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Chapter 17: Can't Stop Eating
Chapter 17: Can't Stop Eating
It was the afternoon.
In the courtyard of Deng Shirong’s home, a table was set up with a bamboo lid on top, covered with a dense layer of insects—these were the hornet larvae that Deng Yuntao and his childhood friend, Deng Changyuan, had brought back from their hunt.
At that moment, Deng Shirong was busy with his children and Deng Changyuan, carefully cleaning out the internal organs and feces from the larvae. It was a tedious task, but essential if they wanted the perfect taste.
Despite the large number of larvae, with so many hands, it took them about forty minutes to clean them all.
Meanwhile, Deng Yunsong and the other three children, who had just returned from school, had shelled a large bowl of peanuts.
Deng Shirong picked up the lid with the cleaned larvae and said to his eldest daughter, "Azhen, you can start the fire now!"
Deng Yuzhen responded and headed to the kitchen to start the fire.
Seeing this, Deng Changyuan and Deng Yuntao’s siblings also followed into the kitchen. They had never seen how hornet larvae were fried and were eager to learn.
Soon, Deng Yuzhen had the fire going, and the pot, which had already been cleaned, was ready. Deng Shirong scooped oil from the oil can with a spatula, adding several scoops to the pot. The amount of oil he used left the younger generation in awe.
As the solidified pork fat melted under the high heat, Deng Shirong didn’t rush to fry the larvae. Instead, he started with the peanuts.
Frying peanuts was a dish that required precise control of the heat. If the heat was too low, the peanuts wouldn’t be fragrant and crispy; if the heat was too high, they would burn. Only someone with years of experience could get it just right.
As someone who enjoyed a drink, frying peanuts was a dish Deng Shirong had often made in his past life. He knew exactly how to control the heat, judging by the color of the peanuts.
Soon, the peanuts in the oil turned a light golden color. Without a proper strainer, Deng Shirong didn’t dare wait any longer. He instructed his eldest daughter to turn off the fire and quickly scooped the peanuts out with the spatula.
Because of the speed, the peanuts still had some oil on them. After scooping them all out, Deng Shirong slowly drained the excess oil and placed them in another bowl.
With the peanuts done, Deng Shirong noticed the oil in the pot was running low. He scooped the remaining oil from the can into the pot and asked his eldest daughter to increase the heat. Once the oil was hot enough, he added the several pounds of hornet larvae.
Instantly, the pot sizzled, and the aroma began to fill the air.
At the beginning, the heat needed to be high to fry the larvae. Once they started to change color, the heat was reduced to a gentle simmer. Deng Shirong waited until the larvae turned a golden yellow before instructing his eldest daughter to turn off the fire. He then drained the oil and transferred the larvae to several large bowls.
Finally, he sprinkled some crushed salt over the larvae, mixed them well, and the dish was complete.
Deng Shirong, satisfied with the fragrant fried larvae, said, "Azhen, pour the oil back into the can. It’s time to eat!"
"Got it!"
Deng Changyuan praised, "These larvae smell so good! The color is so appetizing. We used to boil the larvae we caught into porridge, what a waste! You really know how to cook, Uncle Jiu!"
Deng Shirong smiled, "Fried larvae are delicious. I’m sure others in the village know this too, but not many are willing to use so much oil. That’s why no one else fries them."
As they spoke, they brought the fried larvae to the dining table.
The table was now laden with a feast: three bowls of fried larvae, a bowl of fried peanuts, two bowls of cold cucumber salad, a bowl of pickled vegetables, and three bowls of cold water spinach salad. The table was brimming with delicious dishes.
With the meal ready, everyone began to serve themselves. Deng Changyuan, having grown up with Deng Yuntao, had no qualms about joining in. They had played together since childhood, and Deng Changyuan had eaten many meals at the Deng household.
"Let's dig in!" Deng Shirong picked up his chopsticks and sampled two fried bee larvae. The taste was as fresh, fragrant, and crispy as he remembered, becoming more delicious with each bite, making it hard to stop.
Seeing Deng Shirong start, the other children and Deng Changyuan eagerly followed suit, picking up their own bee larvae. As they tasted the delicacy, their eyes widened in disbelief.
Clearly, the fried bee larvae were even more delicious than they had imagined.
In the future, with everyone having access to plenty of food, chicken, duck, and fish were not exactly rare. Most people could afford to indulge in a good meal every few days, leading to a common bad habit—picky eating.
However, in this era, most families in Shuangwang Region could barely afford to fill their bellies. They subsisted on a diet of congee mixed with various grains, with some pickled vegetables and sparingly oiled greens as side dishes. Eggs and meat were rare luxuries, only enjoyed on special occasions.
Even when they did have eggs and meat, they were eaten in small quantities, as no one could afford to indulge freely.
Thus, people in this era rarely had picky eating habits. Foods like bee larvae, which many in the future would find unpalatable, were no problem for the rural residents, especially when fried to perfection.
"These fried bee larvae are really delicious. I'll go up the mountain to find some wasp nests when I have a break in a few days," Deng Yongsong said, savoring the taste.
Deng Yunhua chimed in, "Big Brother, we can go together."
The youngest, Deng Yunheng, also chimed in enthusiastically, "And me too, I want to go as well."
Rural children were hardy and used to running around the mountains. Deng Shirong wasn't too worried, but he still warned them, "It's fine for you three to go looking for wasp nests, but once you find one, you must come back and tell your older brothers. Don't try to burn the nest yourselves, understood?"
Deng Yuntao added sternly, "Wasp stings are dangerous and can be life-threatening if you get stung too many times. If you find a nest, don't try to burn it. Otherwise, I'll give you a good beating when you come back."
The three boys exchanged glances and responded listlessly, "We understand."
Deng Shirong smiled and then turned to Deng Changyuan, "Aiyuan, you've heard about me and Yun Gui taking over the kiln, right?"
Deng Changyuan nodded, "Yes, Yuntao told me."
Deng Shirong continued, "If you're not afraid of hard work, after the production team finishes the harvest, you can help at the kiln by treading the clay. If you're interested in learning how to make large pots, you can also learn from Yuntao during your breaks."
Deng Changyuan's eyes lit up with surprise, "Grandpa Jiugong, are you serious?"
Deng Shirong laughed, "Of course, are you interested?"
Deng Changyuan didn't hesitate, "Definitely."
In this era, there were few opportunities to earn money. Working at the kiln and earning a steady income was a rare and valuable opportunity.
Deng Changyuan knew that if it weren't for his close relationship with Deng Yuntao, he might not have been given this chance.
Deng Shirong clinked his glass with Deng Changyuan's, "That's great. Work hard, and with a steady income, it will be much easier to find a wife."
Deng Changyuan nodded emphatically, "Thank you, Grandpa Jiugong. I'll work hard and make sure I don't let you down."
(End of Chapter)
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