NOVEL NEXT Chapter 194 Collecting lotus pods
Early in the morning, Yu Xiaochuan came to the shop to deliver fish, shrimp and river fresh food. Yu Wanniang, holding a bunch of lotus flowers and lotus pods, came to Liuxiang snacks with her brother.
"Shop Manager Ma Xi, these lotus flowers and lotus pods were just picked for you."
Mao Xi took a plum vase and put lotus flowers on it. She peeled the fresh lotus pods, peeled the lotus seed rice, and fed it to her sister Ajiao.
There were only three showerheads, so little Ajiao ate two of them, and was still clamoring for more after eating.
"Mother, these lotus pods were picked in the suburbs?"
Wan Niang nodded, and she took her brother Yu Xiaochuan and invited her: "My brother said that he wants to invite you and Miss Zhemei to go to the wild to collect lotus pods. We caught a lot of mandarin fish this morning. Can you come to our house for dinner tonight?"
"Are all those lotus ponds wild?"
"Yes, the lotus pods are growing up one after another, and I will be old in three days. Please call Brother Mu to join us. We have two boats at home."
"Okay!" Mao Xi agreed happily.
After Yu Xiaochuan finished delivering the goods, he saw the sign at the door of Shu Xi said wine-flavored coffee, and asked curiously: "Shop Manager Shu Xi, can you add wine to this coffee drink? What does it taste like?"
"The new flavor just came out today, why don't you two try it? I happen to be going to the market, and I'll call Zhemei here too."
When Yu Xiaochuan heard that Mao Xi was going to invite Miss Zhemei, he took his sister Wan Niang and sat down in the shop to wait.
Mao Xi went to the market and bought some pig meat and fish pickles, but because of the fishy smell, she called Zhe Mei out at the door of the Silk and Bamboo House.
"Sister Zhemei, do you want to come to Liuxiang Snacks for tea? Wan Niang and Brother Yu are here and invite us to pick lotus pods in the afternoon."
Zhe Mei heard the sound and went out. There were no students in the library today, so she closed the Silk and Bamboo Library and returned to the snack shop with Shu Xi.
In the coffee room, Mu Zhiyuan makes wine-flavored coffee for everyone.
Yu Xiaochuan asked: "I know the shopkeeper well, do you add liquor to this coffee?"
"Exactly, Brother Yu, you can guess it as soon as you drink it. Can you make this distilled wine?"
Wan Niang added on the side: "Every family in our Yujia Village makes this distilled liquor, but the output is not high. We keep it for ourselves to taste. In addition to grain, we also use crisp pears to make distilled liquor."
Mao Xi was looking forward to it. She wanted to visit Yujiacun: "Next time someone makes wine, please take me to see it."
In the afternoon, Mao Xi, Zhe Mei, Mu Zhiyuan, and his younger brothers and sisters drove a pony carriage to the countryside.
Yu Xiaochuan was holding the boat on the shore and waiting, and everyone got on the boat one after another.
Yu Xiaochuan, brother and sister, and Zhe Mei went forward in the same boat. Mu Zhiyuan held up the pole, carrying Mian Xi, Xiaodouzi, and Ajiao to follow.
The wild lotus pond is just ahead, and the fishermen have carved out a passable waterway.
Because the lotus pond is unmaintained, the lotus leaves are sparse in some places, and some lotus leaves are taller than people.
Mao Xi and Xiaodouzi picked a few lotus leaves, pulled the heart of the lotus leaf into a ring, and put it on everyone's shoulders to protect themselves from the sun.
The pulled out lotus leaf heart, connected to the lotus stem, looks like a small watermelon hat, which can just fit on the heads of Xiaodouzi and Ajiao.
Mao Xi put a small lotus leaf cloak on Mu Zhiyuan, and Mu Zhiyuan picked two pink lotus flowers and gave them to Mao Xi.
Wearing leaves as clothes, the breeze carries the fragrance of lotus, and Mao Xi holds a bouquet of lotus flowers and basks in the sun.
"Wow, there is a big lotus in front of you!" Ajiao shouted, startling the birds in front of him to fly away.
Mu Zhiyuan supported the boat and followed Brother Yu in front, deep into the lotus pond.
Mao Xi looked up and followed the direction of her sister's fingers. There were several showerheads hanging down at different heights.
She used a wooden hook to bring the largest showerhead in the distance to her face and gave it to her sister.
The lotus seeds and rice in this lotus pod are all black. They are old lotus seeds and cannot be eaten directly.
"Ajiao, I will pick another one for you. This one is too old."
Xiaodouzi also picked several lotus pods. As long as the lotus heads hang down, you can pick them.
Peeling off the skin of the lotus pod, Xiaodouzi took out the lotus seed rice, each one tender and green.
"Brother, I'll peel it for you to eat."
Xiaodouzi tore open the green skin of the lotus seed rice to reveal the white and tender stuffed lotus seeds, took out the lotus heart and fed it to Ajiao.
Miao Xi also peeled a few and ate them with Brother Mu.
This fresh lotus seed rice needs to be picked and eaten fresh. It is crispy, sweet and delicious, refreshing and thirst-quenching. It has a hint of fruity taste but is not bitter at all.
Ajiao took a lotus pod, peeled the beans and started eating them.
When Mao Xi and Xiaodouzi saw the big and plump shower heads, they kept picking them and put them into bamboo baskets.
Soon the bamboo basket was full, and Mao Xi strung the lotus heads from the lotus stems to the lotus stems.
After leaving the lotus pond, following Yu Xiaochuan's boat in front, everyone arrived at Yujia Village.
Wan Niang and Zhe Mei also picked a basket of shower heads, and Yu Xiaochuan helped carry the bamboo basket home.
Uncle Yu was peeling lotus seeds and rice in the yard. When he saw guests coming, he invited everyone to rest inside.
The late mother took a pot of peeled lotus seed rice from the yard to the kitchen and got busy.
Mao Xi and Zhe Mei were curious, so they both followed in: "Wan Niang, what snacks do you want to make with these lotus seed rice? Let me help you."
After washing the lotus seed rice, the late mother was using a knife to cut cross patterns on the lotus seed rice.
The three of them worked together and finished processing the lotus seed rice in a short time.
Wan Niang boiled a pot of water, added a little salt to boil, put in lotus seeds and rice, blanch for thirty seconds and set aside.
Heat oil in a pan, pour in lotus seed rice and stir-fry, add a small amount of salt, sugar and water, stir-fry over high heat for one minute, finally pour in sesame oil and remove from the pan.
Pour the fried lotus seed rice in the shell into the washed lotus leaves, and a tangible and delicious "fried lotus seed rice" is ready.
The late mother brought out lotus seed rice and greeted everyone: "Farmer's snack is lotus seed rice. Come and try it."
Ajiao likes to eat snacks the most and has already rushed over.
Miao Xi grabbed a few and bit into them. They were indeed crisp, sweet, salty, sweet and numb.
"Brother Yu, is there anyone in the village making distilled liquor today? I want to take a look."
Mao Xi never forgets the high-quality home-brewed liquor in this rural area.
"The aunt next door is making distilled wine and is still cooking it. I'll take you to see it."
Mao Xi followed Brother Yu to her aunt's house next door.
A large stove was set up in the yard, a large pot was cooking koji, and the air was filled with the aroma of fermented grain. .
There is a small hole in the heavy wooden lid, and a small piece of hollow bamboo is inserted into the hole. The bamboo joint is dripping transparent liquid downwards, and is connected by a small vat.
The wine in the vat is distilled liquor.
When the aunt saw a guest, she warmly welcomed Ma Xi into the house.
"Auntie, do you sell this steamed wine?"
"Big sister, the alcohol content of this wine is not low. Do you, a little girl, also drink alcohol of high alcohol content?"
Yu Xiaochuan introduced Mao Xi to her aunt with a smile: "Aunt, she is the shopkeeper of a restaurant. Despite her young age, the stir-fried dishes are delicious. Dad and I deliver river fresh food to her restaurant."
When the aunt heard that there was a business, she was very happy and introduced cheerfully: "My distilled wine is not expensive. My old man is good at wine. He makes several vats of wine every month."
Mao Xi ordered two jars of distilled liquor from her aunt. The price was only 50% of that at Shopkeeper Du's liquor store, which was much more cost-effective.