Chapter 101
That day, the Jiang family's kerosene lamp stayed lit until the early hours of the morning.
Two large vats of field mouse meat have been pickled, and there are still thirty or forty field mice left to be processed.
Grandma Jiang and Ye Qingyun and the others were all very clean.
The cellar isn't finished yet, and seeing so many field mice piled up in the kitchen just doesn't look right.
So the two of them decided to make the remaining field mouse meat into braised meat and eat it.
That would use up a lot of firewood.
Fortunately, the base provided heaters as a reward, so the house should be able to hold out for a while.
Furthermore, making the braised meat all at once saves the cost of cooking it every day, making it cost-effective overall.
Fill an iron pot with water and throw in some Sichuan peppercorns.
Since there was no soy sauce at home, Grandma Jiang used the salty broth from pickling cowpeas.
Add some cotton aphid sugar to enhance the flavor.
Chop the cleaned field mice into pieces, blanch them in boiling water, skim off the foam as soon as it floats to the surface, drain the water, and pour them directly into the prepared braising liquid.
Perhaps due to the temperature, the aroma wafted throughout the house, carried by the fire burning in the stove.
The room was filled with smoke.
With the thick curtains covering it, the smell was mostly masked.
Ye Qingyun stayed by the fire alone for the first half of the night, letting the others go to sleep.
Wu Xiu will be replaced later in the night.
The flames in the stove licked the bottom of the pot, casting a warm yellow glow on the kitchen walls.
The broth in the pot bubbled and simmered, the aroma of meat mingling with the steam rising and warming the entire kitchen.
Ye Qingyun added a thin piece of firewood to the fire. The sparks jumped up and warmed her face, and even her sleeves were warmed by the firelight.
She would occasionally stir the firewood, making sure the fire wasn't too strong or too weak, and tending to the pot, she didn't find the loneliness of the latter half of the night particularly unbearable.
Every now and then you can hear Grandpa Jiang coughing next door.
They didn't turn on the heater in the elderly couple's room that night.
Instead, they heated the kang (a traditional heated brick bed).
The heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed) in the kitchen is connected to the heated kang in the old couple's room.
The construction was planned ahead of time because the elderly couple were not resistant to the cold.
That night, the fire was kept burning to cook the braised meat, and to save resources, Grandma Jiang didn't turn on the heater.
After 1 a.m., the sound of a lock being opened came from the front door.
Ye Qingyun's heart tightened, and he subconsciously grabbed the fire tongs that were placed to the side and quickly hid by the kitchen door. His back was pressed against the cold earthen wall, and his eyes looked warily out of the yard.
"Qingyun?"
A familiar voice came from nearby.
Ye Qingyun was overjoyed.
"The mountains!"
Unexpectedly, her husband actually came back today, and Ye Qingyun quickly walked out.
"Why are you back so late?" She took the bag from the other person's hand, her voice icy. "In this cold weather, you might as well have slept at the research institute for the night. Why put yourself through this?"
Ye Qingyun complained, but he couldn't suppress the urge to smile.
Jiang Shan laughed and said, "No research institute is as comfortable as home."
Ye Qingyun frowned upon hearing this: "Is the accommodation at the research institute not warm enough?"
Jiang Shan followed Ye Qingyun into the kitchen, where the warmth and aroma immediately warmed him up.
He leaned over to look at what was cooking in the pot before answering, "No, that's not it."
Ye Qingyun was worried that he was hungry after working so hard, so she served him a small bowl of meat.
"Eat up, field mouse meat, it's all earned by your son and daughter."
As Ye Qingyun spoke, he added a thick piece of firewood to the stove. Sparks rose from the stove door, warming their faces.
Jiang Shan was indeed hungry. He casually picked up a small stool next to him, placed it next to his wife, sat down, and started eating a piece of meat.
As soon as your teeth touch the skin, you can feel how tender and soft it is, the skin that has been stained light brown by the broth. It melts on your tongue with a gentle bite, carrying a hint of the salty and savory flavor of the sauce.
With another bite, the meat fibers are soft but not mushy, and the broth is wrapped in the fine texture of the meat. As you chew, the aroma of Sichuan peppercorns from the braising sauce, the rich flavor of the meat itself, and a hint of the smoky flavor from slow-cooking over a wood fire all rush down your throat.
The fatty parts were stewed until glossy and smooth, like melted oil, yet not greasy. Mixed with the firmness of the lean parts, they became more and more fragrant with each chew. He couldn't resist and picked up another piece.
Jiang Shan slowed down once he had some food in his stomach.
Seeing his satisfied expression, Ye Qingyun felt the emptiness in her heart fill out as well.
After finishing a bowl of meat, Jiang Shan let out a satisfied burp, and his body relaxed.
He moved closer to the stove, where it was warm. Ye Qingyun reached out and touched the back of his neck. "You must have caught a chill on the way here. Your neck is still cold." As she spoke, she moved a little to the side so that he could get closer to the fire.
The two stood shoulder to shoulder, the heat from the stove carrying the aroma of meat wafting over them, gradually warming away the chill from their bodies.
The broth in the pot was still bubbling. Jiang Shan pulled a wrinkled green leaf from his pocket, and inside were several mutated jujubes.
Ye Qingyun was pleasantly surprised, "Where did this come from?"
Even after mutation, the Japanese raisin tree still has a twisted, fleshy stem, but it is two to three times larger than before.
Jiang Shan: "My colleague's relatives were checking in the No. 1 collection area these past two days to see if there were any plants that hadn't been frozen to death. They found a jujube tree that wasn't completely dead. They knocked down the frozen jujubes from it, let them thaw, and found that they were still edible, so they shared some with us."
No wonder it feels a bit soft to the touch.
Seeing that Ye Qingyun was reluctant to eat it, Jiang Shan stuffed it directly into her mouth, but she slapped him and said angrily, "Why are you giving it to me? It would be better to save it for the children to have a taste."
That's what they said, but it still ended up in their mouths.
Ye Qingyun had no choice but to eat it.
Jiang Shan smiled and said, "This is something I specially saved for you; I won't give it to the children."
Ye Qingyun's face flushed slightly, and she glared at him. "You're getting more and more indecent."
But the mutated jujube in my mouth tasted better than I expected.
Ye Qingyun could tell that the jujube had just been thawed, and the fleshy stems were soft.
After biting into it and chewing a couple of times, you first experience a slight astringency, followed by a sweet juice that oozes out, mixed with a slightly woody, crisp flavor. It's not strong, but it has a lingering sweetness.
The sweetness on Ye Qingyun's tongue helped to relieve some of the fatigue from guarding the stove.
Jiang Shan: "How does it taste?"
Ye Qingyun nodded: "That's right."
—These frozen jujubes are even more refreshing and less greasy than the usual ones.
Jiang Shan: "Then you eat the rest."
Ye Qingyun laughed and said, "I'll just have a taste. I'm not a child anymore, and I'm not greedy. You should try some too."
Jiang Shan: "I'm a grown man, I'll eat—"
Before he could finish speaking, Ye Qingyun threw a piece into his mouth.
The two looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh.
Jiang Shan: "Okay, I'll try some too."
After finishing the jujubes in his hand, Jiang Shan added firewood to the stove before speaking again, "I've heard about what happened today."
After saying this, Jiang Shan seemed to be stunned for a moment, and Ye Qingyun didn't say anything, quietly waiting for him to continue.
After a while, Jiang Shan continued, "According to preliminary statistics, more than 14,000 people died in this cold wave, of which more than 3,000 died by suicide."
Ye Qingyun was taken aback.
Ancheng Base is large and can accommodate many residents, but even so, the mortality rate is quite high, not to mention the suicide rate.
Jiang Shan sighed: "In this world, it's really too difficult to survive. The base has made a lot of efforts behind our backs, but for ordinary people, it's still a drop in the ocean."
Ye Qingyun couldn't quite describe the feeling in his heart.
She held Jiang Shan's hand and said, "No matter what, it's enough that our family is together."
Jiang Shan patted the back of her hand and remained silent for a long time.
In today's world, it is truly rare to find a family like theirs that can be reunited, with no casualties, and where everyone is united in purpose and effort, looking forward to a better future and living a harmonious life.
The couple hadn't had a proper conversation in a long time, so Jiang Shan shared some trivial information with his wife.
“The base has recently searched many collection areas and made some discoveries,” Jiang Shan said. “There are still some mutated plants surviving in the mountains of Collection Area No. 1 and the valley of Collection Area No. 3.”
Ye Qingyun's eyes lit up. "That's a good thing!"
Jiang Shan smiled and nodded, "Therefore, researchers at the base speculate that there might be a way to survive in the mountains."
Ye Qingyun couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that the base also intends to send people to the Qiling Mountains?"
Jiang Shan said, "We definitely want to go to Qiling Mountain Range, but they are very wary of the miasma there, so our first choice right now is Chaoyang Wharf in the neighboring city."
"The temperature will definitely drop further, and the initial estimate is that it will fall to minus forty or fifty degrees Celsius. Once the sea freezes over, the base will organize teams to go out to sea to fish."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingyun became somewhat worried, "Will there be any problems if Azhi and the others go to the Qiling Mountains tomorrow?"
Jiang Shan said, "If it's just on the outer edge of the Qiling Mountains, it probably won't be a big problem. But the miasma gets more and more dangerous the further you go in."
"The base has been researching how to solve the miasma problem. I heard from the higher-ups that if they can't find anything edible in Chaoyang City, they'll probably open up the outer perimeter of the Qiling Mountains."
Jiang Shan sighed inwardly.
It's hard to say what the situation will be like then.
The wind and snow were still howling outside, but the kitchen was warm and cozy. The couple chatted casually, and Ye Qingyun would occasionally get up to lift the pot lid and poke the meat with his chopsticks.
In the middle of the night, Wu Xiu hurriedly got up because of the cold, and the two of them went back to their room to rest.
That night, Jiang Zhi continued to have dreams in the latter half of the night.
The seed jumped out of her mental pool again.
Two words kept repeating in Jiang Zhi's mind.
"Territory...territory..."
When Jiang Zhi woke up, her mind was filled with nothing but the word "territory," and she almost forgot about setting off for the Qiling Mountains.
It was still dark outside, and the house was as cold as an icebox.
As a mutant, Jiang Zhi didn't feel cold, but she still felt her eyelids were heavy in this weather and didn't want to move, so she stayed in her warm bed.
Jiang Zhi had mentally rehearsed getting up a hundred times, but her body felt like it was filled with lead, and she couldn't move at all.
Finally, I decided to be willful for once, buried my head in the blankets, and dozed off for a little while longer.
On a day like this, being able to stay in bed a little longer feels incredibly comfortable.
Just as she was feeling drowsy, someone outside called out:
"Ah-Zhi!! Wake up!!"
Her brother's voice was like thunder; it could make people's ears ring even through two doors.
Jiang Zhi:......
On a day like this, her brother actually got up earlier than her?
When Jiang Zhi finally managed to get dressed and walk into the hall, she found that Jiang Shu was already eating steamed buns with gusto.
Jiangzhi Hehe: Indeed, the power of foodies is boundless.
The brazier in the hall was burning brightly, making it much warmer than the room.
Jiang Shu's mouth was stuffed with meat. When he saw Jiang Zhi walk in, he patted the cushion next to him and said, "A-Zhi! Come and warm yourself by the fire. This awful weather is even making me feel a bit sluggish."
Jiang Zhi then noticed a new iron brazier placed in the center of the hall.
Inside, chopped firewood was burning, flames licking the wood with a crackling sound, and sparks occasionally leaping upwards, turning the rim of the basin red.
Jiangzhi sat down next to her. "Did you get a new brazier?"
The cushions on the stool were newly made by Yuan Ying and Xu Na.
Take old summer clothes that have worn out and put them on the stool, then wrap a few strands of cotton around the stool surface.
People won't feel uncomfortable sitting on it.
Yuan Ying laughed and said, "This big pot at home is so cracked that your second uncle has tried to repair it several times, but it's still unusable, so he simply uses it as a brazier."
Jiang Zhi sat around the fire, warming his hands by the flames, his sleeves getting nice and cozy.
Jiang Si was restless while sitting, squatting in front of the basin and fiddling with the firewood. She only retreated after Wu Xiu slapped her hand.
Jiangzhi smiled and said, "Grandma, why do I smell sweet potatoes?"
Grandma Jiang laughed and said, "You have a keen sense of smell. I put it in there not long ago and you could smell it?"
Jiang Si raised her hand, "Great-Grandma, my sweet potatoes are almost ready!"
Grandma Jiang exclaimed in surprise, "You little rascal, when did you put it in? I didn't see it!"
Jiang Si: "Hehe."
Jiang Zhi scanned the area but didn't see Grandpa Lin.
These past few days, the Jiang family has been worried that he wouldn't know how to cook by himself, so they've been having Jiang Jun bring him over to their house every day to warm up by the fire and chat.
Ye Qingyun knew at a glance who her daughter was looking for. "Don't look anymore. The Lin family's son is back today, so he's not coming over."
Jiang Zhi was somewhat surprised, "Brother Lin Yuan is back?"
Yuan Ying laughed: "Your dad came back yesterday too. I guess the higher-ups gave everyone a few days off?"
Ginger Branch is a delight.
"Dad's back too? Where is he?"
Ye Qingyun said, "He came home late last night and went to bed late too. He's still asleep."
Ye Qingyun was used to waking up early and would wake up on time. In addition, he was thinking about the braised meat, so he got up immediately.
Wu Xiu said, "You should eat something first to fill your stomach. I've also prepared the dry food you brought with you today."
Jiang Shu handed her a steamed bun, but Jiang Zhi turned her head away, saying, "I haven't rinsed my mouth yet."
Jiang Shu curled his lip and muttered, "Such fussy rules in the dead of winter!"
Jiang Zhi rolled her eyes. "It's because you're too dirty!"
Jiang Hai, who was standing nearby, laughed and said, "It's so cold today. The water tank outside is freezing. Ah Zhi, bring some water in to heat it up before you wash up."
Jiang Zhi responded.
After washing up and returning to the hall, the firewood in the brazier had almost burned out.
Jiang Si couldn't wait to run over and pull her forward: "Auntie, come and eat some roasted sweet potatoes!"
Jiang Zhi smiled and said, "Alright, alright, let me see how Sisi's roasted sweet potatoes are doing."
Wu Xiu helped Jiang Si bury the sweet potatoes. First, they dug up the charcoal-burned firewood, buried the sweet potatoes, and then covered them with a layer of hot ash.
When Jiangzhi was a child, winter was also her favorite time of year.
No need to go to school, no need to go out, wearing flannel pajamas, warming myself by the fire in front of the brazier, eating roasted sweet potatoes that have been simmering in the brazier—it couldn't be more pleasant.
Jiang Zhi now feels like she's returned to the most stress-free time of her childhood.
She sat back down by the brazier and used the fire tongs to pry open the charcoal ash.
The large piece of mutated sweet potato skin below was roasted until it was charred and cracked.
The ginger branch was pulled out directly by the clamps.
The potato flesh inside shrank from being roasted, leaving only a charred, blackened crust on the outside.
Jiang Si and Jiang Shu watched longingly.
He picked up the ginger branch, which burned his hands, and struggled to break it apart while blowing away the ash.
The moment the mutated sweet potato, obtained from collection area 15, cracked open, a pungent, sweet aroma wafted out.
It's not the light sweetness of ordinary sweet potatoes; it's more like thickened honey mixed with a caramelized aroma and a hint of smoky flavor from charcoal grilling. The aroma is so strong that just smelling it makes your nose feel like it's covered in honey sweetness.
Jiang Shu swallowed hard, feeling a pang of envy, and suddenly realized that the steamed bun in his hand didn't smell as good anymore.
Jiang Zhi divided the sweet potatoes into several portions, one portion for the two children, one portion for Grandma Jiang, and then asked Jiang Si to take them into the house for Grandpa.
I originally wanted to share some with others, but they refused.
"You can eat it yourself. We have plenty of sweet potatoes. You can roast them yourself if you want."
Jiang Zhi was no longer polite.
He took a bite right under Jiang Shu's expectant gaze.
The rising steam, carrying a sweet taste, spread from the tip of the tongue all the way down to the throat.
In Jiang Shu's eyes, the sweet potato at this moment, even with its charred skin and slightly burnt aroma, exuded an irresistible charm.
"Ah Zhi, let me try a bite."
Jiangzhi: "No, if you want to eat it, go grill it yourself."
Seeing her grandson smacking his lips with such craving, Grandma Jiang wanted to laugh but deliberately kept a straight face. She shoved the freshly peeled portion into his arms with a disgruntled expression, "Here you go! You glutton!"
Jiang Shu chuckled and exclaimed, "Thank you, Grandma!!"
The golden-fleshed fruit was steaming hot, and its sweet aroma filled the air. Jiang Shu didn't even bother to blow on it to cool it down before taking a bite.
The moment his tongue touched it, Jiang Shu's eyes widened in surprise. "This...it tastes like honey!?"
Jiang Shu couldn't describe the taste.
The soft, fluffy filling melts in your mouth with just a touch, filling your mouth with a warm, sweet flavor—not a thin sweetness, but a rich, smoky sweetness with a hint of charcoal. Even after swallowing, a sweet aftertaste lingers in your throat.
Jiang Hai laughed and said, "This is the kind of sweet potato that tastes best when roasted. The mutated sweet potato is probably even sweeter and more creamy."
Jiang Shu nodded repeatedly, "That's exactly what Jiang Hai said!"
At this moment, Jiang Shan also got up.
"Wow, everyone's up this early?"
Grandma Jiang said, "Dashan, you've gotten up just in time. It's time to eat roasted sweet potatoes!"
Seeing so much food piled up in the living room, I was a little surprised: "Did we have guests? Why are there so many dishes?"
These words made Grandma Jiang feel quite embarrassed.
She had always been frugal her whole life, carefully calculating the food she had. Now that everyone was suddenly being allowed to eat as much as they wanted, she felt uneasy, like she had a knot in her heart.
Ye Qingyun made the decision, and some of the stored grain was taken out.
During this period, Ye Qingyun also figured things out.
They work so hard to stock up on goods in the summer so that they can have a better winter. There's no reason for them to live a miserable life when they have the means.
Therefore, when it comes to food, Grandma Jiang and Ye Qingyun control the quantity but not the total amount. In such freezing weather, they want their family to have something to look forward to.
After the brother and sister had eaten and drunk their fill, it was already 8 a.m.
The sky outside was still a bit foggy, as if it might snow at any moment.
Niu Dali arrived right at 8 o'clock.
Jiang Zhi could tell from his outfit that Liu Xu had clearly put a lot of thought into it.
He was wearing a dark blue coarse cotton-padded coat, stuffed full of cotton, which made his already sturdy body look like a small mountain.
Thick patches were sewn on areas prone to drafts, such as elbows and shoulders.
He wore dark gray cotton trousers with the cuffs tied tightly with rope, and then covered them with a pair of durable linen trousers, which covered even his ankles.
He was wearing an old military cap on his head. Although the outfit was a bit mismatched, it was clear that it was very warm.
Grandma Jiang smiled and said, "Dali looks really good in this outfit."
Niu Dali scratched his head sheepishly, also smiling.
Before long, Han Lei also brought Asong and Akuan to the Jiang family.
The three of them were wearing down jackets that they had gotten from Jiang Shu yesterday, and each of them had a summer garment wrapped around their head, which looked a bit comical.
But at times like these, keeping warm is the most important thing, and nobody cares about such things.
Ye Qingyun originally suggested that they eat some sweet potatoes to fill their stomachs before setting off, but Han Lei and the others refused no matter what. In the end, Jiang Zhi had to force-feed them the sweet potatoes before they gave in.
After everyone had eaten, Xu Na took out the juice extracted from golden thread lotus and applied it to the six people in the yard.
When the outdoor temperature is low, the juice, once applied, quickly condenses into a thin layer of frost and adheres firmly to the surface.
Jiang Shu found it somewhat amazing, "This thing can really glow in the dark?"
Xu Na smiled and said, "Yes, although it's not very bright, it's bright enough for people to see clearly."
After everything was prepared, Jiang Hai said, "I can't go with you young people this time. You must remember the rules for going up the mountain. First, keep your steps as light as possible and don't make any noise. There might be something hiding in the mountains, and disturbing it is no joke. Second, stay on the existing paths and don't go into places with deep grass or steep rocks. If you slip or get caught on something, you'll be left with no one to call for help. Third, if the fog in the mountains drops below two meters, don't continue forward."
Although Jiang Hai's body seems to be fine now, he has suffered from severe cold and cannot be compared with before.
All I can do is share my experience and ask them to pay more attention.
Jiang Zhi nodded, indicating that she had made a note of it.
After a brief farewell, the group headed straight for the South Gate.
Jiang Shan watched his son and daughter's departing figures with a touch of melancholy.
It's like I suddenly realized I'm getting old, all my energy seems to have been drained, and the days when I used to shoulder everything and charge forward seem like they were just yesterday. It's only been half a year, and before I knew it, I couldn't help my child much anymore.
Ye Qingyun stood silently beside him for a while before gently nudging him with her shoulder: "The children are grown up and can take care of things now. We should be happy. We can't help them, so we should learn to let them fly freely."
She reached out and brushed the snow off his shoulder. "It's cold, let's go inside, it's awful."
Jiang Shan smiled and agreed.
*
Jiang Zhi and her group quickly arrived at the south gate. Since the cold wave, apart from the east and west gates, the north gate near the No. 1 gathering area and the south gate near the Qiling Mountains have been closed, and no residents are allowed to enter or leave.
The six of them had made so many preparations, but they never expected to encounter such a situation at the last minute.
Just as everyone was thinking about how to persuade the other party to open the door, the patrolman guarding the gate's eyes lit up, his previously stern face instantly relaxed, and his tone became warm with barely suppressed enthusiasm: "Oh, it's Comrade Jiang Zhi! And Comrade Jiang Shu! It's you two!"
He took two steps forward, his back straightening instinctively, and said with a slightly embarrassed smile, "I was also in the main square yesterday, but you probably haven't seen me before."
The brother and sister exchanged a glance, and a surge of joy filled their hearts—they had found a way!
Jiang Zhi quickly said, "Hello comrade, we need to go out for a bit. Could you please open the door for us?"
Upon hearing this, the patrolman's slightly embarrassed expression immediately turned into a decisive one: "No problem! If you're going out, it must be something important!"
He took the key, opened the small door next to him, and let the group through quickly. He didn't forget to give them a few more instructions: "It's freezing outside, and the mountains aren't safe, so be careful! If you need to open the door when you come back, just call out 'Little Lu.' I'll be guarding here today!"
The brother and sister thanked them repeatedly and led the people outside.
After walking a short distance, Ah Song couldn't hold back any longer. He scratched the back of his head and chuckled, "Brother Shu, Sister Zhi, you two are really celebrities in the base now! Everyone recognizes you wherever you go, making things so convenient!"
Jiang Zhi never took herself seriously. She smiled and said, "What celebrity? If we really think of ourselves as important, we'll suffer the consequences later."
Ah Song chuckled, "I know, I know, Sister Zhi is right. But the treatment is indeed different. If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't even get a chance."
As they talked, they didn't stop walking and soon left the base's walls behind.
A cold wind blew in her face, and Jiang Zhi wrapped her thick coat tighter around herself. She looked up at the distant, white Qiling Mountains and said, "Stop chatting and let's hurry up and get into the mountains."
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