When the restaurant server brought out the braised pork hock, its springy texture and the aroma that wafted towards them instantly made everyone swallow.
"Coincidentally, the head chef is here today. This braised pork hock is his specialty. Eat it while it's hot."
Even the server was salivating as he spoke. In those days, even city dwellers could barely eat meat a few times a month, let alone such a large pork hock.
This was several pounds of meat, enough for a city family's rations for almost half a year. Who could afford to eat so extravagantly?
If Chen Yang hadn't stocked up on meat and grain coupons from Master Liao, given the situation in Shenjiaba Village, the meat coupons they received over several years wouldn't have been enough for such a meal.
Therefore, the server's lack of enthusiasm was only relative. Chen Yang had the money, the meat coupons, and the food coupons, clearly indicating he was no ordinary person. The server naturally wouldn't dare to be negligent.
"Comrade server, thank you for the reminder. Please bring me a roast duck, a few stir-fried dishes that go well with rice, and a pot of rice."
When Chen Yang spoke again, considering his family of six and Lei Baoguo, one braised pork hock wouldn't be enough.
"Alright, please wait a moment."
The server hurried to instruct the kitchen. Those who could afford so many meat and grain coupons and money to dine out at this time were either rich or noble, and certainly not someone a humble server could afford to offend. Naturally, he was courteous.
"Dad, Mom, what are you waiting for? Let's cut the pork hock and eat."
The pork hock was coated with a thin layer of thickened sauce, fragrant and tempting.
Chen Yang picked up his unused chopsticks and with just a light push, the large pork hock was separated. The hock was truly cooked until soft and falling off the bone.
"Get some bowls, I'll serve you."
Perhaps apart from the elder who had a wealthy background in his youth, everyone present besides Chen Yang had never eaten meat so lavishly in their lives, so no one dared to move. Su Dan Novel Network
Chen Yang gestured, first serving a large piece of pork hock to his father-in-law and mother-in-law, then a small piece to each of the two little ones.
As soon as the little ones received their bowls, they took a slurp. That's right, a slurp. The pork hock skin was chewy and springy, just like jelly. They didn't even need chopsticks; a slurp was enough to get it into their mouths.
This bite was full of collagen, rich but not greasy, and filled with a soy sauce aroma. The little ones had never tasted meat like this before, and their bright eyes immediately lit up with surprise.
After swallowing the meat in their mouths, they whimpered and almost buried their faces in the bowls to devour the meat.
"Yanyan, eat slowly, no one is snatching it from you."
Shen Xue looked at the little one's chubby face stained with pork hock sauce, unable to help but laugh and cry. But before she could finish speaking.
Chen Hao had already grabbed the pork hock. Good heavens, the little one's chopsticks weren't steady, and the pork hock was so tenderly stewed that the skin split open as soon as he tried to pick it up. He couldn't get a piece at all.
Seeing his sister eating so happily, the little one got anxious, reached out, and put a piece of meat into his mouth.
"Don't worry about them, you eat yours. We'll have to wash them up when we get back anyway."
Chen Yang served Shen Xue a piece of pork hock. This dish was rich in collagen, good for the skin and complexion, and a must for his wife.
After this division, there wasn't much of the several-pound pork hock left. He split the remainder in half and gave one half to Lei Baoguo.
"Brother Lei, try it. Tomorrow, you'll have to work hard helping out with Weiyang, and the day after tomorrow, we'll go to Feishi together."
Lei Baoguo was worried about having nothing to do. Hearing Chen Yang's words, he felt much more at ease. He also wanted to earn enough money to marry Li Jing as soon as possible.
The large pork hock was completely devoured in less than ten minutes. Even the sauce at the bottom of the plate was mixed with rice by everyone to eat. The taste was no less than rice mixed with lard.
Later, two stir-fried dishes and a roast duck were served. If Chen Yang hadn't deliberately controlled the portions for the two little ones, they probably would have eaten until they burst.
The final bill was five catties of meat coupons, three catties of grain coupons, and forty-three yuan and eighty-two cents.
In that era, such a meal was incredibly extravagant.
But looking at his family eating with their mouths glistening, Chen Yang felt incredibly content.
In his previous life, he had found seafood and abalone tasteless. Such a meal meant nothing to him, but seeing his family eat so happily made him very satisfied.
"Haohao, learn to use chopsticks properly from now on. Look at your greasy little hands, don't smudge them on your mother. We'll wash them when we get back."
Chen Yang couldn't help but laugh and cry seeing his son's oily little hands. In those days, restaurants didn't have napkins to wipe your hands. Hao Hao had used his hands to grab food, and now his hands were covered in oil.
"You man, what does a child know?"
"Haohao, Mom will teach you to use chopsticks. Come on, Mom will take you to wash your hands."
"And you, Yanyan, don't run off after eating. Look at your face, it's covered in oil. Mom will help you wash it."
Finally, they arrived at the guesthouse. The old man was sent to get hot water. It was like this with children; neither the husband nor the wife had a moment's rest before or after meals.
After finally managing to wash the two little ones clean, Chen Yang told them stories while Shen Xue took the opportunity to take her bath.
Although the two little ones were usually very well-behaved, they were incredibly clingy, and nothing could be accomplished until they were coaxed to sleep.
By the time Shen Xue finished bathing and washing her clothes, it was almost nine o'clock. The two little ones were still full of energy, and neither had fallen asleep.
Chen Yang, helpless, took the thermos and enamel basin himself to fetch hot water to bathe, leaving the important task of coaxing the children to sleep to his wife.
Shen Xue looked at Chen Yang and secretly smiled. She knew what her husband was up to.
However, she suspected that the young lady downstairs would have complaints again tomorrow. This was truly embarrassing.
As Chen Yang went down to fetch hot water to bathe, he had just finished and was about to wash his clothes when Shen Xue suddenly came to the bathroom.
"I'll do it. You big man, how can you wash properly?"
Shen Xue took the basin from Chen Yang's hands and naturally began to wash the clothes. Chen Yang didn't snatch it back, just quietly watched his wife wash his clothes from behind.
It wasn't that he didn't love his wife or didn't want to share household chores; Chen Yang wasn't incapable of washing clothes.
It was just that Shen Xue always disliked him doing housework. In her words, men were responsible for external affairs, and women for internal affairs.
He worked hard outside to earn money. If she still made Chen Yang do household chores, then she would be a very incompetent wife.
Chen Yang knew that this was his wife showing concern for him. When she was away, he would casually do the housework he could manage. When she wanted to do it, he wouldn't argue.
Watching Shen Xue scrub clothes by the sink, Chen Yang felt a stirring in his heart for no reason.
While Shen Xue was washing clothes, a hot body suddenly leaned over.
"Mmm."
"Not here, let me go quickly."
Held by Chen Yang, Shen Xue immediately understood what he was thinking and struggled to get him to release her.
"It's okay, Dad and Mom are asleep. Brother Lei is living downstairs, and no one is here."
Chen Yang chuckled.
"Still not okay. Back to the room, back..."
Shen Xue's lips parted slightly, but before she could finish her words, the situation had already begun to spiral beyond her control.