Chapter 112: The Outdoor Toilet
Chapter 112: The Outdoor Toilet
Winter Solstice, also known as the Southern Solstice, Winter Festival, or Minor New Year, is a significant day that combines natural and cultural elements. It is one of the twenty-four solar terms and a traditional Chinese festival for ancestor worship. Winter Solstice is one of the eight major festivals of the year, often regarded as the biggest festival of winter, with the saying "Winter Solstice is as important as the New Year" in ancient China.
Customs for Winter Solstice vary by region, with differences in content and details.
In southern China, it is a tradition to worship ancestors and hold banquets. In northern China, people eat dumplings on Winter Solstice.
In Bobai County, the custom is to make glutinous rice cakes, known as "boshuigui" or "luoshuigou," as shown below:
These are highly distinctive delicacies of Bobai County, much like dumplings in the north, and are typically made by any woman who has spent time in the kitchen.
Last night, after the family discussed the future paths for Zhang Shouguo and Zhang Shoumin, Zhang's mother took out the appropriate amounts of glutinous rice and sticky rice and soaked them. Early this morning, she ground the rice into a powder using a stone mill.
She brought the glutinous rice flour and sticky rice flour back home, took a portion, and mixed it with boiling water. She then kneaded the mixture into small balls, which she cooked in boiling water. These cooked balls are called "cooked lumps." After removing the cooked lumps, she added more cool water and kneaded the mixture until it formed a smooth, non-sticky dough, completing the process.
Next, she prepared the filling for the cakes. Like dumplings, the fillings can vary based on the family's economic conditions or personal preferences.
The Zhang family's filling primarily consists of eggs, pork, and garlic.
First, she fried the eggs into a flat cake, then chopped it into small pieces. She also chopped the garlic and minced the pork, which was half-fat and half-lean. She heated oil in a pan, added the pork, and fried it until the fat rendered out. Then, she added the chopped eggs and garlic, continuing to stir-fry until well combined. After adding the appropriate seasonings and mixing thoroughly, she removed the filling from the pan.
Then, they began to wrap the cakes.
Zhang Xiuping, along with her two sisters-in-law and mother, started the process of wrapping the cakes.
Not only the Zhang family, but almost every household in Poxin Village was making these cakes.
With four people working together, they quickly finished wrapping the cakes.
At this point, Zhang Shouguo and Zhang Shoumin, who had gone to the Business Administration Office to inquire about opening a store, returned.
Zhang Xiuping quickly asked, "Big Brother, Second Brother, how did it go? Can we get the permits for opening a store?"
Zhang Shouguo shook his head. "The staff at the Business Administration Office said the leaders went to the county for the first session of the Seventh People's Congress, which just ended yesterday. The leaders haven't returned yet, so we'll have to wait until they come back to know if we can get the permits."
Zhang Xiuping said, "I see. Then, when you send me back the day after tomorrow, you can ask again."
Zhang Shouguo nodded. "That's the only way!"
Zhang's mother chimed in, "Since everyone is back, let's start cooking the cakes."
This immediately drew everyone's attention to the cakes. The sight of the white cakes on bamboo trays, and the memory of their unforgettable taste, made everyone's mouths water. These cakes are usually only made during the birthday of Guanyin and Winter Solstice, making them a rare treat.
Since the filling is already cooked, all that's needed is to steam or boil the semi-cooked dough until it's ready to eat.
In less than ten minutes, everyone in the Zhang family was sitting with a large bowl, each containing at least five or six cakes. They savored the cakes with great enjoyment.
Zhang Xiuping ate five cakes in one go and put down her bowl, still feeling unsatisfied.
"Xiuping, do you want more?"
“
“No, you eat. I’m already full!”
Zhang Zhenfa finished the six rice cakes in his bowl and then went to get five more, continuing to eat with big bites.
For someone who did physical labor regularly, his appetite was enormous. These large rice cakes might satisfy five or six non-laboring adults, but he could easily eat a dozen without any trouble.
Zhang Zhenfa, in his early forties, still had a massive appetite. Zhang Shouguo and Zhang Shoumin, the two young and strong men, were even more capable, with one eating thirteen and the other fourteen rice cakes. Their appetites were truly impressive.
Even Zhang Shoujun and Zhang Shoushan managed to eat a full ten each, showing their impressive eating capacity.
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Zhang Xiuping felt the urge to use the bathroom, specifically for a bowel movement.
But the thought of the dirty, stinky latrine made her feel nauseous. During her three days at the Deng family, she had used a clean, odorless bathroom. After experiencing such comfort, the idea of returning to the disgusting latrine was too much for her to bear.
After much deliberation, Zhang Xiuping decided she couldn’t go through that again.
So, she decided to follow the men’s example and use the outdoor restroom on the mountain.
However, going alone to the mountain to relieve herself was too scary. She needed to bring her two sisters-in-law along.
With that thought, Zhang Xiuping went out to call her two sisters-in-law.
...
An hour later.
At the top of a small mountain.
Zhang Xiuping and her two companions carefully checked their surroundings, confirming that no one was around. They exchanged a look.
Ou Guofang, blushing, said, “Sister Ping, are we really going to do this here?”
This was Zhang Xiuping’s first time using an outdoor restroom, and she was equally red-faced. “Sister Fang, don’t you think the air here is so much better? It’s much more comfortable to relieve yourself here than in the latrine. I really don’t want to smell that again; it might make me throw up all the rice cakes I ate.”
Ou Guohua, blushing shyly, said, “Sister Ping is right. It’s definitely more comfortable here, but it’s so visible from all sides. It’s really embarrassing!”
It was Zhang Xiuping’s first time doing this, and her heart was pounding with nervousness. “It’s a bit uncomfortable here, but as long as no one else is around, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I really need to go now. I’ll go to that hidden spot over there. You can find your own places.”
With that, Zhang Xiuping walked to a more secluded patch of grass, using a stick to clear the surrounding area before pulling down her pants and beginning her first outdoor bathroom experience.
Seeing Sister Ping take action, the Ou sisters no longer hesitated. They each picked a spot and began to try this method they had never even dared to imagine before.
...
A few minutes later.
The three women, their faces still red, gathered again.
Zhang Xiuping, blushing, asked, “Sister Fang, Sister Hua, how was it?”
Ou Guofang, with a strange expression, said, “It was... very stimulating and very comfortable!”
Ou Guohua, blushing, said, “Sister Ping, it’s so embarrassing if someone sees what we left behind!”
Zhang Xiuping blinked. “Sister Hua, didn’t you use some branches and leaves to cover it up?”
Ou Guohua, suddenly realizing her mistake, quickly gathered some branches and leaves and rushed over to cover the mess, finally breathing a sigh of relief.
The three women looked at each other and then burst into laughter, fleeing the scene.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
