"Didn't you buy anything?" Seeing that there was only a Lu Hai Ci on Lin Qingqing's bicycle, and only tofu and mushrooms in the small basket in front of the bicycle, Lu Cheng was curious why there were so few things?
Lin Qingqing said, "It's at my sister-in-law's place. I brought back the materials from the supply and marketing cooperative. We have successfully negotiated cooperation with the supply and marketing cooperative." She spoke softly, telling Lu Cheng the good news first, but she didn't want to be too ostentatious and be heard by others.
Seeing her mysterious look, and unable to help sharing the happy event, Lu Cheng's eyes flashed with a smile: "Congratulations." Although he spoke little, he could always clearly express what she wanted to hear.
Sure enough, Lin Qingqing's smile became even brighter: "Sister-in-law has a big bucket of pig intestines, more than 20 kilograms, and half a pig's head. You can get it later. I'll go home to cook first."
Lu Cheng: "Don't bother, just go to the cafeteria."
Lin Qingqing didn't like eating in the cafeteria. She said, "I'll just cook two dishes quickly. I'll leave first." As she said that, she stepped on the bicycle and drove away quickly as if she stepped on the accelerator.
Lu Cheng looked at helplessly, and even saw his son sitting in the back hugging Lin Qingqing's waist, and then turned around and looked at him proudly.
"Lu Cheng, your wife is really amazing today." Yu Xiuyao didn't rush to ride the bicycle. She pushed the bicycle and shared what happened today with Lu Cheng. There was no way, she just wanted to find someone to talk to. She had been holding it in for a whole morning. This person must be Lu Cheng, so that Lu Cheng can know the good of Lin Qingqing. There is no doubt that if she favored Lu Cheng before, now she is definitely Lin Qingqing's number one supporter.
Lu Cheng was naturally willing to listen to Yu Xiuyao's mention of Lin Qingqing: "What happened today?" He asked in a calm tone, expressing his inner curiosity.
On the other side, Lin Qingqing had already arrived at the door of her house with Lu Haici.
"Lu Haici..." Ji Yang was playing with mud and counting ants at home. Today, his little friend was not here, and he didn't even have the interest to play. Maybe he was used to playing with two people, and suddenly he was left alone, so he couldn't muster up the energy. Now that his friend is back, he ran out of the door in a hurry, "Lu Haici, you are back, is the county town fun?" Speaking of which, Ji Yang has also been to the county town. Xu Huijuan took him there, but he still couldn't wait to ask this question.
Lin Qingqing took Lu Haici off the bicycle. Lu Haici was also happy to see his friend, but... is the county town fun? Lu Haici said nonsense seriously: "I didn't go to the county town to play today. I went to the county town with my mother to do some business."
Lin Qingqing, who had just pushed the bicycle into the house: "...", almost tripped. But to be honest, I did neglect the little one today. Because I was in a hurry, I couldn't wait to come back from the market to the supply and marketing cooperative to discuss things. I haven't played with the little one yet. I don't know if there is a zoo in the county. If there is, I will pick a special day next time to take the little one to the zoo.
"Wow?" Ji Yang looked at Lu Haici with admiration, "You are so amazing, you can actually do business."
Lu Haici said proudly, "Of course, I'm not a three-year-old child."
The two children started discussing the topic of business, and Lin Qingqing also started to make lunch.
It's twelve o'clock now. If we don't hurry, it will be too late to eat. It's a pity that there is no dough at home, otherwise it can be done in half an hour. Lin Qingqing quickly washed the rice and put it into the clay pot. Today, she didn't even add sweet potatoes because washing them would take up too much time.
While waiting for the rice to cook, she washed the mushrooms. The vegetables in the county market are quite complete. The mushrooms that Lin Qingqing bought include enoki mushrooms. She didn't expect that there would be enoki mushrooms in the market, so she bought two kilograms in one go, fearing that she wouldn't be able to buy them next time. She also bought oyster mushrooms and chicken mushrooms. These two kinds of mushrooms were not bought in the market, but traded with a middle-aged man outside the market. These wild mushrooms should have been found by the other party in the mountains. But since the country issued a barter trading policy, even if it is not a market trading day, there are people who will come to the door of the market to set up stalls to trade. After all, bartering is not illegal.
Lin Qingqing traded with tickets. She had planned to go to the carpenter's house today, so she brought enough tickets with her. However, she didn't expect that she would not be able to spare the time in the morning, so she had to go in the afternoon to avoid the carpenter's wife waiting.
Lin Qingqing put the washed enoki mushrooms on a plate, then boiled water in an iron pot and put a steamer on it. Because the water was not much, it boiled in less than ten minutes. Just
as the water boiled, Lu Cheng came back. He put the pig intestines and pig head in the yard, then went to the kitchen and asked Lin Qingqing: "What should we do with the pig intestines and pig head?"
Lin Qingqing said: "Wash the pig intestines first. By the way, Lu Cheng, how do you deal with the wood ash in the cafeteria?"
Lu Cheng understood as soon as he heard it: "You want to use wood ash to wash the pig intestines?" Because Lu Cheng had washed the pig intestines with wood ash last time, so when Lin Qingqing asked, he understood what she meant.
Lin Qingqing said, "Yes, if the pig intestines given by the supply and marketing cooperative are washed, it's fine. If they are unwashed, we have to wash them ourselves. I'm worried that the wood ash we use for cooking every day at home is not enough. So if the wood in the cafeteria is not useful, I want to get some. We can also pay some money."
Lu Cheng said, "Then I will ask the cafeteria after dinner. Now I will wash these pig intestines."
Lin Qingqing: "Okay." When she was lighting the fire just now, she had already taken out the wood ash and put it in the corner behind the stove, so Lu Cheng shoveled the wood ash directly into the yard.
Lin Qingqing wanted to cook, so she didn't go to help.
After the water in the iron pot boiled, it was steamed for another nine minutes, and the enoki mushrooms were cooked. After the enoki mushrooms are cooked, take them out, then pour the hot water from the iron pot into a wooden basin, which can be used to wash dishes. Then add oil to the hot pot. While waiting for the oil to heat up, Lin gently filters out the water from the enoki mushrooms on the plate, cuts some chopped green onions and sprinkles them on top, then adds an appropriate amount of soy sauce. After the oil is hot, use a spoon to pour out the oil directly and sprinkle it on the enoki mushrooms.
A sizzling sound is heard, and the aroma of scallion oil comes out.
Scallion oil enoki mushrooms are convenient and delicious, especially the aroma of the scallion oil, which is very, very fragrant.
Lu Cheng was washing pig intestines outside and also smelled this smell. He was a little curious about what she was cooking, but he resisted the urge to look.
Lu Haici was playing with Ji Yang, and when he saw his father washing things in the yard, he went home curiously. As soon as he got home, Ji Yang followed him happily, and then Lu Cheng, an adult, took the kid to wash pig intestines together.
Xu Huijuan cleaned up the kitchen, washed the dishes, and came out to see Ji Yang washing things next door. She said, "Ji Yang, come back for a nap." Xu Huijuan was a little afraid of Lu Cheng. First, Lu Cheng was in a high position, and second, Lu Cheng was taciturn, with a pair of eyes like sharp knives. Speaking of which, only Yu Xiuyao and other military wives who usually took care of Lu Haici dared to "point fingers" in front of Lu Cheng.
In front of them, Lu Cheng was always very polite. Because they had taken care of Lu Haici, Lu Cheng respected them very much.
Ji Yang said, "I'll play at Lu Haici's house for a while." It's really fun to play with this smelly thing with the wood ash in the stove.
For the little ones, the smellier the pig intestines are, the more fun they are.
"Mom, it smells so good." Lu Haici smelled the fragrance, so he put down the pig intestines and ran to the kitchen to check. When he left, Ji Yang followed him.
Lin said lightly: "The enoki mushrooms have just been made. We will make tofu soup later and it will be ready. Please wait a moment."
Lu Haici was stunned: "Mom, is tofu soup made from tofu brain?" Because when mom bought tofu, she said that she would make tofu brain for him, so he remembered it very clearly.
Lin said lightly: "No, tofu brain will be made tomorrow morning."
Lu Cheng was sitting outside and heard it, looking forward to tomorrow. He was a person who had eaten tofu brain, although the memory was very distant, but he vaguely remembered that it tasted very good. Now hearing it, he couldn't help but look forward to it.
Lin Qingqing made a very simple tofu soup. She put the mushrooms in a pot with hot oil and fried them. Then she poured in water and soy sauce. After the water boiled, she added the chopped tofu in small pieces, then beat in an egg, stirred with a spatula, and then poured in the starch with water.
A bowl of light and delicious tofu soup was ready. Finally, she cut a plate of salted pig intestines. She arrived at the family courtyard at twelve o'clock. The rice was just half past twelve. The speed was very fast and she could catch up with the noodles. In fact, it really saves time to cook dishes during the cooking time.
"It's time to eat." Lin Qingqing called out.
Immediately, one adult and two children put down their things, quickly washed their hands, and lined up at the kitchen door.
Lu Haici was blocked by his father's height again.
Lin said softly, "Lu Cheng, take the tofu soup away. Lu Haici, take the salty soup away." The hot tofu soup was given to the older one, and the salty soup was given to the younger one, as it was cold.
"Hmm."
"Yes."
The older one responded calmly, and the younger one responded excitedly, like a pair of new recruits in training.
The older one and the younger one carried the food into the hall, and Ji Yang was standing at the door, looking curiously.
Lin smiled and asked, "Ji Yang, can you still eat more? Do you want to drink some more tofu soup?"
Ji Yang swallowed his saliva. He wanted to drink it, but he remembered that his mother had said that food was precious in this era, so he told him not to eat at Lu Haici's house. So, Ji Yang shook his head: "Auntie, I've already eaten."
If his tone wasn't so reluctant, and his mouth wasn't so chattering.
Lin continued gently: "Then you can have some more tofu soup, just a small bowl, okay?"
Ji Yang was very tempted, but: "Auntie, then wait for me, I'll go home and get food to exchange with you." Then he ran towards home.
"No, no." Lin gently pulled him, "How about this, Auntie will treat you tofu soup, you do Auntie a favor, so we'll consider it a deal, how about it?"
How could the little kid think about it? When he heard the adults ask this, he agreed without asking any questions. "Okay, I'll help Auntie."
Lin said softly, "After lunch, can you help Auntie wash this pig intestine for a while?"
Ji Yang saw that it was something he had just washed, and said confidently, "Okay, I will definitely wash it for Auntie."
It's not necessary. "You can just help Auntie wash it for a while, then go sit in the living room and eat together later."
"Hey."
Ji Yang went to the living room and said, "Lu Haici, Auntie asked me to eat together."
Lu Haici had already sat down obediently: "Then come and sit here, sit next to me." Lu Haici arranged the seat on his right for Ji Yang, his left was his mother, and opposite him was his father. He praised himself for being smart by separating Ji Yang from his mother. Although his mother said that she liked Ji Yang because he was his good friend, Lu Haici still hoped that his mother would only like him. Lu
Cheng went to the kitchen again, holding enoki mushrooms with scallion oil in one hand and a bowl of rice in the other, and then sandwiched another bowl of rice between his two hands. This was also a good way to do it. Lin Qingqing held a bowl of rice and a small bowl of tofu soup in the other. She didn't serve rice to Ji Yang. Ji Yang must have eaten enough at home. If he came here to eat again, he would be full, so she served him a small bowl of tofu soup that was easy to digest.
After everyone was seated, Lin Qingqing said, "It's time to eat." As she said that, she took a sip of the tofu soup first. It was really delicious. The bean fragrance of tofu and the delicious taste of mushrooms blended together, it was really delicious.
Seeing this, Lu Haici imitated his mother and drank a mouthful of tofu soup first: "Wow..." He shouted, "Mom, this is really delicious." Because it was mixed with tofu and starch, it looked even thicker.
Lin Qingqing found that no matter what this little kid ate, he said it was really delicious. "Then you should eat more. If you eat too much tofu soup, eat less rice, otherwise it will hurt your stomach."
Lu Haici said, "I have a big stomach."
Lu Cheng drank two mouthfuls of tofu soup at once, and then picked up a chopstick of salty pig intestines.
Lu Haici added, "But not as big as Dad's belly."
Lu Cheng almost choked himself, and he even looked at his belly. He was wearing clothes and couldn't see anything. But, his stomach is nothing but abdominal muscles, which is not good at all?
Ji Yang said: "My stomach is bigger than Lu Haici's, and I can eat more than Lu Haici."
Lu Haici heard it and said: "Then let's compare and see who eats more."
"No." Lin said softly, "Ji Yang has already eaten. If he eats too much, his stomach will be uncomfortable. After you have lunch, you can compare whose pig intestines are cleaned more cleanly. The winner can eat an extra slice of salted egg yolk pumpkin in the evening."
"Then I will definitely wash it cleaner than Ji Yang." Lu Haici guaranteed, but, "Mom, what is salted egg yolk pumpkin? Is it the pumpkin pie you have eaten?"
Although Lu Cheng was concentrating on eating, he was listening. Salted egg yolk pumpkin, it sounds like salted egg yolk and pumpkin are cooked together, but can salted egg yolk and pumpkin be eaten together? But he knew that Lin Qingqing's cooking must be delicious.
"It's a secret, I can't tell you." Lin Qingqing said with a smile.
With two little cubs, today's lunch is very lively. Ji Yang drank a bowl of tofu soup and stopped. Lin Qingqing asked him to stand in the living room for a while to digest his food. In fact, Ji Yang was still full for lunch, and he couldn't drink a second bowl.
Lu Cheng continued to wash the pig intestines, and when he saw him washing the pig intestines, the two little cubs immediately joined him.
Lin Qingqing went to wash the dishes, and when she finished washing the dishes, she found that Lu Cheng had already washed half of the pig intestines. But it was almost half past one, and he had to go to the army.
Lu Cheng didn't continue washing: "I'm going to the army, I'll wash the rest when I come back."
Lin said softly: "No need, I'll leave it here first, I'll go to the carpenter's house, and then I'll ask Sister Xiuyao to wash it together."
Lu Cheng: "That's fine, I'm leaving."
Lin Qingqing said: "Take care."
"Take care." Lu Haici imitated his mother and said goodbye to his father in a baby voice.
However, his father didn't care.
As soon as Lu Cheng left, Lin Qingqing also wanted to go to the carpenter's house, so she said to Lu Haici: "Haici, I'm going to the nearby village. Can you and Ji Yang play at home?"
Lu Haici immediately said: "Mom, can I go with you?"
Lin Qingqing: "No, because I want to buy some food. The food has to be put on the back of the bicycle. If you go too, there will be no place to put the food. But I promise you, when I come back, we will go for a walk outside after dinner in the evening, okay?"
"Okay." Although Lu Haici was a little sad, he could go out with his mother at night. His mother had important things to do, and he couldn't be disobedient and make trouble for his mother like a three-year-old child.
Before Lin Qingqing left, she locked the kitchen, in case the kid went in and played with fire or knives.
It was very fast to get to the carpenter's house from the army, and it only took ten minutes by bike. When Lin Qingqing arrived at the carpenter's house, only the carpenter's wife was left. The other members of the carpenter's family had already gone to work, and the reason why the carpenter's wife did not go to work was because she had been injured when she gave birth and could not work hard. Fortunately, the carpenter could make money. If it were someone else's family, the woman who could not work hard might be drowned by the saliva of her in-laws.
"Sorry, auntie, I had something to do this morning. Did you wait for a long time?" Lin Qingqing explained as soon as she entered the door. The
carpenter's wife said, "No, no, I thought you must have something to do and that's why you didn't come." The carpenter's wife was drying sesame seeds, because it was almost time to sow sesame seeds, so she took them out to dry.
Lin Qingqing's eyes lit up when she saw the sesame seeds. There were both white and black sesame seeds, and they smelled fragrant. "Does your family grow sesame seeds?"
The carpenter's wife said, "Of course, sesame seeds are nutritious. Grinding some sesame powder yourself can replenish your body. We ordinary people don't have oil coupons, but we can take sesame seeds to the grain and oil station to exchange for oil. But we can't exchange much, because our sesame seeds are all planted in private plots, but private plots also need to grow vegetables and grains, so there are fewer places to grow sesame seeds."
Lin Qingqing heard her say this and suddenly had an idea: "Auntie, I have oil. Can I use the oil to exchange sesame seeds and sesame powder with you?" If her halogenated pig intestines continue to be produced, the supply and marketing cooperative will provide a certain amount of oil every day, and she will get the oil herself. Of course, she would use the gas money to buy bean paste, otherwise she would be taking advantage of the supply and marketing cooperative. But Lin Qingqing would not do such a cheap thing. Her grandmother taught her since she was a child that people should not do petty thefts, nor should they be greedy for small gains. Sometimes you should learn to take a step back and see the world more broadly.
Her grandmother only knew a few words in that era, but in her heart, she was indeed a wise person.
"Of course you can." For the carpenter's wife, there is no difference between exchanging with the grain and oil station and exchanging with Lin Qingqing. Of course, some things need to be made clear. "But Comrade Lin, we exchange two catties of sesame for one ounce of sesame oil with the grain and oil station. What if we exchange with you?"
Lin Qingqing knew the oil yield of sesame. According to modern technology, one catty of sesame can produce two ounces of sesame oil, but the technology of this era is definitely a little worse, so one catty of sesame is equivalent to half an ounce of sesame oil, which is about the same.
Lin Qingqing said, "Then I will also exchange with you in this way." She did not say anything extra, "But I have some tickets, so I can exchange with you first."
For the carpenter's wife, this is a great thing. "My family grows two mu of sesame every year, about 20 catties. This year's sesame is sown in July and can be harvested in late September. I wonder how much Comrade Lin wants?"
Lin Qingqing said, "All." It can be ground into sesame powder to drink, and it can also be used as a garnish when cooking. "But I want half white sesame and half black sesame."
"That's no problem." The carpenter's wife was very happy. About 20 kilograms of sesame could be exchanged for one kilogram of oil. "By the way, Comrade Lin, I still have last year's sesame at home, but I have stored it very well and often exposed it to the sun. Do you want it?" They planted sesame once a year. There was no other way. The private plot was limited, and sesame was only planted when the weather was hot.
Lin said softly, "Yes, how much do you have here?"
The carpenter's wife took out all the sesame from last year and opened it for Lin to see.
Lin grabbed a handful. These sesame were indeed well exposed to the sun. There were no borers in this handful, and he could smell the fragrance of sesame. Seeing sesame seeds, Lin Qingqing thought of peanut butter, so she asked again: "Auntie, does anyone here make peanut butter?" If she asked about peanut butter, why not ask about bean paste? Lin Qingqing asked just to try her luck, because in her mind, people of this era have very good craftsmanship and especially like to make some sauces. For example, the original owner's grandmother was very good at making bean paste.
Thinking of this, Lin Qingqing decided to write a letter to the grandmother and ask her if she could send some bean paste over, so that she wouldn't have to go to the department store to buy it. This would also help the grandmother make some money.
The carpenter's wife said: "Yes, there are people here who grow peanuts, and peanuts can also be exchanged for oil at the grain and oil station. Two pounds of peanuts can be exchanged for one ounce of oil."
"The yield of peanuts is higher than that of sesame, right? Why doesn't Auntie's family grow peanuts?" Lin Qingqing was curious.
Speaking of this, the carpenter's wife also felt aggrieved: "Because I can't eat peanuts, several children in our family also follow me. When I was pregnant, I ate peanuts and had an allergic reaction. I almost couldn't make it, so the child was born prematurely, and both my child and I were injured. The child has recovered in recent years, but my health is not good. So we don't grow peanuts at home." Otherwise, it would be much better than exchanging sesame seeds for oil.
Lin Qingqing felt a little regretful.
The carpenter's wife continued: "Comrade Lin, if you want peanuts, I can exchange them for you from the villagers."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
