...
At dusk, Lian Shouxin finally returned from outside. Lady Zhang hurriedly asked Xiao Xi to bring in so water for Lian Shouxin to wash up.
"Today Manman made so su lao again and saved a bowl for you. I’ll have soone bring it for you to eat." Lady Zhang said to Lian Shouxin with a smile.
Lian Zhizhi, Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi were all sitting in the room. Seeing this, they exchanged glances and suppressed their laughter. Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang could be described as an old couple, yet their relationship had not turned cold or dull. For example, every ti Lian Shouxin returned from a trip, no matter how long he had been away, Lady Zhang always acted as if Lian Shouxin had been on a long journey and they hadn’t seen each other for ages, showing particular warmth and joy.
"No need." Lian Shouxin washed his face, taking the towel from Lady Zhang’s hands to dry his hands, he said, "Give that to the kids. I don’t want it.... Is there any noodles? Bring a bowl of noodles."
"What’s the matter, didn’t you have lunch outside?" Lady Zhang asked.
"I did." Lian Shouxin replied.
"Wasn’t it good?" Lady Zhang asked again.
"It’s not about being good or not. The food outside is just like that, nothing compares to the comfort of a ho-cooked al." Lian Shouxin said honestly.
Now, Lian Shouxin is referred to as the Fourth Old Master, and the Grand Master of the Imperially Bestowed Archway Lian Family by people, yet he hasn’t changed his farr’s nature. Others might see Lian Shouxin as sowhat rustic, but at ho, from Lady Zhang to Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi, they all feel that this version of Lian Shouxin is more solid and reliable.
Even though his wife and children care about him, and everyone shares the good things, within this household, Lian Shouxin always gets the worst food and clothing.
Of course, this so-called worst is not really bad.
Lian Shouxin didn’t want to eat su lao; he wanted noodles.
"It’s almost ti for dinner..." Lady Zhang glanced at the shadow of the sun and said.
"Then I’ll wait for dinner." Lian Shouxin was easygoing.
"Dad, what kind of noodles do you want to eat? I’ll make them for you." Lian Manman offered, "How about fried sauce noodles?"
"Sure, I love the fried sauce noodles my daughter makes." Lian Shouxin was delighted.
"Mom, just make a small bowl, let my dad have a snack first, it won’t delay dinner." Lian Manman said to Lady Zhang.
Lady Zhang wasn’t unwilling to cook for Lian Shouxin, and hearing the father-daughter conversation, naturally, she had no objections.
Lian Manman called Xiao Qing to the kitchen with her to make a bowl of fried sauce noodles. There were two key parts: first, the noodles must be chewy, and secondly, the sauce must be well made. The latter is the essence of fried sauce noodles. In the kitchen, Lian Manman asked Han Zhong’s wife to knead the dough, picked a nice piece of pork belly, cut it into small cubes, and minced so ginger. By this ti, Xiao Qing had brought in a small bowl of soybean paste from the jar outside.
To make the fried sauce well, the soybean paste must be good. The soybean paste at Lian Manman’s family was made by Lady Zhang and her sisters, and the taste was needless to say.
After making a bowl of bright red fried sauce with minced pork and ginger, Lian Manman picked a small cucumber and a radish, cut them into thin strips, and arranged them neatly on a plate. By this ti, Han Zhong’s wife had cooked the noodles. Han Zhong’s wife had strong hands, making the dough very well, and she added an egg and a pinch of salt while kneading, which made the noodles even more elastic.
Bringing the noodles back to the back courtyard, Lian Shouxin smiled happily when he saw them.
"All the food outside is too greasy, but these fried sauce noodles, just looking at them whets my appetite. The ones outside can’t compare to the ones made at ho."
He placed them on the small table, sat on the kang, and ate the noodles in big mouthfuls.
Lian Shouxin had a big appetite, so for him, a bowl of noodles, a big plate of sauce, and toppings were just starters.
After Lian Shouxin finished the noodles, Lian Manman brought so tea and watched as Lian Shouxin drank tea before she asked him about the results of his trip.
"I’ve checked out the place already; it’s at Little Ken Village, there are three hundred mu of large grassland and two hundred mu of wasteland." Lian Shouxin said happily.
"Little Ken Village, that’s quite close to her grandfather’s house." Lady Zhang comnted.
Little Ken Village is west of Thirty Mile Camp, about twenty miles from Lady Zhang’s maiden ho at Burner Pot Village, and forty miles from Thirty Mile Camp. It got the na Little Ken Village during reclamation tis. There’s also a Da Kentun, located even further west, next to a mountain range. The other side of the mountains is usually referred to as "the outside west" by people here, where minority groups reside.
Hui people have migrated inward and mostly settled in Da Kentun and Little Ken Village.
Little Ken Village really is a suitable place to set up a ranch.
"The three hundred mu of grassland is good for grazing cattle. As for the two hundred mu of wasteland, I consulted so Hui people who said it could be used to plant the pasture your Manman talked about." Lian Shouxin continued.
"Alfalfa," Lian Manman replied.
"Yes, alfalfa. I inquired about the seeds, they’re available and not expensive, they said they are everywhere, along with other grasses, which are all quite good." Lian Shouxin said, "When the ti cos, we can send so people over, hire so locals, and get this grass planted, and raise cattle and sheep. I’ve already identified two Hui people who are skilled in cattle and sheep raising, and we’ll sign a contract then."
Hearing this, Lian Manman was very pleased. Lian Shouxin had a virtue of being reliable, and with the shrewd Shopkeeper Chen alongside him, there was little worry about anything going awry.
"Manman, raising cattle and sheep, can it really make a lot of money?"
******
Here’s the first update, there should be another later.
Seeking monthly votes as assurance. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to visit Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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