PDLP Chapter 26 Pickled Cabbage
Chapter 26 Pickled Cabbage
After catching fish last time, Li Xiangyang complained that the two ice holes were too slow, so he dug another one before leaving.
Today, we had to work on three ice holes in turn, which naturally made the process much faster.
The two had just arrived in Zhahar,
Li Xiangyang couldn't wait to take a shovel and scrape away the snow covering the ice hole, then used a spade to break up the newly formed thin layer of ice.
Then throw the ice shards onto the snow and wait for the fish to swim up on their own.
Not long after, we saw that
Tiny bubbles began to rise from the once calm, mirror-like surface of the water.
Li Xiangyang was overjoyed and called out softly.
"Brother, quick, get the net, we've got a fish!"
Upon hearing that a fish had been caught, Li Xiangdong quickly untied the landing net from the sled and ran over, wading through knee-deep snow.
Arriving at the ice hole,
He didn't rush to put the net down. Instead, he steadied himself and carefully extended the net into the ice hole, stirring it slowly.
As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect.
After fishing for several days, Li Xiangdong had gained some experience.
If you cast the net too quickly or make too much noise, you'll scare the fish away. Making less noise and taking your time with the landing net will actually allow you to catch more fish.
and,
He no longer needs to look at the net to catch fish; he can tell whether there are fish in the net and how many there are just by feeling them.
"Brother, make way...make way quickly, there are quite a few fish in this net."
Li Xiangdong called out in a low voice.
Then, with a burst of strength from his waist, he threw the entire net of fish, along with some ice shards, onto the snow.
The moment the net was full of fish touched the ground, they immediately began to thrash about, creating a spectacular scene.
Li Xiangyang ran closer with the sack in his hand and saw that there were 3 large carp, 2 pike and seventeen or eighteen small crucian carp.
They were all struggling energetically.
but,
It was so cold that they froze solid after only a short time of struggling.
"Brother, what a great catch!" Li Xiangyang couldn't help but praise.
Just as I was about to bend down to pick up the fish, I was startled by two yellowish creatures covered in a sticky substance that suddenly emerged.
Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be two large yellow loaches.
It's about the thickness of four fingers and about 30cm long.
"Brother, look! This time we even caught two big yellow loaches."
Li Xiangdong immediately put down the net and ran over.
"It really is a loach."
Li Xiangdong was somewhat surprised to catch loaches, since these creatures like to burrow into the soil at the bottom of rivers when the weather gets cold.
Li Xiangyang then packed the two large yellow loaches separately, intending to take them home, chop them up, add soybean paste and pickled vegetables, and stew them together.
There's an old saying: "Doves in the sky, loaches in the river."
This means that loach is the most delicious food in the river.
Li Xiangyang hasn't done any comparisons, so he doesn't know.
but,
Yellow loach has few bones and thick flesh. After stewing, the meat is tender and does not fall apart. He himself loved to eat it in his previous life.
Today, we fished through three ice holes in a row, which sped up the process considerably. In less than an hour, we caught 130 jin (65 catties) of fish.
If they kept scooping, there would definitely be more, but the weather was too cold. The fur on Li Xiangyang's dog-skin hat was already covered with frost, and his cheeks were stinging from the cold wind.
If they continue to tough it out, both brothers could develop a host of health problems from the cold.
Think about...
It's not worth it!
He then stopped Li Xiangdong, who wanted to continue trying to fish.
"Brother, the fish we caught today, plus the ones we caught the day before yesterday, should weigh over 200 jin (100 kg). That's enough for us to sell. Let's go home!"
Li Xiangyang's voice was deep and resolute, conveying an undeniable determination.
"Okay, sure."
Li Xiangdong nodded and put away the net without much hesitation.
It was 40 minutes later when the two of them returned home, panting heavily.
They simply covered the fish with a layer of snow and carried it into the storeroom.
After entering the house,
Li Xiangdong then realized his ears were about to freeze off, so he quickly ran outside to grab a handful of snow and rubbed his ears to warm them up.
Li Xiangyang also felt his feet go numb from the cold.
Fortunately, Liu Xiulan had prepared warm water for him when he returned. He soaked his feet in the warm water for more than half an hour before he recovered.
Going out to fish by the lake in the dead of winter is really a hardship.
Li Xiangyang and Li Xiangdong were busy warming up, while the three women in the house were also busy in the kitchen.
The eldest sister-in-law and Xiulan were preparing dinner.
Because there wasn't much sauerkraut left at home, my mother was busy pickling sauerkraut.
This pickled cabbage was supposed to be pickled before winter, but Li Zhenshan fell and injured himself while clearing snow from the sheep pen, keeping the whole family extremely busy.
That's what caused the delay.
This time,
Seeing that Li Zhenshan's health is gradually recovering, there's no need to worry about the ranch's lease fee next year.
And just in time,
Two days ago, Li Xiangyang bought 300 jin of Chinese cabbage, which had just dried out. This morning, he also bought coarse salt.
Only then did Wang Guiying remember this matter.
In his previous life, Li Xiangyang always missed the pickled cabbage his mother made.
It's savory, rich, and crisp. It's a shame I haven't had it for several days since I was reborn.
As soon as Li Zhenshan told him that Wang Guiying was pickling sauerkraut in the kitchen, he immediately ran over to help.
"Mom, you're pickling sauerkraut? You didn't even call me."
"What do you want?"
"I'll help you out, and I can secretly learn from you while I'm at it."
"This job... you're willing to do it?"
Wang Guiying was a little surprised.
Unexpectedly, Li Xiangyang is now even thinking of lending a hand to something as simple as pickling sauerkraut.
He used to only care about eating, and didn't care about cooking.
I felt that Li Xiangyang had really changed a lot this time, and was much more sensible, so I smiled and beckoned him over:
"If you don't mind the trouble, bring the sauerkraut jar from the storage room in. I've already washed it."
"Mom, I'm not tired."
As Li Xiangyang spoke, he pushed open the door and went out.
By the time Li Xiangyang brought in the sauerkraut jar, Wang Guiying had already blanched and drained the cabbage she needed to pickle.
"Mom, what's next?"
Li Xiangyang asked.
"Here, take this bag of coarse salt. Sprinkle it when I tell you to."
As she spoke, Wang Guiying handed a large bag of coarse salt to Li Xiangyang, and then carefully arranged the prepared Chinese cabbages one by one into the sauerkraut jar.
After she finished arranging a layer of cabbage, she asked Li Xiangyang to sprinkle a layer of salt.
He layered cabbage and salt, stacking them up in this way, until he had seven layers of cabbage, filling the sauerkraut jar to the brim, before he was satisfied.
"It can be eaten after another month of fermentation."
Wang Guiying said with a smile.
At this time,
The two daughters-in-law also prepared dinner and brought it all to the low table on the kang (a heated brick bed).
If there are no male guests at the house and a man is needed to keep them company while drinking and chatting, there is no rule here that women should not sit at the table.
The rice was all cooked, and everyone squeezed onto the kang (heated brick bed) to eat together.
"Dad, although this loach isn't as nutritious as venison, it tastes good. I'll serve you a bowl to try."
Li Xiangyang picked up a bowl and scooped a large bowl of loach from the pot, handing it to Li Zhenshan.
"That's enough, that's enough. Don't give me so much. If it's delicious, everyone should have some. Don't just give it all to me."
"It's alright, Dad, fish soup is just as good! It seems Xiulan has truly inherited her brother's skills; the crucian carp soup is getting better and better the longer it's simmered."
Li Xiangdong picked up the bowl, slurped up a big mouthful of crucian carp soup, and said with satisfaction.
"Yes, Auntie's crucian carp soup is delicious, but... Chunsheng's favorite is Uncle's roasted venison, it's so good, oh my gosh."
Li Chunsheng ate the venison skewers that Li Xiangyang had grilled for him while speaking in a childish voice.
Liu Xiulan and Zhao Lijuan didn't join the conversation. After hearing Li Xiangdong say that the fish soup was delicious, they both picked up their bowls and started to enjoy it.
Just as the whole family was immersed in laughter and joy.
Donkey Egg, who had gone to the brigade to report the brothers Li Xiangyang and Li Xiangdong for fishing in the lake, was already leading a large group of brigade cadres excitedly towards the Li family's house.