Chapter 15 Pickled Bamboo Shoots
Having tasted the deliciousness of bamboo shoots, the two of them went to the bamboo forest to dig for bamboo shoots early this morning.
After almost a morning of work, more than twenty bamboo shoots of various sizes were piled up in the yard, creating a very impressive scene.
"Wow, it feels like we can eat like this until Chinese New Year!" Su Yun exclaimed excitedly.
"Really?" Night Breeze was also very happy.
"Hehe, I think it's good." Su Yun held up a plump white bamboo shoot, quite satisfied.
Su Yun began processing the bamboo shoots she had dug up. This time, in addition to drying the bamboo shoots, she decided to pickle some.
The method for pickling bamboo shoots is very simple. First, clean the container, the jar for storing the bamboo shoots, the cutting board, and the knife. After cleaning them all, wash them repeatedly with boiling water to ensure that there is no oil left. Then, place them in the sun to dry in the sun until they are ready to use later.
Then start processing the bamboo shoots. Peel them, wash them, slice them, blanch them in water, and then take them out and put them on a plate to cool.
Night Breeze volunteered to help cook the bamboo shoots, and since it didn't seem like a difficult task, Su Yun let him go.
He then went to the yard to cut bamboo shoots.
Ye Feng, holding a large strainer, squatted in the kitchen, adding firewood and stirring the fire with a serious expression. He would occasionally scoop out the bamboo shoots from the pot. The bamboo shoots were scalded by the water, and the soup began to bubble with milky white water, emitting a light fragrance, similar to the aroma of food before a meal.
Su Yun, who hadn't eaten since morning, was getting hungry from the smell.
Of course, Ye Feng was no exception. His eyes were fixed on the translucent white and tender bamboo shoots in the pot. His fluffy ears perked up, and his face was full of longing, but he didn't steal a single piece.
So cute.
Su Yun secretly covered her mouth and chuckled for a moment, then quickened her pace.
I need to finish this quickly so I can prepare lunch.
After a busy morning and most of the afternoon, we finally had lunch: a fresh bamboo shoot and fish soup stewed in a small earthenware pot. We also picked some mustard greens and the two of us sat around the pot, enjoying a warm and comforting meal.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Su Yun picked a small bunch of honeysuckle flowers, brewed two cups of honeysuckle tea, and handed one cup to Ye Feng.
The withered honeysuckle, nourished by hot water, swayed beautifully once again in the clear water.
"The flowers have bloomed again." Night Breeze took the cup, his eyes full of wonder. "Amazing."
"Hehe, let's try it first," Su Yun suggested.
Night Breeze raised his cup, gulped down a large mouthful, then his face scrunched up, and he finally uttered a few words: "Bitter...not tasty..."
Eat? Su Yun peeked out and saw that Ye Feng's cup was empty, the bottom was clean, and he had swallowed not only the water but also the honeysuckle.
"Silly!" Su Yun exclaimed, both amused and exasperated, explaining, "Oh, it's not like that. This flower isn't edible. This honeysuckle tea should be drunk slowly, only the water from which it's brewed should be consumed to savor the subtle sweetness."
As she spoke, Su Yun picked up her cup and poured half of her tea into Ye Feng's cup.
Ye Feng held the cup, looking bewildered and confused: "A lingering sweetness?"
"It's sweet, so drink it slowly." Su Yun raised her cup, intending to give an elegant demonstration. With a calm expression and graceful posture, she picked up the broken tea mug, lowered her eyes, and gently blew the honeysuckle petals aside. Then, she took a sip of honeysuckle tea along the rim of the cup.
The water, infused with the bitterness of honeysuckle, tasted slightly sweet amidst the bitterness, adding flavor to the otherwise bland water. Su Yun sighed softly, "Very good."
Ye Feng watched Su Yun's affected performance from beginning to end. His expression shifted from confusion to sudden understanding, and finally, after listening to Su Yun's words, he seemed to have a sudden realization. His expression brightened, and he eagerly imitated Su Yun, slowly taking a sip as well…
His knowing expression instantly crumbled, his relaxed brows furrowed again, and he weakly uttered two words: "Bitter..."
Su Yun couldn't hold back this time and burst out laughing.
Night Wind felt very hurt, his ears drooping.
Su Yun quickly stopped laughing and comforted her, "This is supposed to be bitter, but you'll gradually taste the sweetness later. If you don't like it, don't drink it. It's nothing."
The night wind remained silent, its eyes and brows lowered, and its little ears not perked up.
Su Yun felt extremely distressed and used her ultimate weapon: "It will taste better if you add some sugar. Try it if you don't believe me."
As she spoke, Su Yun took out rock sugar. When the herbal tea met the rock sugar, the bitterness of the tea was removed, leaving only the sweetness of the sugar mixed with the freshness of the tea. No one could resist it, and of course, the kitten was no exception.
Ye Feng's expression immediately brightened, and he picked up his teacup and began to drink happily.
The little ears twitched adorably.
Are they that easy to coax?
At first, I thought Ye Feng was a bit cold and aloof, but after spending some time with him, I realized that wasn't the case at all. Apart from the initial coldness, which was a disguise to keep danger away and give people the impression that he was not easy to mess with, in our daily interactions, the kitten's emotions were completely reflected in his ears and tail.
A wagging tail means happiness, a drooping tail means sadness, and a calm tail means occasional swaying.
The ears are even more interesting. When they are calm, they stand upright and will occasionally twitch involuntarily. When they hear something interesting, happy, or exciting, they will stand up very high, while they will droop down when they are sad or hurt.
It's practically a built-in mood indicator. Su Yun thought to herself.
After lunch and afternoon tea.
The bamboo shoots placed in the yard have almost all cooled down; pickling bamboo shoots is very simple.
Su Yun picked up a pickling jar he had found while searching for supplies. He had originally planned to save it to pickle sauerkraut when he had more mustard greens, but now he was using it directly.
The cleaned jar was placed in the corner and had been dried out. Su Yun grabbed bamboo shoot slices and stuffed them into the jar. After it was almost full, he poured well water into the jar to cover the bamboo shoot slices, put the lid on, and then added a bowl of water around the edge of the lid to ensure that the air was completely cut off. Finally, he moved the jar to a cool corner in the storage room, and the pickled bamboo shoots were ready!
Su Yun made two large vats of them. After a month or two, the pickled bamboo shoots in the vats would naturally ferment and turn sour, and then they would be ready to eat.
Su Yun clapped her hands in satisfaction and spread the remaining bamboo shoot slices out on a winnowing basket to dry. Dried bamboo shoots are also a rare delicacy.
Don't be fooled by its dry appearance. When it's time to eat it, soak it in hot water and use it to stir-fry meat or make soup. It has a unique flavor. I'll definitely try to make some cured pork to store for winter. Dried bamboo shoots and cured pork, how wonderful!
Su Yun dreamed of an infinitely bright future.
Looking at the large expanse of dried bamboo shoots and vegetables drying in the yard, I felt extremely satisfied, but I just felt there wasn't enough space.
"There's nowhere to dry the clothes," Su Yun muttered softly.
She scratched her head and looked at the two large rows of dried vegetables drying in the yard. The yard was almost completely covered with green vegetables, as if the vegetables had all decided to hang together on the southeast branch, which looked quite spectacular.
We had very few winnowing baskets at home, so we used them all to dry herbs and bamboo shoots. The bamboo shoots ended up being hung on the clothesline.
Looking at the crowded courtyard.
Su Yun blinked, thought for a moment, took out a hammer and nails, measured them, found the right position, and pulled two more ropes, perfectly solving the problem of not having enough ropes.
She continued to diligently air out her quilts, clothes, and other household items. "Hey, I can handle both food and daily necessities! I'm such a clever little devil. I'm so capable, the apocalypse is nothing to me!" Su Yun boasted proudly, hands on her hips, her expression full of pride and self-satisfaction after finishing airing out the quilts.
Ye Feng's face darkened, and he seemed to have thought of something; his ears drooped down.
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