Border Cook

Crispy and delicious, with good taste.

The hand that Lu was scooping water with suddenly froze, "Leave after eating? Can't you leave tomorrow?"

"It takes half a day to go to Xiaohe Village by horseback." Zhao Youcai said, "Brother Qi Yan is the only one there. If something happens, I'm afraid it won't be appropriate if I'm not around."

It sounds as if without you, Lu Qiyan cannot live and the bridge in Xiaohe Village cannot be built.

But then again, the friendship between brothers has always been like this.

There are not many people in the world who can reach this level, so we should cherish them.

Why do I feel sour in my heart...

Lu curled her lips, "Okay, you have a lot of reasons, I'll listen to you."

Although her mouth was full of disgust, Lu's hands did not stop at all. She took out the dumplings that had been wrapped earlier and were now frozen hard by the severe winter weather, put them in a pot of cold water, and cooked them while they were thawing.

While calling on Zhao Dahu and Zhao Erhu to bring out some tofu slices and braised meat.

Tofu slices and cabbage hearts are served cold. The braised meat does not need to be heated, just cut into slices and put on a plate. When all the side dishes are ready, the dumplings in the pot are cooked. Use a colander to scoop them out and put them on a plate. Then add a bowl of hot dumpling soup and serve them on the table in the main hall.

Zhao Youcai was already extremely hungry, and when he saw so much food, he didn't care about anything else and just started to eat it voraciously.

Seeing her man eating with great relish, a smile appeared on Mrs. Lu's lips again.

Here, Xia Mingyue was in her room, unpacking the small bag that Zhao Youcai brought back.

The four corners of the small bundle were tied together very tightly. When Xia Mingyue struggled to untie it, she found there was another layer of wrapping inside.

What's so important that it needs to be wrapped in two layers?

Xia Mingyue chuckled and continued to unpack.

After untying it, there is another layer inside.

Unlock it again, and there is another layer inside...

Xia Mingyue, "..."

After patiently unwrapping six layers of the bundle, Xia Mingyue finally saw what was really wrapped inside - two strings of copper coins.

Each string of copper coins consists of four copper coins tied together with a red rope, with a red tassel at the end.

Xia Mingyue had seen such things when she was strolling on the street years ago. It was said that tying copper coins together with red thread and wearing it on the body or hanging it on the head of the bed could bring good luck such as warding off evil spirits, health, safety, and wealth.

Lu Qiyan gave her this, meaning that he hopes she will be healthy, safe, and prosperous in the new year?
However, the string of copper coins was tied a little crookedly, and even the tassels at the bottom were tied a little roughly, and the ends were cut a little unevenly.

If this kind of quality were sold on the market, I'm afraid people would reject it.

Or did Lu Qiyan tie the copper coins himself?

Then I'll have to ask him about it when he comes back next time.

Xia Mingyue tied the two strings of copper coins on both sides of the new curtains that were hung during the New Year.

The lilac-colored curtains make the red copper coin strings look even more vivid and beautiful.

Xia Mingyue stretched out her hand and stroked the tassel attached to the bottom of the copper coin, smiling with her eyebrows curved.

After noon, Zhao Youcai walked back, carrying a lot of bags with him.

The sun was sliding down from its highest point to the west. At this time, Mao Sanli and his master Yin Lingyou were also enjoying lunch. There were only a few meat patties left, and a pot of cabbage and tofu soup cooked by Mao Sanli.

Yin Lingyou slowly chewed the meat pie that Mao Sanli had heated up, and sighed repeatedly, "This meat pie is still delicious."

"Yes." Mao Sanli nodded, "It's just that it will be a bit more difficult to buy it in the future."

"Yeah." Yin Lingyou nodded, picked up the biscuit crumbs that fell on his sparse beard, stuffed them into his mouth, and sighed after a moment, "No matter how hard I try, I can buy it in the end. It's not like Xiao Hei, no matter how hard I try, I can't get it back."

After saying this, Yin Lingyou let out a long sigh.

It's full of regrets and even a bit of sadness.

Seeing his master like this, Mao Sanli couldn't bear it. He paused while putting the tofu into his mouth. After a long time, he put the bowl down and whispered, "Master, actually, when I went to the county town to buy meat patties, I saw Xiao Hei."

Yin Lingyou was stunned, "Where is it?"

"It's at the home of Madam Xia who sold me the meat pie." Mao Sanli answered truthfully, "It now has a new name, Wujin."

"So, Xiao Hei has a new family now?" Yin Lingyou paused and stroked his beard. "That's not bad. How is he doing now? How does Madam Xia treat him?"

"My question is actually a bit unnecessary. Xiao Hei is smart, sometimes as smart as a human. He must be very likable and will definitely be treated well by others."

"That's right..." Yin Lingyou glanced at Mao Sanli, "Since you saw Xiao Hei, then Xiao Hei must have seen you too. Didn't it want to come back with you?"

Dogs are loyal to their owners, and they have stayed in his home for more than half a year, so he should have some feelings for them.

"Madam Xia treats Xiao Hei very well. Xiao Hei has grown fatter and his fur is shiny and sleek." Mao Sanli said, "But after Xiao Hei saw me, he not only didn't think of coming back with me, but he even hid from me and didn't want to recognize me. It seemed like he was very afraid that I would take him away..."

"Why is this?" Yin Lingyou was puzzled.

As I said, dogs are affectionate animals.

Xiao Hei is smarter than ordinary dogs, so I think he should be more affectionate.

For example, after they adopted Xiao Hei, Xiao Hei would go out to hunt alone at the foot of a nearby mountain, and would bring back the rabbits and pheasants he occasionally hunted and place them at the door of the kitchen.

They even pick wild fruits from the trees and bring them back when the fruits are ripe in summer and autumn.

These were obviously made by Xiao Hei to thank them for adopting him.

How could a guy like Xiao Hei not want to meet Mao Sanli?

Yin Lingyou thought so and shook his head like a rattle, "Impossible, you must have made a mistake, it's definitely not Xiao Hei."

"It's definitely Xiao Hei." Mao Sanli said with certainty, "Let's not talk about the fact that there are no two dogs born exactly alike in this world. Besides, if it wasn't Xiao Hei, but a dog I didn't know, why would it hide from me?"

"So, this Wu Jin must be Xiao Hei! But I really can't understand why Xiao Hei is hiding from me like this. After all, we have adopted him for more than half a year. Madam Xia is not Xiao Hei's original owner, but was adopted halfway. Logically speaking, it doesn't make sense for her to only be close to Madam Xia and not recognize us..."

Before Mao Sanli finished speaking, Yin Lingyou stood up suddenly, put his hands behind his back and walked out.

"Master, where are you going?" Mao Sanli walked out.

Before leaving, he hesitated for a moment, then reached out and picked up the scallion meat pie that he had only eaten half of, and took a bite.

"Let's go to Madam Xia's house in the county town!" Yin Lingyou walked without stopping.

Go and see what is going on.

They all adopted Xiao Hei, but the final results were completely different. Are they inferior to Lady Xia? (End of this chapter)