Chapter 18: I Will Treat Ah Mo Well

Shen Mo had a close relationship with Commander Li’s family and didn’t want to reject their kindness. He smiled and said, “Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

“I heard from Old Li that your wife has come to live with you in the military. He asked me to look after you. It was too late yesterday, so I came today to meet you. Where is your wife?”

Sister Li looked behind Shen Mo and happened to see Jiang Ning walking out of the main room.

Seeing Shen Mo talking to someone, Jiang Ning stepped forward.

When Sister Li saw Jiang Ning, she was a little surprised. “Oh my, what a pretty and delicate girl, just like the beauties on the calendar.”

Sister Li hadn’t read much, so she wasn’t subtle in her compliments and just said what was on her mind.

Jiang Ning knew she was beautiful, but being praised so much still made her a bit embarrassed.

Seeing her approach, Sister Li continued, “I’ll call you Young Jiang. My family grows a lot of vegetables. If you ever run out, just come to my house and pick some. Don’t be shy.”

Sister Li was so enthusiastic that Jiang Ning didn’t know how to respond.

She turned to look at Shen Mo, who nodded.

Seeing him nod, Jiang Ning knew that Shen Mo had a good relationship with this woman’s family. She smiled and said, “Alright, thank you, Sister-in-law.”

Sister Li was delighted to see Jiang Ning looking like a flower. She held Jiang Ning’s hand and chatted for a while longer.

Jiang Ning responded politely. Although the woman’s enthusiasm made her feel a bit awkward, her heart was in the right place.

Sister Li chatted with Jiang Ning about everyday matters, “Young Shen has always been alone before. Now that you’re here, it’s great. During festivals, he’ll have someone close by.”

“Yes,” Jiang Ning nodded. “I will treat Ah Mo well.”

Jiang Ning wasn’t just being polite. Since Shen Mo treated her well, she naturally wanted to treat him well in return.

As Sister Li left, Shen Mo’s ears were still ringing with Jiang Ning’s words about treating him well. Even though she had said it so casually, his heart couldn’t help but race.

She had called him Ah Mo.

“Pickled mustard greens!” Jiang Ning noticed the things in Shen Mo’s hand.

Seeing her interest, Shen Mo handed the items to her.

Jiang Ning was wondering how to cook the pork belly Shen Mo had bought when she saw the pickled mustard greens in his hand.

In the modern world, few people made their own pickled mustard greens anymore. People in this era were mostly simple and made many of their own foods. These pickled mustard greens were oily, black, and had a rich aroma.

They were perfect for making braised pork with pickled mustard greens.

“I’m going to cook now,” Jiang Ning said and hurriedly took the things to the stove with great energy. Shen Mo smiled and continued to work with the hoe, reclaiming the wasteland.

In the kitchen, Jiang Ning first soaked the pickled mustard greens and then started processing the pork belly. The pork had already been cleaned, so she didn’t need to do much.

After washing the pork thoroughly, she put it in a pot with some smashed ginger and cold water. She brought it to a boil and cooked it for a few minutes before taking it out to drain.

While it was draining, Jiang Ning went to the house to get some toothpicks and poked many small holes in the pork skin. Then she evenly applied soy sauce to color it. Poking holes would make the meat more flavorful.

After applying the soy sauce, she heated oil in a pan and fried the pork skin side down until it was golden brown. Once the skin had bubbled up white, she took it out and soaked it in cold water. This was the key to getting the tiger stripe effect.

After it cooled, she evenly cut the pork into large pieces. Jiang Ning took a bowl and mixed soy sauce, white sugar, pepper, and other seasonings to make a sauce. She then put the sliced pork into the sauce and mixed it to coat the pieces evenly.

The pickled mustard greens were put in the pan and stir-fried with the remaining sauce. The aroma was already wafting out.

Jiang Ning swallowed, seeing that it was almost done. She took it out and put the pickled mustard greens into a bowl where the meat was already arranged. She then steamed it in a pot of boiling water.

In no time, the enticing smell of meat filled the air.

Shen Mo, who had been doing the land on the right side, smelled it halfway through. The aroma was even better than the dishes from the state-run restaurant.

Just from the smell, he knew the taste would be excellent.

Could his wife really be this good at cooking?

While the meat was steaming, she steamed white rice on another stove.

An hour later, both the white rice and the meat were steamed to perfection.

Jiang Ning washed the pot, then cooked a vegetable soup.

Everything was ready.

At the same time, Shen Mo had just finished doing a large plot of land and heard his wife calling him for dinner, “Shen Mo, it’s time to eat.”

Shen Mo?

Why not Ah Mo?

Shen Mo felt a bit disappointed, but he quickly clapped his hands, washed them at the sink, and then went to the kitchen to help Jiang Ning carry the dishes.

The piece of pork belly Jiang Ning had made into three bowls of braised pork.

“Take one bowl to Sister Li,” Jiang Ning said. She remembered the pickled mustard greens Sister Li had given her. Without them, she couldn’t have made this dish.

Shen Mo nodded. “Alright.”

Whatever his wife said, he would do.

Shen Mo took a bowl of braised pork and headed out. Jiang Ning didn’t have the habit of eating alone, so she followed Shen Mo to the door and waited for him to come back.

Just then, a loud clattering sound caught Jiang Ning’s attention.

She looked in the direction of the noise and saw four or five children, none of whom she recognized.

Just as she was about to look away, two of the children moved aside, and Jiang Ning could see the child in the middle more clearly.

It was Zhiqi.

Jiang Ning raised an eyebrow. So, he did have friends.

She had thought, given his withdrawn nature, that he didn’t have any friends at all.

At that moment, one of the sturdier-looking children suddenly pushed Huo Zhiqi. “You like to eat, don’t you? Here, have your fill, hahaha!”

With one child taking the lead, the others quickly joined in, pushing and shoving Huo Zhiqi.

Jiang Ning frowned and quickly walked over. “What are you all doing?”

Seeing an adult approaching, the group of children scattered.

Jiang Ning walked up to Huo Zhiqi and immediately noticed that he looked a bit dirty, his hands were soiled, and she looked down at the ground.

On the ground lay a lunchbox, and all the food inside had spilled out. That in itself wasn’t a big deal, but what made it worse were the two caterpillars that suddenly emerged from the white rice.

Jiang Ning’s expression immediately soured. She seemed to understand something and asked him, “Is this why you don’t bring lunch with you?”

Huo Zhiqi silently looked at the food on the ground, feeling regretful that the white rice had been wasted like this.

Jiang Ning knew that the child was used to being quiet and reserved. They hadn’t known each other for long, so it was normal that he wasn’t ready to open up to her.

However, she had taught him for a few days and had developed some affection for him.

Jiang Ning reached out to take his hand and said gently, “Come on, let’s go have lunch at my place.”

Huo Zhiqi looked at Jiang Ning’s clean hand and then at his own dirty one. Just as she was about to take his hand, he subtly moved away.

Jiang Ning missed his hand and tapped him on the head. “You little rascal, don’t you recognize me as your teacher?”

She then sighed dramatically, “Oh, I’m so heartbroken.”

“No!” Huo Zhiqi, hearing her sad tone, suddenly became anxious. He wanted to tug at her clothes but pulled his hand back, lowering his head and saying, “Sister, I’m a bit dirty.”

He was often pushed to the ground by the two sons of Uncle Wang. Every time he returned to Uncle Wang’s house in such a state, Aunt Wang would look at him with disdain. Grandma Wang also didn’t help him wash his clothes; he had to do it himself.

But he couldn’t say that.

And he definitely couldn’t say that it was Wang Xiaotian and Wang Xiaodi who had made him like this.

^[1]In Chinese, the prefix “Ah” is commonly used as an informal and affectionate way to address someone, often a family member, friend, or someone close. It is typically added before a … Continue reading