Chapter 33: Lu Xiang Has Some Skills

Chapter 33: Lu Xiang Knows Her Stuff

Fu Qinhui returned home with thirty pounds of raw duck necks and over ten pounds of raw duck wings.

He had borrowed a bicycle from the co-op to bring them back. Lu Xiang was delighted to see these ingredients.

She had just bought a tricycle and was eager to kick things into high gear. As soon as Fu Qinhui set the items down, she immediately went over to massage his shoulders, showing great enthusiasm.

Fu Qinhui said, "I also got the address of that old man. I told him to come by tomorrow, and if he doesn’t show up, we can go to his place."

Lu Xiang replied, "You’re so thorough." She had only mentioned it to him yesterday, and he had already done so much.

Lu Xiang immediately started cleaning the duck necks and wings, then boiled a spice-infused water to soak them and remove any gamey taste.

When her sisters-in-law returned and saw Lu Xiang busy at work again, they quickly stepped up to offer their help.

"Fourth Sister-in-Law, you’re making duck necks again? Can I invest this time?" Third Sister-in-Law Fu spoke her mind readily, and the other sisters-in-law chuckled. They had been wondering how to bring it up.

Third Sister-in-Law Fu had broken the ice for them.

Second Sister-in-Law Fu said, "Yes, we’d like to invest too."

"How much per share this time?" Eldest Sister-in-Law Fu chimed in.

The profit was essentially free money, and none of the three sisters-in-law had other sources of income. They were afraid Lu Xiang would leave them out.

Everyone knew Lu Xiang had bought a tricycle and was still in debt.

Lu Xiang said, "It’s still one yuan per share, but you’ll have to work." Lu Xiang’s health wasn’t as good as others’, and as production increased, she would need helpers. The Fu family members were hardworking, and selling food was still a sensitive matter.

She didn’t want the villagers to find out, so having the Fu sisters-in-law help was the best option.

Eldest Sister-in-Law Fu said, "Deal. Just tell us what rough work needs to be done."

Second Sister-in-Law Fu added, "Yeah!"

Third Sister-in-Law Fu said, "Don’t hold back."

Lu Xiang assigned them tasks: one person to trim the fatty glands from the duck necks, as they were unhealthy to eat. She also asked someone to get more water while she prepared the ingredients. She sent Third Sister-in-Law Fu to buy ten pounds of soy sauce. There was a soy sauce factory in the neighboring brigade, and locals often went there to buy soy sauce.

Bulk soy sauce was half the price of bottled ones from the supply and marketing cooperative and provided better color.

The soy sauce factory in the neighboring brigade was a village enterprise. Though not far from their village, that village was much better off. Every year, each household received over a hundred yuan in dividends. In earlier years, women from Da Yu Village had even preferred marrying into that village.

Third Sister-in-Law Fu said, "Sure." She was a bit slick and disliked tasks like carrying water or washing things, but she loved running errands. Buying soy sauce also gave her a chance to chat about everyday life with people from the other village.

Xiao Cailian watched quietly and whispered to Fu Qinhui, "The wife you married is quite something." The three daughters-in-law were good people, but each had their own quirks. For instance, the eldest daughter-in-law was honest but stingy, the second loved finding fault, and the third was the most talkative in the family.

Lu Xiang had married into the family later and had faced some turmoil, yet everyone now followed her lead. She really had skills.

Fu Qinhui glanced at Lu Xiang. She was busy chopping ginger, cutting dried chilies, and working nonstop.

Seeing her daughters-in-law all occupied, Xiao Cailian started preparing dinner. The Fu brothers helped with repairs, chopping wood, carrying water, and other rough tasks. Soon, smoke rose from the Fu family’s chimney.

Lu Xiang began stir-frying the spices, then added the duck necks to stew. Third Sister-in-Law Fu returned with the soy sauce and brought two small bottles as well, looking pleased with the bargain. As she entered the yard, she said, "Their village really knows how to do business. Since I bought a lot, they gave me these two small bottles." Each small bottle would have cost thirty cents.

Lu Xiang added a large spoonful of soy sauce, and the duck necks quickly took on a deep, enticing reddish-brown color.

Xiao Cailian called everyone for dinner.

In the past, Lu Xiang had always cooked dinner. Even though the dishes were simple home-style meals, her cooking was exceptionally delicious.

Xiao Cailian’s cooking was also good, but it couldn’t compare to Lu Xiang’s. Everyone had gotten used to Lu Xiang’s cooking, and now they found Xiao Cailian’s meals less satisfying.

"Mom, maybe you shouldn’t cook next time."

"Right. It’s nowhere near as good as Fourth Sister-in-Law’s."

Xiao Cailian was annoyed: "You all ate my cooking just fine before Lu Xiang came, and I raised you all. Eat it if you want, or leave if you don’t."

The Fu brothers couldn’t tell if their mother was truly angry or just teasing them, so they all fell silent.

Noticing everyone slowing down as they ate the coarse grain steamed buns, and seeing half a basket left uneaten, Xiao Cailian felt both amused and exasperated: "From now on, I’ll cook every day. It’ll save food, I guess."

If Lu Xiang had cooked, the entire basket of coarse grain steamed buns wouldn’t have been enough. Somehow, Lu Xiang could make even coarse grain steamed buns soft and fluffy.

Before Lu Xiang arrived, Xiao Cailian had never thought there was anything wrong with her cooking. But after Lu Xiang came, she began to doubt her skills!

Third Sister-in-Law Fu was still looking forward to tasting Lu Xiang’s duck necks. However, the braising started late and wasn’t ready by bedtime, leaving her craving badly. Before going to sleep, she discussed with Third Brother Fu: "Tomorrow morning, let’s ask Lu Xiang to save some for us. We can even buy one if we have to."

Third Brother Fu was exasperated by his wife’s craving: "If Mom finds out, she’ll scold you for sure."

Third Sister-in-Law Fu snorted: "As if you don’t want to eat any. Stop pretending." She then turned over and pulled the cord to turn off the light.

By evening, many households had already gone to sleep.

Only Lu Zhaodi’s home was still brightly lit. Lu Zhaodi’s mother seemed shaken by her daughter’s earlier disappearance. Instead of returning to her own room, she insisted on sleeping with Lu Zhaodi to have a heart-to-heart talk.

Lu Zhaodi’s mother said, "Please don’t worry me like that. I know you’re upset that Lu Xiang married well, and I am too! I wanted you to marry into a good family in the county so you wouldn’t have to toil in the fields like your parents." She now regretted it, thinking it might have been better if Lu Zhaodi had ended up with Fu Qinhui.

Lu Zhaodi said, "Mom, I know you mean well. I’m determined to marry a city dweller with a stable job. Tell Grandma not to arrange anything for me outside. I have my own plans."

Hearing this, Lu Zhaodi’s mother perked up, sitting up in bed: "What plans? Tell me."

Lu Zhaodi blushed, showing a rare shyness: "I’ve taken a liking to Li Yucai, that Reporter Li you initially arranged for me." Others didn’t know the details, but Lu Zhaodi knew that soon enough, he would be transferred back to Beijing. Life there would be comfortable.

After experiencing such a life, she didn’t want to go back to poverty.

Lu Zhaodi’s mother said, "I’d love to have him as my son-in-law too, but he’s a city person. Would he even consider us?" If it weren’t for Lu Xiang, it might have worked out. But after Lu Xiang exposed the truth about the favor, Old Mr. Li had left with a long face. There might be some obstacles now!