Chapter 21 Dipping and Eating While Standing Up

Sister Daya, let me get you a cup," Xu Ying said, getting ready to head to the kitchen.

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu immediately spoke up, "Little sister, you eat first. I'll get it."

After saying that, Eldest Sister-in-law Xu went to the kitchen and brought back a bowl of water for Xu Ying.

Xu Ying placed it in front of Lu Daya, "Sister Daya, you can dip your food in this."

Xu Ying then heartily started eating the rabbit meat.

Lu Daya stood up again with the bowl, looking uneasily at Xu Ying. Why was she being made to stand and eat?

Mrs. Xu's gaze followed Daya as she stood up, curiously asking, "Daya, is something the matter?"

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu also became perplexed, "Daya, if there's something bothering you, just speak up."

Lu Daya shook her head.

Mrs. Xu was stunned. Could it be that the girl had a problem? Why else would she keep standing up while eating: "Daya, sit down and eat your meal quickly!"

Lu Daya had just sat down and picked up a piece of rabbit meat when Xu Ying said with a smile, "Sister Daya, you should dip it."

With a start, Lu Daya stood up once again, confusing everyone in the Xu Family, "Daya, what's the matter?"

"Yeah, Sister Daya, what's going on? I told you to dip your food, why did you stand up?" Xu Ying was puzzled.

Lu Daya suddenly realized that Xu Ying had said "dip," not "stand," and her face turned beet red as she stuttered, "I thought you meant for me to stand and eat, I didn't realize it was to dip the food."

A loud burst of laughter echoed throughout the yard.

Mrs. Xu couldn't hold back anymore. At her age, she really didn't want to make fun of the younger generation, but who knew that Lu Daya could be so hilarious.

She wondered what was going through the girl's head, standing up suddenly during the meal; it turned out she had completely misunderstood.

At this moment, Daya wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground and hide. How utterly embarrassing.

Mr. Xu looked around at everyone managing to keep their laughter in check and said sternly, "What's so funny? Shut your mouths and eat your meal."

With that, everyone clamped their mouths shut, except for Second Brother Xu, who found it increasingly hilarious and burst into laughter again, "Oh my goodness, Daya, you're too funny, I'm laughing so hard my stomach hurts."

Xu Ying rolled her eyes at Second Brother Xu, "Second Brother, if you don't eat now, all the meat will be gone."

On hearing that the meat might all be eaten, Second Brother Xu quickly covered his mouth. That wouldn't do; it wasn't easy to get such delicious meat, so he had to eat more while he could.

Second Brother Xu closed his mouth and rapidly devoured the rabbit meat, and he couldn't help but comment, "Mom, how come you've made this rabbit meat so delicious? Why didn't you cook it like this before?"

Xu Da also expressed his surprise, "Mom, if you had cooked like this earlier, that would have been great. Only now do I realize how delicious rabbit meat can be, spicy and so fragrant."

Mrs. Xu was infuriated, fixing her sons with a dark look, "This time it was your little sister who cooked it. What are you both implying, that my cooking was bad before?

Even if it was bad, didn't you two grow up eating the meals I made?"

Xu Da was momentarily dumbfounded. The meal was made by little sister?

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu leaned toward her husband and whispered, "Shitou said it was indeed the little sister who cooked it."

Second Brother Xu was the first to recover, humbly saying, "Mom, I didn't mean it that way. Your cooking is delicious too, of course. It's clear that my little sister has inherited your true skill, making her cooking so delicious."

Xu Da quickly explained as well, "Mom, Second Brother is right, your cooking is delicious."

Mrs. Xu huffed coldly, but she couldn't help but admire her daughter, "Daughter, how is it that the first time you cook, it's so delicious?

How is that book so amazing? I've been cooking my whole life, and it's never been as delicious as yours."

[Congratulations to the host, goodwill value +2. Congratulations to the host, goodwill value +5. Congratulations to the host...]

As Xu Ying listened to the system notifications, she was overjoyed. It seemed everyone really enjoyed the spicy rabbit meat she had prepared.

Xu Ying laughed, "Mom, it's not that I'm amazing, it's just that I'm willing to use more seasonings. If you were like me and used more seasonings, your dishes would definitely taste as good."

As soon as the topic of using seasonings came up, Mrs. Xu thought of the spoonful of oil her daughter had used, which was equivalent to the amount she'd use for a whole week of cooking.

Her face filled with heartache, "Stop talking, just thinking about that oil makes me feel pained. From now on, you're not allowed in the kitchen."

"Mom, how can we not let Little Sister into the kitchen!" Second Brother Xu was anxious; if not, he wouldn't be able to enjoy such delicious food anymore.

"What do you mean 'how'?" Mrs. Xu declared. "If I say she can't, then she can't."

It wasn't that she begrudged her daughter cooking, the fact that the girl could cook delicious meals was great, but the little aunt was just too wasteful when she cooked.

Xu Ying looked at Mrs. Xu and said, "Mom, if I can get my own seasonings, will you let me cook again?"

Mrs. Xu looked puzzled, "How can you get the oil yourself?"

"How can I not get it? I'll just go up the mountain every day, sell some game, and that'll do it," Xu Ying said confidently.

Mrs. Xu was immediately anxious, there were outsiders at home, how could she say such things: "You foolish girl! You want to risk your life selling things? I forbid you to go."

"Mom, what I meant is to take it to the grocery store to sell, then use the money to buy some oil in return!"

Mrs. Xu let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this, "Well, that's alright, but you still can't be in the kitchen every day, just occasionally."

If she went every day, no amount of hunting would be enough.

Besides, it's dangerous for a girl to be running around in the mountains all the time.

She had only one precious daughter, if something were to happen, who would she cry to.

Lu Daya had her fill at the Xu family's dinner; after eating, she took the initiative to wash the dishes.

Mrs. Xu couldn't stop her.

"Uncle, Auntie, I saved Yingying, but I can't just eat and drink at your place for free. If I had saved Yingying just so I could freeload off you, then I would rather not have saved her."

She hadn't intended to let a good person die, nor did she rescue someone with an ulterior motive.

Besides, when she saw Xu Ying, the girl was already sinking in the river; she didn't even know who she was saving.

After Lu Daya said this, Mrs. Xu sighed and stopped trying to prevent her.

Such a good child, Lu Daya is; how come her family doesn't know how to cherish her!

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu followed Lu Daya into the kitchen to clean up the dishes and utensils.

Once in the kitchen, as Lu Daya washed the dishes and utensils, she smiled and said, "I think Yingying is a great child, she cooks delicious food, and she can hunt; that's really impressive."

Eldest Sister-in-law Xu was embarrassed to admit that her little sister-in-law had previously been incapable of doing anything, and for the sake of her little sister-in-law's reputation, she smiled and said, "Isn't that right? Yingying is a good girl indeed!

Some people out there are just jealous that our family cherishes Yingying, and they are the ones spreading nonsense.

Our Yingying is beautiful, cultured, filial at home, cooks well, and is truly impressive."

Lu Daya agreed; Yingying's cooking was even better than her own, and that alone made her feel Yingying was impressive.

Those gossiping women were just envious; after all, not every farmer's daughter could be so spoiled.

From now on, if anyone dared to speak ill of Yingying, she would be the first to disagree.

After washing the dishes and utensils, Lu Daya told Mr. Xu and Mrs. Xu she would be heading back.

Seeing her about to leave, Xu Ying immediately took some eggs from the kitchen to give to Lu Daya.

Lu Daya shook her head in refusal, "Yingying, I know you feel sorry for me, but I can't accept them.

I've already eaten so much of your family's food; this life-saving favor is now repaid. Please take them back."