Chapter 53: Sister Xiaoguo

After preparing two sets of ingredients, Xiaoguo carefully went through every step of the recipe with Xu Ruyi, who was listening attentively at the side. They started working on the soup base first.

After putting the lid on the pot, Xiaoguo lit the fire and instructed, “If you want the soup to taste good, there’s only one word for it. Simmer!” Xu Ruyi nodded in all seriousness.

Xiaoguo continued, “Usually, the base soup used in restaurants is always kept simmering above a flame. That’s why their soups are always so rich.”

Xiaoguo taught her how to make starch next. “This step is very simple, but it requires patience.” As she spoke, she patiently taught her each and every step. “It needs to be washed, peeled, crushed, rubbed, and precipitated.”

Xu Ruyi followed her demonstration carefully, and went through every step seriously. In the end, the two of them came up with six basins of starch water.

“Alright, just put it aside and let it settle. The water is turbid now because the starch is floating in the water. It will sink to the bottom of the basin in a while. When the water turns clear, you can pour it away. Then, you can sun dry the starch at the bottom of the basin and grind it into starch powder.” After explaining, Xiaoguo moved on to the next step.

“The fish balls look simple, but it takes a lot of effort.” Xu Ruyi watched Xiaoguo’s every move without blinking. She was intending to follow every step as closely as possible.

When Xu Ruyi saw the freshly made fish balls floating in the water, she was overjoyed. She held Xiaoguo’s hand excitedly. Her excitement rubbed off on Xiaoguo too.

After teaching her everything, Xiaoguo was ready to leave. Xu Ruyi invited her to stay for dinner, but by her earlier chat with Xu Ruyi, Xiaoguo was well aware of her situation. In order to pay for the ingredients needed today, she had pawned the jade pendant that she had been wearing since birth. Xiaoguo couldn’t help but feel impressed. Xu Ruyi was really a good girl.

Xu Ruyi watched Xiaoguo leave the house. After spending half a day together, she felt that Xiaoguo was really a kind person. She was patient, meticulous, and gentle. She was just like the sister she had always wanted. Xu Ruyi watched Xiaoguo get into the donkey cart and hesitated before calling out to her. “Uh, can I call you Sister Xiaoguo?” After saying that, she felt rather embarrassed. She had a carefree personality and was not used to hanging out with those dainty and gentle girls from humble families. That was why she never had many friends since she was young. However, just within the span of half a day, she could feel that Xiaoguo was a very warm person and it was easy to get along with her.

Xiaoguo was shocked, but she quickly said, “Of course, Ruyi.” Throughout the morning, Xiaoguo had noticed that Xu Ruyi’s eyes were filled with sincerity and seriousness. Xiaoguo was rather moved. She admired the girl’s perseverance in trying to protect the business that her father had built up.

Hearing Xiaoguo call her Ruyi, Xu Ruyi felt warm all over. Tears welled up in her eyes. It had been a long time since she felt such warmth.

After bidding farewell to the two of them, Xiaoguo agreed to come back the next morning. She had to be there as it was Fair day and also the opening day for Ruyi Noodle Restaurant. Xiaoguo’s mission tomorrow was to divert all those who were waiting to buy her noodles, over to the eatery.

The eatery was not far away from the location of her stall, so it should be quite convenient for the people. After all, it was around the corner. From where Xiaoguo had previously set up her stall, Ruyi Noodle Restaurant was just a couple of steps away.

Xiaoguo drove the donkey cart around town. Since there weren’t any pressing things to do today, Xiaoguo decided to bring Zhuang Zhuang around as he had never been to town before. It also happened that there were many shops and stalls that were open for business.

“Son, I’ll buy you anything you want,” Xiaoguo said generously. She had brought enough money with her when she went out. It was too late to go home now. It was almost noon. Although it was close to Peach Blossom Village, it would take some time to get back. They might as well buy food from here.

Zhuang Zhuang looked around in a daze and pointed to a stall not far ahead. “Mother, what is that?”

Xiaoguo drove over. “Sugar figurines, can I have one?” she said to the stall owner.

Zhuang Zhuang chose a tiger-shaped one and looked at it in surprise. “Mother, this looks like a real tiger”

Xiaoguo saw that it was true. The drawing was really intricate.

They took the sugar figurine and drove the donkey cart along the road. She bought vegetables when they passed by the stall and bought a few snacks for Zhuang Zhuang along the way.

Just before the two of them left the stall, a man in front of the stall selling masks stared at their departing figures… That child just now seemed to be…