The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 440: "Winter" is about to pass

In the early morning, people who went out were so cold that they hesitated.

A shout of “Roasted sweet potatoes—hot!” immediately attracted people to gather around the oven that was made from a gasoline barrel.

When Huaihua went to school with He Qiu, she used the breakfast money her sister Xiaodang gave her to buy a piece of roasted sweet potato that was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, fragrant and sweet.

I warmed my hands with my hands, sniffed my nose, and ate while walking. My heart was warm and sweet for the whole morning.

"Oh! It's good to have my sister back. This home won't be so lonely anymore. Mom...will be back soon, right?" The thirteen-year-old Huaihua began to feel worried again.

"Here comes the donkey roll full of sugar!"

He Qiu had sharp eyes and saw a stall selling bean flour cakes not far away. He gently touched Huaihua who was chewing sweet potatoes beside him.

"Sister Huaihua, there are donkey rolls for sale over there, do you want to try some?"

Huaihua lowered her head and rubbed the few cents in her pocket with her fingers. That was her pocket money for the next few days, and she couldn't help feeling hesitant.

"I... forget it. I don't have any money."

He Qiu knew Huaihua's family situation very well. He smiled and took her hand directly: "Let's go, I'll treat you today!"

Hearing this, Huaihua raised the corners of her mouth, revealing two small canine teeth, with gratitude flashing in her eyes: "Thank you, brother He Qiu, you are so nice!"

He Qiu was infected by Huaihua's smile, feeling proud, and said casually: "You're welcome, Sister Huaihua, just tell me what you want to eat in the future, I'll pay for it!"

Huaihua and He Qiu came to the stall holding hands, and saw a 50-year-old man busy making "Lvdagun!"

He steams the glutinous rice flour and water, presses it into sheets, rolls it with brown sugar and red bean paste, cuts it into small cubes, and sprinkles some white sugar on it. It is soft and sweet, and both the elderly and children love to eat it.

Because the whole glutinous rice roll has to be rolled in fried soybean powder before cutting into pieces, and covered with dry soybean powder, just like a donkey rolling on the ground, the old Beijing people call it "Donkey Rolling".

I don’t know when it started, but the streets near Nanluoguxiang started to become lively again.

Whenever the small gong sounded, the children in the nearby courtyard knew that the pea cake seller was coming.

The old man sits on a stool, opens a low-sided wooden barrel, first takes out a dough ball made of cooked pea flour and water, wraps some sugar, sesame seeds and bean paste in it, and then, according to the children's requirements, he shapes it into pomegranates, apples, pears, small goldfish, big roosters, or fills it into molds of various shapes.

Put some colorful food paint on the paper, it is a fun thing for children to satisfy their cravings.

There was also a "water cup" vendor who came with two small copper bowls in his right hand, one above the other. When he shook his wrist, the crisp sound of the copper bowls colliding could be heard straight through the door of the house.

In the middle of the small cart were several blue-and-white porcelain jars with large mouths. On both sides were a row of glass grids, which contained walnut paste, peanut kernels, broad beans, sunflower seeds, sugar peas, etc.

In a porcelain jar, there is "dried fruit". It is made by soaking and mashing persimmon cakes, mixing them with dried apricots soaked in boiling water, adding fresh lotus root slices, and some sugared osmanthus. It is cool and crispy, and can be eaten to relieve internal heat in the dry winter of the old capital.

In another porcelain jar, there is "fried red fruit". The big red fruit is cooked, the skin and core are peeled, sugar is added, but no water is added. The red fruit is still in pieces, sour and sweet, and appetizing.

Add sugar water and candied osmanthus, the soup is pink, clear and transparent, with excellent color, fragrance and taste. Use a spoon to pour it into a porcelain bowl, take it home and share it with your parents.

There are also "Southern trucks" that roam the streets; they have fixed routes and customers, so they don't need to shout.

We entered the alley on time, and old customers were waiting at the door. The car carried authentic "hometown goods" - rose jam, osmanthus jam, and glutinous rice wine.

Sometimes, adults would ask children to buy half a bowl of rice wine to use as a starter for making dough.

The steamed buns are white and fluffy, and have a wine aroma. Some also sell kumquats, sugar cane, and green fruits. If you have a sore throat, you can buy a few green fruits and suck them. It is very effective.

These vendors also sell "Zeng'er Cakes", which are made and sold on the spot and are children's favorite.

On the cart was a steamer with a stove on its side. The top of the pot was covered with a wooden partition with multiple round holes, and a small steamer was placed on each hole.

Wrap sesame and sugar in the rice flour, stuff them into the molds, and put them into the steamer. After four or five minutes, they are cooked. Take out the cakes, sprinkle with melon seeds, green and red silk, and serve them hot and fluffy.

Accompanied by the shouting of "Selling sour jujube noodles - Hutu cake!", the hawker came with a wicker basket on his arm.

Some children just eat the sour jujube noodles directly after buying them in blocks. Adults often use hot water to brew them, add some sugar to them, and they eat them, which can help digestion and calm the nerves.

"Hutugao" is made by mashing not-so-good red fruits together with the skin, flesh and core, adding saccharin, and smearing it on paper with a small bamboo stick.

When children bring it to their mouths and lick it, the cake often sticks to their faces, making them look like they have grown beards, so it is also called "beard cake".

The vendor selling "glass powder" entered the street by knocking on the small copper bell hanging on his cart with a small steel stick.

"Glass powder" is made by boiling "foreign powder" with water into soup, adding pink, light green and other food colors, and letting it cool into jelly.

When eating, scoop it into a bowl and pour the syrup made from dried apricots on it. It tastes sweet and sour and is often used to coax children. For those who are particular, they have to go to a big restaurant to eat "almond tofu".

That is to mash almonds and boil water, add "foreign flour", boil into soup, scoop into small porcelain bowls, let cool into jelly. When eating, use a knife to cut the "tofu" into small diamond-shaped pieces, pour osmanthus sugar juice on it, and eat with a small spoon.

"Hey - onions - big green peppers, tomatoes - eggplants - young cucumbers!" The street vendor selling vegetables has a loud voice.

In winter, the "fine vegetables" grown in the "warm greenhouse", green and tender, are stacked in large mat baskets, covered with small quilts, and sold on carts or on shoulder poles.

Since "vegetable greenhouses" became popular in the Beijing area, people no longer have to eat the "old three" all winter.

In order to make it more convenient for people to buy vegetables, the vegetable market also sends employees to sell vegetables along the streets.

Since the supply of vegetables is no longer tight, the capital area has simply cancelled the need to purchase vegetables with coupons.

As soon as they heard the vegetable vendors’ shouts, the women in the courtyards got up early and flocked to the vegetable stalls like a tide.

Xiao Dian also had to go back to work in the morning, so he got up early and took the opportunity to buy some vegetables for the family.

"Auntie, you come early to buy vegetables too!" Xiaodang greeted them warmly.

"Yes, Xiaodang," the third aunt responded with a smile, "It has been snowing for several days in a row, and the vegetable vendors have disappeared. I thought I should buy some more to store in case it snows again, and fresh vegetables will be hard to find."

Xiao Dang thought it made sense, "Hey! Then I'll buy more for my grandma." She earns a lot of money now, eats and lives in the factory, and basically wears work clothes, so she spends a lot on herself.

Now that she has money, she is willing to spend some on her family.

…………

After Sha Zhu took care of his son He Qiu who was going to school, he went to wake up Wang Qiuju who was still lazing in bed, "Qiuju, it's time to get up."

In fact, Wang Qiuju had woken up a long time ago. She just wanted to stay in the warm bed for a while longer. Their office has been very busy recently.

"I'll lie down for a while, I have to work the night shift tonight!" There was a bit of coquettishness and helplessness in her voice.

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu's mouth curled up unconsciously, his heart full of love and understanding for his wife. "Well, then you can sleep a little longer. I'll go to the market to see what fresh ingredients are available. What do you want to eat tonight? I'll show you how to cook when I get home from get off work." His words fully demonstrated his sense of responsibility for his family and his deep affection for his wife.

Wang Qiuju gently rubbed the corners of her eyes and yawned repeatedly, saying, "Just get something to eat. Go outside and see if the old man selling roasted chestnuts has come. It has snowed for several days, and the streets are so deserted that there is not even a shadow of a chestnut seller. I am craving for this."

Sha Zhu nodded readily and said, "Okay, I'll do it right away!"

Wang Qiuju reminded carefully: "Remember to buy more. I plan to share some with the comrades in the team. It is really hard to be on duty at night, so we need to let them satisfy their cravings."

When Sha Zhu heard this, he immediately responded cleverly: "Okay, then I'll take a look at other snacks and buy them back to make everyone happy!"

"Okay, then you decide. Don't spend too much money." Wang Qiuju agreed with a smile.

Sha Zhu happily put on his blue cadre coat, put on his cotton hat, lifted the thick door curtain, and went out.

"Wow! It's too cold! What's wrong with it lately? It's either snowing or windy."

"Zhu Zi, what are you mumbling about there?"

Sha Zhu looked back and saw that it was Yi Zhonghai who had also left the house with a basket of vegetables. He smiled and said, "Uncle, are you going to buy vegetables too?"

It was freezing cold, and Yi Zhonghai had a warm scarf wrapped around his mouth and nose. He said in a slightly dull voice, "Well, your aunt had a fever last night, and it gradually subsided this morning. I prepared all the breakfast by myself." Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu expressed his concern, "Hey, how can you use those pots and pans? Wait, I'll go and make a bowl of hot noodle soup for your aunt!"

Yi Zhonghai was filled with gratitude and quickly thanked him: "Oh, this is really a timely help. I was just worrying about how to get her something to eat. Her appetite has always been poor..."

As they were talking, the two men returned to the Yi family.

Sha Zhu was very skillful, and in a flash, a bowl of steaming hot noodles with fragrant aroma appeared in front of him. The steaming hot air seemed to have an alluring magic that made people salivate.

Yi Zhonghai had just managed to eat a few bites of breakfast, but when he smelled the tempting aroma, his stomach couldn't help but protest.

"Gurgle! Gurgle!" Two clear sounds seemed particularly abrupt in the quiet air.

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu couldn't help but cast a surprised look and joked, "Hey, uncle, it seems you haven't eaten enough yet?" There was a bit of teasing and concern in his words.

Upon hearing this, Yi Zhonghai's old face turned slightly red, and he smiled awkwardly, explaining: "Hey, I was just heating up last night's leftovers. I didn't expect the aroma of this hot soup noodles would be so tempting." His words revealed a bit of helplessness and self-mockery.

"Haha, why didn't you tell me earlier? I could just cook an extra bowl of noodles!" Sha Zhu said helplessly. The soup is still hot. Would you like some?

After the aunt was awakened, the bowl of steaming and fragrant noodles instantly aroused her appetite.

"Auntie, please take your time. I added more ginger slices to the noodles. Eating them will warm your body and your cold will heal quickly!" Sha Zhu instructed with a smile.

A warm feeling welled up in the aunt's heart. At the critical moment, Sha Zhu was still reliable. "Zhu Zi, you have worked so hard!"

"Hey, auntie, why are you being so polite to me?" Sha Zhu waved his hands, looking indifferent.

The old lady tasted the noodles again and then asked with concern: "Did you deliver it to the old lady in the backyard?"

"Oh no! I actually forgot about this!" Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu and Yi Zhonghai looked at each other in dismay. Oh no, the deaf old lady is still hungry!
Sha Zhu slapped his forehead suddenly. It was the aunt who took good care of the old lady's daily life. He said quickly: "It's okay. My family has prepared hot meals for Qiu Ju. I will go back and get some for the old lady." After that, he hurriedly got up and prepared to leave to get the meal.

In the backyard, the deaf old lady also got up early, expecting the arrival of the aunt, but she didn't see her. She looked around, but finally felt helpless, so she turned to busy herself and carefully cleaned the house.

At this time, Sha Zhu pushed the door open and walked in with a cheerful breath, "Hey, grandma, you start working so early!" There was a bit of kindness and vitality in his voice.

The deaf old lady looked up when she heard the voice, and when she saw it was Sha Zhu, a happy smile immediately broke out on her face, "Zhu Zi, come and sit on the kang and chat with grandma for a while." Her tone was full of expectation and warmth.

However, Sha Zhu gently waved his hand and explained, "Grandma, I came here specially to bring you food. I have to rush to work soon, so I'm afraid I can't chat with you for long."

When the deaf old lady heard this, her expression became a little gloomy. After all, she was old and always hoped to be closer to the younger generations.

"Hey, why are you the one delivering food today?" she asked curiously again.

Sha Zhu swiftly moved the dining table to the kang, placed the dishes and chopsticks on the table, and explained, "Auntie wasn't feeling well and had a cold, so I took over."

Before she finished speaking, the old lady's face suddenly changed and she wanted to get up anxiously, "She is sick? I have to go and see..."

Sha Zhu quickly held down the old lady who was about to move and comforted her, "Grandma, don't worry, it's just a small cold and a fever. You will be fine after resting for a day or two. Don't worry."

After comforting the deaf old lady, Sha Zhu glanced at the watch on his wrist, and his heart suddenly tightened, thinking that something was wrong. The errands his daughter-in-law had not been completed, and the time to go to work was quietly approaching.

"Oh, no! Grandma, I have to go first!" Before he finished speaking, he stood up impatiently, walking hurriedly and looking a little flustered.

The deaf old lady looked at his departing back, shook her head gently, and murmured to herself: "This child, he is already a father, but he is still so impetuous."

Sha Zhu hurriedly ran out of the courtyard and happened to run into the third uncle Yan Bugui who was diligently sweeping snow in the courtyard. He hurriedly nodded and said with a smile, "Good morning, third uncle, have you eaten yet?"

Yan Bugui just replied: "I ate it. The wontons made by your third aunt. Let me tell you, this one is made with leeks and shrimps..."

"Hey, kid, I haven't finished what I'm saying yet!" Yan Bugui looked at Sha Zhu's receding back, shook his head and smiled bitterly, then buried his head and continued to clean up the snow in the yard, muttering to himself: "This kid, I'm afraid he has something urgent to do, he's running like his butt is on fire."

Xu Damao pushed the cart and walked out briskly, greeting Yan Bugui who was adjusting his glasses: "Good morning, Third Uncle!"

Yan Bugui smiled slightly, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses: "Da Mao, you're up early too!"

Xu Damao's eyes passed over the threshold and fell on a figure flashing by in the distance. He asked casually, "Uncle San, that person who just ran by in a hurry was Sha Zhu, right?"

Yan Bugui nodded, with a tone of indifference: "Yes, it's him. I don't know what this kid is busy with so early in the morning."

Hearing this, Xu Damao frowned slightly, showing a bit of curiosity and confusion: "He is in such a hurry, is there something urgent?"

Yan Bugui shrugged, indicating that he was also confused: "Who knows, he is always like this. By the way, Damao, what did you eat this morning? Let me tell you, my family had this morning..."

Xu Damao didn't like to hear him nagging, "Hey! Uncle, I have a meeting to attend later. I'm going to be late. See you later!"

Having said that, he also ran away in a flash.

Sha Zhu walked out of the door and headed straight towards the alley where the shouting came from.

"Hey! Chestnuts, the sugar-roasted chestnuts just out of the pan are so fragrant and sweet!"

Accompanied by the crisp sound of hitting a large iron shovel, the sugar-roasted chestnuts are out of the pot. This is one of the specialties of the capital.

Chestnuts are produced in abundance around the capital, and today the chestnuts produced in Liujiazhuang are the most famous. The chestnut output in this area is large and the variety is good.

Once it is put on the market after the White Dew in autumn, it can be sold all winter.

In the small shops at the entrances of the streets and alleys in the capital area, stoves are set up in front of the doors, and large pots are placed. Raw chestnuts and large grains of sand are poured into the pots and stir-fried repeatedly with a large flat spatula.

In fact, no sugar is added. When the chestnuts are almost cooked, a few drops of syrup are poured with an iron spoon to make them shiny and beautiful. Chestnuts themselves have a high sugar content and are naturally sweet when they are cooked.

Liu Zhitai underwent another major operation last night and stayed at home to rest in the morning.

It was almost noon when the sound of "the stew is boiling" could be heard from the entrance of his alley.

Liu Zhitai also liked this dish. He was already starving after sleeping for a whole morning, so he simply went out of the house and bought some braised pork to eat.

This stew shop has a big iron pot, in which chopped pork offal, fried tofu cubes, and half-fermented steamed buns are floating.

The chef first took out two cooked buns from the boiling broth, cut them into small pieces horizontally and vertically, and placed them in a bowl.

Then use a colander to scoop out some fried tofu cubes and chopped pork offal and place them on the fire.

Scoop a spoonful of fatty soup, pour on garlic juice, chili oil, chives, and finally sprinkle with some chopped coriander. It is so fragrant.

Liu Zhitai has moved to this neighborhood about ten years ago and is a regular customer of this store.

To this day, what he admires most is the hands of the chef who makes braised pork dishes and is not afraid of heat after decades of work.

While eating the braised pork, Liu Zhitai recalled that when he was a child, his father Liu Jingzhai once told him about the people who sold "staring food" in the early years. He had never seen it before, but once he came across it and it was made somewhat similarly to this braised pork.

A small stove was set up and cooked minced pork was boiling in the pot.

The diners hold the bowl in one hand and use chopsticks in the other to pick up pieces of meat from the pot and eat them as they please.

The meat was sold by the piece, so everyone aimed at a large piece when they picked it up, and they had to be steady, accurate, and aggressive. The vendor stood by, constantly adding meat to the pot, keeping an eye on all the diners.

Whoever picked up a piece of meat, he would put a small bamboo stick on the lid of the pot, and then they would settle the bill after eating.

Liu Zhitai thought that maybe it was because the diners were staring at the meat in the pot, and the seller was staring at the diners to count the meat, so it was called "staring food"?

After Liu Zhitai finished his meal, he rushed to Union Hospital and bought a bowl of hot wontons for his wife on the way.

The wontons in the old capital are famous for their delicious broth.

The pot for cooking wontons is always filled with boiling broth, which contains large bones or a whole old hen separated by a wire grate. It is steaming and fragrant.

People who stay up late or are in a hurry on the road, when they hear the intermittent shouts of "The wontons are ready!" floating in the wind, can't help but salivate and feel longing for it.

(End of this chapter)