Chapter 38: Chapter 38 It’s Different Now Chapter 38: Chapter 38 It’s Different Now As the flames grew larger, the fat melted and the oil seeped out. At this time, they still had to keep the fire raging to ensure that the oil heated up in every corner of the pot.
If the iron pot had iron filings and wasn’t properly seasoned or rubbed bright with a stone when first purchased, it would rust later on.
So, solving this in one go was the best choice.
Bai Zhi and Grandpa, each holding a stone, vigorously rubbed the pot until bright streaks appeared.
After rubbing it all over, they could clean it with lye water.
Then, it turned into a shiny iron pot.
Bai Zhi carried the pot over and placed it on the stove at home for a moment, perfect.
Bai Dan brought over some small cakes and handed them to Bai Zhi; grandfather and granddaughter each took a spoonful and slowly savored it, finding the taste quite acceptable, Bai Dan thought it was quite good.
“Xingxing, don’t you really find it delicious?”
He looked at Xingxing, who frowned with every bite, which he found odd.
“Um, it’s a bit too sweet, feels kind of overwhelming.”
Bai Zhi had to force herself to finish her portion and hurried to cook something else, fearing she might vomit otherwise.
In the afternoon, Grandpa killed a chicken to nourish her body, as the doctor had told her she must do.
He also brought back a lot of pork and pork bones; at this time, pork bones could be bought cheaply because they had little meat, so she hung them in the well to prevent spoilage.
She deboned the chicken, using the carcass to make soup, while Bai Zhi planned to cook nectarine chicken stew. Pineapple with meat is a common combination, isn’t it?
First, the nectarines had to be coated in starch and egg to lock in the moisture, fried briefly, and then added to the nearly cooked chicken to stew for a few minutes. Nectarines cut through the richness and absorbed the chicken flavor, creating a delicious aroma.
During the meal, Bai Dan kept eating the nectarines, giving all the chicken to Bai Zhi, leaving her somewhat helpless.
“Grandpa, I want to eat the nectarines too. You should eat some meat, don’t we have soup for nutrients?”
Bai Zhi pouted, put down her chopsticks, and just looked expectantly at Bai Dan, who eventually caved.
“Alright, Grandpa will eat it. Isn’t that okay? Who did you learn to be so stubborn from?”
It’s just like a child, why so stubborn? Bai Dan noticed that ever since Xingxing arrived, his appetite had increased significantly, and he had been feeling much stronger lately.
What did he used to eat? After returning, he would just nibble on something carelessly, life repeating day by day, meaningless. But now, things were different. He had to provide for his granddaughter. He could genuinely showcase his bamboo crafts, make some nice gift baskets or carrying baskets—who wouldn’t? Earn more money, make Xingxing plump and healthy, buy lots of new clothes.
By the time Bai Dan thought this, his bowl was already empty, and he belched.
“Xingxing, hurry up and take your medicine. Grandpa is right here watching you.”
Bai Zhi stiffened, afraid of what she feared most. She was already better, why still take them?
Bai Zhi gathered her emotions, placed her hands on her thighs, and pinched hard.
Tears came out all at once. She looked at Bai Dan with teary eyes.
“Grandpa, I’m already better, I don’t need to take them anymore, right? Those pills are especially big, they always get stuck in my throat, it’s not that I don’t want to eat them.”
Bai Zhi was originally thin, her eyes brimming with tears, making her look quite wronged. Bai Dan immediately went to get the medication and also poured a glass of water. There indeed was a large white pill, which he took out separately.
“Alright, go ahead and eat it.”
Bai Zhi blinked, somewhat in disbelief. Why was her grandfather indifferent to her tears? Was it because she wasn’t crying pitifully enough?
“Eat it quickly, Grandpa won’t compromise. This is for your good, this is the last round. Otherwise, I will prescribe it for another two days!”
Bai Dan, with a stern face, looked seriously at Bai Zhi. On this matter, he could never indulge Xingxing, that feeling that Xingxing could leave him at any moment had persisted for so long and still he couldn’t get over it, so he resolutely could not.
“Okay.”
Bai Zhi could only take the water glass, looking at those pills with deep resentment as if they were a source of sorrow and slowly reached out to take a capsule and put it in her mouth. She swallowed it hard with a gulp of water, then picked up another and repeated the process…
When the last pill was eaten, just as she thought she could avoid eating more, she watched as Bai Dan forcefully broke the pill into two halves.
Bai Zhi’s face grew even paler. Could such manipulation be possible?
She took the medication with a trembling hand, her heart aching, but not knowing how to express it.
“Eat quickly. In a while, Grandpa will take you to watch a movie. The village chief said they are showing a movie at the village entrance today.”
Bai Dan looked at Bai Zhi’s aggrieved and frustrated expression and smiled. At this time, Xingxing really seemed like a child, trying every means not to take the medication. Isn’t that just like a child?
“Movie?”
Is it that kind where they carry two suitcases and just need a white cloth to show it? She had never seen it before and was very curious.
“Uh-huh, do you want to go?”
Kids always love movies, right? Every time there’s a movie, he always ensured that Bai Yu and the others saw it. It’s just that he hadn’t seen Xingxing?
“Let’s go!” Bai Zhi nodded vigorously. How could she not go? The earliest movies, of course, she had to see. She had never seen one before.
The original owner’s memory of watching a movie was several years later, with a little ruffian or something, it seemed it was just to get Bai Da’s attention, which naturally worked, leading to a beating and subsequent ignoring and cold indifference, correctly called cold violence.
What did that little ruffian look like? Bai Zhi shook her head hard; there was no snippet of memory, probably because it wasn’t time yet, so the memory in the soul of the original owner wasn’t triggered.
Now not fearful of eating, Bai Zhi put half a pill in her mouth and took a sip of water. After the last half, she took a big gulp of water. It was just taking medicine after all. Was it necessary to drink a whole cup of water?
Bai Dan wouldn’t let Bai Zhi wash dishes, and even offered her a glass of milk, which she initially didn’t want. She always felt reluctant to accept things from Ye Xiu, but Bai Dan told her.
Ye Xiu was her mother, who truly loved her dearly and always wanted to give her a chance. Besides, it was the future. What’s wrong with drinking some milk she bought?
Although Bai Zhi still felt a bit frustrated, she did not reject it. She didn’t respond because even though Ye Xiu hadn’t particularly wronged the original owner, Ye Xiu also hadn’t helped her in her most helpless moments. All Bai Zhi could do was to go with the flow.
Milk. Bai Zhi’s face once again looked distressed. She didn’t like it.
“Grandpa, it’s so late. Drinking it might cause indigestion. Shall we drink it tomorrow morning?”
Bai Zhi blinked hard, hoping her grandfather would notice the earnest look in her eyes.
“Alright.”
Rarely did Xingxing act so spoiled with him today, so he agreed. After all, they had already had soup today, hadn’t they?