Lin Yan originally wanted to take out the gift after dinner, but he was afraid that his father would want to drink during dinner, so he put the gift on the table in the yard while everyone was there.
"Dad and Mom, Yu Ge'er, I bought gifts for you, come and have a look." Lin Yan's waist felt a little tired after standing for a long time, so he rubbed his waist and sat on the stool.
The whole family gathered around. Lin Yan took out the gift. Li Yuemei took the hairpin and was a little surprised for a moment, but then she frowned and said angrily, "What a waste of money." But her eyes were red and full of joy. Lin Yan took Li Yuemei's arm and said with a smile, "This hairpin is especially suitable for you. When Brother Shi Yun and I went to pick it out, we fell in love with it at first sight. Dad, you put it on Mom."
Father Zhao touched the wine jar and laughed heartily. He immediately put the wine jar down and picked up the hairpin to pin it to Li Yuemei's bun. The hairpin had a tassel at the end, and now it swayed with Li Yuemei. Yu Ge'er praised with bright eyes: "Ah, it's really beautiful."
Lin Yan handed him the saddlebag, "Brother Yu, this is yours." Brother Yu was also very surprised when he received the saddlebag, "Wow, brother, I just wanted one, you are so nice."
"Am I not good enough?" Zhao Shiyun pretended to put on a serious face. "Your brother-in-law and I chose the gift together."
Yu Ge'er assessed the situation and immediately started praising him: "Brother is of course well again, he is handsome, his face is like a crown of jade, and his eyes are like stars."
Zhao Shiyun was almost embarrassed by the praise, "Where did you learn so many words?"
"My master taught me that learning embroidery always involves embroidering characters, so she taught me some along the way."
Teaching someone to read and write was a big deal. Yu Ge'er had been taught to read and write by Zhao Shiyun when he was little. Li Yuemei was surprised and delighted. "You must thank him very much. Bring some delicious food to Feng Xiu Niang tomorrow."
"I'll take her to the shop to eat. I brought her some bean curd sheets last time and she loved them." The master looked weak but not particular about details. She liked most of the food he brought, even the chicken offal.
"Then come tomorrow and I'll make you some pickled fish." Lin Yan remembered that he hadn't eaten pickled fish for a long time. It was a good opportunity to make it tomorrow and eat it himself. He had been eating fish head and tofu soup more recently, so he wanted to change the taste.
Yu Ge'er agreed.
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I was delayed for a while in buying gifts today, and it was already Youshi (5pm) when I got back.
They bought a large grass carp at the market. Although they had just eaten fish yesterday, the fishmonger only had one left and was selling it at a low price, so they bought it because it seemed like a good deal. Lin Yan planned to save half for making pickled fish tomorrow and the remaining half to braise tonight and make a chopped pepper fish head.
Lin Yan couldn't stand the fishy smell anymore, so Zhao Shiyun started to process the grass carp. The fish was still alive after all the way back. Zhao Shiyun hit the fish's head hard with the back of his knife, and while the fish was unconscious, he began to bleed and descale it.
After processing, rinse it clean, cut the fish head and split it into two halves, divide the fish body into two parts, put half in a bowl, lift it into the well with a basket, and take it to the shop to make pickled fish tomorrow morning.
Cut the remaining half into pieces. Place the pieces in a bowl and add appropriate amounts of salt, white wine, and ginger slices. Mix well and marinate for 15 minutes. Marinate the fish head in the same way for 15 minutes.
While the peppers were marinating, Lin Yan began chopping the chilies. He had already given Zhou Chunlan the chilies he'd picked yesterday morning, leaving some leftover, perfect for cooking. He minced the chilies and also chopped the garnishes: shredded ginger, minced garlic, and chopped green onions.
After everything is cut, the fish is marinated.
"Brother Shi Yun, help me light a fire." Lin Yan prepared to prepare the ingredients for the fish head first, and then put it in the pot to steam with the rice.
Heat the pan, pour in a little lard, add minced garlic and shredded ginger when the oil is hot and stir-fry until fragrant, then add chopped chili and stir-fry, finally add a little sugar and soy sauce to season, stir-fry evenly and serve.
Lin Yan took a large plate, put some shredded ginger and green onion on the bottom of the plate, placed the marinated fish head on it, then spread the fried chili peppers evenly on the fish head, and put the remaining minced garlic and green onion on it.
Add water to another pot and bring it to a boil. Put in the steamer, cover it with a wet cloth, pour in the washed brown rice and white rice, put the fish plate on the other layer, cover it with a lid, and steam it over high heat for about a quarter of an hour, until the fish head is cooked through.
While this one was steaming, Lin Yan cleaned the pot and began to sear the fish. The lard jar was still about half full, so Lin Yan decided to buy more lard in a few days. Once the oil was hot, he added the fish to the pot and seared it slowly over low heat, frying it until one side was set, then the other side. Once both sides were golden brown, he removed the fish and set aside.
Leave a little oil in the pan and add onions, ginger, garlic, and chilies. Stir-fry until fragrant. Pour in the white wine and soy sauce. Add the hot water that Lin Yan had scooped out of a clay pot. The water should cover the fish. Add a little sugar and a pinch of salt.
Then you can put in the fried fish pieces, cover the lid, and simmer on medium heat for about a quarter of an hour to allow the fish pieces to fully absorb the flavor of the soup. Finally, simmer on high heat until the soup becomes thick.
The aroma of the food filled the entire kitchen and even the yard, and everyone who was starving couldn't help swallowing.
The meal was almost ready. Lin Yan dished out the braised fish, cleaned the pot, and began heating the oil again. Meanwhile, Zhao Shiyun turned off the heat and opened the lid. The pungent aroma rushed out, and Lin Yan couldn't help but sneeze a few times.
Zhao Shiyun took the lid from his hand and put it aside. "Let me do it. You go out and wait."
"You have to pour some hot oil on it to make it fragrant." The oil on Lin Yan's side was also heated. Zhao Shiyun took out the steamed fish head. Lin Yan used chopsticks to remove the green onion shreds on the surface, then poured out the excess soup, sprinkled green onions on the fish head, and poured appropriate amount of hot oil on it to bring out the aroma and spicy taste of chili.
"Okay, bring it out." The food was spicy and satisfying, and Lin Yan couldn't help swallowing his saliva.
Yu Ge'er washed his hands early and was waiting. When Li Yuemei and Zhao Qiming saw Zhao Shiyun coming out after dinner, they also put down their work and came over to eat.
Everyone's chopsticks reached out to the chopped pepper fish head. The fish head still had some fish meat on it. Lin Yan felt that it melted in his mouth and was very tender.
"This fish is so tender." Just as Yu Ge'er was praising it, Lin Yanfu smiled with joy. Zhao Shiyun scooped up a spoonful of chopped pepper and rice, eating it until his mouth turned red from the spiciness.
Yu Ge'er originally wanted to imitate him, but seeing how spicy he was, he suddenly didn't dare to do it.
"Be careful of stomachache after eating such spicy food." Lin Yan stood up, took a glass of water and handed it to Zhao Shiyun.
"It's a bit spicy indeed. I'll add some rice and it shouldn't be so spicy." It was so spicy that my nose was about to run.
"By the way, Brother Yan, Uncle Zhao brought the remaining bamboo tubes here today, and I have already paid him." Li Yuemei suddenly remembered.
"Okay, then we'll make sour plum soup, mung bean soup, and basil drink tonight."
"Oh, the mung beans need to be soaked in advance. I forgot." Lin Yan patted his head.
"It's okay, you can soak it after eating. We will cook mung bean soup at the end. Mom, go to bed late and watch the fire." Li Yuemei comforted.
"Thank you, Amo."
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