Crossing Over to Yamada Love

When she returned empty-handed and saw Mo Lan's smile, she understood. Mo Lan must have known that pheasants were difficult to catch, and the reason she was asked to catch one was probably just for her own amusement.

Having understood this, Yu Zhen'er was not angry and had a great time teasing Mo Lan.

"Sister, are there pheasants here all year round? What other animals are there? Have you ever eaten them?" Yu Zhen'er asked Mo Lan curiously, finding it all very interesting.

"There are many animals in the mountains. There are tigers, leopards and wolves in the deepest part, but there are not many of them, and they are in the deepest part. They are rare in the front of the mountain, otherwise they would become a menace, and who would dare to go into the mountains?"

There are also black bears, roe deer, deer, snakes, squirrels, weasels, pheasants, wild rabbits, musk deer, and many other creatures whose names I don't know.

"Speaking of food, I've only ever eaten tiger meat, wild rabbit, pheasant, and roe deer. I haven't eaten anything else," Mo Lan rattled off a long list.

"Sister is amazing! She actually ate tiger meat. Tigers are so powerful, how did she kill it? And why is it called a silly roe deer?" Yu Zhen'er asked, puzzled. She found everything very strange.

"It's called a silly roe deer because it doesn't run away when people come. When hunters hunt it, it just stands there dumbly, and they can hit it every time. That's why everyone calls it a silly roe deer."

"As for tiger meat, that happened a few years ago. A tiger was killed in Hezhuangzi. After dividing it up, my family, who owns a shop, cooked it and ate it. I tried some, but it wasn't very tasty," Mo Lan explained clearly.

"Sister is amazing, she knows everything. Unlike me, I don't know anything." Yu Zhen'er looked at Mo Lan with admiration.

“If my sister lived here, she would be just like me. Just like how she learned needlework and embroidery in the capital, I naturally know more since I live here. These things are nothing,” Mo Lan said truthfully.

“Sister, I find these summer days quite fun. I’ve heard that winter is cold and dreary, and being cooped up at home every day must be so boring. Don’t you find it boring, sister?” Yu Zhen’er and Mo Lan chatted as they walked along the mountainside.

"No, summer has its advantages, and winter has its advantages. It's cold here in winter, but the cold here is different from other kinds of cold."

"How is it different?" Yu Zhen'er asked Mo Lan.

Mo Lan looked up at the mountains, and after a while, she smiled and said to Yu Zhen'er, "The winter here is really cold. The snow is heavy, and the earth is almost entirely white, a silvery-white world. The timing of the snowfall can be described in one sentence: it's just like willow catkins dancing in the air."

In winter, the trees are covered in frost, a blanket of silver. At this time, if you see any teenagers under the pine trees, don't go near them. Because if you do, those kids will stomp their feet on the trees, causing snow to fall all over you, making you look disheveled. They'll laugh and walk away, leaving you feeling both amused and exasperated. I've been tricked by those teenagers before.”

When Mo Lan finished speaking, Yu Zhen'er was not afraid at all; on the contrary, her eyes became interested. Her eyes darted around as she thought of a naughty idea.

Mo Lan chuckled inwardly, ignoring her, and continued, "The winter cold here is truly bone-chilling, making you feel it seep into every part of your body, yet you can't find where it is. It leaves you helpless against it, and that's not all; you only truly feel the cold when the wind picks up and you're outside."

A gust of wind blew, and my clothes were instantly see-through, as if I were naked. The biting cold made me shiver uncontrollably. The howling wind sounded like the howling of wolves in the forest, sending chills down my spine. The wind felt like knives cutting my face; the cold made me want to cry.

After Mo Lan finished speaking, she saw Yu Zhen'er shrink her neck and shiver, as if she had felt the cold and was somewhat afraid.

She smiled and said, "Although it's cold, I really like this cold because it has a lot of personality. It makes people feel that it's unruly, arrogant and grand, like a wild horse that has broken free of its reins. If you tame it, you will feel a great sense of accomplishment."

Sometimes it's a gentle coldness that softens you from the inside out; in short, this coldness makes you feel open and honest, just like being a person.

After listening to Mo Lan's words, Yu Zhen'er understood something. Her sister's words had a deeper meaning. She was talking about the cold of winter, but she was also talking about how to be a person.

"Such a cold winter day, yet you speak of it with such grandeur and beauty, and even utter such profound truths. I admire you so much! It seems you also love winter," Yu Zhen'er said with a smile.

Mo Lan nodded and said, "Yes, I really like winter. It's so cold that most people here have to hibernate, but in winter we can build snowmen, have snowball fights, make ice sculptures, go ice skating, catch birds, and freeze lots of delicious food to eat." Mo Lan spoke very leisurely.

"Now that you mention it, it's actually quite interesting. It's different from what I've heard. I thought we couldn't even go out from inside the house. What delicious food can we freeze? Tell me, sister." Yu Zhen'er finally steered the conversation towards food.

With a calm smile on her face, Mo Lan began to talk to Yu Zhen'er: "Winter fruits include frozen pears, frozen persimmons, and frozen crabapples. There are many varieties of frozen pears. Frozen large white pears are sweeter and very big. One person can't finish one if they have time."

Huagai pears are very sweet with a slight tartness. Once they've softened, you can take a small bite, suck out the juice, and enjoy its cool, refreshing taste. It's my favorite.

The Southern Pear is also good, with a delicate texture, but it doesn't have as much flavor as the Huagai Pear.

The safflower fruit is not only beautiful but also delicious, with a sweet and sour taste. I could easily eat dozens of them at once.

Persimmons taste good even when they're cold, and sucking on them is very satisfying. Although your mouth feels a little numb afterward, you don't notice it while you're eating them.

These things can't be found in Beijing because the temperature there isn't suitable for freezing. They're only available here; they're considered a local specialty.

In winter, you can hang wax on the walls here, and freeze fish, chicken, duck, and goose outside. They all freeze outside, and they taste different from fresh ones, with a unique flavor.

There are also dried vegetables, such as dried green bean strips, dried eggplant, and dried potatoes. These are soaked in water in winter and cooked to eat. They are chewy and very fragrant.

In addition, we prefer stews here. I believe my sister has eaten quite a few, but those are not quite authentic. The pork and sauerkraut stew with vermicelli here is different from the one in Beijing.

We shred the pickled cabbage, which has white leaves and green stems and can withstand long cooking without becoming mushy. Our potato noodles, on the other hand, are easy to cook and hold their shape well, making them an excellent combination.

When it comes out of the pot, it has a bright yellow-white appearance. Picking it up with chopsticks gives the impression of willow branches hanging upside down in spring. If you use the broth from cooking meat and bones, and simmer stir-fried pork belly for several hours, the resulting pork, sauerkraut, and glass noodle soup will have an irresistible aroma that can fill the rooftops and tantalize your nose!

Mo Lan's words were funny, but Yu Zhen'er listened with longing, unable to help but swallow her saliva. She really wanted to try it.

Mo Lan continued, as if deliberately tempting Yu Zhen'er, "There's also pork stew. The pork stew you make yourself is so fragrant, you can eat it several times and never get tired of it. Speaking of food, I actually forgot to mention the Flying Dragon Soup. Flying dragons are hard to catch, and I've only had it twice. The soup is so delicious, I can't even describe it. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. I really want to eat it."

Seeing Mo Lan's expression, Yu Zhen'er couldn't help but feel even more longing. Her sister's high praise must mean it was delicious. It was a pity that she didn't have the chance to taste it.

"Sister, are there any flying dragons now? And what is a flying dragon? Is it a dragon?" Yu Zhen'er asked Mo Lan earnestly.

"The flying dragon is not a dragon, but a kind of bird. It looks a lot like a pigeon. Generally speaking, a flying dragon will not weigh more than one pound when weighed."

Its flesh is white and tender, and its breast muscles are large and full. Its neck bone is long and curved, resembling a dragon's bone; its legs are short and feathered, and its claws are covered with scales, just like dragon claws, hence the name "Flying Dragon Bird".

The pheasant usually appears in shrublands or mixed pine and birch forests. The male and female are always in pairs and inseparable. We often call them "mandarin ducks in the forest".

The grouse is prized for its snow-white, tender meat and exceptionally delicious flavor, making it a rare and highly sought-after delicacy. Few people know about it, and even fewer have tasted it. However, those who have experienced it never forget its unique texture and flavor; it's truly unforgettable.

After Mo Lan finished explaining, Yu Zhen'er felt her mouth watering. She had never even heard of or seen such a thing before, let alone eaten it. How could there be so many delicious foods here?

"Really? Sister, don't try to fool me."

Seeing that Yu Zhen'er didn't believe her, Mo Lan didn't argue and said, "Speaking of food, we have quite a few local specialties."

Leaving aside the gypsy mushrooms, all kinds of mushrooms are also delicious. Fresh mushrooms make a wonderful soup.

Pine nuts, hazelnuts, and pecans are not only delicious but also good for the brain. Wild vegetables are also nutritious and tasty. Of course, my sister has tried all of these, so I won't go into detail.

But speaking of this fish, it has three flowers and five lobes, and its meat is exceptionally delicious. Besides these, the nose of the yellow croaker is a delicacy. The yellow croaker meat is tender, and yellow croaker dumplings are so delicious that you can't stop eating them.

Among them is elk nose, which is also tender, fragrant, and a rare delicacy. "Mo Lan told Yu Zhen'er about all the local specialties she could think of, making Yu Zhen'er swallow her saliva and look extremely hungry.

Mo Lan couldn't help but chuckle to herself, fearing that if she continued talking, the girl would really not leave and would insist on tasting everything she said.

Mo Lan handed Yu Zhen'er a handkerchief and said, "Here, little sister, wipe your drool. You've drooled so much, don't take it back to the capital. If Seventh Brother sees it, he'll think I, as your sister-in-law, am not feeding you. I can't afford to be blamed by him then."