Chapter 280: The Aggrieved Old Lady
When Gu Fei saw they had more or less gotten the hang of it, she smiled and asked, "Everyone’s got it now, right?"
"With barbecuing, there are actually many other things you can grill, like mushrooms, corn, and whatnot. Once you all get more practice, you can experiment with grilling other things. As long as they’re properly seasoned, they’ll be delicious."
"Oh, right. If any of you don’t know how to skewer or marinate the meat, come to my shop tomorrow, and I’ll teach you."
"It’s really not difficult. You’ve all marinated meat before when you cook. It’s more or less the same—you just have to get the saltiness right. I just added some cooking wine and ginger to remove the gamey taste, but that’s about it."
"If you all really want to do this, you should practice at home first. Once you’ve perfected the flavor, then it won’t be too late to go sell in the city."
Everyone nodded. Boss Zhang looked at Gu Fei. "Little Fei, how can your Uncle Zhang ever thank you enough?"
She had taught them a skill and even given them grills.
Gu Fei smiled. "There’s nothing to thank me for. When everyone is living a better life, I’ll be happy too."
Seeing this, the village chief chimed in with some more ill-timed flattery. "Zhang, you’ve raised a fine daughter! That girl, Little Fei, is bound for great things. Mark my words."
Aunt Liu shot him a sideways glance. ’Hmph, those were my words. That old man just stole them and passed them off as his own.’
Gu Zhang loved nothing more than hearing people praise his daughter, and he grinned from ear to ear. "Thank you for your auspicious words, thank you for your auspicious words."
The eldest aunt smiled, pressing her lips together. The more she looked at Gu Fei, the more she adored her.
Just then, the eldest aunt’s daughter, Zhaodi, finished grilling some skewers. Thinking of her mother all alone in her room, having not tasted a thing, the aunt took a few skewers of potato slices and went inside.
Inside, the old matriarch was sitting listlessly by herself, staring at an oil lamp on the table as if in a daze.
The eldest aunt offered her the potato slices. "Mother, have a taste. My Zhaodi grilled these. They’re pretty good."
Hearing this, the old matriarch turned away and huffed, "I’m not eating."
’She was full from anger alone. The second son’s family was here, yet not a single one of them had come in to check on this old woman.’
The eldest aunt’s mouth twitched as she held out the potato slices. "Mother, I really don’t understand what’s gotten into you."
"Are you unhappy that Little Fei has become so capable?"
"Or are you unhappy that she’s helping everyone?"
The old matriarch pursed her lips and remained silent.
The eldest aunt sneered. "I get it. You must have heard them. Everyone’s out there praising Little Fei, so you’re feeling upset again, aren’t you?"
"I just don’t understand. What is your problem with Little Fei?"
"Second Brother now gives you two taels of silver a year and brings you gifts from time to time. Isn’t that all because Little Fei is capable enough for him to earn that money?"
"And now Little Fei is leading everyone to prosperity. Who wouldn’t praise a girl with character like that?"
The eldest aunt huffed. "Even Eldest Brother has come around. Even his wife is more flexible these days. You just go on being difficult. See if you don’t end up all alone!"
Fuming, the eldest aunt came back out with the potato skewers and took a vicious bite. ’Hmph. If you won’t eat them, I will.’
Seeing her daughter leave, the old matriarch sat alone in her room and began to cry.
It wasn’t that she was unhappy to hear everyone praising Gu Fei.
’It was that she was all alone in her room. With so many children and grandchildren around, not one of them had thought of her. Couldn’t they have invited her out to watch? To join in the festivities?’
’Only her daughter had shown a shred of filial piety, remembering that this old woman wasn’t dead yet.’
’But the moment her daughter opened her mouth, it was only to scold her!’
The old matriarch felt an indescribable sense of being wronged.