Chapter 164: Spicy and Sour Purslane River Shrimp Dumplings
At dinner time, Lin Shu showed off her skills again and made dumplings with He Guixiang and Lin Zhaodi.
The dumplings are made with spicy and sour purslane and river shrimp filling.
Use fresh purslane, blanch it in water to remove the acid, put it in gauze and squeeze out the moisture, then chop it into pieces and mix it with a spoonful of pepper oil and a spoonful of mugwort oil.
Sichuan peppercorn oil is made by frying green Sichuan peppercorns in oil to create a fragrant and spicy flavor, while mugwort oil is made by frying dried cornel fruit in oil, which retains the spicy flavor and is similar to chili oil.
Lin Shu made a small jar of each kind of oil, which made it convenient to use, especially when mixing cold dishes. She only needed to pour a spoonful or half a spoonful of oil and mix it to make it fragrant.
The river shrimp pieces were caught by Wang Yingen and his group of kids from the river last time. After being dried by Lin Xiaopu, they were stored in jars. When needed, a few handfuls were taken out, fried with lard, and cooled for later use.
Chop the pork belly reserved for breakfast into minced meat, add chopped river shrimps after adding water, and then mix it with purslane. After mixing well, add all the necessary seasonings.
Lin Zhaodi mixed the filling according to the steps Lin Shu told her, and the filling looked delicious just by looking at it.
Lin Zhaodi laughed and said, "A-Shu, I was wondering what you had Wang Yingen and the others do with all those small river shrimp. Turns out you were using them to make dumplings."
Jiaozi is dumplings, but there are different ways to say it.
People in Tianshui Village rarely eat dim sum. Even though the Zhao family eats a lot of noodles, Lin Zhaodi doesn't know how to make them.
At this time, she and He Guixiang followed Lin Shu to learn. The first few dumplings she made were crooked, but towards the end, she learned very quickly and her dumplings became more and more beautiful.
There are many small shrimps in the river, but they are small and smell fishy. The villagers don’t like to eat them, and they don’t have the time to catch them in the river. But Lin Zhaodi knows that the food that Ah Shu comes up with will definitely taste good.
These dumplings stuffed with purslane and river shrimp are delicious. She will make them for Zhao San during festivals in the future!
Lin Shu's hands kept moving, and the rolled out coin skin became a beautiful big coin in her hands in an instant. "I usually like to tinker with some snacks, aunt, please don't laugh at me for being greedy."
Aunt Lin: "Who among us doesn't have a craving for food? Everyone loves to eat delicious food. By the way, Sister He, Ah Shu, the thatched hut is ready now. After it's been aired and exposed to the sun for a couple of days, Zhao San and I will move in. I'll treat you and your family to a meal then, so please come."
Lin Shu replied with a blunt smile, "Even if Aunt Lin didn't call me, I would still shamelessly go and warm the stove for you. As for the mothers, they all listen to me, right, mother?"
He Guixiang gave her a glare and said, "Yes, yes, yes."
Lin Shu chuckled.
A warm stove means a warm home. When moving into a new house, the owner will ask relatives and friends to light a fire and cook in the new house, which is meant to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.
However, Aunt Lin and Uncle Zhao had caused such a fuss at home that they probably wouldn't invite anyone from the family. Naturally, Lin Shu would go, and He Guixiang had no objection.
After a few days, He Guixiang and Lin Zhaodi no longer had nothing to talk about like they did at the beginning. They became much more familiar with each other. Although they could not talk about everything like Lin Zhaodi and Li Chunmiao, they could still confide in each other.
After the shrimps are wrapped, they are put into the pot to cook. There are some tricks to cooking shrimps. Put the shrimps in when the water boils. After the water boils, Lin Shu adds cold water twice. This way of cooking makes the shrimps cooked through and chewy.
After the first pot of dumplings was cooked, Lin Zhaodi couldn't wait to pick out a few and taste them with He Guixiang, her mother and daughter Saner.
Lin Xiaopu's eyes lit up from eating so much that she praised the food as always, "Sister, these dumplings stuffed with purslane and river shrimp are so delicious!"
Lin Zhaodi also praised it highly. She was not exaggerating. It was impossible for people in the village to eat such good food during the New Year!
When the last pot of dumplings was cooked, Lin Zhaodi happily went to call people.
On the other side of the thatched hut, the fence had been built. Liu Erzhuang and Wang Changshun did not rest and shoveled as much of the earthen slope blocking the road as they could while there was still time.
The meals Aunt Lin cooked for them were always filling and delicious. They wished they could work for a few more days, but they also knew that they had done what they could. Uncle Zhao had said from the beginning that he would shovel the slope slowly by himself and no one else would have to worry about it.
Today is the last day of work, and Aunt Lin is particularly generous. I don’t know what delicious food we will have for dinner later.
As a result, when Aunt Lin called people, they packed up and went into the yard. They were stunned when they saw what was on the table!
There were actually several large plates full of coins!
If a village woman could make a flatbread or steamed bun, she'd be considered pretty good. Most families would just knead the ash flour into dough for rolling, or just form dough balls with their hands and eat them. This dime is a delicacy you can only find in town!
The skin of each large dumpling is rolled very thin. After being cooked, the skin turns pink and shrimp-colored, which is extremely appetizing.
Liu Erzhuang took a big gulp and half of a dime was gone.
Mmm, delicious!
Lin Shu chewed slowly, her eyes curved as she ate, and she also thought it tasted good.
Purslane is slightly sour and smooth, which can dissolve the fishy smell of river shrimps. The sweetness, tenderness and freshness of river shrimps give wild vegetables a unique flavor. Pepper oil and mugwort oil are added to the stuffing, which tastes spicy and numb, and paired with the slight sourness of purslane, it is sour, spicy and fragrant!
The group of men ate in silence. Liu Erzhuang almost cried when he thought that such good days were coming to an end.
Why didn’t Uncle Zhao spend a few more days building this thatched hut? He hasn’t eaten enough yet.
When I get home I have to eat white porridge and pickles again, oh well.
Speaking of which, when he first started working for Uncle Zhao, some people laughed at his father for being too embarrassed to refuse, so he used this little boy to make up the numbers. They also said that he would definitely not eat well if he worked for Uncle Zhao, because Uncle Zhao got nothing after the family split up.
But when they found out what he ate every meal while working for Uncle Zhao, they were all dumbfounded.
Liu Erzhuang holds grudges. His father is a righteous and loyal person, not stupid, so he tells everyone about all the delicious food he has eaten. At first, some people don't believe him and say he is bragging, but the fragrance wafting from the courtyard is real, and many people can smell it, especially the meat dishes, the braised fish, fried fish, loach, and braised duck!
Many people in the village saw Brother Zhou Ye, Sister A Shu and Xiao Pu coming back with wild ducks!
The aroma will waft out for as long as the three braised ducks are braised!
You have to know that in the past, even if the rich families in the village hired people to work, there would be meat dishes in the dishes, but they were not big meats. They would just have some meat slices in the dishes, which was considered very good. Others would mostly have rice with vegetables, or porridge with pickles.
So, those who had said they were stupid were so greedy that they regretted not coming to help Uncle Zhao.
It’s a pity that these good days are coming to an end today.
Liu Erzhuang was reluctant to leave, and so were the others. They felt that Uncle Zhao's thatched hut was too small and wished it could take another ten days or half a month.
But no matter what they thought, the fact was that they had enough food and drink and just wanted to put all their energy into this thatched hut, so that Uncle Zhao and others would know that it was a wise decision to ask them to work, and then they would be the first ones to be considered when they needed help in the future!
Zhao Laosan thanked everyone at the dinner table. Everyone was happy and satisfied with the meal, and they were reluctant to leave.
"...Mrs. He, A'shu, I won't thank you enough. I have converted all the daily necessities into money. I will give it to you as soon as I have some spare money at home." Lin Zhaodi said to the two before leaving.
She originally wanted to give a string of copper coins, but if she gave it reluctantly, she would not have enough money on hand and would have to borrow again. The money she borrowed before was already difficult to borrow, and it would be difficult to borrow again. In the end, she could only ask He Saozi or A Shu to borrow. It was really unnecessary to go back and forth.
He Guixiang said hurriedly, "Zhao Di, you are so polite. The rice and grain were brought by you, and the amount we added is just enough for us. It looks like a lot, but that's just because his father and A Ye can eat a lot, so I put more in.
As for oil, salt, and other such things, they cost a little more than usual, but it's only for a few days, so there's no need for you to convert them into cash. When you and your mistress move in, you can send over some of the extra fruits and vegetables..."
Lin Zhaodi didn't insist anymore, but she knew what was going on.
She has been married into the Zhao family for many years. Although she is annoyed by the ways of the world, she is not ignorant of them. Many times you can't just believe everything others say, so no matter what others say or do, she just sticks to her own ideas. She will just mention it now, and it will be meaningless to say more. Then she will just give the money to Mrs. He.
Zhao Laosan was also thanking Lin Dashan.
After Lin Zhaodi and her husband left, He Guixiang sighed, "Ah Shu, your Aunt Lin and Uncle Zhao are both honest people. It's great to be neighbors with them."
Lin Shu said, "My father and mother are honest people. Whoever becomes our neighbor will never suffer any loss."
He Guixiang tapped her nose affectionately and said, "How can anyone praise their own family members so much as you do?"
As he said this, he exchanged glances with Lin Dashan.
Lin Dashan called Zhou Ye aside, while He Guixiang called Lin Shu and Lin Xiaopu aside.
Influenced by Lin Shu, He Guixiang now treats Lin Xiaopu as a little adult and will not avoid him when it comes to serious matters.
"Ashu, your father consulted the village headman two days ago to check the almanac. The 28th of next month is a good day. Although it will be hot then, heat has its advantages. People in the village are not busy, and there are plenty of wild vegetables and fruits. Mother and father want to arrange your marriage with Aye in advance. What do you think?" He Guixiang asked.
Lin Xiaopu exclaimed, "Mom, I think it's good!"
He Guixiang rubbed the clever boy's head and said, "If you feel so useless, you should ask your sister what she thinks."
Lin Shu didn't hesitate much and said readily, "Mother, I have no problem with that either."
After a slight pause, he changed the subject, "But you and Daddy shouldn't expect me to have a baby as soon as I get married. Aye and I need to live our own life first."
He Guixiang hadn't expected it to go so smoothly. She'd thought Ah Shu would find it too fast. But weddings in the village were simple, and a month was plenty of time to prepare.
"There's no rush to have a baby. You and Aye can discuss it yourselves!" He Guixiang smiled gently.
Everything went smoothly for the two of them, but there were some problems on Lin Dashan and Zhou Ye's side - Zhou Ye did not nod immediately.
Of course he wanted to marry Ah Shu right away, but he felt that it would be unfair to Ah Shu, and one month was still too short.
When Lin Dashan heard him say that he didn't want to, his face suddenly darkened. He thought that he was hooking up with some shameless country girl outside. But when he found out that he just felt it was too hasty, his dark face immediately turned into a smile.
He is indeed the good son-in-law he has chosen, and all he thinks about is how to treat Ah Shu well.
"Uncle, one month is still too short for me. I want to save some money first." Zhou Ye said very seriously.
Lin Dashan waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "Why are you saving? We're all family. All the money you earned from selling dried goods in the mountains was used to buy Xiaopu's medicinal herbs. I didn't even share it with you, so why should I share it with you? Listen to me, by the end of next month, we can start preparing!"
Zhou Ye frowned slightly and wanted to say something but was stopped by Lin Dashan.
He had no choice but to say, "Uncle, let's put the wedding aside for now. I want to go into the mountains tomorrow."
Lin Dashan was stunned, his expression somewhat disapproving. "It hasn't been long since we went into the mountains last time. Why are you going in again?"
"I want to get some more mountain products. The money from selling them can be used to make the wedding more lively. My uncle and aunt are willing to marry Ah Shu to me, so I have to prepare a generous betrothal gift."
When Lin Dashan heard this, he smiled so hard that his teeth were exposed. "We will live together in the future, it's not like we won't see each other anymore. There's no need for betrothal gifts!"
Having said that, he didn't stop him this time.
A Ye cares about his daughter, and as a father, he is happy to see it and hopes that he can be better to his daughter!
The two of them kept the matter secret and did not mention it. The next day, when Lin Shu did not see Zhou Ye, she asked He Guixiang and found out that the man had actually gone into the mountains. She was so angry that she stomped her feet.
He hasn't even married her yet, but he's already learned to hide things. How can this be tolerated?
When A Ye comes back, she will have to have a good talk with him, pull his ears and make him understand that this is wrong. No matter what he wants to do secretly, he must report every detail to his wife!
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