The villagers, hearing Zhang Liunian's politeness and his offer to share meat, either shook their heads or waved their hands in refusal.
"This is what we should do. We're neighbors; everyone encounters difficulties."
"Exactly, we don't do things like that."
"No need to send it. We can buy it. Just give us a better price."
"Yes, yes, if it's cheaper, we'll be satisfied."
"..."
Most people, however, couldn't resist the alluring aroma of Zhang Liunian's braised meat.
"It's too late today. Tomorrow, I'll send each of you a small bowl. Please don't find it too little," Zhang Liunian said with a smile. Before they could refuse, he walked towards Zhang Hao's house.
"Liunian, why are you here? You should be resting at home if you're injured. Don't run around and get hurt again." Zhang Hao, who was waiting for dinner, saw Zhang Liunian approaching his house with a large basket, and the intensifying aroma of meat made him swallow his saliva.
Zhang Liunian placed the bowl of braised meat and a bottle of lobster sauce meant for him on the dining table, then re-covered it. "You and Uncle Laoshi put in a lot of effort yesterday. I don't have much to show my gratitude, so I've brought you a portion of the freshly made lobster sauce and braised meat. You mustn't refuse."
The words Zhang Hao was about to utter in refusal got stuck in his throat. After Zhang Liunian left, he finally shouted, "Liunian, Uncle doesn't want your things."
"..." Zhang Liunian waved his hand and continued on his way. This time, he delivered a portion to Zhang Laoshi's family as well, receiving a lengthy send-off from them.
After delivering to the two families, it was getting late. Zhang Liunian returned with the basket and saw Jiang Qingqing standing at the courtyard gate, beckoning him to eat.
Zhang Liunian smiled and walked over, "Let's go. Be careful."
"Liunian, do you still feel unwell anywhere? If you do, you must tell me, understand?" Jiang Qingqing leaned closer to him, looking up at Zhang Liunian with a worried expression.
Zhang Liunian felt perfectly fine, except for his left hand, which he couldn't use for the time being.
However, his wife was constantly anxious. Even after returning home, she still worried about him from time to time. He had to comfort her, "We live in a thatched-roof house. Besides a few beams, there's nothing that can cause harm. You don't need to worry about me; I'm truly fine."
"Anyway, if anything happens, you must tell me. The day after tomorrow, when you go to the county town, remember to get another check-up at the county clinic. I need to see the results to feel more at ease." If it weren't for her physical condition, Jiang Qingqing would have immediately taken Zhang Liunian for another check-up at the clinic to set her mind at ease.
Zhang Liunian smiled and nodded, "I'll listen to you. I'll get checked in the county town the day after tomorrow. You don't need to worry too much. If something were wrong, I would be able to feel it."
Even though he said that, Jiang Qingqing was still afraid of losing Zhang Liunian. Without him in her life, she lacked the courage to live alone. "Liunian, I'm scared."
"Don't be afraid. I'll always be with you." As Zhang Liunian finished speaking, they arrived at the dining table.
As they sat down, Zhang Liunian presented a bowl of lobster sauce to everyone. "This is the lobster sauce they just made for me. You all try it and see if there are any areas for improvement."
While he said that, Zhang Liunian knew that he was simply retracing his steps, and he had a good handle on the proportions. The taste would definitely be right.
Jiang Qingqing, Zhang Xiaomei, and the mute, among others, only knew that Zhang Liunian had finally made lobster sauce. As for its taste, they genuinely didn't know.
Now that they finally saw the finished product, they were naturally curious about the taste of the lobster sauce.
They picked up pieces of lobster meat, put them into their mouths one by one, chewed a few times, and their expressions lit up like bulbs after being energized.
"Third brother, this tastes much better than the peanut sauce we made before."
Zhang Xiaomei was the first to speak, praising the taste. Then Jiang Qingqing chimed in, "This shrimp meat is so springy and fragrant. How does it have the aroma of braised meat when you eat it?"
This was the part Jiang Qingqing found a little confusing. It was made from lobster, so why did it have a meaty flavor?
Zhang Liunian explained with a smile, "Because the lobster was steamed with meat, it absorbed the meaty flavor."
The first time he steamed lobster, Zhang Liunian had placed meat at the bottom, allowing the lobster to absorb the meat's scent. Thus, it indeed had a meaty flavor when eaten.
"So that's how it is. But it's really delicious. It's the most delicious sauce I've ever eaten. I think we can sell it." Jiang Qingqing realized, her face full of anticipation.
Hearing his wife's words, Zhang Liunian smiled and picked up two pieces for himself. Indeed, it tasted the same as the sauces from his previous life, with no changes.
Since the taste hadn't changed, he felt even more confident about the future.
"How much do you plan to sell a bottle of lobster sauce for?" Jiang Qingqing's eyes were filled with the gleam of money, as if she couldn't wait to count it.
Zhang Liunian smiled dotingly. "The tentative price is one yuan and fifty per bottle."
"One yuan and fifty per bottle? If we can sell several hundred bottles a day, won't we be earning several hundred yuan a day again?" Jiang Qingqing's face was flushed with excitement.
"That's right. So, for the next few days, I'll have them peel shrimp and dry them diligently, processing the lobster meat. For now, let's set a target of five hundred jin of lobster meat per day," Zhang Liunian replied with a smile.
Jiang Qingqing and the others didn't know how much lobster sauce he could sell per day, so they could only follow his arrangements and cooperate with his work.
After the meal, Zhang Liunian went to find Zhang Liusha and others to catch five hundred jin more lobsters for drying the lobster.
Meanwhile, at the educated youth dormitory, Jiang Qingqing suddenly received a visit from Zhang Liuxing and his wife.
After more than a year of not seeing each other, Jiang Qingqing was still as beautiful as in his memory, causing Zhang Liuxing's eyes to go wide.
Fang Ru, standing beside him, noticed Zhang Liuxing's gaze and felt a pang of resentment. Why did Jiang Qingqing suddenly seem even more beautiful than before?
When they returned the year before last, Jiang Qingqing still looked disheveled. How could she, after a year, appear like an unmarried maiden again, with skin like refined fat and eyes like stars?
How could Fang Ru, who wasn't particularly beautiful to begin with, compare herself to her?
"Third sister-in-law, we heard you had an accident and came specifically to check on you," Fang Ru said. Seeing Zhang Liuxing remain silent for a long time, only staring at Jiang Qingqing as if he could gaze eternally, she stepped forward to block his line of sight.
Jiang Qingqing, unaware of Zhang Liuxing's gaze, turned around upon hearing Fang Ru's words and made way. "Come in!"
Since they said they were there to see them, she couldn't possibly keep them standing outside the courtyard gate.
Zhang Liuxing and his wife nodded and followed Jiang Qingqing inside. They walked through the courtyard and saw someone drying white things in the yard.
Fang Ru walked over and examined them closely but couldn't recognize what they were. She asked confusedly, "Third sister-in-law, what are you drying here?"
Jiang Qingqing turned to look at the rack where lobster was being dried and replied, "Lobster meat."
"Lobster meat? What kind of lobster meat?" Fang Ru searched her mind, but she couldn't recall any type of lobster that looked like that.