Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 808 Cooking Laba Porridge
He originally wanted to ask Hei Pi where he could find a shop that sold raisins and other dry goods, but just as he left the house, he ran into Aunt Wang who was going to the next yard to do some work. Aunt Wang asked him where he was going. Wang Zhan told him the reason for going out.

Aunt Wang chuckled and said, "You, you went to Qianmen and went directly to the Xidan Archway. There is a shop called 'Yuanxingchang' there, which specializes in selling this. It seems that you are going to make eight-treasure porridge tomorrow."

Wang Zhan smiled and said, "Yes, you and Director Li must come over to have a drink tomorrow."

Aunt Wang smiled and said, "It's not enough to just drink one bowl. I have to take some back."

Wang Zhan replied: "Just hold it!"

Wang Zhan said goodbye to Aunt Wang and rode his bike straight to Xidan Pailou. The shop assistant was very hospitable and treated customers with patience and smiles. Wang Zhan unconsciously accepted the assistant's suggestions and bought almonds, raisins, walnuts, chestnuts, peanuts, black dates and red dates. These are also ingredients for making eight-treasure porridge, but Wang Zhan bought a lot, thinking of giving them to his sister and Yu Shui as snacks. Later, he bought some dried fruit and white melon seeds. The bill came to 6.5 million, and this was after rounding off. Fortunately, Wang Zhan brought enough money, otherwise he could not get out.

The guy put the things into three sacks, put one on each side of the back seat and one on the rack. Wang Zhan got on to try it and thought that only he, not even a big guy, could ride the bicycle.

When He Yushui returned home, she was a little surprised when she saw Wang Zhan pushing a cart outside. Why did he buy so much? Wang Zhan said, "Don't just stand there, watch from outside. I'll move the things in. Anyway, we'll move them to the small warehouse in the backyard first because we'll need them tomorrow."

Wang Zhan pointed to the west wing. He Yushui was holding the cart outside while Wang Zhan was carrying the sacks. Xiao Wu saw this and came out to help. Then the three of them went into the yard and closed the gate. Wang Zhan asked, "Where's Lili?"

He Yushui said, "She's listening to the radio in the living room. Why are you looking for her?"

"Go call her and tell her there's something delicious. By the way, bring a basin over. I'll prepare the ingredients for Laba porridge first." Wang Zhan said.

Wang Zhan and Xiao Wu started taking out various dried fruits and dry goods one bag at a time in the warehouse. Every time Xiao Wu opened a bag, he exclaimed, which made Wang Zhan roll his eyes in anger.

After a while, He Yushui came in with a porcelain basin and Wang Li. As soon as they entered the room, they saw all kinds of dried fruits spread all over the floor. There were more than twenty kinds, which dazzled the two little girls. Wang Li pulled Wang Zhan's sleeve and said, "Brother, I want to eat them all. I haven't eaten many of them before."

Wang Zhan smiled and said, "What are you waiting for? Go find Sister Yushui and pack up your food for today."

The two little girls and Xiaowu quickly went to the kitchen in the front yard, each found a fruit plate, and then returned to the small warehouse and began to serve the food one by one, occasionally discussing: this one must be delicious, so serve more, and this one should be tried first, it’s also okay, so serve some too.

Wang Zhan ignored them and started to prepare the things needed for his Laba porridge. Wang Zhan didn't put in any miscellaneous things. In fact, he only picked the traditional ones, red dates, longans, raisins, almonds, walnuts, lotus seeds. Wang Zhan prepared all the other grains, washed them and put them in the kitchen. Wang Zhan took the basin to wash them, and after washing, he put them in two wooden basins with the things he had prepared yesterday. He put water in the grains and beans and began to soak them. As for rock sugar, he still had some at home. When he just came back, he bought a bag and kept it in the warehouse.

The next day, Wang Zhan got up early in the morning, practiced martial arts, washed up, and then made breakfast. While he was doing it, Wang Li came running over wearing a small cotton jacket, pulled her brother and asked, "Brother, do you want to drink Laba porridge in the morning?"

Wang Zhan scratched her nose and said, "Eat lightly in the morning. The Laba porridge won't be ready until noon. Tie up your cotton-padded jacket. If you catch a cold, you'll have to take bitter medicine."

Wang Li quickly fastened her cotton-padded jacket and helped her brother make breakfast. The porridge was still millet porridge, but with red dates. She made a few dough balls with two-grain flour, fried an egg, mixed some shredded radish, and cut some pickles.

As soon as they sat down, He Yushui came over to help after washing up. Wang Zhan said, "Let me take it. You take Lili to wash up. She will come over when she wakes up." After breakfast, Xiao Wu asked, "Brother Zhan, what should I do today?"

"Oh, your task is very important. It is the top priority." Wang Zhan said.

When Xiaowu heard that he had an important mission, he suddenly became serious. He didn't expect Wang Zhan to say, "Help to light the fire."

He Yushui, who was eating, burst out laughing. Xiao Wu instantly became depressed and said, "So it's the fire-making girl."

"You're wrong. It's the fire-making boy. Don't judge the quality of the porridge by its quality. It all depends on whether your fire is stable." Wang Zhan said.

Xiaowu had never cooked before, so he really didn't understand this. He just did whatever Wang Zhan asked him to do.

In the morning, they played for a while. Wang Zhan looked at the clock and saw that it was almost ten o'clock. He said, "Okay, brothers and sisters, let's get to work."

Except for Wang Li who went there to cause trouble, the three of them started to get busy in the kitchen. Since the small kitchen had two stoves and both stoves could hold large pots, it saved them a lot of trouble.

After the water boils, put the grains and beans in first. This time Xiaowu was very serious. He just moved a small stool and sat next to the stove. When he couldn't stand it anymore, he would go out for a walk and then come back to continue watching.

An hour later, Wang Zhan put all the remaining ingredients in. He couldn't leave and kept stirring. He stirred it every few minutes for fear that the pot would get burnt. He also added water during the process. It was almost twelve o'clock when the yard was filled with the aroma of Laba porridge. This aroma immediately attracted Aunt Sun. As soon as Erya and Xiaopang entered the yard, they ran to the backyard.

Aunt Sun entered the kitchen, took over the work of Wang Zhan and Xiao Wu, and said, "Okay, there's nothing left for you to do. I'll add the rock sugar later."

Aunt Sun was afraid that Wang Zhan would put too much rock sugar in the porridge and cover up the unique taste of the Laba porridge. What's more, her guess was right. Wang Zhan really wanted to put more rock sugar in it, because he had many children and of course they liked sweet food.

The children and Wang Zhan returned to the main hall, drinking soda and tea, playing and chatting. At this time, Wang Zhan saw Xiao Wu's expression of wanting to say something but not being able to, so he said, "Xiao Wu, this is not like you. If you have something to say, just say it directly."

"Brother Zhan, can I dress up and go home to eat with my parents?" Xiao Wu said embarrassedly.

Wang Zhan admired Xiaowu in his heart. Although his parents loved his education, he still thought of his parents first when there was something delicious.

Wang Zhan said, "Pack two copies and give one to Xiao Si." Xiao Wu nodded with a smile.

(End of this chapter)