Mr. Xiao's Unconditional Love

The crayfish that were harvested during summer had a harder shell, so garlic sauce was not the best flavor to add to its freshness. Knowing that her family was not fond of spicy food, Ye Qiao decided to cook the crayfish with the signature 13 spices. Since she was going to be the chef for the evening, her mother volunteered to prep the food.

She walked around her backyard in search of spices and to her delight, she found quite a number of them. Six years in J City had made her a good cook, especially her signature braised pork with soy sauce that tasted incredible. Her father was almost convinced that she must have been cooking for the Ye family all these years until he saw Xiao Dong wandering around with a gun in his waist pouch.

Casually, her father spent his evening smoking in the backyard and watched as Ye Qiao got busy in the kitchen. It gratified him to see how independent his daughter had become.

When dinner was served, the whole family was dumbfounded at the sight of the dish. Its fragrance instantly filled their nostrils.

They tasted the crayfish that she cooked with relish. As her father was currently taking anti-inflammatory medication, he had to avoid having seafood at all costs so he did not get to try it. "What's so good about it? It has nothing but shells," he expressed his disbelief.

"Father, it's a culinary delight. Qiao Qiao has perfectly combined both taste and aroma in one dish; it is so good that it's made me overcome my prejudice about crayfish!" As an avid foodie, Ye Qiao's eldest sister could not help but pay her an enormous compliment.

Her father still refused to believe it, though he did find the delicious-looking dish very tempting.

Ye Qiao felt elated at the compliment. If only they knew how valuable crayfish would someday become. In ten years, the rivers would be so heavily polluted that all crayfish would have to be bred in captive fisheries.

Other than her culinary skills, the speed at which she peeled the crayfish left them speechless with wonder. At the dinner table, she also talked about finding her family a means of livelihood.

"Sister, how's your progress making cold noodles?" She suggested her eldest sister a street-vending business model. It had great prospects in selling cold noodles, as there was no one else in the same business.

Her eldest sister had a miserable lot in the past. She had invested all her life in the muddy fields but without much return. As a result of the heavy manual work, she became afflicted with several ailments and by the time she was 40, her health had become progressively worse.

Ye Qiao was actually inspired by her former classmates; many of whom ventured into the business and became successful.

"Qiao Qiao, I'm making progress! None of the noodles are overcooked, so far. However, your brother-in-law still thinks that farming is better. What if the business doesn't do well?" Her sister paused in indecision.

"If you never try, you'll never know. Sister, you used to have the fairest skin. Now, look at how tanned you are! Have you made a lot of money so far?" She was married to an illiterate, so his mindset was very conservative and he was as stubborn as a mule. Her sister finally nodded in agreement and so did her husband. They agreed to try.

"Forget about growing rice; let's try growing ginkgo instead. Mother, you'll be in charge of the ginkgo plantation. As for you, father, forget about the tractor, get a tricycle to sell peanuts instead. I have all the money you need to start these businesses. As for my brother, well, I'll find a plan for him after meeting him in-person," Ye Qiao said passionately. It was a plan that she had put forward to her family a few days ago for consideration.

The proposal was not done randomly. It was the experience that she had accumulated over the years. One of their neighbors had become wealthy by managing a ginkgo plantation for its medicinal value, so it was an opportunity that she needed to seize this time. In time, they could also turn the ginkgo plantation into a sightseeing attraction.

"Trust me! I've consulted one of our relatives who has the experience of working with several organizations. He's the one who's come up with the proposal," she added. Her words alone had no convincing evidence so she needed to add some reassurance.

"I think that Qiao Qiao has a good idea. Your leg wouldn't have recovered so well without her. I'm so glad that we didn't go to the clinic, which has recently closed down for many problematic reasons," her mother chimed in while her father promptly agreed.

Ye Qiao took great pleasure in their support. During the summer, the days were long and the nights were short. The sun had yet to set even after dinner, so Ye Qiao decided to go for a stroll. Children were out there playing, giving her a nostalgic account of her rural childhood.

She heard someone whistling from behind, which prompted her to turn around. Instantly, she was dumbfounded at the sight that met her eyes. What an unconventional style.