A small plot of land in a mountain village

Chapter 43 Dough

The braised sweet potatoes we had by the stream in the afternoon were still fresh in the minds of the girls who returned to their bamboo houses to rest. Especially the seemingly refined Fang girl, who kept complaining that the sweet potato vendors in the city were ripping people off. Expensive was one thing, but selling them after the sweet potatoes were ready was just dishonest.

The girls were very satisfied with the afternoon's arrangements. After Zhang Niu left, Zhang Ting, lying on the bamboo bed, let out a long sigh, "I'm so full. Everyone said his cooking was so delicious." It seems the girls ate too much and always praised what others cooked.

"Stop talking. I was already on a diet. I'm afraid I'll gain it all back when I get back. What am I supposed to do?" said a round-faced girl looking in the mirror by the bamboo bed.

These words drew disdain from Fang MM and Zhang Ting MM. "How many times have you been dieting? It seems like you just went on a diet a few months ago! I'm envious of your figure now, let alone the men on the street," Zhang Ting joked.

In response to Zhang Ting's rebuttal, Yuan MM retorted confidently, "Times are different now. If our little Tingting were to return to the Tang Dynasty, she would still have the potential to be a concubine." She then pounced on the bed and started arguing with Zhang Ting.

While the girls were playing around, Zhang Niu sat inside, gulping down hot water. He didn't touch the drinks beside him. Drinking beverages in this heat only made him feel hotter; hot water was much more refreshing. After downing two large bowls of water, he lay back in his rocking chair to rest.

*Burp*—Zhang Niu, lying in the rocking chair, let out a few burps every now and then. It seemed he'd eaten too many sweet potatoes that afternoon. One was supposed to be enough for each person, but the girls got hooked. The stewed sweet potatoes were much smaller than usual. With the girls' encouragement, he secretly went to another field and dug up four more sweet potatoes. And they were all "egg yolk" sweet potatoes.

The sun was setting. The girls also came out of the bamboo house and walked towards Zhang Niu.

Stepping into the front yard, they saw Zhang Niu already busy in the kitchen. Zhang Niu, stirring the flour batter with chopsticks, also saw them come in. "Why didn't you rest a little longer? I was planning to cook it all before calling you," he said.

Sharp-eyed Zhang Ting noticed the stirred batter. "They're not going to make noodles tonight, are they?"

"I don't know how to make noodles, so I'll just make some simple 'steamed dough' tonight to get rid of that sweet potato vibe."

"I know what 'muddled rice balls' are. I've only had them once. And that was when someone else treated me!" Fang MM exclaimed happily.

"Why don't you tell us about it, so we can see what rural flavor is all about?" Yuan MM suddenly asked.

While stirring the batter, Zhang Niu replied, "It's not really anything special. To put it nicely, it's just home cooking. I'm pretty mediocre at cooking, but I'm quite good at making this batter."

Set the mixed batter aside. Pick out some tender white cabbage leaves. Quickly chop them and put them in a bowl. Lift the lid of the large pot. The water is already boiling. Use chopsticks to scoop out small clumps of batter and drop them into the boiling water. They immediately turn into white clumps and mix with the cabbage leaves you just added. The white with green accents is quite beautiful.

Now Zhang Ting and the others know what "muddled dough" is. The water is boiling. The dough floats to the surface. They use a bamboo strainer to scoop the dough into bowls.

"If you like it spicy, there's a bottle of chili sauce made with bird's eye chilies over there. You can add some if you like." After filling it, sprinkle some chopped green onions on top.

Three bowls of noodles were placed on the table outside, where the girls were already waiting.

"It smells so good. This batter looks pretty appetizing," Zhang Ting muttered to herself.

Zhang Niu, who had just brought over the batter, quickly returned, still holding three spoons in his hand. "I was in a hurry earlier and didn't bring you the spoons. You can't use chopsticks to eat this, you can only use these," he said apologetically.

"No wonder I couldn't pick up the batter. It turns out you forgot this." Fang MM put down her chopsticks and replaced them with a spoon.

"It's delicious. The light and refreshing flavor is just right for our taste," said the round girl who had just taken a bite.

After dinner, night had fallen, and the lights at Happy Cottage were on. Zhang Niu took a few high chairs to the eel pond.

When Zhang Niu mysteriously told them they were going to have some fun, Zhang Ting and the others were all puzzled. Could there really be entertainment in the mountains? They all followed closely behind Zhang Niu. They arrived at a pond. He took out mosquito coils, lit one, and placed it on a nearby rock. Autumn mosquitoes are particularly vicious; not lighting one would be like feeding mosquitoes for nothing. He placed chairs on the steps in the water and invited the girls to sit barefoot on the chairs.

As soon as the girls put their slender, white feet into the water, a small group of fish quickly surrounded them, nibbling at their delicate toes. Only then did they realize what this activity was for. Yuanyuan, who frequented various public places, was the first to share her opinion. "You know, this is called fish therapy. It's very good for your health. I went once in the provincial capital. It was so comfortable! It was truly enjoyable."

"Ah. This is the fish spa that's been making such a fuss about?" Zhang Ting asked, somewhat skeptical.

"Yes, I never expected your friend to come up with such a method. A fish spa after a meal is so relaxing." He then closed his eyes.

In the distance, Zhang Niu was feeding a large group of piglets with a big bucket. Thankfully, Jingang's appetite had decreased significantly. Otherwise, feeding him for just one day would have exhausted Zhang Niu. He also scooped a large basinful for the wolf cubs. Looking at the thriving wolf cubs before him, he felt a strange mix of emotions. The wolf cubs were now instinctively learning to hunt. Mountain rats were scarce in the area now, and even house rats were gone. Before, he could still hear the soft, rustling sounds of rats crawling around at night.

Laughter from Zhang Ting and her friends, enjoying fish spas by the pond, echoed through the evening darkness.

The next morning, Zhang Niu got up and went out, only to see Zhang Ting and the others doing exercises in front of the bamboo house.

I cooked bamboo rice this morning, with porridge and rice, plus pickled vegetables. You can eat whatever you want.

After breakfast, Zhang Niu planned to take the girls for a walk in the mountains. It wasn't like the height of summer anymore, with the mountains teeming with poisonous insects, snakes, and other animals that the girls were afraid of.

The girls all changed into flat shoes. Then the group set off towards the mountains, including "King Kong" and the three wolf cubs who were also there.

Gazing at the vast, verdant mountains before him, Zhang Niu plunged headlong into the forest. Walking along the path, his trousers were soon soaked with dew from the weeds. He'd heard that morning dew could cure all ailments. Even now, many folk remedies mention it. Dew is considered yin; when combined with yang fire and processed, it can cure all diseases.

The wolf cubs ahead howled. The wild wolf cubs, now back in the forest, were fierce and savage.

The wolf cub, having barely entered the mountains, caught a plump wild rabbit from a clump of dense grass. Holding the rabbit, it tossed it in front of Zhang Niu, wagging its tail. "Not bad. You've improved. You can catch rabbits now," Zhang Niu praised the cub, somewhat like a child showing off to its father.

Looking at the wild rabbits on the ground, I said, "You're in for a treat tonight. Autumn is the season when all sorts of animals are hungry."

First update. Please recommend and favorite. Don't save any more. I need Zhang Mao. Throw them all over me!