Chapter 766 - 566: After Fine Feasts, a Craving for Simple Fare (2)

Chapter 766: Chapter 566: After Fine Feasts, a Craving for Simple Fare (2)

Sure enough!

All it takes for a husband to become proactive is one Huang Jun!

"Brother Liu, Sister-in-law, why don’t you both rest in the living room? I’ll take care of the cleaning here..."

Huang Jun quickly stepped forward, intending to take the bowls and chopsticks from their hands.

Liu Shiwei, however, gently shook his head with a smile and said, "Brother Huang, no need to be so polite with me,

Today I also want to stretch my muscles a bit, and lend a hand to help you clean up, and maybe digest the food a little."

Wen Xueqian smiled and echoed, "Yes, Huang Jun, let him have this chance to show off. It’s a rare moment of initiative for him, so let’s not take away his ’joy of labor.’

Seeing the couple so insistent, Huang Jun stopped declining and nodded in agreement.

So, the three of them worked in unison, quickly tidying up the dining table and kitchen, making them neat and fresh.

Subsequently, Huang Jun led them into the living room, inviting them to sit and rest with enthusiasm.

After chatting about some family affairs...

Huang Jun glanced at the clock on the wall, intending to return to the kitchen to continue the final preparations for the upcoming New Year’s Eve dinner.

There wouldn’t be many attending tonight’s dinner, only three adults and three children, totaling six people, so Huang Jun didn’t plan to prepare too many dishes; about ten would suffice...

After all, cooking too much would lead to leftovers and waste, possibly ending with days of leftover meals at home.

While many like to post pictures of their New Year’s Eve dinners on social media, few do so on the first and second days of the new year.

The reason?

It’s nothing more than spending those days eating New Year’s Eve leftovers, with nothing special to share.

Even though Huang Jun had already streamlined the menu, the prepared dishes still seemed a bit many, estimating that they’d at least have a meal of leftovers the next day.

Before leaving his seat, Huang Jun asked everyone with a full smile, "Brother Liu, Sister-in-law, Hanhan, is there anything special you want for the New Year’s Eve dinner? It’s just us, so don’t be shy, just say it out."

Wen Xueqian replied lightly, "Huang Jun, I’m fine with anything, I like whatever you make."

Hanhan echoed in a childish voice, "As long as it’s made by Daddy, I love it all..."

These mother and daughter are really easy to satisfy!

Noticing that Liu Shiwei hadn’t spoken yet, Huang Jun gently asked him, "Brother Liu, what about you? Is there anything you’d like to eat?"

Liu Shiwei thought for a moment and said, "Brother Huang, do you know how to make braised lamb? If you can, make a dish of braised lamb; it’s warming the more you eat it and good for dipping vegetables, it feels nice."

Huang Jun had originally planned to make delicious dishes from the seafood he brought, like garlic butter lobster, and three ways for king crab, thinking maybe Liu Shiwei would want to eat these seafood feasts.

And yet...

He wanted braised lamb instead.

This is truly a case of "tired of rich dishes, craving the simplicity of ordinary food"...

However, considering the dinner might go on until late tonight, they indeed needed a dish that could be reheated and would become more delicious with time.

Braised lamb combines the method of northern-style stewed lamb with the spicy oil hot pot features of Sichuan and Chongqing regions.

This way, you get to enjoy the fresh taste of lamb and the fun of dipping vegetables in the red oil soup base.

Moreover, using the lamb stew soup to dip vegetables makes the dish even richer in flavor and incredibly delicious.

The method for this dish isn’t hard, and since he had already prepared lamb, naturally, he had to meet Liu Shiwei’s small request.

Huang Jun nodded with a smile, "No problem! Luckily we have lamb at home. I was thinking about making salt and pepper crispy lamb, but now it seems making braised lamb is a better fit..."

"Great!" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

Liu Shiwei replied cheerfully, then added, "Brother Huang, why don’t I lend you a hand..."

Huang Jun quickly waved his hand, grinning, "No need, no need, you should spend more time with Sister-in-law!"

But Liu Shiwei insisted, "Let’s do it together, this way I can learn a few moves on the side and try my hand at home later."

Huang Jun thought about it and found it reasonable, so he nodded in agreement, "Alright then! Let’s do it together and chat while we cook."

"Huang Jun, I’ll help out too..."

Wen Xueqian said, following them closely.

Luckily, the kitchen was big enough to accommodate all three of them comfortably.

If it were the small kitchen in Jinyuan District’s top-floor apartment, even two people would have a hard time turning around.

Now, Huang Jun was deftly handling various ingredients.

The Liu couple assisted him from the side, with Wen Xueqian carefully washing vegetables, while Liu Shiwei clumsily peeled garlic cloves...

...

As time passed, a culinary feast unfolded in Huang Jun’s kitchen: the delicacy of steamed crab meat lion’s head, the savory garlic butter lobster, the rich oil-braised prawns, the deep flavor of chicken stewed with mushrooms, the sweet and sour lychee pork, the fragrant braised yellow croaker, the fresh home-cooked pomfret, and the aromatic braised pork, each dish laid out like pieces of art...

The sun hung low in the sky, gradually painting the horizon with hues of twilight. Occasionally, one could hear the sound of firecrackers outside, heralding the quiet approach of the new spring.

Yet Huang Jun wasn’t distracted by the festive atmosphere one bit, as he busied himself with preparing the final dish for the New Year’s Eve dinner.

He placed the lamb pieces in a bowl of clear water, gently rubbing them before leaving them to soak to get rid of the impurities.

Meanwhile, he filled the pot with clear water, setting it on the stove, waiting patiently for it to boil.