747 Learning to Cook
It was better to wait until there was a chance in the future to slowly deal with Qiao Zhuang’s family. They probably would not have too many chances to do that in this life. Soon, they would leave Foshan Village for good.
They might even want to bring Li Gui and the children to the capital in the future. The educational system there was better. Also, these children were all smart. Zhang Wei could go with Xia Xiu to join the army, Zhang Chao could learn from Xia Wen and eventually enter the university, Zhang Qin could learn dance from Xia He, and Zhang Miao would likely recover faster if she went to the capital to recuperate.
With Zhang Wei’s help, Qiao Mei became even more proficient in taking care of Qiao Qiang. After a few days, Qiao Qiang could sleep soundly without needing the splint.
Qiao Mei asked Zhang Wei to apply a hot towel to Qiao Qiang’s ribs every day. The towel was soaked with water that was mixed with a large amount of 100-year-old ginseng juice. She believed that Qiao Qiang’s body would recover very quickly after absorbing it for a few more days.
At this moment, it was an important period of the autumn harvest. Everyone was focused on working in the fields and every family was busy. Qiao Mei did not intend to idle at home. She brought the excess vegetables from her house to the kitchen of the village canteen.
This village canteen only opened during the spring and autumn harvest seasons. In the beginning, free food was provided here. The higher-ups would distribute food and the villagers would eat whatever was given. However, the amount of food they grew could not meet the requirements of the higher-ups at all. Later on, in order to reduce losses, they continued to distribute food, but asked everyone to use food stamps to pay for the food. After that, fewer people came.
The people who did manual work needed to eat a lot of food every day. Auntie Dong said that her husband could eat six big steamed buns in one meal. When he was full, he could work more nimbly.
The food here was not delicious at all. No one liked to go to the canteen to eat. If this continued, the village canteen would close soon.
“Mei Mei, you’re here! Are you eating at the canteen because you didn’t cook today?” Auntie Dong said warmly.
Back then, Auntie Dong did not manage to become the director of women’s affairs, but she became a manager in the village canteen and she seemed smug every day. As the saying went, food was the most important thing for the people. She might be just a manager but she was in charge of the most important thing!
However, the “most important thing” that she cooked was really unpalatable. Many villagers had to brace themselves when they came to the village canteen to eat.
“I’m here to help. I think you’re all so tired. I have nothing to do at home now. Since I’m pregnant, I should do some appropriate physical activities.” After saying that, Qiao Mei picked up the kitchen knife and started cutting vegetables. It was going to be mealtime soon.
Many people did not come to the canteen immediately when it was time to eat. They would always consider it for a long time.
“Huh? Why does the food taste different today?” Uncle Dong asked as he looked at Auntie Dong.
Auntie Dong smiled so widely that the corners of her mouth almost reached her ears. She said happily, “You’re really lucky to be here today. Qiao Mei is here to cook in our canteen! You have to eat more today.”
Soon, the news that Qiao Mei was helping out in the canteen spread around. People who did not usually go to the village canteen to eat arrived at the canteen on time every day, afraid that there would be no more food if they were late.
Qiao Mei continued to help out here for more than half a month. By then, everyone’s favorable impression of her could no longer be described as fondness. It was more like admiration.
Those who had daughters in the family used Qiao Mei as an example and asked them to learn from her and try their best to be “the second Qiao Mei in the village”.
This was so that when it was time they got married in the future, they would not be left on the shelves.
In the past two days, there were even people who brought their 10-year-old daughters to the village canteen to follow Qiao Mei around and learn culinary skills from her. They wanted to know how she could cook so well.
As time passed, Qiao Mei could not stand the fact that there were so many children following behind her every day. It was as if she was a hen with a bunch of chicks behind her every day.
“Aunties, let the kids go home. There are so many kids crowding around here that there’s no room to do actual work,” Qiao Mei said.
“My child is already 16 years old and doesn’t know how to cook! I’m so anxious! She’s at the age to get married, but why doesn’t she worry about it?” Auntie Zhang, who worked in the canteen, said anxiously.
“I only started cooking after I got married. Don’t you know what I used to be like?” Qiao Mei said with a smile.
Auntie Zhang sighed. How could her children compare to Qiao Mei? They were stupid and were not good at anything.
