Li Shu gave her a meaningful glance. He used to think this girl was rather simple, but he never expected her to be so cunning.
If she had been this sharp before, she wouldn't have ruined her reputation like this.
"Come and make sugar-frosted hawthorn for me. I'll pay you fifty cents per batch, and I won't take advantage of you."
Cheng You was naturally delighted. Money was what she lacked most right now; her total savings were only seventy cents.
Adding what San Leng had just given her, it came to a dollar and twenty cents.
It wasn't much, but she was happy.
"Uncle, can you tell people I'm not charging any wages?"
Otherwise, this fifty cents wouldn't make it into her pocket.
Li Shu nodded, "Alright, whatever you say."
It wasn't a loss for him anyway.
Cheng You was in a good mood, her steps becoming lighter as she followed Li Shu to his home.
As soon as they entered, they heard Li's mother inside asking, "Xiao Li Zi, who's here?"
"Mother, you love hawthorn, don't you? I've asked Cheng You girl to come make some for you."
Then, Cheng You heard rustling sounds, and the door opened. Li's mother emerged, leaning on her blind cane.
Since Li Shu's wife and son died in an accident, Li's mother had cried herself blind. It had been over ten years now.
Ever since she lost her sight, Li's mother had become a recluse.
Cheng You couldn't recall what she looked like. When she was little, everyone told her not to come here, saying there was a blind person here who was very fierce.
Now, seeing Li's mother, her face was gaunt, spotted with age marks, and she did look a bit stern.
But upon hearing Cheng You's voice, she smiled.
"Cheng You? You're Jiang Qing girl's daughter, right?"
"Grandma, it's me," Cheng You said with a smile.
Li's mother's unseeing eyes fixed on a certain spot. Recalling how fair and delicate Cheng You looked as a child, she couldn't help but smile.
What a shame that Jiang Qing had passed away so early.
"You've grown up. Come and talk to Grandma more often in the future."
Cheng You nodded, "Okay, I'll make delicious food for Grandma."
Li Shu brought out the hawthorns he had picked and said, "Make these first. I don't know how much sugar you'll need, so use these for now. If you need more, I'll go buy some."
Cheng You glanced at them and said, "This is enough. We can't make too much; it'll melt in this weather."
She asked San Leng to help her light the fire. She poured sugar directly into the pot and melted it into syrup, then poured in the hawthorns.
Li Shu sighed, "So it's that simple."
Li's mother unceremoniously exposed him, "Even if it's this simple, yours doesn't taste good."
Cheng You chuckled, "Grandma, that's because Uncle isn't cut out for cooking. He's a barefoot doctor, dedicated to healing people."
Li's mother couldn't hide her smile. Who didn't like hearing their son praised?
The sugar-frosted hawthorns were soon ready. Cheng You took them out of the pot and handed two to San Leng.
Li's mother clearly enjoyed them, eating several in a row and couldn't stop.
When she reached for the fifth one, Cheng You stopped her.
"Grandma, these are sour. Eating too many is bad for your stomach. Have you eaten?"
Li's mother waved her hand, becoming listless at the mention of food.
"The weather is hot, I really can't eat."
This was also why her complexion looked so poor.
Cheng You thought for a moment, "Then I'll make you something to eat. See if you like it. Eat something to line your stomach before eating the hawthorn. Eating hawthorn on an empty stomach is bad for your stomach."
After all, she had accepted fifty cents, and she felt bad not doing a bit more work.
Since she had said so, Li's mother naturally wouldn't refuse.
Although she didn't hold out much hope, knowing she probably wouldn't be able to eat.
San Leng followed her in, "Sister, I'll light the fire for you."
He still remembered the pheasant Cheng You had made last time; the taste lingered in his memory.
Cheng You glanced at the kitchen; there were quite a few things.
The cabinets were unlocked, and inside were two bags of dried noodles, bought from the supply and marketing cooperative, unopened.
There were many types of vegetables, likely gifts from the villagers.
There were tomatoes, radishes, and cucumbers.
Cheng You took out an egg and fried a sunny-side-up egg. She poured in water, and it sizzled.
She added a handful of dried noodles and some small green vegetables, completing two simple bowls of noodle soup.
Given the hot weather, she couldn't eat anything too hot, so she placed them aside to cool slightly.
Looking at the remaining noodle soup, San Leng couldn't help but say, "Cheng You sis, don't waste it. Can I have some?"
Cheng You chided him, "Greedy."
But she still ladled some out for him, "Eat."
The noodle soup wasn't clear broth. Because of the egg and noodles, it was a milky white.
San Leng had drunk noodle soup before, but the bowl Cheng You made tasted exceptionally good.
While they were at it, Cheng You also made smashed cucumber salad and sugar-mixed tomatoes.
These were both cold dishes, green and red, looking very appetizing.
"San Leng, help me carry these."
San Leng couldn't help but swallow, these cold dishes alone looked delicious.
Unfortunately, he wouldn't get to eat them.
Seeing his envious look, Cheng You felt a pang of sympathy and smiled, "If I have time, I'll make them for you."
"Okay! I'll ask my grandma to buy a pack of dried noodles, and you can come to my house to make them."
Cheng You nodded, "Alright!"
The two carried the noodles and dishes out. Before they could set them down, they heard Li's mother say, "It smells so good."
"Grandma, come and eat."
Cheng You didn't help her up, as Li's mother was proud and didn't like to be treated like an outsider.
Li's mother skillfully found her blind cane and walked over steadily.
"Let me guess, it's egg noodles, right?"
Cheng You gave her a thumbs-up, "Grandma, your nose is really sharp. I let them cool for a while, so they're not hot anymore. Try them. Uncle Li, come and eat too."
Li Shu made a sound and raised his eyebrows, "There's some for me too?"
San Leng mumbled, "There's some for you, but none for me."
Li Shu smiled and patted his head, "You rascal, ask your sister to make two more bowls. We have plenty of dried noodles at home."
Cheng You quickly said, "Uncle Li, no need. I'll eat at home."
"Don't, eat here. Otherwise, your father might say I mistreated you, not even giving you a full meal."
Cheng You knew he was gruff but kind-hearted; he was worried she'd be late and her father wouldn't save her dinner.
Li's mother had already started eating. She held the bowl and took a sip of the soup.
After one sip, she couldn't help but take another.
"They're both egg noodles, why is the difference so huge?"
Li Shu's face felt a little hot, "Mother, I know my cooking isn't good, don't say it anymore."
Li's mother snorted, "Taste what the girl made. Yours isn't just not good, it's practically pig swill!"
Cheng You saw Li Shu's embarrassed expression and exchanged a glance with San Leng, unable to help but laugh.
"Grandma, Uncle Li, these are both cold dishes, good for whetting your appetite in summer. Please try them."
Li Shu nodded, "Hurry up and make two bowls of noodles, leave us alone. We'll eat ourselves."
Hearing him say this, Cheng You called San Leng into the kitchen.