Gu Qingyao did not have any inhibitions today, so she did her best for every dish.
She steamed the sausages and they were still steaming hot when she brought them out. Gu Jinlin almost drooled when he saw them glistening with oil as she sliced them.
The bacon was stir-fried with potatoes and their delicious scent was alluring!
The dried fish was soaked in water, then cut up and braised in soy sauce. The dried chicken was also braised in soy sauce. It was so satisfying to eat spicy food in the depths of winter.
She minced the mutton chops before boiling them into mutton soup on the stove, then she added cabbage and vermicelli.
She had considered that the two older folks preferred bacon, so she made the bacon less spicy.
Then she fried an omelette and laid out a platter of shelled peanuts. Scallion pancakes formed their staple. There were many people today, so she made four pots of scallion pancakes.
She cut up the pancakes, placed them in a small basket, and put it on the table in the main room.
When the table was set, Gu Jinlin’s eyes almost fell out of his head. There was chicken, fish, meat, eggs, a big pot of mutton soup, and a plate of shelled peanuts.
Shelled peanuts were extremely rare. Even very important old people might not be able to obtain them.
In fact, the table was full of rare items.
Even the scallion pancakes. This was the first time in his life that Gu Jinlin was eating scallion pancakes that glistened with so much oil. He could not help but gulp.
Lastly, Gu Qingyao brought out a bottle of Maotai. Gu Jinlin’s eyes grew even wider.
Gu Qingyao said, “Have a seat! Let’s eat!”
There were six of them – Gu Conghua, Wen Ruyu, Gu Yunshen, Mo Beihan, Gu Jinlin and Gu Qingyao. It was a little crowded when they all sat at the little table.
The large bowl of steaming hot mutton soup was the most popular. Mutton was a heaty food, and it warmed them as they drank mutton soup on a snowy day like this.
The soup had lots of cabbage and vermicelli, and could be considered a vegetable dish.
With a table full of good food and wine, it was difficult to remain in a bad mood!
Everyone sat down and their chopsticks kept moving until at last, they ran out of scallion pancakes. But Gu Yunshen refused to allow Gu Qingyao to make anymore. It was already late at night. A mouthful more or less made no difference.
Everyone drank the mutton soup and ate the dishes. At last, everything was gone, even the mutton soup.
Gu Jinlin burped contentedly. He felt that this was the most satisfying meal of his life.
He was so full he could barely move, but he still sighed, “What a waste!”
Many people did not get such nice things to eat in an entire year!
Gu Qingyao: “…”
Mo Beihan: “…”
It was completely dark outside. Today, the wind was stronger and blew in several directions, which was why Gu Qingyao had made so many dishes. The wind blew the aroma away, and it dispersed in the air.
It was late, and Mo Beihan needed to go home. Gu Qingyao poured the mutton soup she had saved in a ceramic jar, sealed it, and handed it to Mo Beihan.
“I prepared this for Aunt Jiang and the two children. It’s still warm. Give it to them to warm them up.”
Mo Beihan did not refuse. He looked at what he was holding, then glanced at her. He mentally calculated that this little girl would be 16 years old in 6 days’ time.
“Wait a moment, I have something for you.”
Gu Qingyao left Mo Beihan waiting while she ran to her room and brought out a scarf and a parcel. She put the black scarf around Mo Beihan, then handed him the parcel and said, “The scarf is for you. The parcel contains quilted jackets for Chengrui and Chengxu, and there’s a muffler for Aunt Jiang. She can wear it around her neck to keep it warm in winter.”