sbdcsierra Chapter 1386: There is no pit. Dig it yourself. After digging, choose it yourself.
Chapter 1386: There is no pit. Dig it yourself. After digging, choose it yourself.
Chapter 1386: There is no pit. Dig it yourself. After digging, choose it yourself.
In the past, when Zhao Jun brought home three or four wild boars, two or three roe deer, and one or two blind bears every day, Wang Meilan never worried about the lack of meat.
But in the past two days, because there was no meat at home, Wang Meilan became anxious.
It would be fine if there were only four or five people eating, but his house was like a small canteen, with twenty people, young and old, men, women, and children eating every night, and all the food was vegetarian, which was unacceptable.
When she thought of this, Wang Meilan couldn't help but blame Zhao Youcai in her heart.
If Zhao Youcai hadn't pretended to be generous and insisted that Wang Meilan give things to Tao Dabao and Li Laowu, Wang Meilan wouldn't have divided up the donkey meat, beef, and horse meat at home. The two sacks of meat were enough for the family to eat for a few days.
Everyone advised Wang Meilan to just eat whatever she had. But it was easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality, and these people all loved meat.
So in recent days, whenever there is a market, Zhao Ling and Xu Chunyan run to the market.
The day before yesterday, Xu Chunyan bought 20 kilograms of beef, and Zhao Ling and her friends were supposed to go to the market today, but Wang Meilan said that Zhao Jun had gone up the mountain, so everyone just had to wait at home to eat the meat.
Fortunately, Zhao Jun brought back the pig heart, heart meat and a wild boar liver, so Wang Meilan did not feel disappointed.
Jin Xiaomei took the pig heart and liver to her home. She cut the pig heart with a knife and boiled it in clean water together with the liver.
But these two things cannot be taken out of the pot at the same time. After the water boils, Jin Xiaomei uses a gourd ladle to scoop cold water and pours it along the edge of the pot.
When the water boils again, Jin Xiaomei scoops the pork liver into a large basin, then scoops hot water from the pot, pours it into the basin and uses the hot water to warm the pork liver until cooked.
Continue to stew the remaining pig heart in the pot, take it out and slice it when it is cooked, then stir-fry half of it with green onions and the other half with dried chilies.
In the outer room of the Zhao family, Wang Meilan waved the wok in front of the big pot, and black and white cabbage, stir-fried dried tofu, fried pork heart with garlic sprouts, and fried pork heart with sauerkraut came out of the pot one by one.
Just as Wang Meilan was frying peanuts, she heard dogs barking outside the house.
The people who went to work are back.
Zhao Youcai, Li Dayong, Lin Xiangshun, Li Dazhi and his wife, and Zhou Jianjun who has not returned home yet.
Zhao Youcai walked in front with a proud look on his face. In his hand, he held a net bag with two lunch boxes in it.
Zhao Youcai hasn't taken anything home from the cafeteria for a long time. It's not that he has nothing to take, but that he doesn't want to take anything.
The last two times he brought meat and eggs home from the canteen, his house was set up like a banquet with a table full of delicious food.
Today, Zhao Youcai knew that there was no meat at home, so he picked up the net lunch box again.
And when Zhao Youcai returned home, he did not go to visit Erhei as usual, but went straight home.
"Oh!" Wang Meilan's eyes lit up instantly when she saw Zhao Youcai carrying a net lunch box into the room and was scooping peanuts into the plate.
In the past, Wang Meilan really didn't care about the little things Zhao Youcai brought back from work. But now it was different. Her son was too busy and didn't have time to go up the mountain to get meat.
"What did you bring back?" Wang Meilan asked. Zhao Youcai didn't say anything, but handed the net lunch box to Wang Meilan.
Wang Meilan held the net bag in one hand and the plate of peanuts in the other, then handed it back to Xu Chunyan and said, "Yan'er, sprinkle some salty flour in it."
After Xu Chunyan took the plate, Wang Meilan put the net bag lunch box on the stove and took out the lunch box on top. When she opened it, she found a piece of pork belly inside.
"This meat is quite good." Wang Meilan took a look and asked in surprise, "Where did it come from?"
At this time, Zhou Jianjun, who followed him into the room, said with a smile, "Someone from Xiaolin Farm will come to study next week. After that, the logistics department prepared half a pig today."
Hearing Zhou Jianjun say this, Wang Meilan said a little embarrassedly: "Your dad has been bringing everything home these days."
"It's okay, it's okay." Zhou Jianjun said with a smile: "It doesn't matter who eats."
Wang Meilan smiled and closed the lunch box containing the pork belly and put it aside. It was already this late, if she cooked pork belly again, what time would it be before she could eat?
Then, Wang Meilan took out another lunch box from the net bag.
Wang Meilan opened it and saw a piece of fat meat inside.
This is the piece of fat next to the pork belly.
At this time, Zhao Youcai took off his coat and came out from the inner room. As soon as he came out, he asked Wang Meilan, "Why are there only a few dishes today?"
As soon as Zhao Youcai finished speaking, the door was pulled open from the outside, Zhao Ling held the door, and Jin Xiaomei came in carrying a large basin.
The large basin was filled with warmed pork liver and boiled pork heart.
"There are two more dishes." Wang Meilan said with a smile, "I'll break the pig's liver and dip it in garlic sauce, and then I'll put chili peppers on the heart and stir-fry it."
It is not popular to eat pork liver here, but to cook the pork liver in hot water like Jin Xiaomei did. This kind of pork liver is very tender, and then it is broken into small pieces and dipped in mashed garlic and soy sauce.
"Then you put it there and I'll fry it." Zhao Youcai said, and started to roll up his sleeves.
When Zhao Youcai said this, everyone looked at him in surprise.
"You're frying?" Wang Meilan also widened her eyes and said, "You're not needed. You've already worked a whole day. Go inside and take a rest."
"It's okay." Zhao Youcai glanced at the oil left over from Wang Meilan's peanut frying and said, "Please move out of here. I'll get the vegetables out. After that, I'll make the whole icy pork."
"What?" Everyone was even more surprised when they heard it.
At this time, the children who had finished their studies for the day came out of the west room dejectedly.
Li Tongyun, who was following at the end, heard what Zhao Youcai said and blurted out, "Uncle Zhao, can you make icy pork?"
"Hi!" Zhao Youcai, with his sleeves rolled up, took the frying pan from the side and said to Li Tongyun with a smile, "Girl, just go upstairs and wait for the meal."
In the forest areas and rural areas these days, you can hardly find sweet and sour pork. The only desserts are sweet potatoes with starch and crispy white meat.
Moreover, these two desserts are not something that anyone can eat casually. Especially the icy white meat, which can only be served at a banquet by people of high status and means.
"Then I'll help you with some work, work." Wang Meilan saw that Zhao Youcai was really going to take action, so she asked, "How about I give you a huo (huò)?"
"No need for you to join in." Zhao Youcai said, "Just grab me three egg whites."
"Okay." Upon hearing this, Wang Meilan hurriedly brought three eggs and two small bowls.
She cracked the egg shell and hit the egg in her other hand. The egg white flowed through her fingers into a bowl, while the egg yolk was placed in another bowl by Wang Meilan.
In this way, Wang Meilan took the egg whites from three eggs.
"Brother-in-law." The women were all around to learn from him. Seeing this, Zhao Ling couldn't help but ask Zhao Youcai, "Then you don't want the egg yolk?"
"Can we not have it?" Zhao Youcai said, "Save it for making sauce tomorrow."
"No, brother-in-law." Zhao Ling asked, "I mean, why not a bunch of them?"
"If you beat the egg yolks in, the food won't be crispy after frying." Zhao Youcai's simple explanation made the women feel a sense of awe.
Experts will know if there is one as soon as they take action.
Zhao Youcai quickly cut the pig heart into slices and then stir-fried it with soaked dried chilies. The aroma instantly filled the air.
With the sizzling sound of cooking, the stir-fried pork heart and green pepper are served.
"Wash the pot!" Zhao Youcai ordered and went to the side to mix the paste. Just as Wang Meilan was about to step forward, Xu Chunyan took the initiative to grab the job of washing the pot.
Zhao Youcai took a small helmet from the bowl rack and scooped out a few tablespoons of potato starch from the jar.
These days, Zhao Jun's family only has this kind of starch, commonly known as flour.
While Zhao Youcai was mixing the flour and batter with egg white, Xu Chunyan had already finished cleaning the pot.
Wang Meilan, who was standing by, put the piece of fat meat that Zhao Youcai brought back on the chopping board and asked Zhao Youcai, "Shall I cut the meat for you?"
"Cut it." Zhao Youcai said as he mixed the paste, "Heat up the oil in the pan when you're done."
"I'll do it!" Jin Xiaomei took the initiative to take the job, and then asked Zhao Youcai, "Brother, is Blind Bear Oil okay?"
In addition to bear oil, the Zhao family also has soybean oil.
Things are rare.
In Jin Xiaomei's opinion, soybean oil is better than bear oil. So when Zhao Youcai wanted to make something good, Jin Xiaomei subconsciously thought that soybean oil would be better.
"Okay." But Zhao Youcai said, "Blind bear oil is better."
Jin Xiaomei took a jar and scooped out spoonfuls of solidified bear fat into the pot.
As the oil melted and heated up, bubbles began to form at the bottom of the pan, and Wang Meilan had already cut the fat.
Wang Meilan cut the piece of fat into thin slices, put them on a plate, and placed it next to the oil pan.
At this time, Master Zhao came over with the mixed paste.
"Oh my!" Zhao Ling praised Wang Meilan, "Look at my brother-in-law's work, it's really good."
Nowadays, most people only fry food during the Chinese New Year, and deep-frying with batter is even rarer.
Therefore, not many people know how to make paste. Unlike 20 or 30 years later, everyone knows what it looks like just by saying "mix it into yogurt consistency".
Zhao Youcai picked up a piece of fat with chopsticks, dipped it into the batter, and then put the fat coated with batter into the oil pan.
"Zi la..."
The fat in the batter started to bubble up, expanded instantly, and turned golden.
One piece after another, the pot was soon filled with golden chunks of meat.
Zhao Youcai took the colander and scooped the meat into a large enamel plate, then ordered, "Add more firewood and turn up the fire a little."
"Let me do it." Wang Meilan grabbed a small bundle of branches as thick as her little finger with both hands and stuffed them into the stove pit.
There was a "whoosh" sound coming from the stove pit, and the branches began to burn with crackling sounds.
As the oil in the wok began to smoke, Zhao Youcai held the plate in one hand and used a colander in the other to push the fried white meat into the wok.
There was a sizzling sound and the meat was fried for less than five seconds before Zhao Youcai immediately took it out.
But this time, instead of putting it in an enamel plate, Zhao Youcai asked Xu Chunyan to bring a large basin and pour the meat pieces after draining the oil into it.
Then, without Zhao Youcai's instructions, Jin Xiaomei stepped forward and prepared to scoop out the oil from the pot.
"Sister-in-law, take them all out." Zhao Youcai reminded, and Jin Xiaomei quickly agreed.
At this moment, Zhao Youcai suddenly realized that cooking at home was even better than cooking in the cafeteria.
When I cook in the canteen, I only have one apprentice to serve me. When I cook at home, so many people gather around and take turns serving me.
Jin Xiaomei had almost drained all the oil from the pot, and Zhao Youcai poured half a bucket of water into the pot.
"Bring me some sugar." Zhao Youcai gave an order, and someone shouted, "I'll go, I'll go."
When everyone looked, they found that the person who took the job was Xie Sun.
When she came back with the sugar jar, Xie Sunshi put it on the stove and said to Zhao Youcai with a smile, "Brother-in-law, you do it well. I have learned it. I will go home and make it for my eldest grandson."
Zhao Youcai glanced at her, and Xie Sun opened the lid of the jar with a smile. Zhao Youcai grabbed the sugar jar with one hand and poured sugar directly into the pot.
Seeing Zhao Youcai's actions, the women came forward one after another. Zhao Youcai was holding a frying pan and stirring the pot clockwise continuously.
This is different from making sweet and sour pork. For sweet and sour pork, you have to wait until the sweet and sour sauce is ready before pouring the meat into the pot.
This is done by waiting for the sauce to be cooked, then pouring it from the pot into the meat.
Zhao Youcai was seen holding the edge of the basin containing the meat with one hand and scooping out the boiled syrup from the pot with the other hand.
A spoonful of syrup was poured into the basin. Zhao Youcai grabbed the basin with one hand and shook it, just like shaking a frying pan, turning the pieces of meat in the basin.
Next, Zhao Youcai was seen pouring sugar juice into the basin with one hand and shaking the basin with the other hand.
As the syrup in the pot was almost drained, white icing covered the originally golden fried meat in the pot.
This is called smoothie white meat.
"Okay." Zhao Youcai threw the basin containing meat onto the stove and strode towards the washbasin next to the bowl rack.
"Come, come, come!" Wang Meilan put half of the shaved pork on the enamel plate and called everyone, "Hurry up and serve. We need to eat this quickly."
Master Zhao showed off his skills and won unanimous praise. The shaved pork he made was crispy and sweet, not greasy, and everyone ate every piece.
After a good meal and a good drink, Zhao Jun personally drove Zhao Chun's family back to Yongsheng. Tomorrow is Saturday, and according to the agreement, Zhao Chun has to take the children back so that Zhou Chunming can see his grandson when he gets home from get off work.
We didn't catch up with Xiong Ba today, so Zhao Jun has to leave early tomorrow, and we don't know when he will come back in the evening. So, we will send Zhao Chun and his family back tonight.
After Zhao Jun and his four companions left, the women helped Wang Meilan clean up the mess and then went back home as families.
After the eldest daughter and the eldest son-in-law left, Zhao Youcai returned to the east room. When he sat on the edge of the kang to wash his feet, Zhao Na, who was already lying in bed, suddenly burped.
"This child..." Wang Meilan said with a smile, "He ate a lot at night."
"The white meat cooked by my father is delicious." Zhao Na praised her old father. Zhao Youcai smiled proudly, lifted his calves and wiped the water off his feet with a rag.
"This chef is different." Wang Meilan teased Zhao Youcai with a smile, saying, "It just tastes better than ours."
Zhao Youcai smiled at Wang Meilan and said, "Lan, if you say it tastes good, I will make it for you every day from now on."
"What are you talking about?" Wang Meilan rolled her eyes at Zhao Youcai and said, "You don't go to work, so why do you cook for me every day?"
"Then I won't go to work." When Zhao Youcai said this, Wang Meilan hurriedly said, "Don't talk nonsense. What are you going to do if you don't go to work?"
"I'll stay home and help you with the chores." Zhao Youcai said, "My son is very busy every day, and he has to go to Hebei in a couple of days. We can't just rely on Qiangzi to take care of the house."
"Tsk!" Hearing what Zhao Youcai said, Wang Meilan smacked her lips and lowered her head so as not to look at Zhao Youcai, to prevent herself from laughing out loud.
Wang Meilan lowered her head and said, "If you don't go to work, how will you do your job?"
"Well... I'll go work with my son in forest protection." Zhao Youcai said, "You don't have to go to work after that. I'll stay at home and help you. There's nothing to do. I can even cook for you."
"Oh!" Wang Meilan frowned, raised her hand and made a gesture of wiping her nose with the back of her hand, covering her mouth, and said, "We have a hard day, and Qiangzi is so angry about it. I think it's better to go to work than to do this."
"He, he's unstable." Zhao Youcai said, "He's like a weed that grows in his heart. We don't need him anymore. It would be better if I could stay at home and help you."
"If you help me, that's fine." When she said this, Wang Meilan no longer concealed the smile on her face and said, "But if you don't tell me, you won't get involved with us, right?"
"Oh my!" Zhao Youcai sighed, and said helplessly, "How can I watch you get tired? You and your spouse have to help you share the burden."
"Tsk!" After hearing what Zhao Youcai said, Wang Meilan twisted her body, and when she faced Zhao Youcai, she stretched out her hand and hit Zhao Youcai's arm, and said with a smile: "If you want to say it, it has to be me, old man."
Zhao Youcai: “Hehe…”
I will make up for the previous chapter tomorrow morning. I still have half a chapter to go and I can’t write today.
(End of this chapter)