Xing'an Mountains 1984: Starting from climbing mountains to support the family

Chapter 87: Building a Donkey Shed, Braised Wolf Meat
In Jiuqu Village, trees are the most abundant thing. Chen Weidong plans to go to the foot of the mountain in front of the village to cut some trees. Although there are trees in front of and behind his house, they are all old trees.

It would probably take half a day to chop down a tree, and it was too thick. Chen Weidong just wanted to build a donkey shed. He wanted a tree that was about as thick as his legs, with the right thickness and size so that it would be easy to pull it home.

But before that, the donkey cart must be fixed first. After all, the donkey is needed to cut down trees and pull them back.

He put the saddle on the donkey, then pulled out the cart from home and asked Liu Xueting for two strips of cloth. He tied the ropes to the handles of the cart and then put the cloth strips on the donkey. The donkey cart was ready.

Chen Weidong fixed the donkey cart, but found that the donkey didn't want to move.

"You lazy donkey, you have a lot of shit and piss on the mill. I'm building a donkey shed for you!"

Chen Weidong took a stick and hit the donkey's butt. The donkey felt the pain and started to work obediently.

~

Brother Weidong!"

"Brother Weidong, are we going into the mountains this afternoon?"

Chen Weidong was about to go out with the donkey cart when he saw Shitou and Bingzi running in.

"Brother Weidong, did you buy a donkey?"

Bingzi looked at the donkey in Chen Weidong's hand and said in surprise.

Chen Weidong knew the family situation best. He had six daughters and their lives were barely getting by, but not long after moving to the mountains, they actually bought a donkey.

"It's Shitou and Bingzi who are here!"

At this time, Liu Xueting heard the noise in the yard and saw Chen Weibing and Wang Dacheng arriving. As the hostess, she came over and greeted them.

"Sister Xueting!" the two of them responded.

"Well, you guys can chat."

Liu Xueting said politely, and then called away the little girl who wanted to come over to join in the fun.

"We just bought the donkey today. I don't think we can go into the mountains to hunt in the next two days! I'll call you when the time comes."

Chen Weidong said to Shitou Bingzi and the other two.

"okay!"

Shi Tou smiled and said that he had followed Chen Weidong into the mountains the day before yesterday and had a great harvest. He brought back pheasants, wild ducks and a wolf. His wife and children were so happy. They had eaten meat every day for the past two days and there were still dozens of kilograms of wolf meat at home.

"Brother Weidong, I want to go up the mountain with you too!"

Bingzi spoke hurriedly at this time.

Shitou told him about his experience with Chen Weidong going into the mountains. Their harvest was truly enviable, and he also wanted to follow Chen Weidong into the mountains to hunt.

"No, Third Aunt won't let you go into the mountains with me!" As soon as Chen Weidong said this, Bingzi immediately lowered his head, looking a little dejected.

"Brother Weidong, I'll tell my mom tonight~" Bingzi wants to go into the mountains to hunt and make money so he can get married.

"If Third Aunt agrees for you to follow me into the mountains, I have no objection."

"Hmm~"

"Brother Weidong, what are you going to do?"

"Get ready, cut some trees in the mountains to build a donkey shed. If you two are okay, go back!"

"Brother Weidong, what are you talking about? How can you build a donkey shed without calling us? You are alone, how long will it take? We will help you!"

Stone said.

"That!"

Chen Weidong didn't bother to be polite with the two of them. They grew up together. It would take him one or two days to build a donkey shed, but with Shi Tou and Bing Zi, he could probably finish it today!

You have to know that when building a house in those years, neighbors, relatives and friends would help out. Almost every man in the village could build a house, let alone build a small donkey shed.

"Brother Weidong, I have a saw at home. I'll go get it and I'll need it later." Shitou said.

"I have one at home..."

"Row!"

Chen Weidong didn't bother to be polite with them.

……

The donkey shed is against the courtyard wall, which saves a lot of trouble. All you need to do is build a roof on top, seal the two sides with wood, and then make a wooden door to block the wind. Having ready-made iron nails and wire at home can save a lot of trouble!
Driving piles, mixing mud, and sawing wood.

After returning from cutting trees at the foot of the mountain, the three men skillfully built the donkey shed, and everything was in order.

Six little girls watched with their round eyes wide open. It was not that they did not want to go over to help, but Liu Xueting strictly forbade them to join in the fun and do more harm than good.

Even when Liu Xueting wanted to help, she was stopped by Chen Weidong. They thought that three men were enough to build a donkey shed, and having too many people would cause trouble.

"Brother Weidong, is this honey water? It tastes so good!"

"Yeah! It's delicious."

Liu Xueting made honey water for Chen Weidong and the other two. They had been working for almost two hours and had just built a simple frame for the donkey shed. In a temperature of five or six degrees, they were all sweating profusely.

At this moment, the three of them were resting, and a few little girls were massaging Chen Weidong from behind, which made the two of them very envious, especially Bingzi, who had no wife or children.

"Brother Weidong, let's go home and have a meal first, and then come back to continue!"

After drinking a glass of honey water, Shitou suddenly said, and Bingzi nodded immediately.

"Why go back? Let's have dinner at my sister-in-law's house today." Liu Xueting came over and greeted.

"Sister-in-law, this is so troublesome! Besides, let's talk about home~"

"It doesn't matter if it's a problem or not. Your sister-in-law's meaning is my meaning."

"Wait a minute, I'll stew wolf meat for you."

"Okay, let's get on with it!"

Upon hearing this, Shitou and Bingzi did not delay any further and started building the donkey shed again.

Chen Weidong asked Liu Xueting to cut four or five pounds of wolf meat and soak it in water, and asked Dani to notify them, after all, Shitou and Bingzi were eating at his place, so they would also join in the fun.

After a while, it was almost noon.

Chen Weidong took out the wolf meat that Liu Xueting had soaked before and washed it again.

"I'll cook for you." Liu Xueting said.

"Okay! Light up the other pot and pour half of it with hot water!" Chen Weidong ordered Liu Xueting.

"it is good."

Liu Xueting responded and took out a few pieces of firewood from the pot in front of her, put them into another pot, and added a few more pieces of firewood.

Then add water to the pot.

Hot water is easy to get, there is a pot of hot water boiling in Liu Xueting's pot.

After waiting for a while, when the water boiled, I put it into the boiling water pot and blanched it.

Then take out the wolf meat, put it in a basin, and start cleaning it.

"Xueting, turn off the fire first! Clean the pot." Chen Weidong instructed and continued to clean the wolf meat.

After cleaning the wolf meat, Chen Weidong began to prepare the ingredients for the stew. He went to the cellar and got a few radishes, washed them, and cut them into small pieces.

Then she took out the peppers, scallions, ginger, garlic and other ingredients, cut them and put them aside for later use. At this time, Liu Xueting also cleaned the pot.

"Light the fire!" Chen Weidong ordered.

Chen Weidong scooped five spoonfuls of oil and put it into the pot.

There was a sizzling sound, and a rich aroma filled the kitchen.

After a while, the oil melted and Chen Weidong put the wolf meat into the pot and stir-fried it until it turned golden brown. Then Chen Weidong took the wolf meat out.

Then scoop out the excess oil and pour it into a bowl so that it can be used for cooking later.

Add Sichuan peppercorns and star anise and fry until fragrant, then remove and discard.

Then, add the pepper, onion, ginger and garlic into the pot and stir-fry, then add the wolf meat cubes, radish cubes, vinegar, then add water and cover the pot.

Don’t be in a hurry when stewing wolf meat. After boiling over high heat, add salt, sugar and soy sauce, then simmer over low heat until the sauce is reduced.

Looking at Shi Tou and Bing Zi working in the yard, Chen Weidong walked over and said, "Drink some water and take a rest. We'll have dinner soon."

After chatting with the two for a while, Chen Weidong felt that the time was about up, so he went into the kitchen and lifted the lid of the pot.

Sure enough, the water in the pot had boiled and was steaming.

The aroma of stewed wolf meat also wafted from the kitchen and filled the yard.

Shitou walked into the kitchen at this time and sighed.

"Brother Weidong, your cooking is better than mine!"

Liu Xueting suddenly said with some pride.

Hearing this, even Chen Weidong felt very proud.

Shitou said a few words and left to continue working.

"Xue Ting, I'm not busy now. By the way, where are the little ones?"

“They are all playing outside in the yard!”

Liu Xueting said with a smile.

"Ah."

Chen Weidong nodded, then added some salt, soy sauce and sugar into the pot. He had gone to the county town yesterday and now had all kinds of seasonings at home.

Then look at the fire under the pot. It is almost burnt out. There is no need to add more firewood. Just simmer it over low heat and let the sauce accumulate slowly.

He looked at the steamed bun basket hanging on the beam. There were still sixteen steamed buns that Liu Xueting had steamed last night, and Chen Weidong steamed them all.

Chen Weidong lifted the lid of the pot only when the charcoal fire at the bottom of the pot went out.

A rich meaty aroma emerged from the pot, filled the kitchen, and then emerged.

Pick out the steamed buns and put them in the basket.

Then he took out the grate and looked at the braised wolf meat inside. The soup was thick and the meat was rotten. You didn't even have to taste it to know it was delicious.

He put the braised wolf meat into two bowls, and walked out carrying the bowls and the basket of steamed buns.

"Shitou, Bingzi, it's time to eat."

"Dani, call the sisters to eat!"

Chen Weidong greeted loudly.

"Wow! It smells so good!"

"Brother Weidong, the wolf meat you stewed is much more delicious than the one my wife stewed yesterday."

Stone praised.

"Dad, the food you cook is the best~"

Several little guys came running over panting, and Si Ni spoke in a baby voice, obviously agreeing with what Shi Tou said.

Liu Xueting set the kang table in place. Since there were too many little ones at home, they naturally ate separately like their eldest brother did yesterday.

"Xueting, go get the wine. We still have to continue working in the afternoon. We can only drink one glass each at noon." Chen Weidong said to Liu Xueting.

"OK!"

Liu Xueting obediently went to get the wine that she hadn't finished drinking yesterday.

"Brother Weidong, this is still bottled wine!"

Before that, people in their village drank loose liquor, which was brewed by themselves using dried sweet potatoes and sorghum.

Since 1976, as the situation changed, the country's economy began to recover, and villages like theirs and rich people like the village chief could also drink bottled wine.

This kind of sweet potato liquor which costs only 30 cents a bottle is considered a high-end liquor in rural areas. Even wealthy families can only afford to drink it when they have something to do.

The three of them drank a glass of wine happily on the kang table.

Sixteen steamed buns,
Chen Weidong and his two companions ate eleven, while Shitou ate four by himself. The remaining kid and Liu Xueting ate five. The steamed buns made these days are big, so Chen Weidong usually only eats two or three.

After dinner, we continued to build the donkey shed! We were busy until around 5pm, when the donkey shed was completed.

"Sister-in-law, Brother Weidong, we are leaving!" Shitou and Bingzi greeted them.

"Okay, by the way, Shitou, let's go up the mountain tomorrow!"

"Brother Weidong, didn't you say you were busy these two days?" Shi Tou said honestly.

“Now we are done!”

Chen Weidong smiled and said.

"Brother Weidong, what you are talking about is building a donkey shed?" Shitou realized it belatedly.

"Ah."

Chen Weidong nodded.

After the two left, Chen Weidong carried some grass into the donkey shed.

Then he led the donkey in, tied it up, and then picked up Wu Ni who was following behind to join in the fun.

Looking at the little adorable kid, Chen Weidong kissed him hard.

"Itchy~"

"Dad, it's itchy~"

Just as he was holding Wu Ni and sitting on the chair, Chen Weidong saw Si Ni running over with her short legs, crying:

"Dad, an egg has been laid! An egg has been laid!"

"The hen laid an egg,"

When Wu Ni heard this, she kicked her legs hard to struggle out of Chen Weidong's arms and ran towards the chicken coop.

Chen Weidong walked over and saw that indeed, there were eggs laid, only two.

Si Ni was very excited because she would have eggs to eat again!

(End of this chapter)