Siheyuan: Rebirth of Liu Ergou

The next morning, the courtyard of No. 95 Nanluoguxiang was still immersed in the tranquility of the early morning. The sun shone through the sparse clouds and sprinkled on the bluestone road, adding a bit of warmth to this ancient alley. The third uncle Yan Bugui was wearing a neat Zhongshan suit, holding an exquisite gift box in his hand, with a mysterious smile on his face. He gently pushed open the door of Liu Yi's house and walked in.

"Liu Yi, get up quickly. I have good news for you." The voice of the third uncle Yan Bugui echoed in the living room, breaking the tranquility of the early morning.

Liu Yi rubbed his sleepy eyes and sat up from the bed. He looked at the gift box in the hands of the third uncle Yan Bugui and asked curiously, "Third uncle, what are you talking about?"

The third uncle Yan Bugui smiled mysteriously and said, "Don't worry, you will know in a moment. Let me introduce someone to you first."

As he said this, he turned and walked out the door. After a while, he came in with a young woman. The woman was tall, wearing a simple dress, with long hair draped over her shoulders, and a faint smile on her face. Her temperament was gentle and generous, and people could feel her upbringing and connotation at a glance.

"Liu Yi, this is Teacher Ran Qiuye." Uncle Yan Bugui introduced, "She was born into a scholarly family. Both her parents are highly educated and returned from overseas. Teacher Qiuye is not only beautiful, but also very talented."

Liu Yi looked at Ran Qiuye, and a wave of respect surged in his heart. He quickly stood up and greeted her politely: "Hello, Teacher Ran. I am Liu Yi."

Ran Qiuye smiled and nodded, saying, "Hello, Liu Yi. I've heard from the third uncle that you are a kind-hearted person. I'm really happy to meet you today."

The third uncle Yan Bugui watched the two men finish their greetings and said with a smile, "Okay, you young people can chat. I'll go get you some tea."

As he said that, he turned and walked into the kitchen. Only Liu Yi and Ran Qiuye were left in the living room. They smiled at each other and started chatting.

"Teacher Ran, what do you teach?" Liu Yi asked.

"I teach Chinese," Ran Qiuye replied. "I like literature and I like to share my knowledge with students. However, there are not many things to do in school recently, so I have time to come out for a walk."

"Oh, then you must have read a lot of books, right?" Liu Yi said, "I have always envied those who can read a lot of books."

Ran Qiuye smiled and said, "In fact, reading is not a difficult thing. As long as you are willing to spend time reading, you will definitely gain something. Moreover, reading is also a kind of enjoyment. It can let you see a wider world and help you better understand life."

Liu Yi couldn't help but feel a sense of resonance after hearing Ran Qiuye's words. He nodded and said, "Yes, I also like reading. However, I've been very busy recently and don't have much time to read."

"No matter how busy you are, you should take some time to read." Ran Qiuye said, "Reading can nourish your soul and make you more calm when facing difficulties."

The two chatted about everything from literature to life, from ideals to reality. They found that they had many common topics and interests, and their conversation became more and more interesting.

Before he knew it, it was almost noon. Liu Yi looked at the wall clock and said, "Teacher Ran, it's getting late. How about I treat you to a meal?"

Ran Qiuye wanted to refuse, but seeing Liu Yi's sincere eyes, she nodded: "Okay, thank you for your help."

Liu Yi smiled and shook his head: "It's no trouble. I'm already very happy that you can come."

As he said that, he walked into the kitchen. After a while, bursts of fragrance wafted out of the kitchen. Ran Qiuye sat in the living room, listening to the sounds coming from the kitchen, and couldn't help but feel curious and expectant.

Finally, Liu Yi came out with several plates of steaming dishes. He placed the dishes on the table one by one and invited Ran Qiuye to take a seat.

Ran Qiuye looked at the dishes on the table and couldn't help but be dazzled. These dishes were delicious and tasty, which made people's appetite increase. Especially the Wensi tofu, which made people salivate.

"Liu Yi, your cooking skills are really good." Ran Qiuye praised, "These dishes look delicious."

Liu Yi smiled and said, "You're too kind. Actually, I don't have any special skills. I just do it with my heart."

As he said that, he picked up the soup spoon and scooped a spoonful of Wensi tofu for Ran Qiuye. He prepared this Wensi tofu specially for Ran Qiuye. He knew that Ran Qiuye was born in a scholarly family and must have a unique taste and pursuit for food. Wensi tofu is a dish that tests the chef's knife skills and heat control, and requires extremely high skills and patience to make it well.

Ran Qiuye looked at the Wensi tofu in the bowl, and couldn't help but feel touched. She gently scooped a spoonful of Wensi tofu, which was as thin as a hair and was simply a work of art. She put it in her mouth and felt that the tofu had a delicate and smooth texture, and the taste was light and delicious. She couldn't help but nodded and exclaimed: "It's so delicious! Liu Yi, your cooking skills are really great."

Liu Yi couldn't help but feel proud and satisfied after hearing what Ran Qiuye said. He smiled and said, "As long as you like it. In fact, I have prepared a special dish for you to try. Please wait a moment."

Liu Yi smiled and took out a cabbage from the corner of the kitchen. The cabbage had full leaves and bright green color, and it was obvious that it was carefully selected. He gently peeled off the outer layer of the cabbage, revealing the more tender heart inside. Then, he carefully washed the cabbage, not leaving out every leaf, to ensure that the cabbage was clean and hygienic.

After preparing the cabbage, Liu Yi began to prepare the seasoning and soup base. He took out a small pot, added an appropriate amount of water, and then put in a few slices of ginger and a few scallions, and sprinkled some salt and pepper. He turned on the fire and began to boil this simple soup base. After a while, the soup base exuded a faint aroma.

At the same time, Liu Yi cut the cabbage into even-sized pieces and placed them on a plate for later use. He knew that the key to boiling cabbage was the control of heat and time. If the heat was too high, the cabbage would be overcooked; if the heat was too low, the cabbage would not be fresh and tender enough. Therefore, he had to keep an eye on the changes in the pot.

When the soup was almost done, Liu Yi gently put the cabbage into the pot. He gently stirred it with chopsticks to heat the cabbage evenly in the soup. As the water temperature rose, the color of the cabbage became brighter and the leaves became softer.

Liu Yi kept an eye on the changes in the pot. He kept adjusting the heat to ensure that the cabbage had the best texture and taste. Soon, the cabbage was cooked. He quickly took it out, placed it on a plate, and then poured some hot oil on it, and sprinkled some chopped green onions and coriander on it.

In this way, a dish of boiled cabbage that looks simple but contains extremely high cooking skills is completed. Liu Yi looked at this dish that he had carefully prepared, and he couldn't help feeling proud and satisfied.