Chapter 612 - Chapter 612: Chapter 599: Settling Accounts (1/2)

Chapter 612: Chapter 599: Settling Accounts

Since her task was no longer achievable, Zhuang Qingning stopped bothering about it. Seeing Zhang Yongchang looking so down in the dumps due to the pickle failure, Zhuang Qingning was now focused solely on figuring out what was wrong with the kimchi.

Zhuang Qingning’s culinary skills were known to be on par with Zhang Yongchang by Zhang Yongchang and Lian Rong among others, so they gave Zhuang Qingning the failed kimchi to taste.

Zhuang Qingning took a bite and at first frowned, but then she started to laugh.

“What’s happening?” asked Zhang Yongchang, looking curiously at Zhuang Qingning as she laughed.

“Uncle Zhang.” Zhuang Qingning stopped laughing and said, “Uncle Zhang, I’m afraid you’ve been deceived.”

“What?” Zhang Yongchang was even more surprised, “Are you saying I’ve been tricked? Isn’t this pickled mung bean made with white vinegar?”

“Of course not, it’s pickled with salty water.” Zhuang Qingning explained.

“Salty water?” Lian Rong was also very curious, “But salt is salty, and the pickles taste sour and appetizing. If it’s pickled with salt, wouldn’t it become a salted vegetable?”

“Not really.” Zhuang Qingning chuckled, “I guess it’s pointless to explain now. It’s often said that seeing is believing. Let me show you. I’ll make a jar of kimchi so you can taste and find out the truth.”

With that, Zhuang Qingning put down the bowl she was eating from and went to the kitchen to find the ingredients for pickling.

Lian Rong and Ma Tong hurried to help.

Zhuang Qingning prepared radishes, long mung beans, ginger slices, and hot peppers, and put them into the jar. She poured in boiled water that was cooled down, added coarse salt and rock sugar, dripped a few drops of white wine, and then finally covered the jar.

“That’s it. Let it pickle for about twenty days, and the kimchi will be ready. Remember to use clean chopsticks when picking it up. Don’t contaminate it with any oil, otherwise the whole jar of kimchi will go bad,” Zhuang Qingning instructed.

“Don’t worry, Miss Zhuang. I’ll remember.” Lian Rong replied. He put the jar in a shady and well-ventilated corner. On top of the jar lid, he added an extra big sea bowl to prevent anyone from accidentally knocking off the lid.

“This rascal, he dared to deceive me?” Zhang Yongchang stood up angrily, making a turn on the spot. “I’ve been wondering, I didn’t have a particularly close relationship with him. He lost face because of the tofu incident earlier, so I thought he might not tell me the truth. I didn’t expect him to tell me, and considered him a reasonable person. I didn’t expect him to outsmart me.”

“No way, I have to confront him.”

Zhang Yongchang made up his mind and was about to walk out.

“Uncle Zhang.” Zhuang Qingning stopped Zhang Yongchang, “Where are you going to pick a fight in the middle of the night?”

“Then I’ll go find him tomorrow!” Zhang Yongchang agreed with Zhuang Qingning and stepped back, sitting down on a stool. “I have to give him a good talking to and let out this anger that’s been building up!”

Seeing Zhang Yongchang puffing up like a pufferfish, Zhuang Qingning couldn’t help but laugh. “Uncle Zhang, don’t be too hasty.”

“How can I not be nervous?” Zhang Yongchang’s face turned red with anger. “Who wouldn’t be angry if they were tricked?”

“Yes, anyone would be angry. But have you ever thought that if someone deliberately provokes you, they’re definitely looking forward to seeing you angry? If you storm off to confront them, wouldn’t you be falling into their trap?”