Afraid that Qi Jiao would catch a cold, Pei Jin immediately washed the wedding dress she had taken off without hesitation.
The weather was fine, and the gentle breeze blew, making the colorful clothes on the clothesline flutter and rustle.
Qi Jiao noticed that among them was Pei Xia's clothes. Remembering that she had vomited all over Pei Xia yesterday, she suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.
She had to do something to repay the Pei family.
Qi Jiao took a stroll around the yard to familiarize herself with the layout of the Pei family's house.
The houses of the Pei family were all made of bricks and stones, and there was also a high stone wall around. They looked simple but very solid.
At the entrance, there was a main hall where the memorial tablets of ancestors and the statues of the Sea Gods from all directions were enshrined. It was not used on ordinary days and would only be opened when there were major events in the family.
The courtyard gate was on the right side of the main hall. After entering the yard, there were three main rooms, one bright and two dark. Tang Guiniang lived in the east room.
The two rooms in the west wing were occupied by Pei Jin and Pei Li respectively. The main room in the east wing was Pei Xia's room, which was also nominally his bridal chamber. Pei Xia had rolled up his bedding and gone to sleep in Pei Li's room last night, so this room was temporarily let Qi Jiao stay in.
There was a small storeroom behind the main house, where farm tools, fishing nets and other sundries were stacked.
The kitchen, chicken coop and pigsty were in the back yard. There was also a green vegetable field reclaimed in the back yard, planted with scallions and chives. There were some climbing vines beside it, and several big yellow pumpkins had already grown under them.
Finally, Qi Jiao came to the kitchen. This was the place where she could show her skills the most.
There were still a lot of ingredients left from yesterday's wedding banquet.
Qi Jiao saw some blanched streaky pork, selected green vegetables, cleaned fish meat, and scallops that had spit out the sand in the basin. She was very satisfied. She rolled up her sleeves and began to get busy.
She planned to make stewed pork slices, spicy fish balls, stir - fried seasonal vegetables, and add a steamed scallop with garlic sauce and a seafood soup.
Four dishes and one soup would be more than enough for the lunch of five people.
When Pei Jin came in to steam the rice, Qi Jiao was frying the streaky pork slices, which were about one finger wide, until both sides were golden.
Her proficiency made Pei Jin admire her very much.
Watching Qi Jiao stew the meat until it was thick and fragrant, squeeze out round and smooth fish balls one by one with her thumb and index finger, and the green vegetables were fresh and tender. Not to mention the steamed scallops and seafood soup that had already emitted a delicious fragrance.
Qi Jiao picked up a piece of stewed pork slice and asked Pei Jin to taste it.
It was fragrant but not greasy, and melted in the mouth.
Pei Jin felt that all the meat she had eaten before was in vain. She kept nodding at Qi Jiao, so fragrant that she couldn't even speak.
"Hey, when did we have a guest at home?"
Pei Li came back with a bucket of fish and shrimps. He glanced at the busy figure in the kitchen.
Pei Xia looked in the same direction. The young lady had a slender waist and fair hands, with a smiling red lip. She was standing gracefully beside the kitchen stove, cooking.
It was Qi Jiao. Although she had changed a lot, he could still recognize her.
The gauze on her head was wrapped by him.
Seeing them coming back, Pei Jin said cheerfully, "Brother, A Li, go wash your hands quickly and get ready for lunch. We're in for a treat today!"
"Why hasn't mother come back yet? I'll go out and have a look."
Just as Pei Jin finished speaking, Tang Guiniang came back.
However, her face didn't look very good. When she saw Qi Jiao coming out with the dishes, she was also greatly surprised.
Was this young lady as beautiful as a pearl Qi Jiao?
Tang Guiniang's mood suddenly became complicated.
She told Pei Li to go to the kitchen to help, and motioned Pei Xia to follow her into the room.
Tang Guiniang sat on the narrow couch in the east room. Through the open window, she peeked at Qi Jiao over there and asked Pei Xia, "What's your opinion on Jiao Niang?"
Pei Xia's face froze for a moment. After pondering for a while, he said, "Let her recuperate at home first. After her injury recovers, I'll ask for her opinion."
Tang Guiniang nodded, "She's also a poor child. This matter happened by accident. If she's willing to be the new bride of our family, I have no objection."
Then she changed the subject, "But what if she's not willing? She's been released from her contract by Miss Guo and is free to come and go. Although her name has been changed on the marriage certificate, we haven't given her a betrothal gift. After all, it's not reasonable. I'm afraid we'll wrong her."
Pei Xia looked at his mother and pulled out a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, "I'll explain it to her. Money can be earned. I won't let her suffer."
Tang Guiniang said that was good, "But this wedding of yours has cost a lot. You'll have to work harder to earn money."
Pei Xia knew that his mother had borrowed twenty taels of silver from the neighboring Cai and Ye families to make this wedding look decent.
After all, just the betrothal gift alone had emptied the family's savings over the years.
So he frowned and said, "Don't worry, mother. These days, the seafood is fat. I'll go on the boat earlier every day and pay back the money as soon as possible."
Tang Guiniang knew that her eldest son was capable. He had really worked too hard over the years. If it weren't for the Qi family's mischief, the family's situation wouldn't have become like this.
Thinking of what she had seen today, she couldn't help scolding Qi Laoda and his wife Qian Shi, "Those heartless wolves! The eight - mu paddy field they gave us is in a too low - lying area. It's not a paddy field at all! Half of it has already been flooded by the sea water and can no longer grow rice."
After scolding the Qi couple, Tang Guiniang frowned worriedly again, "It's a pity that our two families have already signed the deed. It's not easy to back out now. It'll be a hassle."
Pei Xia frowned and planned to give Qi Laoda another blow when his arm was almost healed.
He said, "Don't worry, mother. I'll go and have a look later."
Tang Guiniang sighed, "All right, go and have lunch first."
They had lunch in the main room. The small round table was filled with all kinds of colorful dishes, and the aroma was very appealing.
Tang Guiniang sat at the head of the table, with Pei Li and Pei Jin on her left and right sides.
Pei Xia sat down beside Pei Li. Qi Jiao stood aside, looking a bit awkward.
Pei Jin noticed her restraint and smiled as she pressed her onto the stool beside Pei Xia, "Sister Jiao Niang, you sit here just right."
Qi Jiao had originally planned to sit with Pei Jin. She really didn't know how to get along with Pei Xia. It was too embarrassing.
Pei Jin's sudden action almost made Qi Jiao fall onto Pei Xia's lap...
Pei Xia looked up at her. Qi Jiao's pretty face blushed. She quickly sat still and picked up the chopsticks.
Pei Jin couldn't help laughing, trying to liven up the atmosphere, "Mother, Sister Jiao Niang cooked today. All these dishes were made by her."
As soon as Tang Guiniang saw the color and smelled the fragrance, she knew that Qi Jiao was not lazy.
So she said gently, "Jiao Niang, you're injured. You can leave these jobs to A Jin."
Qi Jiao smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. Anyway, I'm free. A Jin has helped me a lot."
Hearing this, Tang Guiniang didn't say anything more and told them to start eating.
Teenage boys have big appetites.
After Pei Li served dishes for Tang Guiniang, Pei Xia and Pei Jin, he picked up his bowl and started eating. He quickly gobbled up the stewed pork slices and marbled eggs in his bowl.
Pei Jin preferred the steamed scallops with garlic sauce and ate them slowly.
Pei Xia's eyes only lit up when he took the first bite, and then he didn't stop using his chopsticks.
He ate very fast and ate everything. His eating manner was unexpectedly smooth and good - looking.
Tang Guiniang also tasted a piece of stewed pork slice and couldn't help praising, "This meat has a strong flavor."
She then picked up a fish ball and put it into her mouth. Looking at Qi Jiao again, her eyes were quite kind, "Jiao Niang's cooking skills are really good. Did you learn in the Guo family?"
Qi Jiao's smile froze for a moment. She said vaguely, "I stayed in the big kitchen of the Guo family for a while before and learned a little."
Tang Guiniang said no wonder. She began to change her opinion of Qi Jiao.
Qi Jiao slowly ate the rice in her bowl. She almost knew the preferences of the Pei family members.
Everyone was very satisfied with this meal. Almost all the dishes on the table were wiped out.