Rebirth in a Book: The Road to Breakthrough

Tiezhu and Yu Congcong followed their grandfather towards home. Clan leader Fu Youtian walked in front and smiled contentedly when he heard the conversation between the young couple, revealing his love and satisfaction for them.

"Why did you agree?" Zheng Hehua's questioning voice suddenly came from behind and reached Yu Congcong's ears clearly.

"Tiezhu, does Uncle Binzi often quarrel with Aunt Hehua?" Yu Congcong gossiped curiously, with a gleam of curiosity in her eyes.

"I don't know, I haven't paid attention to it. I didn't expect Aunt Hehua to be so fierce. Tongzhu is really pitiful, having such a fierce mother." Tiezhu said with emotion. Tiezhu and Yu Congcong unconsciously slowed down their pace and stopped, trying to hear the content of the quarrel between the couple.

"Tiezhu, hurry up, it's time to go home and cook." The clan leader urged Tiezhu from the front.

"Oh, here we come." Tiezhu responded quickly, then hugged Yu Congcong tightly and sped up to catch up with the clan leader. The voices behind him gradually became unclear, and they were left far behind.

"Tiezhu, will Tongzhu be beaten?" Yu Congcong frowned slightly and asked softly with a worried look on her face. "No, his father will protect him." Tiezhu answered in a firm tone.

"Grandpa, why doesn't Third Grandpa's family split up? It seems like everyone else's family has split up." Yu Congcong blinked her bright big eyes and asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"Well, your third uncle hoped that all his sons would be well, thinking that everyone could help each other. What he didn't expect was that there was no help, only scheming." Fu Youtian sighed and said with emotion.

"Oh, they can still help each other even if the family is divided. Not dividing the family will only make lazy people lazier and make diligent people feel disheartened." Yu Congcong pouted slightly, obviously disagreeing with Third Grandpa's approach, and muttered.

"Yeah, if I had a brother like Uncle Fu Jun, I would also be dissatisfied." Tiezhu echoed from the side.

"Congcong, let's go to grandpa's house for dinner. Your uncle sent some loaches yesterday. Let's make soup for you." Fu Youtian cleverly changed the subject, not wanting the younger generations to discuss his third brother's family affairs.

"Ah, I didn't tell grandma that I came out. She would be worried." Yu Congcong lowered her voice and spoke carefully.

"Congcong, don't worry, I'll take you home and then tell grandma." After Tiezhu said that, he leaned close to Yu Congcong's ear and whispered softly, "This way grandma won't know you're out to join in the fun." After hearing this, Yu Congcong looked at Tiezhu and smiled, with a hint of cunning in her eyes.

"Okay, Grandpa, you have to cook it delicious." Yu Congcong raised her voice to reply to Youtian, as if she wanted to cover up her guilty conscience.

In this quiet little village, the three generations of grandparents and grandchildren strolled on the road home. The rice fields beside the road swayed gently in the wind, as if listening to their conversation. The sun shone on them, reflecting a warm picture.

After returning home, Fu Youtian went straight into the kitchen and started to prepare the loaches. Tiezhu carefully placed Yu Congcong on a stool under the kitchen eaves, and then went to Yu Congcong's house to report the news.

Yu Congcong sat quietly under the eaves, watching her grandfather busy in the kitchen. Fu Youtian washed the loaches carefully and prepared to stew them in a casserole.

"Grandpa, are you going to stew it directly?" Yu Congcong asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"Yes!" Fu Youtian answered affirmatively.

"Grandpa, have you ever cooked loach before?" Yu Congcong continued to ask uncertainly.

"I have, but I didn't make soup with it. I fried it," Fu Youtian responded.

"Well, is it delicious?" Yu Congcong asked.

"It's okay, a bit like meat, but with a strong smell of mud, which Tiezhu doesn't like. Don't worry, grandpa is very good at stewing soup. Everyone likes the chicken soup stewed by grandpa, and grandpa can also stew this loach soup very deliciously." Fu Youtian said confidently.

Yu Congcong was worried. Grandpa couldn't even cook loach properly, so how could he make soup? He should use the method in the database of the box, but how could he make Grandpa cook according to the method he said?

"Grandpa, I know a way to stew loaches. The soup made from it is very nutritious. Let's try it!" Yu Congcong said courageously.

"Oh, okay, grandpa will do as Congcong said." Fu Youtian agreed readily.

"Grandpa, the way to handle loaches is: put the loaches in the pot without adding oil, heat until there is a little smoke, then turn off the heat and cover the lid until the loaches stop moving. Then clean the loaches, remove the scales and internal organs, and set aside." Yu Congcong said seriously.

Yu Congcong watched as her grandfather successfully completed the first step. She continued, "Pour oil into a hot pan and fry the loach until both sides are golden brown. Add appropriate amounts of ginger slices, salt, oil, and water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat. Add white wine to remove the fishy smell of the loach. Simmer until the soup turns milky white, then add appropriate amounts of salt and serve."

"Okay, grandpa got it. Congcong, sit still and don't move. Grandpa will go and make it." After Fu Youtian finished speaking, he turned and walked into the kitchen.

In the kitchen, the fire on the stove illuminated Fu Youtian's face. He carefully followed the instructions given by Yu Congcong, and every move he made seemed skilled and confident. The loach in the pot sizzled in the hot oil, giving off an alluring aroma. The whole kitchen was filled with a strong smell of fireworks, like a warm picture of family life.

Tiezhu hurried back in this rich aroma, holding a bowl of pickles steadily in his hand. These were the pickles that grandma made the day before yesterday according to Yu Congcong's method. There was no soy sauce, so grandma used soybean paste to make soup instead. Grandma was also concentrating on studying soy sauce according to the method given by Yu Congcong. Grandma said that she used to eat soy sauce. At that time, the rich could afford soy sauce, but no one here could make soy sauce, and there was no soy sauce for sale. According to the conditions in the village, even if there was soy sauce, it could not be bought. Now that I know how to make it, I still have to try it. Maybe if I make it well, I can make a living from it.

"Congcong, grandma is not angry. She asked me to play with you in the afternoon." Tiezhu walked to Yu Congcong and said softly.

"Grandpa, I'm back. Grandma Xiaocao brought some freshly made pickles. She also told me to get them at home if I like them. I tried some on the way back and it was delicious!" Tiezhu walked into the kitchen and said to Fu Youtian.

"Oh, let me try it." Fu Youtian stretched out his hand and grabbed a little and put it in his mouth. He ate it and praised: "Mm, it's delicious. Your grandmother Xiaocao is a master at cooking."

"It's delicious, Grandpa, let's make some too. We have plenty of eggplants and peppers at home. I'll go and learn how to make them." Tiezhu said. He still remembered that he had to make dried eggplant for Congcong! Let's just do it together. Tiezhu muttered to himself.