The Beautiful Brother of the Orion’s Family (Wearing Book)- 21

 

| TBBOTOF | 21

Tang Erhu seemed to be frozen in place, staring at Tang Xu with a speechless expression.

Tang Xu waved his hand in front of him. "Father?"

"Which lad have you set your eyes on?" Tang Erhu's eyes were full of suspicion, his tone somewhat panicked.

Tang Xu chuckled and waved his hand. "No, no, I was just speaking casually. Father, don't take it too seriously."

Tang Erhu nodded, and indeed, he didn't dwell on their brief conversation any further.

Inside the kitchen, the siblings smelled the increasingly fragrant aroma, their mouths watering. Tang Yang couldn't even sit still on his small stool, leaning forward to the pot emitting the tantalizing steam. He really wanted to use the aroma of the meat to steam his face.

Tang Li, afraid he might get burned, pulled his arm back. "Don't get too close."

Tang Yang frowned, about to protest, but then she added, "If you don't behave, I'll definitely tell Big Brother, and he won't make you any sugar paintings later."

Tang Yang pouted and glared at her, annoyed. "Sis, you're so mean!"

Tang Li ignored whatever he said. Anyway, he couldn't move forward anymore. If he got burned, she'd be the one scolded.

The piece of pork was over four catties, and Tang Xu stewed it all. A pretty big iron pot was filled halfway with stewed meat, and he added another half of potatoes. It was a large pot of braised pork and potatoes with a rosy color. Most of the sauce was absorbed by the potatoes, leaving a bit of soup to mix with the rice.

The meat pieces were large and trembling, easily broken with a gentle force. The fatty meat melted in the mouth, and the potatoes, soaked with meat juices, were fragrant and glutinous. A slight press with the tongue against the palate caused them to crumble in the mouth.

Tang Li didn't care what he said; he just couldn't move forward anymore. If he got burned, she'd be the one scolded.

The piece of pork weighed over four catties, and Tang Xu stewed it all. Using a pretty large iron pot, he stewed about half of it, then added potatoes for the other half. It resulted in a large pot of braised pork and potatoes with a rosy color. Most of the sauce was absorbed by the potatoes, leaving a bit of soup to mix with the rice.

The meat pieces were large and trembling, easily broken with a gentle force. The fatty meat melted in the mouth, and the potatoes, soaked with meat juices, were fragrant and glutinous. A slight press with the tongue against the palate caused them to crumble in the mouth.

Tang Xu took a large bowl and filled it with rice, topping it with a large spoonful of meat and potatoes with soup. He handed it to Tang Li, saying, "Take this to Mother and let her eat in the room."

He figured that after being dealt with by Tang Erhu, Liu Xiangxiang wouldn't possibly come out to join them at the table. Eating separately would allow everyone to feel more at ease.

Tang Erhu stood outside the kitchen. By now, it was already dark, and smelling the rich aroma of the meat, he couldn't help but swallow several times.

It was so fragrant, unbelievably so. He had never smelled anything like it before.

He wondered how the meat was stewed. His son, Xu Ge'er, indeed had excellent cooking skills.

"Father, let me serve you a big bowl. Take it with some liquor and meat to the old house to eat," Tang Xu shouted outside.

Tang Erhu thought for a moment and replied, "Alright, also give me half a basin of white rice."

"Hey, then let Ah Yang go with you," Tang Xu said as he filled the bowl with food.

Tang Yang protested, "I'm not going, I want to eat meat! Let Sister go!"

Tang Xu lowered his eyelids slightly, and Tang Yang immediately shrunk his neck.

"Wouldn't it be missing one more mouthful of meat from you?"

"Brother, I'll go. It's dark, and the road isn't safe," Tang Li said as she returned from delivering food to Liu Xiangxiang. Seeing her brother pouting angrily, she continued, "I can walk fast."

Tang Xu had noticed it was getting dark, and he knew that Tang Yang often went to the old house, so he was familiar with the road. Tang Li, being a young girl, might not be safe walking alone in the dark.

However, upon further consideration, he realized his arrangement wasn't quite appropriate. Neither of them were very old.

"Never mind, you two stay home and eat. I'll go with Father," Tang Xu said, taking out a wine pot from the cupboard and grabbing a basket.

He put the large bowl of stewed meat and the wine pot into the basket, then went to fetch the basin of rice.

Tang Erhu reached out, "Give them all to me. You don't need to go either."

Tang Xu handed the basket to him, noticing how he carried it with one hand and dragged the basin with the other.

That seemed fine too.

"Father, be careful on the way. Don't spill the basin," Tang Xu reminded.

Tang Erhu chuckled and turned to leave.

Their house wasn't far from the Tang family's old house. It was just a short walk uphill and around a couple of bends.

As they were eating, they heard someone banging on the courtyard door. When the elder sister-in-law, Luo Pingping, went to open the door, she muttered to herself about who had the audacity to come banging on their door during mealtime. However, upon opening the courtyard door, the aroma of meat wafted directly into her nose. Any words she had intended to say were swallowed back, replaced by surprise. "Second Brother, why are you here at this hour?"

She reached out to take the basket of food.

But Tang Erhu didn't give her the basket; instead, he handed over the basin of rice.

Seeing plenty of rice and a good portion of crispy rice crusts left in the basin, Luo Pingping's eyes lit up with joy. "Second Brother, you're doing well! You even cooked rice with crispy rice crusts."

Tang Erhu could tell that his sister-in-law was teasing him, and he understood that there must have been some conflicts between her and Liu Xiangxiang. Feeling uneasy, he spoke frankly, "Xu Ge'er went to town early this morning to sell some dried goods, made some money, bought some wine and meat, and cooked stewed meat and rice. He asked me to bring it over for our parents to eat together."

As the elderly couple lived with Luo Pingping, whatever food was brought over was also for them.

Luo Pingping's smile blossomed instantly, and she praised, "Xu Ge'er is truly filial, even remembering his grandparents when eating meat."

Tang Erhu nodded. "He also thought of you."

Luo Pingping thought he was referring to bringing over food to share and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, he's such a good kid. When you come back after eating, take some of the pickled radish I made. If he likes it, he can come get more after finishing."

Tang Erhu didn't refuse her kindness and agreed.

Upon entering the house, Tang Guangliang and Wu Guizhi looked up. The whole family was gathered around the table, with two bowls of stir-fried vegetables, a bowl of scrambled eggs, a basin of rice soup, and steamed buns—just a typical family dinner.

"Mom and Dad, Second Brother steamed rice and stewed meat over there, brought it over to honor you both," Luo Pingping placed the basin she was holding down, her tone brimming with undisguised joy, "Xu Ge'er made all of this, and it tastes really delicious."

Tang Erhu's words were all said by his sister-in-law. He placed the basket of food down and brought out a large bowl of meat from inside the basket.

Seeing that there were many people here, Tang Xu probably served more meat than potatoes. At a glance, the table was full of reddish meat chunks, reflecting the oil light under the oil lamp.

The people at the table all had their eyes fixed on that bowl of meat.

Tang Wei and Tang Zu, the two brothers, glanced at each other but didn't dare to reach out.

It had been a long time since the family had seen meat because they hadn't celebrated getting married for a long time, and if it weren't for their grandfather's insistence, there wouldn't have been a bowl of scrambled eggs on the table either.

Now that their second brother brought meat and wine over, how could they not be tempted?

Tang Guangliang, who was nearly sixty years old, had a good appetite and good health. Seeing the smile lines on the wine jug, his face became even more profound.

Wu Guizhi, smelling the aroma of meat, said with a smile, "Why did you bring so much meat? Are we celebrating something? Did Liu Xiangxiang not argue with you? Hurry up and take it back. Don't start a fight again late at night."

Luo Pingping's hand holding the bowl paused for a moment, and she secretly smirked.

They had seen enough of Liu Xiangxiang's attitude over the years.

However, thinking about what Tang Erhu had just said, Luo Pingping put down her bowl and chopsticks and asked her eldest son to bring over a wooden stool. "Mom, this meat wasn't brought by Liu Xiangxiang, it was bought by Xu Ge'er with his own money, and he cooked it too."

"Yeah, Mom, just enjoy your meal. Do you think I can't handle her?" Tang Erhu picked up the wine jug and poured a small cup for his older brother and father. Then he took out a small money pouch and handed it to his sister-in-law. In her bewildered gaze, he explained, "Xu Ge'er said the copper coins here are for Uncle and Aunt to use, so don't think it's too little."

Luo Pingping held the heavy money pouch in her hands dumbfoundedly, her eyes wide with surprise.

"For us to use?" Her voice carried a tremor of excitement.

So excited.

There were at least two hundred copper coins in this small pouch!

Tang Erhu, facing the various gazes of his family, suddenly felt quite proud.

Every time he came over to the old house since the division of the family, unless Liu Xiangxiang didn't come along, he was always embarrassed and lost face.

Now, he had face, and it was earned by his own brother!

Feeling joyful, Tang Erhu sat on the small wooden stool, holding his bowl. "Yes, it's for you, Mom and Dad, let's eat. I'm hungry."

The old couple didn't hesitate to pick up their chopsticks and started to help themselves to the meat.

As soon as the meat entered their mouths, both of their eyes narrowed in satisfaction. The meat was incredibly fragrant and tender, especially the pigskin, which was sticky and easy to chew.

Normally, pork skin with hair on it would be prickly even if burned with fire and wouldn't taste good when stewed, so they usually requested not to include it when buying meat.

But now, with the meat in their mouths and paired with plain white rice, it was incredibly satisfying!

"When did Xu Ge'er become so skilled?"

The old man took a sip of wine and a bite of meat, his mouth full of oil, "With wine and meat, life is beautiful!"

Tang Dahu chimed in, "Indeed, life is beautiful. It's rare that Xu Ge'er still thinks of us."

"Liu Xiangxiang didn't cause any trouble?" Wu Guizhi asked.

Tang Erhu fell silent for a moment, drinking two cups of wine before responding, "I gave her a beating, and she's been quiet." He didn't mention the reason for the beating, as there were younger family members present.

There was a brief pause among the people at the table, but soon they resumed eating as usual.

After Tang Wei and Tang Zu finished eating, they still had to work on building the house tomorrow. Luo Pingping didn't stay long either; she took the small money pouch and went back to the room to count the money.

Wu Guizhi noticed that her second son was in a bad mood. She put down her bowl and chopsticks and took a sip of water, asking, "Erhu, did something happen to you?"

Tang Guangliang looked at him, but being the easygoing man he was, as long as there was meat and wine, he was happy and didn't think much further.

Tang Dahu's temperament was similar to his father's, or rather, all three sons took after their father's character. Normally laid-back, he also didn't notice anything wrong with his younger brother.

Tang Erhu remained silent, taking a bite of the steamed bun.

Wu Guizhi pondered for a moment before asking, "Did Xu Ge'er earn money and not give it to Liu Xiangxiang, so she started cursing again?"

"No," Tang Erhu shook his head, "Xu Ge'er gave her all the money, but she still wasn't satisfied. She cursed him out, then went to the kitchen to snatch the meat while Xu Ge'er was cooking. She even wanted to hit Xu Ge'er again. I got angry and took the money back, then gave her a beating."

Tang Dahu frowned, "So, you brought the money to us?"

"Not at all, it was Xu Ge'er who wanted to give it," Tang Erhu explained. "He said you were busy building the house, and we couldn't help much. He remembered that Auntie had cooked sweet egg soup for him before, so he said I should bring the money over. It might help a little, so Big Brother, please don't think it's too little." 

Although Tang Dahu was rough, he knew how to speak nicely. Not to mention how touched Tang Dahu was, even the elderly couple had faces full of gratification.

Tang Erhu thought for a moment, then changed the subject. "Mother, I just chatted with Xu Ge'er for a bit, and it seems like he's interested in someone."

"What nonsense?" Wu Guizhi looked puzzled.

"He said he wants to marry someone he finds pleasing," Tang Erhu replied.

Wu Guizhi exclaimed, "I thought he recovered from his illness, but now it seems like he's recovered too much! That's quite a bold idea!"

Tang Erhu smirked slightly, agreeing with her assessment.

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