Chapter 19 Meat dishes
On the way back to Old Zhao's house, Fan Xiaoxiao told Fan Shi about the day's events. After learning about what happened in Wang Da Niang's hometown, Fan Shi was also quite moved.
"Oh dear, Aunt Wang will be so heartbroken now..."
"Yeah... I wonder what's going on at Old Zhao's house now."
The two women stepped into Old Zhao's house with some apprehension, but there were no sighs or cries as they had expected. Fan Xiaoxiao and Madam Fan were both quite bewildered by the scene before them.
In the courtyard, Xiao Bao and Old Zhao, who had just taken a bath, were sitting side by side, drying their hair. Uncle Wang was chopping firewood, sweating profusely. When he saw the two of them return, he forced a smile and said, "You're back."
Hearing the commotion, Granny Wang from the kitchen came out and saw Fan Xiaoxiao and Fan Shi standing dumbfounded in the yard with their things. She quickly went over and took the things from Fan Shi, saying, "What are you standing there for? Come inside and take a bath! I've boiled some water. I rushed to the destination yesterday and went straight to sleep. I only managed to wipe them down in a hurry this morning, look how dirty they are! Ugh! Why did you buy this waste water? It stinks!"
Seeing that Granny Wang was about to walk towards the well with the drainpipes, Fan Xiaoxiao quickly stepped forward to stop her: "Hey, Granny! Let me wash these! Sister, go take a bath, I'll wash these things. Um, Grandpa Zhao, can I go to the backyard to pick some scallions and ginger?"
"Oh? Oh! Go ahead, there's a lot planted there, I can't eat it all by myself."
After getting Old Zhao's permission, Fan Xiaoxiao put down the pig offal and headed to the backyard. Aunt Wang quickly stopped her: "Oh dear, I'll go. You two go take a bath first!"
After saying that, Aunt Wang put down the grain and hurried to the backyard, leaving everyone looking at each other in bewilderment. Uncle Wang wiped the sweat from his face: "Hey, Aunt Fan, go take a bath first. Your... your mother is like this, she'll be fine in a bit."
Uncle Wang almost let slip the secret, but luckily he reacted quickly and remembered that Fan was now his daughter-in-law.
Okay, fine.
Fan responded and went inside. Fan Xiaoxiao carried the pile of waste into the kitchen, filled a basin with it, and then took a large bowl of wood ash from the unlit stove.
Then he took some kindling from the large stove and lit the small stove. He washed the two large bone sticks clean, took a cleaver, and split the bone sticks in half with one stroke, throwing them into the pot of water on the small stove.
After preparing everything, Fan Xiaoxiao carried the wood ash and the smelly wastewater out the door.
Seeing that Fan Xiaoxiao looked like she was about to go out again, Xiao Bao quickly toddled over to her and asked, "Auntie! Where are you going again?"
Fan Xiaoxiao smiled and raised the things in her hands: "Auntie is going to the river to wash things!"
Xiao Bao craned his neck to look at the sewage in Fan Xiaoxiao's hand. The sewage was incredibly smelly, and the little guy covered his nose and took several steps back because of the stench: "Stinky!"
Old Zhao also came over, frowning as he looked at the sewage: "Hey girl, what do you want with this stuff? It stinks."
"What else can we do but eat!"
Upon hearing this, both the old woman and the child froze. The little boy anxiously pulled at Fan Xiaoxiao, saying, "Auntie! You can't eat stinky food!"
"Yes! Girl, this is too dirty! You can't eat it!"
Fan Xiaoxiao laughed when she saw the resistant expressions on their faces: "Hahaha, oh dear, let me try it, what if I can eat it?"
The elderly woman and the young boy exchanged a glance, seeing the expectant look in Fan Xiaoxiao's eyes. The little boy sighed like a little adult, "Alright, Auntie, you should give it a try!"
Although he said that, his little face still clearly showed resistance, which made Fan Xiaoxiao laugh. She thought to herself that he was so resistant now, but they would know when they ate it.
After arriving at the river, Fan Xiaoxiao first cleaned the filth from the intestines in the water, then put them in a basin, sprinkled a thick layer of wood ash on them, and kept kneading and washing them.
She learned this method from the old women in the village when they were filming videos. As long as the wood ash is fine enough, it's almost as effective as flour.
Thinking about having meat for dinner, Fan Xiaoxiao quickened her pace. After cleaning the internal organs, she hurried back as fast as she could. Once inside the courtyard, she went straight to the kitchen, where she quickly and smoothly started boiling water in a pot.
Half an hour later, the aroma of meat wafted from the kitchen, stimulating the taste buds, which made the people sitting outside unable to sit still.
Xiao Bao swallowed hard and tugged at Old Zhao: "Grandpa Zhao, it smells so good inside! Xiao Bao is hungry..."
Old Zhao was also drooling from the aroma, and he led Xiao Bao toward the kitchen window: "Come on, let's go see what your aunt is making. Oh my god, it smells so good!"
Fan Xiaoxiao, who was busy chopping garlic in the kitchen, heard a noise behind her. She turned around and was so startled by the two people behind her that she almost dropped the knife she was holding: "My God! Xiaobao! Grandpa Zhao! What are you two doing!"
Old Zhao chuckled, scratched his beard, and said, "Girl, what are you cooking? It smells so good!"
"Yes, Auntie! It smells so good!"
Seeing their greedy expressions, Fan Xiaoxiao chuckled, "What else could it be? Going into the water!"
The old man and the child behind him clearly didn't believe it was boiled offal, and continued to squat by the window, greedily inhaling the aroma that stimulated their taste buds.
"Auntie, when can we eat?"
Xiao Bao's stomach rumbled, clearly he was starving. Fan Xiaoxiao calculated the time; it was almost dinnertime. "It'll be ready soon. You and Grandpa Zhao go set the table and chairs, I'll bring it out right away!"
Hearing this, Xiao Bao cheered and quickly pulled Old Zhao to move tables and chairs. Fan Xiaoxiao watched the backs of the old man and the child and shook her head with a smile. She opened the pot lid, and a rising steam carrying an irresistible aroma of meat wafted into her nostrils. Fan Xiaoxiao swallowed hard and quickly took out a bowl and scooped some of the contents of the pot out.
When she carried the things into the yard, Uncle Wang and the others had already set out the bowls and chopsticks and were waiting.
"Here, have a taste!"
After saying that, Fan Xiaoxiao picked up her bowl and began to slurp her food. Aunt Wang and the others hesitated a bit, but Xiaobao didn't think much of it; he was already incredibly hungry.
The little boy picked up a piece of fatty intestine and put it in his mouth. The moment it entered his mouth, the soft, oily aroma filled his entire mouth. Xiao Bao's eyes immediately lit up, and he exclaimed indistinctly, "Hooray!"
Seeing Xiao Bao's reaction, everyone picked up their chopsticks and, after tasting the food, silently began to eat. The large intestine was fragrant and tender, and the pig lung, soaked in broth, melted in the mouth. The cold-dressed pork kidneys on the side were also incredibly crisp and tender, with a hint of spiciness, making them perfect with rice.
After a whirlwind meal, everyone rubbed their stomachs, thoroughly enjoying the most delicious and satisfying food they had eaten in days. Madam Fan wiped Xiao Bao's mouth and asked Fan Xiaoxiao with a smile, "Sister, what is this? Is it really made from offal? This is the best thing I've ever eaten!"
Fan Xiaoxiao rubbed her stomach, which was a little full, and nodded in reply, "It really is offal! I call this dish—braised offal!"
(End of this chapter)
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