Chapter 19 Sauerkraut Stir-fried Pork Belly: The Lin Family Chef Team +1...
Lin Yao pondered for a moment, "I understand what you mean, sir. But taking on a disciple is no small matter and requires careful consideration. Why don't you and Sister Ayu come home with us three siblings and find a quiet place to discuss this matter further?"
"Alright, alright!" Seeing that Lin Yao didn't immediately refuse, Grandpa Wang's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was immediately put to rest. He quickly turned to the side and gestured with his chin towards Wang Xiaoyu, "Xiaoyu, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and help Miss Lin with her things." As he spoke, he walked towards Lin Cheng and reached out to take the carrying pole, "Young Master Lin, carrying this for so long must be tiring. Let me lend a hand!"
Lin Cheng quickly stepped aside, "Grandpa, you can't! I appreciate your kindness, but this work is tiring, how can I let you do it?" But Grandpa Wang wouldn't give up and insisted on lending a hand, and the two of them started to compete.
Lin Yao quickly stepped forward, "Grandpa, please don't be so formal. The things on both ends of this carrying pole are really heavy. If you hurt your back or injure your bones, my brother and I will feel terrible."
When Wang Shan heard Lin Yao say that, he stopped insisting and let go of her hand. "Okay, okay, I'll listen to you."
~
Back home, Lin Cheng settled his things and then planned to take Lin Song to town to buy ingredients for their stall the next day. Upon hearing that they could go to town to play, the little guy immediately stopped bothering Lin Yao and followed his brother with his short legs, trotting along happily.
Lin Yao led Wang Shan and his grandson to the kitchen and poured them tea.
After the Lin family split up, their second branch was left with only three dilapidated thatched huts, and they really couldn't find a proper place to entertain guests.
The room on the east side was originally where the original owner and her mother lived, but now it has become Lin Yao's single room; the room on the west side belongs to the two brothers, Lin Cheng and Lin Song; and the remaining room is used as a kitchen.
Since returning home, Lin Yao had been secretly observing the Wang family grandfather and grandson. Seeing that they looked normal, she said, "Grandpa, as you can see, the three of us siblings are struggling to make ends meet. This small business is barely enough to keep us afloat. Besides, I'm still young. Although I have some cooking skills, I'm not as skilled as those experienced cooks. There are several cooks in town who are very famous and have excellent skills. They also take on apprentices year-round. If Sister Ayu were to become one of them, she would definitely learn a great deal. On the other hand, my place is really simple, and I'm afraid I might be misleading someone."
Lin Yao knew that in ancient times, taking on apprentices often meant gaining free labor.
Many masters impart their skills entirely based on their mood. When they are in a good mood, they may offer some guidance; when they are in a bad mood, even if their apprentices serve them diligently for three or five years, they may still gain nothing.
But Lin Yao disdained to do such a despicable thing. She had just told the Wang family grandfather and grandson about her family's actual situation without reservation, hoping that they would think carefully and make a decision after careful consideration.
Grandpa Wang rubbed his hands together somewhat awkwardly, a simple and honest smile on his face. "Miss Lin, to be honest, I sent Ayu here to learn cooking, not because I hoped she would become a master chef."
He glanced at his granddaughter, whose eyelids were lowered and who looked somewhat reserved, sighed softly, and said slowly, "Ayu has had a hard life. Her parents passed away early, leaving only this old man to raise her. Every day, I have to get up before dawn to knead dough and make steamed buns, and then I have to busy myself with setting up my stall until dark. I really don't have much time to take good care of her. When I'm at the stall, I can only leave her alone at home. As time went on, this child became too soft-hearted and didn't dare to stand up for herself. I really can't help but worry about her."
Wang Shan gently put down the still-steaming teacup in his hand and looked at Lin Yao with sincere eyes. "Miss Lin, I've been watching closely these past few days. You've managed this little stall at home very well, which shows that you are a smart, capable, and shrewd young lady. I sent A Yu here hoping that you could let her stay by your side, gain more experience, and temper her character to be more resolute." After saying this, he stood up and made a gesture to bow.
Lin Yao was an orphan. From childhood to adulthood, she had to struggle on her own. No one had ever planned for her or paved even a single step for her on her life's journey. At this moment, she looked at the old man before her, his face etched with the marks of time, yet his heart was filled with thoughts of his granddaughter's future.
Throughout it all, he never once thought of blaming his granddaughter for being weak-willed; his heart was filled with guilt for not being able to take better care of her. But in this turbulent world, survival was already a struggle. How could one expect an elderly man nearing sixty, raising his granddaughter alone, toiling daily to make a living, selling steamed buns at the docks for meager wages, to be perfect in every way?
Lin Yao quickly got up and helped Wang Shan up, saying, "No, no, sir, there's no need for that."
Lin Yao and Wang Xiaoyu quickly helped Wang Shan sit down, one on each side.
Lin Yao looked serious, her eyes revealing a hint of sincerity, and said softly, "Grandpa, I understand what you mean. But to be honest, our family is just barely making ends meet these days. If we take Sister Ayu as an apprentice, with my current energy, I really can't dedicate a lot of time to properly and systematically teaching her cooking skills. I can only have her stay by my side for now, doing odd jobs, starting from the basics, learning little by little. Is that alright?"
Wang Shan waved his hands repeatedly, his tone full of sincerity: "It's alright, it's alright. It would be wonderful if you would take A Yu in and let her learn from you. I only hope that A Yu can learn some of your character from you and become as strong and independent as you in the future. If that can be achieved, then even if I kick the bucket one day, I can close my eyes in peace."
"Grandpa!" Wang Xiaoyu was most afraid of hearing her grandfather say that. She couldn't imagine how she would get through the days without her grandfather.
Wang Shan patted her hand, "Grandpa was just saying that."
Seeing that Wang Shan had already gone this far, clearly determined to have Wang Xiaoyu come with him, Lin Yao knew that further refusal would only seem pretentious and distant, so she stopped arguing and said, "Sister Xiaoyu, come with me. I want to see how good you are at cooking."
Wang Xiaoyu glanced at Lin Yao, then turned to look at Wang Shan, her eyes filled with hesitation and unease.
"Go on, little girl." Wang Shan waved his hand gently.
Wang Xiaoyu unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes, which became crumpled under her fingertips. She moved her feet and followed Lin Yao into the kitchen.
As soon as she entered the kitchen, Lin Yao took out the ingredients that were placed in various corners and arranged them neatly on the cutting board. She turned to Wang Xiaoyu and said, "Sister Xiaoyu, feel free to use the ingredients here and make one of your best dishes."
Wang Xiaoyu nodded and began to select items.
Wang Xiaoyu nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping across the cutting board. On the table were a large bowl of lard, braised pork offal, eggs, pork belly, half a pheasant, and a jar of pickled cabbage.
Her gaze lingered briefly on the eggs. She had made scrambled eggs countless times, enough to do it with her eyes closed. But this was the test for becoming an apprentice, and simply presenting this dish would seem too ordinary. After a moment's hesitation, Wang Xiaoyu reached out and picked up the pork belly and the pickled cabbage beside it.
Lin Yao, who was observing from the side, raised an eyebrow. She thought that A Yu would be worried about making the dishes bad and would probably choose the cheaper ingredients. She didn't expect A Yu to choose pork belly. It seems that she is also a person with her own ideas.
Lin Yao stood aside, watching Wang Xiaoyu's every move. She had thought that Xiaoyu might choose some inexpensive and easy-to-use ingredients to cook for fear of messing up the dishes, since that way, even if she didn't do a good job, it wouldn't be too wasteful.
But when she saw Wang Xiaoyu decisively pick up the pork belly, Lin Yao couldn't help but raise her eyebrows slightly, a hint of surprise and approval flashing in her eyes.
It seems that this girl is not a timid or cowardly person, and she dared to choose relatively expensive ingredients at the critical moment, which shows that she is quite confident in her cooking skills, which was unexpected.
Wang Xiaoyu remembers that last year during the Spring Festival, her grandfather bought a piece of pork belly and brought it home. She stir-fried the pork belly with pickled cabbage, and it was very delicious. She knew that making this dish would be perfect.
Wang Xiaoyu remembers that last year during the Spring Festival, her grandfather bought a piece of pork belly to take home, which was a rare occurrence.
At that time, she stir-fried pork belly with her homemade pickled cabbage. The dish was fragrant and delicious.
Wang Xiaoyu placed the pork belly on the cutting board, gripped the knife handle, and sliced the meat into even slices with each stroke.
Lin Yao was amazed by her knife skills. She had thought that this slender girl might be a little clumsy when handling a kitchen knife.
But the scene before her was beyond her expectations. Her skillful and deft knife work left her speechless with amazement.
Wang Xiaoyu then opened the lid of the pickled cabbage, and its unique sour and fragrant aroma wafted out. She took out an appropriate amount of pickled cabbage, rinsed it under clean water, and then cut it into small pieces for later use.
With everything ready, Wang Xiaoyu added firewood to the stove and plucked a small piece of lard into the pot.
Wang Xiaoyu immediately reached out and lifted the lid of the sauerkraut jar, and the rich and unique sour aroma of the sauerkraut filled the entire kitchen.
She used chopsticks to pick out a suitable amount of sauerkraut, and simply rinsed it to remove the salt and impurities adhering to the surface.
Then, cut the pickled cabbage into small pieces and arrange them neatly aside for later use.
With everything prepared, Wang Xiaoyu bent down and added a few handfuls of firewood to the stove. Then, she picked up an oil ladle, scooped a small piece of lard from the lard bowl, and put it into the pot.
As the firewood roared to life, the temperature in the pot rose rapidly. She then placed the sliced pork belly into the pot and sautéed it to render the fat. With the sizzling sound of the hot oil, the pork belly turned golden and crispy, releasing a wonderful aroma.
Wang Xiaoyu poured the chopped pickled vegetables into the pot. The sour aroma of the pickled vegetables and the meaty aroma of the pork belly blended together, and the fragrance seemed to have grown fingers, making people's mouths water.
Finally, Wang Xiaoyu sprinkled some salt, put the stir-fried pork belly with pickled cabbage on a plate, and served it to Lin Yao.
Lin Yao ladled out a bowl of rice, picked up a piece of stir-fried pork belly with pickled vegetables, and put it in her mouth.
The pork belly is stir-fried at high temperature, and the caramelized oil spreads between your teeth, filling your mouth with the aroma of meat.
At this moment, the tangy aroma of the pickled cabbage perfectly balances the greasiness of the meat, adding a unique flavor to the dish.
The crisp texture of the pickled cabbage complements the crunchy pork belly, creating a layered flavor experience with every bite.
However, if you eat this stir-fried pork belly with pickled vegetables on its own, the taste is really too salty. It's just right when eaten with rice.
The reason for this is not hard to understand. In ordinary people's families, life is tight, and they may not be able to eat meat for ten days or half a month.
Making meat dishes saltier is so that the meat can be enjoyed for longer.
A bite of savory meat is enough to accompany a large mouthful of rice, allowing you to eat the meat and vegetables more slowly.
Wang Xiaoyu stood awkwardly to the side, her eyes fixed on Lin Yao without blinking.
Seeing Lin Yao pick up a piece of pickled vegetables and stir-fried pork belly with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth, I noticed her brows furrow slightly. Then she shoveled a large mouthful of rice into her mouth and chewed it for a long time.
Wang Xiaoyu's heart jumped into her throat instantly, her heart pounding so loudly that it felt deafening, as if it were about to burst out of her chest.
Lin Yao swallowed the food in her mouth, came back to her senses, met Wang Xiaoyu's anxious and expectant gaze, and smiled, "Not bad."
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaoyu's face lit up instantly. Her previously dim eyes suddenly shone brightly, and she stammered, "Then I, I..."
"Well then, come and become my disciple tomorrow." Lin Yao's smile deepened, her tone light and cheerful, as if she were announcing something perfectly natural.
Wang Shan, who had been waiting to the side, could no longer contain his joy. With a beaming smile, he hurriedly urged, "Ayu, hurry up and thank your master!"
"Thank you, Master!" Wang Xiaoyu's face flushed red with excitement, her voice clear and loud, filled with barely suppressed joy.
"No need for formalities, please sit down and eat. From now on, we're family." Lin Yao said with a smile, reaching for the dishes on the table to set them up.
Seeing this, Wang Xiaoyu quickly stepped forward, steadily snatched the dish with both hands, and said, "Master, let me do it!" Seeing her eager appearance, Lin Yao didn't want to argue anymore, so she could only let her go and turned around to call her elder brother and younger brother to come and eat.
In ancient times, although the separation of men and women was strictly observed, they lived in the countryside and did not have so many formalities.
Moreover, the family's conditions are limited; there's only one large table, and there's simply no room for separate seating.
Upon hearing the call, Lin Cheng and Lin Song did not linger and went to the dining table, where they sat down and began to eat.
Lin Yao brought out the fried rice she had specially saved at the stall for her family to enjoy, and placed it on the table together with the fragrant stir-fried pork belly and pickled cabbage.
The room was filled with the aroma of food, and the five people sat together, enjoying their meal to the fullest.
Wang Shan and Wang Xiaoyu ate with great satisfaction; no wonder the fried rice, priced at ten coins a cent, was in high demand.
After the meal, as dusk fell, Lin Yao and her family saw the Wang family grandfather and grandson to the door and waved goodbye. Once their figures disappeared into the night, Lin Cheng turned to his sister, "A Yao, did you really take Miss A Yu as your apprentice?"
“Well, there are only three of us in our family now. Song’er is still young, and it’s just the two of us who are busy working every day. We’re just earning copper coins like this, and I don’t know when we’ll be able to afford to rent a shop. If we take on an apprentice, we’ll have one more helper in the future.” Lin Yao looked up at the night sky, the moonlight as clear as water, shining on her face.
“Well, there are only three people in our family. Song’er is still young, so it’s mainly just the two of us who do the work. We don’t know when we’ll be able to afford to rent a shop. If we take on this apprentice, we’ll have one more helper,” Lin Yao said, looking at the moon.
Lin Cheng recalled his sister's previous idea of opening a shop in town. He thought it was just a casual remark, but he didn't expect his sister to have planned it so thoroughly.
In comparison, thinking about what I've done during this time, it's been pitifully little, and I can't help but feel ashamed.
"That's fine then. From now on, Miss Ayu will work as your assistant, and I'll go to the mountains to dig up those herbs you showed me to identify the other day. I'll also hunt some pheasants and rabbits along the way to supplement our household income and hopefully open a shop in town sooner." Lin Cheng had been thinking about the herbs he had dug up last time. If those herbs were sold, they would be worth quite a few copper coins.
"Great! In the future, I'll have to rely on you, brother, to dig up more medicinal herbs and help me rise to prominence!" Lin Yao said with a half-joking smile.
Lin Cheng smiled helplessly, gently tapped Lin Yao's forehead, and said, "You're so talkative."
A note from the author:
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