My 1995 Small Farm.

Chapter 444 A must

Chen Ling is playing with the child here.

Sun Yanhong walked over to Wang Susu and started talking to her.

She knew about Wang Siyi, but didn't really care.

They just asked Wang Susu how she was doing lately, saying that her belly was getting more and more obvious, and that maybe it was twins this time.

Wang Siyi got tired of hearing it over and over again.

Seeing that Wang Susu also had some difficulty dealing with this kind of person, he deliberately interjected, "Sister-in-law, are those wood ear mushrooms on this tree stump?"

Wang Susu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Ah, right, your brother Ling specially carried it back from the mountains so that it could grow wood ear mushrooms here."

By now, she no longer dislikes Sun Yanhong.

But these seasoned, worldly women are ultimately not as good at relationships as the simple, straightforward ones like Qin Qiumei and Zhong Xiaoyun.

Now there's also Wang Siyi.

Once they get to know you, their intimacy will feel genuine and comfortable.

Sun Yanhong was a bit lacking. Even though Wang Susu knew that she had given her family a lot of money and helped them earn a lot, they could never become close.

"Oh right, speaking of wood ear mushrooms, it's rained now and the sun isn't too strong today, let's hurry up and look around to see if there are any more wood ear mushrooms left."

When Wang Susu saw the wood ear mushrooms, she suddenly remembered something else.

After it rains, wood ear mushrooms will grow in the shade of trees or at the base of walls where moss grows.

"Ground fungus?"

"Yes, ground fungus is something that grows on the ground that looks like fungus, but it tastes much better than the fungus on trees."

After it rains, lots of wood ear mushrooms will grow on the mountain.

But once the sun shines on them, they become unusable; you have to pick them quickly.

Wang Susu smiled and nodded gently, then walked to the base of the wall and saw that there really was a layer.

This is also thanks to the farm's abundant moisture and cool environment.

Otherwise, these wood ear mushrooms would have dried out long ago if they were outside.

"Ah Ling, bring us two bowls, we want to pick some wood ear fungus."

"okay."

Chen Ling told Heiwa and the other two to keep an eye on Rui Rui, and then took two bowls with him.

At that moment, Wang Siyi was looking at the dark brown wood ear mushrooms with curiosity.

I felt that these things covered in mud and grass clippings were dirty and looked terrible.

Following Wang Susu's example, he picked one off with his hand. It was sticky, and he couldn't help but frown and say, "Brother Ling, sister-in-law, this wood ear fungus is so sticky and dirty. Can we eat it?"

"You can eat it. Don't be fooled by its filth. This thing only grows in truly clean places. It won't grow in disgusting places like stinky ditches... Once it's cleaned, even if you just fry it with an egg, it's incredibly delicious, much better than wood ear mushrooms."

Chen Ling chuckled and said, "By the way, this thing also has another name, it's called 'earth skin vegetable'. It's delicious in dumplings and steamed buns. Haven't you ever tried it?"

"No, I've never eaten anything like this in Taiwan."

Wang Siyi shook her head in confusion; she really had never heard of it.

"Don't worry, it's okay if you haven't tried it before. Fugui is definitely not one to cheat people when it comes to food. I guarantee you'll want more after you try it."

Sun Yanhong said something.

After saying that, she paused for a moment, then suddenly realized that this kind of thing could also be put on a restaurant menu.

Don't be fooled by how dirty and filthy wood ear mushrooms look.

But whether you use it to make soup, stir-fry, or make dumplings, it's a delicious and excellent dish.

It's a bit difficult to clean.

The thought popped into her head, but she didn't immediately tell Chen Ling.

The situation with crayfish alone hasn't stabilized yet.

There's no rush.

Salted eggs can be added first, as a side dish.

"That's true. Your brother Ling can fool you about anything, but when it comes to food, he takes it more seriously than anyone else."

Wang Susu also said.

"Haha, I noticed that too. By the way, Brother Ling, why are they all named Fugui (meaning 'wealthy')?"

"It's a nickname, your sister-in-law has one too..."

"Pah, don't talk nonsense. Hurry up and get some wine for Sister Sun. What are you standing here for?"

Seeing his wife's face puffed up in anger and embarrassment, while Wang Siyi looked excited and curious, Chen Ling wisely shut his mouth, chuckled, and walked away.

Afterwards, he bought two jars of wine for Sun Yanhong, caught some red-lipped fish and fine-scaled salmon, and picked some peaches. Then he sat down with his fourth grandfather to weave a net.

After a while, Wang Susu and Wang Siyi also came out with Rui Rui.

Look for those moist and juicy wood ear mushrooms on the bluestones along the ditches in the orchard.

This type of wood ear fungus has always been there, but it gets dried and scorched by the scorching sun, making it inedible and less noticeable.

But that doesn't mean it died from the sun.

This thing is quite drought-resistant.

When it doesn't rain, it looks like it's withered and dying, lying flat on the ground and turning yellowish. But as soon as it rains, it comes back to life, becoming fresh, glistening, and translucent.

The orchard is mostly shaded by trees and is right next to a ditch with a constant flow of water, making the area around the ditch always wet. The environment is very suitable for the growth of wood ear mushrooms.

After the heavy rains of the past two days, not only are snails crawling everywhere, but wood ear mushrooms are also multiplying wildly.

Looking at it now, a large patch of dark brown moss has grown among layers of tender green moss, and it stands out remarkably in the grass and crevices of rocks.

Wang Susu, along with Wang Siyi, started picking wood ear mushrooms from the front gate westwards, and little Rui Rui, with his little bottom sticking out, was also busy picking them. In no time, they filled both bowls to the brim; these two bowls were enough for their whole family to eat for two meals.

The problem is that wood ear mushrooms are quite difficult to clean.

Wang Susu and her companion cleaned the irrigation ditch several times, then filled a bucket with clean water from the water tower and soaked it in it. They washed it back and forth for more than an hour, nearly two hours, before it was completely clean.

Wang Siyi was covered in sweat and panting, saying that her hands were so sore they almost didn't belong to her anymore.

After 11 o'clock, Gao Xiulan rode over on her bicycle. After dropping Wang Zhenzhen off, she went to help Zhao Yubao prepare lunch.

I only helped out a little; I didn't stay for a meal.

After arriving at the farm, I was quite happy to see how many wood ear mushrooms they had picked.

"Oh my, this place is great! It's cool in the summer, and even the wood ear mushrooms don't dry out in the sun."

It's getting late, and there's no time to make steamed buns. I'll just fry some eggs for lunch. After we eat, I'll save up a bit more and make you steamed buns this afternoon. These wood ear mushroom and egg buns are even tastier than the meat ones!

After saying that, he parked the car at the gate, then picked up a basket, called his eldest grandson, and went to collect eggs on the hillside. Stir-fried eggs with wood ear mushrooms are a favorite dish among mountain people.

Wang Siyi had finished washing the wood ear mushrooms and was rubbing her little hands as she watched Chen Ling weave a fishing net when she heard Gao Xiulan's words, so she led Rui Rui over to follow.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, he sneakily asked Gao Xiulan what Wang Susu's nickname was.

She said Gao Xiulan told her that she wouldn't tell anyone else.

A little while later, he and Rui Rui took stones and threw them at the moorhens that were hiding in the grass and making a lot of noise.

After throwing the prank, he hugged Rui Rui and laughed non-stop, enjoying the fun of the prank.

She looks exactly like a mischievous young lady.

But soon, joy turned to sorrow.

When I got to the hillside to collect eggs, I didn't notice that there was a hen lying in the dark corner of the chicken coop. My hand was pecked hard, and I almost cried from the pain.

"Ouch, did you get pecked on the hand? Siyi, don't move, let me check if it's bleeding?"

Gao Xiulan hurriedly put down her basket and came over to take a look.

Rui Rui also stood on tiptoe, curiously looking at the back of Wang Siyi's hand.

"It's alright, Auntie. It didn't break the skin, but it still hurts."

Wang Siyi smiled and patted Rui Rui's little head.

"You'd better keep an eye on things. This henhouse is guarded by an old hen. It's trying to brood. It's keeping a close watch on the eggs. Even if it sees a round white stone, it'll put it under its belly to warm it up and won't let anyone else touch it."

If you try to take an egg from a hen like that, it will peck at you.

However, chickens are stubborn creatures. If you turn around and take an egg from behind its rear end, it won't see you and won't peck at you.

Even if you put your hand under its belly, it will only move around a little; it won't even turn its neck.

Come, look.

As Gao Xiulan spoke, she walked behind the chicken coop, reached in, and pulled out three eggs from under the hen's rear end.

These chicken coops are made of bricks laid out in a staggered pattern, with small square holes in the four walls. Many family chicken farms are actually like this.

No matter which direction you come from, you can easily put your hand inside.

"Wow, I want to try it too."

Wang Siyi was greatly surprised to see this, forgetting the pain on the back of her hand.

He squatted down and reached into the chicken coop, and actually managed to pull out two eggs.

Before long, the two of them, along with Rui Rui, had filled most of the basket.

"Auntie, why is the chicken coop like this? Aren't the chickens cold in winter?"

After collecting the eggs, Wang Siyi was puzzled by the drafty chicken coop.

"This is a place where your brother Ling specifically lets the old hens lay eggs, not a place for them to live."

Otherwise, running around on the mountain every day, laying eggs everywhere, and collecting those eggs would be incredibly tiring.

Gao Xiulan smiled and said, "Also, we're worried that they'll run up the mountain when it gets cold in autumn and winter and won't come back to their coop. That's why we left a hole in the chicken coop. It's cold in winter, and they won't be able to stay there."

In summer, you shouldn't eat too much meat. It's hot, so eating more green vegetables will make you feel more refreshed.

For lunch, Gao Xiulan cooked: stir-fried eggs with wood ear mushrooms, smashed cucumber, and stir-fried green beans.

Wang Siyi had never eaten wood ear fungus before, so she tried it tentatively. As a result, she ate half of the whole plate by herself, without touching any of the other dishes. After finishing, she kept saying how delicious it was and that there were so many good things here that she didn't want to leave.

This stuff has a smooth and soft texture, similar to wood ear mushrooms, but much more delicate. When stir-fried with eggs, it's incredibly fragrant and leaves a lingering aftertaste.

In the afternoon, without anyone telling her, she took her bowl and went to dig for wood ear mushrooms along the ditches in the orchard.

I eagerly awaited the steamed buns with black fungus and egg filling that Gao Xiulan had mentioned.

"Brother Ling, where are you going? Aren't you going to weave the net anymore?"

"Go deliver some vegetables to Uncle Zhao's house. They need help right now; they're going to cook a big meal tonight."

Chen Ling smiled, turned around, mounted his horse, and headed towards the village with a basket of vegetables on his back.

He rode back a short while later, asked Gao Xiulan to tear off a piece of dough for him, and then delivered it to him.

The so-called starter dough is the yeast starter used for steaming buns.

Its function is the same as baking powder; it is used to make leavened dough for steamed or fermented foods.

Each time you make steamed buns, save a small amount of dough, call it the starter. Use this starter to knead the dough the next time you make steamed buns.

The steamed buns made with the starter are fragrant and chewy.

When Zhao Dahai's mother, Aunt Zhao, heard that they were going to steam buns, she also wanted to steam a big pot of buns for dinner that night, and she knew that the starter dough was essential.

In the hot summer, dough rises quickly.

One batch of starter dough can make a large bowl of dough.

The same was true at Chen Ling's family; they had started preparing the dough well in advance.

After returning, I wove a fishing net for a short while.

I went to help wash the wood ear mushrooms, fry the eggs, and mix the filling.

There's nothing else to it, he just wanted to eat steamed buns with wood ear mushroom and egg filling.

Wang Susu is finding it difficult to do her work now.

Wang Siyi helped Gao Xiulan knead the dough and roll out the wrappers...

The whole family busily made big steamed buns.

When the pot lid is lifted, the aroma of plump, white buns wafts into your nose. One bite reveals a refreshing and delicious flavor, oily yet not greasy.

These steamed buns with wood ear mushrooms and eggs are truly a masterpiece among vegetarian steamed buns.

Having not eaten for so long, Chen Ling devoured nine of these fist-sized buns in one go, and still wasn't satisfied.

Wang Siyi was so surprised that she exclaimed that he was truly a living Wu Song.

Then they started talking about tigers.

Chen Ling plans to deliver the wheat from his home to the grain station in the next couple of days, and then go to the zoo in the provincial capital.

This is a rare opportunity to take my wife and kids to the zoo.

The weather will be rainy afterwards, making travel inconvenient. In addition, the rain will also be a good opportunity for him to deal with the strange fish in the reservoir.

Furthermore, my wife's belly is getting bigger every day, making it even more inconvenient for her to go out and play in the future.

Therefore, we should deal with the tiger matter as soon as possible.

(End of this chapter)