After Transmigration, I Picked Up A Husband and Daughter
Chapter 163 Out of Oil

Chapter 163: Chapter 163 Out of Oil

"Miss Su, you needn’t worry about this matter. As the village chief, it is my duty to take full responsibility for the reception of the County Magistrate’s visit to Willow Village."

Although the words were well-intentioned, they unavoidably made the atmosphere somewhat awkward.

With her discerning mind, Su Yu quickly grasped the subtleties, thinking to herself that the village chief’s arrangements were more appropriate. One should not disrupt protocol due to personal desires and invite criticism from others.

Thus, she responded with a bright smile, "Since that’s the case, then please, village chief, pass along the fresh fish I’ve just caught to the County Magistrate and let him taste the natural delights from the rivers of Clear Water Town!"

Her composure and generosity left the village chief, who had been harboring doubts, feeling a twinge of guilt for his earlier narrow-minded thoughts.

At that moment, the County Magistrate’s gaze suddenly turned to Jiang Qishan in the crowd and made an unexpected request, "Brother Qi Mountain, I’d like to visit your home, may I impose?"

The sudden invitation left Jiang Qishan at a loss for words, excitement and nervousness intertwining as he stuttered out, "Of course, you may, but my home is humble, and I fear I may not serve you well."

As soon as these words were spoken, not only Jiang Qishan but also the village chief were both taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. However, out of respect for the County Magistrate, the village chief did not dare object and quickly sent his son, Jiang Yi, to Jiang Qishan’s house to give them advance notice, instructing them to prepare well. He emphasized the need to manage the chickens and ducks properly to avoid any unpleasant incidents from the past that might become gossip among the neighbors once again.

Afterward, the village chief enthusiastically suggested to the County Magistrate that they continue touring the village scenery, eager to show off the most enchanting side of Willow Village.

Standing aside, Song Junde quietly reflected that if this trip could provide insights into the hardships of the common people, then even the pangs of a slightly empty stomach would be well worth it.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yi, with a sense of urgency, rushed towards Jiang Qishan’s house, fearful of not executing his task perfectly.

Simultaneously, Su Yu, carrying a bucket full of fish, leisurely made her way home, where she found Wu Lan, Jiang Ziling’s mother, already anxiously waiting at the door. Upon seeing Su Yu, Wu Lan almost ran towards her with a look of plea in her eyes: "Ziling’s family, you must help me!"

With a puzzled expression and a hint of curiosity in her voice, Su Yu asked, "Aunt Wu, what happened, and how can I assist you?"

"Huaizhi came running to me, breathlessly and looking rather anxious, to tell me some unsettling news—the County Magistrate Master has suddenly taken a whim to visit our home in person, and he has specifically asked to sample our family’s cooking. This is serious; he insists I prepare a lavish meal, but with my limited culinary skills that barely suffice for daily meals, facing a guest as distinguished as the County Magistrate Master, I fear it would be better to hide my incompetence rather than embarrass myself."

"Not like you, Su Yu, whenever you cook, the fragrance wafts through the entire lane, making even ordinary folks like me salivate uncontrollably. How about this: I’ll be your sous-chef, washing and chopping the vegetables, while you take charge of the cooking? Your skills are bound to satisfy the County Magistrate Master."

Wu Lan’s heart was a tumult of emotions, mixing nervousness, anticipation, and a hint of awe for the power and position of the magistrate.

She couldn’t understand why the County Magistrate Master would choose to dine at such an ordinary family like hers, her heart fluttering with anxiety for fear of not providing adequate hospitality.

With no other choice, she sought help from Su Yu, who seemed ordinary but was known for her exceptional cooking skills.

Although Su Yu’s interactions with Wu Lan were not very close, she found her to be sincere and kindhearted, and naturally empathized with Wu Lan’s anxiety.

Without any hesitation, she agreed, her eyes sparkling with a touch of spirited generosity, "No problem, I’ve caught a few fresh fish from the river this morning; they will be a fine addition to our banquet."

Wu Lan looked at the fish in the wooden barrel, gleaming with silver light, feeling both envious and grateful.

Not only were the fish delicious, but they were also a testament to Su Yu’s generous assistance, which made her slightly embarrassed.

"Su Yu, you’re really too kind, having the County Magistrate Master visit is indeed a big deal, we must do our best."

Wu Lan nodded sincerely, silently promising to herself that there would be a generous repayment in the future.

Upon learning of this, Su Yu immediately went home to discuss with her husband Jiang Ziling, and the couple showed great understanding, with Jiang nodding in support.

Then, Su Yu headed straight for the courtyard next door, where Jiang Youwei was, only to find him holding a kitchen knife, hesitating over their only egg-laying old hen, but for the sake of hospitality, he steeled his heart for the tough decision.

Returning home, Su Yu quickly gathered precious medicinal herbs including Angelica, codonopsis, goji berries, astragalus, yam, Ladybell root, jade bamboo, and another portion of astragalus, planning to stew them with chicken to achieve a perfect balance of nutrition and flavor.

Entering the humble yet cozy kitchen, Su Yu immediately got busy, arranging everything with efficient movements.

As directed, Wu Lan carefully added the precious brown rice to the pot, stirring continuously to prevent sticking.

Meanwhile, Su Yu meticulously worked on the fresh fish, saving the fish scales for later use and slicing the fish into thin slices for marinating, while cleaning the green leafy vegetables Wu Lan had just picked from the garden; everything was orderly.

When the brown rice was half-cooked, she carefully drained the rice water and transferred it to the steamer to continue cooking.

At that moment, Jiang Youwei delivered the freshly cleaned chicken.

Su Yu expertly cut the chicken into pieces, put them into the preheated clay pot along with the prepared herbs and a few slices of ginger, poured in clear spring water, and placed it on the stove to simmer on low heat. The aroma that immediately filled the kitchen was mouthwatering.

Then, faced with an almost empty oil jar, Su Yu couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

But she didn’t let this minor difficulty defeat her; instead, she went back to the bedroom and brought out her own large porcelain bowl, scooping a full bowl of oil to tackle the upcoming stir-frying task.

All of this, in Wu Lan’s eyes, evoked deep gratitude and a touch of shame for her own family’s poverty.

Fortunately, Su Yu’s face showed no signs of displeasure; her eyes still held a gentle smile, giving those around her a little relief and a comforting atmosphere.

Su Yu personally cooked a series of exquisite dishes, including tender boiled fish slices that were crystal clear, glistening enticingly under the red oil; perfectly sour and spicy shredded potatoes that were as thin as silk, appetizing and tasty; and the soft yet subtly spicy green pepper and eggplant dish, vibrant with color, which greatly stimulated the appetite.

In addition, she creatively made golden and crispy sweet potato fries and rare, crunchy fish scales. These snacks had a unique taste and added fun to the table, bringing creativity and surprise to the meal.

The wooden basin was filled with warm rice soup, made from carefully selected rice and simmered on a low flame, giving off a gentle rice fragrance.