Chapter 29: Uncle Jiu, When It Comes to Cooking, You're the Best in the Village
Chapter 29: Uncle Jiu, When It Comes to Cooking, You're the Best in the Village
Afternoon.
Since Deng Shirong had invited Captain Deng Yunjun over for dinner when he bought the bicycle, he had carefully prepared a sumptuous feast. The dishes included fried bee larvae, fried peanuts, braised pork, spicy river snails, dry-fried frog legs, stir-fried green beans, cold cucumber salad, cold water spinach salad, and a bowl of steamed carp soup.
When Deng Yunjun arrived and saw the table laden with delicious-looking dishes, he couldn’t help but widen his eyes and exclaim, “Uncle Jiu, a couple of dishes and a few drinks would have been fine, but why did you go all out? This looks like a proper banquet!”
Deng Shirong smiled and replied, “It’s not often I get to treat you to a meal, so I wanted to make it special. Besides, most of these dishes are things no one else in the village eats. As long as you don’t mind, it’s all good.”
Deng Yunjun took a closer look and realized Uncle Jiu was right. Among the meat dishes, bee larvae, river snails, and frog legs were all common in the area, but few people in the village ate them. He couldn’t help but wonder how Uncle Jiu managed to make them look so appetizing.
“Uncle Jiu, I brought you some sandworms. You can use them to make soup,” Deng Yunjun said, handing over a package he had been carrying.
Deng Shirong quickly declined, “Captain, you’re being too formal. You’re here for dinner, no need to bring anything so valuable. I can’t accept this; you should take it back when you leave.”
Deng Yunjun laughed, “Uncle Jiu, you’re joking. What’s so valuable about these? A few years ago, no one even wanted to trade sweet potatoes for them!”
Deng Shirong had experienced this himself and knew Deng Yunjun was telling the truth. In the past, people from the coast would come to the village with sandworms and other seafood to trade for sweet potatoes, but few villagers were interested.
After all, they didn’t live by the sea, and no one knew what sandworms tasted like. Plus, times were tough, and no one wanted to trade several dozen pounds of sweet potatoes for just a few pounds of sandworms, thinking it was a bad deal.
However, having lived in the future, Deng Shirong knew that good sandworms could sell for thousands of yuan per pound, making them a luxury that many families couldn’t afford.
Still, sandworms weren’t expensive now. After a bit of polite refusal, Deng Shirong accepted the sandworms. “Alright, I’ll take them. Ah Zhen, put them away. Yun Tai, pour Captain a drink.”
After giving these instructions, Deng Shirong invited Deng Yunjun to sit down.
Deng Yunjun looked at the bowl of golden-fried bee larvae and remarked, “Uncle Jiu, you’re frying bee larvae for a drink? You must really not mind the oil cost!”
Deng Shirong smiled, “Fried bee larvae are a perfect match for a drink. You’ll see how worth it it is once you try them!”
Deng Yunjun picked up his chopsticks. “You’re right, I’ve eaten bee larvae before, but never fried. I’ll try this dish you’re raving about.”
As he spoke, Deng Yunjun picked up two fried bee larvae and popped them into his mouth.
There’s no need to elaborate on the taste of fried bee larvae; even in the future, few could resist it. In this era, where meat was a rare treat, Deng Yunjun couldn’t stop eating once he started.
And this table wasn’t just about the fried bee larvae. The braised pork, spicy river snails, and dry-fried frog legs all had their own unique flavors.
After trying each dish, Deng Yunjun finally put down his chopsticks and raised his glass. “Uncle Jiu, from today on, when it comes to cooking, you’re the best in the village.”
Deng Shirong raised his cup and clinked it against his friend's, smiling. "At our age, eating is the most important thing. Let me tell you, while your teeth still work, eat what you want and don’t hold back. Once your teeth are gone, all the delicacies in the world won’t do you any good!"
Deng Yunjun took a sip of wine and nodded. "You’re right, Uncle Ji. Your wisdom is truly profound."
Deng Shirong laughed heartily. "I just enjoy a good meal. Don’t overestimate me!"
The two continued to chat and drink, with Deng Yuntai occasionally joining in. The younger ones, unable to contribute much to the conversation, simply focused on their meals.
The drinking session began around 5:30 PM and continued well into the night. They lit a kerosene lamp and kept drinking until about 8:00 PM when they finally called it a night.
By then, Deng Shirong, his son, and Deng Yunjun were all feeling quite tipsy.
Deng Yunjun stood up, swaying slightly. "Uncle Ji, I’ll head back now. Let’s drink again soon."
Deng Shirong nodded and instructed, "Yunheng, take a lamp and see Captain out."
Deng Yunjun waved him off. "No need, it’s just a short walk. I can manage on my own!"
Deng Shirong, though tipsy, was still clear-headed. "It might not be a moonlit night. Let Yunheng take a lamp and see you home."
Deng Yunheng picked up a kerosene lamp. "Bro Yun, what are you talking about? Let’s go."
Deng Yunjun, seeing the insistence, didn’t refuse further. He said his goodbyes and left with Yunheng’s help.
Once Deng Yunjun was gone, Deng Yunzhen called out, "Ah Zhu, clean up the dishes. I’ll get hot water for Dad’s bath."
Deng Yunzhu replied, "Got it!"
The sisters went about their tasks, one clearing the table and the other heading to the kitchen to prepare the hot water.
Deng Shirong, holding his water pipe, watched them with a mix of pride and sorrow. In his previous life, both his daughters had married poorly. Their husbands were good-for-nothings, and none of his grandchildren amounted to anything.
He had seen his daughters just a month before he was reborn. His eldest looked like a woman in her seventies, and his youngest wasn’t much better, her face etched with deep wrinkles.
His daughters had worked tirelessly all their lives, both at home and in their husbands’ households, never truly getting a moment’s rest. As their father, it pained him to see their struggles.
Of course, he also felt deep regret. Their marriages had been arranged by him, based on the words of matchmakers.
In this life, he was determined to be more discerning and find suitable matches for his daughters, ensuring they lived happy lives far different from their previous ones.
As Deng Shirong was lost in these thoughts, his eldest daughter, Deng Yunzhen, called out, "Dad, I’ve drawn the hot water. The towel is in the bucket, and your clothes are on the stool. You’ve had quite a bit to drink today, so come and take a hot bath before you go to sleep!"
"Alright, I’m coming!" Deng Shirong replied, setting aside his water pipe.
Wishing all the readers a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
(End of Chapter)
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