I'm back in 1990

Chapter 133: The First Family Feast in the New Home

After leaving Ji Mei's room, Yu Wei looked around the entire apartment, inside and out, and then went to the kitchen.

Huang Xiaochuan was busy in the kitchen. The meat had just been skimmed of blood and foam and was simmering in a pot over low heat. There was still a lot of ingredients to process. The prawns not only had to have their whiskers removed but also their backs opened. Today, Huang Xiaochuan was going to make a dry-fried prawn dish.

To prepare large yellow croaker, scrape off the scales and remove the internal organs, and use rice wine, ginger, and scallions to remove the fishy smell.

Seeing Yu Wei idly swinging his arms, Huang Xiaochuan simply assigned him tasks to do.

"Hurry up and help me organize these vegetables, don't just think about eating what's already prepared."

Yu Wei also wanted to get some information out of Huang Xiaochuan. After hearing Huang Xiaochuan's words, although he was unwilling, he still went into the kitchen to help Huang Xiaochuan.

While shelling edamame, Yu Wei asked, "Where did you get so much money?"

Huang Xiaochuan skillfully cleaned the large yellow croaker, replying, "Didn't your sister tell you?"

Huang Xiaochuan could guess with his own eyes that Yu Xiang must have told Yu Wei about the house, and Yu Wei was just asking him again to confirm it.

"She did tell me, but I don't believe her, so I came to ask you."

"Ask me? Then I'll definitely tell you the same thing your sister told you."

"So, you and my sister are planning to get married in Shanghai?"

"Marriage is a certainty, but it's hard to say where it will take place right now."

"Do your parents and my parents know about your buying a house with my sister?"

"I haven't told them yet. Your sister plans to tell them in the summer."

"She's going to do her internship at a hospital during the summer vacation and won't be going back home. What will she say?"

"Are you out of your mind? Your sister could have just made a phone call home!" Huang Xiaochuan was so busy berating Yu Wei that he forgot he still had the knife in his hand.

Yu Wei was startled: "Hey, watch out, don't fucking point the knife at me."

Huang Xiaochuan saw this and, thinking "Damn it," quickly put the knife away.

Seeing Huang Xiaochuan say this, Yu Wei couldn't find a good excuse. He could imagine that if his parents saw Huang Xiaochuan treating his older sister this way, they would be overjoyed.

Not long after, Yu Xiang, Tang Yuan, and Ji Mei came to help in the kitchen, which freed up Yu Wei. The kid took advantage of the crowd and quickly slipped away to tinker with the large color TV and VCR.

Fortunately, the kitchen in the house was big enough that the group felt comfortable inside. With more people, things got done faster, and soon all the main dishes and side dishes were prepared and washed. Huang Xiaochuan then ushered them all to the living room.

"Alright, alright, you guys don't need to do anything else. Just set the table, watch TV, and wait for your meal."

Tang Yuan, observing Huang Xiaochuan's demeanor, still harbored some doubt: "Yu Wei, can my brother-in-law really cook?"

Ji Mei had the same question.

Yu Wei stared intently at the martial arts film on TV, without turning his head, and said, "Yes, this guy's cooking is incredibly delicious, especially his lobster, it's so good I can't stop eating it, it's a pity they don't sell it here in Shanghai."

This was the first time Ji Mei had ever heard of crayfish being edible, and she asked curiously, "Those things are like worms, can you eat them?"

Yu Wei then turned to Ji Mei and said, "Sister Mei, you'll know once you have the chance to try it. Huang Xiaochuan can cook several kinds, he said so himself. But I've only tried the garlic and spicy ones, he hasn't made the others yet."

The group chatted and watched TV while Huang Xiaochuan was busy in the kitchen, keeping both gas stove burners running.

Soon after, the dishes were served one after another: braised pork belly, dry-fried prawns, yellow croaker with pickled mustard greens, stir-fried edamame and water bamboo shoots, braised silver pomfret, and stir-fried butterfly slices.

The dish includes wine-infused herbs and a winter melon and pork rib soup.

This was the first time Huang Xiaochuan had showcased his culinary skills in front of Yu Xiang. As the saying goes, the way to a person's heart is through their stomach.

Seeing that Huang Xiaochuan had actually cooked so many dishes so skillfully, and they looked delicious, Yu Xiang couldn't help but like her little man even more.

Huang Xiaochuan cooked so many dishes and was in a particularly good mood. As soon as the dishes were finished, he called everyone over.

"Don't just stand there! Let's begin!"

Since they were all family and friends, there was no need to stand on ceremony; they sat down and started eating.

"This dish is so delicious!" Ji Mei chewed on the butterfly slices, which were actually stir-fried eel slices. The key to this dish is the cooking time and temperature.

Tang Yuan was also impressed by Huang Xiaochuan's cooking. She had some doubts at first, but now she was sure that it was definitely chef-level skill, and she couldn't stop eating.

Yu Wei kept piling food into the bowl of glutinous rice balls, saying, "Eat more of this fish, and eat more of this shrimp too."

Huang Xiaochuan glared at the boy several times in anger. He was shoveling all the good food into his wife's bowl. No way! Huang Xiaochuan quickly helped Yu Xiang grab some food. Damn it, you guys are just here to take advantage of the situation, but you're stealing the spotlight.

Yu Xiang was extremely satisfied with the meal; she knew she would be in for a treat from now on. Huang Xiaochuan kept piling food onto her plate.

"Eat more fish. Eating fish won't make you fat. These clover leaves are very tender. You'll know once you try them. Let me serve you some soup."

Yu Xiang stopped Huang Xiaochuan, who was busy serving her food, saying, "Don't worry about me, I have my own chopsticks. Hurry up and eat! You must be hungry after all this time."

A bowl of braised pork was basically eaten by Yu Wei and Huang Xiaochuan. Yu Wei was so full that he lay on the sofa, groaning and clutching his stomach. Luckily, he wasn't fat, or he would have looked like a pig.

After the meal, Huang Xiaochuan had nothing to do. The three women were taking care of washing the dishes and cleaning up the mess, so Huang Xiaochuan didn't have to worry about it. He sat on the sofa and rested.

Yu Wei casually asked Huang Xiaochuan, "What are you going to do this afternoon?"

Huang Xiaochuan naturally had to go to the stamp market in the afternoon. Yu Wei really didn't know this. Ever since he got together with Tang Yuan, he hadn't cared much about his friend's affairs. If this guy hadn't suddenly become his brother-in-law, he probably would have almost forgotten about his friend. He was simply the best of the worst when it came to valuing romance over friendship.

When Yu Wei asked about his plans for the afternoon, Huang Xiaochuan replied honestly, "I'm going to the stamp market this afternoon."

Unfortunately, these words were like talking to a brick wall to Yu Wei. He was so engrossed in his love affair that he was oblivious to everything else, including the stock market and the postal market, which were currently the hottest topics among Shanghai residents.

He had absolutely no interest in the stamp market or anything like that. He had already arranged to go to the movies with Tang Yuan that afternoon. In his mind, he was still complaining about Huang Xiaochuan. "Damn it, he's dating my sister and he doesn't even offer to go shopping or see a movie with her? He's actually going to the stamp market by himself. That's so unfair."

With that thought in mind, his expression naturally turned somewhat displeased, and he glared at Huang Xiaochuan with annoyance.

Huang Xiaochuan was a little confused. "I specifically said I was going to the stamp market, why are you so unhappy?"

Not long after, Tang Yuan finished cleaning up the kitchen, said goodbye to Huang Xiaochuan and Yu Xiang, and left with Yu Wei.

After the two of them left, Huang Xiaochuan checked the time and realized it was almost one o'clock, so he got up and prepared to leave as well.

"Then I'm leaving. Think carefully about what you want to eat next week, and let me know in advance so I can go to the market to buy the ingredients and cook it."

Knowing that Huang Xiaochuan was going to the stamp market again, Yu Xiang reminded him, "Deposit the money as soon as you receive it. Don't keep it on you all the time, understand?"

Huang Xiaochuan quickly looked around, and seeing that no one was around, he hugged Yu Xiang and kissed her before leaving, satisfied.