Seeing that there was no place for him, Zhang An simply took the unloaded mutton home and put it there.
I chose two pieces of hind leg meat and put them in the refrigerator to wait for the lamb kebabs tomorrow.
The rest is in the kitchen and left to my mother to handle.
It's almost time now, Zhang An's second aunt is helping to cook, and Wang Fang is packing the mutton.
Zhang An's two aunts knew that they wanted to have dinner at Zhang An's house tonight since they entered the house and saw that the sheep was about to be killed.
So without being polite, they put on their aprons and started working. They were already very familiar with Zhang An's kitchen.
"Xiaoying, how do you like to cook this mutton?"
This question confused Su Ying. She usually didn't eat much mutton.
When asked now, I really couldn’t tell.
"Auntie, I can eat whatever you want. Just make it whatever you want. With your craftsmanship, I can eat whatever you like."
"Okay, then Auntie will make Braised Lamb with Yellow Scallions and Stir-fried Lamb with Green Onions. Auntie is the best at these two things."
After Wang Fang heard this, she continued to work in the kitchen.
Zhang An accompanied Su Ying and the others.
"Zhang An, should we go and help?"
Su Ying felt that everyone was busy, so she sat here, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Come on, there's nothing we can do to help." Zhang An pointed outside and then into the kitchen.
"There is no place for us outside. There is my mother and aunt in the kitchen, and there is not much space. Let's not hold back."
There are three people busy with their own business outside, and three people are busy with their own business in the kitchen.
The three of you should just sit and wait for dinner.
"Xiao An, why don't you go to the old house to pick some fish and coriander?"
Wang Fang was stewing a pot of mutton. The kitchen was very busy and she couldn't leave.
"Hey, I'll go right away." Zhang An responded.
"Remember to pick more, otherwise there won't be enough."
There were a lot of dishes cooked today, and Wang Fang was worried that if she didn't say anything, Zhang An would pick some and bring them back.
"I know." Zhang An simply found a basket at home.
"Come on, I'll take you for a walk."
Seeing that Su Ying had stood up, Zhang An took them out for a walk.
I sat in the room just waiting, there was nothing I could do to help.
"Your village is so clean. When we went for internship before, not to mention the village, the town was dirty."
Wang Min couldn't help but sigh while walking on the bluestone road in Changqing Village.
In Changqing Village now, after my uncle’s emphasis over the past six months, the bluestone road is much cleaner than before.
Although it is still far from the tourist villages of later generations, in this era, it is already a relatively good situation.
Last year before the Chinese New Year, my uncle took advantage of everyone's free time to gather everyone together.
Taking advantage of the winter time, drainage ditches were built on every road in the village.
So the roads in the village now are completely different from before.
In the past, there was stagnant water everywhere. Over time, not only did it form sludge, but mosquitoes were everywhere.
But now, with these drainage ditches, there is no accumulation of water on the road.
What rural areas fear most is sewage.
Especially in the dung piles where people retting fertilizers, some dung water will flow everywhere along the road, making it dirty and smelly.
Now, after my uncle's strong request, everyone put their fertilized areas into the vegetable field.
The sewage flowing out in this way can also be used to fertilize vegetable fields.
Most of the household sewage is used to feed the cattle and horses at home or to cook pig food.
Or it can be used for watering vegetables, mixing coal, or even worse, pouring it into your dry toilet for retting.
In the past, chicken, duck and dog feces could be seen everywhere here.
Because in the past, these chickens and ducks were kept free-range on the roadside, and dogs ran outside every day.
Moreover, the feces of poultry are all small lumps, scattered here and there, so no one has to deal with them specifically.
It is not common to see cow and horse excrement, because when people drive cows and horses across the road, if they are pulled on the road, the owner will dispose of it immediately.
"The environment is better and everyone is comfortable living there. After all, we live in the village every day, and we only started to clean it up last year. It used to be similar to other places."
"You can't say that. At least you are already making changes. This is better than many places. To be honest, the roads in our county may not be as clean as the roads in your village."
Wang Min thought about the roads in his home county, although the transportation was quite convenient.
But on the side of the road, especially under the trees, you can see a bunch of yellow worms at every turn, which is simply disgusting.
"Hey, Uncle An, why did you come here today?"
As soon as he arrived at the door of the old house, Zhou Yang saw Zhang An in the yard.
"I'll come over and pinch some fish and coriander for cooking. There's nothing planted in the garden over there."
"The fish coriander in your garden is growing very well this year. I often pinch it. It's tender and big."
Since the pigs at home were sold, Zhang An's parents have moved to a new house.
But in this old house, Zhang An's family would often come to store things and grow some vegetables.
On weekdays, Zhou Yang's family would help watch the noise at night.
"By the way, which one of these two is my future mistress?"
Looking at Su Ying and Wang Min next to Zhang An, Zhou Yang asked with a smile.
He knew that Zhang An was friends with her, but he had never met Su Ying.
"Hey, it's this." Zhang An was not shy, and shamelessly pulled Su Ying and said to Zhou Yang.
Zhou Yang had a good relationship with Zhang An, so Zhang An stopped to introduce them to a few people.
"Let's go, take the two little maids to my house to play."
Zhou Yang is a very thick-skinned person as long as it doesn't involve him.
When I went on a blind date with a girl in the morning, I looked like she was shady.
The words "little maid" made Su Ying and Wang Min blush.
Fortunately, this is not the case in the future generations. In the future generations, if you catch someone, you will call them 娢娢嬢, for fear of being scolded.
Especially for such a young girl, she was scolded even worse.
"Come back when you have time, my family is waiting for us."
After chatting with Zhou Yang for a few words, Zhang An went to the garden to pick fish and coriander.
"Zhang An, you are so senior. Zhou Yang just now must be older than you."
Su Ying and Wang Min didn't understand why Zhou Yang called him Uncle Zhang An.
Although we are from the city, we are all from Qian Province, and there are many such things.
"What does this mean? There are still a few children in the village who have to call me grandpa. But in fact, being senior is not a good thing, because this is a seniority gap that only occurs when the population is thin for several generations."
Zhang An's family has been passed down alone for several generations. It was not until Zhang An's grandfather's generation that there were four brothers.
Therefore, although Zhang An's family has many relatives in the village, there are very few who have not graduated from the fifth level. This is all due to the small number of ancestors.
"Hey, Xiaoying has made a lot of money. When she gets married, she will earn a few grandsons for free."
Wang Min was also happy when he heard Zhang An said he had a grandson.
"You want to be a grandma so much, I can call you grandma when the time comes. Didn't I hear that Zhou Yang just called you mistress?"
Su Ying rolled her eyes and rolled her eyes at her little sister.
After entering the courtyard, Zhang An opened the door.
Although no one lives in this old house, Wang Fang comes to clean it every two days, so it looks like it is occupied.
"Isn't this mint?"
Wang Min watched Zhang An pick fish and coriander and found that it looked very much like the mint grass painted in the book.
"Although it looks like mint, it is not mint."
Fish coriander is actually not mint, its scientific name is spearmint.
Mint leaves are relatively large, have a pointed tip, and are soft on the surface. They will deform due to dehydration not long after they are picked.
However, the leaves of fish coriander are smaller, the tips are rounder, and the whole body is relatively hard, so they can be stored for a long time.
And the smell of the two is also different, the smell of fish coriander is not so pungent.
It tastes different from mint. Mint will give people a cold feeling when eaten.
In Qian Province, people like to put some fish coriander in everything they cook, whether it is stir-frying, stewing or dipping.
Especially dog meat. Ten out of ten dog meat restaurants that Zhang An knows sell this stuff.
Zhang An doesn't like mint. When buying toothpaste and popsicle gum, he avoids the mint flavor.
But when it comes to fish and coriander, everyone is welcome.
"Actually, you must have eaten it when you were eating out, but you just didn't notice it."
"That's it, I thought it was the same thing."
After Zhang An's explanation, the two of them added another piece of knowledge.
"You will know later, stewed mutton with fish and coriander will make you unable to stop eating."
Zhou Yang was right just now. The fish and coriander bushes planted by Zhang An's family in the garden are growing very well, and each one has thick branches and leaves.
Generally, only the top young leaves of fish coriander are picked for cooking, just like the tips of peas, because that part is the tenderest and most delicious part.
Wang Min and Su Ying watched Zhang An pick, and they also stretched out their hands to help pick. The three of them picked a bunch and already filled half of the basket, which was enough.
"It's really not that pungent and smells pretty good."
Wang Min put the hand that had picked the young leaves of fish and coriander to her nose and smelled it.
When it gets dark, the meal at home is ready.
Zhang An specially slaughtered a sheep today, so there was more mutton on the table.
Stewed mutton, braised mutton chops, and fried mutton with green onions are all served in large soup bowls.
These dishes take up a relatively large part of the table.
Although there were many people eating, the only ones sitting at the table and eating were the adults in the family.
The children Zhang Tie and Zhang Xing ran to the yard to eat with their bowls and vegetables.
They usually behave like this when eating at home. They are used to walking around and eating. Zhang An used to be like this too. He might be eating with his friends while playing with other friends.
On weekdays when the weather is hot, the adults in the family also behave like this.
Just grab a bowl and eat anywhere, whatever makes you feel comfortable.
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuusuuu, why is the food cooked by auntie so delicious?"
It was the first time for Wang Min to eat at Zhang An's house, and she was immediately conquered by the food on the table.
"It's over. Now that I'm back at school, how can I eat in the cafeteria?"
I was very happy to eat such delicious food.
But when I think about the long days ahead, I will still have to stay in school and eat in the cafeteria.
She and Su Ying were only average at cooking, and neither of them usually touched the pot.
Either eat in the school cafeteria or outside restaurants.
"Daughter, if you like to eat, come with Xiao Yingduo. Auntie will cook whatever you like."
Wang Fang said, and gave them another piece of mutton chop.
"This mutton is best eaten in winter. The temperature has risen in the past two days, and I'm sweating all over eating it."
Zhang An had already taken off his coat while he was eating.
The main ones are the braised lamb chops and the lamb stir-fried with green onions. Wang Fang added too much spicy food.
It tastes numb and spicy, which is very enjoyable. The disadvantage is that it is a bit too easy to eat with rice.
I don’t feel this while eating, I wait until after the meal is finished.
Wang Min and Su Ying kept breathing with their mouths wide open, and it looked like they were being burned to death.
I really can’t blame them, it’s not that they can’t eat spicy food.
As a native of this province, only a handful of people can't eat spicy food.
The two of them are obviously not in the minority.
However, Zhang An's chili peppers are all local varieties from Wang Fangliu. Although they are spicy when eaten, they are more fragrant, especially the kind that goes well with rice.
But after eating, the suffering begins. Many of the people who came to Zhang An's house to play before were educated by this pepper.
But after eating it, many people are not only not afraid, but also like it even more.
After the spiciness wears off, before leaving, I have to buy a can of Wang Fang’s oil chili to take home with me for dinner.
This may be the legendary pain and happiness.
As for Zhang An's family, they don't eat in a hurry, and they don't eat a lot, but they are more accustomed to the spiciness.
"Don't drink that water. Just drinking plain water won't work."
Zhang An watched as these two people had been holding cups and sipping water since they finished eating.
"But if I don't drink water, I really can't stand it. It's too spicy."
Before she finished speaking, Su Ying quickly took another sip.
"Why can't I remember it? I knew the chili pepper was very spicy last time and kept reminding myself to eat less. But I didn't remember it this time."
The last time Su Ying came over to eat pig-killing rice, she was already very spicy.
But it seems that she has developed antibodies, and she doesn't look as uncomfortable as Wang Min now.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'll just ask my mother to put less in it next time. Just wait for me and it'll be fine soon."
Zhang An found a tea vat and poured out some of the previously filtered honey at home.
Then I poured a jar of warm water into it and mixed a jar of honey water.
"Quickly pour out the water in your glass. Drink this to relieve the spicy taste."
When the two of them heard Zhang An say, the water in his hand was spicy.
Immediately, he poured out half the glass of water in his hand and stretched out his hand to bring the glass over.
"Well, this water is so sweet, Zhang An, did you put sugar in it?"
"I didn't put it in, but I put honey in it. Isn't it delicious?"
Zhang An pointed to the two bottles of honey placed on the cabinet.
"Is honey water so sweet? Nothing I've ever drunk before is so sweet, and it's even a little sour."
"Maybe our honey is better, so the sugar content is higher."
The honey kept in Zhang An's house was all cut from space before.
Whether it is the sweetness of the sugar or the taste, it is definitely better than normal honey.