The next day, Zhao Shiyun finished his housework, put on his backpack and prepared to go to the mountains to dig spring bamboo shoots.
Spring bamboo shoots are available from late February to early May every year, especially in March and April. Many people dig spring bamboo shoots during these two months and sell them in town to supplement their family income.
The nearby forests had probably been dug up almost completely, so Zhao Shiyun planned to dig in a more distant forest. He cut a branch to use as a walking stick to save some effort. As he walked, he couldn't help but think of the first time he met Yan Ge'er. He got lost in the mountains, and it was he who led him down the mountain. A faint smile appeared on Zhao Shiyun's face, as if Yan Ge'er's every frown and smile was just like yesterday.
After walking for about two-quarters of an hour, Zhao Shiyun finally stopped when he came across a bamboo forest. He first unloaded his backpack and took out his small hoe. He carefully scanned the ground, searching for signs of bamboo shoots emerging. Soon, he found several. He carefully wielded the hoe, gently digging up the surrounding soil, and soon unearthed the first shoot.
He was preparing to make sour bamboo shoots, and of course the more the better. Zhao Shiyun worked hard for more than an hour and dug seven or eight bamboo shoots. His backpack was full. He sat down to rest, took out a bamboo tube to drink some water, and then took out the meat pie that Lin Yan had made for him in the morning and started eating.
The meat patties were thick and meaty, and two would fill him up. Lin Yan was afraid that he wouldn't have enough, so he packed four for him. Zhao Shiyun packed the remaining two patties and planned to eat them on the way back.
After resting enough, Zhao Shiyun planned to dig a few more and then go back. If the backpack was not big enough, he would just carry it on his back.
*
Zhao Shiyun dug up twelve bamboo shoots in total. He stacked them in a backpack, twisted a rope around them, and then carried the backpack back down the mountain. There was a Chinese toon tree on the way up the mountain. He'd pick some and bring it back to fry with eggs or make some Chinese toon pancakes. Both were delicious.
Zhao Shiyun looked left and right along the way, hoping to find some small game, such as pheasants or rabbits, that he could hunt to provide a snack for his family. However, he didn't see any even when he reached the foot of the mountain.
When I got home and dumped the bamboo shoots in the yard, Zhao Qiming came over and took a look. "Oh, I dug up some old ones."
Zhao Shiyun nodded and walked towards the kitchen: "Dad, there are still two meat patties left from the ones I brought this morning. I'll heat them up and give one to each of us."
"Okay, I'll shell the bamboo shoots first."
After eating the meat patties, the father and son sat in the yard to prepare the spring bamboo shoots. Zhao Qiming peeled them, and Zhao Shiyun cut them into strips. Soon, they had a large bowl full of them. They would wait for Yan Ge'er to come back to make the rest. They couldn't make it the same way himself.
There was still some bamboo left from yesterday, so Zhao Shiyun planned to make a few bamboo cups for drinking water on a daily basis, with a lid to prevent mosquitoes from getting in.
Bamboo cups were easy to make; five were ready in half an hour, perfect for each family member. Zhao Shiyun washed the cups and placed them upside down in a dustpan to dry.
Checking the time, he figured Lin Yan and the others would be back soon, so he washed the Chinese toon he had picked and fished out a few eggs. Yesterday, Lin Yan slept until midnight, and Zhao Shiyun didn't dare give him much to eat, fearing indigestion. Tonight, he'd stir-fry some braised spring bamboo shoots.
Not long after, Lin Yan, Yu Ge'er, and Li Yuemei came in, chatting and laughing. Lin Yan saw the large basin of chopped bamboo shoots in the yard, with even thickness, and smiled: "Brother Shi Yun, you've cut them all!"
Zhao Shiyun took the basket from his hand and said, "Yes, my father and I cut it. I also picked some Chinese toon."
"Then I can make scrambled eggs tonight and braised spring bamboo shoots."
"That's what I thought. I've washed the Chinese toon and taken out the eggs. Although I'm not a great cook, it's edible. I'll cook later, and you can go and rest."
"No, I'm not tired. I just need to rest."
Lin Yan asked Zhao Shiyun to go to the vegetable garden to water the peppers and see how they were growing and whether they were edible. Zhao Shiyun agreed, picked up two small wooden buckets, grabbed a shoulder pole, and set off.
There wasn't much chores at home; the chickens and pigs had been fed, and the molds had been cleaned and dried. Lin Yan saw the bamboo cup in the dustpan and guessed it was made by Zhao Shiyun, pursing his lips and smiling.
After sitting down and drinking some water, Lin Yan finally rested enough. He began preparing dinner. He steamed the rice first, then began making scrambled eggs with Chinese toon. The Chinese toon needed to be blanched first. Zhao Shiyun had already scooped some water into the pot. Lin Yan lit the fire, boiled some water, and added the toon shoots to blanch.
The blanched toon shoots were picked up, rinsed with cold water, squeezed dry, and chopped. Yu Ge'er, helping nearby, had already cracked the eggs into a bowl and stirred them with a pinch of salt. Lin Yan scooped out the water from the pot, heated the pot, added a spoonful of lard, and poured the eggs into the pot. The eggs instantly expanded upon impact, and Lin Yan quickly stir-fried them a few times before serving. He added a little more lard to the pot, added the chopped toon shoots, and stir-fried them until fragrant. Then, he added the scrambled eggs and tossed them together. Soon, a plate of toon scrambled eggs was ready, its color alluring.
At this time, Zhao Shiyun also came back from watering the plants. He could smell the familiar aroma from a distance. Walking into the kitchen and seeing the dishes Lin Yan had cooked, his eyes lit up. "Brother Yan, your scrambled eggs with Chinese toon must be especially delicious." Lin Yan smiled and handed him a pair of chopsticks. "Try it." Zhao Shiyun took a bite and his eyes narrowed in satisfaction. "It's delicious. Brother Yan's cooking is really good." Brother Yu rolled his eyes and said, "Brother, you're stealing food. Shameless."
Zhao Shiyun picked up a chopstick and stuffed it into his mouth, "Accomplice, you have no shame."
Yu Ge'er was chewing scrambled eggs in his mouth. He wanted to get angry and hit him, but he was burned and grimaced. Lin Yan was laughing beside him.
Lin Yan then began to make braised spring bamboo shoots. It's better to cut the bamboo shoots into dice, but today's bamboo shoots were cut into strips. That was all he could do. Lin Yan brought a bowl of bamboo shoots over, boiled water in a pot, and blanched them before scooping them out. "Oh, I should have blanched them with the Chinese toon," Lin Yan muttered, having forgotten.
Pour oil into the pot, add ginger slices and stir-fry until fragrant, then add spring bamboo shoots and stir-fry. In fact, if conditions permit, you should add rice wine to smoke it, but it is too extravagant. After stir-frying for a while, add sugar, soy sauce, and half a bowl of water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer for about ten minutes until the flavors are absorbed. Finally, turn to high heat and thicken the sauce in the pot.
"It's time to eat!" Yu Ge'er brought a few dishes to the table, and the family sat around to eat. Lin Yan blinked, feeling a little sleepy again. He shook his head to wake himself up. Zhao Shiyun picked up a piece of spring bamboo shoots for him with chopsticks and said, "Eat more. You didn't eat much last night."
"Um!"
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