The next day.
Qiao Xin went to the restaurant with excitement and anxiety.
When she arrived, Ji Huai and Ji's mother were already busy. Seeing her coming, Ji's mother was surprised.
"Yunhao is sick. My aunt and uncle were afraid that you would be too busy, so they asked me to help." Qiao Xin explained, forcing an unnatural smile.
She was very nervous, her eyebrows lowered, and she didn't dare to look at Ji Huai's side.
"I'm so sorry. Is he seriously ill? We don't know about this either. If you hadn't come, we wouldn't have been able to finish the work. Thank you." Ji's mother said quickly.
The ingredients are already prepared, but without helpers, they would be busy.
Qiao Xin's expression relaxed and she said softly, "He's okay. It's not serious. He just needs to rest for a while. What can I do? You're welcome, just give me your order. I work in the inn and do everything."
Although Old Mrs. Yun will protect her, she has to work hard to live under someone else's roof. She has been doing laundry and cooking since she was a child, working in the inn, and can serve as a waiter, but she has never been paid.
In fact, the He family is not losing at all, but she has no choice but to live like this. She just hopes to marry a good husband and get out of this family.
"Then let's light a fire." Ji Huai turned his head and said.
"Okay." Qiao Xin stood up to hold hay, sat in front of the stove, and quickly started to light the fire.
Ji's mother is kneading the dough, and Ji Huai is making the stuffing. He is skilled in gestures and can make a bun in a few clicks. All of them have pointed toes, round bellies, and the same size.
One cage after another.
When Ji's mother went out to make arrangements, Qiao Xin took over the job of kneading the dough. She kneaded it carefully and hard, very seriously.
"Use less force, otherwise you won't be able to lift your arm tomorrow." His voice sounded in her ears, mellow and clear. She heard it very clearly, and she blushed quietly.
"Yeah." She whispered in response, and her hands kept moving.
"Have you had breakfast?" he asked again.
"I'm not hungry." Qiao Xin answered without raising her head.
When she was at the inn, her breakfast was usually just a bowl of plain porridge. The chef was very kind to her, but Xu felt sorry for her and would often cook her an egg secretly and let her take it back to her room to eat.
Ji Huai nodded and turned around to continue making stuffing.
As soon as the day breaks and there are more people on the street, there are people lining up in front of Ji's house.
Qiao Xin wanted to work more, kneaded the dough, and when Ji Huai finished chopping the stuffing, she went to help him put the stuffing in the flour, and he kneaded it, because she couldn't knead it into this shape.
It was her first time doing this job, and she was very unfamiliar. She was afraid that too much stuffing would lead to high costs, and that if there was too little stuffing, the customers would be dissatisfied, so she always had to take a second look.
Ji Huai squeezed it quickly, and she hurriedly handed it to him, accidentally touching his hand.
In an instant, the place where she was touched suddenly felt hot, and she was at a loss for what to do.
"Don't be anxious, just watch and feel it." Ji Huai looked calm, took it from her hand, and gently touched her palm with his fingertips, but as if he didn't notice, he continued to wrap it, and said, "You too You can learn, practice like this a few times, practice makes perfect.”
He slowed down and started pinching.
Qiao Xin took her hands back and clasped them tightly, her palms seemed to have been tickled by feathers, still retaining his warmth. She didn't pay attention to what he said, but nodded obediently like a chicken pecking at rice, "Okay, okay."
Ji Huai looked at her blankly, with a very shallow arc at the corner of his mouth.
She tried making one, but it was too ugly and she didn't dare to waste it anymore, so she filled it for him obediently.
After she finished, she said, "Brother Huai, I went to fetch water, but there is no water in the tank."
Yunhao said that his daily job is to make fire, fetch water and knead dough.
"No, that's enough." Ji Huai stopped him.
"...Okay." She put down the barrel and stood aside not knowing what to do.
"Knead some dough, just a spoonful of flour." Ji Huai walked to the stove.
"Yeah." Qiao Xin moved her hands.
His voice still rings in my ears from time to time:
"Add salt to improve the gluten, add some water, beat the dough... beat it again, but it's not enough."
"Just beat it into the shape of your hand now and start kicking it."
"Knead it into a ball."
…
Qiao Xin worked carefully as he said. When the dough was kneaded, he said again, "Bring the cloth over, soak it in water, and cover it."
She took the white cloth on one side, covered it carefully, and looked up at him.
Ji Huai turned his back to her and began to peel the shrimp shells.
She was a little greedy and looked at him a few more times. His back was as straight as a black bamboo. His slender fingers placed the peeled shrimp on the chopping board and began to chop it. After a while, he opened his thin lips and said, "Help me put the shrimp on the table." Bring the meat."
There is a large piece of pork meat on the table, which is the hind leg part.
After Qiao Xin took it over, he only took the fat on top, chopped it to the end, and smashed it with the back of the knife. When it got fluffy, he stopped and put it together with the chopped shrimp meat.
Immediately afterwards, pour the juice from onions, ginger, garlic and various spices into it, add corn flour and two egg whites, and start kneading until the filling becomes very elastic.
She didn't dare to look at it at first, after all, Ji Huai didn't even teach Yunhao, but he didn't seem to say anything or cover up, so she became more and more bold.
Apart from not knowing what proportions to use, she also knows the general ingredients.
During this period, he turned his head to look at her and said softly, "Make the dough into the size of a dumpling wrapper. The thinner the better, only eight pieces, and then sprinkle with a layer of corn flour."
Qiao Xin nodded, brought the dough on the table over, and started kneading it.
Ji Huai put oil in the pot, felt the temperature of the oil, took the dough she had kneaded, added the filling into it, and pinched it with her fingers to make a semicircle.
Fry them in the pan, one after another.
Eight dough sheets are enough to fill up the filling, no more, no less.
They were floating in the pot. Ji Huai stirred them a few times. Qiao Xin found them strange and fragrant. She couldn't help but stand aside and watch.
After frying until golden brown, remove from the pan and place on a plate.
When it was brought to the table, Ji Huai looked at her and said, "Try it."
"Shall I taste it?" Qiao Xin was surprised, and her first reaction was to shake her head.
These are all made with shrimps, or large shrimps, which are rare items. She has never eaten large shrimps, and she has never seen anyone selling them. I heard that only fresh shrimps are used in cooking by wealthy families.
Ji Huai said again: "The shrimps delivered yesterday are too big and not suitable for making shrimp paste. They can only be kept for eating. Try the new dishes."
She hesitated for a while, and then refused to give face. She thanked him and carefully picked up a piece.
The dough is fried to a golden brown, and when you bite into it, it's crispy and crispy, and the shrimps are tender and delicious. You can't bear to finish the piece in your hand.
"It's delicious." She narrowed her eyes, thinking that Ji Huai had developed a new pastry and she was happy for him. "This will definitely be a big seller."
Ji Huai then continued: "Fresh prawns are hard to find. They taste bad when they are dead. It's okay to eat them occasionally, but they can't be sold. If they are delicious, eat them all and make them breakfast."
Before she finished speaking, Qiao Xin froze and hurriedly refused, "Just one taste is enough for you and your aunt."
"We don't like to eat shrimps, and my mother won't touch them. You have worked hard today, so let's treat it as a reward. Eat it quickly and don't waste it." Ji Huai covered the pot, spoke gently, and smiled at her laughed.
Qiao Xin was stunned. Wisps of warmth seemed to penetrate through the gaps and penetrate into her heart. Her heart moved slightly and ripples appeared in her eyes.
The last time she felt this way was when he bought her candied haws. Although it was just by the way and he actually bought it for Yun Shiqiao, she was still very happy.
Seeing him cleaning the stove, she wanted to get up and help him clean it again. He was the first to stop her, "Eat well. When you're done eating, just wash the plate. There's mung bean soup in the pot. Drink some after you're done." , so as not to get angry.”
"Thank you, Brother Huai." Qiao Xin was forced to sit down, biting her cherry red lips, staring at his slender and tall figure with watery eyes, feeling uneasy and hesitant, but the excitement in her heart could not be contained.
"You're welcome." Ji Huai took the bucket and went outside to carry water.
She didn't dare to finish the meal, and only dared to continue eating after his urging. After eating so many shrimps, she felt guilty in her heart. If no one ate them, they could sell them on the street, and they would definitely be robbed, and it would be a waste for her to eat them. .
It turned out that fresh shrimp tasted like this. It was really delicious, fresh, tender and smooth, not greasy at all. It was the best snack she had ever tasted, better than the Heshanzhai’s signature shortbread cake that Yun Shiqiao often shouted to buy. A hundred times more delicious.
Ji's mother finished selling the buns and began to close the stall.
She also went back to buy meat and vegetables, and even bought some more, leaving Qiao Xin to eat here. In the past, Yunhao would finish his meal here before going back.
Seeing that Ji Huai was about to cook, she wanted to rush to cook, but Ji's mother stopped her and said, "Let him come. Every day he has to study some new dishes and practice his skills."
"But don't worry, it just doesn't look good at most, but it tastes good."
Qiao Xin chatted with Ji's mother in the courtyard. Listening to the sounds coming from the kitchen, she felt a little absent-minded, but growing up living under someone else's roof, she was still good at hiding her emotions.
Compared to Yun Shiqiao, Qiao Xin is the type that her mother-in-law would like, being nimble and not squeamish or flashy.
She doesn't have makeup, but she looks good. If you take a closer look, you can see that her facial features are still good, but she is a little thinner. She is not dark, but she is a bit yellowish due to malnutrition, and her skin is still very delicate and smooth.
If you raise it, it will definitely not be inferior.
Ji Huai made four dishes and one soup.
Diced chicken with roasted pepper, spicy tofu pudding, stir-fried beef with soy sauce, stir-fried cabbage with green onion and mutton bone radish soup.
The aroma hits you, and every dish is delicious and delicious.
The three of them had such a sumptuous meal that Qiao Xin didn't even dare to sit down. The Yun family only ate a lot of food and fish during the New Year and holidays, but she didn't dare to eat more for fear that He would think she was wasting food.
Because she ate two extra small pieces of meat when she was a child, He told her grandmother that she ate too much and couldn't feed her, and that she only picked out delicious food. She was a white-eyed wolf.
From then on, she only wanted to be full, and she felt that it was not a loss for He to raise her.
"Let's eat." Ji's mother pulled her down and served her soup enthusiastically, "This bone soup is very nourishing. You need to eat more mutton. Look how thin you are. You don't even have a few ounces of meat on your body."
"Thank you, aunt. I'll come by myself and I'll serve it to you." Qiao Xin was flattered and stood up again.
"We're not from a wealthy family, how can we have so many rules?" Ji's mother smiled, put the bowl in front of her, and picked up another bowl to serve herself.
Qiao Xin thanked her again, holding the bowl of soup, and waited for Ji's mother to drink it first before she started.
The soup is delicious, not greasy and sweet, with a touch of Chinese medicine flavor.
During this period, Ji's mother was still cutting meat for her, "She is still growing, so she needs to eat more."
Qiao Xin looked at the meat in the bowl, holding the bowl tightly with her slender fingers, and quietly glanced at Ji Huai, who was sitting opposite, holding the bowl and eating.
Ji Huai watched their interaction and chuckled from time to time without saying anything.
There were emotions in her eyes, and she was a little sad.
People are different after all. Her fate was probably to be randomly invited by Mr. He to marry into a house. According to the other person's temperament, it was almost impossible to marry well. She could only hope that he would be good to her.
As long as husband and wife are of the same mind, it will be okay to live a worse life.
The person Yun Shiqiao despised, the person she wanted to get rid of, was the person she dreamed of, the person she longed for and didn't dare to hope for, so she could only take a cautious look at her.
If there were no accidents, she and he would not have too many interactions in this life; in the next life, she would like to be reincarnated and live in a good family, and then meet him again.
"Eat more, and go back when you are full." Ji's mother continued to bring her food, and from time to time she would ask about Yun Shiqiao's situation.
Qiao Xin answered one by one, trying to be as detailed as possible.
She could see that Ji's mother was still very anxious about Ji Huai and Yun Shiqiao's marriage, and wanted to set a date as soon as possible.
"Mom, it's time to eat." Ji Huai interrupted Ji's mother and changed the subject, "Didn't you say you wanted to eat this spicy tofu for a few days? I made it today and you haven't taken two bites yet."
"Have I not started eating yet? Your cooking skills are getting better and better. After a few days, we will open the restaurant. When we save some money, we will take your father to the city to see a doctor. The doctors in the city have better medical skills. This is exquisite." Ji's mother said and went to pick up the tofu.
This period has been a bit hard, but everything is moving in a good direction.
"Uncle will definitely get better." Qiao Xin also said.
Ji's mother was very happy after hearing this and ate half a bowl of rice more.
The half-day at Ji's Restaurant was Qiao Xin's happiest half-day. When she walked back, she had a smile on her lips and a brisk pace.
When she met the Yun family, she calmed down.
He specially came to ask her, "What did you do when you went to help today?"
"Make a fire and knead the dough." Qiao Xin replied.
"Let me tell you, it's just making fire and kneading dough. Who doesn't know how to do it? Ji Huai is my boss. Early in the morning, I have to eat a bun and fetch several buckets of water." Yun Hao rushed. He came over and said angrily, "When he was making stuffing, I couldn't even peek even if I wanted to. There was so much work to do."
Qiao Xin frowned when she heard what he said. Yunhao was obviously exaggerating. Ji Huai was not that unkind. He even let her eat snacks made of shrimps. He rested when she was tired and did not order her around.
"I asked you to help, not to stand and learn. Of course you have to be busy. Ji Huai even praised you and said he would teach you next month. You are lazy at home. This time, you can't do anything. I'm spoiling you!" Yun Shide scolded Yun Hao, his face ashen.
Qiao Xin is still here, but this stupid son can't speak beyond his head.
"I don't care, I just want to rest and let her continue to help. I will go again next month." Yunhao lowered his face and refused to give in.
He is exhausted, no one understands him, he has been used by Ji Huai for this month, and he is still called lazy!
If it weren't for Xiao Cui and money, he wouldn't be too lazy to do it.
He looked at Qiao Xin. She tried her best to hide her emotions. She was really afraid that the other party would not let her go.
After a while, a smile appeared on Mr. He's face, "Xiao Hao has never suffered much in his life. This month has indeed been hard for him. How about you go and help for a few more days?"
"The inn hasn't been very busy recently, and Shiqiao has been busy with his own work recently. Just go and help the Ji family. They are also in a difficult situation now."
She said it nicely.
"As long as aunt arranges it, I can do it." Qiao Xin had no reaction.
"Then go ahead and do your best if there is any work at the inn in the afternoon." He didn't give her a choice. In her opinion, Qiao Xin was not even as good as the waiter in the shop, she was just a free servant. Girl, she still feels like she's at a loss.
"Um."
Qiao Xin often does chores, but it's different from kneading dough. Even though it's not hard work, she still does one action frequently, and her hands are still sore and swollen.
When having dinner, she rubbed her hands and didn't eat much. In fact, she deliberately showed her discomfort, otherwise He would think that she went to Ji's house to enjoy a good life, and her heart was unbalanced.
Moreover, after eating the rice cooked by Ji Huai, I felt that the soup on the table was all watery and lacked flavor.
Everyone saw that she was uncomfortable. Yun Shiqiao glanced at her a few times, but no one said anything. In their opinion, her discomfort was borne by Yun Hao, which was really satisfying.
Especially Yun Shiqiao. If Ji Huai treated Qiao Xin differently, she would not be so calm.
When she woke up the next day, her discomfort was much lessened. Qiao Xin packed up and went to Ji's Restaurant.
Ji Huai came earlier today than yesterday. He was the only one in the whole kitchen. Moreover, he had already kneaded the dough and steamed the first steamed buns.
"Sorry, I'm late." She felt very guilty and walked over quickly.
"It's not late. I went to bed early and woke up early yesterday. My mother went to bed late to serve my father, so she asked her to come later." Ji Huai walked to the side to make stuffing, explained, and then looked at her again, "Today Are your hands sore and swollen when you get up?"
Qiao Xin was embarrassed, lowered her eyes and acquiesced.
"I told you not to exert so much force. If you didn't listen, you would definitely be sore and swollen, but it will be fine in a day or two." He seemed to have expected it.
She rubbed her hands and said, "It doesn't matter. I used to have pain when I was working."
"The buns and dumplings are cooked. There is eight-treasure porridge in the pot. Let's have breakfast first and then work after eating." He pointed to the side.
"No need...I'm not hungry..."
Before she finished speaking, he had already interrupted, "You can only have the strength to work when you are full. I have had breakfast. It would be too harsh to ask you to work when you are hungry. It is still early."
As he spoke, he walked to the stove, picked up a bun and put it down, "How about you eat dumplings? There was some filling left when making the dumplings, so some dumplings have too much filling."
"Eat more meat and gain weight."
Qiao Xin was so confused that she was clearly arranged. She sat on the table in the kitchen, with large dumplings with thin skin and lots of fillings in front of her, and a bowl of sticky eight-treasure porridge.
In the Yun family, she didn't dare to serve it so thickly.
A bit extravagant.
Ji Huai was busy at work, but he was not in a hurry at all. He was slowly making steamed buns. She couldn't eat with peace of mind. She was only thinking about how to eat faster.
My mind is in a mess and I just want to eat in a hurry.
At this time, Ji Huai, who had his back to her, spoke, "Eat slowly. It rained a little last night. Not many people took to the streets today. If we make more, we won't be able to sell them all. I won't make them after I finish this basket."
Qiao Xin: “…”
Seeing Ji Huai, who had finished his work, sitting opposite her, holding the spoon tightly in his hand, he was extremely ashamed, "I'll come early tomorrow."
She came here to cheat and eat some big dumplings. Yesterday, she cheated to eat shrimps. She wanted to find a gap to get in. How could she do this? Make him lose money.
"No, you're early and you have to stand at the door to feed the mosquitoes." He seemed a little helpless at her performance, "I'm not short of your food. If it's not enough, then I'll have another big bun."
She shook her head like a rattle, "That's enough, that's enough."
"You are too thin. If you come here and eat more, you will gain more weight." He said the same thing as Ji's mother.
Qiao Xin lowered her head, trembling her eyelashes, and whispered two words: "...Thank you."
How nice of him.
Why wouldn't Yun Shiqiao want such a person
Except for her grandmother, no one had ever been so kind to her. As for her kindness, she only dared to treat her secretly from the bottom of her heart. From time to time, she would give her tips on how to survive and teach her how to live better under He's hands.
"You are too easily satisfied, so easy to support?" Ji Huai finally said this, as if he said it casually.
Qiao Xin didn't know what he meant by that. She sounded like she wasn't satisfied and thought it would be harder to make a living? An idea appeared in her mind, but it was too fast. She didn't catch it, and Ji Huai didn't say anything more.
It's almost dawn, and Ji's mother is here.
She had her breakfast and started working.
Qiao Xin went to help her sell steamed buns. Some people saw it and joked with a smile, "Is this your daughter-in-law or your daughter?"
Ji's mother laughed loudly, "No, but I want to recognize her as my goddaughter."
"It's good to be a goddaughter. A daughter is considerate." The person who came to buy buns continued.
Qiao Xin's eyes flashed, could she do it
Before any extravagant hopes could be raised, the little flame was extinguished again. He and Yun Shiqiao would not agree, but grandma would support it, but grandma had not been in good health in recent years, and she did not want her to worry about it anymore.
After selling the buns, Ji's mother had to go back to get medicine for Ji's father and fry them, so Qiao Xin took the initiative to do some finishing work.
She came back after cleaning up, and Ji Huai came back too. He still had a bunch of candied haws and some snacks in his hand.
"Here you go." He handed over the bunch of candied haws and said, "You should like this kind of sweet. I just saw Xiao Wa and bought him a bunch. I bought the old gentleman the last bunch. I can go back earlier."
Xiao Wa is a child who lives across the street from Ji Huai's family. His grandfather is Ji Huai's enlightenment old man. He used to be a child, and everyone in the town knows him.
"I… "
"Take it, I haven't paid you for your help." He put it into her hand, walked aside, and put down the snacks in his hand, "I bought some food. Come and see what you want to eat. You can bring it with you." go back."
How dare Qiao Xin ask for it? She came to help for a long time and only had a meal of shrimps and a lot of meat, which was worth a lot of money. She was already embarrassed enough.
"Don't you want to choose?" He turned to look at her and reminded, "Eat quickly, the sugar will melt in a while."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qiao Xin looked at the candied haws in her hand. She was so scared that she put it to her mouth and took a bite.
"Is it sweet?" he asked suddenly.
Her face suddenly turned red, like a confused kitten. She stood awkwardly, her heart trembling slightly and uncontrollably throbbing.
Sweet.
Sweeter than any candy she had ever tasted.
He didn't wait for her answer and picked up the snacks on the table, "If you don't choose, I'll get you two things, peanut cake and pine nut cake. They both taste good."
"Take it back to Shiqiao?" She still didn't have time to recover.
"Here you go." Ji Huai replied without thinking too much, automatically ignoring Yun Shiqiao, and continued, "Didn't I say that? If you come to help, you will get some benefits. If you want to eat something, you can tell me explain."
How could she make demands
Ji Huai forced her to take those two things back.
She was reluctant to eat it and hid it at the bottom of the cabinet in her room.
The job that Yunhao avoided became her happiest time. She counted the days secretly, hoping that this month would never end.
She was like a thief who had stolen this happy life, cherishing it even more, longing to live slower and slower, with excitement and reluctance to let go.
Every day, Ji Huai always asked her to have breakfast first, and her lunch was too good. She had to control herself every time, otherwise she would have to eat two bowls of rice, which would be too embarrassing.
But Ji's mother always asked her to eat more. Ji Huai would sometimes take the last remaining rice and give each person a little in their bowls, saying not to waste it.
She had to eat at least a bowl and a half for every meal.
Her clothes were a little tight, so she must have gained weight. What if she couldn't fit them in
Before he had time to worry, the end of the month was here. Yun Shide said to Yun Hao at the dinner table that night, "From tomorrow onwards, you will go to help, do you hear me?"
"Oh." Yunhao was reluctant to return after being lazy for so long.
He took the opportunity and said to Qiao Xin, "You are helping out at the inn. There is a lot of work left behind these days, so hurry up and do it."
I don't know if it's her imagination, but I feel like Qiao Xin has become taller and gained some weight recently.
Looking carefully, it seems there isn't one.
"I know." Qiao Xin was very disappointed, lowering her head and taking small sips of her white rice.
The Yun family is waiting for Yun Hao to learn Ji Huai's craftsmanship, and then open a shop to grab business. Yun Shiqiao can't wait any longer. The county master's son has asked her out several times. If he doesn't go, he will be disrespectful to others. She I am also afraid that the other party will lose patience.
In the end, I couldn't help it, and secretly went to meet him several times in private, and I agreed.
Before Yunhao learned anything, Ji's mother had already saved enough money and came to Yun's house to propose a date for the two children to get married.
"I've let people see it. There are a few good days next month. You can choose one of your in-laws. If the marriage of the two children is decided earlier, we can rest assured."