Chapter 11 Helping in the Kitchen
"Let's go."
Liao Yongxin waved his hand and took Du Shaojie into the family compound.
They walked a long way inside and came to a large courtyard with a separate entrance. There were three rows of brick houses in the courtyard, and the kitchen was also in the courtyard, which was very spacious.
"Master Liao, so early? Thank you for your hard work. The dishes are in the kitchen. If you see anything missing, I will go and prepare it."
After knocking on the door, a middle-aged man politely welcomed the two of them in.
"It's better to prepare it early, so as not to be in a hurry later."
Liao Yongxin didn't like to greet people, so he went straight into the kitchen after saying hello.
He first counted all the ingredients, including spices and condiments. Then he asked Du Shaojie to wash and cut the vegetables, and he began to prepare various ingredients.
Du Shaojie intuitively felt that the identity of the host was not ordinary, but he was very discerning and didn't ask too much.
According to Liao Yongxin's requirements, each dish had a different way of cutting. The host prepared chicken, pork, pork chops, lamb chops, large yellow croaker, eggs, as well as some vegetables and side dishes, which was considered very rich at the time.
"Xiao Du, the host's requirements are high, so I won't let you cook today, but you can watch from the side. How much you can learn depends on your ability." After
a few hours of busy work, the preparations were ready.
Several cold dishes were mixed first and put aside for later use. They could be served when the hot dishes started to be fried.
Then, Liao Yongxin started to heat the pot, and at the same time he said something to Du Shaojie, after all, the other party could not get close to watch without his nod.
"Okay, thank you, Master Liao."
Du Shaojie smiled happily, while helping Liao Yongxin, he watched the other party cook seriously.
The first dish was candied potatoes, which was very popular at the time, but not common in later generations.
It was not difficult to make. The potato cubes were covered with dry powder and fried first. When the surface turned golden brown, they could be picked up. The more difficult part was frying sugar color, which needed to be fried to a degree between tender and old sugar color.
After the sugar is cooked, pour in the fried potato cubes and stir-fry evenly, then quickly serve.
The dishes are divided into three plates, and a small bowl is left on the stove. The host's family immediately began to serve the dishes. Liao Yongxin and Du Shaojie each tasted it. The taste is good, and the shiny sugar threads are very long and look pretty.
"The key to this dish is to stir-fry the sugar color. If the heat is not enough, the threads will not be pulled, and if the heat is too much, it will be bitter. Generally speaking, it is not difficult. You can get the hang of it after practicing a few times."
The two ate a few pieces of candied potatoes while they were hot, and Liao Yongxin casually pointed out.
The next dish was "braised yellow croaker". Du Shaojie didn't have time to watch carefully because he had to fry scrambled eggs.
For the braised lamb chops dish, Liao Yongxin only completed the first half, and then handed it to Du Shaojie to watch the heat. In the end, he was responsible for collecting the soup and serving it.
Liao Yongxin started the pot again and fried a dish of "Osmanthus meat".
The two cooperated and served the dishes very quickly. Before they knew it, three tables of dishes were ready.
However, Du Shaojie was busy all the time, and he only glanced at most of the dishes. The only thing he got was a dish of "candied potatoes".
The host had reserved dishes for them in advance, as well as two large bowls of white rice.
Du Shaojie and Liao Yongxin had lunch in the kitchen, and then cleaned up the stove and cutting board. They didn't have to worry about cleaning up the mess, and they got up and said goodbye.
When they left, the host gave them two bacon, two packs of pork chops, a bottle of white wine, and a big front door.
After leaving the wool spinning factory family compound, Liao Yongxin stopped his bicycle on the side of the road, and then stuffed a bacon and a pack of pork chops into Du Shaojie, and then gave him five yuan.
Du Shaojie was about to refuse, but Liao Yongxin whispered: "I won't give you cigarettes and alcohol, you take the things and money, and don't say anything when you go out."
Obviously, the host was very satisfied with the dishes cooked by Liao Yongxin, and not only gave some things but also secretly stuffed some money. As for how much money it was, Du Shaojie didn't know and didn't care.
For him, today's harvest was already very satisfying.
Du Shaojie took the things and five yuan, and parted ways with Liao Yongxin at the intersection ahead.
When he got home, it was almost five o'clock in the afternoon. Wang Yuxiu and Xiaomei were making dumplings, and Xiaoya was also joining in the fun.
"Didn't you eat dumplings for lunch?"
Du Shaojie hung the bacon by the kitchen door, and the pork chops froze directly outside the house.
After entering the house, he washed his face and hands first, and then went over to help.
"Brother, Mom said to wait for you to come back to eat together."
Although Du Xiaomei is not very old, she is very capable.
Wang Yuxiu rolled the dumpling skins and she pinched the dumplings. The two cooperated tacitly and were not slow at all.
Du Xiaoya was not very good at making dumplings. The dumplings she pinched looked like irregular gold ingots, but no one said anything to her.
Du Shaojie felt warm when he heard what his elder sister said. He then took the rolling pin from Wang Yuxiu's hand and rolled the skins suddenly faster. One person rolled the dumpling skins, and two people wrapped them. They finished wrapping in less than half an hour.
He learned how to make noodles in the cafeteria, and he could make dumplings, buns, and hand-rolled noodles.
"Xiaojie, you are tired all day, go and rest first, and I will call you when the dumplings are cooked."
Wang Yuxiu clapped her hands, looked up at her son, and felt very distressed.
It's a rare day off, but the son still has to go out to work. Isn't it to improve the family's life?
"Well, I'll go lie down first. Mom, the host gave us a piece of bacon and a bag of ribs today. The bacon is hung in the kitchen, and the ribs are frozen outside the kitchen."
Du Shaojie nodded. He was busy for most of the day and was indeed a little tired.
He immediately got up to wash his hands and told Wang Yuxiu.
"Brother, there are delicious foods again? I'm so happy."
Du Xiaoya's saliva almost flowed down when she heard about bacon and ribs.
Xiaomei was not much better. While cleaning the table, she said, "I haven't eaten bacon for a long time. Brother, when will you fry it for us?"
"You two greedy cats, you only know how to eat all day. The New Year will be here soon, and the bacon will be saved for the New Year."
Wang Yuxiu thought to herself that good things can't be eaten up in a few days.
Life must be long-term. Drinking today is the behavior of a prodigal.
Xiaomei lowered her head and went to the kitchen with the wrapped dumplings.
Xiaoya looked at her brother pitifully, wanting to say something but ultimately not opening her mouth.
"The Chinese New Year is only a few days away. Wait until New Year's Eve and I'll fry some bacon for you."
Du Shaojie knew what Wang Yuxiu was thinking, so he didn't say much.
In the evening.
The family sat together, eating steaming hot dumplings stuffed with cabbage and pork.
Xiaomei and Xiaoya were eating with oil dripping from their mouths, and Wang Yuxiu also thought the dumplings tasted particularly good.
"Xiaojie, how did you make the dumpling stuffing? I can't make it taste this way."
Du Shaojie was amused when he heard it, thinking, it would be strange if you could make it. When he was mixing the stuffing before, he added thirteen spices, and also deliberately added a little more oil.
He naturally wouldn't take up this topic, to avoid his mother scolding him for not knowing how to live.
"Brother, we'll be back to school tomorrow, and then we'll have winter vacation."
"Brother, Xiaojuan has a sled, but my sister and I don't. Can you make one for us?"
After Du Xiaoya was full, she chattered non-stop.
(End of this chapter)
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