Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
On most days, she either ignored her or countered her.
Any other normal person would have been pissed off by Ms. Zhang.
Ms. Yan washed the fish and smiled briefly. “Second Sister-in-law, the guests at Uncle and Aunt’s home are men. I as a woman need to avoid being with them. I can’t just show myself at the doorstep, can l? You dislike the fish, but I don’t. You should not eat it when 1 cook it for lunch, understand?”
Ms. Zhang sneered. “l won’t like it!”
Ms. Yan ignored her. She went into the kitchen and recalled the way Qiao Xuan had made fish and followed suit.
She put oil into the pan, and when it smoked, she put the fish with sliced ginger in it. Then came the sizzling sound.
Ms. Niu was picking vegetables in the garden but she smelled something really delicious yet strange. She was drooling and could not help but wonder if it was the first section of the family who had some food delivered here. She rushed into the kitchen.
Much to her surprise, it was Ms. Yan who was cooking.
The fish in the pot was laden with garlic sprouts and chili peppers. It was oily and steaming in the gurgling thick soup. It smelled and looked delicious.
But Ms. Niu felt very concerned. “Oh, Ms. Yan, you have used so much oil! We can’t just ruin the ingredients!”
Ms. Yan did not panic when she faced Ms. Niii’s cry. She smiled. “Mom, it doesn’t happen often, and not much oil has been used. Also, we can afford this much splurge once in a while. I did this so that it tastes well. Let’s just give it a try.”
Ms. Niu was reminded of the situation. Her both sons had wives, and one of her daughters was already married off. Her younger son was walking for the Yan Family, bringing 700 wen a month, and her elder son should be there soon.
So, she felt much more confident and generous. She felt that a good dream was coming soon. But when she thought of how the Yan Family made this happen and that she could not offend the Yan Family, she calmed down.
She forced a wide smile and said, “Okay, okay, just once. This is akin to ruining things. We need money for many things!’
Ms. Yan smiled. “Sure, Mom!”
She would bother about next time when that time came.
Ms. Yan did not care about her mother-in-law’s words.
The fish was big, and Ms. Yan fried one but saved another for deeper cooking at night when her husband returned at night. She hid it under a big bowl.
They had two other dishes to go with it, and that was enough for lunch.
The fish was very well cooked, and Ms. Niu as well as Second Uncle both spoke highly of it.
Second Uncle said in distress, “No wonder the first section of the family fishes in the river all the time. It tastes so good!”
Ms. Niu found it delicious too. But she was still distressed by how much oil was used. “It costs too much to make it. Of course, it tastes good, it has so many condiments in it… the first section of the family… well…”
The first section had Qiao Xuan’s dowry that made them afford everything. They had nothing!
Ms. Yan smiled. “Mom, it is okay if we cook three or four times a month, right? We have fish in the river, and we can get them for free. The cost will only be of the oil and soy sauce, which costs far less than meat. Also, it tastes as good as other meat… right, Second Sister-in-law?”
Ms. Zhang stiffened and became really annoyed..