Rebirth: My Dear Little Wife Is So Scheming

Chapter 278 - 278 278 Decision

?Chapter 278: Chapter 278 Decision Chapter 278: Chapter 278 Decision An Zhiyuan came back, bringing with him an electric stove with a high wattage, which is common here, though most households wouldn’t use it—it’s not only a big electricity consumer but also a potential fire hazard.

But now, this was the only option available.

Yet, a few more people came along, unexpectedly, it was Zhang Duo, a sister-in-law, and a soldier in a wheelchair, accompanied by a little girl.

Bai Xiao was busy inside the house and had no idea that guests had arrived outside.

As soon as the electric stove arrived, Bai Xiao immediately had everyone set the table, plugged in the stove, and placed the clay pot on top.

She added the base ingredients and broth she had prepared to the pot, and the meatballs brought from home were already taken out to be defrosted.

In this weather, it was truly hard to buy any fresh vegetables, so they only had napa cabbage and potatoes, along with frozen tofu, glass noodles, tofu skin, and they had also managed to buy some mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms that had already been soaked, as well as lamb, meatballs, and little crispy pork.

It was already considered a very rich array of dishes on the table.

Bai Xiao had made her own sesame paste, and the small dishes contained leek flower sauce, as well as fermented bean curd. Another dish was filled with chopped green onions and sugar garlic, and there was also a bottle of chili sauce, which was made by Bai Yue back in her hometown. It was delicious, especially the garlic version—homemade and safe, not to mention the flavor was absolutely on point.

Bai Xiao knew that four guests had arrived! But she really had no idea who they were.

As soon as she came out and saw them, she recognized them—it was Zhang Duo, a regular patient at her clinic, who had also banged drums and gongs to present her with a banner. And she could guess the other three; the little girl must be the one she had saved last time.

They had come to show their gratitude for the New Year.

“Hello! Happy New Year, please take a seat, everything’s ready. Big Brother, there’s alcohol over there, you guys can drink. We women will stay out of the festivities.” It wouldn’t be proper to entertain guests without good alcohol.

An Zhiyuan happily agreed. Despite being ordered around by Bai Xiao, he felt content inside. He understood it to mean that Bai Xiao absolutely didn’t see him as an outsider anymore—their relationship had undergone a qualitative change.

Only family would be so informal; such words meant that his wife genuinely treated him as her man.

Zhang Duo was annoyed! His own wife bossed him around, and yet he wore a face of pride. He didn’t understand how his old friend could have turned out this way.

“Alright, let’s eat, everyone take a seat.” Bai Xiao had already borrowed a few folding chairs from Doctor Chui Li next door; otherwise, there wouldn’t have been enough seating.

A table full of people sat around the large round table, twelve in all, packed to the brim.

The men sat together—if they wanted to drink, it was naturally for convenience. Bai Xiao, Bai Yue, and the sister-in-law with the little girl sat on the other side.

Bai Xiao brought out the last plate of lamb from the kitchen and saw that there was only one empty seat left, right between An Zhiyuan and Bai Yue. An Zhiyuan waved and said, “Come over and sit, we’re just missing our host.”

Bai Xiao had no choice but to sit down. In front of her was a glass of orange juice, which was considered the best thing in that era, not something every household could afford to drink.

“Everyone, dig in!” Bai Xiao toasted. “First, I wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope everything goes well for you in the coming year! Second, please try the fire pot and give me your honest opinion. My sister is thinking about starting this business.” As the host, these were exactly the words she should say.

Everyone raised their glasses and immediately started eating.

Bai Xiao was afraid that the little girl couldn’t handle spicy food! She specifically asked Mrs. Wu, the woman surnamed Wu, whose husband, Jiao Yang, was sitting in a wheelchair. He used to be a team leader and was injured during a self-defense counterattack, resulting in disability in both legs. He had since transferred to a civilian role. The little girl was the couple’s only daughter, Niuniu.

“Should I cook some noodles or something for Niuniu? This fire pot is quite spicy, and I’m worried the child won’t be able to handle it!” Since their visit was unexpected, Bai Xiao indeed hadn’t prepared for this.

Mrs. Wu shook her head, smiling and explaining, “No need! My husband and I are both from Hunan, we are not afraid of spicy food, and this child has grown up eating spicy food. She might even handle spicy better than you northerners. There’s no need for special treatment for her, look how happily she’s eating!”

Pointing to Niuniu’s bowl, where Mrs. Wu had just added a piece of lamb with her chopsticks, the little girl seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it, her lips smeared with sesame sauce and chili oil, her eyes sparkling with joy as she pointed to the meatballs in the pot, saying, “Mom, I want meatballs!”

Seeing this, Bai Xiao felt relieved.

Once everyone started eating, the atmosphere immediately changed, conversations grew livelier.

“Doctor Bai! This fire pot is really tasty! The flavor… sss… is truly satisfying! Delicious… delicious!” Zhang Duo initially thought the fire pot was just the same old pot they would have during winter; steaming hot and comforting, but nothing special.

Now, however, he realized what he thought was just a simple pot had essential differences; typically, a pot would contain cabbage, glass noodles, tofu, and meatballs, and the most luxurious version might include a few slices of fat meat, tasting like a hearty stew.

This fire pot had a broth that was bright and appealingly red, stimulating the appetite, and you could throw whatever you wanted into the pot, let it boil, fish it out, and dip it in sauces like sesame paste—it was absolutely delicious.

For someone like him who loved spicy food, it was the ultimate indulgence, largely because the flavor was so good.

Wang Yan, An Zhiyuan, and Jiao Yang were also eating non-stop; they found themselves drinking less, mainly because pairing this kind of spicy food with white liquor wasn’t quite right! Bai Xiao of course knew this; such a fire pot should be enjoyed with beer, which would have been endlessly delicious, but there was no beer available yet.

However, it seemed they had kvass here, imported from the Russians, which actually came pretty close to beer and was considered a tasty beverage.

“Xiao, this fire pot is really good!” Even Bai Yue couldn’t help but nod in praise, thinking that her sister’s idea to open a fire pot restaurant was impressive, as the fire pot really was extraordinary.

“How is it? The flavor of the fire pot is not bad, right? A fire pot is all about the lively atmosphere; it’s bright and hot, with three to five people, or perhaps a group of ten, gathering around a single pot, eating until their mouths are oily with the hot and fresh flavors. The best thing is that you decide what to eat, cooking whichever ingredients you like. Even though the pot today was put together in a hurry and is somewhat rough, the flavor still barely makes the grade! In fact, this fire pot could be made into a ‘yin yang’ pot, accommodating both those who like it spicy and those who don’t, ensuring everyone enjoys a warm and enthusiastic meal.

The underlying broth can also vary, catering to different tastes, and through the simple and straightforward experience of sharing a fire pot, relationships can quickly deepen. Life is full of worries, but with a single fire pot meal, all troubles can be left behind. Feeling that heat in your heart, it’s as if you’re filled with passion, and you start to believe that there’s no big problem that a hot and numbing fire pot can’t solve!” Bai Xiao felt confident in her choice, feeling very comfortable after tasting the familiar flavors again, not to mention the others.

Indeed, Wang Yan immediately gave his approval, “Sister-in-law, you’ve got a brilliant idea. I’ve agreed with your sister; let’s start this fire pot restaurant. With this business, it’s impossible not to be booming!”

Bai Yue laughed as well, “My sister is unique, with a college-educated brain that really works, even turning a simple meal into something special. Let’s do it, let’s open a fire pot restaurant!” With that, even Bai Yue was persuaded.

A single meal concluded with a plan to open a new restaurant.