Chapter 167 Pain and Happiness
Seeing that there was no place for him, Zhang An simply carried the unloaded mutton home and put it away.
I chose two pieces of hind leg meat and put them in the refrigerator to wait for the lamb kebabs tomorrow.
The rest is in the kitchen and left to my mother to handle.
It’s almost time now, Zhang An’s second aunt is helping to cook, and Wang Fang is packing the mutton.
Zhang An's two aunts knew that they would have dinner at Zhang An's house tonight since they entered the house and saw that the sheep was about to be killed.
So without being polite, they put on their aprons and started working. They were already very familiar with Zhang An's kitchen.
"Xiao Ying, how do you like to cook this mutton?"
This question confused Su Ying. She usually doesn't eat much mutton.
When asked now, I really can’t tell.
"Auntie, I can eat anything. You can cook whatever you like. With your skills, I like to eat whatever you want."
"Okay, then Auntie will make braised mutton and fried mutton with green onion." , Auntie is the best at doing these two things.”
After hearing this, Wang Fang continued to work in the kitchen.
Zhang An accompanied Su Ying and the others.
"Zhang An, should we go and help."
Su Ying felt that everyone was busy, so she sat here, feeling a little embarrassed.
“Come on, there’s nothing we can do to help.” Zhang An pointed outside and then into the kitchen.
"There is no place for us outside. There is my mother and aunt in the kitchen, and there is not much space. Let's not hold ourselves back."
The three people outside are busy with their own things, and the same is true in the kitchen. The three of them were busy with their own business.
The three of you should just sit and wait for dinner.
"Xiao An, why don't you go to the old house to pick some fish and coriander and come back."
Wang Fang was stewing a pot of mutton, and the kitchen was very busy, so he couldn't leave.
"Hey, I'll go right away." Zhang An responded.
“Remember to pick more, otherwise less will not be enough.”
There are a lot of dishes to cook today. Wang Fang is worried that if she doesn’t say anything, Zhang An will pick a little. return.
"I know." Zhang An simply found a basket at home.
"Let's go, I'll take you out for a walk."
Seeing that Su Ying had stood up, Zhang An took them out for a walk.
I just sat and waited in the room, there was nothing I could do to help.
“Your village is so clean. When we went for internship before, not to mention the village, the town was dirty.”
Wang Min couldn't help but sigh while walking on the bluestone road in Changqing Village.
In Changqing Village now, after my uncle’s emphasis over the past six months, the bluestone road is much cleaner than before.
Although it is still far behind the tourist villages of later generations, in this era, it is already a relatively good situation.
Last year before the Chinese New Year, my uncle took advantage of everyone’s free time to gather everyone together.
Taking advantage of winter, we built drainage ditches on every road in the village.
So the roads in the village now are completely different from before.
In the past, there was stagnant water everywhere. Over time, not only did it form sludge, but mosquitoes were everywhere.
Now, with these gutters, there is no accumulation of water on the road.
What rural areas fear most is sewage.
Especially the dung piles where people retting fertilizers, some dung water will flow everywhere along the road, making it dirty and smelly.
Now, after the old uncle's strong request, everyone put their fertilized areas into the vegetable field.
The sewage flowing out in this way can also be used to fertilize vegetable fields.
Most of the household sewage is used to feed the cattle and horses at home or to cook pig food.
Or it can be used to water vegetables, mix coal, or even worse, pour it into your dry toilet to fertilize.
In the past, chicken, duck and dog feces could be seen everywhere here.
Because in the past, these chickens and ducks were kept free-range on the roadside, and dogs also ran outside every day.
Furthermore, poultry feces are just small lumps, scattered here and there, so no one has to deal with them specifically.
It is not common to see cow and horse excrement, because when people lead cows and horses across the road, if they are pulled on the road, the owner will dispose of it immediately.
“The environment is better and everyone is comfortable to live in. After all, we live in the village every day, and we only started to clean it up last year. It used to be similar to other places.”
“ You can’t say that, but at least you are making changes, which is better than many places. To be honest, the roads in our county may not be as clean as the roads in your village.”
Wang Min thought about the roads in his home county, although the transportation was quite convenient.
But on the side of the road, especially under the trees, you can always see a lump of human yellow, which is simply disgusting.
"Hey, Uncle An, why did you come here today."
As soon as he arrived at the door of the old house, Zhou Yang saw Zhang An in the yard.
“I’ll come over and pinch some fish coriander and go back to cooking. There’s nothing planted in the garden over there.”
“The fish coriander in your garden is growing very well this year. I often use it. Pinch it, it’s tender and big.”
Since the pigs at home were sold, Zhang An’s parents have moved to a new house.
But in this old house, Zhang An’s family would often come to store things and grow some vegetables.
On weekdays, Zhou Yang’s family helps to watch the noise at night.
“By the way, which one of these two is my future mistress.”
Looking at Su Ying and Wang Min next to Zhang An, Zhou Yang asked with a smile.
He knew that Zhang An was playing with his friends, but he had never met Su Ying.
"Hey, it's this." Zhang An was not shy, and shamelessly pulled Su Ying and said to Zhou Yang.
Zhou Yang has a good relationship with Zhang An, so Zhang An stopped to introduce them to a few people.
"Let's go, take the two little maids to my house to play."
Zhou Yang is very shameless as long as it doesn't involve him.
When I went on a blind date with a girl in the morning, I looked like a shameless person.
The words "Little Maid" made Su Ying and Wang Min blush.
Fortunately, this is not the case in future generations. In later generations, if you catch someone, you will call them 嬢嬢, for fear of getting scolded.
Especially for such a young girl, she was scolded even worse.
"Come back when you have time. The family is still waiting for us."
After chatting with Zhou Yang for a few words, Zhang An went to the garden to pick fish and coriander.
"Zhang An, you are so senior. Zhou Yang just now must be older than you."
Su Ying and Wang Min didn't understand that Zhou Yang called him uncle Zhang An.
Although we are from the city, we are all from Qian Province, and there are many such things.
“What does this mean? There are still a few children in the village who have to call me grandpa. But in fact, being senior is not a good thing, because this is a seniority difference that can only occur when people are thin for several generations.”
Zhang An’s family has been passed down alone for several generations. It was not until Zhang An’s grandfather’s generation that there were only four brothers.
So Zhang An's family is in the village. Although there are many relatives, there are very few who are not in the fifth class. This is because there are few ancestors.
"Hey, Xiaoying has made a lot of money. When she gets married, she will earn a few grandsons for nothing."
Wang Min was also happy when she heard Zhang An said that she still had grandsons. .
"You want to be a grandma so much. I can call you grandma when the time comes. Didn't I hear that Zhou Yang just called you mistress?" Su Ying rolled her eyes and rolled her eyes at her little sister.
Entering the yard, Zhang An opened the door.
Although no one lives in this old house, Wang Fang comes to clean it every two days, so it looks like it is occupied.
“Isn’t this mint grass?”
Wang Min watched Zhang An picking fish and coriander and found that this thing looked very much like the mint grass painted in the book.
“Although it is similar to mint, it is not mint.”
Fish coriander is actually not mint, its scientific name is spearmint.
Mint leaves are relatively large, with a pointed tip, and the leaves are soft. They will deform due to dehydration not long after they are picked.
But the leaves of fish coriander are smaller, the tips are rounder, and the whole body is relatively hard, so they can be stored for a long time.
Moreover, the smell of the two is also different. The smell of fish coriander is not so pungent.
It tastes different from mint. If you eat mint, it will give people a cold feeling.
In the Qian Province area, people like to put some fish coriander in everything they cook, whether it is stir-frying, stewing or dipping.
Especially dog meat. Ten out of ten dog meat restaurants that Zhang An knows sell this stuff.
Zhang An doesn’t like mint. When buying toothpaste, popsicle gum, he avoids the mint flavor.
But when it comes to fish and coriander, everyone is welcome.
“Actually, you must have eaten it when you were eating out, but you just didn’t notice it.”
“That’s it, I thought it was the same thing.”< br>
After Zhang An’s explanation, the two of them added another piece of knowledge.
“You will know later, stewed mutton with fish and coriander will make you unable to stop eating.”
Zhou Yang was right just now. The fish and coriander bushes planted by Zhang An's family in the garden are growing very well, and each one grows with thick branches and leaves.
Usually only the top young leaves of fish coriander are picked for cooking, just like the tips of peas, because that part is the tenderest and most delicious part.
Wang Min and Su Ying watched Zhang An pick, and they also stretched out their hands to help pick. The three of them picked a bunch and already filled half of the basket, which was enough.
“It’s really not that pungent, it smells quite fragrant.”
Wang Min put the hand that had picked the young leaves of coriander to his nose and smelled it.
When it gets dark, the meal at home is already ready.
Zhang An specially slaughtered a sheep today, so there was more mutton on the table.
Stewed mutton, braised mutton chops, and fried mutton with green onions are all served in large soup bowls.
These dishes take up a relatively large part of the table.
Although there are many people eating, the only ones sitting at the table and eating are the adults in the family.
The children Zhang Tie and Zhang Xing ran to the yard to eat with their bowls and vegetables.
They usually behave like this when eating at home. They are used to walking around and eating. Zhang An used to be like this too. He might be eating with his friends while playing with other friends.
On weekdays when it’s hot, the adults at home are like this too.
With a bowl in hand, just find a place to eat, whatever makes you feel comfortable.
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuniu, why is the food cooked by aunt so delicious?”
Wang Min ate at Zhang An’s house for the first time, and he was immediately conquered by the food on the table.
"It's over. Now that I'm back at school, how can I still eat in the cafeteria?"
I was very happy to eat such delicious food.
But when I think about the many days ahead, I still have to stay in school and eat in the cafeteria.
She and Su Ying were only average at cooking, and neither of them usually touched the pot.
Either eat in the school cafeteria or outside restaurants.
"Girl, if you like to eat, come with Xiao Yingduo. Auntie will cook whatever you like."
Wang Fang said, and gave them both a piece of mutton chop.
“This mutton is best eaten in winter. The temperature has risen in the past two days, and I am sweating all over eating it.”
Zhang An had already taken off his coat while eating. .
The main ones are the braised lamb chops and the lamb stir-fried with green onions. Wang Fang added too much spicy food.
It tastes spicy and spicy, which is very enjoyable. The disadvantage is that it is a bit too easy to eat.
I don’t feel this while eating. I wait until after the meal is finished.
Wang Min and Su Ying kept breathing with their mouths wide open. It seemed that they were extremely annoyed.
You really can’t blame them, it’s not that they can’t eat spicy food.
As a native of this province, only a handful of people can't eat spicy food.
They are obviously not in the minority.
It’s just that the chili peppers in Zhang An’s family are all Wang Fangliu’s local varieties. Although they are spicy when eaten, they are more fragrant, especially the kind that goes well with rice.
But after eating, you will start to suffer. Many of the people who came to Zhang An's house to play before were educated by this pepper.
But after eating it, many people not only are not afraid, but also like it even more.
After the spiciness wears off, before I leave, I have to buy a can of Wang Fang’s oil chili to take home with me for dinner.
This may be the legendary pain and happiness.
As for Zhang An’s family, they don’t eat in a hurry, and they don’t eat a lot, but they are more accustomed to the spiciness.
"Don't drink that water. Just drinking water won't work."
Zhang An looked at the two people who had been taking small sips from the cup since they finished eating. Drink water.
"But if I don't drink water, I really can't stand it. It's too spicy."
Before she finished speaking, Su Ying quickly took another sip.
“Why can’t I remember it? I knew the chili pepper was very spicy last time and kept reminding myself to eat less, but I didn’t remember it this time.”
Su Ying came here last time When eating pig-killing rice, I was already spicy.
But it seems that she has developed antibodies. She doesn't look as uncomfortable as Wang Min now.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'll ask my mother to put less in it next time. Just wait for me and it'll be fine soon."
Zhang An found a tea vat and filtered the tea at home. Pour some of the honey out.
Then I poured a jar of warm water into it and mixed a jar of honey water.
"Pour out the water in your cup quickly. Drink this to relieve the spiciness."
The two heard Zhang An say that the water in his hand would relieve the spiciness.
He immediately poured out half the glass of water in his hand and reached out to bring the glass over.
"Well, this water is so sweet. Zhang An, did you put sugar in it?"
"I didn't put it in, but I put honey in it. Isn't it delicious?"
Zhang An pointed to the two bottles of honey placed on the cabinet.
“Is honey water so sweet? Nothing I’ve ever drunk before is so sweet, and it’s even a little sour.”
“Maybe our honey is better, so it contains sugar. The quantity is relatively high.”
The honey in Zhang An’s house was cut from space before.
Whether it is the sweetness of sugar or the taste, it is definitely better than normal honey.
(End of this chapter)