Riding the wind of rebirth

The defining characteristic of clear mutton soup is its clear broth. Achieving this clarity involves numerous steps. For instance, the broth of Lanzhou beef soup is achieved by removing impurities using cow's blood. When the cow's blood is added to the soup, the blood protein coagulates upon heating, trapping impurities and causing them to float to the surface, resulting in a clear broth.

Sichuan cuisine also uses a similar method for making broth. The clear broth used in the boiled cabbage in state banquet dishes is made in this way, but instead of fresh blood, it uses minced meat.

But the principle is the same.

Jiachuan's local chicken soup utilizes precise heat control. First, the chicken meat is blanched until firm and no longer produces scum. Then, it is rinsed clean with water and added to a pot of hot water. The water temperature is kept at around 85 degrees Celsius, and the chicken soup is "simmered" over time. The soup is never seen to boil, resulting in an exceptionally clear broth.

I don't know how they managed to make the clear, golden broth of the mutton soup at the Xichang People's Canteen, but that's how they did it. Paired with the rich and flavorful mutton, it's truly a specialty.

Of course, Zhou Zhi's favorite dish is the fist-sized white radish in the soup. Although it is a common dish, the canteen does it very well. All the radishes are peeled and cut into large chunks, but they are all rolled into chunks. They are first blanched in boiling water to remove the radish's own "stuffy" taste before being added to the mutton soup and cooked until the edges of the radish chunks become slightly transparent and the soup flavor permeates the radish before it is served.

Aside from the slightly strong flavor of the medicinal ingredients used to suppress the gamey smell of goat meat, Zhou Zhi thought the dish was impeccable.

In a restaurant like Rongleyuan, it would be fine if one dish was impeccable, but in a budget restaurant known for its affordable prices and generous portions, it's already quite impressive if several dishes can reach this level.

Everyone praised the People's Canteen, mainly because the taste and portion sizes of the dishes were well worth the price. A large table of beef and mutton specialties cost less than 200 yuan.

The soldier driver who was responsible for taking them was also at the table. After finishing his meal, he wanted to pay, saying that his superiors at the base had given instructions. However, Zhou Zhi stopped him, saying that whoever enjoyed the meal the most should pay, especially if that person was a wealthy person. We don't need to pity him!

This is Li Laosan. Li Laosan always enjoyed the atmosphere when he was with Zhou Zhi. To use a well-worn phrase from later generations, it was "the warmth of everyday life." Such days would be ordinary for most people, but for Li Laosan, a proud second-generation member of a Hong Kong tycoon family, such days were full of fun and surprises.

Zhou Zhi often mocked him for indulging in the "incognito visits" that ancient princes had.

After lunch, everyone went to Qionghai Park as planned.

There aren't many things to do at Qionghai Park now. You can go boating, but it's the kind of trough boats used by fishermen, which is a local specialty. Lugu Lake and Dianchi Lake also use this kind of boat.

Besides boating around the lake, you can also go to the other side, where there is a small fishing village. The bottom of the water near the village is full of swaying water plants, and countless small fish dart to and fro among them. When they turn the corner, they often flash silver light, which is very beautiful.

There are also many red-billed gulls that have come to overwinter on the water. In recent years, the red-billed gulls have not been spoiled by tourists. They will keep their distance from tourists and boats and honestly act as fishermen instead of thugs who rob tourists.

Liang Hong, Yang Honghui, and Yan Xiao were full of energy; the three of them chartered a boat and went out to play, while the rest preferred to lay out picnic mats and put on thick sunglasses to sunbathe.

"Enjoy the sunshine while you can," Zhou Zhi said with a smile. "Once we get back to Chengdu, I'm afraid we won't be able to enjoy such a comfortable sun anymore."

Feng Xueshan lay on the picnic mat, afraid of the sun tanning her delicate skin. She even had Yang He cover her neck with a small towel, only feeling the warmth of the sun penetrating her clothes and projecting its heat onto her skin. "How about we leave Xiao Shunzi here? The doctor said children need more sun exposure for bone development." "If you're willing, we'd love to," Zhou Zhi said with a smile. "Xiao Miao would probably like him even more."

"Sister Xueshan, are you serious?" Mai Xiaomiao leaned against an air cushion, teasing Xiao Shunzi by placing him on her stomach. Because it was quite warm, Xiao Shunzi had taken off his coat and was only wearing a thermal undershirt and long underwear. Under Mai Xiaomiao's teasing, he tried hard to lift his head.

“How could it be true?” Zhou Zhi laughed. “That would be tantamount to leaving your sister Xue Shan’s life here.”

"A few troublemakers went boating. I just said that if you like children, hurry up and get married and have one yourself." Feng Xueshan laughed. "Hey? Zhouzi is an only child, and Xiaomiao is a foreigner. Shouldn't you two be able to have a few children?"

“If both parents are only children, they can have at least two children,” Yang He said.

"I'll ask Auntie how many we should get later." Mai Xiaomiao was innocent and simple, and didn't feel shy about these things at all. She even started making plans.

"Just ask her." Zhou Zhi, with a straw in his mouth and his legs crossed, lay on the grass and laughed when he heard Mai Xiaomiao's words. "Ask her or Auntie, it's like Han Xin calling his troops, the more the merrier, but don't even mention it later!"

Everyone laughed, and after they finished laughing, Feng Xueshan said, "Actually, I was quite depressed when I first got pregnant. I hadn't had enough fun yet, and now I had to become a mother. But now I think it's good to become a mother sooner. Little Shunzi is so cute."

"Children are all cute before the age of six, that's what my mom says. After six, they become..."

"Shut up!" As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Zhi received a slap on the mouth from Feng Xueshan.

“But speaking of marriage, shouldn’t the next couple be Shiqing and Yanxiao?” Zhou Zhi said, “Shiqing has already found a job and has a house in Chengdu. Everything is in place.”

"We have to wait until he graduates and finds a job," He Shiqing said. "I'm so worried about his carefree attitude; I don't know what company would want him."

“I think Salt Rat’s personality is quite suitable for being a teacher,” Zhou Zhi said.

"A teacher?" He Shiqing sat up in surprise. "Isn't a teacher inappropriate? Aren't you afraid he'll lead the students astray?"

“I also think that elbow’s idea is not very reliable.” Feng Xueshan laughed. “I’m not targeting Salt Rat, but I don’t agree with Xiao Shunzi teaching him. I’d feel much more at ease if you were to teach him.”

"Yes, actually, our Chinese and English grades in high school were mostly thanks to his private tutoring. I think he taught better than the regular teachers. If Elbow were a teacher, he would definitely be great. Hey, I seem to remember you taught a course on oracle bone script in college, right? It was quite popular."

"I was talking about the PE teacher," Zhou Zhi laughed. "Salt Rat is obviously no good as a teacher of other subjects, but he's absolutely qualified to be a PE teacher." (End of Chapter)