Chapter 2658: Cut a Flower (Second Update)
Rice noodle cakes with a fresh fragrance are a welcome addition to the festival.
The family had enough to eat and drink. In the afternoon, Blacksmith Luo, Wang Cuilian, and Yang Ruoqing took Luo Baobao and Dazhi to burn incense on the mountain behind the village.
When the chestnuts on the mountain are ripe, there is also a fruit that is smaller than the chestnut but very similar in appearance. For generations in the village, it has been called ‘Mao Li’.
Whether it’s chestnut or woolly chestnut, they are Luo’s favorite.
So when setting out, Blacksmith Luo specially brought a hatchet and a pair of pole ropes.
When I went down the mountain, I picked up a load full of chestnuts and chestnut branches. I planned to go back to the yard and slowly sort them out, and break out the pulp for the children to eat.
I found Blacksmith Luo who had something to do, and I felt much more fulfilled, and I didn’t feel so disappointed anymore.
As soon as the hairy chestnut was peeled off, it fell into the little mouths of Luo Baobao and Dazhi.
Seeing the two children eating happily, the smile on Blacksmith Luo's face was not to mention how happy he was, and he became more energetic when working.
"The thorns here are very painful. If you get the chestnut meat, go somewhere else. I'll make you more delicious stir-fried chestnuts later!"
Yang Ruoqing walked over, putting on twine gloves in her hands. , said to Luo Baobao and Dazhi.
The two children followed Tuoba Xian to play elsewhere, and Yang Ruoqing and Wang Cuilian also joined the shelling camp.
The chestnut balls are each as big as an adult's fist, and they are all covered with thorns like steel needles.
When mature, the big fur balls will have cracks on them. People at the foot of the mountain rely on the mountain to feed themselves, and their ancestors have long figured out how to clean them.
As long as you follow this rule, you can easily break open the big hair ball.
The plump and firm chestnut meat inside, with a hard dark red shell, was pulled off and rolled into a bamboo sieve at the feet.
When the sieve was covered with a thick layer, Yang Ruoqing stood up and picked up the sieve, sifting out the vegetation debris like rice, and then carried it to the kitchen in the backyard.
First, soak the chestnuts in water for a period of time until the upper shell becomes slightly softer, then Yang Ruoqing brings scissors.
Wang Cuilian said: "Do you still want to cut it? Let me do it."
Yang Ruoqing shook her head: "This requires some skill, so let me do it."
The chestnuts in the village are almost eaten raw. At most, they are dried in the sun and then the crispy shells are cracked with a mallet and ground. Make chestnut flour into dough.
Households generally don’t have that much free time to cook the way Yang Ruoqing eats roasted chestnuts with sugar.
There are shops selling sugar-fried chestnuts in towns and counties, but they are a bit expensive and most people are still reluctant to buy them.
So when Yang Ruoqing said she wanted to make sugar-fried chestnuts, Wang Cuilian and Yang Ruolan curiously followed her to the backyard kitchen to see how she made it.
"Qing'er, I know how to cut flowers. I have some skills. I'll help you." Yang Ruolan said.
Yang Ruoqing smiled and shook her head again: "No need, this thing requires not only skill, but also brute force. I'll do it with my own hands!"
Drain the water. Use scissors to cut a flowery opening out of the chestnut, hold it between two fingers, and use the scissors with the other hand.
Each chestnut was cut twice and then thrown into a clean small basket aside. Yang Ruolan and Wang Cuilian were stunned to see the skillful and neat movements.
The two of them couldn't help it and insisted on giving it a try. Yang Ruoqing had no choice, so she let them play.
I just happened to have time to go back to the backyard to collect my clothes. The sun was still hanging in the western sky before, but now it suddenly went up to the clouds again.
In late summer and early autumn, there are quite a few thunderstorms. It is estimated that another rain will come soon.
When she quickly put away her clothes and returned to the kitchen, she found the two of them standing by the pot with depressed expressions on their faces. In the basket in front of her, two chestnuts were cut into pieces and couldn't be seen...
"Hahaha, isn't it a good job?" Yang Ruoqing asked with a smile. .
Wang Cuilian shook her head and smiled bitterly: "Look at Qing'er, you cut it so easily. It's not the same when we do it."
Yang Ruolan also said: "I almost cut my hand, oh, no. If you don’t accept it, Qing’er is still the best. "
Yang Ruoqing pursed her lips and smiled, "Every inch has its strengths and weaknesses. Auntie and Sister Laner are good at needlework, and I am just an amateur. ”
While talking and laughing, the chestnut shells were cut. Wang Cuilian heated up the pot, and Yang Ruoqing rolled up her sleeves, picked up the spatula, and started frying.
While frying, she didn’t forget to follow her. The two 'apprentices' around me explained, "Because it is fried chestnuts with sugar, both salt and sugar must be added."
"The purpose of cutting out the flower knife is to allow the flavor to penetrate better, so that it doesn't taste white."
Wang Cuilian and Yang Ruolan nodded.
When the sweet smell filled the kitchen, Tuoba Xian also entered the kitchen with Luo Baobao, Da Zhi and Yang Ruolan's daughter.
"The little ones can't wait for a long time. They have to come to the backyard and they can't coax them no matter what." Tuoba Xian said.
Yang Ruoqing said with a smile: "It's just in time, the fried chestnuts are about to be ready!"
When the hot sugar-fried chestnuts came out of the pot, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck outside.
After the sound of 'boom', heavy rain followed.
In the kitchen, Yang Ruoqing peeled open chestnuts and fed the soft, fragrant and sweet chestnut meat into the children's mouths.
"Is it delicious?" she asked.
Several children scrambled to nod, like chickens pecking at rice.
"Mom, I want more!" Luo Baobao shouted loudly, and stretched out his hand towards the sieve containing ripe chestnuts, but was blocked by Yang Ruoqing.
“It’s so hot, let me peel it off for you.” She said.
Anyway, it is raining heavily outside right now, accompanied by lightning and thunder.
Everyone sat down around the kitchen table, peeling chestnuts for the children to eat, and eating them themselves.
Wang Cuilian said: "This way of eating chestnuts is really good and delicious."
Tuoba Xian said: "The book says that chestnuts nourish the stomach. Eating more chestnuts can strengthen the spleen and is good for the body. You can eat more."
Yang Ruolan said: "It's delicious and nourishing." Nourishing, but the workmanship is a bit labor-intensive, no wonder The sugar-fried chestnuts at the stalls outside cost more than ten cents per pound. It’s so expensive, but there’s a reason for it!” Relatives and friends packed some and gave them away.
The rain outside is still falling.
Lightning and thunder continued, and the children who were eating chestnuts with relish gradually stopped eating.
Yaya from Yang Ruolan's family was so frightened that she simply hid in Yang Ruolan's arms, "Mom, I'm scared!"
Yang Ruolan hugged Yaya and covered her ears with one hand.
"Don't be afraid. Mom is here. Look, so many people are here, including my brothers and sisters. Don't be afraid."
(End of Chapter)
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