Chapter 83: Reaction
Translator: Lonelytree
After Grandma Song returned home with a basket of vegetables, the grandfather said sternly, “You old woman, why did you take so many vegetables from them? We didn’t charge that child a low rent just to take some vegetables from them!”
Grandma Song said with a huff, “I didn’t want to take so much either. I wanted to pay, but the child’s mother refused to accept it. She shoved the vegetables to me.”
When the grandfather heard that, he narrowed his eyes. “Forget it then. She was being kind.” He lowered his head to continue his calligraphy.
When Grandma Song was cooking lunch, the aroma of the cabbage filled the room as soon as it was put into the pot.
Grandfather Song wrinkled his nose and sniffed. He immediately shouted, “Old woman, what are you cooking? Why does it smell so good?”
The cabbage sizzled in the wok. Grandma Song couldn’t hear Grandfather Song over it.
Grandfather Song’s appetite was hooked. He put his brush down and ran to the kitchen. He looked around the kitchen and saw nothing but the cabbage in the wok. Grandfather Song looked at the cabbage and asked. “It’s this cabbage that is producing all that good smell?”
Grandma Song rolled her eyes at him and said snappily, “Of course. Do you see me cooking other dishes?” However, she was secretly pleased by the compliment.
Grandfather Song looked at the cabbage and the other uncut vegetables. He was deep in thought.
Grandma Song’s family had around eight people over for lunch. They fought over the dishes that it was chaos at the dining table. A middle-aged woman asked as she ate, “Mom, where did you buy these vegetables? They are so delicious! You should buy them every day!”
Grandma Song rolled her eyes. “I didn’t buy them. They are presents. Do you think they can be found every day? Dream on.” She finally understood what Xiao Lingyu meant when she said they might not be able to provide more vegetables tomorrow. Their vegetables and fruits were too delicious.
…
Grandma Li looked at the time as she prepped in the kitchen. She was cooking for her grandson. She prepared a chicken soup, a braised fish, a braised eggplant with shredded pork, and a braised cabbage with tofu.
When she cooked the eggplant and cabbage, she was extremely surprised. How could the vegetables smell so nice? The cabbage was also another pleasant discovery. When she tasted it raw, it was already very sweet. After it was cooked, it was even sweeter.
“No wonder they’re expensive, so they are worth the price.” She served the dishes and looked at the clock. She smiled, “This time, my eldest grandson should have his appetite back.”
Soon, Grandma Li’s eldest grandson, Li Zhengting, returned.
“Grandma, I’m back!” Li Zhengting shouted.
Grandma Li noticed her eldest grandson was more energetic than usual. She smiled and asked, “Ting ‘Er, you’re in a good mood. Did something good happen?”
Li Zhengting shook his head and said, “No. Grandma, when I arrived, the neighbors like Grandma Zhao were talking about how much you’d spent at the market.
“But, suddenly, they talked about how fragrant someone’s cooking was. Actually, it’s quite strange. Normally, my mind is quite muddled, but when I take in the fragrance, my mind clears up instantly. The closer I was to home, the better I felt. When I walked in, I wanted to jump and skip around. That was how energetic I felt. Grandma, did you buy some new perfume, perhaps a vegetable-scented one?”
Grandma Li was excited when she heard that. “No, they are actual vegetables. Ting ‘Er, come and sit down. Try these dishes. Do they suit your taste?”
Li Zhengting couldn’t resist the smell. He picked up his chopsticks to grab a chopped egglant. He chewed it. He gasped, “Grandma, this is so delicious!”
Grandma Li clapped. “Really? Try the cabbage next!”
Li Zhengting obliged. He smiled. “Grandma, they’re delicious too!”
Grandma Li said, “In that case, you should eat more. You haven’t been eating properly these days!”
“Okay!” Li Zhengting took a bowl of rice and dug in. He stuffed his mouth with food. It was too irresistible.
Seeing this, tears of excitement flowed from the corners of Grandma Li’s eyes. Her eldest grandson finally had a good, nutritious meal. She decided that she would have to find the girl vendor to buy more vegetables! Even if the price was high, it was worth it!
…
The person who shared the same opinion was Auntie Lan, the auntie who initially suspected Xiao Lingyu’s products of having pesticides. She bought other vegetables after she tried the tomato.
When she was cooking, she realized her decision was correct.
She decided to fry eggs with tomatoes. The tomato had a sweet and sour taste when eaten raw. After it was fried with egg, the taste became something completely different. It was so tasty that she had to question if all the other tomatoes she used in the past were the ones which had been sprayed with pesticides.
Otherwise, how could the taste be so different?!