Go back to the prosperous days and become a layman

Chapter 720 Chapter 719 Elm Seed Rice

Considering the load-bearing capacity of the kite string, the fart curtain made by Tang Zhitong was not very big.

"Let's draw a swallow." Looking at the fart curtain made by Tang Zhitong, classmate Xiao Wang suggested.

"Okay, cut a piece according to the size of the kite, draw it and let it dry, and then I'll stick it on." Tang Zhitong gave this task to Xiao Wang.

Due to the quality of the paper, I couldn't wait until the kite was finished before painting on it. Once the ink seeped in, the paper would easily break. So even though the fart curtain was not difficult to make, I wouldn't be able to finish it in one go tonight.

"Okay!" Student Xiao Wang liked this sense of participation. After receiving the order, he happily sat at the desk and started creating.

Tang Zhitong smiled, packed up his things, and continued to draw the unfinished pet supplies.

In fact, there is a more exquisite kite now, which the people of Beijing call "Sand Swallow".

This kind of kite requires a high level of craftsmanship, and Tang Zhitong cannot make it.

They are sold on the market, but they lack the fun of participation.

On Wednesday, March 3, the school was calm as usual.

Tang Zhitong was thinking about earning foreign exchange from pet supplies, so he drew for two consecutive nights. He was absent-minded during class today and decided to give the drawings of cat scratching boards, cat climbing frames, pet nests, cat teasers, etc. to Miao Xiaoqin first.

After school, Tang Zhitong went straight to Chunshu Hutong. By the time she arrived at the gate of the Women's Federation dormitory, it was already past the time to get off work.

Tang Zhitong guessed that Miao Xiaoqin had already finished get off work, so he did not go to Shijia Hutong, but went straight into the yard, intending to ask Ye Zhijuan to pass it on.

Sure enough, Ye Zhijuan got off work early today and was already at home preparing to cook.

Wang Jingmin was thinking about his slingshot all the time, and he pestered Tang Zhitong and asked, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, did you shoot a bird? Can you give me the slingshot back?"

"How can I kill you while shooting a bird? Are you so obsessed with being a commander? Can I make you something else later?" Once something is said, it cannot be taken back. Since Tang Zhitong had said before that he would return the slingshot to his brother-in-law after shooting a bird, he could not go back on his word. Since he could not give it to him now, he planned to find a workaround.

"What to make?" Wang Jingmin was very smart. He did not agree immediately, but planned to wait for a price to see if the new toy made by his brother-in-law could impress him.

"How about a spinning top?" Tang Zhitong suggested, remembering the toys other kids played with on the way home from school.

"Okay! I want the one with steel balls underneath!" When Wang Jingmin heard it was a spinning top, he immediately agreed happily and put forward his request.

"Hey, not bad. You even know to put steel balls in it. Okay, I'll make one for you that puts steel balls in it." Tang Zhitong rubbed his brother-in-law's head and managed to get away with the matter.

Most gyroscopes are made of wood, but it is best to embed a steel ball in the bottom tip. This can greatly reduce the resistance of the gyroscope's rotation and make the gyroscope rotate longer and more stably under the same force conditions.

Some families who don't have the conditions to embed steel beads usually choose a long iron nail to hammer it from top to bottom.

If there is nothing on the tip of the spinning top and it is made of pure wood, the tip of the spinning top will crack after only a few turns.

"Of course, I also know that the 49th city management spinning top is called 'Bing'er'!" Wang Jingmin said proudly after being praised.

"Not bad, not bad. You have indeed learned something at school." Tang Zhitong praised his brother-in-law with a smile.

Spinning top has a long history and has various names across the country. Some are called ice spinning top, some are called cow spinning top, some are called old cow spinning top and some are called Pi Laojian.

The further north you go, the greater the probability that the spinning top will have the word "ice" in its name, and most people like to play on ice. Tang Zhitong guessed that it might be related to the production time of the steel balls. After all, the first domestically produced steel ball was produced by the Wafangdian Ball Factory after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

"Anzi, is there something?" Ye Zhijuan came out from the kitchen. Her son-in-law has been getting busier and busier recently and has come less often. She felt that this time he would not come to visit her for no reason.

"Mom, I drew a few pictures for the pet supplies I discussed with Sister Xiaoqin. Could you give them to her tomorrow? This way I don't have to skip classes." Tang Zhitong said as he took out a few finished drawings from his bag.

"Okay, leave it here, I'll give it to her tomorrow." Ye Zhijuan agreed readily.

"Okay, thanks, Mom. I'll go back then." Tang Zhitong put down the drawings, turned around and went downstairs without any intention of eating here.

As soon as he got downstairs, Tang Zhitong was stopped by Gao Dashan: "Xiao Tang, he looked just like you just now."

"Master Gao, is there something wrong?" Tang Zhitong stopped and waited for Gao Dashan's next words.

"Your sister-in-law made some elm seed steamed bread. I'll bring you some to try." Gao Shanda said, and then he called into the house, "Ye Zi, are the steamed bread ready?"

"You have to wait a moment, come in and sit down first." Zhang Ye pushed open the door and invited Tang Zhitong.

"Master Gao, sister-in-law, you're welcome. You can keep it for yourself." No family is well off these days, and elm seed steamed bread has to be mixed with flour to form a shape. Tang Zhitong didn't intend to take advantage of Gao Dashan and his wife.

"No, when I first came here, I fell in love with the elm seeds at the entrance of the alley. I don't have anything good to give you and Wenwen, so don't despise bad things." Zhang Ye was very enthusiastic. When he went out, he pulled Tang Zhitong's bicycle and refused to let him go.

"Sister-in-law, that's not the case." Tang Zhitong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. His family was not short of food, and he would feel bad if someone took advantage of the couple.

"Is it because you don't think highly of my craftsmanship?" Zhang Ye was enthusiastic but also a little inferior at the same time. After all, she was a girl from the countryside.

"Not really. Now everyone has a rationed diet. If I eat one of your bites, you will eat one less bite. Otherwise, I will leave some food coupons for you?" Tang Zhitong opened the window and spoke frankly, making it clear that he did not want to take the steamed bread.

"That's not right. How can I ask for your food coupons for a few steamed buns? Don't you think so, boss?" Zhang Ye turned around and motioned Gao Dashan to come out and help him.

"That's right. How can we need food coupons for a few steamed buns? Don't treat us as outsiders." Gao Dashan also kept shaking his head. Food coupons would definitely not be accepted.

"Master Gao, how about this? You give me a bunch of elm seeds. That way I don't have to climb the tree myself. I won't take your steamed bread anyway." Tang Zhitong compromised when he saw half a basket of elm seeds that had not been picked yet at the door of the message room.

"This..." Gao Dashan hesitated. "Master Gao, let's put it this way. I have something to do. Either you give me one, or I can do it myself?" Tang Zhitong smiled and was about to stand up the bicycle.

"Let me pretend. How can you be so unorthodox?" Perhaps seeing Tang Zhitong's firm attitude, Gao Dashan made concessions.

"I'm not lying to you. Elm seeds are good things. At this time of year in previous years, elm seeds would fall to the ground, but this year there are only a few strings of elm seeds on the trees. After all, taking a bunch of elm seeds from you is taking advantage of you." Tang Zhitong knew that Gao Dashan and his wife wanted to thank him for finding a nanny job for Zhang Ye, and he gave them enough of a chance.

"A handful of elm seeds is not a bargain. I'll pick more for you in a couple of days." Gao Dashan was honest and directly picked up the basket and was about to hang it on the handlebars of Tang Zhitong's bicycle.

"You don't need so many, just give me one." Tang Zhitong pushed the basket out and took one out from the basket. The ones in the basket were obviously just picked not long ago, and the elm seeds were still hanging on the branches, looking very fresh.

"What can one do? Take them all!" Seeing that Tang Zhitong didn't want it, Gao Shanda insisted on pushing it forward, and this time he had no intention of giving in.

"Master Gao, I can't take your basket, and I don't know when I can return it. How about I take two?" Tang Zhitong said, taking out another one from the basket.

"Ye Zi, go back to the house and find a rope so I can help Xiao Tang get rid of the garbage." Gao Dashan simply put the basket on the ground and instructed Zhang Ye.

"Hey!" Zhang Ye was nimble and strode into the house as he spoke.

"Hey, Master Gao, look at what this has caused. It's not easy for you to pick some elm seeds." Seeing the couple's sincerity, Tang Zhitong gave up resisting. Although elm seeds are in high demand, they grow right under the noses of Gao Dashan. He can still pick them if he wants. He can just tie a hook to a bamboo pole, stretch it upwards, and then twist it and the seeds will come down. It'll just make his arms a little tired.

"It's not that difficult. Compared to the help you guys have given me and Ye Zi, this is nothing." As more and more information reached Sijiu City, Gao Dashan felt the food supply was getting tighter and tighter. Even the families of his comrades who he had always sent money to wrote to him for help. But what could he do? He was very worried!

"Master Gao, it's too formal to say this. We are not outsiders." Tang Zhitong waved his hands repeatedly. Compared with Wang Jingmin's life, what he and Ye Zhijuan did was nothing.

Finally, Tang Zhitong took a bundle of elm branches full of elm seeds. Before leaving, Tang Zhitong instructed: "Master Gao, please don't give the steamed buns to Director Ye. It will have a bad influence if someone sees them. With these elm seeds, I will make some and give some to Director Ye. Tell her that this is your thoughtful gift."

"Okay." Gao Dashan thought about it and agreed.

Tang Zhitong walked out of the gate of the Women's Federation dormitory and looked at the elm tree on the roadside. The elm seeds had been almost picked, and the branches were rustling. It was obvious that someone had plucked them together with the branches.

But don't worry, the elm tree has strong vitality and will continue to grow new branches.

Elm seeds are good things. Because they bloom in the season when there is a shortage of food, they have always been called "life-saving food" in North China.

The nutritional value of elm seeds can be said to be the highest among all easy-to-pick wild game, containing 100 grams of protein per 3.6 grams, which is comparable to the protein content of high-quality milk.

In addition to its outstanding nutritional value, elm seeds also taste excellent. Not only are they fresh and tender, but they also have a slight sweetness in their fragrance. Even until the 1990s, when the elm seeds were in full bloom in March and April every year, it was a happy time for rural children to climb trees to pick them.

Elm seeds hang in clusters on the branches, with very few leaves in between. Break off one and rub it with your hands to get a handful of clean elm seeds.

The children who climbed the tree would first put a handful of food into their mouths, and then put the food into their pockets while chewing.

Nowadays, people in rural areas have a lot of affection for elm trees. In addition to edible elm seeds, elm bark also contains starch. Whenever there is a famine, hungry people will always peel elm bark to satisfy their hunger.

During the great famine in Henan Province in 1942, Theodore White recorded images of people peeling and eating elm tree bark.

It is no exaggeration to say that elm trees occupy a place in China's farming history. In addition to being able to save lives in emergencies, elm is also an excellent wood for making furniture and building houses. It is known in the wood industry as "Elm in the North and Beech in the South".

In addition to being relatively easy to crack, furniture made of elm must be strong and durable. It is no exaggeration to say that a set of elm furniture can be used for hundreds of years.

However, because elm trees grow slowly, although they have economic value, they are gradually replaced by fast-growing forests, and have become a childhood that many people can never return to.

After returning home, Zhang Guifang was very surprised to see the elm branch in her son's hand: "You came back from picking elm seeds? I went out today and picked all the elm seeds, but there were still some fifty-awns. I picked some and brought them back, and planned to eat them in the evening."

"It was given to me by others. If we had elm seeds, we wouldn't eat Wu Shi Mang." Wu Shi Mang is the name given to poplar groves by the people of Quancheng, probably derived from the homonym of "Wu Shi Niu".

Tang Zhitong looked at the bulrush that Zhang Guifang had brought back. He really didn't want to eat it because there were elm seeds in it. The bulrush itself had no taste. If he wanted it to taste better, the best pairing would be some meat, mixed with some fat to make the filling for steamed buns.

Many people describe nizi as "fish roe from a tree", but Tang Zhitong thinks this is a bit of an exaggeration because he has eaten it before and has some say on this point.

The taste... is hard to describe. I always feel that it is a bit loose and crumbly in my mouth, but fortunately there is no peculiar smell. It can satisfy my hunger when I am really hungry.

"Then let's have elm seed rice tonight! It's a pity to waste this basket of fifty elms." Zhang Guifang glanced at the basket, with a hint of reluctance in her eyes.

"Mom, it won't be wasted. Even if people don't eat it, we can feed it to the chickens." In order to avoid eating the bull, Tang Zhitong pushed the chickens to the front. That is, he was bullying the chickens because they had never eaten good food. If this was left for a few decades, the chickens would not eat the bull.

"Oh, okay." Zhang Guifang was a little reluctant, but still carried the basket out to feed the chickens. She knew in her heart that it was the season when the fifty-awns fell, and the ones she had picked could not be compared with those half a month ago in terms of appearance and taste.

Tang Zhitong put down his things and washed his hands, then went into the house to process the elm seeds. He first plucked the seeds off and put them in a basin to wash, then took them out and drained the water for later use.

The simplest way to eat elm seeds is to eat them raw, but if you want to fill your stomach, you must mix them with some staple food.

The easiest way to cook it is to make elm seed rice.

“Put 90% elm seeds and 10% flour in a bowl, mix them together, steam them, and serve them in a bowl. The children will say they are delicious after eating them.”

In order to improve the taste, in addition to noodles, Tang Zhitong also added some salt and sea rice rolls.

After all, this elm seed rice is just an emergency food. If it were really a delicacy, it would have been sold at a high price in the market in March and April. But the reality is that the supply is limited, the price is not high, and few people are interested in it.

Perhaps only some elderly farmers in rural areas are obsessed with elm seed rice. They always find ways to make it during this season and teach their children and grandchildren: eat elm seeds and you will have extra money.

In Tang Zhitong's opinion, whether or not there is extra money has nothing to do with whether or not to eat elm seeds. The older generation's practice and words are nothing more than a worry that their children and grandchildren will not be able to find food if they encounter a famine in the future. It can also be regarded as a kind of survival rule passed down from words and deeds...

(End of this chapter)