Xue Ling has already made arrangements. In one month, she will be able to raise enough money for her father-in-law to install prosthetic limbs.
More than a thousand dollars was a lot of money in the 1980s, but it was worth it to save the elderly from suffering from illness.
She needs to save 600 yuan, and keep the other dozens of yuan and this month's salary for living expenses.
However, Xue Ling did not make it too clear, fearing that Cheng Tianyuan would be too stressed if he knew that installing prosthetic limbs would cost a lot of money.
He is working hard day and night [Biqudao www.biqudao.vip], and she doesn't want to add to his burden.
For a while now, she was scrambling every day to translate, just to share more with him.
"Gu..." Cheng Tianyuan's stomach growled. He was slightly embarrassed and embarrassed to explain: "I had breakfast early at noon, and I am very hungry."
"Brother Yuan, let's go out to eat!" Xue Ling said with a smile: "I just got the money from my part-time job, and I'm treating you today!"
Needless to say, he must have steamed buns and vegetables for lunch today. Most of the work he does is physical work, and it is impossible not to eat more meat.
Cheng Tianyuan is very frugal. Thinking about how hard it is for her to make money, she is reluctant to waste money by eating out.
"Let's see, let's go to the market to buy something. You buy it and I cook it. It's your treat."
Xue Ling sincerely likes the food cooked by Cheng Tianyuan. The seasoning is just right, the meat and vegetables are well matched, and she often eats it in different ways.
"Well, that's a good idea! In my opinion, you are better than the chef in the restaurant outside!"
Cheng Tianyuan felt happy and smiled softly.
Cooking is actually not easy, so it would be great to be recognized.
My mother at home is used to saving, and she always blames him for using too much oil in the kitchen.
Both parents are very traditional rural people, and they believe that no matter how good their children are, they cannot praise them. He started cooking as a kid, but he never received a word of praise.
My sister, on the other hand, always takes it as a matter of course. She just picks up her chopsticks and eats. She is lazy by nature and never cares about who cooks the food.
He had a gut feeling that he was doing a good job, but he never heard from her. Recently, he often heard her praising his craftsmanship, and seeing her eating happily, he always felt a sense of satisfaction from being praised.
It was around five o'clock in the evening, and everyone was busy preparing to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. The market was bustling with people.
Cheng Tianyuan picked a Chinese cabbage, which was very fresh, weighed three kilograms and only cost 3 cents. He also picked spinach, but he didn't want to pick any meat.
Xue Ling knew that what Cheng Tianyuan did at night was all strenuous work, and he couldn't bear it without eating meat.
"Brother Yuan, I'm greedy and want to eat meat!"
Xue Ling saw a pig's trotters shaved white and tender on the meat stall in front, and walked straight towards the meat stall.
"Boss, how do you sell this?"
The meat seller has a fat head, big ears, and a greasy face. He looks like a veteran who has been working in the pork industry for many years.
"Girl, you know the goods! This is a farm pig raised by a nearby farmer. The trotters are the front hooves, which are the most delicious! I only charge you three yuan to take the whole thing away."
Xue Ling knew that the free-range pigs raised by farmers were not available in big cities. This hoof weighed more than three kilograms, and it cost only one yuan per kilogram. It was indeed not expensive.
"But it's the evening market now. The pigs were killed in the morning, right? They must not be fresh anymore."
The butcher's greasy face showed an embarrassed look.
When Cheng Tianyuan heard that Xue Ling wanted to buy a big pig's trotter, he was afraid that she would buy the wrong thing because she didn't understand the market, so he rushed over with vegetables in hand.
"There are only two of us with such a big pig's trotters, and you have a small appetite. You will probably have to eat them for several days."
Xue Ling glanced at the butcher and deliberately agreed with Cheng Tianyuan, "Yeah, it's really a bit big, and it won't be fresh after being stored for a long time."
People come and go in the market, and those who go to the market are either uncles or aunts, or housewives. It is quite a sight for a couple to go to the market together.
The butcher was a little panicked. They don't like pig's trotters during the Mid-Autumn Festival here. If the young couple left, the pig's trotters would probably lose money.
"No! It's fresh! Little brother, you are tall and strong, and you are young, so this little bit of pig's trotters is not much!"
Xue Ling felt sorry for Cheng Tianyuan who had to do strenuous work all day long, and really wanted to take the opportunity to give him a good refreshment.
Cheng Tianyuan went to the market on weekdays and knew that pig's trotters were more expensive, so he whispered into Xue Ling's ear, "Let's just go over there and buy a pound of pork belly."
Xue Ling has already decided to buy it, thinking that the dinner market will not be too expensive, and waiting for the butcher to lower the price.
The butcher was a little panicked when he saw the two whispering.
"Let's do it, let's do it. Once these pig's trotters are sold out, I can close the stall and go home. I'll give you a cheaper price! Just two and a half yuan!"
Xue Ling was secretly happy in her heart and said with a smile: "We are also cheerful people, so let's take two and a half for two and a half! Brother, please chop it into small pieces for me."
"Buying pork belly for two and a half yuan will last us four or five days." Cheng Tianyuan couldn't help but remind her.
Xue Ling whispered: "We have to go home tomorrow. You braise the pork and dry it tonight, and take it back to your parents tomorrow!"
After hearing this, Cheng Tianyuan thought that his family often couldn't bear to eat some meat for several days, so he immediately nodded in agreement.
She was still thoughtful, and he usually wasn't so attentive when he came home.
The butcher moved quickly and chopped the whole pig's trotters into pieces in a few clicks.
Cheng Tianyuan took the bag from the butcher, thinking it was for his family, so he asked for money——
Xue Ling immediately pulled Cheng Tianyuan's hand away, pouting proudly and mischievously.
"Hey, Brother Yuan, we agreed that I'll treat you and buy the food and you can cook it. Don't break the agreement."
Cheng Tianyuan smiled and nodded.
"Okay, I can't do anything to you, I'll listen to you."
Then they visited several stalls, Cheng Tianyuan just watched, and Xue Ling bought some dry goods, including noodles, mushrooms, dried day lilies, and dried small fish, for another five yuan.
Cheng Tian was a little dumbfounded: "The market is very close and I can come here every day. Why do I buy so many things at once?"
Xue Ling replied: "There are few markets in the countryside. Buy some for home and take them with you when you go back tomorrow. Brother Yuan, if you get hungry after working part-time, you can cook noodles and add some dried fish and mushrooms for seasoning. It will be better."
Eat some."
Cheng Tianyuan heard what she said and had no choice but to agree.
The seller on the side said: "Don't worry, these are dry goods, the bag is tied tightly, it will be fine for a year and a half."
Xue Ling knew all these things. He carefully sorted the things he bought, put them into two big bags each, and finally paid the money after he cut off the remainder with the shopkeeper.
Cheng Tianyuan was secretly happy when he saw her quick and capable work.
He thought that since she was an intellectual, she would not understand such household chores. He was surprised to see how well she bargained for things when shopping.
After returning home, Xue Ling picked and washed vegetables and helped cut ingredients.
"Brother Yuan, is there anything else you need to do?"
Cheng Tianyuan prepared the ingredients for the braised pig's trotters, followed the steps his mother had done before, stirred the sauce and spices step by step, and put them into the pig's trotters to taste.
"I haven't put the garlic and ginger yet. Please help me get some and put them in."
"Okay, it'll be ready soon!" Xue Ling hurriedly washed the ginger, sliced and chopped it, not quickly, but very carefully.
Cheng Tianyuan explained while busy.
"The braised pig trotters made by my mother are very delicious. I heard that this secret recipe was passed down from my grandmother and is usually not passed on to others. I have only seen it and have never tried it. Next time I go home, let my mother cook it for you.
That’s the authentic taste.”
"Wow!" Xue Ling said with a smile: "It's passed down from our ancestors! That must be delicious!"
After a while, Xue Ling finished the ginger and garlic.
"I believe you can do well too! I can't wait to eat what you made! It smells so good!"
Cheng Tianyuan mixed the ingredients and chuckled when he heard the words: "I can't eat hot tofu in a hurry. I have to wait half an hour for it to taste well before I can cook it."
Xue Ling licked the corner of his mouth and muttered: "Okay! I'll wait!"