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墨書 Inktalez
After finishing these tasks, Ziyan repeatedly cleaned and cut the fish intestines that had been placed on the ground, washing them thoroughly before cutting them into sections. She also cleaned the fish roe and fish bladder completely. She placed all three items into the Sea Bowl that had previously held the fish bones and fish heads, and took them into the kitchen.
She also instructed Ling Yuxuan to bring in the Snake Skin and snake meat.
Of course, Ling Yuxuan immediately complied with the order and followed her into the kitchen with those items. The fire in the kitchen was already lit by Zhou, who was working quickly, and the rice was washed and placed on the back stove as usual.
Worried that Ling Gongzi might not be able to handle some trivial tasks, Ziyan had him switch places with Zhou, assigning Ling Yuxuan to tend to the fire.
Their mother went out to tidy up other matters, while Ziying remained as the main chef for chopping vegetables.
Seeing that the water in the pot had boiled, Ziyan first added the snake meat to blanch it, then removed it before putting in the Snake Skin to cook further. Once it was soft enough, Ziyan poked it with chopsticks.
When it could be easily pierced through, she took it out, placed it on the cutting board, and sliced it into shreds before tossing them into a clean empty bowl.
She added a small amount of wild bitter greens, minced garlic, chopped red chili peppers, a little Soy Sauce, salt, and drizzled some fragrant vinegar to complete a dish of Chilled King Cobra Skin.
After washing the frying pan, she added some oil. When the oil was hot, she added ginger and two pieces of Star Anise to sauté until fragrant before adding in the snake pieces. After stir-frying until slightly aromatic, she added boiling water and let it simmer for four to five minutes. Then she poured everything from the pot, including both soup and meat, into a hot pot on the right stove. She also added pre-washed Matsutake mushrooms, covered it with a lid, and let it simmer slowly.
Moving on to the next dish, she heated up another frying pan, poured in oil, and when it started to smoke white, Ziying added diced Pork Belly that had been cut into squares. She stir-fried until the meat turned slightly yellow and released its fat before separating it from the oil.
She added a piece of Rock Candy of moderate size along with a small amount of water to dissolve it into syrup. Then she added Star Anise, Cinnamon, ginger, dried tangerine peel, white wine, and a little more water to simmer for a short while until the sauce turned a glossy deep brown color with bubbles rising.
Then she added in the previously fried Pork Belly and covered the pot to simmer for about seven or eight minutes. After this time had passed, she opened the lid.
At this point, she tossed in about ten small pieces of ginger and continuously stir-fried them while preparing to reduce the sauce. Once reduced to a certain extent, she added salt for seasoning and continued stir-frying until almost all liquid evaporated. Finally, she sprinkled some chopped green onions before serving; this dish of Purple Clan Braised Pork was complete.
Next came two of the easiest dishes: fresh small Bamboo Shoots were blanched first and then stir-fried quickly over high heat with tender red peppers and several small Purslane along with smoked wild boar meat from the previous day. After seasoning and plating, this dish of Bamboo Shoots Stir-Fried with Cured Meat was finished.
The Stir-Fried Green Peppers with Smoked Pork Intestines was equally simple: after heating up a pan with vegetable oil, she added some ginger slices. After stir-frying briefly, she added green peppers for fragrance before adding Smoked Pork Intestines for quick stir-frying before plating and serving.
Just as Ziyan and her group were busy in the kitchen, a commotion erupted outside. There were sounds of an Ox Cart and Zhou Laoda's loud voice.
Ziyan knew that her father and uncle had returned with her grandparents.
Seeing that she had managed everything in the kitchen, she sent her excited sister Ziying outside to help Zhou greet the guests.
She herself remained focused, glancing down at Ling Yuxuan, who was quietly sitting on a small wooden stool adding firewood to the Earthen Stove. He appeared calm and serious about his task.
Thinking back to when Ling Yuxuan was born into such a large family, he must have been a little prince or Young Heir who was used to having everything handed to him.
Now, he had ended up in the common folk and was reduced to working as a fireman. With this thought, Ziyan shook her head and sighed lightly, feeling an overwhelming sense of pity for him.
Ling Yuxuan seemed to sense her gaze and looked up to meet Ziyan's eyes.
"What's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
"Ah? No, nothing at all."
Ziyan smiled gently at him.
"Oh! Really?"
Ling Yuxuan returned her smile with one of his own.
"After we finish up tonight, let's go to that Hot Spring Valley we talked about last time!"
"Sure!"
Ziyan was already longing for that hot spring after these tiring days.
Remembering that time after soaking in the hot spring, my entire body and mind felt as if they had shed several pounds, making me feel incredibly refreshed.
At this moment, upon hearing Ling Yuxuan say she would take her to the hot spring again that night, I naturally agreed with enthusiasm. I happily accepted.
In the kitchen, the two of them were discussing their plans for the evening when a few women's voices came from the doorway.
An elderly lady, looking somewhat frail, walked in and upon seeing Ziyan, excitedly stumbled forward with open arms to embrace her.
Ziyan had already turned around at the sound and quickly rushed into the woman's embrace. It was her grandmother, the same person from her previous life, now appearing to be in her fifties or sixties.
"Grandma, Yan'er misses you so much."
Ziyan sweetly called out to Grandma Zhou, noting that Grandma Zhou shared the same surname as her husband.
"Oh my! My little darling, Grandma misses you dearly too! I heard you were knocked into the river by a cow and were unconscious for several days and nights. Unfortunately, I was suffering from my old leg ailment and couldn't get out of bed; otherwise, I would have rushed over to see my poor little darling much sooner. By the way, let me take a look at you. Are you hurt anywhere? Or did you suffer any aftereffects?"
While holding Ziyan's hands tightly, Grandma Zhou examined her up and down and side to side, as if she didn't want to miss a single detail about her.
Grandma kept chattering away while calling Ziyan her little darling, which reminded Ziyan of how that guy today also called her his little darling, and it seemed to roll off his tongue quite smoothly.
Thus, Ziyan couldn't help but twitch her lips a few times and sneak a glance at the handsome guy sitting on a small stool, smirking while watching her.
Quickly retracting her gaze, Ziyan continued to sweet-talk Grandma Zhou.
She then released Grandma Zhou's hands, spread her arms wide, and twirled around saying, "Grandma, don't worry! Look at me—Yan'er’s arms and legs are healthy and sound; everything is just fine! If anything, maybe my brain got knocked into clarity; now your granddaughter is smarter than ever!"
"Hehe, I agree with that! Grandma—you have no idea! Ever since I came back from your place after that incident and saw my sister again, compared to how foolish she used to be, she has really become so much smarter now!"
Ziying teased and poked fun at her sister while covering her mouth with laughter.
"Ah! My sister really has an eye for talent, Expert!"
Ziyan took her sister's words and stuck out her tongue, making a face at her.
Beside them, Ling Yuxuan looked at her little one’s self-satisfied expression with amusement and shook her head helplessly.
"Mother, our Yan'er's life was saved by Gu Young Master. Look—there he is, our great benefactor, Gu Yuxuan Gu Young Master."
Zhou introduced Ling Yuxuan to the old lady while pointing at her.
Ling Yuxuan smiled and nodded as she walked over, "Grandma, hello."
"Oh, look at this sweet-talking young man. So you are the one who saved my Yan'er, then I must pay my respects to you."
"Grandma!"
Hearing her grandmother say she wanted to pay respects to Ling Yuxuan, Ziyan felt anxious; this was all wrong! Grandma was from three generations back! She exclaimed in surprise.
At the same time, Ling Yuxuan was startled and quickly held Grandma Zhou's hands, saying, "Oh—Grandma, please don’t! If you do this, it would be too much for someone of my generation."
"Oh dear! That's true. If anyone should pay respects, it should be Yan'er herself. How could it be you? Don't confuse the generations!"
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