Gu Chenxi was very talented. Following the method taught by Gu Lili, she inserted the branch into the soil and with a flick of her wrist, a flower perfectly emerged from the ground.
The two of them squatted on the ground and dug out the termite mushrooms one by one.
It took the two of them more than half an hour to dig out all the termite mushrooms.
Gu Chenxi went home and got a basket, but she almost couldn't fit everything in it.
When the two carried the termite mushrooms back, it was just lunchtime.
There wasn't enough time to make chicken soup, so Gu Lili decided to keep it simple.
I'll make chicken soup tonight.
When Gu Lili is at home, she usually cooks while Gu Chenxi helps out and learns how to cook.
Gu Lili started cooking the rice first, because the dish she was going to make required a lot of rice.
In the vegetable garden, the green peppers that Gu Lili had planted earlier were ripe, and she had already asked Gu Chenxi to pick and wash them.
There's a proper way to wash termite mushrooms, because they're delicate, so you can't use too much force.
Gu Lili also grows pumpkins in her vegetable garden, and the pumpkin leaves are a good tool for cleaning termite mushrooms.
Gu Lili selected seven or eight large and plump termite mushrooms, carried them in a basin, picked a few pumpkin leaves, and squatted down by the water tank to wash them.
After watching for a while, Gu Chenxi squatted down and started washing with Gu Lili.
To wash this termite mushroom, you must first wash its roots. Only after the roots are clean can you put it in a basin of water to wash it.
Otherwise, it will be difficult to clean the soil once it gets inside the umbrella canopy.
If it's not washed clean, it will smell like mud.
Gu Huanhuan and Zheng Yue, who were embroidering under the eaves, would occasionally turn their heads curiously to look at the two of them, and then continue embroidering.
After the two cleaned the termite mushrooms, Gu Lili started tearing them apart by hand.
Gu Chenxi found Gu Lili's actions rather strange. Wouldn't it be faster to cut with a knife?
"Miss, why tear it with your hands instead of cutting it with a knife? Is there a reason for this?" Gu Chenxi asked.
As Gu Chenxi spoke, she imitated Gu Lili and started tearing things up.
Gu Lili nodded and said, "Tearing it by hand will make it more flavorful when stir-fried."
The two of them quickly tore the washed matsutake mushrooms into pieces and took them inside to stir-fry.
Gu Lili recalled the childhood stories her friend had told her in her previous life. She had mentioned that back then, when there were many people in her family, a single mushroom would be served with a large bowl of green peppers.
Because people back then had all tasted the deliciousness of termite mushrooms, some would go to the fields or mountains to search for them before dawn. Whether you could eat termite mushrooms depended on luck.
Moreover, the termite mushrooms were chopped together with chili peppers and steamed with lard.
After steaming, it's impossible to tell the difference between chili peppers and termite mushrooms.
She was still young then, and her eyes were watering from the spiciness, but she still couldn't help but shovel her chopsticks into the bowl of chicken mushrooms.
I wonder if Gu Lili's friend would envy her if she knew that Gu Lili had picked so many matsutake mushrooms.
Gu Lili snapped out of her thoughts, because Gu Chenxi had already cooked the pot.
Gu Lili scooped a spoonful of lard and put it in the pot, then added garlic, green peppers, and matsutake mushrooms in that order.
As Gu Lili stir-fried, the aroma gradually wafted out of the pot.
Gu Chenxi unconsciously swallowed a mouthful of saliva; the aroma of this chicken mushroom alone was enough to make her mouth water.
Gu Lili stir-fried the chicken mushrooms, then stir-fried some scallions with eggs, and also made braised pork, which everyone loves.
Although there were only three dishes, the portion sizes of each dish were very generous.
It's enough for Gu Lili and her whole family to eat.
The villagers who came to make soap smelled the delicious aroma wafting from Gu Lili's kitchen, which meant it was time for them to eat.
After everyone finished their work, they went home for dinner.
Working at Gu Lili's house was truly unbearable.
Not only do you have to resist the aroma of pork cracklings, but the smell of food in Gu Lili's kitchen is even more tempting.
The soap makers gradually left, and those who went out to work also went home.
As soon as Li Ershu entered the courtyard, he smelled the aroma of food.
"Lili, what delicious food are you making today?" Li Ershu asked with a smile.
After working all afternoon, I'm really hungry.
Gu Lili said mysteriously, "You'll know once you eat it."
Hearing Gu Lili say this, everyone became even more excited.
After washing their hands, everyone went to the kitchen to prepare for dinner.
"What is this?" Li Ershu asked, pointing to the termite mushroom.
This dish seems to be something I've never seen before, and it smells quite delicious.
Everyone was very curious because at Gu Lili's house, they always seemed to be able to eat strange and unusual things, but everything tasted pretty good.
Gu Lili smiled and said, "These are the termite mushrooms that Chenxi and I picked this morning. They're delicious, come and eat!"
Everyone had experience, and Gu Lili said that if something tastes good, then it must taste good.
Without any hesitation, everyone reached into the bowl of termite mushrooms with their chopsticks and ate some.
After eating like that, everyone present felt as if they had opened the door to a new world, and they couldn't stop eating.
"Wow, this is so delicious, Pear!"
"Yes, sister, is there any more? How about we make some more tonight?"
"Cousin, this is delicious!"
"......."
Everyone ate while praising the food.
Before we knew it, the large bowl of termite mushrooms was empty.
Today, because of this matsutake mushroom, almost no one has touched the braised pork that everyone usually loves to eat.
Gu Lili couldn't help but say proudly, "Isn't it delicious! We'll go up the mountain again later to see if there are any other mushrooms, and we'll cook them for you tonight!"
To everyone's surprise, the reaction to the word "mushroom" was exactly the same as Gu Chenxi's.
"Lili, you said what we just ate was mushrooms?" Grandma Li asked incredulously.
Once the termite mushrooms were cooked, no one recognized their original appearance, and they ate them without any worries.
Hearing Gu Lili's words, everyone except the children and Chang'an and Gu Chenxi were shocked.
Gu Lili patiently explained, "Grandma, I've eaten mushrooms like this many times. Don't worry, they're not poisonous."
After hearing what Gu Lili said, everyone's expressions softened.
Since Gu Lili said it's edible, then it must be edible.
Before anyone could react, Li Ershu poured the remaining chicken mushroom soup into his rice bowl and started eating it.
Li Tiansheng muttered, "Second brother, you really know how to eat!"
Li Tiansheng couldn't even imagine how delicious this soup would be when mixed with rice.
"Hehe, who told me to be quick-witted and nimble-fingered!" Li Ershu chuckled.
Only when the termite mushrooms were gone did everyone reach for the other bowls with their chopsticks.
After finishing their meal, Gu Lili decided to take Gu Chenxi, Gu Yanyu, and Li Qimu up the mountain to see if there were any other varieties of mushrooms.
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