The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Granny Cai’s Treat

Han Xiaorui was once again stunned by Liang Xiaoyu’s words.

’Who says this era is so conservative?’

’Look at this! Such vibrant life and thinking!’

The rise in women’s status wasn’t just about an improved material standard of living, but a shift in women’s thinking.

It was a transformation from being oppressed and expected to give selflessly to first taking care of and loving oneself, which is the only way to have the capacity to love others.

”Sister-in-law Xiao Yu, you’re really something else. I think what you’re saying has a lot of depth.”

Liang Xiaoyu felt a bit embarrassed by Han Xiaorui’s praise. ”It’s nothing, really. I just feel that you only live once. These few short decades can’t be wasted.”

”A woman is like a delicate flower. The blooming period is short, and it withers all too quickly. I’ve learned a lot from my mother-in-law. In her generation, divorce was incredibly difficult.”

”Nowadays, people might still gossip about divorce, but as long as you can live well, what’s the big deal? Gossip can’t kill you. My mother-in-law once warned her son that if he dared to mess around, she would support me in divorcing him.”

Han Xiaorui was incredulous. ”Granny Cai really said that?”

Liang Xiaoyu nodded with a smile. ”Of course she did. Wenjun’s dad is handsome, so even after we got married, there were still young girls who fancied him.”

”Although Wenjun’s dad wasn’t thinking about divorce, all men enjoy being flattered by women. For a while, he got a bit of a big head. That’s when my mother-in-law told him off.”

”She even told me that Wenjun’s dad was a bastard and that she’d support my decision to divorce him. She said she’d find a good man for me, and she’d come along with me and the two kids when I remarried. She’d serve me and the children like a maid and let Wenjun’s dad go waste his life with his own unreliable father.”

”Maybe my mother-in-law was just saying that, but from her attitude and way of life, I’ve come to one conclusion: a woman must be independent. First and foremost, her thinking must be independent. You have to make your own life good before you can be good to others.”

Han Xiaorui gave her a thumbs-up. ”Sister Cai is truly amazing!”

Liang Xiaoyu said proudly, ”Of course! My mother-in-law is a good person! As for remarrying, don’t let others sway you. All that matters is whether you want to or not, and whether it makes you happy. As for other people’s gossip, who gives a damn!”

Han Xiaorui nodded, thinking how wonderful it was to have a friend like Liang Xiaoyu. ”Sister-in-law Xiao Yu is right! Don’t go home tonight. I’ll cook, and we can eat here.”

Liang Xiaoyu slapped her forehead. ”Oh! How could I forget the important stuff? We’re not going out to sea today. My mother-in-law went and bought a lot of meat and vegetables. She wants to invite you, Xiao Jing, and Pingping and An’an over to our place for dinner.”

Han Xiaorui was surprised. ”Isn’t Sister Cai being a little too kind?”

Liang Xiaoyu insisted, ”Wenjun and I are always eating at your place. If you don’t come to ours, we’ll feel too embarrassed to eat at your house anymore!”

”Alright!” Han Xiaorui nodded. ”We won’t cook today, then. We’ll go and get a taste of Sister Cai’s cooking.”

Since she didn’t have to cook, Han Xiaorui went to the docks.

She arrived just in time to see Yang Zhigang’s large boat docking. Many stall owners from the seafood wholesale market crowded around it.

In the past, Yang Zhigang sold most of his catch in his own wholesale market. But now that he had rented out his stalls and was no longer in the wholesale business, these bosses were all rushing over to secure a source of goods.

Whoever could snatch up the best catch would strike it rich.

Yang Jianguo happened to be nearby and came over to help.

Seeing him, Han Xiaorui waved.

Yang Jianguo walked over. ”Xiao Rui, what’s up?”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Brother Jianguo, I went to the maritime department today to collect my reward money and certificate. Mr. Ye introduced me to the person in charge of the Shencheng Shipyard.”

”They have a 36-meter large trawler that’s seventy percent complete. Someone else had commissioned it, but they couldn’t afford the remaining payments, so it’s up for transfer.”

”I went to see it, and it looks pretty good, but I don’t have any experience. I was hoping you and Uncle Yang could help me take a look when you have time.”

Ever since Han Xiaorui sold the ambergris, Yang Jianguo knew she wanted to buy a large boat.

He just hadn’t expected things to progress so quickly.

”If that’s true, it’s a rare opportunity,” Yang Jianguo said with a nod. ”Alright, you head on back. Once we’re done here, I’ll talk to my uncle. When we’ve set a time, I’ll have Sister Cuicui let you know.”

”I’ll have to trouble you then, Brother Jianguo.” Han Xiaorui was grateful. In Jinshan Bay, she trusted Yang Jianguo and Yang Zhigang the most.

”No trouble at all,” Yang Jianguo replied before going to help on the boat.

After returning home, she took two groupers from the live-well tank and went with her children and sister to the Cai family’s house for dinner.

Granny Cai had carefully prepared for their visit today. On the table were several plates of pastries.

These weren’t store-bought; Granny Cai had made them all in her family’s homemade earthen oven.

There were the locally famous ”Tiger Claws,” and since Granny Cai used high-quality ingredients, hers tasted even better.

They were essentially just leavened, alkaline dough brushed with a layer of sugar water and then baked. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and delightfully sweet.

The second pastry was a beautiful, soft pink Victory Cake. Its color came from red yeast rice.

The third was Takashimaya’s Muffin, a flaky pastry made from flour, lard, and sugar, which was crispy, sweet, and soft to the bite.

Looking at all the pastries, Han Xiaorui praised her endlessly. ”Sister Cai, you’re too good to us, making so many different kinds.”

The praise made Granny Cai even happier. ”They’re just some simple pastries. Go wash your hands and come eat.”

Han Xiaorui took the children to wash their hands, then eagerly grabbed a piece of Takashimaya’s Muffin. ”It’s so flaky and fragrant.”

Seeing Han Xiaorui’s enthusiastic enjoyment, Granny Cai beamed. ”I was a bit rushed today. When I have time, I’ll make you Crab Shell Pastries and Sticky Rice Bars!”

Han Xiaorui tried one of each and was completely satisfied. Pingping, An’an, and her sister Han Xiaoqing all picked out their favorite pastries and ate them slowly.

When she heard Granny Cai mention the even more delicious Crab Shell Pastries, Han Xiaorui was instantly filled with anticipation. ”Crab Shell Pastries, they must have crab in them, right? What else do they need? I’ll get the ingredients ready, and you can come over and help me make them, Sister Cai.”

”HAHA!” Granny Cai roared with laughter. ”There’s no crab in Crab Shell Pastries. They’re named that because they’re golden-brown and shaped like a crab shell. They’re just deliciously flaky.”

”They come in sweet and savory versions. I’ll make them for you next time, no need for you to prepare anything. We can still afford such a small expense.”

”You all eat first, I still have two more dishes. Xiao Yu, pour everyone some osmanthus honey tea.”

”Go on, Mom, you finish up. I’ll take care of our guests,” Liang Xiaoyu said with a smile, pouring the osmanthus honey tea her mother-in-law had made into cups for everyone.

The fragrance was rich and intoxicating, and it was said to be good for one’s complexion and lungs.

Han Xiaorui didn’t stand on ceremony and happily drank a cup of tea. ’Life is as sweet as honey,’ she thought. ’This is wonderful!’

”Xiao Yu, bring out the dishes!” Granny Cai called to her daughter-in-law from the kitchen.

”Coming!” A moment later, Liang Xiaoyu came out of the kitchen carrying steamed sea bass, stir-fried shrimp, sweet and sour pork tenderloin, and sticky rice-stuffed lotus root sprinkled with osmanthus flowers.

The Eight-Treasure Duck was the most labor-intensive dish of the day. The moment it was set down, an incredible aroma filled the air.

Yan Du Xian soup.

Sautéed greens.

And finally, a silverfish soup—a dish suitable for all ages, rich in calcium, good for the spleen and stomach, and able to replenish qi and soothe the lungs.