0p0 Chapter 231 Repayment
Chapter 231 Repayment
Finally, Shen Yan slowly poured in an appropriate amount of water, covered the pot, and simmered it on low heat. She knew that the longer the simmering time, the more flavorful the pickled fish would be, and the more tender and delicious the fish would be. She occasionally opened the lid of the pot, scooped up the soup from the bottom of the pot with a spoon, and gently poured it on the fish pieces, ensuring that each piece was evenly coated with the delicious taste.
While the fish meat was slowly becoming tender, Shen Yan prepared a small bowl of red oil.
She mixed chili powder, pepper powder, chopped green onion and ginger, and hot oil thoroughly, and stirred out a bowl of deep red spicy oil for later use.
When the aroma of pickled fish filled the entire kitchen, Shen Yan finally opened the lid of the pot and poured the spicy red oil evenly over the fish. The spicy flavor and aroma of the red oil spread instantly, arousing everyone's appetite.
Finally, Shen Yan carefully placed the pickled fish into a large bowl, and every piece of fish was covered with the delicious taste of pickled cabbage and red oil.
When she placed it on the dining table, she looked like a beautiful painting, full of bright colors and fragrance.
It was time for dinner, and Sister Xiaolan and the others came to the dining table one after another, smelling the aroma of pickled fish.
Looking at the table full of delicious food, I couldn't help but salivate, looking forward to the dinner that Shen Yan had carefully prepared.
While eating, Wang Lin still had tears in her eyes. She tried to control her emotions, but she couldn't hide the pain in her heart. Her eyes were empty and lost, and she pursed her lips from time to time, as if she was suppressing her inner sadness.
Shen Yan looked at her sister distressedly and said: "Don't cry, you have always been so strong. Although Xiao Hei left today, this is just an inevitable part of life. In the future, we will face more separations. For example, you will start a family and Jun'er will have her own life. We can't be together forever. Will you always be so sad?"
Wang Lin tried to wipe away her tears, but she couldn't hide her sadness. "I know..." she responded softly, "But, Xiao Hei...he is part of our family, and we spent so much time together."
Shen Yan gently patted Wang Lin's hand and comforted her, "Yes, Xiao Hei is an important partner in our lives, but we also have to understand that raising a pet is like raising a time bomb. Although we have tried our best to take care of it, there will always be a time to say goodbye."
At this time, Wang Jun brought out a large bowl of steaming pickled fish from the kitchen. She gently put down the bowl and said with a smile: "Come and eat. You will feel better after eating the pickled fish."
Shen Yan looked at Wang Lin's expression and realized that what her sister needed was not only time, but also comfort and understanding. She herself was also uneasy because Xiao Hei had become a part of their lives during this period of companionship.
But she knew that, like everything else in life, every process has its end, and that is part of growth.
Song Lan works as an apprentice in an old-fashioned carpenter's shop in the city center, living a simple life with sawdust day after day. Like Song Yunfeng, who is also an apprentice, they only have two precious opportunities to go home every month. Their longing for home is like the gradually accumulated wood, heavy and deep.
Although the time spent together at home seemed particularly precious and rare, the chance encounter in the busy town seemed like a small gift from fate, which made people feel a little comfort. In Shen Yan's memory, Song Yunfeng was always gentle and bookish. He was entrusted with the money to buy books several times. His integrity and steadiness formed a sharp contrast with Shen Yan's short-sighted relatives who only valued material things, which made him feel a little respect for him.
At this moment, Song Lan stood in the courtyard, the weeds in front of him were spreading wildly, almost covering the stone path. He felt an inexplicable melancholy in his heart, but he remained calm on the surface, with a hint of anxiety inadvertently passing through his brows. He glanced at Su Yanyan beside him, then quietly led Yi Ge'er to the side and talked in a low voice. Shen Yan turned around and walked into the kitchen, leaving a private space for the two of them.
As soon as the kitchen door closed, Aunt Zhu's familiar and slightly anxious voice penetrated the quiet air of the afternoon and sounded from behind: "Lan boy, your sister has been hanging around the house for a long time, waiting for you to come back. Don't dawdle, hurry up and leave."
Ever since Shen Yan entered this family, Aunt Zhu has never come to visit on her own initiative. But this time, as soon as Song Lan showed up, she hurried over to urge him. Perhaps deep down in her heart she was still worried that the issue of borrowing money would happen again?
When Song Lan heard Yi Ge'er mention that the debt had been fully paid off, he was shocked and couldn't help but reveal his surprise. He clenched the silver in his hand, and his fingers unconsciously increased their strength due to shock.
Yi Ge'er had an innocent look on his face, without any concealment, and his words were full of pride and trust in his brother. "Yes, Brother Lan, you keep the money. Big Brother has arranged everything."
When Zhu heard this, a hint of doubt flashed across her eyes, and she quickly asked, "Where did your eldest brother borrow the money from? How could he pay it back so quickly?"
Fifty taels of silver is enough for an ordinary family in this small town to sell all their property and still still not be able to make up the difference. Who on earth has such financial resources and is willing to donate so generously all at once?
Before Yi Ge'er could answer, Shen Yan had already walked out of the kitchen and said calmly, "I borrowed it from a classmate and friend. Both parties agreed to repay it within three months."
Yi Ge'er looked at Shen Yan in confusion, but finally chose to remain silent and said nothing more.
Zhu's eyes turned, as if she accepted this explanation. She thought to herself that Lin Ge'er did have a good friend from a wealthy family, and they had a deep friendship. It was very likely that this friend helped him. Thinking of this, her expression relaxed a little.
"Brother Lin is really capable. He has such a loyal friend. Hey, when we heard that you were in trouble, your uncle and I were so worried that we couldn't sleep all night. Your uncle even thought about selling his land to raise money for you."
"How can that be! The land is our foundation. Without it, how can we make a living in the future? That's why your uncle decided to go to the city to find another way out, hoping to earn more money to support you. I feel bad too. It's only been a few days, and I always feel embarrassed to come over to visit."
These words were spoken with deep affection and personal touch, yet they were like a carefully woven melody that attempted to soothe the heart.
"Yan Yan, I know you have a kind heart, but you are too trusting of others, so you get deceived. I have argued with others about those ugly rumors outside, such as gambling. How could they understand your heart? I know your character best. You would never do such a thing. It was all made up by those people with bad intentions outside. You should be more careful in the future and discuss things with your family."