It's the third update today!
Zhang Hongmei was initially only half asleep, but after listening to their boring conversation, she soon fell into a deep sleep.
"Hongmei, wake up, wake up." Zhang Shouyi nudged Zhang Hongmei, who was lying next to him, to wake her up. After all, he still had to give her a gift later, and besides, the first day of the new year was just around the corner.
Zhang Hongmei opened her eyes groggily and saw Zhang Shouyi's handsome face magnified in front of her. Unconsciously, she reached out and touched it. Hmm! It feels nice.
"Are you satisfied?" Zhang Shouyi looked at Zhang Hongmei, who was still unconscious. She was dazed and her eyes were full of amazement at her own face. She had never been so grateful to have such a face.
Zhang Hongmei was startled and immediately sat up, rubbing her hand that had just touched Zhang Shouyi's face vigorously on her pants. "I'm sorry, Brother Zhang, I was still a little dazed."
Zhang Shouyi narrowed his eyes as he watched Zhang Hongmei rubbing her hands. "It's alright, hurry up and get up and wash your face. My dad and Xiaoshun went to cook dumplings. Even if you don't want to eat any, have one."
"Okay. I'll go right away." Zhang Hongmei got out of bed and put on her shoes, looking at the six candles lit in the room. What a waste!
The leftover raw dumplings were cooked and served shortly afterward, but Zhang Hongmei only ate one, as she had just woken up and had no appetite at all.
Seeing the three of them eating so heartily, I really envy their appetite and stomach.
After they finished cleaning up, the three of them went back to sleep.
"Hongmei, I came over this morning to help you cook. You should sleep a little longer."
"Okay. You get some more sleep, I can take care of myself."
After seeing the three off, Zhang Hongmei locked the door and went into her private space to take a shower, read, and sleep.
Zhang Hongmei got up at six o'clock. She took out a large grass carp, poached it in cold water, and scooped out the mushy pork ribs to drain.
After tidying up the house, Zhang Shouyi arrived at seven o'clock.
"Hongmei, what are you having for breakfast?"
"Frying dumplings and cooking rice porridge are simple tasks. You don't need to do them. Are Uncle Zhang and the others up yet?"
"I got up at six o'clock and went for a run outside. I'll be here in a bit."
After finishing breakfast, Wang Xiaoshun picked up a broom and swept the yard clean.
Zhang Hongmei also set out snacks, waiting for the children to come over soon. There were milk candies, roasted peanuts, roasted chestnuts, roasted pine nuts, and roasted soybeans.
Today, Zhang Hongmei specially changed into a new outfit. Wearing new clothes during the Lunar New Year, she wanted to find some good fortune.
The first one to come over was Shi Tou San Ya, and the two of them said, "Happy New Year, Sister Hong Mei."
Happy New Year! This is a New Year's gift for you.
Sanya shook her head. "Sister Hongmei, didn't you already give us a reward?"
"Here you go, that's your reward for getting full marks. It's a New Year's gift, so please accept it quickly."
"Thank you, Sister Hongmei." Sanya saw Shitou accept the gift and took it too. Zhang Hongmei then gave each of them a handful of milk candy and peanuts.
Knowing that they were the only two with the pen, the two quickly returned it home so that the other children wouldn't see it.
Then a few more children came. Zhang Hongmei gave them sunflower seeds and milk candy when they left, and let them take their favorite roasted nuts and seeds.
After all the children younger than Zhang Hongmei in the village had come, the house became quiet, and only then did Zhang Hongmei go out to visit each household to offer New Year's greetings.
They didn't sit for long; they just said a few auspicious words and then came out.
This whole thing took more than an hour. I'll hurry back and stew some pork ribs.
Actually, Zhang Hongmei wanted to eat sweet and sour pork ribs. After thinking about it, she set aside a small bowl of the soft ribs and left the rest as spine.
Blanch the spine bones in boiling water until the blood comes out. Then blanch the spare ribs as well.
Next, caramelize the sugar, then add the pork spine to the pot along with the seasonings and water, and cover the pot.
Just as they were about to kill the fish, Zhang Shouyi returned.
"Why didn't you wait for me to do the work? I'll do the cleaning of the fish."
"Okay, I'll leave it to you."
"Hongmei, what should I do?"
"Brother Xiaoshun, go fetch some water. There's not much water left in the tank."
Zhang Hongmei went into the kitchen to shred the pickled cabbage and set it aside. She also peeled a clove of garlic and prepared all the seasonings.
"Hongmei, the fish is ready."
"Put it on the cutting board and I'll slice it."
"You tell me what to do."
"No, I'm afraid you won't cut it properly. You watch first. Go and sharpen the knife; there's a whetstone next to the storeroom."
Zhang Hongmei crushed the sweet potato starch on the board, intending to use it to marinate the fish later.
Zhang Shouyi watched as the young girl skillfully sliced the five- or six-pound grass carp into large pieces, filling a whole basin. She also collected the fish's head and skeleton.
"That's amazing."
"Hehe." Zhang Hongmei put the flour into a bowl, added a little water to dilute it, put a little white wine into the fish slices, mixed it with water, added a spoonful of salt and mixed it again, and finally added the water from the flour mixture, mixing it repeatedly, and then set it aside for later use.
By this time, the spine has already released its aroma. Add salt, stir for a while, cover the pot, and continue to simmer over low heat.
It's almost ten o'clock, so I quickly told Zhang Shouyi to boil water so we could cook rice in a bit.
Zhang Hongmei went to the cellar and brought up a basket of potatoes, a pumpkin, and a winter melon.
Lunch consisted of stir-fried winter melon slices, pork rib stew with potatoes, pickled fish, and mixed cabbage hearts.
Put the steamed rice and the bowl containing the pumpkin chunks into the pot and leave it alone. When the pork ribs are almost cooked, put the chopped potato chunks into the pot, let it simmer, and wait for the potatoes to cook before taking it out of the pot.
"Hongmei, did you give all the milk candies to the children?"
"Hmm, I don't like it. It's too sweet and bad for my teeth."
"I'll mail you a few bags of milk candy when I get back."
"I really don't like it, don't make me sick. I still want to have flawless white teeth."
"Okay, do you want some chocolate?"
"Eating is just a small indulgence; I wouldn't dare eat too much."
"Just tell me what you want to eat, and I'll get it for you."
Zhang Hongmei asked Zhang Shouyi to place the steamer on top of the pot of stewed pork ribs and potatoes, and then brush the pot to prepare for making sauerkraut fish.
Add water to the pot, put in the fish head and bones, add scallions and two bay leaves, and then wait for it to boil.
Zhang Shouyi sat on a bench tending the fire, but his eyes never left Zhang Hongmei.
Once the fish soup boils, ladle it out. Heat oil in a pot, add the chopped pickled cabbage and stir-fry for a while. Remove the pickled cabbage and add the milky white fish bone soup. After it boils again, add the fish slices one by one. Once it boils again, add the pickled cabbage.
Once it's turned over again, pour it into two bowls, one large and one small, add dried chili peppers, minced garlic, and minced scallions. Put a few peppercorns into the hot oil and pour it over the chili peppers, and you're all done.
As soon as Zhang Xingguo entered the courtyard, he smelled a rich aroma. "It smells so good, is the pickled fish ready?"
"Okay. Dinner will be ready soon."
I stir-fried some winter melon slices and served them on the table. Dinner is ready.
"Uncle Zhang, I'll go deliver food to Grandma first. You all eat first."
"No need, we'll wait for you. Let Shouyi go with you and carry it."
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