Chapter 26 Jiang Li’s cooking skills are great

Jiang Li, having bought ample seasonings in the county town, added garlic sauce and chili peppers to the rabbit stir-fry. The aroma filled the courtyard. Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong were also preparing lunch in their room.

They had bought meat, so lunch wouldn’t be bad. However, neither man was skilled in cooking. Before coming to the countryside, they had taken cooking classes. Men weren’t naturally gifted at cooking; even after training, they could only cook edible food, not delicious food. Bai Ziyong looked at the meat in the pot and said, “Brother Xun, you need to improve your cooking skills.”

Mu Jingxun, sensing his friend’s disapproval, said, “Why don’t you say you need to improve? You can’t rely on me for everything.” Bai Ziyong chuckled.

“Brother Xun, you know your limitations. I want to improve, but my cooking is terrible; I don’t want to poison you.”  They then smelled the aroma of Jiang Li’s cooking.

Bai Ziyong sniffed deeply. “Brother Xun, it smells amazing! It’s better than a national restaurant chef’s cooking!” Mu Jingxun also smelled the aroma. He had been curious about Jiang Li’s cooking skills; he knew she would send him some meat.

 Jiang Li was stewing the rabbit and made some flatbreads to cook on the edge of the pot, absorbing the broth. She would stew the remaining pheasant for dinner; she would have chicken soup and noodles.

 She had stir-fried spicy cabbage and spicy rabbit for lunch. The old educated youth also prepared lunch; they had a pot of bland vegetables.  The aroma from Jiang Li’s room made some feel resentful.

Sun Wenwen, disliking Jiang Li, said, “Jiang Zhiqing is stingy; she’s eating meat alone and didn’t share any with us.”  She hoped the old educated youth would resent Jiang Li. Liu Yulan agreed. The old educated youth thought they were foolish. Ma Gui Xiang retorted, “Didn’t Jiang Zhiqing share game with us yesterday?  You expect her to always share?  You’re shameless; you didn’t share anything, yet you criticize her.

” Liu Yulan and Sun Wenwen’s faces flushed. Peng Zhigang looked at Jiang Li’s room, determined to pursue her. Jiang Li gave Mu Jingxun a bowl of rabbit. Bai Ziyong said, “Jiang Zhiqing, thank you.” Mu Jingxun also thanked her. “You’re welcome. If you like it, you can have more.” Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong didn’t want to take too much.

 Jiang Li went back to eat.  She had eaten with the old educated youth for days; today, she had a delicious meal.  Mu Jingxun and Bai Ziyong ate Jiang Li’s food. Bai Ziyong’s eyes lit up. “Brother Xun, Jiang Zhiqing’s cooking is amazing!” Mu Jingxun agreed.  He compared her cooking to his own.  They ate the rabbit quickly.

After lunch, Jiang Li meditated for an hour.  She had a pheasant for dinner and wouldn’t hunt again until she finished her current food.  In the evening, Peng Zhigang reminded the new educated youth to rest early; they would start working tomorrow. Jiang Li meditated before sleeping.

The next morning, the educated youth got up, had breakfast, and went to the rice paddy field to receive their work assignments.