Chapter 46: Poached Chicken

Chapter 46: Poached Chicken

Song Xilan didn’t think too much about it; she simply didn’t want Jiang Chengxiao to stay for dinner at Lin Weihong’s house.

She cheerfully continued introducing: "This is grandpa, that’s auntie, cousin Tingting, and cousin Yongkang."

Jiang Chengxiao greeted each one in turn.

Grandpa was a tall, skinny, and lively old man, squatting at the door smoking a water pipe. Hearing the introductions, he tapped his pipe on the sole of his shoe, nodded at Jiang Chengxiao, and smiled warmly, clearly not a man of many words.

But Jiang Chengxiao was naturally sociable. He squatted beside grandpa, showing great interest in his water pipe, asking all sorts of curious questions.

After Song Xilan warmly greeted each family member and brought over a bowl of hot malted milk drink that grandma had prepared, grandpa had already enthusiastically taken out his tobacco pouch, letting Jiang Chengxiao smell the tobacco he had grown himself.

"Here, grandma made this for you to warm you up. See how good grandma is to you? I don’t even get this treatment!" Song Xilan handed the bowl to Jiang Chengxiao.

Jiang Chengxiao took it without hesitation, said, "Thank you, grandma," and drank it all in one go.

The malted milk drink was sweet and delicious, and after drinking it, his long-empty stomach felt much better.

Grandma handed another bowl to Song Xilan: "You little foodie, when have I ever treated you unfairly?"

Song Xilan held the bowl and sipped it slowly.

To be fair, grandma made two more bowls and called over Tan Yongting and Tan Yongkang, the children of her uncle, to drink.

Thirteen-year-old Tan Yongkang happily ran over to drink it.

But Tan Yongting said, "Grandma, I won’t drink it. You have it. I’m not like some people who only think about eating and drinking. This malted milk drink was specially bought by uncle for you and grandpa to nourish your bodies. How could she have the nerve to drink it?"

This Tan Yongting was the cousin who had cried when grandpa made candied haws for Song Xilan.

There was only a little sugar at home, and she had been craving it, behaving well to earn a bowl of sugar water as a reward. But all the sugar was used up to make candied haws for Song Xilan.

Even though later, because of this, her aunt had bought a big bag of sugar and sent it back from the city, she was still angry. She was the most dutiful, caring, and hardworking granddaughter in the family, so why did grandma and grandpa treat the mischievous Song Xilan so well?

Hearing this, Song Xilan wasn’t angry. She grinned and replied, "Tingting, have you seen the bag I brought back? There’s a pair of leather shoes inside that I bought for you. Do you like them?"

Tan Yongting: Ugh, so annoying! She knew I really wanted a pair of leather shoes and deliberately used this to tempt me, making it impossible for me to stay angry.

But she couldn’t pretend she didn’t like them: "Really for me? They look quite nice."

"Of course, they’re for you! They’re a style for young girls. By the way, there’s a popular windbreaker jacket in the city now, made of waterproof fabric and in very nice colors. But it’s always out of stock in the stores, hard to buy. I plan to get one for the New Year, and I’ll get one for you too!"

Tan Yongting fought to keep a straight face: "I know you’re earning a salary now, but don’t spend money recklessly. I have enough clothes."

"Right!" Song Xilan suddenly remembered something, "Uncle, why didn’t you let Tingting go to high school?"

Tan Jianhua: "She struggled and decided to quit."

Tan Yongting was three years younger than Song Xilan. She finished junior high last year and should have started high school this fall. But there was no high school in the commune; to attend, she would have to board in the county town. Almost no one from the village went, and Tan Yongting followed the trend, returning home to work and earn work credits after junior high.

In the past, Song Xilan would have thought nothing of it; everyone did the same. But now that she knew about the upcoming university entrance exam, her perspective had changed. If Tan Yongting went to high school now, she might be able to take the exam. If she got into university, it would bring such honor to the family!

"Uncle, let Tingting start high school next year. As a young girl, she can’t earn many work credits at home. At least with a high school diploma, it would be easier for my uncle or dad to help her find a desk job."

Tan Jianhua: "I’ve been saying the same thing. Nowadays, even in our commune, you need a high school diploma to get a desk job. Tingting, listen to your sister. Next year, we’ll go to high school."

Tan Yongting: This has to be her revenge!

Auntie Tan called from the kitchen, "Time to eat!"

The two children from Uncle Tan's family, along with Song Xilan, eagerly got to work—some wiped the table and moved stools, others arranged bowls and chopsticks, and some brought out the dishes. In no time, a steaming hot meal was ready on the table.

In the center was a golden, tender boiled chicken, a locally raised three-yellow chicken with shiny, golden skin, still shaped like a whole chicken after slicing. Beside it was a small dish of scallion and ginger oil for dipping the chicken.

There was also a soup made with the chicken broth and loofah, stir-fried chicken gizzards with green peppers, a plate of oily cured meat, steamed pumpkin, stir-fried greens, and a bowl of white rice for each person.

It was practically a New Year’s feast.

Auntie Tan invited Jiang Chengxiao to sit beside Tan Jianhua and poured each of them a glass of wine. "Don’t be shy, Xiao Jiang. Have a couple of drinks with your uncle."

When the elder spoke, Jiang Chengxiao didn’t dare refuse and quickly raised his glass. "Uncle, I’ll toast to you."

Auntie Tan then picked up a chicken leg, placing one in Jiang Chengxiao's bowl and the other in Song Xilan's. "Try this. Grandma Lan Lan raised this chicken just for when Lan Lan comes home. It’s been running around the mountains, so the meat is very firm."

"Thank you, Auntie," Jiang Chengxiao quickly expressed his gratitude but then picked up the chicken leg and placed it in Tan Yongkang's bowl. "Yongkang is still growing. He needs more nutrition."

Tan Yongkang was a little embarrassed and tried to refuse, but Song Xilan spoke up, "Just eat it!" She then gave her own chicken leg to Jiang Chengxiao. "Just eat it. Stop passing it around. You’re only getting this because it’s your first time here. Next time, it won’t be your turn."

Jiang Chengxiao had no choice but to take it. "Then I won’t be polite."

Song Xilan caught Tan Yongting’s resentful gaze and picked up a chicken wing for her. "You have this one. When you get into college, you’ll go far."

"Hmph," Tan Yongting softly snorted, but a hint of happiness showed in her eyes.

Auntie Tan’s cooking was excellent. Even though it was simple farm food, it was packed with flavor.

Despite his tall and sturdy appearance, Jiang Chengxiao wasn’t much of a drinker. After just two glasses, he was already tipsy, with his ears turning red.

Tan Jianhua asked Auntie Tan to prepare a room for him to rest.

He himself, with a slight drunken sway, walked out with his hands behind his back.

"Uncle, where are you going?" Song Xilan asked.

"To the commune to bust some gamblers at the Tugang brigade!"