My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 79 Misunderstanding
If Qin Qiumei hadn't said it aloud, Chen Ling would have known why this young woman from the family planning office was a bit pretentious and awkward—it was simply because she'd read too many of those old witch novels.

Of course.

Chen Ling didn't have the habit of staring at women; at this moment, his attention was entirely on a freshly slaughtered sheep in Wang Jusheng's yard.

I was quite surprised.

Before coming, he thought it would just be a casual drink, but he never expected to end up slaughtering a sheep.

This guy is a bit extravagant.

"Hehe, how's your fortune? How's my meal today?"

Seeing him in a daze, Wang Jusheng raised his eyebrows with a smug look.

"That's impressive, really impressive," Chen Ling exclaimed.

Today, Wang Jusheng prepared a very lavish spread of ingredients. To thank Qin Qiumei, he gritted his teeth and led two sheep from his father's yard, despite his mother's scolding.

Now that one pig has been slaughtered, there are another four or five pounds of local pork, a string of intestines, and a large amount of vegetables, all left to Chen Ling to do as he pleases.

According to Wang Jusheng, if he were really fined, these things wouldn't be enough to buy several tractors, so he let it go today.

"There's another sheep over there in the pigsty. If that's not enough, we'll slaughter another one. We'll make sure you get your money's worth today."

These words were spoken with such boldness that Chen Ling had even more energy to cook.

He immediately went into the kitchen to start working, and Wang Jusheng followed him in to help.

There weren't many people today, only five in total.

The two of them went into the kitchen, and the other three, not wanting to stand idly by, sat outside the kitchen and helped pick and wash the vegetables.

"Brother Jusheng, do you have any starch at home?" Chen Ling asked, glancing at the soy sauce, vinegar, and seasonings next to the stove.

“Starch? Yes, I just bought it from the township supply and marketing cooperative yesterday. I’ve been thinking about it ever since you mentioned it when you came to my house last time.” Wang Jusheng quickly ran back into the house and took the starch from the drawer.

"How about this starch?"

Chen Ling glanced at it and nodded, "It's enough for cooking."

Starch is mainly used for thickening soups or coating meat dishes to make them tender.

"Alright, the knife is sharpened for you, I'll bring it to you."

Wang Jusheng hurriedly went out and grabbed the knife. "This is a spare one at home, used for chopping meat when slaughtering the New Year's pig. It's very thick. If you're not used to that one, use this new one."

Chen Ling took the knife, washed it with water, picked up a piece of potato, cut it on the cutting board, and smiled at Wang Jusheng, "Hmm, not bad, this knife is easy to use."

They were testing the knife in the kitchen, and Zhao Dahai, not wanting to be left out, joined in.

Chen Ling held down the potato with one hand and raised the knife with the other, getting used to the feel of the knife. He gradually increased his cutting speed, making a series of quick and precise cuts that produced even and fine potato shreds.

Zhao Dahai, who had originally just joined in the fun, suddenly stared wide-eyed.

"Brother, your knife skills are really good."

His shouting brought the two women outside in as well.

"What's wrong, Brother Dahai? Did you cut your hand?" Zhang Qiaoling quickly came over.

"No, I just saw that Brother Fugui chopped vegetables beautifully."

"Oh, that's right. When it comes to preparing food, Fugui is indeed more skillful than my wife," Zhang Qiaoling said with a smile.

Qin Qiumei walked over and took a look, and was also a little surprised.

"These potato shreds are cut so nicely and thinly, but... they're too thin and they're hard to stir-fry."

Before the others could say anything, Chen Ling had already heated the oil in the wok, sautéed the chili peppers until fragrant, and then quickly stir-fried the shredded potatoes. In no time, the golden and translucent stir-fried shredded potatoes with chili peppers were ready.

Before it was served, each of them took a bite and was immediately impressed.

Qin Qiumei, in particular, had only heard bad things about Chen Ling from the villagers and her sister, so she was genuinely surprised.

"I didn't know you had this skill up your sleeve?"

"It's alright, I just wanted to satisfy my cravings at home." Chen Ling forced a smile. The taste was actually quite ordinary, but the key was that no one was leaving, so he couldn't cheat. He couldn't even dilute the cave water and put it in.

Diluted Dongtian water can enhance aroma and flavor, but its effect is greatly reduced when mixed with ordinary water. It will not emit any strange light and has no obvious effects on the body. It only retains some special effects on vegetables and crops, so it is safe to use.

"Don't listen to his nonsense, he's just lazy. Actually, he's very capable. He just stays at home and doesn't like to move when no one is pushing him..." Wang Jusheng grinned and defended Chen Ling.

He then told them some of the things Chen Ling had told him.

"Oh, so you learned your cooking skills from someone else while you were working at the restaurant. No wonder your dishes are so delicious."

Qin Qiumei suddenly realized.

In reality, it was just an excuse Chen Ling used to fob off Wang Jusheng.

His cooking skills were honed in the army; they were only average, but sufficient for the rural areas of this era.

With the addition of water features in the grotto, it can be said to be quite nice.

When Wang Jusheng brought it up to tell others, it was a beautiful misunderstanding.

"I wouldn't call this stealing someone's skills."

Chen Ling shook his head. "I was listening openly and honestly. When the chef scolds his apprentice, even though he's scolding, he makes sure you understand exactly what you did wrong after he's done it."

"I hear it so much every day, and when I think about it privately, I can figure out a lot of things..."

As he spoke, his hands didn't stop; he was making cornstarch slurry with a "swish swish swish" sound.

Then, pointing to the gradually boiling soup pot, he said, "Take thickening the soup, for example. You have to use this spoonful of cornstarch. If you thicken it just right, then the soup will be a good soup. Anyone who thickens it twice will get a beating."

"Huh? Why is that?" Zhao Dahai asked, puzzled.

“If you add the thickening agent with one spoonful, the soup will be clear. You can’t thicken it twice, or the soup will be cloudy and you’ll get a beating.”

As Chen Ling spoke, he demonstrated it to them. And it proved to be true.

The group of people watched in disbelief.

Chen Ling said helplessly, "Comrades, I'm just a half-baked amateur. Let's not just stand by and watch. If you keep watching and talking, I won't be able to do anything."

The group laughed heartily, patted him on the shoulder, and went out to help him with some small tasks.

They didn't stay by their side.

Chen Ling then got to work.

It took about two hours to prepare the meal.

The stir-fried pheasant with chili peppers was made with the half-grown pheasant that Chen Ling brought himself. He originally wanted to make stewed pheasant with mushrooms, but he didn't because he was going to cook mutton later. Since Wang Jusheng's chili peppers were good, Chen Ling stir-fried a whole pot of them.

Half-grown pheasants are pheasant chicks that have just hatched in early spring. There are plenty of insects in the fields and haystacks, so they grow quite plump, with tender meat and even the bones are crumbly.

Chen Ling made a twice-cooked pork dish with local pork. This twice-cooked pork is Chen Ling's real specialty. He was tired of eating it in his previous life, but now that he hasn't eaten it for a long time, it tastes quite different when he makes it.

The mutton stew with radish was cooked in a pot on the earthen stove. The heat was just right. While it was stewing, Chen Ling secretly added two drops of Dongtianxi water to enhance the flavor.

So after it was cooked, even the radish had a strong meaty aroma. The mutton, stewed over firewood, burst with flavor when you picked it up and bit into it. The broth mixed with the meaty taste filled your mouth, and there was no gamey smell at all. The taste was simply indescribable.

There was also a dish of braised pork intestines, which Zhao Dahai specially requested. There's not much to say about this dish; neither of the two women nor Wang Jusheng ate it, only Chen Ling and Zhao Dahai did. The good taste was entirely due to the water from the cave.

The meal consisted of four meat dishes, five simple vegetarian dishes made with tofu, peanuts, wild garlic, and other similar ingredients, along with a large porcelain bowl of soup, all laid out on Wang Jusheng's large round table.

Goodness, as soon as the dishes were served, everyone's chopsticks never stopped.

The mountain delicacies, along with the five grains aged for ten years, made Zhao Dahai loosen his belt, his mouth greasy, and he put his arm around Chen Ling's shoulder, asking him when he was going to open a restaurant.

If Chen Ling dares to open a restaurant, he'll live there and never leave.

That's some serious cooking skill; he was definitely being modest earlier.

The group burst into laughter again.

During the meal, Qin Qiumei gradually relaxed, and it was clear that after this meal, her opinion of Chen Ling had completely changed.

He also understood why Wang Jusheng had been asking Chen Ling to help him with chores every day and also wanted to eat at his house.

Let alone Wang Jusheng, just based on the taste of this food, if it were her, she would also be willing to help Chen Ling with the farm work.

So the woman started chatting with Chen Ling about everyday things, and especially asked him for advice on cooking techniques.

Chen Ling smiled and answered each question. He had said everything he could, so it wasn't his fault if the food wasn't good.

The group chatted and ate until their bellies were round, but they still hadn't finished the food on the table.

Of course, the rest were all vegetarian dishes.

The four meat dishes were completely devoured.

Don't underestimate the quantity of these four meat dishes. In rural areas, it's always quite economical to entertain guests, and the dishes are usually served directly in large bowls. These four meat dishes would be enough for seven or eight people on a normal day.

Because Chen Ling's cooking was so delicious, the group kept eating and finished the food without even realizing it.

"Oh my, I've never eaten so much before. The vegetarian dishes were delicious too, but I can't eat anymore."

Qin Qiumei held her stomach with both hands, exhaled softly, and her forehead and nose were covered with fine sweat.

She thoroughly enjoyed the meal.

But now that I'm full, looking at the leftover vegetables, I feel disappointed and regretful. I just hate that I have such a small appetite.

"It's really delicious. Fugui's cooking skills have improved so much. The last time he cooked at my house, it wasn't this good. I almost swallowed my tongue along with the meat just now."

"Susu is really lucky to be able to eat such delicious food every day."

Zhang Qiaoling laughed in response.

The doll leaning against her babbled incomprehensibly at Chen Ling, then revealed a few newly grown baby teeth and grinned at him.

"Big Head, come here, let Uncle hug you."

Chen Ling reached out his hand to the little baby. The baby wasn't shy at all with Chen Ling. When Chen Ling stretched out his arm, the baby got up from Zhang Qiaoling, wobbled along the chair, and slowly moved towards Chen Ling.

After Chen Ling picked her up, she giggled nonstop, and soon a long drool was flowing from her mouth.

Chen Ling didn't mind, wiped his mouth with her hand, and continued to tease him.

Wang Jusheng's baby was nicknamed Big Head because Zhang Qiaoling stopped producing breast milk after the baby was a month old, and the baby grew thinner and thinner, but his head appeared particularly large, so they gave him this nickname.

She's only eight months old, can't walk yet, and hasn't learned many words. After Chen Ling lifted her up twice, she snuggled into his arms and babbled, not wanting to look for her mother anymore.

Wang Jusheng and his wife watched from the side, smiles unconsciously appearing on their faces.

"Fugui, since you like dolls so much, why don't you hurry up and have them?"

"That's right, since Director Qin is here, you should invite her to your house for meals more often. You can have as many children as you want."

Qin Qiumei chuckled upon hearing this: "How can you discuss how to bribe people in front of others like this? Besides, Chen Fugui came up with the slogan himself, and he even wanted to demolish houses and take away cattle. Who can you blame?"

Then, glancing at Chen Ling, who was playing with the baby in his arms and looking over, he said, "Hey, Chen Fugui, you're not worried that you won't be able to have more babies after you join the township government, so you're not going to go, are you?"

"Hahaha."

"Director Qin, you've hit the nail on the head. That's exactly what this kid thinks."

So Wang Jusheng told her what Chen Ling had said in a low voice at noon, which immediately stunned Qin Qiumei. She opened her mouth slightly and looked at Chen Ling with disbelief.

Then he pointed at Chen Ling, somewhat amused and exasperated, "Chen Fugui, you really are..."

"What's wrong with me? I don't have any great ambitions. Is it wrong for me to just have a whole bed full of babies?"

Chen Ling let Da Tou sit on his lap, glanced at her, and said, "Having a wife, children, and a warm bed is something many people would kill for. This is such a comfortable life."

(End of this chapter)