Another older woman said, "As long as it's edible, it's fine. A couple of years ago, when there was a famine, we even ate tree trunks. This vegetable is definitely tastier than tree trunks. It's only because things are better now and we don't have to worry about food that we've started to be more particular about food."
That's true. In fact, the only reason we don't have to worry about food is in the south, where crops can be grown two or three times a year and the produce is plentiful. If you go to the north, most people eat coarse grains that are hard to swallow.
In the south, the most common food is sweet potato. Although eating too much can be unpleasant, at least it won't hurt your throat. It can also be made into sweet potato flour, which can be steamed, stir-fried, or boiled.
However, most people consider turning sweet potatoes into sweet potato flour a waste of food, and ordinary households would not do this.
On her way to catch fish, Yu Rujia saw many team members picking goose intestines in the field.
Sun Qingqing and Huang Xiaohua each carried a basket of goose intestines and walked towards us.
Upon seeing Yu Rujia, Sun Qingqing said warmly, "Where are you going, Yu Rujia? We picked a lot of goose intestines, they're so tender, why don't you take some back to eat? Thanks to you, we're able to enjoy such delicious food."
Since their last meeting, Sun Qingqing looked much better; when people have hope, they recover faster.
Judging from the contents of their baskets and the journey to and from her home, she must have been outside for at least two hours, yet she still looks so well; she must be almost fully recovered.
Yu Rujia: "Auntie, the weather has been nice lately. I've heard people say that mushrooms grow in the south at this time of year. I'd like to go up and see if there are any. It's inconvenient to carry things around, so you can take some back and eat more."
Sun Qingqing: "There are no mushrooms around now. They'll only be available after the New Year. After the New Year, once it rains and the weather gets warm, the mushrooms will grow like crazy. You should take the goose intestine vegetables we picked back with you so you don't make a wasted trip."
Yu Rujia: "There are only a few days left until the New Year. It rained a few days ago, so maybe we'll have some. I'm going to go up the mountain to check. I'm thinking of having this. I'm off."
Sun Qingqing: "If they really exist, they grow at the foot of the mountain. If you want to go and see them, then go ahead. I'll send a basket of these vegetables to your family. They're all grown in the ground and aren't worth much, so don't refuse."
Since it wasn't long before the mushroom-picking season, and there might actually be some mushrooms that grew early, she didn't try to persuade them any further.
Yu Rujia: "Thank you, Auntie."
Yu Rujia wasn't really going to pick mushrooms or catch fish; she was just going through the motions.
Finding a secluded riverbank, Yu Rujia threw the vine net she had previously left there into the river, and then went up the mountain for a few walks.
Although it's not yet the beginning of spring, there's already a hint of spring in the air. The ground is lush and green, and tender buds are sprouting on the trees. Before long, there will be plenty of wild vegetables to eat.
Calculating the time, Yu Rujia went over to pull in the net, intending only to make a show of it, but unexpectedly actually caught two carp weighing about half a pound each.
She didn't care for carp of that size because they had many bones, so she released them. Then she smuggled three crucian carp weighing over a pound each and two grass carp weighing two pounds each from her spatial storage and put them into the bag she had brought.
The things in the mountains and rivers belong to the public. Occasionally, people in the village would catch some small things to eat as a treat. No one in the brigade would say anything. Everyone had done this before. If someone were to bring it up, it would be equivalent to offending the entire brigade.
Even the most demanding person wouldn't bring this up.
She brought the fish home, and the little ones knew she had gone to catch fish. By then, the work was almost done, and all that was left was to put the dried furniture back inside.
The few children who were of no use surrounded her when they saw her return, including the teenage boy Gao Guojing.
Having learned from his previous experience of being slapped by the fish tail, the warrior Doroo didn't even try to touch it; he just kept drooling.
Duolu: "Auntie, I want to eat lots and lots of fish, so many!" As he spoke, the little guy even made a big circle with his short arms, looking very serious.
Yu Rujia patted his little head: "If you stay with your older brother obediently until I finish cooking, you'll be allowed to eat this much."
Duolu's big, round eyes darted around a few times before he said, "I've been following my older brother the whole time." As for the fact that he had forgotten his previous promise and had tried to sneak into the house to play but was stopped by Duofu several times, he selectively omitted that from his story.
Yu Rujia: "I'll trust you for now."
Duoshou rushed up and hugged her arm: "Auntie, I want to eat lots of fish too, and I want Auntie to make it."
Gao Guojing: "Uncle Guojing will make it for you later."
Duoshou clung to Yu Rujia's arm, refusing to let go: "Auntie, are you okay?"
Gao Guojing finally realized what was happening and playfully pushed his forehead with his finger: "Well, you little rascal, I've been so good to you all this time, playing with you and telling you stories, and you actually complain about the food I make."
Under Yu Rujia's guidance, he made fish soup once. Because his movements were not smooth, the fish soup he made was not very good. However, it did not have a fishy smell, which he thought was already good. He did not expect that it would be disliked by a little kid who was not even two years old.
Duoshou is a little aggrieved. It's one thing for you to play with us, but to be honest, the food you cook is much better than what your aunt and even your uncle cook. We want to eat something better.
Little Duoshou thought this to himself, but he had a bit of an animalistic intuition and knew that if he really said it, he would definitely suffer a loss. So he clung to Yu Rujia's arm and grinned foolishly, looking completely innocent. He was quite cunning for his young age.
Even Duofu looked at Yu Rujia with expectant eyes. Ever since his uncle went out to work, the deliciousness of their meals had been fluctuating. He really missed the days when he could eat his aunt and uncle's cooking every day.
Seeing this, Gao Guojing was so angry he almost turned into a pufferfish. He laughed and cursed, "A bunch of heartless little brats."
With two diligent and sensible children, Yu Rujia naturally wouldn't let them down, especially since it was something she had promised to do beforehand.
Yu Rujia gathered the little buns in front of her: "Okay, Auntie will make them. You can taste Auntie's cooking tonight."
Having received an affirmative answer, Duolu jumped up again, his little head poking around the fish in the basin: "Auntie made fish, Auntie made fish..."
Duoxi followed behind him, intending to say the same thing, but due to her incoherent speech, what came out was: "Auntie, fish, do, fish, fish, do..."
Yu Rujia: "Guojing, please put those things back in their places later. I'll go prepare dinner for tonight."
After a few months, Gao Shujing's cooking skills were vastly different from before. This was partly due to the abundance of ingredients, but also because his skills had indeed improved significantly.
During his stay, under Yu Rujia's guidance, the dishes he made were quite impressive, and Gao Guojing was full of anticipation for the dishes that Rujia would personally prepare.
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