flstandardbreds Chapter 137 Dinner Party
Chapter 137 Dinner Party
Before the sun set, they finally finished greeting the villagers who came to deliver bamboo shoots. Li Xiaoxiao rubbed his sore arms. It would be strange if his arms didn't feel sore after writing for an entire afternoon.
Seeing Li Xiaoxiao rubbing her arm, Yun Che put down what he was holding and walked over, gently lifting her arm and massaging it. "Yun Che, what are you doing? Let go quickly, my uncle and the others are still here!" Li Xiaoxiao said a little embarrassedly.
Yun Che looked up at Bai Shi and Bai Dong, who were busy packing up. Seeing that they hadn't noticed him, he felt relieved and continued massaging Li Xiaoxiao's arm. He said softly, "Your arm is sore. Let me massage it for you."
“Don’t… don’t do this, Yun Che, I can do it myself.” Li Xiaoxiao blushed as she tried to pull her arm back, but Yun Che held on tightly, refusing to let go.
"Don't move, Xiaoxiao. You'll easily strain your muscles like this. Let me massage them for you. It will be healed soon." Yun Che's voice was low and gentle, which made Li Xiaoxiao's heart calm down. She stopped struggling and let Yun Che massage her arms.
Yun Che's technique was very skillful and gentle. Soon, Li Xiaoxiao felt that her arm was much more comfortable and the soreness was relieved a lot.
"Okay, Xiaoxiao, take a rest first. I'll go get you a glass of water." After Yun Che finished massaging Li Xiaoxiao's arms, he considerately poured her a glass of warm water.
Li Xiaoxiao took the cup of water, glanced at Yun Che gratefully, and said softly, "Thank you."
Yun Che smiled faintly and said, "Why are you being so polite to me? Drink first. I'll go help you pack your things."
After saying that, Yun Che turned around and went to help Li Xiaoxiao put away the papers and pens on the table.
Li Xiaoxiao looked at Yun Che's busy figure, and a warm feeling surged in her heart. She felt that she was really lucky to have met such a good person like Yun Che.
After packing up, Yun Che helped Bai and Bai Dong carry the baskets of bamboo shoots they had collected to the kitchen. In the kitchen, Li Linlin had already lit two large pots. Bai was about to go to the well to fetch water, but Yun Che quickly picked up the wooden barrel and walked outside, "Mom, you take a rest first, I'll do the physical work."
“This child…” Bai looked at Yun Che’s back, the smile on her face never faltering.
"Little sister, Yun Che is a good man. It is a blessing for Xiaoxiao to marry him..." Bai Dong followed Bai's gaze to the yard and expressed his opinion.
"Who said it wasn't? I used to worry that the capital was too far away, and that Xiaoxiao would be bullied if she married there and there would be no one to support her. Now that I see how kind Yun Che is to Xiaoxiao and our family, I feel much more relieved..."
Li Xiaoxiao, who had just stepped into the kitchen, blushed when she heard what her mother and uncle said.
At this time, Yun Che came back after fetching water. He heard Bai Dong's words and said with a smile: "Uncle is right, I will definitely treat Xiaoxiao well." After saying that, he looked at Li Xiaoxiao, his eyes full of affection.
Li Xiaoxiao felt Yun Che's gaze, and her heart felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey.
Mrs. Bai looked at the young couple and was happy from the bottom of her heart. She patted Li Xiaoxiao's hand and said, "Xiaoxiao, if Yun Che dares to bully you in the future, tell me and I will vent your anger for you." The family was happy and their laughter echoed in the courtyard.
Yun Che poured the water he had fetched into two pots. After it boiled, he poured two baskets of bamboo shoots into the pots and began to blanch them. Bai Shi used a spatula to constantly turn the bamboo shoots in the pots. Bai Dong took the opportunity to go to the storehouse and took out the bamboo mats that had been used to dry the bamboo shoots. He spread them out in the yard, ready to use them to dry the bamboo shoots.
As the bamboo shoots in the pot gradually cooked, a refreshing aroma filled the courtyard. Once the shoots were blanched, the Bai family quickly removed them and placed them in a wooden basin. Bai Dong and Yun Che were responsible for carrying the blanched shoots to the courtyard, while Li Xiaoxiao and Li Linlin spread them out on bamboo mats to dry. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, illuminating the bamboo shoots. The golden afterglow contrasted with the tender white shoots, creating a beautiful scene.
Strength lies in numbers. By nightfall, all the bamboo shoots had been dried. Li Xiaoxiao wiped the water stains off her hands and said, "Okay, we're finally done. There will probably be more tomorrow. Uncle, let's have dinner here tonight. Invite grandma and the others as well. I'll go prepare dinner right away."
Without waiting for Bai Dong's reply, Li Xiaoxiao strode to the kitchen. In the kitchen, Bai had already started cooking rice. "Mom, invite my eldest uncle's family and my youngest uncle's family to dinner tonight. We haven't eaten together for a long time."
"Hey, then mommy, add some rice to the pot. Xiaoxiao, while you can still see, you and Linlin go to the backyard and pick some vegetables."
"Okay, Mom...Lin'er, let's go..." Li Xiaoxiao waved to Li Linlin, picked up the basket beside her and went out.
In the backyard, all kinds of vegetables grow lushly: emerald green spinach, bright red tomatoes, plump eggplants, long beans...
Li Xiaoxiao and Li Linlin walked among the vegetable patches, picking the freshest vegetables.
"Sister, look at this cabbage, its leaves are so thick!" Li Linlin said excitedly, pointing at a big cabbage.
Li Xiaoxiao smiled and nodded, "Yes, I'll use it to make pickled cabbage tonight. It will definitely be delicious."
The two chatted as they picked, and soon their baskets were full. Carrying their heavy harvest, they returned to the kitchen. Mrs. Bai had already prepared a cutting board and knives. Seeing them return, she took the baskets and began to pick the vegetables.
"Mom, let me help you." Li Xiaoxiao rolled up her sleeves, picked up a cucumber skillfully, and said while washing it.
"No, no, you go and have a rest. I can handle this little chore." Mrs. Bai looked at her daughter lovingly, but Li Xiaoxiao insisted on helping, so the mother and daughter started to get busy in the kitchen.
Yun Che and Bai Dong were not idle either. One of them took the initiative to go to the woodshed to chop firewood, while Bai Dong was checking the bamboo shoots drying in the yard to ensure that every piece would receive even sunlight tomorrow.
As night falls, a bright moon rises quietly, casting a silver veil over the quiet courtyard. In the kitchen, the aroma of food fills the air, making one salivate.
Li Xiaoxiao carefully prepared a sumptuous dinner, which included tender bamboo shoots stewed with meat, delicious and fragrant pickled cabbage, refreshing and delicious cold cucumber salad, and a big pot of steaming white rice.
"Everyone, come and have dinner. The food is getting cold." Li Xiaoxiao invited her family and guests to take their seats.
The Bai Dong family, Bai Jing and his wife arrived one after another, sitting around the table, enjoying themselves. Yun Che sat next to Li Xiaoxiao, occasionally picking up food for her, his eyes full of doting.
“Yun Che, you are so kind to our Xiao Xiao. I am so happy and grateful.” Bai raised her glass and said to Yun Che.
Yun Che smiled modestly, "Mother, you're too kind. Xiaoxiao is my beloved, and I should do anything for her."
At the dinner table, everyone was chatting and laughing, sharing their daily lives and interesting stories, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.
Li Xiaoxiao looked at this scene, her heart filled with happiness and satisfaction. She knew that this was the life she wanted, simple and beautiful, with the company of her family and the care of her lover.
After dinner, everyone helped to clean up the dishes. After cleaning, they sat together in the yard, enjoying the tranquility and coolness of the night.
It was late at night, the stars twinkled, the moonlight was like water. Everyone returned to their rooms to rest. Li Xiaoxiao lay on the bed, thinking of every little moment she had spent with Yun Che, all of which were sweet and happy.