Will she?

Jiang Xia glanced at Tian Caihua, "If Eldest Sister-in-law thinks this house is better, I can switch with Eldest Sister-in-law."

Tian Caihua: "..."

Mother Zhou then walked in carrying a Red White Blue Bag, and casually asked, "Switch what with your Eldest Sister-in-law?"

Tian Caihua immediately said, "Nothing, Jiang Xia is joking. Mom, is there anything else to move? I'll go move it!" After speaking, she ran out.

Mother Zhou was baffled and ignored her. She gave the Red White Blue Bag in her hand to Jiang Xia, "These are A'Lei's clothes, put them back in your room."

"Okay." Jiang Xia paused, then agreed.

Zhou Chenglei had told her while cleaning the house today that he was afraid his parents wouldn't agree to the separation of the family. He didn't mention their divorce, only the separation, and asked her not to say anything for the time being.

Jiang Xia had no choice but to take it and carry it into her room.

She thought about it and didn't help him organize it.

The bed and wardrobe in Jiang Xia's room were new. Mother Zhou had also cut some Double Happiness Characters of different sizes from the red paper left over from their wedding and pasted them on the walls, windows, and doors, making it look like a newlywed room.

Jiang Xia's dowry of Thirty-Six Legs was complete, including two Phoenix Brand bicycles, one for a man and one for a woman, a Hua Nan Brand sewing machine, a Shanghai Brand watch, and a Red Star Brand radio.

It was only the early 1980s, and these dowries were already very impressive, especially in the countryside. Of course, in the city, some people's dowries already included televisions instead of radios.

In a few more years, washing machines, refrigerators, and televisions would become the high-end configuration for weddings.

Jiang Xia took her clothes out of the red leather suitcase and put them in the wardrobe.

At this time, Mother Zhou came in carrying a black plastic bucket with a long-handled wooden lid. She said to Jiang Xia, "Xiao Xia, take out A'Lei's clothes and give me the bag. I'll use it to store the cotton quilts."

Jiang Xia had no choice but to open the Red White Blue Bag and take out Zhou Chenglei's clothes.

Most of them were white shirts and military uniforms, as well as boxer shorts and undershirts. Jiang Xia quickly stuffed these personal items into the wardrobe as if they were burning her hands.

After taking everything out, Jiang Xia took the bag out and gave it to Mother Zhou, her face a little red. However, she saw Mother Zhou put a black bucket behind the door and asked curiously, "Why put this bucket behind the door?"

Mother Zhou: "This is a chamber pot, for use at night. The urine can be used to water vegetables."

Jiang Xia: "..."

Isn't it smelly to have a chamber pot in the room? Mother Zhou saw Jiang Xia's surprised expression and, thinking that Jiang Xia was from the city, asked, "Do you want to put one in the room?"

Jiang Xia quickly shook her head, "No, thank you."

Zhou Chenglei then walked in.

Jiang Xia quickly changed the subject, "Great-Grandmother and Eldest Brother helped us work all day today. Go buy some seafood, and I'll make two tables of food to thank them. It'll also be a celebration of our moving into a new home."

Even if Jiang Xia didn't say it, Zhou Chenglei had the same intention. He came in to tell his mother that he was going to buy seafood and to ask her to pick some vegetables from the garden.

Jiang Xia's suggestion surprised him a little.

Mother Zhou was also a little surprised that Jiang Xia would think of these things. As for her saying she would make two tables of food, Mother Zhou didn't take it to heart.

She smiled, "I'll go pick vegetables from the garden now. A'Lei, you go buy seafood."

Zhou Chenglei nodded, "I was just about to go."

Then he said to Jiang Xia, "Let my mom do the cooking. Don't get your hands wet."

Jiang Xia nodded, "I know."

Mother Zhou listened to her son's words, glanced at Jiang Xia, and then went out with the chamber pot.

Her son is good to her, but she doesn't know if his sincerity will be misplaced.

As for letting Jiang Xia cook? She wouldn't dare to hope for that!

She was already thanking Buddha that she was helping with small tasks today and not causing any trouble.

Mother Zhou didn't know that Jiang Xia had helped clean the yard, otherwise, she wouldn't have thought that way.

Next, Zhou Chenglei went to buy seafood, Mother Zhou went to pick vegetables, Jiang Xia scrubbed the pot, wiped the stove clean, and then washed the rice and cooked the rice. Tian Caihua washed the dishes for later use. These dishes hadn't been used for a long time and were covered in dust.

Great-Grandmother brought over a piece of pork belly, more than three pounds, and a few fresh cucumbers. Jiang Xia felt very embarrassed.

Great-Grandmother said cheerfully, "Take it, make some braised pork for everyone tonight. Moving into a new home, may your family be prosperous and thriving."

Since Great-Grandmother had said so, it wouldn't be good to refuse again. Jiang Xia accepted Great-Grandmother's kindness and said with a smile, "Thank you for your kind words, Great-Grandmother. I'll make braised pork for Great-Grandmother."

Great-Grandmother smiled, "My teeth aren't good, I like braised pork that melts in your mouth the most."

"I guarantee it will melt in your mouth!" Jiang Xia said with a smile.

Great-Grandmother went to light the fire, beaming.

Braised pork that melts in your mouth isn't difficult to make, but it takes time.

Zhou Chengxin went home and brought over a large iron pot. Cooking with two iron pots together is faster.

Each family got a large iron pot when they separated.

Tian Caihua was worried that Jiang Xia couldn't cook, so she said, "I'll do it, you can wash the dishes and vegetables!"

Jiang Xia smiled and said, "It's okay, Older Sister-in-law, you've worked hard today. I'll cook, and you can assist me."

Tian Caihua didn't insist after hearing this. It wasn't her family hosting, and it wouldn't be her who'd be embarrassed if the food wasn't good.

Besides, cooking for so many people would mean inhaling a lot of oily smoke and losing her appetite.

Mother Zhou happened to come back with two large baskets of vegetables, including cowpeas, eggplants, cucumbers, angled gourds, and Chinese cabbage.

Tian Caihua went out to wash the vegetables.

Mother Zhou saw Jiang Xia in charge of the kitchen and looked at Tian Caihua, "Why did you let her cook? Is it even edible?"

Tian Caihua: "She doesn't need my help and insists on doing it herself."

Tian Caihua felt that her mother-in-law was biased and washed the vegetables with a dark face. Great-Grandmother's daughter-in-law was also helping to wash, so she didn't want to show her displeasure in front of outsiders and refrained from storming off.

Mother Zhou quickly went inside to help.

Jiang Xia was making smashed cucumbers. She knew what to make after taking a look at the vegetables Mother Zhou had picked.

She had already soaked the evenly cut braised pork in light salt water. Meat soaked in light salt water becomes soft and firm, making it easier to cook and taste better. Moreover, soaking out the blood can also remove the fishy smell.

While it was soaking, she made a cold cucumber salad.

Mother Zhou saw that Jiang Xia was doing it in a professional manner, and hadn't mixed up the salt and sugar, or the wine and vinegar. She was a little surprised, and then went out to wash the vegetables with peace of mind.

After the pork belly was soaked and dried, Jiang Xia poured the meat into the heated iron pot without adding any oil. She stir-fried it like this, slowly stir-frying it over low heat to render the fat until the surface of the meat turned golden brown.

Jiang Xia scooped up the excess oil, which could be used to fry eggplants or stir-fry green vegetables later, making them very fragrant.

Then, she added seasonings such as ginger, scallions, dried chili peppers, sugar, salt, and soy sauce to the braised pork, and continued to stir-fry until the rock sugar was completely melted and the pork belly was colored. She added water and wine, brought it to a boil, and then directly transferred it to a casserole dish to simmer over low heat next to the stove.

Jiang Xia washed the large iron pot clean, then fried the eggplants until cooked, and then made a dish of braised eggplants with cowpeas and perilla.

Tian Caihua brought in the washed vegetables and clicked her tongue when she saw her using so much oil to stir-fry the eggplants! Gosh, was she eating eggplants or oil? Fortunately, they had separated. If they hadn't, she wouldn't dare let her cook.

However, it smelled so good! It was so fragrant!

Looking at the oily purple eggplants and green cowpeas, she wanted to eat them.

Zhou Chenglei also came back with seafood, including Bamboo Shrimp, Green Crab, Tiger Grouper, Mudskipper Fish, Small Red Squid, and White Clam.

He saw Jiang Xia in charge of the kitchen, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. Then his gaze fell on her fair little hands, and he thought of the blisters on her hands. He walked over and reached out to take the handle of the spatula in her hand, "I'll do it."

The tall figure suddenly approached, and Jiang Xia subconsciously turned around to look back. Her elbow accidentally bumped into his waist, and because of this turning movement, Zhou Chenglei's outstretched hand grasped her small hand.