Zhuang Keqing stewed a pot of pork ribs and pig's trotters. When it was ready to be cooked, he put a few peeled hard-boiled eggs and some dried tofu into it. After boiling it, put it in to soak in the flavor.
After listening to her daughter's words, Qin Manzhi felt relieved and no longer worried, and went to look at the stall again.
There was nothing going on in the kitchen for the moment, so Zhuang Keqing came out again and broke up the large pieces of sweet potato starch that were drying in the yard and turned them over so that they could be dried more evenly.
I still have some vermicelli in stock, so don’t rush to make it. Besides, the starch can be dried and stored easily, so you can do it slowly.
It's just like making wine.
After lunch, Qin Manzhi took Aman to take a nap as usual, but Zhuang Keqing and Shen Ling went up to the back mountain.
There is a small bamboo forest in the back mountain. There are no fresh bamboo shoots this season, so the villagers don't like to come here very much. But today they are not here to dig bamboo shoots, but to chop bamboo.
Zhuang Keqing thought about this method of making distilled liquor for a long time.
In fact, the principle is not difficult, but making this device is a bit troublesome. Controlling the condensing temperature is a skill.
She planned to use bamboo to test it first, which would save her the trouble of customizing it, and make improvements later to make it easier to operate.
It's a crisp autumn day, and the sun's rays are only warm on people's bodies, and the feeling of heat has long gone.
The two of them had a basket on their backs and a rope around their waists. Their big hands held each other's hands, and they brought water and food. They didn't look like they were here to work in the mountains, but like they were here for an outing.
Following the path that was almost covered with grass and dead branches, they turned into a bamboo forest after a while.
The breeze blows, and the light fragrance of green bamboo that comes with the wind is faintly penetrated by the quiet fragrance of flowers. The bamboo leaves rustle in the ears, like a lover whispering.
Every time Zhuang Keqing came here before, he would crowd in with the villagers to dig bamboo shoots. How could he ever have the chance to feel the spiritual comfort brought by the lush forest and deep bamboos?
But now she is in it, comfortably opening her arms, closing her eyes, and carefully feeling the breeze blowing across her cheeks, falling through the bamboo leaves on her head, the bits of sunshine on her body, and the gentle breath coming from the young man standing not far away.
.
Shen Ling's heart was peaceful and calm at this time. He thought more than once that all the pain and suffering God had given him were all to facilitate his encounter with the girl in front of him.
Now, as long as he stays by her side, he has gained the greatest satisfaction.
The young man's eyes were as cold as cold springs and softened, his beautifully shaped lips were slightly opened, and a murmuring word flowed out, like a wisp of breeze or a rolling cloud, disappearing very quickly without leaving a trace.
Zhuang Keqing rarely indulged himself, but he quickly remembered what he was here for today.
She walked around the area several times and selected several bamboos of different thicknesses. Then she waved to Shen Ling and started working.
I only have one machete at home, which I usually use for chopping bones and splitting firewood. Nowadays, chopping bamboo is not difficult.
Shen Ling bent over, holding the bamboo with his left hand, and pointed the machete at the root with his right hand. After more than ten strokes, a bamboo was chopped down.
Then Zhuang Keqing took the knife from the basket and shaved off the thin bamboo leaves on it. At this time, Shen Ling had also cut down another bamboo.
The two of them worked on these six thick bamboos for most of the afternoon. By the time they tied the bamboos with hemp ropes, the sun had already set slightly and it was getting late.
"Aling, are you tired? Have a drink of water first. I brought eggs. You can eat them first."
Zhuang Keqing handed over the bamboo tube filled with water. When he saw that the other party wiped his sweat and drank obediently, he took a sip of it himself.
When Shen Ling saw her drinking water from the place where he had touched her, he felt confused and at a loss what to do.
"Want me to peel it off for you?"
After stuffing the wooden lid, Zhuang Keqing saw Shen Ling's fingers shaking slightly as he pinched the egg. He thought he was suffering from muscle cramps due to excessive exertion, so he caught the egg, peeled it carefully, and brought it directly to the young man's mouth.
"Come on, open your mouth, ah~"
The girl had a beautiful smile, her porcelain cheeks were rosy with health, her plump forehead was lightly moistened with sweat, her eyes were bright and lively, and her own outline was reflected in them, as if her whole heart and eyes were filled with herself.
Shen Ling lowered his eyelashes, hastily concealing the panic in his heart and the fierce beating of his heart in his chest, and opened his mouth to bite the food that was brought to his mouth.
"After we finish eating, we should go back after taking a short rest. It's getting cold now and the sun sets early."
Zhuang Keqing had no idea what he was thinking, so he just lowered his head and took out an egg, peeled the shell and ate it.
After eating, they only rested for a short while before dragging the bamboo down the mountain.
On the way, I met a few people returning from the mill and said hello. They were curious and asked what they were doing with bamboo at this time. Zhuang Keqing only smiled and said that it was useful at home.
Anyway, it’s better not to say anything more before things are done.
Qin Manzhi had been waiting anxiously at home, but she was just cutting bamboo, so it was almost dark and no one had come back yet.
It wasn't until the young couple dragged six long bamboos back with a bang that she was dumbfounded and said: "If I had known you were going to chop down so many, I should have gone to help."
He stepped forward and took the hand and piled the bamboos in the corner of the yard. Qin Manzhi greeted the two of them to eat.
"Are you going to town tomorrow?"
During dinner, Qin Manzhi asked.
I got a lot of bamboo back today, and I'm afraid it will take a while to process it. She wanted to persuade her daughter not to go to town tomorrow, but Zhuang Keqing had no intention of going.
"I'm not going tomorrow. I'll make bamboo at home. I'll take a look at the bean curd I made last time. If it's ready, I'll make more old tofu tomorrow. I bought a lot of small earthen pots last time, so I planned to put this one in them. .”
"Sufu?"
Qin Manzhi didn't realize it until her daughter made a weird look like pinching her nose and frowning.
"That day you made it with stinky tofu? Is it really edible?"
"You can try it later."
Zhuang Keqing was very confident that fermented fermented tofu tasted like fermented bean curd. In the past, her family always used fermented bean curd koji to make tofu, but she never thought that letting the tofu ferment naturally would produce a richer flavor, so this time it would definitely be successful. of.
Qin Manzhi thought of that strange smell again, and a tangle appeared on his face.
What's going on is that she doesn't really want to try...
After the meal, Shen Ling washed the dishes, and Zhuang Keqing carried her small earthen jar into the main room.
"Don't drive away first, wait for Brother Ling."
Qin Manzhi remembered the smell deeply and hurriedly stopped her daughter who was about to lift the lid.
Zhuang Keqing didn't know that her mother could delay her for a moment. If she could, she would have wanted to hide out of the house. But this was done by her daughter. If she, a mother, showed too much disgust, wouldn't it hurt people's hearts?
When Shen Ling came back from washing the dishes, she saw the mother and daughter in the main room, together with Aman, all turning to look at her. She was a little confused.
"Aling, come on, I'm waiting for you. Let's try this fermented bean curd together, right?"
With that said, Zhuang Keqing didn't give anyone a chance to refuse, and quickly opened the cover with nimble hands and feet.
Qin Manzhi was prepared for the smoke to make her eyes cry. Unexpectedly, when the lid was opened, there was no stench as expected, only a rich fermentation smell mixed with a slight smell of wine and spices.
It's hard to tell, but it does carry some of the odor that I've smelled before, but after so many days, and after being mixed with wine and spices, the smell has become mellow and alluring.
Taking the chopsticks, Zhuang Keqing picked up a square piece of bean curd and put it into the bowl.
Under the candlelight, the fermented bean curd turns jade white and has a smooth surface. With a gentle pinch of the chopsticks, a small piece can be twisted out. It looks softer and smoother than the tenderest tofu.
Putting it into his mouth without hesitation, Zhuang Keqing closed his eyes and tasted it.
Perhaps the fermentation time is not enough, so the taste is a bit lighter, but as expected, the naturally fermented tofu is much better than the fermented bean curd koji, and it is no worse than the commercially available tofu in later generations.
Qin Manzhi saw her daughter taste it with her own eyes, and her eyebrows were wrinkled.
When her daughter invited her to taste it, she paused and shrank back.
She really doesn't want to...
Seeing that her mother was resisting, Shen Ling took the chopsticks and picked some with the tips of the chopsticks and put them into his mouth.
There was no strange smell as expected, but instead it was delicate, smooth, and full-bodied and fragrant. He didn't expect that tofu could be cooked in this way, and it produced two completely different flavors than usual.
The young couple had tasted it, and now both pairs of eyes were looking at Qin Manzhi. Even Aman waved his little hands in an "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh", wanting to dip some of the food in the bowl to have a taste.
Once cruel, close your eyes.
Forget it! Isn’t it just stinky tofu? Just pinch your nose and eat it.
Qin Manzhi encouraged himself so much that he couldn't control the strength of his chopsticks and directly picked up the boss and put it into his mouth.
Huh?
It’s not smelly. On the contrary, it’s very fragrant and has a smooth texture. It melts as soon as you take a sip. Except for being salty, everything is good!
Zhuang Keqing didn't expect that this bean curd would later become a standard addition to his daily breakfast with porridge.
