Zhang's face was full of apology. "My eldest son's birthday coincided with the famine. I wanted to cook a few more dishes, but there was nothing I could do."
"We can only make it up to the boss after we settle down. Let's just keep it simple this time."
"Mom, I'm already this old, but it's okay for my birthday. Besides, now that we're a family, we're all together peacefully, and I feel very happy."
Butcher Yun patted Boss Yun's shoulder with deep emotion and said, "After fleeing famine for so long, our family is still safe and sound. This is our greatest blessing."
Seeing that everyone was in a bad mood, Yun Yiyi said, "Mom, we have peaches, wild grapes, wild dates, and raspberries at home. After dinner tonight, wash out half a basin of them and we can eat them together and chat. It would be nice too."
Third Brother Yun was the first to raise his hand in agreement. "Mom, Yiyi's suggestion is good. I agree."
"Mom, I also think it's nice for the whole family to eat fruit and chat together." Second Brother Yun also agreed.
"Uncle Yun, Auntie, this is a different time now. Right now, the greatest blessing is for our family to be safe and healthy."
Zhang cheered up and said, "Okay, after dinner tonight, I'll do as Yiyi said."
"Now, let's eat quickly. After dinner, help pick and wash wild vegetables."
"Dad, is there not much water left at home?" Yun Yiyi suddenly raised her head and looked at Yun the Butcher.
Zhang thought for a moment and said, "We still have a full water tank at home, and another one with half a tank of water. It won't last for a few days."
Butcher Yun also nodded. "It's true there aren't many left. The village chief called a meeting this afternoon. He asked everyone to look for spring water in the mountains while they're digging for wild vegetables these days."
"We've been running quite far up the mountain these past two days, and we haven't found any spring water yet. Dad, Mom, let's go a little further. We'll find a spring sooner or later."
"What Yiyi said makes sense. We are definitely not short of water where we are now. It just depends on when we can find it."
The family finished their meal happily, and Yun the butcher cleaned up the bowls, chopsticks, and dining table.
Zhang and the children began to pick wild vegetables. Wild celery was relatively easy to clean; all they had to do was pick out the yellow leaves.
Other wild vegetables, such as shepherd's purse, ash-green, and bitter greens, are difficult to clean. When cleaning, not only do you have to remove the old leaves, but you also have to remove the old roots, grass sticks, and other dirty things.
Yun Yiyi and Xie Zirui were assigned to collect wild celery, and both were very happy to do so.
By the time Yun the butcher finished cleaning up and came over with a basin of water to wash the wild vegetables, Yun Yiyi and Xie Zirui had already picked a basket of wild celery.
Butcher Yun hung the cleaned wild celery on a long rope he had tied nearby. Soon, the rope was filled with wild celery.
Butcher Yun hurriedly found a long rope from the car, tied it to the two trees, and continued to dry the wild celery.
Finally, two long ropes were filled with wild celery.
Yun the butcher washed the other wild vegetables and hung them directly in the basket to dry.
By the time the family had finished collecting all the wild vegetables, the woods were already very quiet and the children were mostly asleep.
Those who are still picking wild vegetables are all the elderly in the family.
Zhang found two large wooden basins and then two kitchen knives.
Butcher Yun collected the dried wild celery, and he and Zhang each took a kitchen knife and started cutting it in a wooden basin.
After chopping all the wild celery, Zhang sprinkled a handful of salt, a handful of Sichuan peppercorns, and a large bowl of chili powder on it, then mixed it evenly with her hands. Finally, she poured in half a bowl of white wine and mixed it thoroughly.
Butcher Yun added the mixed wild celery to the empty kimchi jar. Finally, he filled a large kimchi jar half a man's height. As usual, he sealed the jar with water to prevent air from entering.
In this way, after a few months, the sauerkraut will be fermented and ready to eat.
The remaining wild vegetables were not as abundant as the wild celery, so Zhang saved the shepherd's purse and planned to eat it in the evening.
Zhang stuffed the gray-gray vegetables and bitter vegetables directly into the kimchi jar.
After finishing her work, Zhang patted her waist. She was old and tired after doing a little work.
Butcher Yun easily carried the kimchi jar into the car.
"Wife, have a drink of water and take a rest. I think we'll be leaving soon. Let me move all the miscellaneous things to the car first."
Zhang took a few steps and sat down again. "Boss, although I'm tired, I'm very happy that you prepared so many wild vegetables."
Butcher Yun smiled broadly, "Wife, it's all the same. If it's like this every day, I'll be happy even if I'm tired."
"Haha, with these wild vegetables, we not only have vegetables to eat, but we also save a lot of food."
"I guess most families in our village have stored a lot of wild vegetables. If you think about it this way, the food we have saved will be enough for us to travel a few more days on the road to escape the famine."
"That's a good thing. The village chief wants everyone to save more edibles, so he gave everyone time to dig for wild vegetables."
"Let's get ready to go. Hurry up and pack up and load the car." Along with the village chief's loud voice, there was also the sound of the village chief beating the gong.
"Wife, go to the car and take a nap. I'll wake up the eldest and second son."
"Go quickly." Zhang waved her hand.
Butcher Yun woke up the eldest and second brothers and started driving the car. The other children were still sleeping in the car.
After a while, the village chief drove the car and set off at the front of the team.
Yun the Butcher waited until the Yunjia Village team passed by before driving his car to the end of the team.
The afternoon sun still radiated scorching heat, but the breeze brought a touch of coolness.
In the afternoon, Yun the Butcher and his companions unknowingly completed the set target distance as the village chief quietly accelerated again and again.
The village chief looked at the still-high sun and hesitated. If he continued on his way, he should be able to cover quite a distance.
However, he thought that the wild vegetables that the villagers had dug up in the past two days could not only be eaten as vegetables, but also save food. Forget it, let everyone save time and go dig wild vegetables.
The village chief sighed deeply. "I can't expect too much. On the way here, there were no wild vegetables to be found. Life is pretty good now."
The village chief took out a gong and started beating it loudly.
"That's all for today. Let's find a place to rest."
"Village Chief, why are you going to bed so early today?"
"Yes, the sun is still so high."
"The village chief wouldn't have remembered the time wrong, right?"
"Why think so much? If the sky falls, the village chief will hold it up. Stop chatting and find a place to park the car. I have to take the children to pick wild vegetables."
"Yes, digging wild vegetables is important. Get out of the way and hurry up."
The villagers' voices grew louder and louder.
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