Chapter 49 Pickled Shallots
Zhao Xuan did not go home.
Carrying a small basket on her back, she headed towards the paddy fields with 460. There were large tracts of barren farmland there, where many wild vegetables and crops still grew. Zhao Xuan often picked leeks and scallions in these fields to eat when she had nothing to do.
These two vegetables look a lot like weeds and grow incredibly fast, often covering large areas of wasteland. Because both vegetables have strong odors, they don't attract insects, making them practically the tyrants of the fields.
Because no one takes care of them, some paddy fields have overflowed and become shallow ponds, while others have dried up and are overgrown with weeds.
Zhao Xuan harvested scallions several times this winter. Back then, it wasn't cold yet, and the scallions were lush and green. They're a bit like scallions, but the taste is different. They have a stronger aroma and are incredibly fragrant when stir-fried with cured meat. But now that the weather is cold, they've stopped growing, and the leaves have become old and tough to chew. However, the bulbous rhizomes buried in the soil can still be dug up and pickled with chili peppers.
When she and Lu An first arrived here last winter, she saw this vast expanse of wild scallions. But like small fish and shrimp, scallions can't be eaten without oil, and scallions boiled in water are extremely unpalatable.
Shallots don't have strong roots; you can pull them up by gently tugging on the leaves. After shaking off the mud, Zhao Xuan tossed one into his basket and immediately started pulling up another.
She quickly filled half of her basket, weighed it down, called to 460, and then prepared to go home.
As soon as she got home, she cautiously locked the gate, then took out a large basin, filled it halfway with water, put down a small stool, and began to sit in the yard to wash scallions.
Peel off the wrinkled outer skin of the scallion to get a glistening bulb. Remove the old leaves, leaving some tender leaves, and set it aside to dry.
Zhao Xuan had only washed a few handfuls of scallions when his fingers became unbearably cold, so he had to grab the kettle, add hot water, and continue cooking.
Washing scallions is a task that requires patience. As she washed them, she found that her heart calmed down, and the unease she felt after leaving Lu An seemed to be disappearing. In the end, Zhao Xuan even started humming a little tune.
After drying, cut the scallions in half, mix them with some shredded ginger, chili powder, and vinegar, then seal and marinate. After a week, the chili will miraculously remove the spiciness of the scallions, making them perfect for serving with flatbread.
Zhao Xuan pickled a large jar of chicken blood, put it in the refrigerator, and checked the perpetual calendar. She found that it was already past 1 p.m., so she took out the chicken blood she hadn't had time to eat yesterday, cut off some, and cooked a small pot of chicken blood and vermicelli soup with rice noodles. She also threw in a few pieces of the small bok choy she had picked that morning that had already been touched by frost. She ate a simple but satisfying meal.
In the afternoon, as usual, she fed the pigs and chickens. Before it got dark, she ate dinner early, cleaned the yard and kitchen, and then locked the doors and windows. After drawing the bedroom curtains tightly shut, so that not a single ray of light could get in, she crawled into bed.
She found a book to pass the time. She had forgotten where she found it. It was a Taiwanese novel from decades ago, and the pages were yellowed and curled. It was originally meant to be used as firewood, but somehow a few copies were left behind.
After the apocalypse, Zhao Xuan didn't read much anymore. Before, there was no light, but now there was, though the light was dim and not good for her eyes. After reading a few pages, she felt sleepy, so she turned off the light, snuggled into the covers, and went to sleep.
She woke up several times in the middle of the night, instinctively reaching out to touch the person next to her, but each time she felt a cold touch. She vaguely told herself that Lu An had already left, but she was still very sad. Therefore, although she went to bed early, she did not sleep well all night.
She was woken up by the noise from 460.
When I opened my eyes, it was bright daylight. There was a barking sound from 460 and the sound of a dog knocking on the door: "Sister Xuan, are you home?"
Zhao Xuan, wearing a cotton coat and slippers, her hair disheveled, went to open the door. The moment the dog saw Zhao Xuan, it patted its little chest with relief: "Sister Xuan, why did it take you so long to open the door? I thought you were dead!"
Zhao Xuan rolled his eyes.
In the kitchen, the dog helped Zhao Xuan start the fire, while Zhao Xuan cooked rice porridge in front of the stove.
The dog relayed the task Zhang Xiaohe had given her: "My mom told me to come here every morning to help you with chores until Brother Lu'an comes back."
While stirring the rice porridge, Zhao Xuan asked, "Do you come every day?"
"Yes, every day."
"What kind of work can I ask you to do, you're just a kid? Are you here to make sure I'm still alive every day?"
The dog grinned.
Zhao Xuan put the lid on the pot and let the porridge simmer. She and the dog sat on the bench in front of the stove. She used tongs to take two fried eggs out of the fire and gave one to the dog.
The eggs were very hot. The two of them blew on them while frantically peeling the shells with their fingers, then ate the eggs in silence.
After a long while, Zhao Xuan said, "You should go home later."
The dog didn't refuse outright; instead, it said, "Let's go gather pig feed together. After we're done, I'll go home."
This child is very honest. His mother asked him to come and see Zhao Xuan every day and help with whatever he could. He felt he had to do something before he could go back.
Zhao Xuan retorted, "Aren't you going to herd sheep?"
The dog replied, "Let's go in the afternoon. It's too cold in the morning. It'll be perfect to herd the sheep in the afternoon when the sun comes out."
Then the two fell silent again. Zhao Xuan waited for the food to cook.
When Zhao Xuan was the only one eating, cooking became much simpler. Although her appetite had increased significantly, it was still less than what Lu An and the others ate. She cooked two cans of rice in a pot, made two bowls of thick rice porridge for breakfast, and cooked the rest in a small clay pot to make dry rice. That was enough for her to eat for a day.
After cooking the rice, the dog and she went to gather pig feed together with a winnowing basket and a rake. Only after feeding the pigs and chickens did the child ride his big bicycle, say goodbye to her, and go home.
The dog was a man of few words. When he was with Zhao Xuan, he would only exchange a few words at a time, and most of the time they were silent. However, Lu An was also mostly quiet when she was with him, so she was happy that the dog was there to keep her company.
The weather is great today, with clear skies and bright sunshine.
Before noon, after seeing the dog off, Zhao Xuan took off Lu An's pillowcase and duvet cover to wash them. She then took the pillowcase and quilt to the third floor to air them out—he'd been gone for two months, and quilts that hadn't been slept on for two months were prone to mold and dampness, so it was better to wash them now and put them away for when he was about to return. As for Lao Dao's bedding, she didn't plan to touch it; it was impolite to disturb someone else's bedding. She'd just prepare a clean set for him when he came back.
Zhao Xuan's lunch consisted of a plate of spicy stir-fried chicken giblets and a plate of stir-fried bok choy. The chicken giblets and chicken blood were byproducts left over from making canned chicken, and she liked them both. She decided to alternate between spicy stir-fried chicken giblets with rice and chicken blood and hot and sour vermicelli soup for the next few days. Today, she stir-fried more chicken giblets, and she didn't plan to cook anything for dinner, just reheat the leftovers.
Instead of taking a nap in the afternoon, she started organizing her warehouse.
After the dried bamboo shoots and dried mushrooms were transported away, the room where the food was stored became much emptier. Zhao Xuan cleaned the empty kerosene boxes and then stacked them back up. She calculated that if the sales of mushrooms and bamboo shoots were good this time, she could exchange them for more things, and she would continue her efforts in the spring to roast more dried bamboo shoots and dried mushrooms.
However, this is contingent on Lu An and Lao Dao being able to return safely.
Zhao Xuan didn't go out much all day. After cleaning and dusting the warehouse at home and reorganizing it, he locked it again.
I went to bed early again that day.
For the next ten days or so, the dog came every day, rain or shine.
With the dog's company, Zhao Xuan has completely calmed down. The dog also helps her with chores as much as it can, sometimes helping to gather pig feed, sometimes picking vegetables in the garden, and sometimes carrying water to the water tank.
Although he is small, he is very efficient at farm work. He said that his parents have been repairing the stream that is used to generate electricity for his family. In winter, the water level is low and the stream is often blocked by mud, so they have to go there to check it from time to time.
Of course, Zhang Xiaohe also came twice during this period. When she came, the dog stopped coming. When she came, she would usually bring her own pickled vegetables and sauces.
Zhang Xiaohe is incredibly skilled at cooking. Her pickled foods always have a unique flavor. The jar of pickled garlic shoots she sent in the summer is something Zhao Xuan can't forget. The spicy cabbage she sent now is also very delicious, with a perfect balance of sour and spicy, and a fruity aroma. Whether eaten with porridge or cooked with pork to make soup, it's absolutely delicious.
In short, ever since Lu An left, the Yao family has come to check on Zhao Xuan every day to see if he is still alive.
Of course, Zhang Xiaohe also invited Zhao Xuan to her home for dinner. Zhao Xuan couldn't refuse and went once, returning home with a full belly.
The Yao family's care was very measured. Zhang Xiaohe and Gougou would always arrive early, stay for an hour or two, and then leave, never waiting until noon. This meant Zhao Xuan couldn't keep them for lunch. However, Zhao Xuan would always share some delicious snacks with Gougou, sometimes a small jar of candied chestnuts, sometimes a hard-boiled egg.
What's most surprising is 460. Since Lu An left, 460 hasn't left home. Usually, it follows Zhao Xuan around. It will quietly wait at the intersection. Sometimes it's too cold and it doesn't want to go out, so it will stay in the living room until Zhao Xuan comes home. It won't go anywhere else.
A large part of the reason the dog was willing to come over was because of 460; he could play with 460 and pinch its soft black ears.
460 became much more familiar with him, and every time he saw the child, he would grin and wag his tail happily.
The days passed peacefully, and before they knew it, Lu An had been gone for half a month.
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