Thinking about being able to eat the lotus root she had been longing for, Lin Momo scrubbed the clothes even more diligently.
Actually, the clothes weren't very dirty to begin with; they were mostly mud that I'd picked up while working in the fields. Soaking them in soapberry solution for a while and then scrubbing them on a washboard would clean them up.
Lin Momo first washed the clothes out of the small basin, rinsed them clean in the pool, then put them into the washing machine in her space to spin dry, and then hung them on a bamboo pole to dry.
It wasn't until noon that the pile of clothes was finally washed clean.
She glanced towards the direction of time and saw two small piles of white lotus roots already stacked on the bank of the pond.
"Shiguang, isn't the water cold? There's enough for us, come on up."
Lin Momo came to the pond and called for Shiguang to come up.
Deep down, I was worried that he would catch a cold.
Benben and the wolf cub were just watching the commotion here, but now the two little ones have run into the bushes to scare away the pheasants.
"Mo Mo, don't worry, I don't feel that cold." Time in the lotus pond bent down and smiled at her. "There are lots of lotus roots here, I'll dig some more."
"It's already noon, let's eat lunch and then dig in the afternoon."
Shi Guang readily agreed, "Okay, I'll listen to my wife. Mo Mo, you go cook first, and I'll come ashore after I dig this out."
Seeing that he seemed to be enjoying himself and was laughing like a child, Lin Momo couldn't help but find it amusing.
This guy's stamina has really improved since he started practicing martial arts.
Thinking of his furnace-like body, I thought to myself, maybe he really doesn't feel cold.
She was worrying unnecessarily.
Time isn't stupid, and they don't lack food. If they really felt cold, they would have climbed ashore long ago.
Lin Momo ignored him and picked out the broken lotus roots from a pile of plump lotus roots on the ground.
The holes in these broken lotus roots have been filled with a lot of mud and sand, and they will be difficult to clean if left for too long. Let's eat them first.
For lunch, Lin Momo planned to prepare a whole lotus root feast.
She first carried several sections of broken lotus root to the edge of the pond, washed them one by one, then used a peeler to remove the outer layer of skin and put them into a small winnowing basket.
He got up, carrying a basket of lotus roots to the kitchen.
There was rice readily available in the space, so Lin Momo only needed to cook a few dishes.
She had already ordered the menu while she was cleaning the lotus roots.
First, simmer a pot of lotus root and pork rib soup. While the soup is simmering, make some pickled lotus root slices and stir-fry some green pepper, chicken, and lotus root cubes. Then you can start eating.
With that thought in mind, Lin Momo started chopping vegetables on the cutting board. First, she chopped a portion of lotus root for stewing, then she chopped lotus root slices and cubes, soaking each one in water after she finished chopping it.
While chopping vegetables, they often stuff them into their mouths.
It has a crisp texture, sweet juice, and is so tender that it's irresistible.
By the time the vegetables were chopped, she had unknowingly eaten a small piece.
Fill a small earthenware pot halfway with steaming hot pork rib soup, along with the broth and bones. Add lotus root pieces, place the pot on a small clay stove, and light the fire to simmer it.
Cut the chicken breast into cubes, add egg white, shredded ginger and light soy sauce, and marinate for a while.
Vinegar-braised lotus root slices are a cold dish, which requires blanching the lotus root slices in hot water first.
Add two ladles of water to the small pot on the stove, bring it to a boil, and then add a little white vinegar and blanch the lotus root slices.
During the blanching process, use a strainer to stir the lotus root slices from time to time to ensure they are heated evenly. After three minutes, remove them and place them in a basin of cold water to cool.
Squeeze out the excess water, put it in a small bowl, add sliced green and red chili peppers, a little shredded ginger, and a dozen or so peppercorns.
Pour out the hot water from the pot and let it dry completely. Then pour in rapeseed oil, heat it up, and use a small spoon to scoop up the hot oil and pour it over the peppercorns and chili peppers to release their aroma.
Quickly cover the lotus root with a lid to maximize the aroma and prevent it from evaporating.
Take an empty bowl, add enough white sugar to cover the bottom, and slowly add white vinegar until it just moistens the sugar. This will give you the perfect sweet and sour balance. Then add a little salt and MSG.
Finally, add slightly more cooled boiled water than sugar to dissolve everything inside.
At this point, you can remove the lid, add the sweet and sour sauce to the lotus root slices, add a little coriander, and mix well.
Let it marinate first, then plate it when you're ready to eat.
Next, let's make stir-fried lotus root cubes.
Pour a little oil into the pot and let it smoke slightly. Then add a few peppercorns and sauté until fragrant.
Add the marinated chicken breast and stir-fry until the meat changes color. Then add the green and red bell pepper slices and stir-fry for one minute. Add the blanched lotus root cubes, a little salt and MSG to taste, and stir-fry over high heat for two minutes before serving.
Just then, Shi Guang, wearing a dirty underwater suit, slipped into the kitchen.
"Mo Mo, what did you cook today? I can smell the aroma from far away."
Time peered into the pot and saw that it was empty. Then it turned to look at the casserole dish simmering on the small stove.
He reached out and lifted the lid of the casserole.
A burst of steam rose instantly from the pot.
Lin Momo said with disdain, "Why did you come in wearing this? Go take off your clothes, wash your hands, and you can eat."
"Lotus root and pork rib soup, it smells so good!"
After seeing what was stewing in the pot, Shiguang smiled, took a deep breath of the aroma, and put the lid back on.
Turning his head, he saw several dishes already prepared on the cutting board. He replied with a grin, "Okay, I'll go change them right away. You cooked so fast! I thought I'd have to wait a while. I'm really starving today; I'm going to eat two big bowls later."
Digging lotus roots is even more tiring than working in the fields.
You have to keep bending over and pay attention to your hands. Lotus roots grow in mud and can only be found by feeling around with your hands. If you're not careful, you'll break them.
Although he practices his martial arts every day, this job is still quite tiring.
His back, in particular, has suffered terribly.
However, he is young and recovers faster; he'll be fine after a short rest.
We can continue digging in the afternoon; it's good practice for us.
Lin Momo, who was plating the cold lotus root salad, looked up and smiled, "Okay, as long as you can fit it in your stomach, you can eat as much as you want."
Having just gone through the spring plowing and planting season, she needed two days to recover before she felt so tired.
Shiguang did all the hard and heavy work, but he never complained or said he was tired.
While she rested, Shiguang chopped firewood in the yard. She chopped for two days in a row, and today she even had the energy to go down to the pond to dig lotus roots.
Lin Momo truly admired his physical strength and even suspected that he had a body of steel.
Sometimes she wondered if such a talented person was wasting his precious time and failing to live up to the extraordinary talent bestowed upon him by heaven by staying in this remote mountain area.
Seeing that Shi Guang didn't complain at all and was always cheerful, she felt relieved.
Whatever kind of life you lead, if you feel it's worth living, then it is.
Shi Guang tossed out a sentence, "You serve the rice first, I'll be done in five minutes," and dashed out of the kitchen.
*
There is also a set of stone table and chairs in the courtyard, right outside the kitchen door, which looks like it was made by a skilled craftsman.
Compared to this, the set in Lin Momo's space is simply worthless.
After the weather warmed up, Lin Momo often cooked outside, and the place where she ate her meals changed to this spot.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
