Opening a Tavern in the Tang Dynasty

Cheng Chumo smiled and touched Yuyu's head: "Yuyu, we are not hungry yet. You eat so happily, the dumplings must be delicious." His eyes were gentle, and he looked at Yuyu with a doting look.

Qin Huaidao also squatted down and pinched Yuyu's cheeks: "Yes, Yuyu. We have to stay here to guard Zuixianlou and eat later. Go and have fun, don't worry about us."

There was a smile on his lips, and that smile looked particularly bright in the morning sun.

Yuyu refused and pulled them into the house: "No, skipping breakfast is bad for your health. Mom made a lot of glutinous rice balls, you must try some."

Her little face was full of seriousness, and her persistence made Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao laugh and cry.

Cheng Chumo shook his head helplessly: "Okay, okay, let's go eat something. I really can't do anything about you, Yuyu."

Qin Huaidao also stood up and followed Yuyu into the house, saying, "Then let's try the glutinous rice balls that Yuyu recommended."

The early morning sun shines into the backyard of Zuixianlou, giving everything a golden glow.

Xiaoyu was standing in the middle of the yard, with Yuyu, Li Hao, Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao beside her.

Xiaoyu was wearing a plain cloth dress with simple patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar, and a navy blue apron tied around her waist with some oil stains on it.

Her hair was neatly tied back with a wooden hairpin, and a few strands of hair hung beside her cheeks, making her look gentle and hardworking.

"We're going to buy pork later." Xiaoyu said, looking at Yuyu and Lihao with a hint of mystery in her eyes.

Yuyu tilted her head, her eyes full of curiosity: "Mom, are you buying pork?"

"Yes." Xiaoyu replied with a smile.

"Why are you buying pork?" Yu Yu asked. She skipped to Xiao Yu and shook her arm.

Xiaoyu blinked and said, "Pork, you'll know when the time comes."

Yuyu insisted: "Tell me, Mom."

Xiaoyu smiled helplessly: "I buy pork to make bacon."

"Right, right, right," Li Hao said excitedly, "By then we'll have cured fish, dried fish, and bacon in the winter."

Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao smiled at each other. Cheng Chumo was wearing a black suit with simple patterns embroidered on it with silver thread, which gleamed faintly in the sunlight.

His belt was tied tightly around his waist, and he wore a sword with a hilt inlaid with gems that reflected colorful light in the sunlight.

He smiled and said, "That's a good idea. Bacon is delicious."

Qin Huaidao was wearing a dark blue robe, the color of which was like the deep water of a lake. There were not too many decorations on the robe, only a circle of white fluff at the collar, which added a bit of casualness to him.

He touched his chin and said, "Xiaoyu, it's not easy to make this bacon delicious. Do you have any secret recipe?"

Xiaoyu smiled confidently. "Well, the secret recipe is to choose the best pork, the kind with both fat and lean meat. Then, marinate it carefully with salt, peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, and other spices, and then dry it in the sun."

Yuyu's eyes widened. "Mom, that sounds so complicated."

Li Hao patted Yuyu's shoulder and said, "It's not complicated, Yuyu. Once you taste the delicious bacon, you'll know it's all worth it. Just think about it, the bacon tastes salty and delicious. Every piece of meat has the rich flavor of spices and a unique chewy texture."

Yuyu tilted her head and thought for a moment: "Is it really that delicious? I've smelled cured fish before, and it tastes pretty good. Can cured meat be even better than cured fish?"

Cheng Chumo smiled and squatted down, looking into Yuyu's eyes: "Yuyu, cured meat and cured fish are different delicacies. Cured fish has its own fresh fragrance, a taste that comes from the river."

"And bacon has a rich meaty aroma. The rich taste after being cured and air-dried is something that other meats can't have. You'll know when it's done."

Qin Huaidao also nodded: "Yes, and there are many variations on how to prepare this bacon. You can eat it directly by steaming it, or cut it into slices. The fat will shine under the light and it will melt in your mouth."

"You can also stir-fry it with vegetables, such as winter bamboo shoots. The salty flavor of the bacon and the tenderness of the winter bamboo shoots are a delicious combination."

Xiaoyu listened to their descriptions with anticipation in her eyes: "Yes, we can make bacon in many different ways. We can also add some other spices, such as cumin, when marinating to give the bacon a more unique flavor."

Li Hao rubbed his hands excitedly. "Mom, how about we try making a few different flavors of bacon? For example, one with the traditional flavor, one with cumin, and another with chili peppers, suitable for people who like spicy food."

Xiaoyu smiled and nodded. "That's a good idea, but we have to prepare the basic bacon first. Selecting the pork is the crucial first step."

"Good pork makes good bacon. If the pork is not fresh or the quality is not good, then no matter how well it is cooked, it will be useless."

Cheng Chumo stood up and said, "Xiaoyu, are there any special techniques for selecting pork? Besides the balance of fat and lean, are there any other things to pay attention to?"

Xiaoyu thought for a moment and said, "When choosing pork, besides looking at the fat content, you also need to look at the color. Fresh pork has a natural color, with the lean meat being light red and the fat being white, and it also has no peculiar smell on the surface."

"If the pork is dark in color or has a strange smell, don't buy it. Also, press the pork with your hand. Good pork will be elastic and will quickly return to its original shape. If you press it and it leaves a dent and doesn't bounce back, it's probably not fresh."

Qin Huaidao listened carefully and said, "So that's how it is. It seems that selecting pork is really a science."

"Yes, yes, choosing pork is really a science. I have to choose carefully when we get there." Xiaoyu said seriously.

"Yes, Xiaoyu, the quality of the pork directly determines the taste of the bacon." Cheng Chumo nodded.

"Then we should choose pork with fine texture, right?" Yu Yu opened her eyes wide.

"That's right, Yu Yu. Pork with fine texture is more tender and tastes better. Also, you have to pay attention to the elasticity of the pork. The more elastic it is, the fresher it is." Xiaoyu explained patiently.

"What about the color? Do we want something bright and shiny?" Li Hao also joined the discussion.

"Yes, Hao'er. The pork should be bright in color, with red meat like cherries and white meat like jade. This kind of pork is fresh. If the color is dark, don't eat it." Xiaoyu reminded.

"Also, we have to check whether there is blood on the surface of the pork. If there is too much blood, it will not be good." Qin Huaidao added.

Yuyu: "Are you ready to buy some pork?"