An hour and a half later, Cheng Xiaofan returned to Jinbao Town, returned the three-wheeled vehicle, paid the rent, and retrieved his motorcycle.
Cheng Xiaofan found that the vegetable market had not yet closed. He bought some fish and meat, and then rode his motorcycle back.
"Mom, Dad, I'm back!"
As he approached the doorstep, before even entering the house, he called out loudly to the inside.
Woof woof!
Hearing Cheng Xiaofan's voice, Tao Qibao immediately darted out of the house.
Seeing a long string of fish and meat hanging from the back of the motorcycle, Tao Qibao was ecstatic. His tail wagged so fast it became a blur. *I knew my owner loved me the most and would bring me meat to eat.*
*Owner, tonight we won't get drunk, we won't go home!*
"Xiaofan, you're back!"
Miao Xiuhua came to the door, took the ingredients from her son's hand, and said with a smile, "Why did you buy so much meat today?"
"Mom, I want to invite Old Village Chief Luo and a few others to gather tonight!" Entering the house, Cheng Xiaofan parked his motorcycle and said.
The Old Village Chief's name was Luo Changsheng. He had been a leader in the village for decades, was upright and helpful, and was the most respected elder in all of Zhuxi Village.
Cheng Fugui, who was engrossed in organizing a basket, heard his son's words and nodded, "Xiaofan, it's rare for you to come back from the city, you should invite Old Village Chief Luo!"
"Back then, when you got into university, our family was so poor we couldn't even afford the tuition. It was Old Village Chief Luo who stepped forward, raised money from house to house, and helped you gather enough for your tuition."
"Child, you've made something of yourself now, don't forget the kindness of Old Village Chief Luo and the villagers towards you!"
Hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "Dad, don't worry. You taught me since I was little that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. I'm not someone who forgets favors!"
Cheng Fugui asked, "Xiaofan, how was the sale of vegetables today?"
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled, "It was good. In Wangjiang City, a big boss from a hotel bought all of it at twenty yuan per jin!"
"What did you say? These cabbages are twenty yuan a jin?"
Cheng Fugui and Miao Xiuhua, the old couple, were stunned.
This time, their son's actions since returning from the city were too unbelievable!
"Mom, I'll go invite people. Leave these fish and meat here for now, I'll cook when I get back!" Cheng Xiaofan said, then rushed out the door.
The old couple looked at each other. Cheng Fugui scratched his head, "Xiuhua, do you think this is still our son?"
...
Luo Changsheng lived in Xixi, in a detached house with two pear trees planted at the entrance. His wife had passed away early, and his son worked in another city. He only returned for Chinese New Year.
At that moment, Luo Changsheng was chopping wood in the yard. Seeing Cheng Xiaofan walk in, he quickly stood up and said, "Xiaofan, you're here. Come in and sit down!"
"Grandpa, please don't be so formal!"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "I'm here to invite you to my place for a gathering tonight!"
Luo Changsheng's face lit up with joy. "Xiaofan, if a university student like you comes to invite me personally, Grandpa will definitely go!"
"Alright, Grandpa, I'll go invite others now!"
Leaving Luo Changsheng's house, Cheng Xiaofan also invited his good friends Luo Yang, Feng Xigua, and the village women's director Tang Guihua.
On the way back, Cheng Xiaofan called Mei Xueyun and said with a smile, "Xueyun, I'm inviting Old Village Chief Luo to my place for dinner tonight. You must come. I have good news for you!"
"What good news?" Mei Xueyun asked curiously.
Cheng Xiaofan deliberately kept her in suspense, saying, "I'll tell you when we meet!"
When he arrived home, Cheng Xiaofan found that his mother had already cleaned the fish and meat.
"Mom, you should rest. Leave the rest to me. When Grandpa Luo arrives, you and Dad can chat with him!"
Cheng Xiaofan quickly took the cleaned ingredients from Miao Xiuhua's hands and went into the kitchen.
This time, Cheng Xiaofan focused on cooking with cabbage as the main ingredient, with meat and fish as side dishes.
He first chopped the pork belly into small pieces, mixed them with grated ginger, chopped scallions, salt, and cooking wine, then spread them on softened cabbage leaves that had been blanched in boiling water. He rolled them up, dipped them in a flour paste, and fried them in oil until golden brown.
This dish was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, golden yellow in appearance, with fragrant minced meat mixed with green inside. Each bite released juice, making it exceptionally delicious.
After finishing the cabbage rolls, he started preparing the fish.
Cheng Xiaofan had bought grass carp, a fish known for its tender meat, making it ideal for fish soup.
He made a cut along the back of the grass carp, removed the bones and ribs, and sliced the fish diagonally. He seasoned the fish slices with salt, cooking wine, thirteen-spice powder, and egg liquid, then let them marinate. When the water in the pot was boiling, he added the fish slices, followed by cabbage slices, lard, and chopped scallions.
This cabbage, when cooked, was naturally fresh and delicious, requiring no MSG.
Next, Cheng Xiaofan also made stir-fried cabbage, cold-dressed cabbage, and cabbage balls.
"Tsk tsk, what is Xiaofan cooking? It smells so good!"
"It's so fragrant, I feel intoxicated just by smelling it!"
"My gluttonous worm is practically begging to be let out!"
"I'm going to see what delicious dish Xiaofan is making!"
The aroma of the dishes wafting from the kitchen immediately attracted everyone in the room, especially the newly arrived Mei Xueyun, who hurried towards the kitchen.
Mei Xueyun helped Cheng Xiaofan carry the eight finished dishes to the table one by one.
Luo Changsheng noticed that every dish contained cabbage and couldn't help but laugh heartily, "Xiaofan, are you treating us to a cabbage banquet!"
"What seasoning did you add to this cabbage that makes it so fragrant?"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "Grandpa Luo, this Sijiqing cabbage is a new variety I personally cultivated. It's fresh and delicious even when stir-fried without any seasoning."
"More importantly, my cabbage is not only delicious but also very nutritious. People who are generally weak will become strong within two days of eating it."
"Xiaofan, don't just brag. Let Grandma try a bite first!"
Miao Xiuhua picked up a piece of green vegetable and put it in her mouth. After chewing a couple of times, her eyes widened in shock. "Ah, this taste is truly amazing!"
Hearing her say that, everyone at the table reached for their chopsticks.
"Wow, it's so delicious!"
"I feel like I'm floating to the heavens with this cabbage!"
"Good heavens, the cabbage we grow at home can't compare to this!"
"Hiss..."
"Tsk tsk..."
Everyone marveled as they ate.
Mei Xueyun picked up a cabbage roll with meat and chewed it. She instinctively closed her eyes, let out a muffled sound of praise, and a flush of warmth rose to her face.
This cabbage roll with meat...
The moment the crispy wrapper was bitten, the cabbage leaves and the rolled meat filling, along with layers of juice, filled her mouth with a delightful fragrance.
Alas!
Why couldn't she find a fitting word to describe it?
The savory juices of the meat were absolutely intoxicating.
Crispy skin, rich juice, combined with the aroma of cabbage leaves and meat filling – one bite of this cabbage roll offered a triple texture. It was exquisite!
It was so delicious!
Tang Guihua even asked Cheng Xiaofan for a small box, and packed some of each dish, saying she wanted to take it back for her mother-in-law to try.
"Xiaofan, did you sell this kind of cabbage in Wanghai City today?" Luo Changsheng asked Cheng Xiaofan at this point.
Cheng Xiaofan nodded and said with a smile, "Back to Grandpa Luo, it is indeed this cabbage!"
"It was purchased by the largest hotel in Wangjiang City, Zuiwei Xuan, at a price of twenty yuan per jin!"
His words stunned Luo Changsheng and Mei Xueyun so much that their eyeballs almost fell into their bowls!
"I invited Grandpa Luo and the others to my home for dinner today because I want to discuss something with everyone. Can the village establish a professional vegetable cultivation group? I will provide seeds for this Sijiqing cabbage for free at the beginning."
Cheng Xiaofan, unmindful of everyone's astonishment, continued to speak eloquently, "The reason my cultivated cabbage is priced high is not only its unique flavor but also its high nutritional value. Regular consumption strengthens the body."
After a long while, Mei Xueyun finally came back to her senses and said excitedly, "Xiaofan, you're finding a path to prosperity for the villagers. This is a tremendous matter, what is there to discuss?"
However, she hesitated for a moment, "It's just that the price of this cabbage is too high. You were lucky to find a major buyer. Once the village's cabbage production increases, I'm afraid sales will become a problem."
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "Xueyun, you don't need to worry. I will help the village find sales channels."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cheng Xiaofan's phone rang. He took it out and saw it was Liu Xinyue calling.
He quickly pressed the answer button and smiled, "Oh, President Liu, why are you calling me at this time?"
"Don't call me President Liu, just call me Sister Liu!"
Liu Xinyue got straight to the point, "Xiaofan, do you still have this cabbage? If so, I'll send a truck tomorrow. It would be best if you could prepare two thousand jin for me!"
"Besides Zuiwei Xuan, several other restaurants here are also eager to get it!"
"We should sign a contract. I need a long-term exclusive supply. If you think twenty yuan per jin is too little, we can increase it!"
Hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "Sister Liu, let's keep the price as it is. I'm currently discussing with the village about establishing a professional vegetable cultivation group, so a long-term supply of cabbage you need will not be a problem!"
"Also, just send the truck tomorrow, I still have a lot of cabbage here!"
"Ah, really? That's great!"
Liu Xinyue said happily on the phone, "Xiaofan, then it's settled!"
Cheng Xiaofan had his phone on speaker, and his conversation with Liu Xinyue was heard by everyone present, word for word.
Everyone there sat dumbfounded, as if petrified.