Chapter 22 Chapter 22 The filling of the steamed bun.
When the carriage stopped, the sun was setting.
The people in the caravan skillfully set up the stove, prepared to boil water and make soup, and prepared to make do with some bread.
As a bowl of mixed fish was poured into the iron pot, the sizzling sound was mixed with the sighs of Lu San and others: "Another fish soup..."
"It would be nice to have fish soup."
"Have you forgotten? There wasn't even any fish soup before!"
"Just bear with it, we can eat whatever we want when we get back to Bianjing!"
"That will take another seven or eight days."
"If you keep nagging, you won't get any fish soup."
Seeing this, Linzhi stepped forward and said a few words. Immediately, someone helped build another stove and also dragged an iron pot for her to use.
Lin Zhi was not surprised by their attitude. After all, they had already been frank about why they were targeting him. He only needed to ask around to find out more details.
This is indeed the case. When Xie Niangzi, Lu San and others learned that Lin Zhi had tasted the secret recipe of Fengji Steamed Bun Shop and received a hush money of 200 strings of cash, they were shocked and their imaginations ran wild.
How powerful must Lin Zhi be to make such a well-known store spend two hundred strings of cash to bribe someone to keep quiet?!
When they heard Lin Zhi was going to cook, everyone's eyes lit up. Lu San was the first to rush forward, patting his chest repeatedly, "Sister Zhi, if you need anything, just tell me! I'll go through fire and water to get it for you."
Then he rubbed his hands and looked at Lin Zhi pitifully: "Just let me have some later..."
"Yes, yes, I will help too!"
"I, I, I, I'll help too."
"Do you have He mushroom?" Linzhi asked. He mushroom is also called Yu mushroom. Xiang mushroom is what later generations call shiitake mushroom. It can be eaten fresh or dried and pickled. It tastes delicious. In addition, it is easy to cultivate and preserve. It is the most commonly used mushroom nowadays.
"Yes, yes, yes, yes—" Someone immediately pulled out a bag of mushrooms and even grabbed a few carrots: "Do you want carrots? We also have onions, ginger, and garlic here..."
"Oh? Thank you!" Lin Zhi's eyes lit up, and then she continued to think: "What about pork... well, we don't have that, do we? Can you guys hunt? Can you get us a chicken or a duck?"
"Leave it to us." Lu San and others answered in unison.
When it came to cooking, everyone was full of energy. It wasn't that they hadn't hunted in the past, but whenever they hunted, they would just roast it, stew it into soup, or cook it with wood so dry that it felt like chewing bark, or with such a fishy smell that it was hard to swallow.
After a long time and too many times, no one was willing to spend the effort to hunt. It would be better to just lie down and rest after eating some dry biscuits.
But this time it’s different!
The group rushed out of the camp excitedly with great expectations, and returned with three plump pheasants in just two cups of tea. Not only that, they also killed and plucked the feathers and even took out the internal organs.
"How about it!"
"How amazing!" Lin Zhi accepted it happily and praised it generously.
Lu San and his companions chuckled and took out the wild fruits and vegetables they had found when catching pheasants, and even a pile of taro.
Seeing them pick a few taro, scrub them and put them on the steaming rack, intending to simply steam them and eat them, Lin Zhi quickly asked, "Can we save some of the taro?"
"Sister Zhi wants it? Of course no problem!" Lu San and others put the remaining taro in a bamboo basket and hung it next to Lin Zhi's carriage.
Linzhi thanked him, picked up a kitchen knife, and cut off the chicken leg neatly. With a turn of his wrist, he easily took out the bone.
She did the same thing, completely removing the chicken bones from other parts of the chicken and throwing all the chicken on the chopping board.
“Wow…”
"Hey? How did you take this bone out?" Lu San was shocked and dazzled. He even dared not blink, worried that he would miss any step.
Lin Zhi was immersed in the work of her own hands and did not pay attention to the questions of the people around her, nor did she notice that Lin Sen and his wife first looked at her, and then looked at each other with complicated expressions.
Do you know?
I have no idea?
How could you not know!
I really don’t know…
Linzhi had no idea that her parents were having a fierce eye-to-eye dispute. She first placed the removed chicken bones in a basin and set them aside. Then she cut the large pieces of chicken into minced meat with large cubes, added the onion and ginger water, and finally added the diced mushrooms and carrots.
At the same time, the pickled fish steamed in the steamer was cooked through, and hot steam came out from the gaps in the pot, sending wisps of salty fragrance into everyone's nostrils.
Linzhi saw that the time was almost up, so she lifted the lid of the pot and took out the steamed pickled fish. She used a wooden chopstick to hold the fish head in place, then scraped the flesh off with another, tasted it for saltiness, and minced it for later use.
Only after the fish mince has cooled down will Linzhi put it into the chicken filling, and then add the mushroom water in batches and stir evenly again.
Then she took out the dough that had been fermenting in the carriage for most of the day.
Because there was no yeast, Linzhi used wine yeast to ferment the dough, and the dough that came out had a unique and wonderful aroma.
She grabbed it, glanced at the honeycomb-like tissue inside, and then began to rub it skillfully.
First, divide the dough into several small pieces, roll them into balls and flatten them with the palm of your hand, then fill them with pickled fish and chicken filling, and the steamed buns are ready.
Soon, the makeshift table was filled with round pickled fish and chicken buns.
Lu Datou watched the steamed buns take shape, and then he boiled water very attentively and took out a large steamer.
Even though no one in the group knows how to cook, they have all the necessary kitchen utensils. For example, this big steamer in front of them, they have brought it with them since they went out, but they have never used it once and it is still brand new.
"Sister Zhi, give it to me!"
"Thank you." Lin Zhi was surprised for a moment, then smiled and took the steamer. After the water boiled, she placed the buns one by one in the steamer and then placed it over the boiling water.
After steaming the buns, Linzhi turned back to the chopping board, cut the duck into small pieces, and threw them all into the iron pot to stew. At the same time, he also put in the hard-wheat pancakes cut into small pieces.
The last time she tried the hard-wheat Hu pancake, she felt that the taste was quite similar to the white-wheat fire-baked bread. In addition, the braised duck was very salty, and even after seasoning, the taste was still strong, which was just right for putting the Hu pancake in it. After it absorbed the soup, the taste was just right.
The place where people rested was spacious, so the fragrance was not blocked in any way and spread everywhere unrestrainedly.
After a while, the wheat aroma of steamed buns mixed with the salty aroma of pickled duck drifted into everyone's nose.
Chen Yan, who was talking to Tao Yingce, began to drool, his throat moved unconsciously, and at the same time, his stomach made gurgling sounds.
“Gulululu——”
Lu San bent down, holding his hands to his growling stomach. He glanced pitifully at the steamer, then turned to look at Lin Zhi: "Sister Zhi, are these steamed buns not ready yet? I'm so hungry."
Madam Xie glared at him and said, "Just bear with it."
No one even told him anything to eat, but he was still waiting there with such a thick face.
Lin Zhi smiled and said, "Soon."
She wiped her hands, picked up a rag, and then opened the lid. Instantly, white mist mingled with fragrance gushed out, attracting Lu San and the others' attention. They subconsciously took two steps forward. It was only when Lin Zhi reminded them that they came to their senses and retreated awkwardly.
Chen Yan and Tao Yingce, who were sitting in the carriage, sniffed the fragrance and were distracted frequently, their eyes unconsciously falling on the steamer.
As the mist dissipated, snow-white steamed buns appeared before everyone's eyes. Each bun was plump and round, and looked extremely fluffy and soft, making people imagine how they would taste.
The men around looked around, but because of Madam Xie's rebuke, they didn't dare to go forward. They huddled together in the distance, watching eagerly.
Linzhi took a quick glance and felt that these men were like the patrol dogs led by the armed police that she had seen in later generations. Although they were extremely tempted, they just stood at their posts and did not move forward a single step.
Linzhi picked up a steamed bun, blew on it to cool it down, and broke it in half with force. Immediately, a wonderful aroma hit her face.
She took a bite and was very satisfied. Although the conditions were limited, she used the saltiness of pickled fish instead of salt to release the deliciousness of the fish. The combination of fish and chicken, combined with mushrooms and carrots, the flavors blended together and tasted just right.
Linzhi raised her head and found that the people around her had stretched their necks and were staring at her with drool...at the steamed bun in her hand.
After realizing that they were looking at them, everyone quickly closed their mouths, and immediately there was a sound of swallowing saliva in the room.
It’s not that everyone is greedy, but for those who are chewing dry bread, the steamed bun seems to emit a layer of golden light, making people look forward to it.
"Sister Zhi..."
"If you don't mind, come and try it!" Lin Zhi smiled and looked up at the people who were standing there in a daze.
Who would dislike it!!!
As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Zhi's front was filled with men with tears in their eyes.
Relying on his contribution in boiling water, Lu Datou squeezed into the first seat. He didn't even want the plate and just shouted that it would be fine if he just put it in his hands.
"Don't push, line up properly."
"Ah? Brother Lu, are you sure? This steamed bun has just come out of the oven and is very hot." Lin Zhi asked again and again, and after getting a positive answer, she had no choice but to do as he wished and picked up the steamed bun and put it in his hand.
Immediately, Lu Datou took a breath of cold air.
He grimaced from the heat and threw the steamed bun from his left hand to his right, and then from his right hand to his left hand. However, Madam Xie couldn't stand it anymore and casually stuffed a plate into his hand, then kicked him aside: "Go away, go away, you are such a big man and don't know how much of a hindrance you are."
Then, Madam Xie turned around and faced Lin Zhi: "Sister Zhi, I want one too!"
Immediately afterwards, Madam Xie also received a steamed bun. She blew on it to cool it down, and then took a bite.
As a soft "puff" sound was heard beside my ears, the hot, salty and fragrant gravy instantly rushed into my mouth, so delicious that it made my scalp tingle!
Madam Xie's eyes widened as she chewed the food unconsciously, occasionally opening her mouth to huff and puff to release the heat. However, she was reluctant to slow down. Only one thought remained in her mind: Is this still the pickled fish I know?!
The last time Lin Sen steamed pickled fish, it smelled okay, but when a few men came forward and took a couple of chopsticks to taste it, they were immediately choked and coughed by the smell, which directly caused them to have a psychological trauma towards pickled fish.
But now, the pickled fish wrapped in steamed buns is not only salty enough, but the steamed buns also taste extra delicious, which is really eye-opening.
Mrs. Xie finished a steamed bun in just a few bites, but she still felt unsatisfied, so she ran to the end of the line and started the second round.
In the blink of an eye, a long line formed behind her. Chen Yan was still reserved, wanting to wait until the queue was less, and then go forward to pick one up and try it.
It can be seen that Madam Xie and others lined up for the second or even third round. Chen Yan finally couldn't help but stand up and stepped forward, quietly lining up at the end.
Lin Zhi made such a large basket of steamed buns, of course, not just for his family. Not only did the flour and pheasants for the buns come from the team, but Lin Zhi also intended to convert these people into his first batch of customers.
She looked at the people in line with a smile. Each of their faces seemed to have turned into a huge gold ingot, which made Lin Zhi feel much better: one gold ingot, two gold ingots, three...
Seeing that the steamed buns in the steamer were getting less and less, Lin Zhi shouted to the back of the line: "The steamed buns are almost gone, those of you behind you should stop queuing."
"ah--"
"It's gone so soon?"
"What a huge steamer of steamed buns!"
"Damn it, I only ate three."
"Not bad! I only managed to eat two!"
Chen Yan said nothing, nervously standing in line, staring at the dwindling steamed buns, his Adam's apple moving again.
You guys have eaten it after all, but I haven’t even tasted it!
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