After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter
Chapter 134: Lotus Leaves are Edible Too

The scenes from his memory came vividly alive: in the past, he and his elder brother would go to the town to sell their hunted game. Whenever there was a slight surplus, they would definitely visit a tavern, order a few greasy meat dishes, pair it with a small plate of salty peanuts, and finally, drink a bowl of warm yellow wine. The feeling of utter satisfaction, which could relieve their cravings and eliminate fatigue, was indescribable.

However, since the severe injury he sustained, such simple and pure joy seemed unreachable.

"Alright, Brother Yuanyou, tonight I will join you for a good drink," he declared.

Jiang Ziling’s words carried a resolution, as if he intended to temporarily cast aside those bitter memories and reclaim the joy of old days.

The tacit understanding and conversations between the two quickly warmed up their initially tentative relationship; any previous barriers seemed to be dissipated by the fragrance of the liquor.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, with the help of Aunt Wang, Su Yu was busy preparing the plump fish that shimmered with scales.

Su Yu cherished these gifts from nature immensely. She carefully collected every fish scale, planning to create another unique delicacy with them.

She then skillfully sliced the fish meat, cautiously removed the bones, and added meticulously prepared seasonings to ensure the fish was thoroughly marinated, waiting for the flavors to deeply penetrate every fiber.

Taking advantage of the time the fish was marinating, Su Yu began to prepare the noodles.

As the night deepened, and with many guests present, it was clear that preparing rice would be too time-consuming, so she decisively chose noodles as the main course for the dinner.

Seeing Su Yu scoop out a heap of snow-white flour, Xie Qifen was so stunned she could hardly close her mouth.

Normally, to save on expenses, their family ate flour mixed with coarse grains; such pure white flour was an extravagant treat.

What moved her even more was that Su Yu had not only brought out the best of their pantry but was also generous with the quantity, clearly wanting to ensure that every guest enjoyed the meal without regrets.

Su Yu, noticing that Aunt Wang had missed cleaning the lotus leaf tips, gently reminded her, "Aunt Wang, don’t forget to also wash the lotus leaf tips clean. We can stir-fry them to eat later."

Hearing this, Xie Qifen’s face registered surprise, as if it was the first time she had heard that lotus leaves could be a delicious addition to the dinner table. Her eyes were filled with perplexity and curiosity.

Little did she know, in Su Yu’s world, every ingredient had its unique value, and although the Jiang family’s life was simple, it never lacked respect and creativity regarding food.

The question posed by Su Yu seemed to freeze the surrounding air for a moment, her tone carrying a hint of teasing and confidence, "Yes, you can eat them. Won’t you try?"

As her words fell, it was as if a stone had been cast into a placid lake, creating ripples throughout.

Upon hearing this, Xie Qifen’s head shook like a rattle drum, her actions displaying both a resistance to unknown foods and a curiosity for novel things. She thought inwardly that others might have the courage to try, but she had always been conservative, never considering incorporating something as ordinary as lotus leaves into her diet, let alone experiencing such a unique culinary method.

Su Yu caught the fleeting confusion on Xie Qifen’s face, her lips curving into a gentle smile as she patiently explained, "This lotus leaf, not only can it become a delicacy in our mouth, but it also contains gifts from nature. It cools and relieves the heat, bringing a touch of coolness in the summer, boosts the clear qi, revitalizing one’s spirit, promotes blood circulation and stops bleeding, maintaining balance and harmony within the body, and regulates moisture and the intestines, helping the body expel turbidity. It truly has many benefits and is a rare natural medicine."

Xie Qifen’s eyes gradually lit up, astonishment and curiosity intermingling, "Really? Does eating lotus leaf truly have so many benefits?"

At that moment, she seemed to have an epiphany, realizing that her past neglect of the lotus leaf was like overlooking a treasure by her side, which was too much of a pity.

Su Yu smiled and nodded affirmatively, a confident gleam in her eyes, "Absolutely true, and the taste is also very good. You’ll understand deeply once you try it yourself."

Infected by this enthusiasm, Xie Qifen decided to set aside her hesitations, "Then let’s give it a try."

For a food that was both beneficial to the body and delicious, even if Su Yu hadn’t invited her, she would have been tempted to taste more.

Next, Su Yu demonstrated her culinary skills, blanching the ingredients Xie Qifen brought— potatoes, bamboo shoots, and cabbage to a perfect tender green or golden yellow, neatly arranging them on a plate, and carefully adding a few slices of Xie Qifen’s homemade pickled vegetables.

As the oil temperature gradually increased, dried chili and Sichuan peppercorns leaped into the hot oil. They danced in the pot together with wild scallions, wild ginger, and the tangy pickled vegetables, making a pleasant crackling sound. A mist mixed with spicy and fresh aromas instantly filled the entire kitchen, tugging at the heartstrings.

Then, Su Yu adroitly added the cleaned fish bones to the hot oil, quickly stir-frying them, and poured in specially prepared soup stock and clear water. As the broth boiled, she gently slid the marinated fish slices into it until the fish turned an enticing snowy white.

When the fish slices were thoroughly cooked, Su Yu carefully transferred them to a prepared dish.

Just as Xie Qifen thought the cooking was complete and was about to praise Su Yu’s culinary skills, she saw Su Yu sprinkle dried chili and Sichuan peppercorns over the dish and then pour a ladle of boiling hot oil over it. The sizzling sound and the resulting intense aroma stirred the entire space, as if even the air was filled with an enticing scent.

Even the typically rugged Meng Yuanyou couldn’t help but swallow his saliva, obviously deeply attracted by the unique aroma.

Su Yu’s final touch of sprinkling green onions, like the finishing stroke on a dragon painting, added a touch of freshness to the dish.

This series of fluid motions left Xie Qifen staring dumbfounded at the side, secretly marveling at Su Yu’s exquisite use of ingredients.

Especially when Su Yu blanched the lotus leaf in boiling water and then swiftly dipped it in cold water, her skill and composure only added to Xie Qifen’s wonder.

But what was most surprising was that the fish scales, usually seen as waste, were also thrown into the hot soup.

Xie Qifen was full of disbelief, "Can this be eaten too?" While the lotus leaf was peculiar enough, the inclusion of fish scales in food was beyond imaginative, the strong fishy smell was unmistakable even from a distance.

Xie Qifen was filled with doubts, knowing full well that fish scales, being hard and coarse, are hardly something that people can chew and swallow easily. She knew she wasn’t picky with food, but the idea of eating fish scales was indeed unbelievable.

Faced with Xie Qifen’s skeptical expression, Su Yu found it quite amusing, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "Would I use something inedible to host everyone?"