172 Chapter 172 New Year (8)
“Yes, yes. We’ll talk another day when we’re free.” Mrs. Yao echoed and immediately followed Mrs. Liu.
Zhou Ying took this opportunity to leave but didn’t go with them. Instead, she returned to her own home to prepare a hotpot.
She didn’t forget Gu Chengrui said that Gu Chengxi would come for a hotpot meal today.
So she got busy after she got home. She prepared some other dishes and knew Gu Chengxi needed to eat more, so she cooked two bags of rice noodles.
When it was almost noon, she prepared a pot of charcoal. However, there was no copper pot at their home, so she had to use a small iron pot instead.
On the other hand, Gu Chengrui couldn’t leave as easily as she did. His clan surrounded him, and he had to explain chili and vegetable planting to them.
It wasn’t until the smell of rice came from the patriarch’s house that they took their leave.
After he came out, Gu Chengxi immediately chased after him. “Hi, hi, third brother.”
“Let’s go. I didn’t forget you.” Gu Chengrui smiled and rubbed his head.
He then looked at Gu Chengzhi and Gu Chengye and said, “Why don’t you two come together?”
Gu Chengzhi and Gu Chengye looked at each other and shook their heads, and they could tell he was just being polite. Besides, Zhou Ying wouldn’t be able to sit at the table if they were all there, making them rude guests.
“Alright, another day then.” Gu Chengrui said as he brought Gu Chengxi home.
He smelled a spicy fragrance wafting over him as soon as he entered the courtyard. Chengxi sniffed and exclaimed, “It smells so good! No wonder the business of Gra.s.sland Taste Restaurant is so good.”
“Come on, you glutton.” Gu Chengrui brought him into the house after that.
It just so happened that Zhou Ying was almost done preparing. The three washed their hands and began to eat.
Zhou Ying looked at Gu Cheng, who liked spicy food so much that he kept eating faster even though he struggled with the spice. She smiled and handed him a cup of herbal tea.”If it’s too spicy, it’ll be much better if you use the chopsticks to force the spicy soup out of the ingredients.”
Gu Chengxi nodded repeatedly. “I know, third sister-in-law, but the mutton is just too delicious; not gamey yet tender. Also, the noodles are just splendid, chewy, and al dente.”
The couple saw that he was eating happily and didn’t try to dissuade him anymore. Instead, they tried their best to feed him.
After he was full, the couple started eating.
Once lunch was over, Zhou Ying was afraid that his throat couldn’t withstand the spice, so she made him a pot of chrysanthemum tea with rock sugar.
In the afternoon, the two brothers spent some time playing chess while Zhou Ying wrapped and froze some dumplings.
Gu Chengxi didn’t eat there that night. When he left, Zhou Ying gave him the remaining hotpot base and some dipping sauce for him to bring back.
Fortunately, the people at the old mansion hadn’t finished up their mutton, so everyone had a taste of the hotpot with vegetables and steamed buns.
The next day was traditionally a day for the daughter to return to her mother’s house. However, the woman who had married into the Gu family couldn’t go back, and there wasn’t anyone else coming over. Thus, the couple finally had a good night’s sleep.
They only got up when Er Zhuang was hungry and kept barking.
After breakfast, they heard a burst of laughter from next door. The couple was startled, knowing Sister Tian didn’t laugh like this. Could they have guests over?
Just as they were filled with curiosity, they saw Sister Tian sending a person dressed as a matchmaker past their house.
“It seems that Brother Tian’s time has come.” Zhou Ying paused for a moment and mentioned.
“Indeed, it’s about time. Brother Tian is a good and capable person. Now that he has a stable income, finding a suitable partner in the village wouldn’t be difficult.
“Just watch. There will be lots of people coming to visit them over the next few days.” Gu Chengrui replied with a smile.