Chapter 37: Making Kimchi

The weather has turned cold, and Xia Ning’an is planning to make some kimchi tomorrow. When she came back, besides the five jars of chili sauce Tong Dawei gave her, she also brought some chili peppers, dried chili peppers, scallions, ginger, garlic, snow vegetable, mustard greens, white radishes, green beans, lettuce, onions, carrots, cabbage, apples, pears, and oranges.

Now that Lu Zecheng’s eyes are healed, all the things they need to take back have to be put on the car.

The next morning, after breakfast, they prepared everything and started peeling garlic. They peeled off all the garlic skins, washed them with clean water, put them in salt water, boiled them for 30 seconds, then took them out and cooled them in cold water.

They put sugar, white vinegar, and salt in a pot and simmered them over low heat. Then, they added the garlic and simmered it for one minute. After that, they scooped out the garlic and let it cool. They put the garlic in a medium-sized jar, poured in the cooled sauce, moved it into the storage room, added water, and sealed it.

They worked together for a morning and made five jars of sugar-vinegar garlic. Then, they continued to make Sichuan kimchi.

They washed all the vegetables and drained them. They sliced the radishes, peeled and sliced the carrots and ginger into strips, shredded the cabbage and dried it, and cut the green beans into segments.

They added water to a pot, dissolved salt in it, and let it cool.

They wrapped the Sichuan peppercorns, cinnamon, fennel, and bay leaves in gauze. Then, they put all the ingredients in a jar, added the drained chili peppers, millet peppers, rock sugar, and cooled salt water, and finally added some white wine. The kimchi was done.

They could open the jar and eat it after ten days. When making kimchi, make sure there is no oil or water in the container. This will prevent the kimchi from spoiling and make it crispier.

They made five jars of kimchi, enough to last them through the winter.

They rested for a while and then started making spicy cabbage.

They took the cabbage that had been salted for a few hours, drained the water, and squeezed it dry. They took out three apples and three pears and chopped them into pieces. Then, they took out three onions and some garlic.

They mixed glutinous rice flour with cold water and stirred it evenly. They simmered it over low heat until it boiled and stirred it into a paste. Then, they added chili powder, fruit puree, chopped onions, and garlic paste and mixed them well.

Finally, they added some scallions and radish peel and spread the sauce evenly on the cabbage. They divided it into three portions and put them in jars to ferment.

After the autumn harvest this year, the radishes, cabbage, and potatoes in the Xia family’s private plot were all more than twice the size of other families. Xia Mu was so happy that she would laugh every time she cooked. This time, she only cut five heads of cabbage for the spicy cabbage, whereas a normal family would need ten or more.

Just as they finished, someone knocked on the courtyard gate. Xia Ning’an went to open it and saw a young man from the village named Li Dabao.

“Xia Ning’an, we came to see Lu Dage.”

“Oh, come in.”

As soon as Li Dabao entered, he saw Lu Zecheng standing there. He excitedly dropped the things in his hands and went forward to grab him.

“Brother, you’re really healed! When you had the accident, I went to your house, but Lu Lao Er chased me away. I’m sorry. I’m useless. I went out on a trip in the afternoon. I just came back and heard that you’ve recovered. I couldn’t believe it was true. It’s great.”

Lu Zecheng led him into the house. “I heard you came that day, brother. Thank you. I was delirious at the time and had no strength. Later, An’an and Xia Shu took me back. It was also An’an who went to the provincial capital to buy imported medicine for me, which is why I’m healed.”

Li Dabao stood up and suddenly bowed to Xia Ning’an. “Xia Ning’an, I underestimated you before. I’m sorry. Thank you for your unwavering support for my brother. Besides my brother, you’re the second person I admire.”

Xia Ning’an, startled, looked at the simpleton with amusement.

“It’s what I should do. You two chat. I’ll go cook some noodles.”

Xia Ning’an went to the backyard and picked up four chicken eggs and two goose eggs. Seeing the eggs and goose eggs, which were twice the size of those from other families, Xia Ning’an couldn’t bear to eat them. It must be because of the water. Even though the weather was cold now, it didn’t affect their egg-laying.

Xia Ning’an cooked a pot of noodles, fried three poached eggs, took out the meat sauce Tong Dawei made, and called Li Dabao to sit down and eat with her. He waved his hand, saying he had to go to the mountains to get firewood. He picked up the things he had bought and stuffed them into Lu Zecheng’s hands before leaving.

Watching him run away, Xia Ning’an put his bowl of noodles in front of Lu Zecheng.

“The skills of the descendant of the imperial chef are truly amazing. This is the first time I’ve eaten such delicious meat sauce. Zecheng Ge, what do you think about me providing the ingredients, having Uncle Tong make it, and selling it in the black market?”

“The black market is too dangerous. Besides, the meat sauce has a strong smell. The neighbors around will be able to smell it. It’s not safe.”

Thinking about the yard she rented near the black market, she realized that the yard next to it was empty. She could build a simple kitchen on the empty land near that side, specifically for making meat sauce. This way, she could not only help Tong Dawei’s family but also assess them. If they cooperated well, after the reform and opening up, the descendant of the imperial chef would be a golden signboard. Opening a restaurant or hotel would undoubtedly be a good partnership. Besides, the profit margin for making meat sauce from fresh meat was higher. A courtyard was beckoning her. Thinking about this, she was full of motivation. Those things were nothing.

“I actually have a place I can use, but I need to build a kitchen.”

“That’s easy. I’ll go up the mountain to chop some wood in the afternoon. I’ll buy some adobe bricks from the village and pull them over. I can do it.”

“Why don’t we wait two days? The house is almost ready to be topped off. We can just call a few uncles to help. It’ll be done in a day.”

Lu Zecheng knew Xia Ning’an was worried about his injury. These past few days, he wanted to go to the construction site to help, but everyone in the Xia family collectively opposed it, asking him to stay home and recover. But he really wanted to help her with something as simple as building a kitchen. So, he said firmly, “I’m really fine. I’ll consider building a kitchen as early exercise.”

Seeing his insistence, Xia Ning’an agreed. After all, she would be giving him the last bit of healing agent in a few days. By then, his body would be completely healed.

They reached an agreement. Lu Zecheng got up, washed the bowls, and went to the village to buy materials from a family that had adobe bricks.

Xia Ning’an went to the chicken coop in the backyard and picked up four eggs. Then, she fed the rabbits. She thought she should go see what Tong Dawei thought first.

So, she tidied up and rode her tricycle to the county.

When she arrived at Tong Dawei’s house, only his wife and children were home. He had gone to sweep the toilets.

He and Kong Zhizhang next door were both sweeping toilets on the street. This was after they had pulled some strings. It was better than those who were sent down to the countryside. At least they still had their own houses to live in and could stay together as a family. Those who went to the countryside could only live in cowsheds, and their conditions were even more difficult.