The hour was getting late. Chen Lan nimbly opened the stove door and used a fire poker to move aside a layer of ash in the firebox. The flames instantly leaped up. After adding a few more small pieces of firewood, the fire was quickly lit.
She looked around the small kitchen. It could only be described as spotlessly clean. Apart from a tin kettle on the stove and a large wooden water bucket, there was a large iron pot that she had taken from the system's warehouse yesterday, as well as two large coarse ceramic bowls and two pairs of chopsticks. On the windowsill were Xu Mingxuan's toiletries, and beneath the windowsill was a wooden basin she had used for soaking her feet last night.
It could truly be described as having nothing but bare walls. Chen Lan really didn't know how Xu Mingxuan had lived all these years. With a deep sigh, she opened the system with her thoughts and went on a shopping spree. The first things she bought were a steamer for making steamed buns and a cleaver for chopping. Then came pots, bowls, ladles, spoons, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, chili, and other seasonings. Of course, she also ordered many ingredients from the system.
Regardless of other matters for now! First, she prepared to wash the pot and start cooking. Chen Lan decided to make a pot of spicy and sour soup today. After all, it was a bit cold outside today, and a bowl of hot, hearty spicy and sour soup would warm everyone's stomachs.
Since guests were expected soon, Chen Lan decided to make a luxurious version of the spicy and sour soup today, with canned meat, ham, eggs, noodles, and pickled vegetables.
First, she used the water in the tin kettle to rehydrate the wood ear mushrooms, daylilies, dried shiitake mushrooms, dried string beans, and dried eggplant. All these items had been brought by her and were in her all-purpose super large backpack.
Once the spicy and sour soup was ready, she would immediately remove the large firewood from the stove, switch to a small fire to let it simmer, then use a clean cloth to wipe the steamer clean, and quickly steam the cornmeal窝窝头 on top of the simmering spicy and sour soup.
Seeing that Xu Mingxuan and the others had not yet returned, she opened the system with her thoughts and continued to prepare the goods for exchange with the Russians. Chen Lan planned to buy some unsalable inventory from online e-commerce manufacturers in the system, such as shoes, socks, and hair clips from modern manufacturers, as well as small items like toys and lighters. In her previous life, Chen Lan had heard people say that although these items were cheap domestically, they sold very well in Russia! Moreover, these were high-end products from decades later, and they were sure to be warmly welcomed by the Russians there!
Chen Lan thought about it. Besides buying grain, meat, fish, and Russian sausages for Xu Mingxuan and the others, she would also buy some Russian specialty products for herself to sell to the system, such as Russian-style felt wool and richly ethnic oil paintings.
As she was lost in thought, Xu Mingxuan entered with a middle-aged man. Chen Lan immediately stood up to greet them, thinking, this must be the Battalion Commander Liu that Xu Mingxuan mentioned! Battalion Commander Liu was of medium height and ordinary in appearance, also dark and thin, with a face full of weathered hardship.
Xu Mingxuan introduced Chen Lan to him: "Lan'er, let me introduce you to Battalion Commander Liu, Comrade Liu Xiangqian." He then introduced Liu Xiangqian to Chen Lan: "Xiangqian, this is my wife, Comrade Chen Lan."
Chen Lan and Battalion Commander Liu greeted each other! They also exchanged pleasantries. Chen Lan quickly invited everyone in. Xiang Xi also followed, his face flushed red and covered in sweat. He wasn't wearing his hat, and he entered the room looking like a tired dog, his head hanging low, walking weakly into the inner room and collapsing onto the kang.
Chen Lan asked in surprise as Er Zhuang followed in carrying two long stools: "Er Zhuang, what's wrong with Xiao Xigua? Why does he look like this?"
Xu Mingxuan turned his head and replied with a smile: "I let him join us for morning drills."
Chen Lan gave a soft "oh," and thought, no wonder he's like this.
Several people moved the simple table made of wooden boards to the center, placed two long stools on either side, and sat down. Chen Lan quickly brought a large basin filled with cornmeal 窝窝头, placed it on the table, then turned back and served each person a large bowl of the richly-filled, luxurious spicy and sour soup. Er Zhuang went to the kitchen to help carry it to the inner room.
Xu Mingxuan said: "Xiangqian, Er Zhuang, don't be polite, eat while it's hot."
Battalion Commander Liu responded with a "yes" and was not polite. He picked up his bowl and was about to take a sip of the hot soup to warm his stomach. He looked down and immediately put the bowl down, saying: "I say Mingxuan, eating something simple in the morning is fine, why are you spending so much? With meat and eggs, have you used up all the things your wife and brother-in-law brought with them?"
Chen Lan immediately explained: "No, no, how could that be! It's all from our own fields! It's all dried stuff, not heavy. My brother and I brought a lot, and we still have plenty left! If Battalion Commander Liu likes it, you can take some back later. When you're hungry, you can cook a bowl of spicy and sour soup for yourself."
Battalion Commander Liu waved his hands repeatedly and smiled: "No, sister-in-law, don't laugh at me, I've been a soldier all my life, I don't know how to cook at all, I only know how to eat."
Chen Lan didn't insist, so she said: "Then I'll call Battalion Commander Liu over to eat when I make something delicious!"
Battalion Commander Liu smiled again and replied: "Then I'll thank you in advance, sister-in-law. I won't be polite."
As they ate, they started chatting. Xu Mingxuan asked: "Lan'er, Xiang Xi, what are your plans and arrangements for today?"
Xiang Xi glanced at Chen Lan, and Chen Lan said: "Brother Mingxuan, we plan to go around the train station again. We left in a hurry yesterday and didn't see it clearly. We have nothing to do today, so we want to go back and take a closer look at the houses there. We heard people on the train say that those buildings are quite famous!" After speaking, she picked up her bowl and took a sip of the hot, hearty spicy and sour soup.
Xu Mingxuan nodded: "Suifenhe is not a big place. If you want to find excitement, the train station area is the most lively. If you like excitement, you should go and see it properly."
At this moment, Battalion Commander Liu interjected: "Mingxuan, have you forgotten? There's another lively place, the border residents' market! Today is the market day at the big white building by the train station. You can go there to patrol, and you can also take your sister-in-law and your brother-in-law to have a good look and wander around!"
Xu Mingxuan thought for a moment and said: "I heard that there have been some unpleasantness between the two sides recently. I don't know if the recent market will be affected."
Battalion Commander Liu said indifferently: "Why do we need to worry about so much? Our responsibility is to guard every inch of our country and not let the enemy invade. Let others worry about other things!"
So, after breakfast, Xu Mingxuan, Chen Lan, and Xiang Xi each carried a large backpack, and had Er Zhuang help them drive the ox cart, and they set off.