Liu Yanran ate the same vegetables every day: potatoes, radishes, and cabbage. She felt like she was almost completely consuming them. This wasn't going to work! She felt she needed some variety, some fresh flavors to stimulate her taste buds. So, she decided to try something different.
After some thought, Liu Yanran decided to try growing her own bean sprouts. After all, bean sprouts are not only nutritious but also delicious, making them suitable for a variety of delicious dishes. However, making them in a day wasn't something she could do. She skillfully pulled a handful of mung beans from the cupboard, placed them in a large bowl, and rinsed them with clean water. The beans tumbled in the water, seemingly dancing joyfully. Then, she soaked them in water and let them soak overnight.
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight streamed into the room, Liu Yanran eagerly rose to check on her mung bean babies. Carefully, she lifted the lid of the bowl and discovered they had already swelled up, becoming plump and adorable. She then drained the soaked beans and placed them in a clean gauze bag. She tied the bag tightly and placed it in a well-ventilated area to allow the beans to germinate naturally.
Over the next few days, Liu Yanran sprayed the mung beans with water every day to keep them moist. She also checked their germination from time to time to ensure they were growing healthily. Watching the mung beans grow day by day, Liu Yanran was filled with anticipation and joy.
Finally, on the fourth day, the mung bean sprouts had grown long enough. They were as white as snow, crystal clear, and exuded a faint fragrance. Liu Yanran excitedly harvested the sprouts, preparing to use them in a delicious dish. She could imagine the surprise and satisfaction these fresh sprouts would bring her.
Chinese New Year was approaching, and Dad would be bringing his fourth brother, third sister, and little niece to reunite with them. Considering that Mom Gu couldn't cook, Liu Yanran invited them to join the reunion, as a way to make her and Gu Shijing's relationship public. After all, a wise man once said that relationships without the intention of marriage were simply hooliganism. Liu Yanran, under the pretext of going out to buy groceries, pulled out a lot of vegetables from her space. Since no one else was out buying groceries, she could just say they were fresh groceries from the south.
The morning sun streamed through the window into the kitchen, illuminating Liu Yanran's busy figure. She began her day's work early, preparing delicious sausages from fresh pork. This time, she prepared nearly twenty pounds of pork, intending to work hard.
Liu Yanran divided the twenty kilograms of pork into two portions. One portion, ten kilograms, was used to make spicy sausages for the adults, while the other portion, also ten kilograms, was used to make non-spicy sausages for the children.
In a corner of the kitchen, Liu Yanran expertly cut the pork into small pieces, then added various seasonings and began to stir. Her technique was skillful and powerful, and soon the meat filling became perfectly uniform. Each piece of meat fully absorbed the flavor of the seasonings, exuding an enticing aroma.
Her mother, Cao Cuilan, also arrived in the kitchen. Seeing her daughter busy at work, a smile of satisfaction crossed her face. She knew making sausages was a tedious task, but her daughter always enjoyed it. She felt immensely proud watching her daughter diligently chopping, seasoning, and stirring the meat.
She couldn't help but sigh that life was getting better and better now. In the past, she couldn't eat meat every few days, and she couldn't make so many delicious dishes during the Spring Festival. It was indeed the strength of the motherland that made people's lives better and better. It was already 1980 after the Spring Festival. Time flew by so fast. Her youngest daughter, whom she loved the most, was about to turn 19.
Liu Yanran was struggling with the casing. She'd never made this sausage before, and this was her first time. She turned around and saw Cao Cuilan, a loving face. "Mom, come over here and help me with this." While her mother's cooking wasn't great, she knew the basics. Her grandfather had been a butcher, and she'd often helped him when she was a girl. And her father had met her when they were buying meat.
"Okay, I'll wash my hands and come help you," Cao Cuilan replied. She then brought some sausage casings from the kitchen, gently placed them on the table, and began to administer the enema to her daughter. Her movements were expert, as if she'd done it countless times. She placed the casings on the funnel and, using a spoon, slowly poured the ground meat into it. As she did so, a long sausage gradually took shape.
Liu Yanran stood by, carefully observing her mother's every move, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. She carefully observed how her mother selected sausage casings, prepared the minced meat, and controlled the pressure of the enema. Under her mother's guidance, she also tried to pick up the spoon and carefully fill the casing with minced meat. Although a little unfamiliar at first, with her mother's patient guidance, she gradually mastered the key points and successfully enema a beautiful sausage.
With the combined efforts of mother and daughter, 20 kilograms of pork were quickly transformed into delicious sausages. Liu Yanran carefully hung the sausages on the balcony to dry in the sun. The sunlight filtering through the window shone on the sausages, creating an alluring sheen that made everyone salivate.
After the sausages were ready, Liu Yanran began preparing the bacon, chicken, and duck. Her eldest and second sisters-in-law helped make these, and since they made a large quantity, Liu Yanran decided to have her father bring some home to enjoy. This time, she prepared a large amount of pork alone, and she divided the New Year's dishes into three batches before bringing them all home.
She carefully selects fresh meat and begins the tedious preparation process. She meticulously washes each piece to remove any blood and impurities, then cuts it into appropriate pieces. Next, she marinates the meat with salt, sugar, soy sauce, and other seasonings, allowing it to fully absorb the flavors. Finally, she hangs the marinated meat in a well-ventilated area to dry, allowing time to settle, allowing the meat to firm up and enhance its texture.
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