What was placed in front of Li Long and the tractor was a cow.
The owner of the cow is named Su Litan. An old man in his fifties is squatting next to the cow with a sad look on his face.
"This cow fell down from the mountain. Sulitan originally planned to move around today," Bolati said in a low voice, "At night, the pen was pushed open and the cows and sheep ran out. He After searching all morning, most of the cattle and sheep were found, but this one was frightened for some reason, fell from the mountain and died."
In fact, it was not completely dead, Li Long saw. The cow still twitched occasionally, but it was not far from death.
According to their national customs, animals that died unexpectedly cannot be eaten. But a cow is not a sheep. This big animal is much more valuable than a sheep. It is inevitable that the old man will be sad after losing this cow.
This is why people say, "If you have a lot of money in your family, those who vent their anger (furry ones) don't count." If there are too many accidents, they will be worthless if they die.
"Then can I buy this cow?" Li Long thought for a while and said, "It can be done with money, or it can be exchanged for grain." His car had already loaded a few when he arrived. Bags of rice, noodles, and other supplies are often used by herdsmen and are in short supply. Once these supplies enter the summer pastures in the mountains, it is almost impossible to replenish them.
Actually, Polati called Li Long here because he wanted him to take advantage. Anyway, Su Litan definitely doesn't want the cow anymore. If Li Long waits for Su Litan to leave and takes the cow away, he will take it away.
But Li Long couldn't do this, especially when he saw Su Litan was quite sad, so he thought that the cow was going to die anyway, and the meat could be used. If he wanted it, he would give the old man some compensation. .
Su Litan didn’t understand Chinese, so Polati translated for him. Polati was quite surprised that Li Long compensated him, but he was very happy after hearing it and felt that it was right for him to make Li Long his friend.
After hearing Bolati's words, Sulitan turned to look at Li Long with a puzzled look on his face. He still doesn't understand a little about this. He has been grazing in the mountains all year round and really doesn't know much about things outside the mountains.
Bolati explained again and pointed to the supplies in the tractor. Sulitan believed this was true. He stood up, his expression softened, looked at Li Long, and then looked at Tractor, then spoke.
"He said that a bag of rice and a bag of noodles would be enough." Polati smiled, "Say, this cow used to be like this. If it dies, it will die, and it will be a complete loss. Now that he can exchange it for something, he I'm very happy."
"Two bags of rice and two bags of noodles." Li Long felt that it was a bit unfair to give him one bag of rice and one bag of noodles for such a big cow.
Polati was a little surprised, but he still translated.
"Really? He said there is no need."
"Then ask him if he can skin and disembowel the cow for me, so that I can give him two bags of rice and two bags of noodles, and I will give him some brick tea or something." ”
After the deal was reached, Sulitan no longer had the sad expression, took out his knife and started to deal with the cow.
The cow is very big. Li Long guessed that the adult cow must weigh at least 256 kilograms. Even if the meat is produced, it can weigh more than 100 kilograms, maybe more.
Although the animal husbandry industry in Northern Xinjiang has always been very developed, at this time in Ma County and Shicheng, there is not much beef, and pork and mutton are the main ones. Beef is relatively expensive. Herders' cattle are usually taken away by food factories and given priority to certain units, such as canned beef, and shipped to the mainland. Not many of them enter the local market.
Therefore, at this time, beef was more expensive than pork and mutton, and it was regarded as a more luxurious meat in the eyes of the lower class people. Even if you are a herdsman, you may only kill a cow during the winter slaughtering time throughout the year, and at most you will kill a sheep during festivals.
Bolati also helped, but Li Long didn't take action. He just moved the rice noodles to the clasp of the tractor body so that the meat could be put in the truck body.
Although the beef is still being processed, Li Long is already thinking about what to do with the meat.
I don’t intend to sell it. I will keep a leg in the big yard, a leg in the horse number, a leg in my old father-in-law’s place, and the rest of the meat will mainly be kept in my eldest brother’s place. Daqiang also had to carry two kilograms. Even though the captain’s presence was low, he still scored two kilograms, right?
Of course, supply and marketing cooperative Li Xiangqian received a few kilograms, and Chen Hongjun also had to give a few kilograms. He also had to ask Zhong Guoqiang if he wanted it, and when he returned to the county, he asked Gu Xiaoxia if he wanted to give some to their Wang Bureau.
After such a point, there won't be much left.
In short, with such a cow, everyone can eat it and everyone is happy.
Su Litan and Bolati moved very quickly. In less than an hour, the cow was skinned and disemboweled. The head and hooves were put aside. The contents of the stomach were taken out, and the stomach and intestines were removed. The shit inside is squeezed out and placed on the cowhide. Li Long only brought over a large basin, which could barely contain half of the internal organs - the internal organs of cows are not those of sheep, they are so big! The remaining entrails were piled on top of the cowhide.
As for the meat, there is nothing we can do, it is all piled on the cowhide. This piece of cowhide spread out almost fills up the cart compartment.
Su Litan smiled and unloaded the rice noodles from the cart clasps, and then tied them to his horse. Li Long gave some of the remaining supplies to Bolati. There are also sugar cubes, bricks, salt and the like. Bolati was also very happy and said with a smile:
"If something like this happens later, and I still call you, I know that you are a good friend, and Sulitan is also very happy!"
Okay, everyone is happy. All of Li Long's items cost less than a hundred yuan in total, but the current price of beef might be almost two yuan. After all, he still had a big advantage.
But it’s hard to explain this kind of thing. If he doesn’t come, Sulitan will lose a cow in vain and get nothing. At least now he has rice and noodles. These four bags of rice and noodles can keep his family alive. Meimei ate it for two months in the summer pasture.
It’s worth it.
Li Long drove the tractor to the wooden house, got a few urea bags and sacks, filled them with water, and covered the beef. At this time, the sun has risen and the temperature has risen, which naturally attracts insects, so it is better to cover it. He didn't have time to deal with the tripe and intestines anymore, so he just took two more pots and packed the innards. The suet alone filled a large pot. This is good stuff!
After packing up the things, the Fritillaria outside were randomly stuffed into bags and placed in the car. Then they locked the door, carried the gun on their backs, and drove the tractor out of the mountains.
Li Long added water to the tractor halfway, and took a rest himself before moving on to the county.
It was lunch time, and Li Long drove directly to the small courtyard south of Wuyi Highway. Sister Yang and Gu Xiaoxia, who were eating in the courtyard, ran out immediately when they heard the sound of the tractor.
They were all very happy to see Li Long. Li Long got out of the car and Sister Yang hurriedly served the rice. Li Long was not polite and told the story while eating.
"Put a leg of beef here. Sister Yang, after you have processed the leg of beef, burn some meat, and then Xiaoxia will take it to the big yard. As for the bones, just cook here. Yes." Li Long made arrangements.
"Okay." Sister Yang naturally had no objection.
Li Long faced Gu Xiaoxia again and said:
"Xiaoxia, do you want to bring some meat to your Wang Bureau?"
Gu Xiaoxia hesitated and asked:< br>
“Then should I bring some to other leaders?”
"See for yourself. I suggest you just bring some to Bureau Wang. Quietly. Of course, if you want to bring it to other leaders, then make it a little public." Li Long was actually not sure. These days, he would give It seemed normal for Li Qianqian to give gifts, but it was different here with Gu Xiaoxia. He couldn't be sure.
"Then I'll just give it to Director Wang." Gu Xiaoxia thought for a while and said, "Bag it tightly and bring it to you when you get to work."
"That's okay. Just tell me. "She, this is the meat I just brought back from the mountains and slaughtered in the morning."
Li Long told the story during the meal. Gu Xiaoxia also knew a little bit about it, but Sister Yang was very curious and couldn't figure it out. Why can’t we eat non-slaughtered meat?
After eating, Li Long took out a leg of cow from the carriage and handed it to Sister Yang. After more than half a year of contact, Sister Yang was still trustworthy.
Then he took out another piece of meat and gave it to Gu Xiaoxia. Sister Yang found a clean cage cloth from the kitchen and wrapped it up, then wrapped it in a newspaper. Gu Xiaoxia put it in her satchel and rode away.
Li Long drove the tractor to the big yard. After parking it, he got on his bicycle and delivered meat to Chen Hongjun, Zhong Guoqiang and Li Xiangqian respectively.
“Beef!” Zhong Guoqiang was still willing to buy some. Li Long didn’t give much, so he planned to take it home to eat.
"Jun can give you some, but not much."
"I don't want much, just twenty or thirty kilograms." Zhong Guoqiang knew that Li Long had many people to take care of. Then he said his request, "The market price is two yuan per kilogram, how about it?"
"Okay, I'll drive a tractor to deliver it to you later."
Chen Hongjun received Li Long's meat right after going to work. He was very happy and accepted it with a smile. He also asked Li Long this year How much can you get during the caladium season?
"A few tens of kilograms. The rain has been good this year, and there are a lot of people doing this in the mountains." Li Long was quite trusting, and he had already weighed several kilograms.
Li Xiangqian was not surprised that Li Long came to deliver something. He pulled him and chatted for a few words. The main thing was to make him prepare. He must not be careless about the task of editing. Li Long agreed.
After delivering the goods, he rode his bicycle back to the compound, then drove the tractor out, went to the big meat canteen, left 20 kilograms of meat, collected 40 yuan, and then drove the tractor. Go back.
When the school was out on the way, Li Long took a closer look and saw Li Juan and Li Qiang walking together when he was approaching the third team.
Hearing the sound of the tractor, the other children quickly hid on both sides. Li Juan and Li Qiang looked back first. When they found out it was Li Long, they ran over with a happy smile.
Li Long asked them to sit on the board one by one. Although it was dangerous, I drove slowly and kept reminding me to hold on to the steel rims of the seat belt, and I got home safely.
Li Qingxia and Tao Daqiang went to set the net, while Li Jianguo and Liang Yuemei were packing tools in the yard.
Li Long drove the tractor directly into the yard. After turning off the engine, Li Jianguo asked: "Why are you back? Is everything okay in the mountains?"
"No, I got a cow back. I have to divide it up quickly and process the meat."
"Cow? How do you get that guy? It's so big, you didn't buy it, right?"< br>
Li Jianguo still knew Li Long and knew that he would not buy beef for no reason.
“A herdsman’s cow fell down from the mountain and fell half to death. He didn’t want to eat it, so I got it back with rice and noodles.” Li Long opened the bag on the bucket, revealing the beef underneath. Flies that are already attracting wasps must be dealt with as soon as possible.
"Hurry up and get the basin, get the board, boil the water, and light the fire on the stove outside." Li Jianguo saw it and immediately ordered.
Liang Yuemei and Chen Lirong both started to move.
"Brother, I'll use your car. I have to send a leg of cattle to Xiaoxia's father, and also to Uncle Luo."
"Okay, you gave it to you. , Dad and Daqiang will come over later, and ask Daqiang to take a piece of meat back. Daqiang and Dad have been doing a good job catching and selling fish together these days."
"Me too. I think so." Li Long said.
So I went to deliver the meat first. Uncle Luo actually heard the sound of the tractor. Seeing that the tractor didn't come here, he didn't pay much attention. Li Long put down a cow leg here, which also surprised him, so Li Long told the origin of the cow leg.
"You're quite lucky." Old Uncle Luo smiled, "I'll cut off the meat and put it on the stove. I'll eat it when you come back."
"No need," Li Long said , "Just cook and eat. If you are in good health, you can help me raise pigs and feed deer."
"Okay." Old Uncle Luo was also happy after hearing this. The old man was most afraid that he would not be able to eat. If you can use it and work, if you have work to do and meat to eat, then you will be satisfied.
Li Long sent the remaining leg to Gu Boyuan's home. Gu Boyuan went to the fields, so Li Long took the key under the flower pot on the window sill and opened the door. He took the beef leg to the chopping board and started to cut the meat.
The neighbor across the door was not surprised to see Li Long, after all, he was considered a member of his family.
Halfway through Li Long's meat removal, Gu Boyuan came back. Looking at the bicycle in the yard, he knew that the Li family had come. When he saw the door open, he knew it was Li Long.
"Uncle Gu, I got a cow in the mountains. I brought this cow leg here and I'm cutting the meat."
"I'll do it." Gu Boyuan was also very happy to have beef to eat. , since Li Long got a cow, then It’s nothing to give a cow leg. “How are you in the mountains?”
“It’s very good. Except for the lack of electricity, I don’t lack anything else. I receive Fritillaria every day. I even made some Coal, got some other meat.”
"That's good, you still have to pay attention to safety. There must be more blind people in the mountains, right?"
"There are more than before. I even met someone who wanted to steal my things, so another blind friend held him down. Sent to the forestry team detention center."
"Well, bring your gun if you need to. Those people in the mountains also have outlaws. If you encounter danger, shoot first. If you don't hit, just scare them first."
Li Long agreed honestly.
Before the meat was picked out, Li Long asked Gu Boyuan to rush home. Gu Boyuan also knew that he was busy, so he didn't keep any more.
When Li Long returned to his eldest brother's yard, his father Li Qingxia and Tao Daqiang had already returned. Helping with the beef.
"Daqiang, you go back first, take a piece of this meat with you and stew it for dinner at night." Li Long saw Tao Daqiang busy and said with a smile, "Is your wife about to give birth? "
"No, no," Tao Daqiang said, " There are still three or four months left.”
“Well, you have to pay attention to that,” Li Long said, “Go back and bring some meat and bones, it’s time to make up for it.”
Tao Daqiang nodded and went home carrying the meat and bones.
He really didn't need to be polite to Li Long.
Li Qingxia just asked at this time:
"The herdsmen in the mountains really don't eat their animals after they were killed?"
"You really don't eat them." Li Long asked his father. Explaining, "They have rules, just like us. The rules are the same, but the rules are different.”
The smell of meat wafted in the yard. After finishing their homework, Li Juan and Li Qiang also ran back and forth, especially when they saw the huge beef bones. Click your tongue, this thing is really big!
The cowhide has been sorted out and dried with salt. This big thing has been the only one in this yard for so many years.
"Are you going back to the county today?" Li Jianguo asked, holding chopsticks beside the pot.
The beef bones are boiling in the pot, rolling from time to time with the boiling water. Although three legs were given away, there were still enough cow bones left. The cow's head and hooves must also be cleaned up slowly. There was an iron rod stuffed into the stove hole under the pot. Li Qingxia planned to burn the cow's head and hooves, and then use a red-hot iron rod to burn the hair roots in the skin.
There is no blowtorch or spray gun at this time, so we can only use the most primitive method to deal with it.
After burning, use a knife to scrape it. After scraping it, burn it again. It takes several times to clean it up. After finishing it, you still have to cook it, not boil it. The main thing is to boil the cow head, separate the upper and lower jaws, and clean up the dirt in the mouth strips and other parts.
It's all cleaned up, and then it's time to marinate or boil it, which is very troublesome.
But after packing it up, it tastes really delicious when braised.
No one finds it troublesome to eat the meat these days, only that there is nothing. Even the laziest families in the village are not afraid of trouble if they have cow heads and hooves.
After all, everyone knows this stuff is delicious!
"Go back, just go back later." Li Long explained, "I have to go to the mountains tomorrow. Those who are blindly digging for Fritillaria have come to me to exchange their things for the past two days. I want to stay for two more days. Change more. In a few days, we will have to take people up the mountain to make up the ropes.”
"Then I'll deliver the beef from the captain." Li Jianguo said, "You wait until the meat is cooked and eat before leaving."
"Okay." Li Long was not pretentious and worked hard to get it. Beef, no matter what, you have to eat it before leaving.
There is a lot of beef left at home, more than 100 kilograms. If I just burn it, I have to burn two large pots and one vat, which is enough to last until the end of the year.
“Sister-in-law, we have to send some to Uncle Liang,” Li Long said to Liang Yuemei, “We have eaten a lot of things from Uncle Liang before.”
“Okay, I'll take him there by bicycle tomorrow." Liang Yuemei was also happy. Her brother-in-law still remembered her mother's family, which made her very happy.
Chen Lirong listened and gradually understood the reason why her husband kept talking about his brother-in-law when he came home a few years ago. This brother-in-law knows everything he does, so it’s no wonder he’s so popular.
"Second sister-in-law, when the meat is cooked, you can take some back. We have some meat over there, but you will still need it sooner or later to cook for Xueqin Xueping." Li Long added. .
Chen Lirong nodded hurriedly.
Although her husband is not here, her elder brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law can all remember her and the children, and that is enough.
Li Qingxia also planned to have two drinks with her eldest and younger son in the evening, but she was a little disappointed when she learned that Li Long was going to drive a tractor back to the county town.
But he also knew that Li Long was busy, otherwise how could he have such a good life?
Then let's get more delicious food. He also plans to braise the cow head and keep some for when Li Long comes back. He can't just get a cow and Li Long just eat some meat and leave?
So in the evening when Li Long ate beef and was about to leave, Li Qingxia made a basin and filled him with a lot of cooked meat. Li Jianguo also asked him to put some more intestines in it.
"It's cold in the mountains and you're busy. Get more cooked ones, burn them in oil, and eat them when they're hot in the pot. How convenient!"
This is the truth, Li Long also Just accepted it.
When I left, there were two more pots in the tractor, one pot of cooked meat and one pot of roasted meat, with a lot of things added to them.
It is convenient after all. (End of this chapter)