Translator: 549690339 I
Ni Yang reached out for the bucket, “Thanks, Brother Mo.”
“No need for formalities,” Mo Qishen didn’t hand the bucket directly to Ni Yang, but said, “This bucket of fish is quite heavy, let me take it home for you.” The fragmented remains of fish, along with shells and other things, weighed at least fifteen to twenty kilograms. With him around, how could she, a young girl, be asked to do such heavy labor?
Ni Yang smiled and said, “No need, I can handle it.”
“It’s alright.” Mo Qishen stepped ahead, saying, “I consider it physical exercise.”
Mo Qishen, tall and striding, soon left Ni Yang behind.
Having no choice, Ni Yang quickened her pace to catch up.
As she walked with Mo Qishen, they chatted idly, “Brother Mo, is your injury healing?”
She was most likely referring to the bite mark she had left on his collarbone last time.
Mo Qishen’s face inexplicably turned red, “It’s fine now.”
“Have you been to the hospital?” Ni Yang asked further.
Mo Qishen replied, “Yes, I have. The doctor said it’s nothing serious.”
Upon hearing this, Ni Yang was relieved, “That’s good.”
Ni Yang initially thought Mo Qishen would accompany her all the way home. Unexpectedly, just before they turned the corner to her house, Mo Qishen stopped, placed the bucket on the ground, and said, “Yangyang, I won’t go inside. I’m heading off first.”
After all, during this time, social conduct between men and women was strictly monitored.
He and Ni Yang were not real cousins, and he did not want to cause unnecessary trouble for her.
Now it was daytime, unlike during that past night.
Ni Yang was surprised at his sensitivity, smiling, “Wait for me here for a moment.”
Not only was Ni Yang pretty, but her teeth were also especially white when she smiled.
Like rows of neatly arranged tiny pearls, they were brilliant and eye-catching.
Mo Qishen was mesmerized looking at her.
In a short while, Ni Yang returned with a run.
But this time, Ni Yang held a bag made of oily paper.
She stuffed the oily paper bag into Mo Qishen’s hands, “This has some dried fruit that I made. You can try them, Brother Mo.”
Last time it was bread, now it was dried fruit, was this young girl subconsciously considering him as a servant to serve him snacks?
“Thankyou.” Mo Qishen continued, “You should go home, Yangyang. You don’t want anyone to see us and get the wrong idea.”
Ni Yang nodded and turned towards her home.
Mo Qishen also started walking toward the river, whistling along the way.
Upon returning home, Ni Yang began preparations for dinner.
What to cook for tonight’s meal?
Ni Yang pondered, chin in hand, and her eyes landed on the two cucumbers and a bunch of cilantro in her basket. Suddenly, she had an idea.
She could make cold skin noodles for dinner.
Not wasting any time, Ni Yang began kneading and washing the flour.
Making cold skin noodles was neither too simple nor too complex.
The main difficulty lay in washing the flour, where she had to wash a whole dough ball in water until it turned into a small ball of gluten.
The washed dough water, after settling, could be used for steaming.
Cold skin noodles originated from the Northwest and were quite rare in Beijing at that time.
Seeing Ni Yang washing dough, Ni Cuihua curiously asked, “Yangyang, what are you making?”
Ni Yang explained, “I’m washing dough to make cold skin noodles.”
“Cold skin noodles?” Ni Cuihua continued, “Can we eat them?”
“Yes.” Ni Yang nodded.
Ni Cuihua then asked, “Yangyang, can 1 help with something?”
Ni Yang replied, “How about you slice the cucumbers and cut the cilantro and spring onions into segments, then crush some garlic.”
“Alright.” Ni Cuihua straightaway started washing the vegetables efficiently.
The mother-daughter duo cooperated superbly, and as soon as Ni Yang finished washing the dough, Ni Cuihua had already chopped all the ingredients.
So, Ni Cuihua started the fire under the stove, while Ni Yang took her place by the pot to steam the noodles.
Cold skin noodles were very filling and were great for the spleen and appetite when eaten in the summer, so Ni Yang prepared a few extra plates for Granny Mo’s breakfast the next day.
Before long, the cold skin noodles were ready.
Ni Yang sliced the cold skin noodles and put them in a large bowl, added spring onions, cilantro, minced garlic, cucumber strips, and finally poured sesame oil, vinegar, and chili on top. The enticing aroma wafted even before she started mixing everything.
Worried that the cold skin noodles alone wouldn’t fill their stomachs, Ni Yang also boiled six tea eggs with the eggs Yang Guobao had brought.
Except for the tea leaves, Ni Yang mixed all the marinades herself. In no time, the delicious aroma filled the entire courtyard..