PDLP Chapter 339 Special Products of Changbai Mountain in Northeast China
Chapter 339 Special Products of Changbai Mountain in Northeast China
Inside a luxurious private room at the Xuexiang Hotel, waiters brought out platters of sumptuous dishes, and Liu Ning kept serving Li Zhen steaming hot food.
Liu Ning: "Brother Li, you should try this airplane stewed with tank. It's a real gem."
Li Zhen looked at the frog-like creature in front of him; although it was cooked, its shape was still vaguely discernible.
"Is this a frog?"
Liu Ning's boyfriend, beaming, enthusiastically introduced the frog to Li Zhen: "Brother Li, this is a treasure from our hometown in Northeast China—the forest frog, also known as the famous Hashi frog. You must try it; its flavor is so delicious that you'll never forget it."
Although Li Zhen hesitated slightly, out of consideration for his feelings, he resolutely closed his eyes and bravely took a bite.
"Huh? This tastes pretty good!"
In the blink of an eye, Li Zhen had devoured the frog in front of him. This time, without Liu Ning's prompting, he picked up another one and ate it with relish. Watching Li Zhen's satisfied expression, Liu Ning and her boyfriend exchanged a smile, their faces beaming with genuine joy.
In the snow-capped Changbai Mountains lives a magical creature—the Northeast Forest Frog, affectionately known as the Snow Frog. In this silver-clad world, the Snow Frog leisurely spends over a hundred days in a hibernation amidst the ice and snow, as if it were a secret ritual bestowed by nature. This tiny life, the Snow Frog, holds endless treasures within it.
Its meat is tender and has a unique flavor that lingers in the memory, a feast for the taste buds bestowed by nature. Even more remarkable is the extraordinary significance of its skin and oil in the world of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Like spirits of nature, they gently caress every corner of the body and mind, bringing the gentle nourishment of the lungs and yin, the profound benefits of replenishing essence and marrow, and a flash of inspiration for brain health and intelligence.
Snow frog, like a guardian of time, soothes the restlessness of liver fire and nourishes the stomach in its unique way. It is not only a key to anti-aging, leaving fewer traces of time on the skin, but also a beauty and skincare treasure, restoring youthful radiance and a youthful glow. And for those who yearn for the light of wisdom, snow frog can also ignite the lamp within your hearts, enhancing brain function, sharpening thinking, and ensuring the wellspring of wisdom never runs dry.
Beside the round table laden with a sumptuous feast, besides the fragrant and mouthwatering stewed frog, there were several authentic Northeastern specialties: steaming hot pork stew, tangy and appetizing sauerkraut stewed goose, temptingly colored and tender braised venison, and uniquely flavorful braised pheasant. Each dish exuded a strong local flavor, making one's mouth water.
Liu Ning and his companions frequently raised their glasses to express their sincere respect to Li Zhen, their words filled with gratitude for Li Zhen's selfless help in Liu Ning's career. This meal was not only a feast for the taste buds, but also a warm testament to friendship and cooperation, with laughter and joy filling the air and the atmosphere extremely harmonious.
As the wine took effect and the dishes dwindled, Li Zhen finally steered the conversation toward the main topic, as if a carefully choreographed drama was naturally progressing to its climax.
Li Zhen: "I came to you this time to purchase another batch of grain. This time it's not just rice, but also a lot of other grains. Also, could you see if you can get some animal hides for making leather clothing? The quality doesn't have to be too high, just enough to make clothes."
As soon as Li Zhen finished speaking, Liu Ning's boyfriend suddenly stood up, his body swaying slightly from the several glasses of fine wine he had just drunk, his eyes gleaming with a hint of intoxication.
"Haha, Brother Li, you're truly our family's lucky star!" He laughed heartily, his tone filled with sincerity and gratitude. "To be honest, my family has been in the fur business for generations, but in recent years, first the pandemic raged, then the constant fighting in the north, and the fur market has plummeted and shrunk drastically. My father has been so worried about this at home that he can't even eat. But don't worry, Brother Li, if you're interested, my furs will definitely be more affordable than the market price, and as for the quantity, it will be more than enough to satisfy you. After all, good things are scarce these days, but our own stock is still quite substantial."
After the meal, Li Zhen's needs were met. The group left the Xuexiang Hotel, and Liu Ning and his wife took Li Zhen to a bathhouse, letting him experience the unique bathing culture of Northeast China.
The next day, Li Zhen found tens of thousands of grains in Liu Ning's warehouse. As per Li Zhen's request, the bags used for the grains were unmarked. In addition to rice, there were soybeans, sorghum, millet, and wheat, as well as ten tons of soybean oil. Li Zhen hadn't expected Liu Ning to be so efficient; everything was ready in just one night.
Li Zhen nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad, they're all top quality. Here, you can still move these supplies to the warehouse from last time, and I'll transfer the money to you right away."
Liu Ning asked with a smile, "Brother Li, since you're so supportive of my business, why don't I just transport these grains to you directly? I'll cover the shipping costs."
Li Zhen politely declined Liu Ning's offer; he had his own secret space, why bother with that? If he weren't worried about his secret being exposed, he would have already stored the grain in his space.
Since it would take another two days to prepare the fur, Liu Ning took Li Zhen around during this time. In addition to eating Northeastern cuisine every day, Li Zhen also deeply felt the warmth of the people of Northeast China.
While strolling through a bustling market in Northeast China, Li Zhen bumped into a woman selling melon seeds. Upon hearing that Li Zhen was from Shandong Province, the woman's eyes lit up with a special light. Not only did she refuse to accept any money, but she also personally picked through the treasures in her dried fruit shop, filling a large bag to the brim, and handed it to Li Zhen.
"Brother, to tell you the truth, my hometown is Boshan! My grandfather's generation came here from the Northeast, so when I see relatives from Shandong Province, I feel so warm inside!" Sister Ganguo's words were full of warmth and kindness, as if instantly bridging the distance of thousands of miles.
Faced with this simple and sincere enthusiasm, Li Zhen felt a surge of warmth in his heart, but he was unwilling to take advantage of her for nothing. So, while his older sister turned away to do something busy, he quietly and gently placed two brand-new 100-yuan Chinese banknotes under the base of the electronic scale. His movements were so delicate that he was afraid of disturbing this rare bond of hometown affection.
At that bustling market, Li Zhen felt as if he had stepped into a secret realm filled with wild treasures. People from all directions, carrying loads on their shoulders and in their hands, arrived one after another from the deep, unfathomable forests, bringing with them nature's bounty. Fresh ginseng, still glistening with morning dew, swayed gently, exuding the unique freshness of the forest; the freshly picked monkey head mushrooms, each one large and plump, resembled treasures left behind by forest spirits; and then there were all sorts of wild mushrooms, colorful and varied in shape, growing only in places rarely visited by humans. Even Liu Ning, a native of the area, was somewhat dazzled by this dazzling array of wild treasures, unable to recognize all their varieties.
Li Zhen's gaze swept over the rare and exotic items, his heart filled with surprise and longing. Without hesitation, he embarked on his "treasure hunt," carefully inquiring about the price of anything that caught his eye before promptly acquiring it. The morning flew by, and Liu Ning's once empty trunk was now overflowing with all sorts of delicacies, as if nature itself had generously bestowed upon it the essence of the mountains and forests.