Records of Strange People and Strange Events in the Old Mansion

Chapter 38 Freeze

"On the 24th and 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, we wrap rice dumplings, on the 26th and 27th day, we freeze them, and on the 28th and 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, we fry them." On the 24th and 25th of the twelfth lunar month, the villagers gathered together to wrap the rice dumplings for the New Year. Every household began to "beat the freeze."

The so-called "frozen" is braised big meat and big fish. After it is cooked, it is put into a large earthenware basin. At a temperature of minus seven to eight degrees, the big meat and big fish in the large earthenware basin freeze into a ball. It can be eaten cold when guests come. Can be taken out and heated before eating.

The villagers of Donkey Buo are very particular about "frozen". The big meat used in the braised pork jelly must be the pork belly of a big pig. Cut it into palm-width size with the ribs, add water one piece at a time, fry it in a pan for five or six minutes, and pour in the homemade stuffing. Simmer with wine for half an hour, then add home-made soy sauce and simmer for another half hour without salt. If you use salt, the meat will lose its original flavor and taste less crispy. When the meat is red and thoroughly flavored, put it into a large earthen basin. Don't use chopsticks for a day. It can only be eaten after it is completely frozen the next day. Similarly, the big fish used in braised fish jelly must be silver carp from Lvbu Village’s own fish pond, and the fish must be more than three years old. Cut up the big fish and clean it, hang it on a bamboo pole with a straw skewer and drain it. Use more home-pressed rapeseed oil and a strong fire. When the oil is boiling in the pot, put the big fish into the pot and submerge it in the oil for two or three minutes. Then lift it up. Leave a small amount of oily fish in the pot and put it back into the pot. Pour in the rice wine, add garlic, ginger, and chili. Still no salt, just the home-made soybean paste. More soybean paste is needed. "Salted fish has light meat". The fish must be salty. . After the big fish is simmered for half an hour, homemade dried white beans are added, and it is simmered for another half an hour until the fish soup becomes thick. After taking it out of the pot, put it into a large earthen basin and let it sit for a day and night before using chopsticks.

Zhu Badger has liked eating cold frozen meat since he was a child, especially the broth that tastes particularly smooth after being frozen, just like the jelly eaten by children in big cities. The red badger also likes to eat dried white beans in fish jelly. The dried white beans absorb the essence of the fish and become as pliable as gummy candy after freezing, making it very delicious.

Ma Yasha started busy early in the morning. Today, the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, he started making big meat jelly. The big meat was the "two-headed crow" that he had raised for a whole year.

Ma Yasha had just finished boiling two large pots of water when the pig-butcher came to the front yard with the hair-staining bucket. Immediately afterwards, One-Armed Luo, Tiaojiao, Tian Leizi and Weasel arrived. Zhu Hu came out of his house while getting dressed, and went straight to the pig pen of Zhu Badger's house. Under the command of the Pig Killer, he carried out the "Two-Headed Crow" together with the One-Armed Luo, the Cross-legged Man, Tian Lezi, and the Weasel. to the front yard.

Soon, the pig-killer's white knife went in and the red knife came out. "Two-headed Crow" breathed his last. Mayasha carried the hot water bucket to the door. Zhu Hu, One-Armed Luo, Qiaojiao, Tian Leizi, and Weasel beat the drum and passed the flower to the hot water bucket to the hair bucket. On the side, the pig butcher poured hot water to soften the pig hair.

When the "Two-Headed Crow" was disemboweled and steaming and hung on the bamboo ladder, Ma Yasha cooked the pig blood and distributed it to Zhu Hu, One-Armed Luo, Qiaojiao, Tian Leizi, and Weasel. The five of them laughed and took it. After the pig butcher cut the "two-headed crow" according to Mayasha's request, the five people followed the pig butcher to Zhu Hu's house and started to help Zhu Hu's family kill pigs.

No matter how many festivals there are, when making rice dumplings, making frozen food, or roasting seeds and nuts, everyone will come uninvited and help out kindly.

Zhu Badger just got up when the aroma of meat wafted up, while Lu Huan and Lan Yuliu hadn't gone downstairs yet.

"They slept late last night, let them sleep a little longer." Mayaksha said to Zhu Badger while cooking the meat.

Zhu Badger rubbed his hazy eyes and asked Ma Yaksha: "You won't eavesdrop on their conversation, will you?" "Can you speak? That's caring, care, you know?" Ma Yaksha's words in his house were completely ugly. Zhu Badger likes to hear Yu's tone, and Zhu Badger misses Chou Yu very much.

Zhu Badger came back from the cave last evening and wanted to go to bed immediately. He went to bed and had a dream, dreaming about Chou Jade, dreaming about Grandma Taizu... Unfortunately, just after entering the old house, Blue Jade Liu held Lu Huan's hand and came out of his home.

"It's cold outside and it's already dark. Why did you come out?" Ma Yaksha didn't bother to put down the firewood on his shoulders. He walked to the eaves in three steps and stopped Lan Yuliu and Lu Huan.

Lu Huan was about to reply, but Lan Yuliu pulled her behind him, smiled at Ma Yasha first, and then at Zhu Badger. After a while, he said with relief: "You are finally back, Huanhuan and I were worried He's dead. I wonder if there are wild beasts in the mountains at night? Ferocious wild beasts? If Huanhuan and I come here, we can fight the wild beasts together."

"Yes, yes, yes, Sister Liu told me a story. There was a woman who had an argument with her husband and ran into the mountains in the middle of the night. As a result, she was bitten to death by a wolf and only the bones were left. Ouch, it's scary to think about it." Lu Huan covered his face with his hands, looking frightened.

"Hahaha..." Zhu Badger laughed, very exaggeratedly. He laughed for a while and said to Lu Huan: "Sister Liu deliberately scared you. We don't have wolves here, only weasels."

"Is there a weasel? Where is the weasel? Where is it?" Lu Huan hurriedly hid behind Ma Yasha.

Just as Ma Yasha was about to put down the firewood on his shoulder to comfort Lu Huan, a clear voice sounded from behind: "Weasel is my father. He is at home. Do you want to go to my house to play?"

When the sound came, Huang Qikui stood behind Ma Yasha and in front of Zhu Badger with a smile.

Zhu Badger didn't expect Huang Okra to come to her house at this time, so she asked: "Is the banquet ready so soon?"

"I'm still eating. I don't like drinking, so I went out for a walk. Come, aunt, I'll help you unload the firewood." Huang Okra answered naturally, and skillfully unloaded a large bundle of firewood from Mayaksha's shoulder. Under the eaves.

Ma Yaksha went over to hold Huang Qiukui's hands and said with great excitement: "This, this, this, what's so embarrassing about this? How can such white and tender hands touch firewood? Your mother said, you are now the president and manager, what if there is a scratch? Pi, me, me, me, my sin is really big."

"Auntie, don't say that. No matter when, I am a person who lives in the village and lives in an old house. Didn't I have to go up the mountain every day to collect firewood? I remember one time because I didn't pick up enough, I even fell down. My nose was blue and my eyes were swollen, and the new clothes I wore for the New Year were torn in many places. My mother chased me all over the old house and beat me. If you hadn’t saved me and let me hide in that big cupboard, I would have been beaten by my mother by then. If you die, there will be no big CEO or big manager like today." Huang Qiukui leaned against Ma Yasha affectionately.

Ma Yasha hugged Huang Qikui equally affectionately, his tone was still very excited, and he said with a smile: "Is there such a thing? Why can't I remember it?"

"Auntie, you are busy. There are too many things to worry about. I heard that when Zhu Hu was not in the village, you were taking care of the affairs of each household. How could you still remember such a small thing? Is that big cupboard still there? ?At that time, I was hiding inside but my heart was pounding. I was scared to death. I was afraid that my mother would find me and that the big dark cupboard would eat me. I must take a good look at that big cupboard today. Is it as scary as I thought when I was a kid?" Huang Qiukui said as she let go of Ma Yasha and walked into Zhu Badger's house.

Zhu Badger stepped in front of Huang Qiukui and said with a smile: "Sister Qiukui, the banquet at your house is really not over yet?" "No, my mother and my father said they invited you, but you still didn't come over. You know I I'm very disappointed." Huang Qiukui responded to Zhu Badger, head looking into the room, a pair of bright eyes scanning every corner like searchlights.

Zhu Badger stood on tiptoe and could not reach Huang Qiukui's shoulders. He had to shake his body left and right, trying to disturb Huang Qiukui's sight. He said with a smile on his face: "I have been a foodie since I was a child. How can I waste the opportunity to eat? Especially Fatty Zhu. Boss, the food is so cooked that it makes me drool just thinking about it. The key is that I want to come, and my two friends have to come with me. My mother said that there are so many people there and she is not afraid of embarrassment, and she is determined not to let us come to your house for dinner. . Huanhuan, she is even crying."

"Yes, yes, Badger is a snack foodie, and I am a big foodie." Lu Huan jumped to Zhu Badger's side, blocking Huang Okra's side view.

Lu Huan was half a head taller than Zhu Badger. She jumped up to Zhu Badger innocently, more or less blocking Huang Okra's side view. Huang Okra turned her head and Lan Yuliu stood over.

Lan Yuliu's height is about the same as Huang Okra's. Standing together today, he is half a head taller than Huang Okra because Lan Yuliu wears high-heeled leather boots and Huang Okra wears travel shoes.

Huang Qiukui's view of visiting Zhu Badger's house was completely blocked by Zhu Badger, Lu Huan and Lan Yuliu. She was a little unwilling and turned back to talk to Ma Yaksha: "Auntie, I didn't see you under the big camphor tree when I came back. Are you interested in me?" Thoughts? We haven’t seen you for so many years, but I miss you very much. Can the two of us go inside and catch up on old times? I brought you a small gift."

"Ouch, how could I have thoughts about you? I often ask your mother about you. I heard that you are doing a good job in the provincial capital, so I feel relieved and happy for you. Knowing that you are coming back makes me happy. I went to wait under the big camphor tree early in the morning, but when I was about to wait for you, Daner accidentally bumped into me and went to Taipingtang. When you came back, I was changing clothes at home." Ma Yasha replied smoothly, I don't know. People still think that this is the case.

"Auntie, then..." "You came as soon as you said you would, so why did you bring a gift? I originally wanted to invite you in for a drink of tea, but the wild honey my aunt picked this year is very thick. You are so polite, but I don't dare to invite you." Come in and sit down. My aunt has never taken care of you before. On the contrary, your parents often take care of us orphans and widowed mothers, so if you want to give a gift, I will give it to you. My child, go back quickly. It’s cold outside. I’ll come to your house in a few days. Go, I'll save you a basket of wild eggs for you to throw." Ma Yasha didn't give Huang Okra a chance to speak again, and Huang Okra stood at the door of Zhu Badger's house a little embarrassed.

Lu Huan laughed and broke the embarrassment and asked Huang Qiukui: "Beautiful sister, is the banquet at your house really not over yet? Do we still have to eat in the past?" Lu Huan couldn't help but swallowed several times after asking, and looked like a Looks like a standard big foodie. Huang Qiukui tried to take the opportunity to peek into Zhu Badger's house, but Lu Huan smiled playfully, swallowed saliva, and remained motionless. He could only respond to Lu Huan with a smile: "I'm afraid there will be leftovers at this time. You guys We are guests, why are my parents and I so embarrassed?" "It's okay, Sister Okra, I said that even if you have eaten, you should go back quickly, it's too cold outside." Zhu Badger took half a step forward, forcing Okra to retreat under the eaves. .

Huang Qiukui knew that she would not be able to enter Zhu Badger's house tonight, so she simply turned around and said goodbye to Ma Yasha: "Auntie, come and sit at home when you have free time. Anyway, I have been at home this year, and I will be at home often in the future."

"Okay, okay, it's good at home, it's good at home." Ma Yasha sent Huang Okra affectionately to the persimmon tree of her husband's house. Lan Yuliu looked at Huang Okra's back and said to herself: "It's really good, it's really good, don't you?" It’s better to go to the village, but the old house is even better. As a city dweller, I don’t want to go back. I want to live in the old house without having to go to the village, so I have been living in Zhu Badger’s house.” Lu Huan didn’t know whether it was intentional or unintentional, and then Guo Lan Yuliu said loudly: "Sister Liu, haven't we become people who don't live in the village and have become people in the old house? Badger's house is our home, and the old house is our common home."

Huang Qiukui turned around and glanced at Lan Yuliu and Lu Huan, then quickened her pace and walked towards her home. After Huang Qiukui walked into his home, Ma Yasha returned from under the persimmon tree and returned to the door of his home. Seeing that Lu Huan and Lan Yuliu had already entered, he whispered to Zhu Badger who was still standing under the eaves: "You can't come in today if you don't want to." It means I will never enter in the future, so I’d better plan some things in advance.”

Zhu Badger replied: "Wait until after the New Year. If you act too early, she will see the flaws."

"Well, there is a gap in all the secrets. Why don't you go and sit at Mr. Zhu's place?"

"Tomorrow, it's too conspicuous to go there now, maybe she will go there too."

"Tomorrow is fine. Tomorrow the pig will be killed and frozen. You can just give Mr. Zhu a chance to have a good talk with him while he takes the pig to the water."

"Mom, I'm sorry when I was in the cave today. I was too upset and couldn't control my emotions."

"Are you being polite to me here? You don't want to see your father suffer, right? Don't worry, it's good for you now. At least you're free of a lot of worries."

"Mom, why are you talking more and more bookishly? Is it because you are no longer Ma Yasha but Chouyu now?"

"If you want to eat prunes, vegetables and meat, please tell me, don't hurt your mother like this. Let me tell you, I have read as many books as you."

"Of course, otherwise, can you be my Badger Fairy's mother? Mother, do you think Lan Yuliu wanted to take Lu Huan to Huang Qiukui's house just now?"

"Do you even need to ask this? Only by knowing yourself and your enemy can you win every battle. She and she need to know each other's bottom. Just now she didn't just touch our family's bottom, but hers."

"Mom, can you not give her up? I'm so confused by you."

"Are you confused? It's rare for you to be confused. Let me tell you, it's better to tell me and tell your father some things earlier. You can't defeat her alone. If she and she join forces, no matter how hard you are, No matter if it’s the Eight Immortals or the Nine Immortals, the old house will definitely not be saved.”

"Mom, I understand. Next, I want to find out who is the real murderer in the series of murders that occurred in the old house after my father's demolition notice was posted?"

"What biological father? Your father is your father, as if you have another father."

"Mom, do you really want me to have another father?"

"Stop talking nonsense. It's normal for a few weird things to happen in the old house after the demolition notice was posted. Don't take it too seriously. It's not a real murder."

"Hey, is this back to Mayaksha's true nature again?"

"Be careful when I fork you. Come into the house quickly. It won't be good if she waits inside for too long."

"You won't come into the house?"

"I'm going to take a look at the pigsty. It's going to be frozen tomorrow."

The conversation between mother and daughter outside the house last night was still fresh in Zhu Badger's memory. She once again looked at her own mother with admiration and thought to herself, you, Ma Yasha, are really good at it. It seems that it is not wrong for me to be reincarnated with you in this life. .

"Go, bring this pair of kidneys and this thigh to Mr. Zhu." Ma Yasha waited for Zhu Badger to finish breakfast and handed her a bamboo basket and a pig thigh. Zhu Badger carries the pig's thigh on his shoulder and goes out with the bamboo basket.

Walking under the persimmon tree, the cross-eyed woman ran out and put a pair of kidneys into the bamboo basket, winked at Zhu Badger, and Zhu Badger said loudly: "Well, I know, I will give these kidneys to Mr. Zhu, don't let them go." Your tiger knows.”

"You, you, how could he not know that you shouted so loudly?" The cross-eyed woman stamped her feet anxiously.

Zhu Badger laughed out loud: "I killed a big fat pig and lost a pair of waists. If you don't know, then he is not a tiger but a sick cat."

"It's just a sick cat, but it wants to pretend to be a tiger. Well, I raise the big fat pig, and I can give it to whoever I like." The slant-eyed woman put her hands on her hips, and her squinting eyes were exactly in line with Zhu who was looking out. Tiger's green bean eyes met, and Zhu Hu quickly retracted his head.

Zhu Badger found it even more funny and thought, a few days ago, he was beating and scolding the cross-eyed woman in front of everyone, why are he afraid of her today? Could it be related to Lan Yuliu? So Zhu Badger raised his voice and said loudly: "Sister Liu, don't worry, she lives in my house, we are as close as sisters." Zhu Hu stuck his head out again, and stood sideways in front of Zhu Badger, blocking Zhu Hu's sight, and lowered his voice. He said to Zhu Badger: "She is not a good person. You should be more careful." "Yes, please help me to be more careful about sick cats. I will give you a nice word in front of Mr. Zhu." Zhu Badger responded in a low voice.

The slant-eyed woman smiled brightly, put her face against Zhu Badger's face, and put her mouth against Zhu Badger's ear, and whispered: "That woman also has a big box at my house. There must be secrets in it. The sick cat watches closely and won't let her touch it. I touch."

(End of this chapter)