The next day, Zhang Hongmei got up early, first lit a fire to boil water, then scalded the hand pump well with boiling water, filled the water tank, and then drank a cup of milk and ate a steamed bun before going to school.
The whole morning was spent studying intensely. When it was time for lunch, Zhang Hongmei told Liu Jingze about Huang Zhong's visit the day before.
"Brother Jingze, the village gave us some smoked rabbit, Grandma gave us a rooster, and Auntie gave us two smoked grass carp. Remember to come home for dinner on Saturday. Also, do you want some dried sweet potatoes?"
"I don't want it, you keep it for yourself. I'll definitely go back on Saturday."
Zheng Meinu craned her neck to listen to their conversation.
"Zhang, would it be alright if I came to your house for a visit on Saturday?"
"Zheng Wenhui, where is your manners?" Liu Jingze was genuinely angry.
But Zheng Meinu didn't seem angry; instead, she looked at Zhang Hongmei with a smile.
"I'm so sorry, Zheng. My uncle was at home that day, so I really couldn't invite anyone to dinner. I apologize."
"It's okay, Zhang."
Zhang Hongmei thought to herself, "This Zheng beauty is really something! If someone spoke to me so bluntly, I would have broken off all ties with them long ago. The fact that she's still following him around is truly remarkable."
Liu Jingze was furious. He picked up his lunchbox and left. Zheng Wenhui smiled at the others and chased after him.
"Alas! This is not a blessing in disguise for Jingze, but a curse."
Zhang Hongmei and the other two ignored Liu Jingzhang, and the conversation couldn't continue.
Zheng Wenhui jogged to catch up with Liu Jingze, "Brother Jingze, wait for me! Do you really look down on me that much?"
"Yes, I just can't stand you, Zheng Wenhui. How did you become like this? Where is your pride and self-respect?"
"Don't you know why I've become like this? I'd give up anything for you." Zheng Wenhui silently shed tears.
Which woman doesn't have self-respect? Which woman isn't proud? But now she has nothing left. And it's a loss that comes with absolutely no return.
“Zheng Wenhui, I’ve made it very clear to you. I only see you as a friend, as a younger sister. I have no romantic feelings for you whatsoever.”
"Oh ho! Are they having a romantic date here?"
Several male classmates came from behind and surrounded Liu Jingze and his friend.
"Heh, what's it to you? There's no explicit rule in the school that boys and girls can't talk to each other, is there? What do you mean by labeling me like this?"
"Hehe, Liu, you still have such a good way of speaking. It's alright. I'm just passing by, you two can chat slowly."
Zheng Wenhui stopped crying at this point and lowered her head without saying a word.
"Zheng Wenhui, this is the last time. I hope you will never appear in front of me again."
Liu Jingze left after saying that; his words were really hurtful. But if he didn't say anything, Zheng Wenhui would misunderstand.
Zheng Wenhui watched Liu Jingze's departing figure for a long time, until he could no longer see him before turning away.
Even with such humility, I couldn't move Liu Jingze. What a failure, such a complete failure.
Before we knew it, it was Friday again. After school, the two of them went home together.
"Jingze, let's go check out the supply station. What do you want to eat tonight?"
I want to eat dumplings.
"Is it cooked meat and cabbage, or raw meat and cabbage?"
"It's cooked meat, right? I'm craving it."
"How about we steam rice and meat tonight? This meat is almost a month old. Luckily it's cold now, or it would have spoiled long ago."
"Okay, then let's steam the meat. I thought we were done eating."
"No, I made meat and cabbage dumplings last Friday, but you didn't come back. We made dumplings again on Saturday, so we didn't eat any meat."
"By the way, Brother Jingze, Professor Kong might come over for dinner with Uncle Zhang on Saturday."
"Okay, I'll get up and help you tomorrow morning. There are so many dishes, you'll be busy for a while."
"It's okay, I'll stew the rabbit meat tonight if necessary, and I plan to cut the fish into pieces and fry it."
"I'll stew another rooster tomorrow, that way I won't be too stressed."
The two arrived at the supply station and were met with disdain from the staff, who always came at this time, with only a few minutes left before closing time.
Zhang Hongmei bought four cabbages and two radishes; there were no other vegetables left.
Back home, Mr. Liu Jingze lit the stove, and Zhang Hongmei started a fire to boil water and cook rice.
Zhang Hongmei transferred the shredded carrots she had prepared last Saturday from her spatial dimension. Liu Jingze could eat meat all the time, but she couldn't; she still needed vegetables.
Zhang Hongmei stir-fried carrot and wood ear mushroom shreds with sweet bean sauce and dried chili peppers, and it really did taste a bit like shredded pork with fish-fragrant sauce.
Liu Jingze had already chopped the rabbit into small pieces, and the smoked chicken into small pieces as well.
The fish is split in half and then cut.
Zhang Hongmei looked at the fish and said, "Brother Jingze, you don't need to cut the fish into small pieces. This fish can only be stewed."
Zhang Hongmei brought the food into the dining room and put the chopped rabbit pieces in to blanch.
"Hongmei, let's eat first. I'm so hungry just from the smell."
"Just put the lid on right away."
Zhang Hongmei ate a bowl of rice and was full. She stopped paying attention to Liu Jingze and went to the kitchen. The water in the pot had boiled, so she used a strainer to scoop out the rabbit meat and put it in the hot water to soak.
Boil water in a pot and blanch the chicken.
Finally, simply rinse the fish with water and drain it.
The fire in the stove was burning brightly, and Zhang Hongmei decided to stew the rabbit meat. She didn't need to add any more coal to the stove; she could just let it stew slowly.
First, drain the rabbit meat. Put oil in a wok, add Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, bay leaves, and a few dried chilies, and stir-fry until fragrant. Add the rabbit meat and stir-fry continuously until each piece of rabbit meat is coated with oil. Then add soy sauce and a spoonful of sweet bean sauce and continue to stir-fry.
Add boiling water, cover the pot, and simmer slowly.
The two of them went to wash up and go to bed.
The next morning, after Zhang Hongmei got up and washed, Liu Jingze also got up.
"Jingze, shall we have fried rice with eggs?"
"Okay, I'll go start a fire."
Zhang Hongmei lifted the lid of the pot and found that the rabbit meat had clumped together. She would heat it up in a while to see if it would fall apart.
After finishing their meal, the two immediately started a fire.
Zhang Hongmei stewed a rooster in a large pot, and after the rabbit meat was ready, she would stew the fish on a stove.
Soak the wood ear mushrooms and matsutake mushrooms. Then, ask Liu Jingze to go to the supply station to see what vegetables he can buy.
When the rabbit meat was cooked again, Zhang Hongmei picked out a piece to taste; it was already tender. She ladled it out and used the pot to stew fish.
When Liu Jingze returned, he brought back four catties of eggs, two catties of tofu, two catties of bean curd sheets, two catties of mung bean sprouts, and four scallions.
"Hehe, I'm lucky today, I managed to buy everything."
"Great, there's plenty of good stuff." Zhang Hongmei went inside and took out some thread to roll up the bean curd sheets. She put them into the pot of stewed chicken; chicken soup with bean curd sheets—it sounded delicious.
Mapo tofu, stir-fried shredded carrots. Stir-fried pork with matsutake mushrooms and scallions. I won't make anything else; if I can't finish it, I'll just have to eat leftovers.
As for the bean sprouts, I'll save them for tomorrow's lunchtime spring pancake rolls.
It's true, the beginning of spring is just around the corner.
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