Chapter 4: What Kind of Family Can Afford to Use So Much Oil?
Chapter 4: What Kind of Family Can Afford to Use So Much Oil?
The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden glow over the village of Na Ye. Every household was busy preparing dinner, the scent of various dishes wafting through the air.
In the Deng household, all six of Deng Shirong's children, except for his second son, Deng Yunheng, who was already at school, had gathered in the kitchen, eagerly watching their father cook.
Deng Shirong was cracking eggs, one after another, into a large bowl. In no time, he had used up all the eggs from the basket, a total of more than ten.
Each of the six children had their own thoughts. Deng Yunzhen, who had been in charge of the cooking for the past few years, felt a pang of pain in her heart. With so many eggs, she could have made several meals! On the other hand, the younger children, Deng Yunhua and Deng Yunheng, were practically drooling. With over ten eggs, they would each get at least a couple, which was a real treat!
Deng Shirong beat the eggs with a pair of chopsticks, then began slicing the washed green peppers and crushing the garlic cloves for seasoning. After that, he started preparing the soybean paste sauce.
Soybean paste, known as "shi gao" in the local dialect, is a dark, aromatic sauce made from black beans. It has a rich, brownish-yellow color and a thick, oily texture, beloved for its deep, savory flavor. Deng Shirong's hometown, Yulin, was famous for producing this sauce.
He took a small bowl and scooped out a thumb-sized portion of the soybean paste from the jar, mixed it with a little water, and set it aside.
By this time, his eldest daughter, Deng Yunzhen, had already washed the pot. Deng Shirong called out, "Yunzhen, you can start the fire now!"
"Okay," she replied, sitting down at the stove to start the fire.
Soon, the pot was hot. Deng Shirong picked up the ladle and scooped a full ladle of lard from the oil jar, pouring it into the iron pot. The solidified lard quickly melted in the hot pot.
This sight left his six children stunned. _What kind of family can afford to use so much oil?_
Deng Yunzhen jumped up from the stove as if her seat was on fire, reaching for the ladle in her father's hand. "Dad, let me do the cooking!"
Deng Shirong pushed her hand away. "I'll do it. I can cook better than you."
If it weren't for her deep respect for her father, Deng Yunzhen would have cursed. _If I used that much oil, even a belt would taste delicious!_
Seeing that her father was determined to cook, she couldn't help but remind him, "Dad, you're using too much oil!"
Deng Shirong understood her concern. That jar of lard had to last the whole year. They rarely cooked stir-fried dishes, and even when they did, they used only a tiny bit of oil to grease the pot. Only during festivals did they use a bit more.
But now, in the middle of an ordinary day, Deng Shirong was using a whole ladle of lard for a simple dish. This extravagance would be rare even in the city, let alone in a poor rural area.
The real issue was what they would do once the lard ran out. How would they manage without any oil at all?
"It's fine. We still have enough oil to last for a while. I'll find a way to replenish it later," Deng Shirong said, checking the oil temperature. When it was just right, he poured the beaten eggs into the pot.
The eggs sizzled and quickly expanded in the hot oil. Deng Shirong used the ladle to flip the eggs, ensuring they cooked evenly on both sides. Once the eggs turned a light golden brown, he scooped them out and placed them on a plate.
He left a bit of oil in the pot and added the green peppers, stirring them quickly.
Once the peppers were cooked, he returned the eggs to the pot, breaking them up with the ladle. He added a pinch of salt, stirred a few times, and then added the crushed garlic. Finally, he poured in the prepared soybean paste sauce along the edges of the pot.
Sizzle...
As the city-made lard hit the hot oil, a rich aroma rose from the wok. Deng Shirong quickly stirred the mixture, ensuring the eggs and green peppers were evenly cooked before transferring them to a plate.
The entire cooking process was smooth and efficient, giving the impression that everything was under control. Deng Yunzhen and her five siblings watched in amazement, utterly surprised by their father's culinary skills.
Although they hadn't tasted the two large plates of egg and green pepper stir-fry yet, the presentation alone was incredibly appetizing. They had no idea their father was such a skilled cook.
Next, Deng Shirong washed the wok and prepared two plates of green beans and two plates of water spinach. Despite being all vegetable dishes, the generous use of oil made them look equally mouthwatering.
After finishing the vegetable dishes, Deng Shirong put down the spatula and said to his eagerly waiting children, "Alright, let's eat!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than his children sprang into action. Within a minute, they were all seated with their bowls of rice, even pouring his wine for him. Their speed was a stark contrast to the children of later generations who had to be called repeatedly to come to the table.
Deng Shirong washed his hands, returned to the table, and picked up his chopsticks. "Everyone, dig in!"
With that, he led the way, and his children eagerly followed, all reaching for the egg and green pepper stir-fry.
"Wow, it's so fragrant!"
"Delicious, really delicious!"
"Dad, your cooking is amazing. This egg and green pepper stir-fry is even better than what Big Sister makes!"
"..."
Hearing his children's praise, Deng Shirong felt a sense of pride.
In his previous life, he had no notable cooking skills. Before he was married, his mother did the cooking. After he got married, his wife took over. When his wife passed away, his eldest daughter cooked. After she got married, his youngest daughter took over.
After his youngest daughter got married, he ate with his sons for a few years.
It wasn't until Deng Shirong lived alone in his rural hometown that he started learning to cook. To his surprise, he discovered he had a natural talent for it. He picked up every dish quickly and mastered it in no time.
Within a few months, his cooking skills rivaled those of professional chefs!
Given his talent, if he had had the opportunity to learn from a skilled master when he was younger, he might have had a place in China's culinary world.
This meal left his six children thoroughly satisfied. Deng YunTai, Deng YunZhen, Deng YunZhu, and Deng YunSong, the older ones, each ate at least three bowls of rice.
The younger ones, Deng YunHua and Deng YunHeng, also finished two large bowls each.
Feeling full, Deng YunSong rubbed his belly and sighed, "If we could eat like this every day, it would be like living a godly life!"
Deng Shirong couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia. People living in this era couldn't imagine the tremendous changes that would come with China's reform and opening up over the next forty years. The country would undergo a complete transformation.
In the future, not only would they be able to eat egg and green pepper stir-fry every day, but they could also have pork regularly. This wouldn't be limited to a few well-off families but would be a reality for most households across the country.
Such a prosperous era, even the great leaders who created this miracle, might not have foreseen it at this moment.
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PS: Dear readers, if you have the means, please consider reading on Qidian Chinese, where you can enjoy the author's illustrations alongside the text for an even better experience. ^_^
(End of Chapter)
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