Chapter 171 Mushroom Hot Pot in Winter
Lin Heng walked over and took a look, and couldn't help but reveal a look of surprise. What was growing on the dead tree that Xiulan was pointing at was not something else but the snow-white Tremella fuciformis.
This thing is extremely rare. I have been walking in the mountains for many years and have only encountered very few of them.
"After picking these, we can stew Tremella and lotus seed porridge twice." Lin Heng said with a smile. Tremella has the effect of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, and beautifying the skin. It is very suitable for women to eat.
Xiulan smiled and nodded, then took out a small bag and picked all the white fungus.
Not long after walking, Lin Heng saw a dried lily stalk at the edge of the woods. Unlike the ones he had seen before, this stalk was exceptionally thick, and even when dry it was still as thick as a thumb.
After Lin Heng dug for a while, the lily in the soil appeared. It was about the size of his palm, light pink on the outside and pink-white on the inside, like a lotus blooming in the soil.
Xiulan opened her eyes wide and said, "It's really big. It must be half a pound."
"I guess more than that."
Lin Heng said with a smile, and dug it out completely with a hoe, shaking off the soil. His big hands could just hold it. The diameter of the lily was nearly 15 centimeters.
Lin Heng handed the lily to Xiulan and said with a smile: "This is completely edible. Go back and process it, dry it and cook it with lotus seeds and white fungus to make porridge."
“Well, this is really big.”
Xiulan took a look and put the lily into Lin Heng's backpack. This was an unexpected surprise, an accidental encounter.
After walking up for a distance, the mushrooms suddenly disappeared, neither the enoki mushrooms nor the oyster mushrooms. Only tree tongues grew on the dead trunks, each one bigger than the other.
This thing is of no use, at most it can be used for burning fire.
Fortunately, the total amount of enoki mushrooms they picked up was more than 30 kilograms, which was considered a good harvest.
In a blink of an eye, the two came to the valley where they had hunted yellow muntjac before. In the summer, they had a good harvest here, but today they didn't get much.
Moreover, the wind was getting stronger, and the branches were rustling. Some trees that were hollowed out by longhorn beetles even broke with a snapping sound in the wind.
The two of them stepped on the leaves, which made crisp crackling sounds. Xiongba took two steps and urinated, sniffed the ground, and raised his head from time to time, with his ears erect and eyes looking around, so that he could detect any movement.
Lin Heng looked at his wife and said, "Let's go to the other side and take a look."
Xiulan tucked her wind-blown hair behind her ears, reached out to hold Lin Heng’s hand and nodded, “Then let’s go over and take a look.”
The two walked towards the other side on the scattered pebbles and scattered sand in the valley. In winter, the water in this mountain stream was very dry and only 50 centimeters wide. The two could easily cross it.
Seeing the traces left on the tree, Xiulan said, "It seems that the Hericium erinaceus here has also been picked."
Lin Heng pointed to a wooden stake in the distance and said, "There are still some left. It will be enough for us to pick up some and take them back to eat."
After a pause, he grinned at Xiulan again: "It doesn't matter what you sell. No matter who picks them, they will be sold to me in the end, so that we can make money."
This made Xiulan laugh: "That's not as good as the money we picked up ourselves."
The two searched the woods and occasionally picked up a few newly grown Hericium erinaceus.
This thing has high nutritional value, but the taste is actually not that good. It tastes a bit bitter if it is not blanched, and it tastes dry if fried. It is usually dried and made into biscuits or something.
After walking a few hundred meters, Lin Heng saw the boss's kiwi vine with scattered kiwis on it, most of which had fallen to the ground.
"Xiu Lan, come here and eat kiwi fruit." Lin Heng said to Xiu Lan not far away.
Wild kiwifruit matures late and the fruit is small, but the fruit tastes very good when it softens after falling to the ground.
After peeling off the furry skin, there is emerald green flesh inside, which is juicy and has a sweet scent.
Lin Heng peeled one and it had a crunchy texture, sweet with a hint of sourness, and tasted very good.
"Try it. These ones that ripen automatically are better tasting than those picked in advance." Lin Heng handed one to Xiulan.
He likes the ones that fall from the trees. People in the village started picking kiwis a month ago. The ones that are picked and ripened in advance do not taste as good as these.
Xiulan also gave her affirmation: "This kind is sweeter and tastes better than the ones picked by mom and the others."
"Then pick up some and take it back."
Lin Heng said, the two of them should sit here and eat until they are full before picking up the food.
Xiong Ba squatted beside Lin Heng and looked at him eagerly. Lin Heng glanced at him and said, "Can't you pick it up and eat it yourself? Do you want me to peel it for you?"
“Ouch~”
Xiongba stuck out his tongue, indicating that he would not eat the skin.
Lin Heng took a look at it, shook his head, peeled a few and fed them to it. After eating five Xiongba, it shook its head and ran away, as if it thought they were too sour.
Lin Heng and Xiulan ate a lot, but it didn't taste sour at all to them.
They took a bag and picked up about ten kilograms of kiwifruit before leaving. There are too many wild kiwifruits. Some mountains are covered with wild kiwifruits. People here often pick hundreds or thousands of kilograms of kiwifruits and make kiwifruit wine. It is said that the taste is not bad.
"Listen, is that the crowing of a golden rooster?"
Xiulan pointed to the middle of the mountain and said that as time gradually approached dusk, the golden roosters began to crow.
Lin Heng listened for a while and nodded in affirmation: "It is indeed a golden rooster, but it is a bit far away, so forget it."
The golden rooster and bamboo chicken that the family had shot earlier had not been eaten yet, and he was too lazy to track them down over such a long distance.
The two walked down along the Baishigou side. There were very few mushrooms on the road. Lin Heng even climbed into the pine forest and turned over the soil, but unfortunately he couldn't find any black truffles.
There are fewer types of mushrooms in winter, so picking them is much more difficult. Even after coming to such a far place, I still didn’t get a good harvest.
Lin Heng sighed, "In a few days, I guess only Enoki mushrooms will be left to pick."
Xiulan nodded: "Yes, let's just pick this one this year. It's enough for us to eat the dried mushrooms we have at home."
After running so far in such a strong wind and picking up only a few mushrooms, both of them felt a little bored.
In a blink of an eye, it was already past four in the afternoon. The sun had long since disappeared, and although the sky was blue, it was very gloomy.
This is typical winter weather, the sun only comes out for a short while at noon and disappears quickly.
The two walked together in the woods, no longer wanting to continue searching.
Just as they were about to leave the valley, Xiongba suddenly called out cheerfully from the hillside not far away: "Woof woof~"
"Let's go and take a look."
The two looked at each other and walked away together.
After walking a few steps, the two saw something next to Xiongba. Xiulan was surprised and said, "I didn't expect to find so many oyster mushrooms when we were about to go back."
"I can pick more than 20 kilograms of fruit." Lin Heng was also a little surprised.
This is a fallen and rotten willow tree with clusters of oyster mushrooms growing on the trunk. The caps are silver-gray, which is different from the very white color of the oyster mushrooms you buy.
After years of walking in the mountains, they can be sure that this thing is oyster mushroom.
With smiles on their faces, the two men ran over and started picking the fruits swiftly. They felt at ease only when they had these fruits in their pockets.
Originally, the things picked today could only fill up Lin Heng's backpack, but after picking all the oyster mushrooms from this tree, Xiulan's backpack was almost full as well.
Lin Heng rubbed Xiong Ba's head hard and said happily: "Let's go, let's go home."
The two of them and the dog walked home together. They didn't have such good luck on the way back. The closer they got to home, the fewer mushrooms they saw.
After leaving Baishigou, they walked back along another forest path. Lin Heng looked everywhere for prey, but unfortunately he didn't see any prey until he returned home. He only heard a few golden roosters crowing in the distance.
When they returned to the village, they met Liu Lan who had also returned from the mountains.
As soon as Liu Lan saw Lin Heng, she couldn't help but walk over and ask, "Did you pick up black truffles again?"
Lin Heng shook his head repeatedly: "How is that possible? I was just lucky last time. I can really encounter it every time."
Xiulan also said: "There were only some oyster mushrooms and black mushrooms. I didn't even see a few Hericium erinaceus."
Liu Lan took a closer look at the two people's baskets and felt relieved. She was just about to get black truffles every time, but her heart couldn't bear it. She smiled and said, "Li Baigen has picked all the Hericium erinaceus. He took it yesterday and his son each carried a high basket back."
Lin Heng showed a hint of understanding: "Is that so? No wonder we didn't pick it up."
Liu Lan shook her head and said, "During this period of time, there are too many people going to the mountains to dig kudzu roots, yams, medicinal herbs, pick mushrooms and kiwis. If you want to harvest, you can only go deep into the mountains."
The two nodded and were about to leave when Wang Kaidian, who had asked Xiulan to help him braise the pig's head, came over with a gun. Seeing Lin Heng, he shouted, "Lin Heng, didn't you hit anything?"
He was obviously preparing to go up the mountain to hunt. He often went up the mountain alone and was not afraid at all.
Lin Heng smiled and shook his head: "No, Uncle Wang, I just picked up some mushrooms today."
Wang Kaidian didn't believe it: "You must have killed a leopard and you didn't look for it carefully."
Lin Heng spread his hands helplessly: "Really? I went to Baishigou and found nothing."
Wang Kaidian reluctantly believed it: "I've been experiencing the same thing these days. I saw a forest musk deer a few days ago and have been tracking it for several days. I guess there's no hope. This creature is too alert."
Hearing this, Lin Heng was startled and a little envious. He was actually looking for musk deer today, but he didn't find any traces. The forest was too big, and it was not easy to find prey.
After thinking for a while, he said, "Uncle Wang, if you give up, tell me the location. I want to go and see it too."
Wang Kaidian did not refuse and nodded, "Okay, but this thing is moving around everywhere, and I can't be sure it's still in the same place."
He was not optimistic about Lin Heng either. Lin Musk was too cunning and the hope of hitting him even with a bow and arrow was slim.
"Thank you then." Lin Heng said with a smile and left.
This period is not only the time when musk deer are in estrus, but also the time when the male musk deer's body has the most and richest musk.
He planned to look for the traces of musk deer in the next few days. If he could kill a male one, he would get at least 1,500 yuan, which would be a huge fortune for him.
If you can catch one alive, you will be even more lucky. But this is a rare opportunity, and it is almost impossible without an anesthetic needle.
"Dad~"
As soon as he entered the yard, Xiaoxia ran towards him, but was stopped by Caiyun.
"Come, give me a hug."
Lin Heng put down the backpack, held his darling daughter in his arms, rocked her, and threw her in the air a few times. She immediately laughed.
"Sister Xiulan, you have a good harvest." Caiyun said with a smile as she looked at the mushrooms in the two people's backpacks.
"It's OK. Here are some kiwi fruits for you to try."
Xiulan smiled and said, handing the kiwi to Caiyun. Lin Heng also took one and peeled it for Xiaoxia to eat.
"How sweet." Caiyun's eyes lit up.
Xiaoxia finished eating in a few bites and wanted to lick Lin Heng's fingers. When she failed, she said coquettishly, "Daddy, I want more~"
After feeding his daughter another kiwi fruit, Lin Heng put her down.
While processing the mushrooms, Xiulan asked, "Would you like to have hot pot tonight?"
Lin Heng nodded: "Okay, let's eat it together, three of us, and try it first."
If we invite everyone, it would be too much and we won't be able to prepare so many things in such a hurry.
It's very simple to feed three people, just prepare a few dishes.
Caiyun said in surprise: "Then I am lucky enough to get it."
Lin Heng glanced at her and said with a smile: "This is what you deserve."
After saying that, he got up and went to prepare, as he was already hungry.
He asked Xiulan and Caiyun to prepare the vegetables and other things. He used the dried crucian carp to make a pot of crucian carp soup, and then ignited the charcoal and added it into the copper stove.
This copper stove was a double-flavored pot. He added the hot pot base he had prepared earlier to one side, and some soybeans and dried morels, porcini, matsutake and other mushrooms to the other side.
Let the charcoal fire slowly heat up and cook, Lin Heng also cut some leopard meat, pork, sausage, leopard tripe and leopard small intestines.
A hot pot cannot be without meat dishes, otherwise it will lose its soul.
“Are these vegetables okay?”
Xiulan held a bamboo sieve of vegetables and said that the most common ones were the wild enoki mushrooms picked today.
"That's enough, come and eat, it's ready."
Lin Heng nodded. As time was short, he prepared dishes with sour and spicy tastes.
Hotpot has been popular in the country for a long time and many people know about it, but only rich people can afford it.
This was the first time for Xiulan and Caiyun to eat hotpot, and they were a little curious.
"Can I just pick it up and dip it in the soup?" Xiulan asked.
"Yes." Lin Heng smiled and demonstrated it to the two of them.
The bacon tastes very good after being cooked, and the wild enoki mushrooms are a pleasure to eat. It is a double enjoyment of taste and aroma. It is simply perfect and deserves to be a hot pot dish.
"It's really delicious, much better than stir-frying. No wonder rich people like to eat hot pot." Caiyun said with emotion after eating a belly slice.
The tripe slices cooked in the red soup pot are already very fragrant, and the taste becomes even better when dipped in the hot and sour dipping sauce prepared by Lin Heng, and the taste is very good.
"Yeah, I'll eat it often in the future." Xiulan also fell in love with this hot pot instantly.
Just cook it like this and you can eat all kinds of dishes. It is simple, delicious and quick.
"Haha, this is relatively simple. Next time I'll make some sesame paste and the dipping sauce will taste even better."
Lin Heng smiled and said that hotpot has this kind of charm, otherwise it would not have developed into a popular delicacy loved by people all over the country.
Xiulan nodded vigorously: "Next time, call everyone to come. This is much better than working in the kitchen for a long time, and it tastes better."
"Yes, eating a little in the cold winter will warm you up." Caiyun nodded.
The three of them spoke very little and just kept eating. The hot pot that Lin Heng made with the fish soup became more and more fragrant as it cooked. No matter whether it was red soup or clear soup, people couldn't stop eating it.
Xiaoxia opened her mouth and cried for food beside Lin Heng. She was also very satisfied with the taste of the hotpot.
Leopard meat slices are also very good when eaten in hot pot, and leopard belly slices and leopard intestines are even more delicious when eaten in hot pot.
Although it is not as good as tripe, it is also very chewy and has a good taste and its own special fragrance.
The four of them ate and chatted, feeling happy and warm. Another advantage of hot pot is that the food will not get cold, which is perfect for eating in winter.
The three of them were enjoying their meal when a voice called out from outside the yard: "Xiu Lan, open the door."
"Mom and Dad, what are they doing here now?"
Lin Heng was stunned.
"I'll open the door."
Caiyun said this, then stood up and ran to open the door.
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(End of this chapter)
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