Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Salt and Pepper Ribs.
The sun was still low, and Ji Xu took the rapeseed, garlic, and ginger, and carried the iron hoe by the corner of the door, and went to the back of the house.
In a corner of the vegetable patch, I saw that the onions and wild peppers planted yesterday had taken root and were growing vigorously overnight.
"Sister, should we plant those rapeseeds now?" Ji Zhu asked happily with her face raised.
Just now in the country market, she was filled with anticipation when she saw her elder sister buying vegetable seeds. The two vegetable plots at home had been fallow for half a year, and now she finally had enough money to buy seeds to plant. As long as she worked diligently, it meant that in the future she would be able to pick vegetables to eat and would not have to go hungry.
I saw the vegetable plot in front of me. Although it was abandoned, there were only some small and fluffy weeds. This was thanks to the two sisters who were diligent in weeding. Otherwise, after half a year of abandonment, the weeds in these two plots would have been taller than people.
Ji Xu said, "Yes, once the ground is prepared and the soil is built, we can start planting."
"Xiaozhu is helping too!" Jizhu said happily.
Ji Xu was seen waving a hoe to loosen the soil. Although the vegetable field was not occupied by weeds, the soil was trampled hard and needed to be loosened before planting vegetables.
In her previous life, her grandmother was often frightened by the sight of pesticide residues on vegetables, so she simply planted all kinds of vegetables in the yard to be self-sufficient. She was busy running around, and the two of them often discussed whether this piece of land needed thinning out the seedlings or that piece of land needed trellises.
Now it has become a skill for her. Ji Xu would dig a piece of soil with a hoe to loosen it. She would either turn the hoe over to break up the big piece, or bend down to pick up some weeds and throw them aside.
Ji Zhu squatted beside him, helping to pull the weeds, which were as small as radishes, but she did not complain of being tired and was very patient.
When he was thirsty, he did not make a fuss, but went to the kitchen, scooped water from the cauldron and drank it, and then took a bowl and brought a bowl to Ji Xu.
"Sister, do you want some water?"
"I'm really thirsty right now. Thank you, Xiaozhu."
Holding the hoe handle, Ji Xu drank a bowl of sweet water. Wiping the corner of his mouth, he saw that half of the vegetable field was cultivated in front of him. He looked up at the sky and saw that the sun was at its zenith. He said:
"Sister, go make lunch first. Xiaozhu, take a rest. Come back after lunch."
As long as the land is prepared and arranged into strips, it will be quick to plant in the second half of the day. Make holes at intervals, water thoroughly, put three or four seeds in the holes, cover with a thin layer of soil, and wait for them to germinate.
Check again later to see which school's seedlings have not sprouted or which school's seedlings are too lush. If you thin out and transplant them appropriately, they will grow better.
As for the garlic, you have to break it into small pieces and stick them into the soil with the skin on.
Ginger is divided into small pieces according to the position of the buds and inserted into the soil.
She had already divided the positions of each vegetable in her mind. Ginger and garlic were placed together with onions and wild peppers, occupying the upper half of the plot; the rest were planted in order from east to west, including cabbage, celery, radish, and rapeseed.
If you grow your own vegetables, your life will gradually get better.
Ji Zhu nodded obediently, followed Ji Xu out of the vegetable garden, came to the kitchen, and washed her hands first.
Seeing Ji Xu take out the fresh ribs he bought from Butcher Li from the wicker basket, Ji Zhu's eyes lit up and asked:
"Sister, are the ribs going to be used in soup?"
Ribs are cheaper than real meat. In the past, my mother would pick up one and buy it during festivals, add some lotus roots, and cook a pot of soup full of the aroma of meat and bones.
"Use it to make salt and pepper ribs. I guarantee Xiaozhu's ears will twitch after eating it."
Ji Xu was chopping the ribs with a sharp hatchet, cutting one piece at a time, then mixing it with some flour and salt. He then washed it several times with clean water until there was no blood foam. Then he cut some ginger into shreds and added some sauce and mixed it evenly.
The hot oil in the pot sizzles, and when the ribs are fried over low heat until golden brown and cooked through, they are taken out, drained of the oil, and fried again, this time over high heat, to make the outside of the ribs crispy.
After frying, there is already a tempting crispy aroma. Ji Xu temporarily collected the oil used to fry the ribs in two bowls so that he could use it to cook later.
Leave some oil in the pot to fry the minced garlic.
After pouring the ribs, she added some pepper and salt powder that she ground herself, stir-fried it several times, and then served it on half a bamboo joint.
The golden and crispy salt and pepper ribs are so tempting with their fresh aroma.
Ji Zhu watched from the side and swallowed countless saliva. When Ji Xu picked up a piece for her to try first, her ears moved as soon as she took a bite. She even held the bone in her mouth and slurped it several times.
In addition to this meat dish, Ji Xu also steamed some steamed cakes as the staple food.
When packing Ji Feng's portion, she thought about what happened yesterday. Maybe the Feng family's children would still be greedy for hers. Fearing that Ji Feng would not have enough to eat, she packed more and had Ji Zhu deliver it.
Ji Zhu was still running very fast, unlike yesterday when she chattered and talked to Ji Feng for half the car. Her sister bought a lot of things, this and that.
This time, she was hooked by the taste she had just tasted, and went home after sending him off.
Ji Feng couldn't help laughing while holding the bamboo tube on the top of the mountain, and shouted to the back figure:
"You greedy devil, slow down! Be careful not to fall!"
Jizhu responded repeatedly, and the little one ran away.
"Sister Feng, please open the bamboo tube quickly and let me see the white jade steamed buns and salt and pepper ribs inside."
The person who spoke was Feng Xingba, who had been squatting here since early morning.
It turned out that his grandmother was unable to make the braised pork, and he had been craving the taste all night, and even the water-infused cakes for breakfast did not taste good.
Thinking that Ji Xu might make braised pork for Ji Feng for lunch today, he came to wait in advance with a big potato in his arms.
Ji Feng was cutting grass for pigs at that time, and she found it funny, so she chased him away.
"You should go home quickly. My sister doesn't know how to make braised pork. How can we afford to eat fatty meat every day?"
Feng Xingba didn't leave either. He just said, "The food your sister cooks is delicious. If you bring me something else, I'll give you some potatoes in exchange."
So wherever Ji Feng took the pigs, he would follow with the potato in his arms, and he looked forward to Ji Zhu bringing him food even more than Ji Feng did.
He finally waited, and when he heard that there were white jade steamed buns and salt and pepper ribs inside, he couldn't wait to see them.
I saw half of the bamboo shell peeled off, and at one end were four snow-white and smooth... white jade steamed cakes?
The remaining space is filled with ribs, which are golden and shiny, and exude a crispy aroma.
Feng Xingba traded his fresh potato for a white jade steamed bun and two pieces of meat.
Ji Feng said: "My sister is the only one in the whole village who can make this white jade steamed cake. She uses flour and fine grains.
They sell for a penny each in the market, so I'm not taking advantage of you."
Feng Xingba was no match for him. He nodded repeatedly, took a bite of the hot steamed bun, then a bite of the meat, his hands and mouth greasy. He never stopped eating, and in the end, he couldn't bear to spit out even the bones, so he kept them in his mouth, turning them over and over again, it was so delicious.
"Feng Xingba! Are you still hanging out here? Come home with me and have lunch!"
Feng Fuzhen came to the foot of the mountain.
He put his hands on his waist and shouted from a distance.
She had her hair tied up in buns with red hair strings, and she was wearing a silver-red blouse made of fine cloth, a skirt, and even her shoes were made of soft-soled fine cloth.
Most country people wore undyed linen, mostly rough white in color. Such a bright color was only worn by the girl from the Feng family in Benguli.
"I'm not hungry."
Feng Xingba refused to go back. The food cooked by his grandmother was tasteless, and he was racking his brains to think of how to get another piece of meat.
Feng Fuzhen came over and pulled his ear.
"You've been out all morning, and you don't even want to eat?"
She is Feng Xingba's elder sister. Since they both lost their mother, Feng Fuzhen had to discipline him on a regular basis.
"Oh..."
Feng Xingba was six years old and had just reached Feng Fuzhen's waist when he was immediately grabbed and taken away.
He was unwilling to comply and said hurriedly:
"I've eaten the white jade steamed buns and salt and pepper ribs Sister Feng gave me! I'm not hungry."
Feng Fuzhen just noticed that he still had a bone in his mouth and was annoyed by his poor appearance.
"The price of the ribs is much lower than that of the meat. How can they be delicious? Grandmother has made a fresh meat and potato soup for you to eat when you get home."
Her family raises pigs on the hilltop, and the meat sold by Butcher Li in the country market is sometimes slaughtered and transported to her house. Every now and then, she can't eat fresh meat no matter what she wants.
Feng Fuzhen couldn't help but pinch him, making him scream.
"Oh my... the meat soup made by my eldest mother is not tasty. The ribs made by the eldest sister of the Ji family are more delicious."
Feng Xingba hugged the tree tightly and refused to leave.
Feng Fuzhen would not really hurt him, so she had to let go of his hand first. Just as they were in a stalemate, she could not help but smell a strong aroma of meat.
I'm pretty sure it didn't come from home, so where else could it have come from? She turned back suspiciously.
Ji Feng was enjoying the meat when she heard Feng Xingba nodding repeatedly in praise of her sister. She looked up and found Feng Fuzhen turned around and looked at the meat in her bowl.
She asked politely, "Sister Fuzhen, would you like to try it?"
"Tsk, what's the point of eating ribs?
Well, give it to me and let me try it."
Ji Feng picked up a piece and shared it with her, ignoring Feng Xingba's sharp gaze.
Feng Fuzhen took a bite. The meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The meat also had an indescribable fragrance. She took a second bite...
There were only bones left. I wanted to suck on the bones to savor the taste, but I felt ashamed and immediately spit them out on the ground.
"Is it delicious?" Feng Xingba still held the bone in his mouth.
"good."
Feng Fuzhen glanced at the bamboo bowl and found that there was still a lot left.
This time Ji Feng didn't offer another piece, what a tactless person.
Just as I was thinking about it, I saw Ji Feng smiling and asked:
"Sister Fuzhen, would you like to try this white jade steamed cake?"
She thought that if Feng Fuzhen thought it tasted good, she could buy some.
"Well, let me try it." Feng Fuzhen swallowed quietly.
Normally, she would never eat from other people's bowls. Maybe she hadn't had lunch yet and was hungry.
Ji Feng picked up one from the side that she had never touched and gave it to her.
Feng Fuzhen spread it in the palm of her hand, looked at it, pinched it, tentatively put it into her mouth, took a bite, followed by a second bite, and before she knew it, she had finished the whole thing and still felt unsatisfied.
Feng Xingba, who was standing by, saw that she was eating quickly and imitated her:
"This white jade steamed cake is only made by the sister of the Ji family in the surrounding area. It uses flour and fine grains.
They can be sold for one penny each in the market."
Feng Fuzhen thought to herself, what's so good about refined grains? We eat refined grains every day at home.
However, I just can’t make it taste this way.
She leaned over and coughed. "I won't eat your food for nothing. I just happened to have some jujubes cut down at home. I'll go get you a couple."
He turned back and said, "Feng Xingba, you come with me."
Feng Xingba was unwilling at first, but then he thought, if he sent Ganzhe, would Ji Feng give him some meat to eat?
In this way, he quickly caught up with Feng Fuzhen.
After a while, Feng Fuzhen brought three long green-skinned ganzhe, and Feng Xingba brought one.
Every child loves this sweet jujube. Ordinary families are busy growing crops and don't have extra land to grow it. Only wealthy families like the Feng family grow it every year to sweeten their children's mouths.
Ji Feng thought that she could take Gan Zhe back and give it to her sister and the others as a treat, so she accepted the four pieces and gave each of them two pieces of meat.
Feng Xingba quickly finished eating the two pieces and sucked his fingers.
Feng Fuzhen only ate one piece this time and wanted to take the other piece back to her grandmother, saying:
"Tomorrow morning, bring four more white jade steamed buns and I'll buy them."
Ji Feng was even happier that it was a successful business deal. She praised her steamed buns, but of course she didn't reveal anything about the method.
The author has something to say:
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Ganzhe, same as "sugarcane".
Sima Xiangru of the Han Dynasty wrote in "Zixu Fu": "The weeds are thick and the elms are wild, and the mulberry trees are thick and the weeds are thick."
Guo Pu's annotation says: "Zhuzhe is Ganzhe."
There was no term for sugarcane in the Western Han Dynasty, so it was written as ganzhe.
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