Chapter 23
The next step after skinning the hare was to eviscerate it by removing the innards including the organs, entrails and blood. After that, she thoroughly washed it with salt and put it to remove water. The hare meat was big so she planned to dry some of it under the sun and smoke it to be used in other dishes. With that thought she divided the hare meat into two and prepared to sun dry and smoke one then steam the one for tonight.
She would have loved to roast it but they didn't have glaze and soy sauce as condiments to marinate it. Thankfully she had scallions and ginger from yesterday to use to steam it with the spring water as secret recipe. Rinsing the hare meat, she placed the steamer basket on top of the already boiling water then chopped the scallions and ginger before placing it in the steamer basket and began streaming. In about 20 minutes it was done. The fragrant scent had the children outside drooling as they waited in anticipation to be called.
Removing the food from fire, Su Ying skimmed the oil from the surface of the cooking liquid. Then with the help of a cheese cloth she strained the collected oil to remove any impurities and then decant it into an empty barrel she found in the kitchen. Leaving the oil to cool down she started serving the food for everyone. She could already imagine the kids drooling outside so she hurried up. The spring water was much more effective than expected by making the food more aromatic and done faster.
Setting the table, she served the food on the table and called in the whole kids to come eat. On hearing their names they all rushed inside and took their seat except the two boys. They looked hesitantly at Su Ying not daring to move closer to the table. Su Ying seeing their hesitation beckoned them to come closer, then served them their food after making use they had washed their hands. In a blink of an eye they had devoured the whole food and looked at her expectantly. Shrugging she got them more until they were satisfied then she entered the kitchen.
Looking for a good plate she scooped some bare meat into eat and covered it then went back to the dinning where the kids were resting after the food they ate. She carried the food to the two brothers and handed it over to them while they stood looking at her in confusion so Su Ying explained.
"Carry the food to your mother and tell her I gave it to her so she won't scold you for staying late. I didn't cook it with anything so tell her not to mind me".
Hearing heard her instructions they were dumbfounded before nodding in agreement. Bidding goodbye they went to their house. A few minutes later they had arrived at their place to see their mother waiting for them at the courtyard while embroidering a handkerchief with a candle light. Seeing them she dropped her work and rushed to examine if they were hurt anywhere. Her worry was not unfounded because the original host always pinched them hard anytime they visited so she had warned her kids not to go there but they always sneaked out to play there.
"Are you both alright? Did she harm you anywhere? Show it to mother".
Seeing their mother concern they smiled and handed over the food to her repeating what Su Ying told them and how she treated them leaving their mother stunned. She couldn't believe it but looking at her kids oily mouth and glowing face along with the food in her hands she had no choice but to believe it. Leading the kids inside she went to her husband room to tell him what she heard. Her husband also showed the same expression clearly in disbelief before they decided to inform his mother.
The woman whose name was Qui Fei and her husband Shi Dong were a happy couple who lived with his old mother and two kids. They were poor and made a living through his wife who sold her embroidery handkerchief and the husband a carpenter who didn't receive much others despite his excellent carpentry skills. They knew how badly Su Ying treated the kids and other villagers which made them have a very bad impression of her. Hearing that she cooked and even brought for them was baffling so they consulted their mother.
Mrs Zhen Mei who was Qui Fei mother in law and Shi Dong's mother was equally puzzled. Nonetheless she decided to taste the food not having any hopes that she could cook anything delicious. On the first bite she was stunned, the aroma was already making her son and daughter in law drool. Seeing her stunned they urged her to tell them how it tasted.
" Mother is the food as delicious as it smells?".
" Mother in law let me taste it on your behalf if it tastes good".
Mrs Zhen Mei snapped out of it began taking huge bites proving how delicious it was. After a few more bites she handed it recluntantly to her son and daughter in law which they started devouring. She was not a biased mother in law who favored girls over boys or insisted in having all good stuff to herself. After having a taste she gave it her son and grandchildren along with her daughter in law to eat. Soon the plate was emptied and kicked clean. Embarrassed they stared at each other before Mrs Zhen Mei broke the silence.
"I never expected that girl to have such good cooking skills. The food although prepared with little ingredients taste really good".
"You're right mother. Shi Duo also told me that she didn't scold or curse them today instead she gave them food and even sent some to us".
After they finished talking they looked at Shi Dong waiting for his opinion as a man of the house. Lost in thought, he sighed before replying them.
"Maybe she is now remorseful and wants to change. Tomorrow take the plate to her house and thank her and see her attitude. If its good as they kids say then let them go and try to be friends with her".
Both women nodded at his suggestion before they retired to sleep. Back at the Xiao house Su Ying went to the backyard where Xiao Shan was handling the hare fur to help so they could eat and retire too. She didn't know that her actions of sending food to her neighbors had changed their opinion of her. She indeed had selfish motives for sending the food to Shi Duo's parents to try and build a good relationship with them.