novellhall Chapter 185 The Rude Old Man
Chapter 185 The Rude Old Man
Joan prepared early in the kitchen.
According to yesterday's notification, about thirty people should be able to come today.
She didn't cook anything too elaborate.
I stewed a big pot of pork ribs and potatoes, cooked a pot of congee with preserved egg and lean pork, and stir-fried mushrooms, lettuce, cured pork, and cabbage with pork and vermicelli.
We advertise the mushrooms and lettuce as freeze-dried vegetables, since we've already reported it and aren't afraid of being investigated.
Before the meal was even ready, Li Shaoyun had someone bring over a table and chairs.
The small courtyard could just fit three tables.
At noon, people from all over come to visit, drawn by the aroma.
Qiao An is treating everyone to dinner, so those who come should also give a small token of appreciation.
This person brings some work, that person brings a few bottles of soda or some cut cake.
Reciprocity is the proper way to behave.
When Li Shaoyun and Wang Baohua stepped through the door and saw the dishes laid out on the table, they were almost shocked.
For ordinary newly arrived military dependents, the meal usually consists of stir-fried potatoes and green beans, or stewed cabbage with vermicelli. If they are feeling better, they might add some minced pork.
But the food on Joan's table is far too lavish.
Besides stir-fried mushrooms, every dish contained meat; they wouldn't dare eat like that during the Lunar New Year.
"Sister Shaoyun, Sister Baohua, please sit down."
Qiao An just took off her apron.
The main force arrived shortly afterward.
The newlyweds' dinner party was just a formality, so all the guests were military dependents; there were no men.
Even Huo Jiyun deliberately didn't come back.
Just to give Joan and the military family members some space to spend time together.
About thirty women were sitting on the stools.
Almost everyone had the same expression.
"Goodness, this food is so hard! Did Joan bring out all the New Year's dishes?"
"It made me a little embarrassed to eat it."
"They've already made it, so we should still eat it. In this hot weather, leftovers won't keep for long, and it would be even more heartbreaking to waste them."
At the table near the entrance, Shi Man, Zhao Chunxia, and Lin Wan sat together.
The three men looked disdainful, but they stopped using their chopsticks and kept picking at the meat in the dishes.
"Good heavens, isn't cooking such delicious food a slap in the face to us?"
"Hmph! They're just showing off, letting us know that only their family is rich and only their family is doing well. Huo Jiyun is really unlucky to have such a brainless wife."
"The car issue hasn't been resolved yet, and now they've pulled this stunt. They'll get what's coming to them sooner or later."
As the three were talking, two people walked in through the door.
Xia Xiaoyun and Guo Caifeng.
The two of them arrived late, and their arrival immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Qiao An stood up after seeing Xia Xiaoyun.
"Is this Sister Xiaoyun? I've heard Ji Yun mention you before. She said you're also from Yuncheng. We're both from Zhongchuan Province, so we're fellow townsmen."
Hearing the familiar accent of Zhongchuan Province in faraway Amutu brought tears to Xia Xiaoyun's eyes.
"Please sit down," Qiao An helped her sit down. "Are you about to give birth?"
Xia Xiaoyun nodded. "Yes."
Qiao An handed her the chopsticks. "Sister Xiaoyun, come over to our house often when you have time, and we can have a good chat."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at Guo Caifeng next to her. Guo Caifeng's eyes were practically glued to the food, and she kept licking her lips.
Anyone who saw her drooling looked at her felt a little embarrassed.
Xia Xiaoyun smiled apologetically at Qiao An, hoping she wouldn't mind.
Li Shaoyun and Wang Baohua exchanged a glance, then whispered to each other.
"How can Zeng Fushun's mother be so inconsiderate? Doesn't she know that only one person from each family should come?"
Wang Baohua rolled his eyes at Guo Caifeng. "Sister-in-law, don't even mention it. Zeng Fushun's mother is like a troublemaker. She takes advantage of her age to meddle in everyone's business. Last time when Gu Yu came with the army, she went to eat there and even took two steamed buns from their house."
"Sigh, Zeng Fushun and Xia Xiaoyun are a good couple, how did they end up with such a mother?"
As soon as they finished speaking, Joanne sat back down.
They were supposed to eat and chat, but because Qiao An's cooking was so delicious and plentiful, they ended up eating and chatting instead.
This caused everyone to eat in silence, and the courtyard became eerily quiet.
Qiao An eats meat and vegetables every day, and has a small appetite, so she finishes her food quickly.
"Joan! Joan!"
Hearing her own voice, Qiao An looked up and saw that it was Guo Caifeng calling her.
Even if she hates this person, she has to put on an act today.
"Aunt Guo, what's wrong?"
"Bring me some vinegar."
"it is good."
Taking vinegar wasn't a big deal, and Qiao An brought it out from the kitchen for her.
Unexpectedly, she poured the vinegar directly into Xia Xiaoyun's bowl, saying, "Drink this bowl of vinegar."
"Mom, I can't drink it." Xia Xiaoyun's voice was full of helplessness.
"You have to drink it even if you can't. Don't you understand the principle of 'sour for boys, spicy for girls'?"
"You've already had two girls, this one has to be a boy."
Xia Xiaoyun's face turned red instantly in front of so many people.
He lowered his head.
She picked up the bowl full of vinegar, and just as she lifted it up...
A white hand pressed down on her arm.
"What kind of bullshit is this 'sour for a boy, spicy for a girl' nonsense? If you're uncultured, go read more books and stop spreading this misleading drivel in the compound."
"Vinegar's main component is acetic acid. Do you know how harmful excessive consumption can be to pregnant women?"
Qiao An took the bowl from Xia Xiaoyun's hand and casually splashed the vinegar on the ground.
"Excessive intake of acetic acid can cause damage to the mouth and esophagus in mild cases, and damage to the gastric mucosa in severe cases, which may lead to gastric perforation or even stillbirth."
"Are you trying to kill her?"
Guo Caifeng was stunned for a moment, then her face turned ferocious.
"What do you know, you little girl! Sour for boys, spicy for girls, that's something passed down from our ancestors."
"Our ancestors said that those who are old and do not die are thieves, so why haven't I seen you die yet?"
Qiao An's words left Guo Caifeng speechless.
"Besides, the baby's gender is determined by the father. Even if you make Xiaoyun jealous, it will still be a daughter."
"Women give birth, what does it have to do with men?" Guo Caifeng seemed to have caught the loophole in Qiao An's words.
"What? Did you get pregnant with Commander Zeng without a man's help? You just had a wet dream and got pregnant?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of laughter erupted in the courtyard.
Li Shaoyun is the director of the Central Hospital of Amutu City, so of course she understands this principle.
Not only did he know about it, but he also shared it with everyone. Many people in the compound knew about the idea that men can sense the sex of their babies.
They never expected that Qiao An, a woman who looked so delicate and quiet, could say such crude things.
Seeing that no one spoke up for her, Guo Caifeng simply shut her mouth.
Logically, she should have turned around and left at this point.
But she really couldn't bear to part with the food.
She also wanted to find an opportunity to visit Qiao An's side room and kitchen.
Maybe I can sneak some good food.
Qiao An didn't keep talking about it, and stopped when she saw that Xia Xiaoyun was no longer being forced to be jealous.
Before leaving, she saw Xia Xiaoyun give her a grateful look.
Qiao An smiled at her.
Xia Xiaoyun looks like an intellectual, and she's also soft-hearted and easy to bully.
I'll help her out since we're from the same hometown.
After the meal, everyone helped Qiao An wash all the dishes and basins.
Some people went home, while six or seven others stayed behind and went into Qiao An's main house together. They sat in the living room eating sunflower seeds and dried fruit.
They started chatting enthusiastically.
Xia Xiaoyun wanted to leave, but Guo Caifeng pulled her back.
"Sit for a while before you leave."
"Mom, don't you dislike Qiao An?" Xia Xiaoyun asked.
"Never mind that."
"You go in first, I need to use the restroom."
After saying that, Guo Caifeng lifted the curtain and let Xia Xiaoyun into the room.
Qiao An caught a glimpse of Guo Caifeng outside the door out of the corner of her eye.
They discovered that she hadn't left the courtyard or gone to the toilet; instead, she had gone straight to the side room.
This old man actually entered the side room without the owner's permission.