Flash Marriage - Chapter 23.1

Chapter 23.1

Jiang Li’s Cooking

I was about to open my mouth to say something when unexpectedly the ‘river’ of the tears started flowing out and I could not hold it in.  

Jiang Li squatted down, looked at my face in disbelief: “Are you……crying?”

Oh crap, he did not see that, did he??


 

Jiang Li in a conciliatory tone said: “By the way do you know that you look more attractive while crying than laughing.”

I looked at his face that was in a very close proximity to my face, really wanted to punch his face hard.

Jiang Li got up to sit on the couch, pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it over to me: “How can a thick-skinned person like you cry, did someone dare to bully you, eh?”

I took his handkerchief and silently wiped my tears. Yes, ah I was crying but who dared to bully me?

Nobody……Also, who said I had thick skin, huh……

Jiang Li leaned against the back of the couch and nonchalantly said: “You just got fired, right? It’s alright; there is no need to worry.  I can still support you.”

I felt as if he was gloating over my misery, so I snapped: “Who needs your support!!!!”

Jiang Li said: “You got bullied outside, ran back home and then got angry at me. You just have all the signs of a person who needs support.”

I moved my worn out body, stood up to prepare dinner in order to divert Jiang Li’s attention.

Jiang Li: “What are you doing?”

Me: “Going to prepare dinner.”

Jiang Li suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to the couch again.

This time I was really very angry: “What the hell are you doing?”

Jiang Li in a neither too fast nor too slow tone replied: “I am afraid with your present mind set you will burn up the whole kitchen.”

“Jiang Li!! Can’t you see I am in a bad mood, so for once can you not bully me and leave me alone?”

“I am not bullying you.” Jiang Li thought for a while, suddenly straightened up 
and said: “Okay, I will cook and you observe.”

I thought I had heard wrong.
…….


Because Jiang Li’s cooking was a rare treat so I also cheered up a bit instantly and went to the kitchen together with him.

Jiang Li pointed to a corner in the kitchen and told me: “you stand here and don’t move an inch. Just silently observe from here.”


I sincerely followed his instructions.

Jiang Li took out all the vegetables from refrigerator, threw away the ones 
which were no longer fresh and put the remaining one in a big bowl filled with 
water. After that he started washing them expertly.

 I was a bit puzzled: “You really look like a professional even though you don’t even know how to cook.”

Bowing his head while washing the vegetables, he said: “I only know how to wash vegetables. Earlier at my home I used to wash vegetables, my mother used to do the cooking and my father used to wash dishes.”

What a happy family, ah. I was feeling a tiny bit jealous of him. Jiang Li seemed to have guessed my thoughts so he suddenly raised his head and glanced at me, said: “But now my father is your father. I don’t consider you as an outsider.”

Although his words were nondescript but still my heart was a little moved by his small gesture. Sometimes this man, Jiang Li, really could tell people what they wanted to hear. 

After washing the vegetables, Jiang Li put the carrots, spinach and other vegetables in a pile. He placed his left hand at his back and then brandishing a knife in his right hand he started to ‘cut’ those vegetables.

I was shocked at his action, after a long time I regained my spirit. Then, trembling I said: “Jiang Li, you are chopping the vegetables with one hand……..”

Jiang Li stopped, embarrassed he said: “I was afraid of cutting my hand…..”

It looked like that Jiang Li was truly a good kid who really cherished his life a lot. Watching Jiang Li cooking the dinner was already a rare sight, so even though he did not know how to cut the vegetables properly it was still acceptable for me. And now I also got to see his embarrassed face. I decided to appreciate this golden opportunity more and thus smirked at Jiang Li.

Jiang Li did not get angry, with a blushed face and short breath he continued to ‘cut’ those poor vegetables. 

Looking at the pitiful condition of the variegated vegetables on the chopping board, two horrible words suddenly pooped up in my mind: mutilated bodies.

After cutting for a while, Jiang Li put away the knife, looked at me with great satisfaction and said: “Not bad, right?”

My heart shuddered but out of whatever conscience I had, replied: “Not bad.”

 “So now what should be the next step?”

Staring at the heap of the wrecked vegetables I thought for a moment and finally resolved to answer: “Why don’t you fry it first!” 

Jiang Li very swiftly turned on the gas stove, picked up a handful of the vegetables that he had just cut and threw them in a pot, then in a very convincing manner he started moving them with a spatula. His motion was very light and casual.

I could hardly contain myself any more, I quickly stepped forward and said: “Not like this, not like this. You have to wash the pot first, pour some oil in the pot and then add vegetables to it.”

Jiang Li turned off the gas stove. Turned towards me and pointed to the corner I was stationed at: “Stand back.”

My enthusiasm level immediately got reduced by half and I meekly went back to that corner. Then I got disenchanted. This house was both his and mine so why should I listen to him?

So I decided to use his own words to rebut him: “Jiang Li, I am afraid that you will burn up the kitchen.”   

Jiang Li simply replied: “Don’t worry about it, we have you for that.” 

What kind of answer was that!!!



“Jiang Li, take another pan and add the oil first.”

“Whoaaa, don’t pour too much oil.”

“You are really silly, eh. Wait for a minute and then add vegetables.”

“Okay, okay. Now add soya sauce and vinegar to it…..”
 

“Now fire!!!” Hugging my head I promptly squatted down, although I often sautéed vegetables but relatively the number of times it caught fire was countable on fingers, furthermore I was scared of fire.

Jiang Li hurriedly put the lid on the pot without panicking at all. He turned to find me cowering in the corner, proudly said: “I had mastered this move in the kindergarten only.”

Me: ……….