Zhang then filled the large iron pot with water and put firewood back into the stove.
"Mom, come and eat. I'm starving." Yiyi shouted loudly.
"I'm coming, I'm coming. Yiyi, you eat first." Zhang quickly placed a few thick sticks of firewood in the stove. She covered the pot, washed her hands, and then sat down at the dining table.
Butcher Yun handed Zhang a pair of chopsticks, and everyone took the vegetable cakes and started eating.
"Mom, this fish is so delicious. It's sour and spicy, and goes very well with rice." Brother Yun San praised loudly.
"Mom, I love it. When can we cook this fish again?" This is Yun Yiyi, who hasn't finished her current meal but is still thinking about the next one.
"Wife, let's add some kimchi and make it spicy. The one we had a while ago was too bland."
"Mom, this vegetable pancake is delicious too. The cabbage and oil residue in the pancake are so fragrant." This was said by Brother Yun who was eating the pancake with big mouthfuls.
"Mom, what are you going to do with the remaining fish in our house?" This is the butler, Second Brother Yun.
"It's delicious. Let's make it next time. However, we can't make it when there are too many people around. The taste of this fish is too overbearing. It will attract too much attention." Zhang said.
"Let's marinate the remaining fish in our house with white wine and salt, and then smoke them together with the pig's offal and pig's feet. The weather is still a bit hot, and we can't keep the fresh ones." Zhang said helplessly.
"Mom, I like smoked fish too." Yun Yiyi took a bite of pancake and a bite of fish, eating very happily.
"Mom, have you dealt with the remaining cabbages in our house?" Yun Yiyi asked curiously.
"I pickled some kimchi and also made a jar of sauerkraut. However, it will take some time for the flavor to absorb. Knowing that you like to eat fresh cabbage, I still left five cabbages." Zhang replied.
"Mom, let's cook at noon tomorrow. Please remember to cook cabbage. It's not good for our health if we don't eat fresh vegetables for a long time. When we get to the next state capital, Dad and I will find a way to buy some vegetables." Yun Yiyi said affirmatively.
"Yiyi, we don't know when we'll have another chance to go into the city. Although the neighboring state is also experiencing drought, I heard that it's much less severe than ours. I don't know if we can buy some from the villagers when we come across a village." Yun the Butcher said uncertainly.
"Dad, we all heard it from others. No one knows the specific situation now. We can only take it one step at a time." said the second brother Yun.
"Dad, Mom, you don't have to worry. There will always be a way when we reach the mountain. Let's just move forward." Yun Yiyi said simply.
"Yes, Yiyi is right. Let's talk about tomorrow's matters tomorrow. Let's just have a happy day today." Zhang said.
The butcher Yun and his family chatted as they ate, unnoticed, for over an hour. By the time they finally cleared the table, the fish in the basin was completely gone, and even the soup had been eaten by Third Brother Yun, using his bread to dip. The vegetable bread was also half eaten, and Zhang counted it, finding enough for the next morning.
Zhang and Big Brother Yun cleared the table while Butcher Yun went to pickle the fish. Yun Yiyi took the clothes Zhang had found and went to bathe. Second and Third Brother Yun carried basins of water and bags of hay to feed the donkey.
At this time, nearly every household in the woods was lighting oil lamps. Some were eating, some were cleaning, and still others were washing clothes. This afternoon, every household in the village had stored plenty of water. Tonight, everyone would be bathing and washing clothes, so they would use more water. After all, everyone's cars were loaded with things, and the amount of water they needed to store was limited. If there was too much, they wouldn't be able to take it all away.
After cleaning up, Zhang waited for the water in the pot to boil, filled two jars, and set them aside to cool before covering them. By then, the water in the pot was running low, so Zhang pulled the firewood from the stove and lit a small fire nearby.
After Butcher Yun finished pickling the fish and washed his hands, he brought over the previously pickled pig's feet and offal. He first built a simple wooden rack over the fire. He then tied the pig's feet and offal together piece by piece with ropes and hung the ropes from the wooden racks. Finally, he had three wooden racks to hang them all.
Butcher Yun was watching the fire. He couldn't make it too big, or the meat would burn. He had to use thinner firewood and smoke the meat little by little. This was more time-consuming and labor-intensive, but the advantage was that the meat could be preserved for a while after it was cooked.
Zhang asked the eldest brother of the Yun family to take his younger siblings to bed. She washed everyone's dirty clothes and hung them on a low branch. By the time Zhang had finished washing all the clothes, the children were fast asleep, snoring softly.
Zhang checked the children's blankets and found that they had not kicked them to the ground. She then went to sit down beside Yun the Butcher with peace of mind.
"Boss, how's the smoking going? Has the fish been marinated long enough? How about I hang the fish on the rack and smoke it?" Zhang said to Yun the butcher who was adding firewood.
"Wife, you watch the fire here. When the firewood is almost burned out, just add more firewood. I'll go skewer the fish. I'll smoke it later." Yun the butcher said in a low voice.
"Okay, then go ahead and I'll watch here." Zhang urged.
Butcher Yun took the straw rope and started stringing the fish. After more than ten minutes, Butcher Yun came back with the skewered fish, and Zhang helped to hang the fish on the rack.
"Master, looking at these meats and fish, I feel relieved. At least during this period, the children can have a good rest. Since we left here to escape the famine, the children have suffered with us."
"There's nothing we can do about it, everyone is like this. The situation in our village is considered good. We've seen so many starving refugees on the road." Butcher Yun whispered to comfort the depressed Zhang.
"I know, head of the family. It doesn't matter if I suffer a little. I just feel sorry for the children." Zhang said unhappily.
"I understand what you are thinking, wife. We are doing very well now. And the children are becoming more and more sensible. Let's follow the village chief and reach our destination safely. There will be countless good days waiting for us in the future." It must be said that Yun the Butcher is really good at comforting his wife.
After hearing what Yun the Butcher said, Zhang also became happy.
"Head of the family, wait until we are all settled. We will build a big house. Our eldest son is so old now, and he will be able to get married in a few years. If the house is too small, it will definitely not be big enough. When the eldest son gets married, the second and third sons will be here soon. Think about how time flies. Our children are so grown up now." Zhang said with emotion.
"Wife, yes. I still remember the first time I saw you. You were so beautiful at that time." Yun the Butcher said in a low voice.
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