Siheyuan: Starting from Building a Village

"Comrade Guozheng, I see you have coal, so why don't you have a good coal stove?"

As a chef, a good stove can achieve twice the result with half the effort. I am extremely dissatisfied with the temporary wood stove in front of me. It is usable but not very useful.

"Well, this is just for temporary use. There are two coal stoves at the construction site, mainly for the workers to cook."

Liu Guozheng naturally understood that Nan Yi looked down upon this temporary wood stove.

"Weiguo, go get some bricks, I'll make another one nearby."

Anyway, we have time now. The bear paw has just been put into the pot. It is very slow to process. I might as well take advantage of this free time to make another one.

While Chen Weiguo was getting bricks, Nan Yi was digging holes and mixing mud beside him.

"Master Nan, I didn't expect you would be able to do this."

Liu Guozheng couldn't help but wonder if a chef who doesn't know how to build a stove is not a good chef.

"I like to tinker around and figure things out. I learned this from a master."

Nan Yi said as he worked in the mud.

"Brother Zheng, the bricks are here."

Liu Guozheng looked and saw that it was Li Dabao and Lao San who came back.

"Dabao, where is Weiguo?"

"Weiguo went back to the mine to call for a car."

Coincidentally, Li Dabao and Lao San just came back and ran into Chen Weiguo head-on.

Speaking of bear meat, Li Dabao said he didn't want it. After Chen Weiguo gave some instructions, he hurriedly called a taxi. In his words, they should take advantage of the time now to get the matter done so as not to miss eating meat and drinking.

"Ok."

Since Li Dabao was not going to take the bear meat, Liu Guozheng didn't say anything else.

"Brother Zheng...Brother Zheng, this is what we got today."

The third brother picked up a cabbage from the tricycle and held a string of dried mushrooms and black fungus in his hand.

Li Dabao took out a few heads of garlic from his pocket and five eggs from his backpack.

"Just right, I can use it at noon."

I didn't have much hope in the first place. If I could get it, I would eat it. If not, I would continue to eat potatoes and meat.

"Brother Zheng, there are no seeds yet. Let's go to the supply and marketing cooperative in the afternoon to check."

"Okay, let's talk about it in the afternoon when we have time. There's no rush."

"Okay, then I'll soak these dried mushrooms first."

Li Dabao went to fetch water, while Liu Guozheng and the third brother went together to carry a square table.

A few little guys and Yang Youde moved four benches.

This is the result of Yang Youde’s two days of work.

After Nan Yi had set up the coal stove and the bear paw was almost cooked, he began to deal with the hair on it. This was a job that required patience. After all, there were too many hairs on the bear paw and it was difficult to clean them clean, so one couldn't be impatient.

So Liu Guozheng didn't think about helping because he didn't have the patience.

"Brother Guozheng, chop the chicken and rabbit into pieces and soak them in clean water first."

"Ok."

This job is simple and I can do it myself.

Since they had never seen a bear paw, the little guys surrounded Nan Yi and the third brother, chattering and asking questions. With several questions and one answer, they soon became familiar with each other.

"Uncle Nan, are you good at cooking?"

"Uncle Nan, Brother Zheng's cooking is also delicious. I wonder who is better between the two of you."

"Uncle Nan, can I eat whatever I want as a chef?"

“Uncle Nan…”

Nan Yi did not show any impatience. From the show, he is a good man in the traditional sense. He cannot bear to see others suffer, especially women and children. Otherwise, he would not have fallen into the trap of the widow.

"Uncle Nan, I want to learn how to be a chef when I have the chance."

Among them, Liu Xiaolong is the oldest and has his own ideas.

"Xiaolong, didn't you say you wanted to learn carpentry with me this morning? Why did you change to learning cooking?"

Yang Youde couldn't help it. He had just agreed to learn carpentry from him this morning, but now he's clamoring to learn cooking?

"Grandpa Yang, I want to learn carpentry too."

Liu Xiaolong said seriously.

Yang Youde smiled and said, "Good boy, you may be young, but you have a lot of ideas."

While they were chatting and laughing, Nan Yi, with the help of the third brother, quickly processed the four bear paws, blanched them in boiling water again, skimmed off the foam, and then washed them clean again.

After cleaning, put it into the pot of clean water again, add ginger slices and scallion segments, and add a small amount of white wine to remove the fishy smell.

Start boiling over high heat, and after boiling, turn to low heat. This will take a long time, perhaps two to three hours.

It needs to be taken out and cleaned later.

Change the water again, add soy sauce and salt, and cook for more than half an hour.

Finally, take it out, season it, pour the stewed soup on it and you can eat it.

Nan Yi operated and introduced the method at the same time, and he was not afraid of being learned by others.

After listening to Nan Yi's introduction, Liu Guozheng knew that it would take at least three hours to eat the bear paw.

Then just wait, we have to wait anyway, and besides Chen Weiguo hasn't come back yet.

A group of people were talking around the square table.

During this time, Nan Yi took out a cigarette and offered it to others. No one knew how to smoke except Yang Youde.

Only then did I realize that Lao Yang actually smokes. I'll have to ask Li Dabao to buy me a pack of cigarettes next time.

"Xiaolong, Xiaohu, Xiaofeng, the three of you go try on the new clothes."

Erleng, who had been missing all morning, came over.

Liu Guozheng said jokingly, "Hey, isn't this Erlang? Are you willing to come out?"

"hehe "

Several people looked at Erlang with a smile, which made Erlang feel embarrassed. He changed the subject directly and said, "Hey, Brother Zheng, what are you going to make for dinner today?"

"nice one."

"I guess you won't be able to eat it today."

"Well, I guess I can't eat it."

"Today the chef is personally cooking, just think about it."

"..."

You said something, I said something, Erleng was anxious: "Why can't I eat it yet?"

Li Dabao asked, "Aren't you still going to see Comrade Li Xiujuan off?"

Erlang was a little confused: "Yes, yes."

Yang Youde continued, "When you come back, we'll just finish eating."

"No, the big pot of food should be ready. Juan and I will go back to deliver the food first. You must wait for me."

After saying this, Erleng ran away in a hurry.

"Hahaha"

Everyone laughed.

Yang Youde said seriously: "Guozheng, it seems that we really need to find a time to settle this matter."

"Well, let's take some time after the house is built."

After a moment's silence, Liu Guozheng continued, "I'll have to trouble you, Old Yang, when the time comes. We have no experience in this area."

Yang Youde nodded and said, "Don't worry."

Although the places are different and the rules are different, they should not be much different. Moreover, lavish weddings are not encouraged these days. If both parties have no relatives, it will be enough to set up a few tables with familiar people to make the wedding more lively.

"toot toot"

The sound of a car horn should mean Chen Weiguo has arrived.

Liu Guozheng directly called Lao San, Lao Yang and Li Dabao, and the four of them prepared to move things.

I hope Chen Weiguo can really get what he wants.

Nan Yi looked at the ingredients: a pheasant, a rabbit, potatoes, cabbage, mushrooms, pig front legs, and eggs. He had an idea in his mind and prepared to start cooking.