Chapter 336: Sizzling and Fragrant

Chapter 336: Sizzling and Aromatic

With the help of these two little helpers, Zhou Linglan found the packing much more efficient.

All three of them were quick and efficient, and the teenage boys were strong. By noon, they had already packed everything that needed to be mailed.

Zhou Linglan wasted no time in preparing the old hen.

She rubbed some salt on the chicken and stuffed its cavity with winter mushrooms and black fungus that had been soaked earlier in the morning. Before stuffing, she seasoned them lightly with ginger slices, salt, and soy sauce, then wrapped it up snugly in lotus leaves.

The offal was put aside to be stir-fried with pickled vegetables for dinner.

She also brought along a small iron pot, a few pairs of chopsticks, some bowls, a bit of peanut oil, and some salt before heading to the family plot with the two kids.

Uncle Mu bounced excitedly, "This feels like a picnic!"

Zhou Linglan smiled, "That's exactly what it is."

Fu Yuanhang added, "Picnics don’t usually have such good food."

Uncle Mu slung an arm over Fu Yuanhang’s shoulder, "Well, you should thank me. Auntie dotes on me, so she brought all the best food from home."

Fu Yuanhang brushed his hand off with a scowl, couldn't be bothered with him.

They'd nearly cleared out the sweet potatoes in the family plot, but Zhou Linglan liked sweet potato leaves, so she had left some behind. She even used to grow sweet potato vines out of season just for the leaves.

Unlike the north, southern winters didn't have clear-cut seasons. Many leafy greens became sweeter and tastier after a frost, and there were fewer pests compared to spring and summer, making it easier to enjoy fresh greens in winter.

When they reached the plot, Fu Yuanhang found the most thriving sweet potato vine, dug around the roots, and shook off the dirt from the sweet potatoes.

Uncle Mu clicked his tongue, "Did you just strike gold? How did this one grow so many sweet potatoes? We won’t be able to finish them all even if we roast them."

Fu Yuanhang replied, "It’s fine. We can take the leftovers on the train. They taste even sweeter when cooled and are better than packaged snacks."

Uncle Mu nodded, "Good point. I’ll go dig up some more then."

Fu Yuanhang stopped him, "This'll do. Raw ones are easier to carry. Chenchen likes them too—we can take some raw ones back and roast them in the oven later."

Zhou Linglan added, "Uncle Mu, roast a few more if you like them. Oh, and there are some baby taros over there—delicious roasted too."

"I’ll go pull up the taros then," Uncle Mu said, snatching up a hoe and darting off.

Fu Yuanhang built a makeshift oven with hard soil, leaving a hollow layer in the middle. He covered it with a layer of dirt, then placed lotus leaves on top before arranging the sweet potatoes inside.

Zhou Linglan placed the wrapped chicken nearby, punched a few air vents, and started a fire underneath.

"Whoa, you're here too?" Uncle Mu exclaimed in surprise. "Aren't you the girl who borrowed Ah Hang’s sketchbook? You could've said something!"

Xiao Meizi was at a loss for words.

Hearing the commotion, Zhou Linglan looked over, "Xiao Meizi, you’re here too?"

Xiao Meizi smiled at her, "Yes, Auntie. I came to pull up some radishes."

"Have you eaten yet?" Zhou Linglan asked.

Xiao Meizi shook her head: "Not yet, Granny’s cooking at home."

"Then it’s perfect—have a bite with us before you go," Zhou Linglan said.

Xiao Meizi shook her head again: "No thanks, Auntie, Granny’s already made my food."

"I’m leaving soon, and who knows when I’ll be back. Since we’ve met, let’s share a meal together—who knows if there’ll be another chance."

The girl was scrawny. Though technically thirteen, she looked at least two or three years younger than her peers, barely ten. Zhou Linglan figured sharing some meat with her wouldn’t hurt since they’d run into each other.

Fu Yuanhang said, "Xiao Meizi, I brought some textbooks from our school and my class notes. Wait here—I’ll grab ’em for you."

Hearing this, Xiao Meizi’s eyes crinkled like a bubbling brook as she nodded. "Okay, I’ll wait."

"Ma, mind the fire. I’ll go back and grab something," Fu Yuanhang said to Zhou Linglan.

Zhou Linglan nodded. "Got it. Oh, and flip the persimmons drying at home while you’re there."

Chenchen loved those soft, sticky persimmons—so Zhou Linglan had traded dried wood ears for dozens of persimmons in autumn to dry into snacks. Worried they might get damp, she decided to take them out for another sunning.

Stalling a bit meant the chicken’d be ready by the time Fu Yuanhang got back, and Xiao Meizi could have a bite before leaving.

"Auntie, I’ll tend the fire," Xiao Meizi said. Her granny’s eyes were going, so she had learned to cook from a young age.

Earlier, when she said her grandma was cooking at home, it was actually her who had washed the rice and lit the fire, leaving her grandma to just watch the stove.

Zhou Linglan didn’t fuss. "Whip up a little dirt stove—I’ll stir-fry some sweet potato leaves."

"Okay." Xiao Meizi scrambled to pack hard clay, and the small stove was ready in no time.

Zhou Linglan then sent her to pick some tender sweet potato leaves and wash them in the nearby stream.

Uncle Mu came back with taro and tossed ’em into the sweet potato pit.

Zhou Linglan covered them with lotus leaves and a thin layer of soil, instructing Uncle Mu to light a fire on top.

Uncle Mu frowned. "Auntie, we got fire below—why start one up top?"

Zhou Linglan explained, "Heat from both sides cooks it twice as fast. What would take an hour now only needs half an hour."

Uncle Mu nodded in understanding. "Auntie’s sharp—got it."

He rustled up dry branches and lit a fire atop the pit, not minding the dirt as he plopped down to warm his hands.

The village, all green hills and clear streams, was full of bright souls—he loved it here.

Xiao Meizi returned with the washed sweet potato leaves.

Zhou Linglan then sent her to their plot to dig up a garlic bulb. "I forgot to bring garlic—just one will do."

No questions asked, Xiao Meizi scampered off again to fetch the garlic.

Uncle Mu sidled up to Zhou Linglan and muttered, "Auntie, you’re just giving her tasks so she won’t feel awkward eating with us later, right?"

Zhou Linglan glanced at Xiao Meizi’s slender figure and smiled. "You’re a quick one, Uncle Mu. She and her granny aren’t the type to accept kindness without giving back. Putting her to work means she won’t feel like a freeloader."

Uncle Mu plucked a sweet potato leaf and chewed on it. "Ah Hang went back for the notes to stall for time too, didn’t he? Otherwise, this kiddo’d have bolted home by now."

Like mother, like son—both softies at heart.

Zhou Linglan said, "Don't call her 'little girl' anymore. She's about the same age as you and Ah Hang, already thirteen by Chinese reckoning."

"Really couldn't tell," Uncle Mu replied in surprise.

Xiao Meizi picked a garlic clove, washed it, peeled it, and brought it back.

Zhou Linglan placed the small iron pan on the earthen stove, poured a generous swirl of peanut oil she had brought, added the garlic, pressed it down hard, and only when the aroma rose did she add the sweet potato leaves.

The sizzling sound filled the air, along with an intoxicating fragrance.

Xiao Meizi couldn't help but gulp. At her home, they never used so much oil in cooking—it must be incredibly delicious.