Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Panic-stricken
A few days ago, Xuexue had stolen Old Lady Mo’s eggs and cured meat. Although she wasn’t caught, and the unlucky one turned out to be Xiuzhi, it had given Madam Xie quite a scare.
“Mom, no! It was me who stir-fried the river snails.” Xuexue kept flipping the river snails in her hand, while responding.
The river snails had been seasoned with plenty of spices, of course they smelled delicious.
“Stop lying to mom. I have stir-fried river snails too, and they didn’t smell .” Madam Xie, smelling the enticing aroma that was just like the cured meat Old Lady Mo often ate, was full of disbelief.
“Don’t believe me? Try it.” Xuexue scooped up a river snail with a spoon and held it out to her.
Madam Xie skeptically took the river snail, put it in her mouth, sucked hard, and bit the snail meat into her mouth. After chewing a few times, her eyes widened in disbelief, “Xuexue, how can these river snails taste so good? There’s no grit, and no earthy smell either.”
“What’s there to fuss about? The spices take away the fishy smell.”
While speaking, Xuexue plated the cooked river snails in a large dish and covered them, then started to cook the clams.
Madam Xie sat in front of the stove, helping to keep the fire going.
“Xuexue, even your mother can’t cook river snails. Where did you learn it from?” Madam Xie bent over to stuff wood into the stove and asked casually.
This really stumped Xuexue. She couldn’t possibly say that she had learned it in a past life, for if she did, it would scare Madam Xie to death. She’d think her daughter’s fever had made her delirious again.
“I heard it from an old lady who was passing by once; I’ve always remembered it,” Xuexue made up a quick excuse on the fly.
“Oh! So that’s the case! Xuexue is so clever.” Madam Xie’s face lit up with gratification.
Soon, the clams were done as well.
After tasting a few, Madam Xie couldn’t stop praising them. They were fresh, sweet, and slightly spicy, perfect for the cold weather.
Once Xuexue had finished packing everything, she got ready to head to the market.
Madam Xie stood there, hesitating to speak.
“Mom, I can go alone. You should stay home with Chuner,” Xuexue thought her concern was for Chuner being alone at home, so she said.
“That’s not it, Xuexue. Could you leave some river snails and clams for your grandparents to try?”
Madam Xie, naively honest and sincere, although Old Lady Mo scolded and beat her every day, she never forgot her when there was something good. Xuexue felt a mix of frustration and disappointment…
“Grandmother is so proud. Why would she eat such lowly food?” she mimicked some of the terms Old Lady Mo commonly used.
Madam Xie, being so simple-minded, thought it made sense and didn’t press the matter any further. She and Xuexue carried the wares and set off for the town market.
Leaving the village and entering a relatively wide dirt road, they found it pitted with puddles due to recent rain. A moment of carelessness could result in a wet shoe, not to mention a foot caked in mud.
“Xuexue, be careful where you walk. If your shoes get wet, you’ll be cold all day,” Madam Xie cautioned as she led the way, carrying their goods and looking back at Xuexue.
Xuexue deftly navigated through the uneven puddles.
The walk from Mo Family Village to the town was almost four hours. Now, as the light of dawn was just breaking, they would arrive at the market just in time for the early sales.
Suddenly, Madam Xie, full of regret, shouted and stopped in her tracks.
“Mom, what’s wrong? Did you step in a puddle?” Xuexue thought Madam Xie had carelessly stepped into a muddy puddle.
“No, I forgot to cook breakfast. Now we’re in trouble! Your grandmother is going to make a huge fuss, what should we do?” Madam Xie stood rooted to the spot in panic, as if she were going in circles with worry.