Chapter 331 Pickled Vegetables
There was no sound outside, and Deng Hong went into the house with her hands behind her back.
Wu Jianying was woken up by her noise and cleared her throat to ask, "Where have you been? You've been outside for so long."
Deng Hong crawled into bed and whispered, "Wei Yang's family went to Yu Fu's house for dinner. I saw Cheng Guizhi chatting and laughing with Wei Zhao. When did their families become so close?"
Cheng Guizhi had just been scolded by Wei Zhao, and now things were so good again. She felt uneasy about it.
Wu Jianying rolled over and said, "When Yu Fujia got into trouble before, didn't Wei Yang help out? What's so strange about that?"
After working together for several months, Wu Jianying really admired Wei Yang. Wei Yang had a more adventurous spirit than him, and he was also more thorough in his work, rarely giving others any leverage against him. He felt quite at ease working with such a person.
He didn't have as many ulterior motives as Deng Hong, nor did he care about who was on good terms with whom.
I haven't done farm work in a long time. When I woke up, my back was sore, my hands ached, and I was very tired.
Song Lubai really didn't want to get out of bed.
The seat next to her was already empty; Wei Yang had left early.
Song Lubai admired his boundless energy. Yesterday, when they were in the fields together, he was more capable than the donkeys in the production team, and he was still busy working before dawn.
In the afternoon, Master Zhai and Chen Yu returned together.
Master Zhai inspected the cabbages that Song Lubai had dried. He nodded and said, "They look quite clean, and there's not much moisture on the outside. Now watch what I do. Prepare several basins, and make sure there's no water in them."
Master Zhai took a knife and cut all the large cabbages that Song Lubai had dried into eight pieces from root to tip. After putting them into a basin, he sprinkled salt on each piece of cabbage.
"Don't sprinkle too much salt, otherwise it will turn black and the taste won't be as good..."
While Master Zhai was explaining the details to Song Lubai, Deng Hong strolled into the courtyard with her hands behind her back.
"Comrade Song, what are you doing?"
Song Lubai pulled her over and said, "You should learn how to pickle cabbage too. Once it's pickled, it can last a long time without spoiling."
Master Zhai added, "Pickled cabbage can be stewed with meat, vermicelli, and fish, and it won't spoil for several months. Since we can still eat Chinese cabbage in winter, I suggest pickling more in January when it's still cold and storing it in a shady place. It can last for several months when there are no other vegetables to eat."
Master Zhai was quite pleased to be invited to instruct others on how to pickle sauerkraut, and he was generous in sharing his experience with them.
Song Lubai said, "Who knows, maybe our troupe can set up a food workshop in the future, and we can make our own sauerkraut and sell it outside. Master Zhai, you can come and provide technical guidance then."
Master Zhai was taken aback. Although what Comrade Song said was still unfounded, just thinking about it made him feel wonderful.
"Okay, if you really need it, just come to me."
Deng Hong perked up even more upon hearing this.
"A food workshop? Pickling sauerkraut? Why hasn't my husband ever mentioned this to me?"
Deng Hong should participate in something this good!
Song Lubai was saying this to her, and she laughed and said, "This year, the troupe doesn't have enough food to eat, and we can't spare any to cook. We'll have to wait until next year to make something. Sister Hong, if we really manage to make something, you must come and help us. Let's work together and find a way to increase the troupe's income."
Zhao Hongying heard these words as soon as she reached the door. She patted her chest and went into the yard, saying, "Me! Me! Me too! I can pickle vegetables too, and I can help out!"
Master Zhai sprinkled a layer of salt on the bottom of the jar that Song Lubai had brushed and dried, and said to Song Lubai, "We'll have to wait until the cabbage releases its water, then add boiled and cooled water..."
The women who had been talking finally turned their attention back to the topic.
Master Zhai placed the cabbage layer by layer into the jar, reminding Song Lubai that if she were to make it herself, she should press the cabbage down firmly like he did, without leaving any gaps, otherwise it would easily spoil.
After all the cabbages were put into the jar, Master Zhai said, "Wait two hours. They should release water in two hours. Then add cooled boiled water to cover the cabbages, pour in some white wine, and press the top down to seal it tightly. Do not open the lid or add water during this time."
After giving the instructions and making sure Song Lubai remembered them, Master Zhai clapped his hands, stood up, and said, "If you have any questions in the future, come find me."
The courtyard was full of women, and although Master Zhai, a grown man, had the desire to boast, he felt embarrassed to stay any longer.
After seeing Zhai off, Song Lubai went back inside and gave Deng Hong and Zhao Hongying each an apple to eat.
"It's already dark, Sister Hong, what brings you here?"
Deng Hong felt quite pleased when Song Lubai called her "Sister Hong".
She lowered her voice and said, "Where's your aunt? I'd like to arrange a marriage for Chen Yu."
Zhao Hongying asked with great interest, "Who is the man? Is he also an official?"
As long as they worked in government offices, Zhao Hongying considered them all to be officials.
Before Deng Hong could speak, Song Lubai said, "Sister Hong, it's not that I'm not giving you face, it's just that we don't have any say in Chen Yu's affairs. She's a college graduate and has her own ideas. Besides, she's only here temporarily. She has relatives in the capital. We really can't make decisions for her."
Deng Hong said disappointedly, "The young man I was talking about works in the government office. I guess Wei Yang knows him too. He's hardworking, capable, and good-looking..."
After Deng Hong praised a lot, Song Lubai immediately changed the subject, "Sister Hong, let's think about what we should make if we can start a food workshop?"
Deng Hong's attention was instantly diverted, and she no longer felt it was a pity.
"You can't just wait until autumn to pickle cabbage. We only make this much all year round. If we don't have enough vegetables, we can't make it."
Song Lubai counted on her fingers and said, "Pickled cabbage, pickled radish, sweet potato noodles, pickled cucumbers, that's all I can think of. What else can we make?"
Zhao Hongying said, "I know how to make fermented bean curd. I can make it all year round, but we can't even afford to eat tofu, let alone make fermented bean curd from tofu."
Deng Hong searched her memory and said excitedly, "My mother knows how to make pickled green beans. I'll write to my family and ask her to tell me how to make them."
When talking about her mother, Deng Hong always refers to her as "my mother".
Song Lubai felt that pickled vegetables and other salted vegetables had a good market. When she worked in the supply and marketing cooperative, all the planned supply commodities were in high demand. In fact, all commodities that could be sold in the supply and marketing cooperative were in short supply.
Making something isn't a skill; making it delicious, having a reliable supply of raw materials, and being able to sustain development are the real skills.
It was midnight. Song Lubai shone her flashlight into the jar. More than two hours had passed, and she couldn't see the bottom, but she guessed that water had already started to seep out. Following Master Zhai's instructions, she poured water into the jar. When the water just covered the cabbage, she poured in some white wine, sealed the jar, and placed a brick on top of it.
Deng Hong said, "If you succeed in making this jar, I'll find a jar tomorrow and you can pickle one for me so I can learn how."
Song Lubai readily agreed. After seeing the person off, she yawned and went back to her room. Just as she opened the door, the door next door opened.
Chen Yu peeked out from the darkness and whispered, "I'm sorry about before, I didn't mean to have a problem with you."
The head that had been poked out was quickly pulled back in, and Song Lubai went into the house as if nothing had happened.
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