Siheyuan: Walking the Path of Qin Huairu

After Xu Huizhen finished explaining the matter, she returned home, as she was worried that Li'er would cry when she woke up. Cai Quanwu used the tricycle to transport some seafood to the steel mill.

Not long after, Hu Yingzi and Xu Jianshe pushed the door open and came in, along with his master Guo Chenggang. Master Guo was about 37 or 38 years old, with a burly figure and a kind face. He was usually very nice to his apprentice Xu Jianshe and taught him all the driving skills he knew.

Hu Yingzi went to the motorcade and explained her purpose. Xu Jianshe called the master over, mainly because Master Guo had a bicycle and it would be convenient for him to carry some things.

Xu Huizhen warmly invited Master Guo to come in and have dinner here in the evening, but Master Guo declined, saying, "My family is waiting for me. I'll go home and eat." How could he feel comfortable eating and taking things from them? Besides, seafood is seafood and should be eaten while it is fresh. He could take it home early and eat it with his family.

Xu Huizhen took out the seafood that had been prepared in advance from the warehouse, including ten kilograms of dried fish, ten kilograms of small fish, ten kilograms of big fish, conchs, oysters, crabs, shrimps, etc. and filled a net bag.

Master Guo didn't expect there were so many things, so he quickly took out money from his pocket and wanted to give it to Xu Huizhen. Xu Huizhen said, "It is said that a teacher is a father for life. You are Jianshe's master, so why not let him give you something as a gift?"

Master Guo declined repeatedly, saying, "I don't need so much. There are not many people in my family and we can't finish it."

"Such fresh seafood is not often available, so the whole family can enjoy a full meal at once."

Master Guo: "My bicycle can't carry so many. It's heavy, but seafood can't stand being squeezed."

Xu Huizhen: "Leave the dried fish here first and let Jianshe bring it to you tomorrow. Otherwise, Jianshe can ride my bicycle to give your master a visit."

Hu Yingzi pushed the family's bicycle out, and Xu Jianshe and Master Guo took their things and went out.

Xu Huizhen is also paving the way for Xu Jianshe by doing this. As a kid from the countryside, he has no one to look after him in the workplace, so he is always bullied. As the saying goes, you should be grateful for what you have received. I hope Master Guo can take care of him. Oh, I am so worried!

At this time, Xu Jianmei was making tofu at home. A few days ago, she consulted Xu Huizhen's opinion and went home to discuss with her husband. "Godfather, Quanwu, I have something to discuss with you."

Cai Quanwu: "If you have anything to say, just tell me. There are only three of us in our family, so there are not so many rules."

Xu Jianmei: "I know how to make tofu when I was in my hometown. Sister Huizhen said that I can make it now and sell it in the canteen. Anyway, I usually have nothing to do at home. Making tofu can not only kill time, but also earn some money to supplement the family income. What do you think? Godfather, I promise not to delay cooking for you."

Cai Quanwu said without hesitation: "You can give it a try. If you need any tools, I will buy them for you."

Li Ye also supported: "Well, I don't have many teeth left. Tofu is soft, so it will be convenient for me to eat tofu in the future."

Xu Jianmei smiled: "Old man, there will be a day when you have had enough."

The matter was happily settled. Other tools were easy to find, but I didn't know where to buy the stone mill for grinding beans. In the end, Cai Quanwu went to a rural area in the suburbs and bought a second-hand one from a farmer. The stone mill was not big and an adult could push it. It would be enough for the time being. If the production increased in the future, this stone mill would not be enough.

Cai Quanwu said that making tofu at home would be smoky and hot every day, so it would be better to install a stone mill in the old house and make tofu there.

Mr. Li felt that since the couple moved in, the house had become more lively and he was not so lonely. The couple seemed to be sensible. He said, "We have enough rooms. Just move the sundries in the side rooms to the back room and do the work in the side rooms. I can help you occasionally. It's all exercise." Mr. Li had nothing to do every day and was bored.

Xu Jianmei: "That's fine, let's do it at home first. If you find it inconvenient in the future, you can move to the old house."

After the efforts of two people, they finally prepared all the utensils in the past few days, which were nothing more than a large iron pot, wooden racks, bamboo baskets, buckets, etc.

Xu Jianmei cleaned all the tools yesterday and started to try making tofu today. When Cai Quanwu came home, the tofu was already out of the pot. Jianmei made some mashed garlic and added soy sauce and asked the old man to taste it first. As soon as he took a bite, Cai Quanwu came in.

Xu Jianmei quickly greeted, "Quanwu, the tofu is out of the pot. Come and try it."

Cai Quanwu took a bite and said, "It's very good. Old man, please eat less and save some space for us to go to Huizhen's house for a seafood dinner tonight."

Xu Jianmei looked up and asked, "What's going on?"

Cai Quanwu: "Huizhen just came back from Tianjin and bought a lot of seafood. She asked the three of us to go over and have some fun."

Master Li asked in surprise, "Why is there something for me? Do I want to go too?"

Cai Quanwu: "Of course, we are a family, so we have to go together. Huizhen has specifically asked you to go as well. Jianmei, you should go early to help out. My nephew He Yuzhu will be the chef today, and his family has inherited cooking skills from their ancestors. I am not bragging about his skills, you will know once you try them."

Xu Jianmei: "Okay, old man, I'll find you a new set of clothes. We need to dress decently when we go out, right?"

Mr. Li nodded and went back to the house to change clothes. Xu Jianmei found an enamel basin, put two pieces of tofu in it, and took the steamed buns made at noon. You can't go to someone's house to eat with ten carrots, right?

The three of them went out like this. After all, Master Li was old and his movements were slow. Cai Quanwu walked up to him, squatted down, and said, "Come on, I'll carry you on my back."

Mr. Li walked around and walked forward on his own, muttering, "I'm not too old to be unable to move. It's good for me to walk a few steps by myself. Otherwise, I would be on my deathbed."

Cai had no choice but to let him do what he wanted.

At Xu Huizhen's house, Han Qingqiu was also called over by Xu Huizhen. To be honest, she owed Han Qingqiu a big favor, and Xu Jianshe's work was not paid by him. No matter how many meals she had, she could not repay this favor, so she naturally could not forget Han Qingqiu for such a delicious meal.

He Yuzhu came with Yushui. When he saw the big Spanish mackerel in the kitchen, he immediately became interested. A common problem among chefs is that they get itchy when they see good ingredients. He said excitedly, "Such a big fish is rare. How about we cook one fish in three ways?"

Xu Huizhen smiled and said, "The kitchen is in your hands. You have the final say."

He Yuzhu looked at the vegetables in the yard. The cucumbers and tomatoes had not grown yet. Although the celery was still a little small, it was edible. He said, "Pick two celery for me. They are all seafood, so we should add some green vegetables."

Hu Yingzi agreed and went to pick a few, removed the leaves, washed them and set them aside.

In this way, He Yushui made the fire, and Hu Yingzi helped He Yuzhu, cutting vegetables, passing basins, etc., and learning how to cook seafood. Her hometown is not near the sea, and she has never even seen some of these seafood, let alone cooked them.