Chapter 76: 76 rarely loses his temper
Throughout mealtime, Mistress He was listless and unable to summon any energy, and with her feigned illness earlier today, it suddenly made everyone in the Ye Family wonder if they had been wrong, perhaps Mistress He was truly ill?
Otherwise, how could Mistress He, who is always so energetic that not even the sky falling down could crush her spirit, suddenly become so lethargic?
Even when the big pot of bone broth with white noodles was served, Mistress He’s face only darkened by two shades, but she unusually refrained from losing her temper and cursing people.
Everyone was eating, only Mistress He was glaring at the pot of noodles with a gloomy face, but whether adults or children, they were all hooked by the aroma of the bone broth noodles to the point of forgetting even to glance at Mistress He’s expression.
After the meal finally ended and everyone dispersed, Old Man Ye approached Mistress He in alarm and asked, “What’s the matter, old woman? You really look quite ill. Should I have Wenqing hurry to fetch the doctor tonight to take a look at you? Otherwise, if we wait until tomorrow and something happens, that wouldn’t be good.”
Mistress He glared at him, “How would that not be good? It seems like you’re just waiting for me to die. If I died, wouldn’t Madam Li still be waiting there?”
Old Man Ye’s face darkened, “You, old woman, have been contrary all day, can’t you just speak nicely for once?”
“Of course, I can’t be like some people—sweet talkers with knives in their belly,” Mistress He spat out each word with a sting.
Ye Jiu remained silent, watching the old couple bicker back and forth. Considering Mistress He was not at a disadvantage, he thought it was fine to let her vent and get a few things off her chest rather than bottle up and harm herself.
In the darkness of the night below the distant hillside, Madam Li carried a bundle of twigs, staggering along. From the shadows, another figure emerged, forcibly snatching the firewood from Madam Li’s back and being affectionate for a while, regardless of Madam Li’s fear and refusal to let go.
Watching that figure, tears suddenly streamed down Madam Li’s face!
She didn’t know if all she had endured over the years was worth it.
In the icy snow, before Zhang could even lie down, she was called by Ye Jiu, “Sister-in-law, are you asleep?”
“Not yet, Little Sister, is mother not feeling well?” Zhang opened the door.
“Mother is fine, I wanted to ask for Sister-in-law’s help,” Ye Jiu said.
“We’re all family, just speak your mind, Little Sister, no need for any of this ‘help’ business!” Zhang laughed.
“Follow me to the kitchen,” Ye Jiu said and headed to the kitchen.
Arriving at the kitchen, Ye Jiu removed the layer of straw on top of the basket and said, “Sister-in-law, these strips of pork fat were bought by Fourth Brother today. Can you help me render the fat from them?”
“This…” Zhang was first shocked by the quantity of the items, then she hesitated.
Seeing her concern, Ye Jiu reassured her, “Don’t worry, Sister-in-law, Mother knows about this.”
“That’s a relief,” Zhang felt reassured.
Mistress He was unaware of these items; truly, she wouldn’t dare to touch them.
Zhang was quick and efficient, and with Ye Jiu’s help in heating water, she promptly washed the pork fat with hot water, then chopped it into small pieces and began to fry them lightly.
As the pot produced more and more oil, the aroma became stronger and stronger. Fortunately, everyone had already gone to bed, otherwise the kitchen would probably have been barricaded by the children by now.
As time ticked by, the rendered lard was stored in jars, filling up three large ones to the brim.
Just as the last pot was about to be done, six-year-old Ye Qingzhi suddenly appeared at the door, her large round eyes filled with longing as she looked at Ye Jiu and Zhang.