Chapter 248: Cut to the Hand
Translator: 549690339
The Jiang family had once proposed marriage to the Qiao family, and yet now, upon encountering each other, Qiao Xiaomai was not at all awkward.
She herself was well off, her family had hundreds of acres of fertile land, and inside her heart, a young lad jovially brandished a sword about, so at this point, whether physically or emotionally, she felt quite fulfilled, with no additional energy left over to focus on the Jiang family.
For Tong Tiehu’s sixtieth birthday celebration, third brother of the Jiang family came over to slaughter the pig, and she came to take charge of the kitchen. All was done out of a willingness to help.
“Third Brother, Xiaomai, you’re back!”
Tong Tiehu was also there. When he saw Qiao Xiaomai descend from the ox cart, he strode over to her, “Have you eaten yet?”
“No.” Third Brother Tong replied.
“Great, your mom just prepared some pork dish, there’s a small pot left over in the kitchen, go and have some,” Tong Tiehu pointed towards the kitchen.
Third Brother Tong gave a grunt in acknowledgement, motioning Xiaomai towards the kitchen.
In the kitchen, there was a large iron basin, the size of a face basin, filled with the pork dish that Mrs. Zhang had prepared.
Mrs. Zhang’s cooking skills were average, her pork dish was simple, just a big piece of pork belly and pickled vegetables stewed together. The inch thick pork belly was paired with the dark-green pickles, neither exuded any attractive lustre, suppressing one’s appetite instead.
But having food was what mattered. Qiao Xiaomai washed her hands, took the bowl and chopsticks handed over by Third Brother Tong, and scooped half a bowl of the pork dish. She grabbed a steamed bun, and sat down in front of the stove and began to eat.
The moment the first mouthful of pork belly entered her mouth, she frowned, quickly covering her mouth with her hand.
Third Brother Tong was also eating from his bowl at this point, and when the pickled vegetables entered his mouth, he also frowned, instinctively glancing at Qiao Xiaomai.
Observing Xiaomai’s reaction, he put the bowl down and stood up, “1’11 make something different.”
The dish was overly sour and salty, because too much pickled vegetables and salt had been added.
“No need, I’ll just eat this,” Qiao Xiaomai swallowed the chunk of meat in her mouth, hurriedly took a bite of the steamed bun, trying to suppress the odd taste.
“You don’t have to force yourself.” Tong Sanlang decisively walked over and took the bowl she held, “There are cucumbers that were just picked this morning, I’ll make a cold cucumber salad, it’ll be ready soon.”
“You can cook?” Qiao Xiaomai looked at him, somewhat surprised.
“Just some simple home-cooked dishes.”
“All, let me do it.” After her initial surprise, Qiao Xiaomai stood up.
“No need, just take a seat.” Tong Sanlang shook his head.
That pork dish was prepared by his mom; if she found out that Xiaomai couldn’t eat it and had to prepare something else specially, she was bound to scold him.
Even though there’s not much chance with Xiaomai, he didn’t want his mom to say anything bad about her.
However, Xiaomai knew nothing about his thoughts.
Previously, Xiaomai felt sympathy, along with other emotions. Even if these feels were lessened now, they were still there, so she wanted to do something for Third Brother Tong.
All she could do for Tong Tiehu, with her limited ability, was to cook for him.
Thinking thus, she stood up, walked to the cutting board, took the kitchen knife, “Let me do it, my cooking tastes better.” ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ noⅴelfire.net
Tong Sanlang brought over the washed cucumbers and said, “No, let me.”
“Oh it’s just a few cucumbers, watch this, it’ll be done in a minute.” Xiaomai attempted to take the cucumbers with her free left hand.
“Take a break, 1’11 do it.” Tong Sanlang was persistent. He reached out to take the kitchen knife from her hand.
“I’m not tired.” Xiaomai shook her head, an expression of determination on her small face, “Hurry up, I’m very hungry.”
Tong Sanlang hesitated for a while, and then handed the cucumbers to her.
She suddenly broke out into a smile, “Just wait and see, it’ll be ready soon.”
Tong Sanlang didn’t say anything. He stood beside her, his gaze fixed on her hand.
Qiao Xiaomai felt his gaze and deliberately showed off.
First, she took the kitchen knife and smacked the cucumbers a few times, then she began cutting them at an angle.
She was really fast, her right hand that held the knife became a blur.
“Amazing,” Tong Sanlang readily gave her some praise.
Qiao Xiaomai couldn’t help but have a small smile on her face, her eyes also squinted in delight.
Having cut two cucumbers, she picked up another two, again smashing them first, then cutting afterwards.
She upped her speed just a tad more.
“Slow down, don’t hurt your hand,” Tong Sanlang said as he watched her, slightly worried.
“It’s fine, I… Ah!!!” A sudden jolt of pain washed over her. The smile on Xiaomai’s face quickly turned into an expression of pain. She quickly tossed the kitchen knife in her right hand away.
Blood was seeping out from the middle finger of her left hand..