Everyone's vegetables had just been planted, so there weren't many vegetables to eat at this time. People were bringing over things like radishes, bok choy, chives, and garlic scapes, and some families were even bringing over wild vegetables.
While Wen Xi was washing the ribs, Shen Jiaojiao and Jiang Yue had already washed all the vegetables, so now Wen Xi only needed to chop the vegetables before stir-frying them.
Shen Jiaojiao and Jiang Yue also knew how to cook, so the three of them used the remaining three pots to stir-fry vegetables. After each batch was cooked, they would scoop the vegetables out and put them into a special wooden basin for serving vegetables, and then continue stir-frying the second batch, the third batch, and so on...
Wang Xiaoju and Sun Mei were in charge of cooking on the other side. Seeing that Wen Xi and the other two were cooking quite well and that they didn't have to worry about it, the two nodded in satisfaction.
At first, they were reluctant to have the three educated youths cook together, fearing they would hold them back. But now it seems they are doing an exceptionally good job, even better at organizing than the educated youths themselves.
The number of tables and benches in the canteen is limited, so it is impossible for everyone in the entire Fengshou Brigade to eat at the same time. Therefore, in the past, Captain Qian would arrange for everyone to eat in batches, starting with the elderly, children and pregnant women, and then the able-bodied men. The same is still the case now.
When everyone comes to the cafeteria to eat, they first go to Wang Xiaoju and Sun Mei to get their food. After getting their food, they come to Wenxi to get their side dishes. Wenxi scoops a whole spoonful of each dish for them and tells them to finish their rice and then come over to drink the soup. Some people want to eat rice soaked in soup, so she gives them bone broth.
At this time, the phenomenon of favoring boys over girls was very serious. Girls were treated like maids from a young age, having to do everything and not even having enough to eat. So Wenxi would secretly give the girls extra food, hoping they could take this opportunity to eat more and improve their health, because when the farming season was over, they wouldn't even have enough to drink.
After everyone got their food, they found seats and started eating. Those who ate the dishes first were visibly surprised. Although they were ordinary dishes, they tasted better than before, and everyone praised them highly.
Since Shen Jiaojiao and Jiang Yue already had experience, Wenxi entrusted them with the task of serving food to the second group of people, while she went to the river bend to continue catching small fish.
Wenxi put the bamboo basket into the water, then threw in a piece of pig intestine. After that, she sat on a rock and waited. As soon as a school of fish swam in, Wenxi would quickly lift the bamboo basket out, pour the fish into a basin, and repeat the process...
While Wenxi was catching small fish by the river, Lin Yiwan came over with a bowl of rice and squatted down next to Wenxi. "I just asked Shen Jiaojiao, and she said you cooked today's dishes. I didn't expect you to be such a good cook. Your dishes are really delicious."
Wen Xi smiled faintly, "I've been cooking since I was little, I've learned it by practice."
Wenxi was quite pampered at home, and since boys in her family did the housework, she didn't have to do housework from a young age. On the contrary, she was good at housework, but not very good at it. The reason she is so good at it now is because she trained in that old man's house in her previous life.
On the other hand, Shen Jiaojiao and Jiang Yue have been taking on household chores since they were old enough to understand. Shen Jiaojiao's parents seem to treat her quite well, but they know that Shen Jiaojiao's grandmother is sexist and doesn't like her, yet they still put the two of them together. This shows that they probably don't care that much about Shen Jiaojiao.
“I’ve been cooking since I was little, but I can’t cook as well as you,” Lin Yiwan said. In reality, she hadn’t cooked much in the 21st century; she only started learning to cook after coming here.
After all, the whole family is working hard to earn work points, so she can't just stay at home and play, right?
"Xiaoxi, what are you doing?" Lin Yiwan asked curiously as she saw Wenxi busy in the water.
Wenxi lifted the bamboo basket out of the water and poured the small fish inside into a wooden basin. "It's spring plowing season, and we don't have anything good to eat, so I thought I'd catch some small fish to cook for everyone."
Thinking of today's radish and bone soup, Lin Yiwan nodded thoughtfully. There are so many people in the team, even one pig wouldn't be enough for one meal. Where would the team get the money to buy meat for everyone to eat?
“Yiwan, the pork offal at the pork stall costs a few yuan a set, and a set weighs dozens of kilograms. With some side dishes, you can cook a big pot and each person can get a bowl. Do you think I should ask Captain Qian to let me buy a set of pork offal? Would he agree?” Wenxi asked Lin Yiwan curiously.
Lin Yiwan shook her head. "I'm not sure either, but I'm free, I can go ask for you."
"Okay, then I'll trouble you. I don't know when I'll be able to finish dealing with these little fish, so I really don't have time to go see Captain Qian!" Wen Xi said.
After that, Lin Yiwan picked up her rice bowl and left, while Wen Xi continued to squat there. After squatting for a long time, her legs got sore, so she sat down on the ground.
By making herself look a little disheveled, people can see how hard she works, so they don't think she's cooking just to enjoy herself. To make sure everyone eats better, she's contributed all her own oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, and she's racking her brains to improve everyone's meals.
Wenxi and the other four cooks had already eaten before the elderly and children came to eat. So after everyone finished eating and left the canteen, they cleaned up the canteen, locked the door, and went home. They would come back to cook dinner in two hours, so that everyone could have dinner as soon as they finished work.
Wenxi also moved the dried fish into the cafeteria, since no one was there to watch them. What if they were eaten by stray cats or stolen by someone?
The team doesn't have enough funds to let everyone eat meat every day, otherwise why would we have bought a basket of cheap pork bones that don't require coupons today!
After all, with so many people in the team, even if we slaughtered one pig, it wouldn't be enough to feed everyone!
In March, the temperature difference between day and night is quite large. It feels like winter in the morning and evening, but like summer at noon, with temperatures reaching 20 or 30 degrees Celsius. You need to add or remove clothing in time, so everyone puts on a light jacket at noon.
After returning home and having a drink of water, Shen Jiaojiao and Jiang Yue grabbed their baskets and rushed to the bamboo forest, eager to make money as quickly as possible.
Zhao Zhiping is now in charge of the eels, and Shen Jiaojiao and Jiang Yue are in charge of the bamboo shoots. Wen Xi has nothing to do now; she just needs to go to the black market to trade on Thursday mornings.
Hearing a knock on the door, Wen Xi quickly went to open it and was surprised to see Lin Yiwan. "Yiwan, why aren't you resting at home?"
Lin Yiwan entered the courtyard, lifted the old cloth on the basket, and said mysteriously, "I found a patch of wild strawberries on the mountain today, some white and some red. I picked a lot, but these things don't keep well and have to be eaten quickly, so I brought some over to you."
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