. We should head home," Shao Yunduan suggested, showing his lack of interest in prolonging their stay.
Officer Qiao had intended to share more thoughts with Qiao Xuan, but upon noticing Shao Yunduan's slightly impatient expression, he decided against it and allowed them to leave.
Qiao Wei pursed her lips and muttered, "Mom, I don't think Second Sister is willing to help us. She must hate us, which is why she won't lend a hand."
Madame Qiao smiled reassuringly. "Oh, no, that's not true. She is your father's daughter and will always stand by his side. Daughters would never harbor hatred towards their fathers, right?"
Officer Qiao shot an irritated glance at Qiao Wei. "Your mother is correct. Your sister isn't as narrow-minded as you think! Even if she were, she should never hate her parents! What are you even suggesting?"
Madame Qiao smiled. "Don't blame Wei. She's just being concerned."
Officer Qiao snorted but didn't say anything further.
Soon, Mid-Autumn Day arrived, and the harvest season was approaching.
The first section of the Shao Family owned only a few fields, so they hired workers to help with the reaping, alleviating the burden on the family.
However, the fields in Zhang Village required more attention.
There was also a pond that yielded fruits. Qiao Xuan harvested some lotus roots and water chestnuts to bring home.
The water chestnuts were steamed directly in a steamer. Once cooked, the black and hard shells were peeled off, revealing the snow-white flesh of the water chestnuts. They had a tender and chewy texture, with a fresh and sweet taste unique to aquatic plants.
The lotus roots were cut into chunks and stewed with pigs trotters and peanuts. The resulting soup was rich and flavorful, while the lotus roots themselves were fresh and sweet. Additionally, they made hot and sour lotus root sticks. The soy-colored sauce clung to the finger-sized lotus root sticks, which were stir-fried with garlic cloves, green peppers, and red sour peppers. The dish offered a delightful combination of crispiness, spiciness, and tanginess.
The whole family enjoyed a satisfying and delicious meal.
The abundance of lotus roots allowed the family to enjoy various dishes for months to come. They could prepare cold lotus root slices, hot and sour diced lotus root, stir-fried lotus root slices, deep-fried lotus root chips, steamed lotus root meat pie, lotus root meatballs, lotus root ribs stewed soup, osmanthus glutinous rice with lotus roots, and more. The versatility of lotus roots provided endless culinary possibilities.
In addition to the lotus roots, the betel nut taro that Qiao Xuan brought back from the province was also ready for harvest. Each betel nut taro weighed around 3-5 to 4 kilograms and exhibited numerous purple spots on its surface, creating a beautiful appearance once the peel was removed..