Chapter 16 Reencounter with Uncle Zhao
By the time Grandpa Zhao's firewood arrived, Jiang Zhi's lamb leg was also ready to be cured.
She first thoroughly examined each piece of firewood that Grandpa Zhao had chopped in the basket, turning it over to confirm that it indeed met her requirements. Grandpa Zhao had even chopped it into smaller pieces on the mountain for her convenience.
She accepted the favor and said to Grandpa Zhao with a smile.
"Uncle Zhao, why don't you try my newly made drink, and rest your feet on this bamboo chair? When the meat is ready, Grandpa Zhao can take some back and have it with your aunt!"
As she spoke, Jiang Zhi leisurely went to the kitchen, brought out a bowl of plum juice, and handed it to Grandpa Zhao with a smile.
Grandpa Zhao's hesitation was practically written all over his face.
Jiang Zhi could easily guess that she was probably afraid of owing her a favor, but was also quite curious about what the purpose of her going to such lengths was, so she simply added another layer of pressure.
She smiled sweetly and said:
"Today, roasting a whole leg of lamb is already quite a lot. Uncle Zhao has helped me a lot. I'll take some back with me and Auntie to try. If the Zhao family eats something nice next time, I, Jiang Zhi, will also go and have a taste!"
Having already given Grandpa Zhao such a way out, he couldn't refuse any longer. He had no choice but to be pressed down by Jiang Zhi onto the small stool outside the house, his hands stiff as he held the bowl of plum juice, occasionally taking a few nervous sips.
*
After leaving Grandpa Zhao behind, Jiang Zhi went straight into the kitchen to get busy.
She had her own reasons for keeping Uncle Zhao with her this time!
Grandpa Zhao and Grandma Zhao, in modern terms, would be considered the kind of wealthy but childless elderly people living alone. Generally speaking, although they are frugal on a daily basis, they are still willing to spend money at times!
Of course, Jiang Zhi didn't expect people to change their spending habits for life for her, but she still needed to keep an eye on these wealthy, long-time customers. Who knows, maybe one day they'd be willing to spend a little money to come over for a meal or two? Or, to put it bluntly…
She was making plans in her mind.
However, their hands were not slow.
She first stacked the firewood into a hollow frame, then lit the entire fire in the middle with a small tinderbox.
When the initial smoke dissipated and the fire rose gently and steadily upwards, Jiang Zhi knew that the fire was almost ready.
Although it's called barbecue on the surface, Jiang Zhi has made some modifications to it.
For example, since she didn't have a grill, she simply piled up bricks on either side of the fire, making sure they were half an inch higher than the tallest flames, and then pressed the wooden sticks with the lamb legs stuck in them under those bricks.
With all the seasonings placed on both sides, all you need to do is gently push the brick to make the wooden stick rotate with the lamb leg, which will be enough to ensure the lamb leg is cooked evenly.
*
While Jiang Zhi was busy working, Grandpa Zhao couldn't help but peek over.
Just as Jiang Zhi had guessed, he was indeed quite curious.
Based on Grandpa Zhao and Aunt Zhao's usual style and habits, if you ask him, mutton should ideally be...
For the first meal, we'll start with soup. Add some ginger slices to the mutton soup; it's both warming to the body and lungs.
The second meal was stewed potatoes. The mutton was already slightly cooked, and after stewing it for a little longer, it became soft and tender, swirling around the potatoes on the tongue and in the mouth.
For the third meal, we stir-fried some green vegetables, which, along with the leftover mutton from the second meal, were eaten with great relish.
In this way, a piece of mutton the size of a palm is enough to feed three meals a day. It's cheap, convenient, and flavorful.
Therefore, seeing Jiang Zhi making such a fuss over a lamb leg, he couldn't help but feel somewhat disapproving.
But under Aunt Zhao's constant nagging, he inevitably developed a better ability to judge people, and he managed to keep his thoughts to himself.
*
Jiang Zhi had no idea that Grandpa Zhao had so many ulterior motives.
If I had known, I probably wouldn't have invited him to sit down here.
There's nothing I can do, she just holds grudges like that!
At this moment, Jiang Zhi was intently staring at the mutton sizzling and dripping oil on the blazing fire.
At this moment, the roasting of the mutton has reached a critical stage. The bottom of the mutton is repeatedly licked by the flames, and Jiang Zhi slowly rotates the wooden stick, making sure it doesn't roll too fast so that some parts are not licked by the flames, nor too slow so that some parts are burned black.
Jiang Zhi doesn't know other people's experience in roasting lamb, but she has her own secret recipe.
As for what she relied on, it was of course her keen sense of smell and her long-standing experience.
Jiang Zhi took a light sniff and smelled the rich aroma of the mutton fat roasting over the fire. She knew then that the noodles were almost done cooking.
Then she gently turned it over again.
*
When the enticing aroma of mutton wafted from the grill straight to Grandpa Zhao's nose, he subconsciously took a deep breath, abruptly stood up from his chair, and slightly tiptoed.
His eyes kept glancing this way.
He saw:
The young girl, Jiang, deftly turned the roasted meat around, and while turning it, she also took out a small brush and brushed something on it!
The aroma of it being roasted by the flames rising from below...
It's enough to make children for miles around drool with envy.
When the analogy suddenly popped into Grandpa Zhao's mind, he was stunned for a moment before realizing that he had been somewhat confused by the fragrance.
He silently swallowed, then held his breath and inhaled the fragrance as he tiptoed over, standing quietly behind Jiang Zhi and watching her every move.
*
Jiang Zhi was also slightly tempted by the aroma!
There's no way anyone could resist the urge to savor the sight of the slightly browned and reddish-brown crust sizzling and releasing its oil, with the meat underneath even more reddish and juicy!
Not to mention Jiang Zhi, who is now sitting next to this lamb leg, she is the first victim of the aroma.
As soon as the wind blew by, Jiang Zhi's nostrils were filled with the delicious aroma of mutton, which made her, unusually, swallow hard and feel a little craving!
Even so, while flipping the roasted lamb leg with one hand, Jiang Zhi was also preparing something else with the other.
—Make the dipping sauce!
Prepare a small dish of balsamic vinegar as a base, top it with shredded scallions, garlic slices, and a little sesame oil. Later, simply pour hot oil over it to release its aroma!
That flavor is perfect when dipped in meat!
Jiang Zhi also made sure to prepare an extra plate for Gu Yuan, who loved spicy food. She added the above-mentioned seasonings, and finally added some dogwood and crushed Sichuan peppercorns, and poured hot oil over them to make them fragrant!
This is the dipping sauce you'll use when eating this lamb leg!
*
While things were going smoothly here, Pei Ye and the others returned!
Before they even entered the house, the group could smell the tempting aroma of meat!
Gu Yuan quickly ran a few steps, then nimbly jumped over the Pei family's not-so-high wall, ran into the house, and headed straight for the source of the fragrance.
You Yi was so angry that he muttered indignantly behind him, "That guy runs really fast."
Then I silently started running too!
Surprisingly, this time, Pei Ye was unusually unhurried, walking at the very back.
Unbeknownst to the two people walking quickly ahead, Pei Ye was secretly pleased with himself:
He had long since figured out Jiang Zhi's temperament. She seemed gentle and kind on the surface, but she could also secretly take revenge on people. This time, he hadn't done anything wrong, so there was no way he would refuse to give her any.
So what does it matter if you walk fast or slow...?
As Pei Ye thought this to himself, he made sure he looked handsome before taking big strides to catch up with the two people in front of him.
*
While secretly gloating to herself, Jiang Zhi had already spotted Gu Yuan jumping in and was directing him to start working.
Unfortunately, Jiang Zhi only realized that there were still some oversights when she was halfway through making the roasted lamb leg.
For example, she selectively forgot that the whole roasted lamb at the state banquet that year, although she seemed to be the main chef, actually had quite a few apprentices around her.
Most of the time, these apprentices can only make things worse, but sometimes they are quite useful, such as cutting mutton or making seasonings at appropriate times.
Now, all she had beside her was a clueless old man who was behind her, fascinated by the smell, drooling and chuckling.
It wouldn't have mattered if she hadn't laughed, but her laughter startled Jiang Zhi, whose hands were twitching like an octopus. Her hand trembled, and the skewer of roasted lamb leg slipped slightly from her grasp.
Fortunately, just then, a hand reached out from the side and grabbed the wooden stick that Jiang Zhi had been holding.
A note from the author:
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Please add this to your favorites! The next update should be on Thursday! As usual, if I make the list, I'll update daily; otherwise, it'll be 7,000 words a week (love you all!).
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