09/eng_cont/i_0016.txt

Chapter 16 Fried tofu.

It was almost dark when Tian Sisi and the others returned home. Zhu Aiqing walked anxiously at the door. When she heard the car bell, she breathed a sigh of relief. When Tian Manyin's car stopped, she hugged Donghua and Qinghua from the front bumper. Tian Sisi didn't need her to carry them. She jumped down easily and rubbed her butt. Today, her butt was suffering a lot. No, she had to ask Mrs. Zhao to make a cushion. It looked like it would take a few years for her to ride a bicycle. For the sake of her butt, it was imperative to make a cushion.

"Why did you come back so late? My family is worried." Zhu Aiqing complained to her husband.

Tian Manyin smiled and said nothing. Tian Sisi hurriedly took out the cream from the basket and gave it to Zhu Aiqing, "Mom, daddy went to buy cream for you."

Tian Manyin was about to open his mouth to explain that he didn't buy it, but he saw his wife's smile blooming instantly, just like when he got married. He was stunned for a second. It was just a bottle of cream that made his wife so happy. Tian Manyin couldn't help but feel a little sad. His wife really didn't enjoy much happiness following him. When he gave up the job opportunity to Man Tong, although his wife complained a few times, she didn't say anything later and continued to follow him in the fields.

Even when she saw the glory of her sister-in-law and younger siblings, she never complained in front of him, but he understood that he owed his wife, and she could live a better life. Thinking of Tian Manyin's words, she swallowed them back. Tian Sisi did not expect that a bottle of ice cream would make these two people look at each other lovingly for so long, nor did he think that there were three children beside him!

Tian Sisi was too lazy to wait for them, so she pulled her two brothers into the house. When she stepped into the courtyard gate, she deliberately shouted: "Dad, Mom, it's time to eat!"

Tian Manyin and Zhu Aiqing made a big blush. They coughed a few times to cover up, and hurriedly packed up their things. Tian Manyin and Zhu Aiqing went to collect the same thing at the same time. Tian Sisi looked at Zhen Coke and found it funny. People nowadays are so innocent.

Mrs. Zhao filled the stove with a few more sticks of firewood to prevent the food from getting cold. She asked Tian Sisi and the others to wash their hands and eat quickly. At this time, Tian Manyin and Zhu Aiqing had already walked in with the things they bought today. When Tian Sisi saw the oily paper bag, she hurriedly ran over to get it, and steamed the buns in the still hot pot.

"Grandpa, mother-in-law, mother-in-law, I will eat meat buns later. I bought them with my new year's money." Tian Sisi took credit from the old man and Mrs. Zhao. Now she has become more and more accustomed to being a ten-year-old child, and she can do anything coquettishly and cutely.

Mrs. Zhao, who originally wanted to nag Tian Manyin for wasting money, immediately smiled like a chrysanthemum and said, "Ah Nan is so good. My mother doesn't eat it, but Ah Nan and my brother do."

"My brother and I have eaten, and my grandparents and mother have to eat. When I make money in the future, I will let my grandparents eat meat buns and drink soy milk every day." Tian Sisi also feels very sad for the old man and Mrs. Zhao. Even if they have money, they can't eat anything good. In this era, even if you have money, you can't buy anything.

"Little flatterer!" Zhu Aiqing laughed and scolded her daughter, but she still looked very pleased. Respecting the elderly is the most basic virtue. It's great that grandma can have this heart. Her parents-in-law did not love her in vain.

Not to mention the old man and Mrs. Zhao, they could hardly close their mouths. They looked at Tian Sisi with eyes as thick as sugar threads. Tian Sisi took out the things he bought today one by one. The family members all smiled and watched Tian Sisi, like a little adult, doing the same thing. The things were put out, and he was still muttering, "There is no salt at home. This is to write a letter to Uncle San. One box of clam oil is for the family to wipe their hands, one box is for the second grandfather's family, half of the candy is for Donghua and Qinghua, and the other half is for Niuniu and Qinghua of the second grandfather's family."

The old man laughed every time he listened to Tian Sisi's talk. He had six brothers and sisters in total, and in the end only one brother, Tian Bajin, was left. The others either died young or died at the hands of the Japanese. Therefore, the old man had a very good relationship with Tian Bajin. He also tried his best to take care of his younger brother and his family in daily life. Now when he saw his granddaughter buying something, he didn't forget to buy it for Bajin's family. Don't forget how beautiful it is. The whole family should live in harmony.

"Okay, I know you are filial, so hurry up and put the things away so that we can eat." Mrs. Zhao smiled and nodded Tian Sisi's forehead, and took out the hot food and steamed buns from the pot. When she saw there were seven big steamed buns, Mrs. Zhao quickly filled three bowls and asked Donghua to quickly deliver them to the second grandfather's house.

The meal in the evening should be richer. It is still a pot of sweet potatoes, four vegetables, and a large bowl of fried tofu. The fried tofu was later called Xishi tofu by the restaurant to attract publicity. In fact, the locals call it fried tofu or mixed tofu, which is to put the whole piece of tofu. Grind the tofu into pieces, add diced pork, diced bamboo shoots, diced fungus and other fresh ingredients, stir-fry them together in oil, pour in the broth, and then when the water boils, pour in a small half bowl of cilantro powder juice, stir continuously, and once it boils, you can use a large bowl to serve it.

Fried tofu is a famous local dish. The first dish at a banquet must be fried tofu. The more ingredients in it, the more glorious the dish will be. Of course, there are not so many ingredients now. Adding some meat and bamboo shoots is very high-end. Many people only make tofu with cilantro powder, which cannot be eaten often. They only make this dish for guests during festivals.

Mrs. Zhao of Tianjia's fried tofu is very particular about her cooking. She not only adds meat and bamboo shoots, but also black fungus and young garlic leaves. The crystal clear juice is dotted with a few green garlic leaves. It is full of color, flavor and appetite.

Tian Sisi loves this dish very much. She used to make this dish often when she was at home alone. She invented many tricks, such as adding sea cucumber or crab meat, and using chicken soup and duck soup to make the stock. In short, they were all random combinations, but the effect was pretty good and the taste was very good. Mrs. Zhao was very good at her craftsmanship. Tian Sisi scooped up a small bowl of tofu and ate it spicy. Suddenly her whole body felt warm and comfortable.

"Mother, the fried tofu you made is so delicious." Tian Sisi praised her without hesitation. Now she just opened her mouth to say good things without feeling embarrassed at all. The main reason was that the old man and Mrs. Zhao were really good to her, and she gradually assumed the identity of the original owner. Now she couldn't tell whether she was Tian Zhaodi or Tian Sisi.

"If it's delicious, eat more. I'll make it tomorrow." Mrs. Zhao scooped out another half bowl for Tian Sisi, but she didn't dare to scoop out more. This granddaughter's appetite has always been small and she ate less than a cat.

At the insistence of Tian Sisi and Tian Manyin, the old man, Mrs. Zhao and Zhu Aiqing each ate one of the remaining four buns, and the other one was shared by Donghua and Tsinghua. The old man and Mrs. Zhao were actually greedy for meat. When they usually eat meat, they feel sorry for their grandchildren and are always reluctant to eat more. They just take a few symbolic bites and say they are full. Today, their granddaughter's thoughts make them both happy and sad. Born in this era of famine, it is really hard for the children!

The heat of the fried tofu blinded her eyes, and the people on the table looked a little misty. However, this feeling was so warm. The whole family sat at the same table, eating simple but hot meals. This was the feeling, the feeling of home that she had only dreamed of in her previous life. Tian Sisi felt warm in her heart, so good!

But she had to go to the mountains tomorrow to see if she could find a way to get things out of the mall. There was still too little food at home. Now that she had identified this family, she had to let her family live a good life without worrying about food and drink.

After dinner, the old man listened to the radio as usual, while Tian Manyin went to the houses of some good friends in the village. The Jingzhe was coming soon, and he had to discuss with his friends how to arrange the work for the year. Although the brigade was now working collectively, every household still had private land. Although it was not much, it had to be taken care of. A year's vegetables, pig food, and the old man's tobacco and wine all had to be grown on the private land!

Tian Sisi carried clam oil and half a bag of sugar and went to Tian Bajin's house with Donghua Tsinghua. Rural people didn't have much entertainment programs at night. After dinner, they would visit here and there, chatting about common things and learning about the latest happenings.

They left the yard, went down a small slope, and walked towards the farm. The moon had already risen, vaguely illuminating the blurry village and land. From time to time, there were a few dog barks. Tian Sisi was shaken by the cold wind. She quickly pulled her hat down and pulled her two brothers to speed up the pace.

ps: Lao Yang really envy those simple but warm lives, and sometimes I often wonder why people today are so impetuous? Is it difficult to even sit down and have a meal? Maybe the happiness index of modern people is much lower than that of people of that era? The new year is here, so throw your recommendation votes at us. It’s a new year and a new atmosphere! Wish everyone a happy new year!