Chapter 19: Ran Jinnian Cooks

“Thank you for your hard work.” Ran Jinnian stepped forward to carry the bags.

Zhou Xiangyang immediately waved her off: “Sister-in-law, the things are heavy, I’ll take them.”

Ran Jinnian didn’t insist. She quickly went inside and poured him a big bowl of sugar water. “Thank you for your hard work. Have some water.”

Zhou Xiangyang put down the bags and drank the water in large gulps. “Sister-in-law, don’t be polite. I’m close to Commander Lu. If he’s not around, just tell me if you need anything.”

Ran Jinnian poured him another cup. “Dinner is ready here. Come taste Sister-in-law’s cooking.”

“No need, Sister-in-law,” Zhou Xiangyang waved his hands repeatedly.

Ran Jinnian frowned slightly. “If you’re this polite, then I won’t bother you with anything in the future.”

“Then I’ll be at your service, Sister-in-law.”

Zhou Xiangyang grinned. Seeing the hoe lying on the yard, he just went outside and started working the soil.

“Don’t move, sit down and rest.” Ran Jinnian quickly followed him outside.

“Sister-in-law, this little patch of land is nothing, it’ll be done quickly.”

Zhou Xiangyang kept digging.

Ran Jinnian had no choice but to return inside to prepare dinner.

Since Zhou Xiangyang was staying for dinner, she couldn’t go into the space or take meat from it.

Fortunately, there were plenty of vegetables in the kitchen.

She planned to make: hot and sour shredded potatoes, tea tree mushrooms stir-fried with cured pork, tiger-skin green peppers, and a vegetable and egg soup.

Even the rice was no longer plain rice—it was mixed with sweet potato, sorghum, millet, and other grains.

The dishes were simple, but quite abundant.

Ran Jinnian got busy. She washed and cut the vegetables, then rinsed the rice and started steaming it.

“Sister-in-law, the soil is ready,” Zhou Xiangyang called from outside.

Ran Jinnian grabbed a handful of fried peanuts she had brought from home, poured a glass of water, and went outside. “Take a rest for a bit, you’ve really worked hard.”

Zhou Xiangyang washed his hands. “Sister-in-law, you’re too polite. This little patch of land is nothing. Back home, I plow over ten acres in a day.”

“That’s really impressive,” Ran Jinnian couldn’t help but say.

Zhou Xiangyang thought for a moment. “Sister-in-law, that bag has vegetable seeds. I’ll plant them for you.”

Ran Jinnian hadn’t expected him to be so industrious, always working since he arrived. “Why rush? Sit down and rest first.”

“Sister-in-law, this little patch won’t take long,” Zhou Xiangyang insisted, ready to start again.

Ran Jinnian laughed and cried at the same time. “You’ve already helped me so much today. If I let you plant vegetables as well, I won’t dare ask you to come next time.”

Hearing this, Zhou Xiangyang said, “Sister-in-law, what are you talking about?”

“Then just sit and rest properly. Can’t you chat with me for a bit?” Ran Jinnian grabbed a handful of peanuts and shoved them at him.

Zhou Xiangyang could only sit back down.

“Hahaha!”

At the courtyard gate, Lu Jinyuan heard his wife’s laughter and Zhou Xiangyang’s voice: “Sister-in-law, you don’t know, Commander Lu was so angry back then.”

Lu Jinyuan didn’t know what they were talking about. He quickly went inside. “Wife, I’m back.”

He saw Ran Jinnian laughing until tears streamed down her face. As soon as Zhou Xiangyang saw him, he immediately closed his mouth.

“What are you two talking about?” Lu Jinyuan glanced at Zhou Xiangyang.

Zhou Xiangyang didn’t dare meet his gaze.

Oh no. He had just shared an embarrassing story about Commander Lu.

“Just chatting. Since you’re back, I’ll go start cooking,” Ran Jinnian said, brushing the peanut shells off her hands.

Lu Jinyuan didn’t want his wife to work hard. “I’ll cook.”

“The rice is already steamed, and the vegetables are washed. Just stir-fry them. I’ll take care of it quickly,” Ran Jinnian said, not wanting him to be tired after a long day.

Lu Jinyuan grabbed her hand. “I’m here. Cooking is my responsibility.”

Ran Jinnian felt a warmth in her heart.

“You two watch your tone, there are others here,” Zhou Xiangyang said awkwardly.

Lu Jinyuan smirked. “You wouldn’t understand. You don’t have a family of your own.”

Zhou Xiangyang: “….”

Ran Jinnian patted Lu Jinyuan’s hand. “You two chat, I’ll go cook.”

Back at her parents’ home, although Ran Jinnian was pampered, whenever her older brothers were busy, she would cook.

Her first dish was tea tree mushrooms stir-fried with cured pork.

The tea tree mushrooms were given by Wang Xiumei. Dried, they smelled fragrant and had a nice chewy texture.

She heated the pan, added the cured pork first. In this era, cured pork was generally fatty, so it easily released oil.

Then she added ginger, garlic, and dried chili to stir-fry. Once fragrant, she added the soaked tea tree mushrooms and stir-fried them. Soy sauce and sugar enhanced the flavor.

When the sauce thickened, it was ready to serve.

A large plate of aromatic tea tree mushrooms with cured pork was done.

Ran Jinnian didn’t wash the pan. Using the residual oil, she made a vegetable and egg soup—a common practice back then, since oil was a luxury.

She also stir-fried the hot and sour shredded potatoes and tiger-skin green peppers.

“Dinner’s ready.”

Ran Jinnian wiped her hands with an apron and carried the dishes out.

“Sister-in-law, the food smells amazing,” Zhou Xiangyang said, looking at the three dishes and one soup on the table, inhaling deeply.

Lu Jinyuan served the rice. “You’re in for a treat today.”

He always knew his wife cooked well, though she rarely did in the past.

Zhou Xiangyang picked up a tiger-skin green pepper. “How do you eat this?”

“It’s our hometown style. The peppers are dry-fried and then stir-fried in oil,” Ran Jinnian briefly explained.

He took a bite. “Delicious, though a bit spicy.”

He quickly drank several mouthfuls of water.

“Sister-in-law, your cooking is really good,” Zhou Xiangyang said, looking enviously at Lu Jinyuan. “Commander Lu, you’re truly lucky.”

Lu Jinyuan looked proud.

Zhou Xiangyang felt a pang of jealousy. When would heaven grant him a wife who’s beautiful, cooks well, and makes delicious food?

After the meal, Zhou Xiangyang rested for a while before leaving.

Lu Jinyuan cleared the table and washed the dishes.

Ran Jinnian returned the hoe and basket to Zhou Hongying. Zhou Hongying was very happy to see her. “Jinnian, you’re here just in time. Da Ya has two questions she doesn’t understand. Can you help her?”

“Da Ya, which questions don’t you get? Show them to Auntie,” Ran Jinnian said, waving.

Da Ya ran over with her workbook. Zhou Hongying thoughtfully brought a stool. “Sit and teach her.”

Ran Jinnian sat on the stool and patiently explained the problems.

“Auntie Ran, I understand now!” Da Ya took the workbook and left happily.

Zhou Hongying poured a glass of water. “If you became a teacher, it would be perfect.”

Ran Jinnian smiled. “Even if I don’t teach, I can still help the children with their homework.”

“That’s true,” Zhou Hongying said, then suddenly remembered something. “Tomorrow, a few of us sisters-in-law are going to town to shop. Do you want to come?”

Ran Jinnian declined. “I won’t. There’s a lot to do at home these days.”

“Do you need anything? I can bring it for you.”

“Sister-in-law, please help me get some fatty pork,” Ran Jinnian said. Thinking of the small amount of lard left, she needed more to render oil.

She originally planned to take it from the space, but since oil was essential, it wouldn’t be right not to buy any.