Chapter 57: Teach my mother and grandma how to make pickled bamboo shoots!
The Qin family also had the braised pork with bamboo shoots sent by Qin Zhizhi for lunch.
"Mom, this is delicious what Zhizhi sent me. What is this crispy thing?" Qin He likes crispy bamboo shoots very much.
"This was sent by Zhizhi. I don't know what it is. If you like it, just ask Zhizhi later."
It was also the first time for Mrs. Qin to eat it. Seeing that her family liked it, she decided to go back and ask her granddaughter.
As a result, Qin Zhizhi came just after lunch.
"Grandma, are you free this afternoon?"
"My granddaughter is looking for me, so I must be free!" Mrs. Qin originally planned to tidy up the vegetable garden in the afternoon.
"Then grandma, please accompany Zhizhi to the back mountain to dig spring bamboo shoots in the afternoon." Qin Zhizhi was very happy when she heard that Grandma Qin was free in the afternoon.
"What are spring bamboo shoots?" asked Mrs. Qin in confusion.
"These are the dishes Zhizhi asked Fifth Brother to bring back at noon. Could it be that Grandma couldn't bear to eat them?"
Because it was a meat dish, Qin Zhizhi was afraid that Mrs. Qin would be reluctant to take it out to eat at noon.
"Oh, those are spring bamboo shoots. Your dad praised them for being delicious at noon. I was thinking of asking you where you got them later."
Mrs. Qin never expected that the so-called spring bamboo shoots they ate at noon were actually dug by her granddaughter in the back mountain.
"I'm slow digging by myself. Grandma, come with me. We can dig more and pickle it or dry it in the sun."
Qin Zhizhi wanted to store more spring bamboo shoots while they were still tender so that she could eat them whenever she wanted.
"Wait a moment, grandma. I'll go find a bigger backpack." Mrs. Qin went to the utility room to find a bigger backpack.
When Zhang heard that her daughter and mother-in-law were going to dig spring bamboo shoots, she thought she had nothing to do, so she followed them.
When they arrived at the back mountain, Qin Zhizhi quickly taught them how to find spring bamboo shoots.
Both of them were used to doing farm work, and they dug bamboo shoots much faster than Qin Zhizhi. In less than an hour, the three of them had filled three backpacks.
Mrs. Qin and Mrs. Zhang didn't know how to process the spring bamboo shoots, so they carried all three baskets of bamboo shoots to the Gu family.
Mother Gu was very surprised to see so many bamboo shoots. "Zhizhi, why did you dig so many?"
"Mom, we dug this up specially. I plan to store some so I can eat it later."
Qin Zhizhi poured out all the bamboo shoots from the three baskets. When she heard that they were going to be put away, Gu also hurried over to help.
The four of them were busy for nearly half an hour before they peeled and cleaned the three baskets of bamboo shoots.
Qin Zhizhi decided to make a few more kinds so that it would be convenient to eat later.
Qin Zhizhi took some cleaned spring bamboo shoots, placed them separately in a wooden basin, added salt and water, stirred them evenly, and soaked them for about half an hour.
After taking them out, place them in a cool and ventilated place to dry, then seal them in a ceramic jar for storage. The spring bamboo shoots soaked in salt water can be stored for about half a month.
Qin Zhizhi then asked her mother Zhang to clean it, cut it into thin slices or shreds, and then place it in a well-ventilated place to dry.
Dried spring bamboo shoots can be stored for a long time, and when eaten, they only need to be soaked, softened and cooked.
This method is the simplest and also lasts the longest.
Qin Zhizhi also planned to pickle some of them with salt, and Mrs. Qin and Gu's mother helped cut the cleaned spring bamboo shoots into slices.
Then Qin Zhizhi pickled the bamboo shoots with salt, sugar, vinegar and other seasonings. This method can preserve them for several months, and the pickled bamboo shoots taste better.
It is very delicious to have some with porridge or noodles every morning.
After all the bamboo shoots were processed, everyone was exhausted.
"Grandma, Mom, when these are ready, Zhizhi can give them to Grandpa and the others. This pickled bamboo shoot will be ready in a few days. Aunt San will probably like it. Let's eat this first."
Qin Zhizhi thought that her pregnant aunt would like the taste of the pickled bamboo shoots, so she decided to send some over in a few days.
"I put it all here. I didn't expect it to be so delicious."
Although she was busy all afternoon, Mrs. Qin was extremely happy.
"Spring bamboo shoots have a short shelf life, so if you store them like this they will last longer." Qin Zhizhi explained why she had to go through all this trouble.
"Can these spring bamboo shoots be sold?" Mrs. Qin's first reaction to these edible things was to sell them.
"Of course."
"Then why don't we pickle all the bamboo shoots so we can sell them when the time comes? These bamboo shoots taste great, and Grandma thinks they should be sold."
Qin Zhizhi felt that what Mrs. Qin said made sense and decided to start harvesting spring bamboo shoots tomorrow.
This time, there was no need for the village head to show up. Mrs. Qin just strolled around the village and almost everyone in the village knew that the Gu family was going to harvest spring bamboo shoots.
No one knew what spring bamboo shoots were, so everyone went to Gu's house early the next morning, and Qin Zhizhi gave everyone a detailed introduction.
Mrs. Qin was afraid that everyone had dug the wrong way, so she took everyone to the back mountain and taught them in person.
Li did not go yesterday, but today she went to the back mountain with Mrs. Qin.
"Mom, Zhizhi, is this a large quantity?"
"Zhizhi didn't tell me the exact amount, but I think it should be quite large." This was Mrs. Qin's own estimate.
"Mom, can I ask my eldest brother and the others to dig some and send them to me?" There are many brothers in the Li family, so they will naturally not miss any opportunity to make money.
"We're all family, so what's wrong with that? Zhizhi reserved a spot for you during this recruitment. I remember your eldest and second sisters-in-law are both very good at their jobs, so you can ask them to help. You can pay them the normal wages."
"Thank you, mother." Li's eyes turned red with emotion.
"Why thank me? This is Zhizhi's love for you as her aunt." Granny Qin never forgets to please her granddaughter.
"I, your daughter-in-law, remember how good Zhizhi has been to me, but I want to thank you too." Mrs. Li was also sincerely grateful to her mother-in-law.
"Okay, let's stop talking about this. Go back and clean up a room for your eldest and second sisters-in-law to live in, so they don't have to run around every day."
They are all relatives, and they are helping her granddaughter with work, so Mrs. Qin will naturally make arrangements.
"I understand, mother. I will clean it up when I get home." Mrs. Li's face was full of smiles, and her voice was a little lighter.
"When you learn how to dig spring bamboo shoots, come back and have Dashan drive the ox cart with you back home to teach your brothers. Tomorrow you'll come to deliver the bamboo shoots, and your sisters-in-law will be here too."
Mrs. Qin is a very prudent person and she arranges everything very well.
"Thank you, mother. It's my turn to cook today. Let's go after lunch." Li felt that it was her turn to cook and she would feel embarrassed if she left.
"Go early. Zhizhi said that the spring bamboo shoots are short, so we should make more while we have time. Let your sister-in-law make one for you, and you can make another for her tomorrow."
Mrs. Qin is still very principled. She always repays what she owes, so the house is not in chaos.
"I understand, mother. I'll go back after I learn it."
Li felt that what her mother-in-law said made sense, and she was the eldest sister-in-law, so even if she exchanged it with her younger brother and sister-in-law, she would have to return it, although her younger brother and sister-in-law were not petty people.
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