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Chapter 12: The Aroma of Stir-Fried Pork Travels for Miles
Chapter 12: The Aroma of Stir-Fried Pork Travels for Miles
In the kitchen, Deng Shirong was preparing the market paste water, dissolving the market paste in a measured amount of water and then adding a bit of coarse salt.
After he was done preparing the market paste water, Deng Shirong called out to his eldest daughter, "Ah Zhen, you can start the fire now!"
Deng Yunzhen responded and sat by the stove to light the fire.
Once the pot was hot, Deng Shirong added a small amount of lard. As the lard melted, he placed the cooked pork into the pot and began to stir-fry it.
This was a piece of pork with a good mix of fat and lean meat, so it still had a fair amount of fat. Deng Shirong instructed his eldest daughter to control the heat while he stirred the pork slowly and steadily.
Soon, the fat in the pork began to render out. When it was almost done, Deng Shirong ordered, "Ah Zhen, you can turn up the heat now."
Deng Yunzhen responded and shoved a large bundle of dry straw into the stove. The straw burned quickly, and the stove was soon blazing with a fierce fire.
In the kitchen, Deng Yuntao and his younger siblings knew that the most crucial step in stir-frying the pork was about to begin. They all stretched their necks, watching their father's every move.
Deng Shirong held the pot spatula in his right hand and the prepared market paste water in his left. When he saw that the oil in the pot was hot enough, he carefully poured the market paste water along the edge of the pot.
Sizzle...
As soon as the market paste water hit the hot oil, a rich and aromatic smell filled the air.
To understand just how intense this aroma was, one only needed to listen to a local folk song. The song goes: "Cooking pork with soy sauce in the neighboring village, I can smell it from ten miles away. Now that I'm here, the aroma of soy sauce makes me drunk with delight."
The "soy sauce" in the song refers to market paste.
Using market paste water to stir-fry pork was truly a perfect match. Although the song's claim of the aroma traveling ten miles might be an exaggeration, the moment the market paste water mixed with the pork and lard, the fragrance did indeed spread far and wide.
After pouring the market paste water, Deng Shirong quickly stirred the pork a few more times before removing it from the pot and placing it on a plate.
To make the stir-fried pork taste great, the key was timing. The oil had to be hot enough when the market paste water was added to fully release its aroma.
Additionally, after adding the market paste water, the pork should be quickly stirred a few times and then immediately removed from the heat. If it was cooked for too long, the market paste would stick to the pot, and the flavor would diminish.
After plating the pork, Deng Shirong scooped a ladle of water from the water jar and poured it into the pot. He then smiled at his children, who were sniffing the air eagerly. "Alright, stop daydreaming and let's eat!"
Deng Yunzhen praised, "Dad, your skills are amazing. I've tried making stir-fried pork a few times, but it's never been as fragrant as this."
Deng Shirong walked to the dining table and replied with a smile, "The key to making great stir-fried pork is the final step of adding the market paste water. First, the oil must be hot enough, and second, you should remove the pork from the heat immediately after stirring the market paste water evenly. If you can do these two things, the flavor will usually be excellent."
Deng Yuntao asked, "Dad, would you like a drink?"
Deng Shirong shook his head. "No, I have to go to Deep Water Village later, so I won't drink."
At that moment, Yunsong, Yunhua, and Yunheng, the three younger children, were so hungry they could hardly wait to start eating. However, in this era, family meals were not as casual as they were in later times. The amount of meat each person could have was strictly regulated, and one couldn't just eat however much they wanted.
Of course, this strictness was partly due to the limited resources of the time. In later years, most families had enough meat, so they could eat as much as they liked.
"Alright, everyone, stop staring and let's eat!"
With their father's permission, the six siblings finally picked up their chopsticks and reached for the plate of pork. No one spoke, not even Deng Yuntai, as they all focused on their meals. The aroma of the pork was so enticing that it seemed to make their tongues dance, leaving no time for conversation.
Deng Shirong also tried a piece of the pork. The flavor was truly exceptional, and it was rare to find such delicious pork in the future. On one hand, most pork in the future came from pigs raised on feed, which couldn't compare to the quality of the free-range pigs raised by farmers. On the other hand, the lard used in the dish was of the highest quality, and the technique for rendering it was superior. After the lard maker passed away, his son took over, but the quality of the lard never matched his father's.
In no time, the entire plate of pork was devoured by the seven family members. They finished off with a bowl of pork and loofah soup, and once they put down their bowls, each of them patted their satisfied bellies. Deng Shirong, however, didn't overeat like his children. He went to the front hall, smoked two pipes, and then slowly made his way to Deepwater Field Village.
In the past, the production team had work to do all year round. At this time of year, the members of the production team would be busy with various tasks, with no time to rest. But this year was different. Most people knew that after the harvest, the land would be divided and each household would manage their own plot. The team leader no longer organized the members for tasks, so they all had a rare few days of rest.
Since Deng Shirong was walking to digest his meal, it took him over half an hour to reach Deepwater Field Village. The Guan family knew he would visit in the morning and had been waiting at home.
When they met, they exchanged greetings, and Guan Yongying handed over a pipe, tobacco, and matches, saying, "Old Ninth, have a smoke first."
Deng Shirong smiled and took the pipe, puffing away for a few moments. After finishing his smoke, he began to discuss the matter at hand. "Aibiao, the groom's family not only agreed to your conditions but also offered an additional 400 yuan as a dowry."
The Guan family was shocked!
The idea of the groom's family voluntarily increasing the dowry was completely new to them. This was 400 yuan, a sum that even Guan Dewu, who worked at the supply cooperative, would need to work for about a year and a half to earn without spending a penny.
After the initial shock, Guan Dewei, who knew better than to believe in windfall gains, quickly regained his composure and asked, "Uncle Ninth, what are the conditions for the groom's family to do this?"
Deng Shirong explained, "The news that our Bangjie Brigade will divide the land after the harvest is already out. The groom's family's goal is simple: they want to marry Yongying as soon as possible so they can claim an additional share of the land. Of course, this means your family will receive one less share. So, the groom's family is offering an extra 400 yuan as a form of compensation to your family."
Hearing this, the Guan family understood. Guan Dewei and his wife exchanged a glance, both seeing the hesitation in each other's eyes.
400 yuan was indeed a significant amount in this era, but for rural people, land had always been the most valuable asset. No one would willingly trade their land for money unless absolutely necessary. With the land division just around the corner, losing a share at this critical moment would be a severe loss.
(End of Chapter)
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