pertwk Chapter 40 Braised Beef
Chapter 40 Braised Beef
Seeing Liu Sheng's appearance.
Li Ying hesitated and said:
"I'm not used to not being back for so long. But actually, after a few days, I'll... I'll get used to it."
Liu Sheng knew that Li Ying was trying to comfort him, so he patted him on the shoulder.
Wang Zheng couldn't help but say, "Go back and practice your skills diligently. I refuse to believe I can't become like Guo Wusheng!"
Liu and Li knew that the hope was slim, but neither of them had the heart to say that, and instead offered words of encouragement.
The group continued on their way.
Li Ying's family lived in the west of the city, where low-rise mud-brick houses stretched out in a row, and the alleys were narrow and crowded.
Looking at the scene before him, Liu Sheng realized it wasn't much better than the area near the Beggars' Sect's headquarters in Crescent Moon County.
If Li Ying's family was considered well-off, then he couldn't even imagine the situation of Wang Zheng's family.
So when Liu Sheng passed by a butcher shop that looked fairly clean, he decided to go in and buy some meat.
Li Ying quickly stopped him, "Brother Liu, you mustn't! He's a guest, how can we let you spend money!"
Liu Sheng laughed and said, "Where I'm from, if you go to a friend's house empty-handed the first time, people will talk behind your back. A little meat and some vegetables are all you need. Brother Li, you're somewhat looking down on my family's circumstances."
Looking into Liu Sheng's sincere eyes, Li Ying's Adam's apple bobbed, and a hint of emotion flashed in his eyes: "In that case... thank you very much, Brother Liu!"
Liu Sheng then casually asked, "Is Brother Wang's home far from here?"
"It's not far, what's wrong?" Wang Zheng scratched his head, wondering why he was involved.
Liu Sheng didn't answer. He turned around and went into the butcher shop, where he bought several pounds of braised beef and a large piece of cooked lamb liver.
He asked the butcher to divide the meat and liver into three equal portions and took three oil paper bags.
Two of the bags were handed to Li Ying: "This one is bigger. Take it to your house later. We'll eat one bag and keep one at home."
He took another bag and handed it to Wang Zheng: "This is for your family. Take it back quickly. I'll be waiting for you at Brother Li's house for dinner."
Wang Zheng was deeply moved and did not refuse. He was not good with words, so after thinking for a long time, he managed to squeeze out the words "thank you" and then ran home in a flash.
Li Ying led Liu Sheng into his own courtyard.
The two bags of cooked meat in his hands were still warm and fragrant, which soon alerted Li Ying's family, including his mother and his sick younger brother.
Li Ying's mother, a woman with a haggard face but gentle eyes, held Liu Sheng's hand and thanked him repeatedly, scolding Li Ying for letting the guests spend money, and then immediately went to prepare food.
Li Ying's younger brother was exceptionally handsome, but he was usually bedridden and pale.
Now, seeing guests arrive, she struggles to come out, greets them, and doesn't stand for long before sitting on a small stool in the yard, basking in the sun, and inviting Liu Sheng to sit as well.
Liu Sheng sat with him, watching Li's mother and Li Ying busy themselves in the yard. Li's mother baked her own mixed grain pancakes, steamed millet cakes, and took out maltose.
Li Ying then brought over a bowl of braised tofu from his neighbor's house.
Feeling somewhat guilty, he stood up to dissuade him:
"Don't bother, just eat something simple, we'll be leaving soon."
Mother Li wiped her hands with her apron, her face full of smiles: "No trouble at all, it will be ready soon. It's rare for Ying'er to bring such a distinguished guest as you. We don't have much to offer, so please don't mind."
Just then, a commotion arose outside the courtyard gate.
Wang Zheng returned, followed by his parents and his teenage sister.
Wang's father carried a basket of cleaned wild vegetables, while Wang's mother carried her own pickled vegetables. Wang Zheng's sister carried a bag of millet, all the while gazing longingly at the oil paper package that Wang Zheng had brought back.
When Liu Sheng asked, he learned that Wang Zheng's parents did not agree to eat alone and insisted on bringing the food back to share with the guests, and even added extra dishes.
"Sister-in-law, I heard you have a distinguished guest. We are poor and don't have much to offer, just some freshly picked vegetables and pickled vegetables."
Wang Zheng's father was a dark-skinned, thin man, his old clothes were covered in patches, and he had a loud voice.
"If you don't mind, our two families can sit at one table to entertain Chef Liu; it'll make for a lively occasion!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Li hurriedly came out to greet her, saying, "You're too kind! Please come in, please come in!"
A warm feeling welled up in Liu Sheng's heart. He could tell that Wang Zheng's family, like Li Ying's family, was struggling to make ends meet.
Braised tofu, millet cake, and maltose were rare treats that poor families could only afford to eat during the Lunar New Year, and the cooked meat that had just been bought was brought back.
The courtyard wasn't very big to begin with, and with so many people suddenly flooding in, it was lively, but actually quite crowded.
That old wooden table, which had been used for who knows how many years and whose legs were wobbly, was definitely not big enough to seat so many people.
Li Ying felt a little embarrassed and whispered, "Mother, it seems like there's not enough room here..."
Upon hearing this, Li's mother told him not to worry about it, saying she had a solution. She first asked everyone to leave the yard temporarily, then took out brooms and swept the yard clean.
Then he called Li Ying in first, saying he wanted to get a blanket.
"Blanket... Oh, right, right." Li Ying finally realized what his family did.
Mother Li made a living by weaving carpets. Although she had sold all the ones she had woven before to the city, she still had a new carpet in the house. She had originally planned to save it for her son's wedding, but now she could use it for the time being.
The brand-new blanket was brightly colored, thick, and heavy; only Li Ying could lift it.
After the blankets are laid out.
When Madam Li invited everyone in.
All that could be seen was a thick woolen blanket with an ochre-red diamond pattern spread in the center of the courtyard in front of the small mud-brick house. The blanket was covered with honeysuckle patterns woven from stone green and pale yellow, with curled petals that stretched endlessly.
Exquisite and intricate patterns bloom in the drab courtyard, like an oasis in the desert.
After Li's mother spoke a few more words to Li Ying, Liu Sheng saw Li Ying coming to find him.
"Brother Liu, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Only after Li Ying's explanation did Liu Sheng learn that there was a doctor named Cao in the county who specialized in treating difficult and complicated diseases and charged low fees to the poor.
It was clear that Li Ying's condition was critical, but it was only after Doctor Cao came to see him and prescribed a remedy that his condition was stabilized.
So, Li's mother wanted to take advantage of the meat Liu Sheng bought to invite Doctor Cao over for a meal.
Not wanting to make a decision on her own, she asked Li Ying to ask the meat buyer for his opinion first.
"Of course I have no objection!"
Liu Sheng was still wondering if having the surname Cao would have some advantage in becoming a famous doctor. Why was the famous doctor in the neighboring Qili County also surnamed Cao?
So Li Ying hurriedly went out to ask for help.
Everyone took off their shoes and sat around the blanket.
The aroma of braised beef and lamb liver wafted out as the oil paper package was opened.
In the kitchen, the adults on both sides were busy at work. Before long, the fresh aroma of wild vegetables, the dried fragrance of salted vegetables, and the bean aroma of tofu filled the small courtyard.
The two families pooled the three portions of meat together, leaving none for themselves.
Mother Li carefully cut the meat, giving extra meat to Liu, Wang, and Li's bowls, while the rest was divided equally among the adults and children.
There were no exquisite bowls or plates, only rough earthenware bowls with chips, and no fine wines or liquors, only their own cool and sweet well water.
No one rushed to pick up their chopsticks; everyone was waiting for everyone to arrive. It was just a bit of a hardship for Wang Zheng's younger sister, who kept staring at the meat in her bowl, constantly swallowing her saliva.
Before long, Li Ying also brought back a fat man.
"Fatty Cao...the miracle doctor, it's been a long time!"
Upon closer inspection, Liu Sheng realized that the "Divine Doctor Cao" everyone was talking about was actually the leader of the Mingsha Gang in Crescent Moon County.
Cao Dahuang.
I don't know why I came to Qili County.
"Oh, it's Sheng-ge'er!"