Becoming a stepmother of three children gives me space

It took 3 minutes to go there, and more than half an hour to come back. Even the old cow was panting, enduring something it shouldn't have to endure.

The villagers who were chatting at the entrance of the village gathered around,

The ox cart was filled with food and daily necessities. The brave villagers came over to ask questions and inquire about the situation. The core question was actually how much the pork was sold for.

Xiao Yunxi did not hide it,

"The pork cost two taels of silver in total. I can buy some food and snacks. Dabao needs another two taels of silver for the medicine. I'm still wondering what to do."

The villagers scattered like birds and beasts, they didn't want to be entangled by Xiao Yunxi.

That's human nature.

They hate you for having something and laugh at you for not having it. They dislike you for being poor and fear you for being rich. They are envious and jealous when you pick up wild boar meat. When you have to go into foreign debt after spending all your money, they suddenly become gloating.

The news that Xiao Yunxi had spent all the balls spread like wildfire. Some of the second-rate people who were ready to steal the money cursed and gave up their evil thoughts. The kind villagers couldn't help but worry about Xiao Yunxi.

Da Niu suffered the most. He was beaten up by the village chief when he returned home because Xiao Yunxi didn't have enough money to buy medicine, but she actually took other people's cakes and candied haws.

"Hurry up and send the pastries back. You can even get a refund. Yun Xi really is wasting money."

The villager took out 300 coins from his pocket and handed them to Daniel:

"Give the money to Yunxi and tell her not to worry. Wait until your mother comes back. I'll pay for Dabao's medicine. We must not let Dabao develop any underlying illness."

Daniel scratched his head anxiously:

"Dad, Sister Yunxi is not short of money, she has a lot of money..."

The village chief glared:

"Nonsense! Dabao's medicine and the things he bought cost three taels. You said that. She only has less than three taels in total. How did she have the money?"

"Dabao's medicine does require two taels, but Doctor Lu refused to pay!"

Daniu told his father everything that happened in the clinic, which resulted in a second beating:

"I told you to just talk halfway!"

"I'll make you gasp for air when you talk!"

"I......"

As the beating went on, the village chief remembered that Da Niu wanted to say something but was interrupted by himself, so he picked up his weapon and started beating him without giving him a chance.

"You bastard, you've been naughty since you were little. You peed your mother's wedding dress!"

"Kill you!"

Da Niu shed tears silently. What a real father he is. He brought up the past even when he was one year old. Could he have controlled himself at that age?

arrive home,

Xiao Yunxi boiled Dabao's medicine in a clay pot, and then started working hard.

The money she had was enough to meet her basic food and clothing needs. If she wanted to improve her quality of life, she needed to make more money, and she had already made plans in mind.

Food is the most important thing for people.

Most of the businesses that are doing well in Dongshan Town are related to food, such as pastry shops, butcher shops, restaurants, grain shops, bun shops, etc.

Northwestern cuisine is characterized by its rough cooking methods and heavy flavors. The food made in those shops is not delicious, but at best it is not bad. She decided to start a food business.

The ingredients are all ready-made, including pig offal, pig head, and pig trotters. The braised meat will definitely make the uncle drinking next door cry with greed.

If you want the braised offal to taste good, you must wash it clean, especially the pig intestines and pig heads. If they are not clean, they will have a smell. After all, only a few people like the smell of pig intestines.

Fan Chunhua from next door saw her cleaning pig intestines and fanned her hands wildly at the tip of her nose.

"Hey hey!"

"Even pig offal is eaten!"

"It smells like shit."

Pig intestines are smelly, they really are, but they have been washed several times. It's a bit exaggerated that you can smell the odor from such a distance, unless it's a dog.

Xiao Yunxi ignored her, and Fan Chunhua became more excited:

"Pig intestines are filled with feces. People who are too poor to make ends meet won't eat them. You have plenty of meat at home, why are you eating this? Are you reluctant to give meat to your children?"

Xiao Yunxi replied calmly:

"Your vegetables are still being watered with manure, so you won't eat them?"

"..."

Fan Chunhua was choked. Aunt Li came over with two large cabbages and scolded her angrily:

"I think you're eyeing Lao Liu's meat and want to take advantage of him!"

Whoa, whoa, whoa!

Just tell the truth!

Fan Chunhua was known for her thick skin and argued:

"I'm worried about Dabao and the others. The child just got injured and needs nourishment. Even dogs won't eat pig offal, so how can humans eat it?"

Aunt Li glared at her:

"If you don't know how to talk, don't talk. Just because you can't do it doesn't mean Lao Liu's family can't do it. Hurry up and leave. You're taking advantage of everyone and you have no shame!"

Xiao Yunxi agreed with a smile:

"Auntie is right. The offal I make is so delicious that you won't be able to stop eating it. When you want to eat it, you'll have to bark like a dog."

Fan Chunhua curled her lips and left, saying that she would never eat those dirty things, otherwise she would be a dog.

After she left, Aunt Li asked in a low voice:

"Old Six's, is this thing really edible?"

"Of course you can eat it. Uncle Tang likes to drink, and this is delicious!"

"No need! You can keep it for yourself."

Aunt Li put the cabbage into the kitchen and came over to help Xiao Yunxi clean the drain. Tang Xiaobao and Niuniu squatted beside her, staring with wide eyes:

"Mom, it stinks."

"It smells bad, but tastes delicious."

"really?"

"of course."

The children have no taboos and have begun to look forward to the delicious food made by their mother.

Pig intestines and lungs are the most difficult to clean, especially the lungs. I kept adding water to clean them until the water was clear. Fortunately, with the help of Aunt Li, the two sets of pig offal were finally cleaned.

Pour clean water into the pot, add onion, ginger, and peppercorns, and blanch the pork offal, pork bones, ribs, pork head, and a little pork belly.

When the water boils, skim off the blood foam and impurities, take out the meat and wash it a second time. Rub the pig intestines vigorously with salt to remove the mucous membrane and some fat to make them truly clean.

Wash the iron pot, change the water, wrap the onion, ginger, star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, cloves, angelica, tangerine peel, fennel and other seasonings in gauze and put them in.

Pour soy sauce and rice wine, cover the pot with a lid, leaving a gap, and remind Xiaobao:

"Call me when the water boils."

"Uh-huh."

Tang Xiaobao stared at the lid of the pot and felt that the smell in the pot didn't seem bad. He was vaguely looking forward to it. Aunt Li was the same and a little curious. Could offal really be delicious?

There was only one stove in the kitchen. Xiao Yunxi borrowed Aunt Li's cart and went to the river to fetch a lot of regularly shaped stones, and built a simple large stove in the corner of the kitchen.

Wash the newly bought iron pot with water, put it on the fire and wipe the pot with pork skin while burning, then wash it with water again. Repeat twice and the iron pot can be used.

Add coarse salt, then add star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, and peppercorns, and fry over low heat until the coarse salt turns yellow and has a fragrance.

Aunt Li was completely confused the whole time.

"Isn't it a waste of salt to fry it like this?"

"Aunt Li, this is fried salt. It dries out the moisture in the salt so that it can be more evenly distributed on the surface of the ham when it's cured. It's an effective anti-corrosion method. Adding spices can enhance the flavor of the ham."

"?The ham you mentioned, is it bacon?"

“Almost the same, but the taste is a little different.”

The methods of making bacon vary from place to place.

Sichuan-style bacon is mainly smoked, sausage has a strong pepper flavor, Guangdong sausage has a strong wine aroma and is sweet, and Xiao Yunxi's sausage has the salty and fragrant flavor of Jiangnan.

After the salt is fried and the water for the marinated meat is boiling, remove some of the firewood from the fire pit, keep it on low heat and simmer, then start to pickle the ham.

First apply the salt to the skin, then to the meat, rub repeatedly to ensure that the salt penetrates evenly into the meat. After the two front legs are marinated, put them into the large vat you just bought.

The same process is performed on the remaining ribs, pig heart, part of the pig liver, tongue, and a small amount of pork belly. They are all pickled and used as food for the winter.

The bacon was marinated, the pot for frying salt was empty, and Xiao Yunxi prepared to make lunch.

The Chinese cabbage sent by Aunt Li and the lard residue left over from refining lard are perfect for making dumplings.

When cutting the lard residue, Tang Xiaobao drooled. I took one and put it in his mouth. The little guy squinted his eyes and looked like he was enjoying it.

"Mom, can I give some to my sister and brother?"

"can."

Xiaobao took two pieces of lard crumbs and skipped over to share the delicious food with Dabao and Niuniu. He felt that his mother was really nice now.

Wash the cabbage, drain the water, chop it, squeeze out the water, add green onion, salt and soy sauce, without adding anything else, and mix it with the chopped lard to make the bun filling.

The fermented white flour is pinched into even-sized pieces, rolled into large bun wrappers, stuffed with fillings, and pinched into beautiful folds.

Four trays made of reed stalks were used, and more than 50 buns were neatly arranged, like soldiers waiting to be inspected.

Tang Xiaobao worked very hard and started to boil water, hoping that the buns would be cooked quickly so that he could eat 3, no, 10!!

The steamer was newly bought today. It has two layers and can steam about ten people at a time, so it takes several pots. Fortunately, Aunt Li has a large steamer at home, which Uncle Tang made himself.

"Uncle Tang also knows how to do carpentry?"

"Of course not! He made many things in the house himself."

Aunt Li was very proud, but then her expression dimmed. If Uncle Tang’s master hadn’t gotten into trouble, they would probably be able to live in the city now, right?

Xiao Yunxi wanted to make a lot of things. Uncle Tang was good at carpentry, so she could ask him for help. Aunt Li readily agreed.

While steaming the buns, she was ready to go back. Xiao Yunxi asked her to stay for dinner, but she refused.

I took advantage of the boss by taking a piece of meat yesterday. If he stays for dinner, or his whole family comes, he will definitely go bankrupt!

The pot was emitting a hot and fragrant aroma. Tang Xiaobao's eyes could not help but drift towards the pot, first looking at the pot of braised meat, then at the pot of steamed buns. He was probably thinking in his mind whether to eat meat or buns, and how many to eat.

Tang Niuniu couldn't sit still either, and followed Xiaobao, drooling with greed.

The one who suffered the most was Tang Dabao.

I wanted to help, but my legs were fixed with a board, making it difficult for me to move. I wished my legs would heal quickly.