The contents of the two large baskets were overwhelming. Getting off the train proved to be a challenge, and it took the couple a while to finally unload the two fully packed baskets.
Chen Lan couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Without the cheat of the system, everything was so inconvenient. Even carrying things off the train was this difficult; it was truly not easy.
Following Sister-in-law San Mei and Uncle Chang, the couple arrived at the entrance of Sister-in-law San Mei's wooden house. Sister-in-law San Mei, beaming, knocked on the door and cheerfully shouted in Northeast dialect, "Yulia, Milana, open the door quickly! We have guests! My nephew from my maiden family, Nikolai, and his wife Mira have come to visit me."
At this moment, Chen Lan saw many people from nearby houses opening their doors and looking over. Sister-in-law San Mei also noticed them but glanced at them without saying hello. Chen Lan could only pretend not to see.
Then, someone asked something in Russian. Chen Lan didn't understand. Sister-in-law San Mei pointed at Chen Lan and Xu Mingxuan and replied in Russian with a very proud tone. Chen Lan guessed she was probably introducing the couple's identities.
Next, a clear Russian voice responded from inside the house. Immediately after, there was the sound of footsteps clattering on the wooden floor. Before long, the door was opened from the inside by a very beautiful mixed-race Russian girl, about twenty years old.
The girl was so beautiful that Chen Lan's eyes widened. She thought, beautiful things are truly a pleasure to behold! No wonder ancient people had the idiom "Xiù sè kě cān" (beauty that can be eaten). They say Russia produces beauties, and it's true. The mixed-race beauty before her was even more stunning! Truly fair-skinned, beautiful, with long legs. She was so gorgeous. It would be great if she could be brought back to be a wife for Xiao Xigua, then she could see Yulia's beautiful face every day.
While Chen Lan admired Yulia's beauty, she was lost in her pleasant thoughts. Xu Mingxuan quietly asked in her ear, "Lan'er, what's wrong? What are you spacing out about? Sister-in-law San Mei is calling you inside?"
Chen Lan suddenly snapped back to reality. She hurriedly smiled foolishly and stammered, "Nothing? Nothing? I'm coming in, I'm coming in."
Yulia looked at Chen Lan's amusing expression and couldn't help but let out a giggle. This made her even more beautiful. No wonder ancient people had an idiom to describe a beauty's smile, what was it? Ah, "xià yè rú huā" (smiling face like a flower). Yulia's smile was truly as beautiful as a flower.
This reinforced Chen Lan's resolve to abduct Yulia and bring her back to the valley to be Xiao Xigua's wife.
As soon as they entered, everyone changed into the slippers worn inside the house and took off their scarves and hats. Xu Mingxuan and Chen Lan also quickly unloaded their baskets and handed them to Sister-in-law San Mei. Xu Mingxuan said, "Aunt San Mei, we didn't bring anything else for our first visit! This is a small token of our affection, please accept it."
Sister-in-law San Mei and Yulia's eyes widened in surprise. Sister-in-law San Mei repeatedly waved her hands, "You two children, this is too much, too extravagant. This won't do, I can't accept it."
Chen Lan didn't want to waste time with back-and-forth. So she said, "Aunt San Mei, we call you Aunt because we are family. How can you refuse what your maiden family brings?"
Sister-in-law San Mei was immediately persuaded by Chen Lan's words. She wiped her eyes with her hand and reached out to take the basket from Chen Lan. Chen Lan quickly said, "Aunt San Mei, the baskets are too heavy, let us put them on the table for you!"
With that, the couple placed the baskets on the table. Sister-in-law San Mei looked at the two fully packed baskets, filled with an array of food and daily necessities, for everyone, adults and children alike. All the items were useful, things she had planned to procure before the New Year. As she looked, Sister-in-law San Mei shed tears, repeatedly expressing her gratitude and saying, "This is too extravagant, too precious."
Yulia had entered the inner room at some point. She now emerged from the inner room carrying a tray full of food, followed by a similarly beautiful girl of fourteen or fifteen, carrying another tray, her features as delicate as a doll's.
The tray held caviar, pickles, cheese, yogurt, and milk. Most striking was a small salt cellar placed next to a large loaf of bread.
It is said that in Russia, bread and salt are used to entertain honored guests, indicating the preciousness of salt and sugar in Russia! This also showed how much Sister-in-law San Mei valued her maiden family. Chen Lan decided to prepare a batch of sugar and salt, along with some essential small household items, for Sister-in-law San Mei's family before returning home, to help her out.
After setting the table, Sister-in-law San Mei, pulling her two daughters along, introduced them to the couple: "Nikolai, Mira, this is my eldest daughter, Yulia, and my youngest daughter, Milana. The food on the table was also prepared by these two this morning!"
Chen Lan and Xu Mingxuan thanked them repeatedly. The four of them then naturally got acquainted. Fortunately, Yulia and Milana could both speak Northeast dialect, making communication much easier. Milana, being younger, was particularly lively and cheerful, and very interested in the Northeast, asking many questions about its customs and traditions.
Sister-in-law San Mei then invited Chen Lan and her husband, along with Uncle Chang and his brother, to sit down and eat.
Although Chen Lan and her husband were not hungry, to show their gratitude for Sister-in-law San Mei's warm hospitality, Chen Lan, following Russian custom, broke off a small piece of bread, kissed it, sprinkled a pinch of salt on it, and then put it in her mouth. It tasted quite good, she must admit.
However, Chen Lan was still more interested in Russian yogurt. In her previous life, she had heard from friends that Russian yogurt was famous for its excellent taste and was very delicious. In her past life, Russian yogurt was not only rich in flavor but also very cheap.
Her friend also mentioned that Russian yogurt was made with 100% fresh milk, using an ancient Russian "slow" fermentation process, naturally fermenting for 72 hours, and employing a unique Maillard reaction to create a caramelized, delicious taste. The yogurt had a golden hue and a slightly smoky cheese aroma.
Chen Lan tasted a spoonful, and it was indeed as her friend had described: rich and thick, sweet but not cloying, truly delicious.
At this point, Sister-in-law San Mei asked, "Yulia, where is your father and your two brothers and their wives? And the children?"
Yulia softly replied, "Father, brothers, and sisters-in-law have all gone to work at the grain warehouse. The nephews and nieces have all gone to school."
Sudan Fiction Network