My humble days in ancient times

Xu Ruyi went to the butcher's stall and bought a pound of pork belly for 15 wen, five pounds of pork fat for 30 wen, and finally a pound of pastries for 15 wen.

I went to a designated spot to wait for the oxcart to return to the village. I didn't expect that I was neither the first nor the last.

When Xu Qinghe returned home, he had just returned from the mountains and had dug up a lot of wild vegetables.

Xu Ruyi threw the purse onto the table. There was a "clang" sound, the crisp and pleasant sound of copper coins.

"I didn't expect that it could really be sold for money?" Xu Qinghe opened the purse and counted it, with a smile in the corner of his eyes.

"Hurry up and count. After you finish counting, you can eat meat today."

Xu Qinghe counted them over and over again, and couldn't help feeling happy.

"I'm happy when I see the copper coins. I'll go with you to dig more wild vegetables this afternoon." Xu Qinghe put the copper coins into the purse and handed it to Xu Ruyi.

Xu Ruyi went into the house and put the purse into the clothes in the box.

Xu Ruyi came out of the house and took out the pastries from the basket. At this time, Xu Ruyuan and Xu Qingyan came back.

The two little guys saw the things on the table from a distance and ran over at the same time.

As soon as he saw the pastries on the table, he danced with joy.

Xu Qingyan couldn't wait to open it: "I know it's delicious at first glance."

Xu Ruyi was in a good mood because he had earned some money: "I know it's delicious just by looking at it, Qingyan, you have a very good eye. Eat more later."

The four brothers and sisters each took a piece. Xu Ruyi took a bite and put it in his mouth and savored it slowly. It was soft and sticky with a sweet fragrance. No wonder so many people like to eat it!

Xu Ruyi couldn't help but praise: "It tastes good. But there will be more delicious food later."

"Is there anything else delicious?" Xu Qingyan became curious again.

"Dangdangdangdang, look what this is?" Xu Ruyi took out the pork belly from the backpack.

"This is meat. Sister, I haven't eaten meat for a long time. I almost don't know what it tastes like." Xu Qingyan's mouth curled up when he saw the meat.

Xu Ruyuan also nodded in agreement.

Xu Ruyi suddenly felt sad. The common people in this dynasty could not even get enough to eat, let alone eat meat regularly. Many people could only eat meat and dumplings during the Chinese New Year.

Xu Ruyi patted the two little ones' heads and said with a smile, "Eat more at lunch later."

"Don't worry, big sister, I will only eat a piece of cake and save my stomach for meat." Xu Qingyan still had cake in his mouth, and his words were a little unclear.

"Okay." Xu Ruyi pinched the two little cuties' chubby cheeks, smiled, and took the meat into the kitchen.

Xu Qinghe also entered the kitchen and sat under the stove to help light the fire.

Xu Ruyi washed and cut the pork fat into pieces, then put it in the pot to boil the oil. Xu Ruyuan and Xu Qingyan stood by the stove without moving, their eyes fixed on the slices of meat in the pot.

Soon the pan began to sizzle, and Xu Ruyi flipped the meat to prevent it from sticking. As more and more oil filled the pan, the meat became smaller and smaller. Finally, the meat became a thin, shiny yellow slice.

Xu Ruyi poured the oil into the oil tank and scooped out the oil residue. She poured out a small bowl for the three of them to eat. The remaining oil residue was saved for making dumplings tonight.

Xu Ruyi took out three pairs of chopsticks from the chopstick cage and gave them to them, reminding them not to get burned.

Xu Qingyan picked up a piece, blew on it several times before putting it into his mouth: It smells delicious, it’s a real delicacy.

The three of them quickly finished the meal, each taking a piece at a time. Everyone was still not satisfied: there was just too little oil residue.

Xu Ruyi washed and sliced ​​the pork belly. Heat oil in a pan, add ginger and scallions, then stir-fry the pork. Once the meat changes color, add the seasonings and finally the bok choy. Stir-fry until the vegetables are cooked through and serve.

Someone passed by and said, "It smells so good."

The four brothers and sisters looked at each other and smiled.

Xu Ruyi also made spinach and egg soup with spinach and steamed the remaining wild vegetable dumplings.

Finally, mix the shepherd's purse with some cold salad and lunch is ready.

It had been a while since they had eaten meat, and the four brothers and sisters ate with relish and were very satisfied.

"It would be great if I could eat meat every day." Xu Qingyan said, holding his belly.

Xu Qinghe also wanted to eat meat, but no one around him could eat meat every day.

Xu Ruyi looked into Xu Qingyan's eyes seriously and said to him, "Qingyan, don't worry, as long as we work hard, we will definitely live a life like this."

"Really, sister?" Xu Qingyan was very unsure.

"Of course, it might only take a year or two." As soon as Xu Ruyi finished speaking, she noticed everyone was staring at her, and she suddenly felt guilty. As the original owner, it certainly wouldn't be easy, but as a time-traveling woman, it would naturally be easier.

Xu Ruyi was frightened when they saw her, but unexpectedly Xu Ruyuan said, "Big sister, let me borrow your good wishes. From now on, we can eat meat every day, just like during the Chinese New Year!"

"Don't worry, it will definitely happen."

Xu Ruyi brought the dishes into the kitchen, washed them quickly, and then went back to her room to take a nap.

After waking up, the four brothers and sisters went to the mountains to dig wild vegetables.

After Xu Qinghe finished digging a basket, he carried it back home. Xu Ruyi spent the entire afternoon searching for and digging wild vegetables. Only when it was getting dark did he return home.

Seeing his sister working so hard, Xu Qinghe said, "The wild vegetables are on the mountain and can't escape. Please don't work so hard."

Xu Ruyi knew that her brother was worried about her, so she said, "Brother, it's not that I'm trying too hard, it's just that this kind of money can't be earned long-term."

Xu Qingyan frowned slightly: "Can you explain it more clearly?"

Xu Ruyi nodded and said, "Others will follow suit within two days. Everyone knows shepherd's purse, so they will also dig it up and sell it at the market."

Xu Qinghe became anxious after hearing what Xu Ruyi said: "What should I do? If too many people want to sell it, it will be hard to sell. I thought... I thought it could last forever?"

Xu Ruyi said nonchalantly, "If too many people are selling, we won't do it anymore. We'll find another way to make money. I'll see how the situation is tomorrow or the day after tomorrow before making a decision."

When they got home, they still divided the wild vegetables into bundles.

Xu Ruyi scooped two bowls of coarse noodles, added some water and stirred them into flocs, then kneaded them into dough.

Chop up the oil residue from lunch, blanch the shepherd's purse in boiling water, and then chop the shepherd's purse. Stir the oil residue into the shepherd's purse, and season with oil and salt.

Xu Ruyi then rolled out the dough with a rolling pin in one hand and dough in the other. Xu Ruyuan and Xu Qingyan made dumplings.

Xu Ruyi recalled watching a short video before where some people could make seventeen dumpling wrappers at a time. They would hold seventeen pieces of dough in their hands, coordinate their two hands, pinch them with their left thumb and index finger, and push them continuously with their right hand.

Xu Ruyi didn't know how to make dumplings, but she did have a few tricks up her sleeve. After rolling out the dough, she made a few large-bellied dumpling wrappers. Xu Ruyuan and Xu Qingyan were stunned to see their elder sister whip up a whole dumpling with just two hands. Xu Ruyi also made a few willow leaf dumplings, flower petal dumplings, and lucky bag dumplings.

Xu Qingyan looked at the dumplings he had made: Oh, they are so ugly.

Xu Qinghe, who was preparing to light a fire under the stove, was also stunned: When did his sister learn to make dumplings like this?

Xu Qinghe took a closer look and couldn't help but praise: "It's really beautiful. Ruyi, how do you know how to wrap it?"

Xu Ruyi felt a little guilty and said, "I thought of it just now when I was rolling out the dough, so I wanted to give it a try. I didn't expect it to work."

Xu Qinghe was incredulous: "It's that simple. How could she come up with so many ways to make dumplings?" Besides, neither my family nor anyone in the village ate dumplings often. And my sister could roll out the dough so skillfully with just one hand!

Xu Ruyuan was happy: "Sister, I didn't expect that you can not only tell stories, but also make dumplings so beautifully."

Xu Qingyan immediately nodded in agreement: "Sister, you tell stories very well. Tell us a few more next time."

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "I need to think about it carefully before I can make up a story." After that, she looked at Xu Qinghe's still unconvinced expression and said, "I was just thinking about how to make dumpling wrappers without a rolling pin. I'll try it next time."

After hearing this, Xu Qinghe laughed: It seems that his sister is really bold and her mind is indeed different from his.

Although it was just a simple seasoning, the dumplings were still popular and everyone ate them with gusto. Even Xu Dachuan ate a lot.

Xu Ruyi really enjoyed fried dumplings, but Xu Dachuan unexpectedly brought two large plates of dumplings for his parents. So there were no dumplings left. Tian Yuhe lived with her grandparents, so she probably had some too.

The next morning, Xu Qinghe also went to sell wild vegetables. The brother and sister set up two stalls.

Xu Ruyi noticed that there was also someone coming to sell shepherd's purse today.

But fortunately, they both sold out in just one hour.

Xu Qinghe looked at the copper coins in his purse in disbelief. He never thought that he could earn so much money.

But he was still curious, why did the two of them sell at two separate stalls?

Xu Ruyi told him that buyers like to compare prices from different stores, so it is better to give them the right to choose.

Xu Qinghe nodded, indicating that he had learned a new trick.