Chapter 376: The Visit
Chapter 376: The Visit
Zhou Zhou held a basket of seashells that Jiang Xia had prepared for her, and Li ran out.
Zhou Zhou didn't bring sweet potatoes, as they preferred to continue searching for missed fish in the sweet potato fields after harvesting and then digging them out to roast.
After Zhou Zhou went out to play, Zhou Chenglei washed Jiang Xia's hair.
After Jiang Xia finished washing her hair and went to take a shower, he started to wash the vegetables, then steamed the rice, and also steamed the meals for Zhou Chengxin's family.
In a while, her older brother would come over to collect the gold bars, and since they helped with the fish distribution today, they might as well stay for dinner.
After Jiang Xia finished showering and came out, he also washed the seafood, including the seashells, the bag, and the abalone. He soaked the vermicelli and prepared the garlic chives, so that when they returned, they could just steam it.
As for the other dishes, Zhou Mu had already sliced a plate of smoked ham and washed a basket of snow peas and pea shoots.
In a while, he would bring back a mullet for steaming, which would be enough for the dish.
Zhou Chenglei said to Jiang Xia, "Xia Xia, I'll go to the dock to check if the fish distribution is done. After I come back, I'll steam the seafood, and we can have our meal. Don't stay in the yard blowing your hair, the wind is strong! Go back inside and put on an extra layer of clothing."
Jiang Xia responded, and only then did Zhou Chenglei ride his motorcycle to the dock.
Not long after Zhou Chenglei left, Jiang Xia glanced at the time, it was already 5:00 pm.
She planned to start cooking in another 15 minutes.
Jiang Xia closed the courtyard gate, returned to her room, and waited for her hair to dry while translating.
Before she could finish translating a page, Jiang Xia heard someone knocking on the courtyard gate: "Xia Xia! Xia Xia, are you home?"
Jiang Xia closed her fountain pen and went out to open the courtyard gate.
The visitor was Feng Xuexin, the eldest daughter-in-law of the neighboring house, Pan Daidi.
Feng Xuexin smiled and said, "Xia Xia, I brought a bag of wax gourds from my parents' home today. I want you two to try them. My mother grew them, and they are very sweet."
Jiang Xia glanced at the two wax gourds in her hand, which were about the size of coconuts, and smiled, "Thank you, it's not that I'm being polite, but we also have a big bag at home! I'm afraid we won't be able to finish them and they'll go to waste. Look, aren't there two on the windowsill of our kitchen? There's also a big bag inside."
Jiang Xia pointed at the windowsill of the water kitchen with her finger.
Feng Xuexin took a look, and indeed, there were two wax gourds.
She smiled, "I didn't expect you to have them too. Did Auntie grow them? Auntie is the best at growing vegetables in the whole village."
Jiang Xia smiled, "They were also given to us by someone else."
Zhou Mu was very skilled at growing vegetables, and the vegetables in their home grew well, and they got to eat them a few days earlier than the villagers.
However, she didn't grow wax gourds, but she did grow tapioca.
Jiang Xia remembered Zhou Mu mentioning a few days ago that they would dig up the tapioca in a few days to make some tapioca starch.
The wax gourds were brought by Zhou Chenglei's comrade, and he brought two large bags. One and a half bags were taken on the boat, so there was actually only half a bag left at home.
Feng Xuexin hadn't given away the wax gourds, and she found it a bit difficult to bring it up.
Jiang Xia noticed her hesitation, and without time to accompany her, she directly asked, "Is there anything else?"
The relationship between the two families had soured long ago, but Feng Xuexin was not like Pan Daidi, and her husband was not like Zhou Junjie.
Usually, when they met outside, the couple would proactively greet Jiang Xia's family.
At least, they maintained a superficial harmony.
However, due to the relationship between Pan Daidi and Zhou Junjie, the relationship between the two families was destined to never improve.
Feng Xuexin had been hesitating for many days before coming over. She took a deep breath and directly stated her intention, "Didn't your family buy two new boats? Do you need to hire someone? My husband is available. Don't worry, my husband is not like my younger brother. Uncle Yongfu and Aunt Yongfu also know that my husband is quite steady and diligent. He used to go out fishing on the boat with Uncle Yongfu when they were in the production team."
Although Zhou Junwen seemed to have a steady and reliable character, unlike Zhou Junjie's exaggerated behavior, Pan Daidi would be released soon.
Jiang Xia didn't want to cause trouble, and she smiled as she politely declined, "I know that both of you are hardworking and capable, but we've already hired someone."
Feng Xuexin couldn't hide her disappointment upon hearing this and asked, "You've hired someone?"
Jiang Xia smiled and replied, "Yes, we have. Please have a seat, and I'll start a fire to steam the vegetables."
Feng Xuexin quickly said, "No need, I won't sit. I also need to go back and cook. I'll head back now."
She placed the two wax gourds on the well cover and said, "Try these sweet potatoes my mother grew."
As Feng Xuexin turned to leave the courtyard, she saw Li Xiuxian pushing a bicycle and entering.
Feng Xuexin greeted her, "Ms. Li is back."
Li Xiuxian had been her son's teacher when she taught at the village primary school.
Li Xiuxian smiled and responded.
Zhou Ying happily greeted Jiang Xia, "Auntie! Where's Zhou Zhou?"
Jiang Xia didn't understand why Li Xiuxian had returned and smiled in response, "Zhou Zhou went to the fields with her brothers to roast sweet potatoes."
Zhou Ying immediately jumped off her bicycle and exclaimed, "I'm going too!"
Then she ran out.
Li Xiuxian reminded her, "Be careful and don't get your clothes dirty."
"I know."
Jiang Xia greeted Li Xiuxian, "Second Sister, where's Second Brother?"
Li Xiuxian explained, "He hasn't returned yet. He has a dinner engagement tonight. I came back to find someone in the village to go out to sea with my father and the others."
Feng Xuexin had already walked out of the courtyard, but upon hearing this, she immediately turned back and asked, "Ms. Li, are you planning to hire someone to go fishing at sea?"
Li Xiuxian replied, "Yes!"
Feng Xuexin said, "My husband is free, and you know that Junwen is a hardworking and honest person."
Of course, Li Xiuxian knew Zhou Junwen, as she had lived in the old homestead for several years after her marriage.
Zhou Junwen was indeed hardworking, but Zhou Junjie was the opposite, lazy and gluttonous.
However, Zhou Chensen had asked her to come back and ask if his uncle's younger cousin, Jian Sheng, was available.
Moreover, Jiang Xia had put Pan Daidi in a difficult situation, and she was aware of it.
She said, "I need to ask if Ah Sen's younger cousin is available. If he's not, I'll look for you."
Feng Xuexin felt disappointed again and smiled, saying, "Alright, if you need anything, feel free to ask us."
"Good!"
"Then I'll go back and cook."
"Mhm."
After Feng Xuexin left, Li Xiuxian asked Jiang Xia in a low voice, "Was she also here to ask if you're hiring boat workers?"
Jiang Xia picked up the snow peas that she had washed on the well cover, ready to start cooking, and nodded upon hearing this, "Yes, but we've already asked Jianxing Brother."
Li Xiuxian said, "Don't worry, I know you and them aren't on good terms! I won't ask Zhou Junwen for help. I'll go and ask if Jian Sheng is available, and I'll be back to cook later."
After Li Xiuxian finished speaking, she turned her bicycle around.
Jiang Xia stopped her, "Second Sister, the meal is already cooked. I don't know how much you'll eat, so you might as well steam the portion you want to eat first!"
"Oh, you're cooking so early."
"I went out to sea today, and after Chenglei steams the meal when I return, I'll go to the dock."
Li Xiuxian had no choice but to park her bicycle and go steam the meal for herself and her daughter.
She washed the rice clean and placed it on the stove, saying to Jiang Xia, "Xia, when you steam the seafood later, please help me by steaming the rice in the iron pot!"
"Second Sister, you start the fire! I'm not good at starting fires, and I just washed my hair. I'm afraid the firewood ash will dirty my hair."
Li Xiuxian: "..."
(End of Chapter)
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