"Okay, I'll go get it for you right away, and I'll also give you some extra spices."
Liu Jingze followed behind Zhang Hongmei, chattering on and on: "The bedding is all prepared. We can't go to the post office at this time. If necessary, I'll carry it with me. I've bought all the other equipment. We can add more if you need anything later. We have to carry the food, as well as your supplies and clothes."
"Brother Jingze, you're practically turning into Tang Sanzang (the monk in Journey to the West)! There's no rush to prepare those things yet."
"How about I go to the county tomorrow and mail the bedding over first? Actually, I've already prepared bedding for you, but it's not as good as what my mom makes."
"No rush, I'll pack it myself slowly. If it's not ready, I'll mail it over. Waiting a few days won't hurt. Don't worry."
"Cough! I'm so excited. Hongmei, I'm really feeling incredibly excited right now, I don't even know how to describe it."
"Is this your university acceptance letter? You seem even more excited than I am."
"Hehe, I've never been this excited even with my own games. Let's go, let's play a game together."
Zhang Hongmei had no choice; she was happy for herself and really couldn't complain.
Liu Jingze's tenacity is also reflected in his chess style, which is sharp and fierce.
Zhang Hongmei quickly gave in and looked at Liu Jingze with a mournful expression.
"Hehe, I just didn't know how to express my emotions. It's okay, I'm much better now."
"Brother Jingze, you're much better, but I'm not. Did my chess skills really deteriorate that much?"
"You need to adapt to different situations and not follow my moves. You are in a disadvantageous position."
When Zhang Hongmei arrived at the cafeteria for dinner, she was warmly welcomed by everyone.
Zhang Hongmei was a little unaccustomed to it, and in the end, she could only laugh.
The next day, Dashan and the others came and took over all the work, leaving Zhang Hongmei to do nothing. In Dashan's words, "Hongmei, you are the head chef. We, the assistants, are all ready. It's up to you to cook."
"I really didn't realize that Xiao Suo was such a good cook, especially when it comes to making flatbread."
Xiao Suo smiled but didn't say anything. Jiaxing and Guofu were responsible for tending the fire for him.
Liu Jingze was by Zhang Hongmei's side, but he didn't have to do anything.
Dashan had previously assisted Zhang Hongmei by slicing fish fillets, so this time he was the one who sliced all eight fish fillets.
Zhang Hongmei told him what seasonings to add, and it really was just a matter of talking.
After marinating the fish fillets, the pancakes in both pots were almost cooked. Wang Jianshe brought ten stalks of pickled cabbage from his home, and Liu Laicun also brought ten stalks.
That's enough; there aren't enough materials to make anything else.
The fish head was split in half, the fish bones were broken into sections, and two large bowls of dried chili peppers were crushed.
Shuangcun also peeled garlic, then gave it to Dashan, who chopped it into minced garlic.
The pillar was for carrying water; once the vat was full, he would sweep the yard.
"Why hasn't Sister Er Ya arrived yet? Brother Zhu, could you go and call Sister Er Ya?"
"Okay, I'll go right away."
"And Stone and Sanya too."
"knew."
Da Shan has prepared a large bowl of minced garlic and chopped scallions, as well as another bowl of scallion segments, ginger slices, and garlic cloves, which will be used to make fish soup later.
Erlinzi, who had been instructed by Dashan to fetch goat milk, returned, and now all the ingredients were ready.
Xiao Suo took the pancakes out of the pan, filling two large bowls.
"I'll make the red plum fish soup. You just need to tell me when to add what and what to add."
"Okay, then put ten ladles of water in a pot, add a piece of star anise, scallions, ginger, garlic, fish head and bones, and wait for it to boil."
Da Shan put everything away as Zhang Hongmei instructed, and then it was Jia Xing's turn to start the fire.
Da Shan wasn't idle either; he immediately started chopping the pickled cabbage. Liu Jingze thought Da Shan's knife skills were quite good, as the pickled cabbage shreds were cut evenly.
"Da Shan's craftsmanship is quite good."
"Right? I told you so."
After chopping the sauerkraut, the fish soup pot started bubbling. "Brother Dashan, once the fish soup boils, add two cups of baijiu."
Jiaxing's personality is similar to Erlinzi's. "Leave this to me."
Dashan told Erlinzi to go back to their homes and get their own bowls, since there were too many people eating today, so everyone should go and get their own bowls and chopsticks.
Once the fish soup boiled, I added white wine and simmered it for a while, then added two large bowls of milk goat meat and two large handfuls of salt. Now I could let it simmer freely.
"Brother Dashan, you can start stir-frying the pickled cabbage now."
"Alright! Guofu, hurry up and start the fire."
"Brother Dashan, add more oil. The pickled cabbage absorbs oil, otherwise it won't taste good."
"Isn't that enough?"
"No, don't leave so many more."
"Goodness, there's half a pound of oil in here."
"Not much. Brother Guofu, don't make the fire too big, just keep it on a low flame for now."
"I got it, I know."
The pickled cabbage is in the pot, and the fish soup is almost ready. The whole kitchen smells of fish soup now.
"Sister Er Ya, are you still waiting for me to invite you?"
"I just felt there were too many people, so I didn't dare to come over."
"Sister Hongmei, my second sister won't let me come over," Shi Tou complained as he came over.
"Get out of the way, aren't you here now?"
Sanya just smiled to herself.
"Brother Dashan, serve out half of the pickled cabbage and half of the fish soup."
"I know this step."
Er Ya couldn't stay still, so she quickly went to the storeroom, found four large basins, washed them clean, and waited for them to be cooked in a little while.
"Brother Dashan. Once the water boils, quickly put the fish slices in. After it boils again, take them out. Remember not to tilt the fish slices when you put them in, or they will all clump together."
Dashan ladled out both pots of sauerkraut fish, making a total of five large basins.
"Hongmei, shouldn't we add minced garlic and scallions?"
"Yes, Brother Guofu, light the fire under the small pot, it's time to heat the oil. I'll take care of this." The people in the kitchen felt sorry for Zhang Hongmei because she had poured two bottles of oil into the pot.
After all five basins were covered with oil, the table was set up.
This meal smells so good! My mouth is watering just from the aroma alone, even before I've tasted it.
"Brother Jingze, go and bring a bowl to the old man and the others. This should be enough for them."
"No need. My grandfather told me when I came out that I didn't need to send it to him. He said I should just wait for you to make it for him tomorrow night."
"I shouldn't go to other people's houses on New Year's Eve, so I'll take it over now."
"Hehe. If you don't go, I bet your great-grandmother will come and call you herself."
Stop thinking about it and hurry up and eat.
The two large tables were packed with people; it was quite a lively scene. Zhang Hongmei ate a bowl of food while sitting on the kang (heated brick bed), and Er Ya and San Ya did the same.
Erlinzi smacked his lips and said, "It smells so good, but there's no wine. I'll have to drink two bowls of soup later."
"Brother Erlinzi, fish soup makes the flatbread taste even better. Why don't you try it?"
"Stone, I'm not eating pancakes right now. I'll eat vegetables first, otherwise I'll feel like I'm missing out."
Everyone laughed heartily, but just as Erlinzi had said, they all just ate the food while holding their bowls.
As they ate, no one spoke; they didn't have time to talk.
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