Chapter 810 Hint (2) (5000+)
Jiang Weiguo is not a good storyteller. His tone is very flat. Even when he talks about exciting parts, he still has a flat tone, a low voice, no cadence, or even necessary pauses at key points.
The only advantage is probably that these stories are real and not fabricated. They are so real that they are more exciting than some fabricated stories.
Jiang Feng and Zhao Lanhua listened very carefully.
Zhao Lanhua listened especially carefully, with concentration and concentration, without being distracted for a moment. Jiang Weiguo may be the only person who tells him stories in the past eighteen years of her life. It's not that others are impatient, but that others don't have stories. In this era, people who want to have as rich experience as Jiang Weiguo are really rare.
Zhao Lanhua didn't say anything or ask questions. It wasn't until the whole story came to an end that she started to ask what she didn't understand.
The angle from which Zhao Lanhua asked the question was also very clear.
"Isn't this crab delicious? If you just put it alive in the tank and add something to pickle it, will it be delicious?" Zhao Lanhua was very puzzled. "I think the crab itself is not delicious. It is small, meatless and difficult to eat. The most important thing is But it’s not easy to catch them. In our village, only children who are very young and don’t have to work or collect firewood go to the river to catch these things.”
Jiang Weiguo's explanation was also very simple: "I will pickle it for you next time I have time."
After saying that, Jiang Weiguo got up and fiddled with the roast duck in the stove. Roast duck in the hanging oven is to remove the internal organs of the duck and then fill it with water and spread the sauce to roast it. After putting it in the stove, you need to change the position of the duck frequently so that it can be heated evenly.
When Jiang Wei Guobo was playing with the duck, the scent of fruit trees also came out.
Zhao Lanhua sniffed and sighed: "It smells so good. Roasted duck actually tastes like this."
"This is not the smell of duck, but the smell of wood." Jiang Weiguo turned his head and glanced at the duck in the hanging stove. After making sure that the position was OK, he sat back down. "The wood burning now is jujube and pear wood. The fruit wood itself has its own natural characteristics." It is fragrant, and the bottom fire is strong and the burning time is long. After roasting for a long time, the duck that comes out of the oven will also have a light fruity wood aroma. ”
Although Zhao Lanhua didn't understand, she still nodded in agreement.
After telling the story of the Drunken Crab, Jiang Weiguo didn't know what to say so he sat in silence. Zhao Lanhua was looking at the roast duck in the oven and didn't notice that the atmosphere had become silent.
"Weiguo, you have been to so many places, why did you end up here?" Zhao Lanhua asked, "You are from Peiping. You have been to the magic city, the provincial capital, and the provincial capital next door. I think Those places are pretty good, definitely better than ours.”
Jiang Weiguo thought for a while: "We are recruiting workers here."
The reason why he settled in city z is simple. When he came to city z, the state-owned hotel had just been established and was recruiting workers. He originally wanted to find a relatively stable job, work for a few years and then leave, but he just kept working and became stable.
"What else do you want to hear?"
Zhao Lanhua thought for a while: "Pork belly."
Jiang Feng:?
Then Jiang Weiguo told her the story of how he learned Dongpo Rou.
Jiang Feng:? ? ?
Is this okay? ? ?
For a whole afternoon, Jiang Weiguo turned into a storyteller and told Zhao Lanhua about the afternoon's dishes. After each dish, he went to play with the roast duck by the hanging stove. As the dishes become more and more fragrant, so does the roast duck. It usually only takes more than half an hour to roast a duck.
Jiang Weiguo's skill in roasting duck is good, but his skill in slicing duck is even better. This is the first time Jiang Feng knows that the old man is actually a skilled craftsman in slicing duck. The only flaw is probably that this duck is not very good.
Roast duck requires a fat body, and a large duck with thin skin and breast is most suitable for roasting. Although the duck chosen by Jiang Weiguo is large and looks quite plump, it is obviously not up to standard. The most important thing is that the duck species is not up to standard. Duck breeds are a regional issue. It is difficult to find duck breeds in the south that are specially used for roast duck in Z city. Despite this, each piece of roast duck that is now in front of Zhao Lanhua is in the shape of a willow leaf and is definitely a qualified and outstanding roast duck.
"Can we eat it now?" Zhao Lanhua had already started to swallow quietly in front of the sliced roast duck.
"Wait a minute." Jiang Weiguo took out two warm steamed buns from the pot and handed them to Zhao Lanhua, "It was supposed to be wrapped in lotus leaf cakes, but the flour in the store ran out and it had to be delivered the day after tomorrow. This is The leftover steamed buns from yesterday, and there are no green onions now. I’ll cut some cucumber strips for you. It’s too boring to eat alone.”
Zhao Lanhua:?
She looked at the steaming roast duck slices on the plate with some confusion, and it looked like it was very oily and shiny.
greasy?
How could it be possible to get tired of it?
The plate of roast duck in front of me is delicious at first glance. The duck skin is roasted until it turns maroon, and the white duck meat exudes an alluring aroma. Sugar water is used for coloring, and the sweet aroma is accompanied by the aroma of fruit and wood. Zhao Lanhua felt that the oily roast duck in front of her looked much more delicious than the stew that was only eaten during the Chinese New Year at home.
When her family had a meat meal during the Chinese New Year, she felt that even two pieces in a row were not enough. Unfortunately, she couldn't eat more. Now that the whole duck is hers, how could she get tired of it?
Of course, Zhao Lanhua didn't say anything. She just picked a piece of duck skin that seemed to have the thickest skin, the most oil and water, and no meat, and stuffed it into her mouth.
Chew.
Standing next to her, Jiang Feng could feel the crispy duck skin exploding in his mouth, and the warm, substance-filled juice with a hint of sweetness and roast duck aroma on his tongue.
Jiang Feng understood this feeling very well.
The first two bites were amazing, the third bite didn't feel right, and the fourth and fifth bites made me so tired that I didn't want to eat it again.
Zhao Lanhua obviously does not have this problem.
She liked this feeling so much, it was delicious, fragrant, with a hint of sweetness, and the most important thing was the feeling of plenty of oil and water.
Whether it is physical or psychological, I feel a great sense of satisfaction.
Zhao Lanhua ate three pieces in a row, each piece was thick duck skin. When Jiang Weiguo came back with sweet noodle sauce, sugar and cut cucumber strips, Zhao Lanhua had not touched the steamed bun in his hand, and the roast duck on the plate was already there. Seven or eight pieces are missing.
Jiang Weiguo:?
"Aren't you tired of it?" Jiang Weiguo was shocked.
If Zhao Lanhua had been asked this question by Jiang Weiguo when they first met, she would have been so ashamed that she would have wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl in. But now she has been with Jiang Weiguo for half a year. She has completely let herself go and has gained a lot of weight.
"How can I get tired of it when it's so delicious!" Zhao Lanhua looked in admiration, finally saw the steamed bun in her hand and took a bite, "I have never eaten anything so delicious, better than the bowl you gave me last time. The soybean-roasted pig trotters are delicious. ”
Hearing Zhao Lanhua say this, Jiang Weiguo showed a smile: "Then eat more, and I will make soup for you with the remaining duck rack."
Zhao Lanhua nodded vigorously, took a bite of the steamed bun, chewed it twice and suddenly remembered something, and swallowed the steamed bun in a hurry, almost choking.
"This roast duck is so big, shouldn't we leave some for Master Huang and the others?"
"No." Jiang Weiguo refused decisively, "Eat quickly and finish the duck before they come back so they don't see you. Otherwise, if the leader finds out, he will definitely ask me to do it."
It was written all over Jiang Weiguo's face that he didn't want to cook roast duck every day.
Zhao Lanhua nodded repeatedly and stuffed two more bites of duck meat into her mouth.
Although there was no lotus leaf cake, Zhao Lanhua's way of eating roast duck seemed too rough. Jiang Weiguo handed the cucumber strips and sauce to her: "Eat it with the sauce. Add some cucumber strips when eating to make it more delicious."< br>
Zhao Lanhua had never tasted sweet noodle sauce, nor had she seen sweet noodle sauce before. Looking at the dark sweet noodle sauce in the small bowl, she was a little hesitant to dip it in, for fear that the sauce would not taste good and would ruin the wonderful roast duck. Zhao Lanhua hesitated for a moment, then dipped his chopsticks into a little sweet noodle sauce and put it into his mouth and took a sip.
Zhao Lanhua's eyes suddenly lit up.
Sweet!
For Zhao Lanhua, who is still addicted to sweets and thinks brown sugar water is one of the most delicious foods, the sweet noodle sauce mixed with other wonderful flavors is definitely a fresh and delicious sweet, an unprecedented sweet.
"Is this sauce specially used for dipping roast duck?" Zhao Lanhua licked her lips and licked off the remaining sweet noodle sauce on her lips.
“Not specifically, but it is generally used when eating roast duck.”
"It's so delicious." Zhao Lanhua's lack of vocabulary prevented her from expressing more literate sighs, "It tastes better than brown sugar water."
Jiang Weiguo smiled and pointed at the sugar: "Dip the duck skin in the sugar. It will taste better when the sugar melts before eating."
Zhao Lanhua followed the instructions and couldn't stop eating. She ate three or four pieces of pure duck skin in a row. She almost ate all the fatter duck skin on the plate before she stopped using her chopsticks.
Zhao Lanhua ate another half of the steamed bun and almost half of a cucumber, feeling a little full.
In fact, her appetite is not that small. If she drinks porridge at home, Zhao Lanhua can drink five or six bowls and two pancakes in one go without feeling full. It is still a big bowl like those in rural areas. Of course, under normal circumstances, she would not have the opportunity to eat so much. She would be in a state of half-hungry and half-full all year round. Generally, she would only have the opportunity to eat all she wanted in one go during festivals or when someone’s family had a happy event. She was still full of food and water. full.
Ever since her blind date with Jiang Weiguo, Zhao Lanhua came half-full every time and left with hiccups, taking some with her when she left. Sometimes Zhao Lanhua felt that she didn't come to the city to find a date, but she just came to the city to get some food, and she had to pack it up and take it home if she couldn't finish it.
She saw other people go shopping, watching movies, or going to the lake or the park, but when it was her turn, they would meet in a restaurant, go to the kitchen, eat, eat, and eat again. She eats every time and makes herself fat. What Zhao Lanhua hears most at home during this period is that others say she has gained weight and looks much more blessed. Sure enough, she is with the guy in the city who is not the same as before. It’s different.
Zhao Lanhua thinks this is good. She thinks this way of making love while eating and listening to stories is much better than watching movies.
What's the point of watching a movie? There's no meat to eat.
Zhao Lanhua suddenly remembered what Aunt Hehua said to her before.
Her mother also told her when those words were said at home. She had been dating Jiang Weiguo for eight months. Her eldest sister had only been married to her eldest brother-in-law for four months. She had been dating Jiang Weiguo for eight months and she was still in love. We are in good company, no additional news at all.
Her mother had urged her several times to take Jiang Weiguo home. The Jiang family had no elders or even relatives. As long as she brings Jiang Weiguo home to meet the elders at home, the matter will basically be settled over a meal.
But how should she speak?
Zhao Lanhua suddenly became distressed. She originally wanted to eat two more pieces of roast duck, but now she couldn't even eat the roast duck.
Neither Jiang Feng nor Jiang Weiguo noticed Zhao Lanhua's inner drama. It may be that her inner drama was too rich in facial expressions to convey. From Jiang Feng's point of view, Zhao Lanhua suddenly became sad while eating. From Jiang Weiguo's point of view, she was finally tired of the roast duck.
You should be tired of it already!
Jiang Weiguo walked over and took a look at the duck soup being cooked. It was almost enough and he could drink it. The original soup turned into the original food. If you are tired of the roast duck, you should use the soup cooked from the duck rack to relieve your tiredness.
"The soup is almost ready. Do you want some soup?"
"Yes." Zhao Lanhua said subconsciously.
Jiang Weiguo served Zhao Lanhua a bowl of soup. The soup was still so hot that it felt a little hot to the touch through the bowl. There was a thin layer of calluses on Zhao Lanhua's hands but she didn't feel hot. She just stared at the soup while holding the bowl and started to feel dazed again.
Zhao Lanhua felt that it was too difficult for her.
Other girls in the village had long since married and become mothers at her age, but she was still looking for someone.
The other girls in the village all married from the same village or the next village, but the person she was dating was indeed from the city.
Other people in the city have been dating their partners for eight months and have already met their parents. Both parties have finalized their affairs and started preparing to get married. However, she is still dating her partner after eight months.
Obviously her partner is so good, why is her process of finding a partner different from other people's?
Zhao Lanhua felt that Aunt Hehua was right, and it was time for her to give a hint.
But how to hint?
Should we directly say that we have been dating each other for eight months, is it time to meet our parents and get married?
Isn't it a bit too eager to say this? Will it just end the relationship with the person I've been with for eight months?
Miss Zhao Lanhua's mind has so many twists and turns that even face-reading master Jiang Feng has trouble reading a few words, let alone face-reading master Jiang Weiguo.
He thought it was because the soup was too hot to drink, and that Zhao Lanhua looked troubled and uncomfortable because she was tired of the roast duck after eating too much at one time, and had some physical nausea.
"Would you like me to peel another half of a cucumber for you?" Jiang Weiguo suggested.
"Ah, no, no, no, I really can't eat anymore." Zhao Lanhua refused repeatedly and continued to think divergently.
Jiang Weiguo finally realized that Zhao Lanhua's current expression might not really be because of the roast duck, but because of some other things he didn't know about.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Weiguo asked.
"Huh?"
"You have something on your mind and you want to say it, but you dare not tell me." Jiang Weiguo said very straightforwardly.
"Um, I, actually..." Zhao Lanhua was a little overwhelmed now. She hadn't figured out how to give a tactful hint, and was afraid of being too direct and losing the target, "That's right, we, too. It’s been eight months since we met.”
When Zhao Lanhua was nervous, she kept sputtering out a few words.
Jiang Weiguo was a little puzzled.
"My parents haven't met you yet, so they just want to find some time, no, no, when you are free, I want you to go back with me and let them see what you look like." Zhao Lanhua used her The most tactful way I could think of in a short period of time.
"I'll be off next Sunday." Jiang Weiguo didn't hear the true meaning of his words.
"It's not an ordinary meeting, it's that kind of meeting." Zhao Lanhua was so nervous that her hands were shaking.
"What kind of meeting?" Jiang Weiguo was a little confused.
"It's the kind of... both parents... that is, there are no parents, we are not, no, I mean the kind of parents of both sides." Zhao Lanhua said so tongue-tied that Jiang Weiguo still didn't understand.
Confusion was written on his face.
Zhao Lanhua only regrets why she didn't go to school back then, and now she can't even understand what she's talking about.
Gritting her teeth, her heart pounding, the hot duck soup in her hand seemed to give her strength. Zhao Lanhua took out the broken jar she met for the first time and smashed it, trying to take a sip of sugar water with the same courage and spirit, and took a deep breath.
"My parents want to meet you and talk about when we will get married."
With her courage gone, Zhao Lanhua now wants to find a crack in the ground and crawl into it.
Jiang Weiguo was stunned.
Zhao Lanhua also wanted to make up for it: "I actually didn't mean it. I think we are getting along very well now. It's mainly my parents, not my parents. I don't know who it is. Anyway, that's it. ”
"Not now."
Zhao Lanhua lowered her head and thought about it. Sure enough, she had lost her partner.
"I haven't bought a radio yet," Jiang Weiguo said.
"Huh?" Zhao Lanhua raised her head suddenly. She never expected that the culprit that caused her eight-month relationship to have no follow-up progress was actually the radio.
What does this have to do with the radio?
Zhao Lanhua thought so and asked.
"Don't you need four major things to get married?" Jiang Weiguo asked Zhao Lanhua, "Bicycle, sewing machine, radio and watch. I have asked someone to buy the sewing machine. I didn't have enough industrial coupons for the bicycle, so I bought a second-hand one. The watch came two months ago. I bought it through someone else in Fujian, but now I just need a radio. If I want to get married, I have to wait at least three months for the industrial vouchers to be collected.”
Zhao Lanhua was already stupid.
"Who, who told you that you need these four things for marriage?" Zhao Lanhua asked weakly.
Jiang Weiguo frowned: "Isn't it enough? These are the four Sun Guanyun told me."
Not to mention Zhao Lanhua was stupid, Jiang Feng was also stupid.
Three turns and one ring, even in the 1960s and 1970s, it was a perfect match. The old man and Grandma Jiang got married in the 1950s. This kind of behavior is simply single-handedly raising the wedding market of the entire Z city.
"No need, who wants such a thing when getting married? Our entire commune only has one bicycle." Zhao Lanhua felt that her outlook on life had been greatly impacted.
"Don't you need it?" Jiang Weiguo was also getting married for the first time. He had never attended other people's weddings since he came to City Z. How could he know about this without the elders in his family? The only weddings he remembered were Jiang Huiqin's wedding and his eldest brother's wedding.
Needless to say, Jiang Huiqin's wedding was directly announced in the newspapers. Because his eldest brother's wedding was the first among the younger generations of the Jiang family to get married and the eldest son, Jiang Chengde also spent a lot of money to have a grand wedding. In Jiang Weiguo's view, it is normal for people to get married to need bicycles, radios, watches and sewing machines. These are all good things, and they are not bad if they are bought and are very practical.
"No need!" Zhao Lanhua said loudly, feeling it was ridiculous but couldn't help being happy at the same time, "A wedding is actually just about having a meal with relatives and friends. This is how my eldest sister got married. You gave me so many betrothal gifts. I can’t afford that much dowry.”
"When my eldest sister got married, our family only had two quilts and a new set of clothes." Zhao Lanhua said softly, "There are also twenty kilograms of sweet potatoes and two taels of brown sugar."
Zhao Lanhua's head lowered lower and lower, almost falling into the soup bowl, so she simply held the bowl and started drinking duck soup.
As he drank, the corners of his mouth almost reached behind his ears.
Jiang Weiguo is still confused about what he needs to get married: "Do you want these things or not?"
"Do I need to come to your house next Sunday?"
The fog began to form, and Jiang Feng gradually began to lose sight of everything around him.
"Yes." Zhao Lanhua whispered, "I'll ask my mother to make stew for you."
Jiang Feng:...(End of Chapter)