Chapter 443: New Dishes

Ah Jian said: “This time, when the fish is hooked, let me pull the rod.”

Lian Fang Zhou thought about this for a moment and her eyes lit up. Clapping her hands, she smiled: “Yes! Why didn’t I think of this?

“Cousin, why keep trying? Don’t bother!” Su Jing He teased playfully.

“Of course I have to try!” Lian Fang Zhou said, raising her chin.

Her brother was very encouraging: “Come on, Sister! This time it will be successful!”

“Whether it is successful or not, my sister is still the most powerful in my heart!” Lian Fang Qing comforted her, “Oh, and Brother Ah Jian!”

Hearing them, the adults laughed.

Lian Fang Zhou wasn’t sure whether to find it funny or irritating. Though the words were to comfort her, where they really comforting?”

By now, the rest of them had stopped fishing and were gathered around specifically to watch the fishing line that Lian Fang Zhou threw in the lake.

Lian Fang Zhou looked left and right and smiled helplessly: “What are you doing? Won’t the sight of so many people scare the fish away? I can’t do it!”

“Shh, look at the water!” Su Jing He said in a whisper, pouting.

She turned to look and was surprised to see that her float was already trembling; another fish was hooked!

Lian Fang Zhou didn’t stop to think about it and decisively stuffed the fishing rod into Ah Jian’s hands: “I’ll leave it to you!”

“Alright!” Ah Jian didn’t hesitate. He took the rod and with a flick of his wrist, there was the soft thud of something crashing into the shore. A huge fish had immediately been pulled out of the water and had fallen on the grass with a ‘plop’!

Fang Qing and Su Jing He stared for a while.

“You got it, you got it!” Lian Fang Qing and the others cheered. She quickly rushed forward with two hands to catch the fish jumping and flopping in the grass.

Su Jing He looked at Lian Fang Zhou and Ah Jian, who both looked very proud, and muttered: “This, does this count?”

“Of course! Isn’t this a fish we caught ourselves?” Lian Fang Zhou said smugly, “You can’t believe in evil!”

Ah Jian smiled: “Fang Zhou is right.”

Su Jing He rolled his eyes, smiling: “You would agree with Cousin Fang Zhou no matter what she said. I say the two of you are a natural pair!”

Fang Qing, who had been laughing, hurriedly tugged at Su Jing He’s sleeve and winked.

Her husband glanced at Lian Ze and the others, realizing he had made a slip of the tongue, and laughed awkwardly.

The corner of Ah Jian’s mouth twitched and his expression was delighted. He especially loved hearing this.

However, Lian Fang Zhou was slightly embarrassed and subconsciously glanced at Third Aunt and her siblings.

Distracting them, Fang Qing pulled at Lian Fang Zhou’s arm and said: “I think we’ve caught enough fish, let’s go back now.”

Seeing that the fish bucket was full, the other’s quickly agreed.

Lian Fang Zhou handed the fish to the servants and instructed them to take them to the mansion where she would deal with them later.

The group walked back to their rooms to rest before going to the mansion.

At this time, the daylight was weaker and the sun was slowly sinking in the west. In the distance, the space between the mountains and the red sun appeared to be getting shorter and shorter.

Lian Fang Qing put her arm around Lian Fang Zhou and rubbed against her, smiling affectionately: “It’s really fun here! Ah, it’s a pity Third Brother didn’t come! Sister, what are we going to do tomorrow?”

“Why don’t we go horseback riding tomorrow?” Lian Fang Zhou stroked her hair, smiling.

Lian Fang Qing’s eyes lit up, eager to try: “Riding a horse? Really? That’s great! That’s great!”

Hearing this, Third Aunt shrieked: “Riding a horse? That’s too dangerous! Qing’er is still too young, you can’t go! Fang Zhou, you don’t go either!”

Lian Fang Zhou understood her thoughts and smiling comfortingly: “Don’t worry, Third Aunt. The horses here are all well trained and docile. Nothing will go wrong! There are also some Mongolian ponies specially trained for children to ride while someone holds the reigns.”

Third Aunt wanted to protest but Lian Fang Zhou continued: “Qing’er and the others should learn more, it’s good for them, not bad! Don’t worry, I will watch them.”

Lian Fang Qing hurriedly nodded.

Third Aunt sighed, no longer objecting: “Forget it, one of you is always too good with your words and the other is too shameless, what can I say?”

The two sisters laughed. Lian Fang Zhou blinked and said: “Do you want to give it a try tomorrow?”

Imagining the scene of Third Aunt riding a horse, Lian Fang Qing laughed unkindly.

“Yes, yes, Third Aunt!” She said, “Let’s go together! I’ve never ridden before.”

“No, no!” Third Aunt shouted quickly, shaking her hands, “I won’t bother you!” The two sisters laughed again.

Meeting with the others, the group took a carriage to the mansion.

On the other side of the mansion, there were several private rooms for family members with a dining room. Leaving the others there, Lian Fang Zhou and Fang Qing went directly to the kitchen.

Fang Qing squeezed Lian Fang Zhou with excitement.

“My skills are not as good as a chef, so don’t disdain it later!” Lian Fang Zhou told her, smiling. She handled the fish neatly: “Let’s just make a picked fish dish, a braised fish dish, a steamed fish dish, and ask the kitchen to make a few sides. What do you think?”

Fang Qing naturally had no objections and noddled: “You are really becoming more and more capable. Making three dishes is a lot! If you want to eat, we will have to have the kitchen prepare some.”

Lian Fang Zhou laughed: “The dishes are all easy, your cousin can do it!”

Fang Qing smiled. She turned to the chef and asked: “Are there any new dishes? If so, make them!”

The chef pointed to a basket of potatoes on the ground beside him and smiled: “Young Madam, we have these, which have become popular in Yuhe county recently. The Young Master asked me to buy some but they are not very tasty.”

“Potatoes?” Fang Qing asked, looking at them. The vegetables were flat and round like eggs and their appearance was unremarkable. She smiled and said: “That’s fine, let’s try a new dish before serving them.”

“Yes, Young Madam!” The chef agreed.

Lian Fang Zhou quickly put the fish down and hurried over to look, “Potatoes?” She asked, washing her hands.

Her mind had been so full of cotton recently and making money from the quilts that she had almost forgotten about the potatoes!

This was a good thing.

“I was really confused, how could I forget you!” Fang Qing laughed, handing one of the potatoes to Lian Fang Zhou. “Look at it, do you have any ideas?”

Fang Qing’s eyes were shiny, filled with unreasonable certainty and trust. It was like Lian Fang Zhou could magically think of something different, just by looking at it.

Lian Fang Zhou’s heart skipped a beat and she smiled shyly. “Cousin is joking, just flattering me! We also planted some of these potatoes at our home but they haven’t finished growing yet. On the table, I don’t know what they are like.”

TN: Fang Zhou: Don’t look at me, I’m just a simple peasant girl. Absolutely nothing behind the curtain!