Chapter 89: Leek Flower

  Two updates, seeking pink powder.

  "Man Er, you're back from the market? " Lian Shouli smiled and greeted Lian Man Er and a few others, "Your grandma said that the leeks have grown worms, so let's pull them all out."

  Lian Shouli carried a full load of leeks in his manure basket, which were directly scooped up from the ground with an iron shovel. Leeks are common vegetables in rural areas and can be grown from leek seeds. The Lian family planted three vegetable fields of leeks, and every autumn when the leeks were out of season, they would all be dug up like this, leaving only the leek roots in the ground. After one or two spring rains the following year, new leeks would grow again from these roots.

  But now it's a bit early to harvest the scallions. Lian Man picked up a handful of scallions and took a look, and indeed some of the leaves had bite marks from insects. In this era, there were no chemical pesticides, and scallions were prone to pests, so these few bugs didn't matter.

  "Third Uncle, isn't it a bit early? There aren't many insects yet." Lian Miao still wanted to eat more leek and egg stir-fries, leek-filled buns, and leek boxes.

  "I also said so, your mother won't let you get married now." Lian Shouli honestly said.

  The household chores of the Lian family are all decided by Mrs. Zhou. What Mrs. Zhou says is right, whether it's right or wrong, no one else has the power to question except for Old Master Lian. Whoever dares to show a slightly different opinion will have to face Mrs. Zhou's stormy wrath.

  "Third Uncle, leave some for my family." Lian Man'er said to Lian Shouli. Without a refrigerator, the scallions can't be kept for long, but after cutting them down and putting them in a cool place, they can be eaten for two days without any problem.

  "Your third aunt has already picked some out and sent them to your mother," said Lian Shouli. Lian Shouli and Lian Shouxin had similar temperaments, and among the four brothers, they were the closest. Zhang Shi and Lian Man'er took good care of Zhao Shi and Lian Ye'er in every way. Since the division of the family, the relationship between the two households had become even more intimate.

  "Thanks a lot, Third Aunt."

  "No need to thank me, we're all family. You should head back home now. It's been half a day, and your father and mother were just mentioning that earlier." Lian Shouli said.

  "Ah." Lian Man'er responded, watching as Lian Shouli carried the night stool out the door. In her heart, she still felt that throwing away those scallions was a waste. But there was no refrigerator. Even if there were, this dish couldn't be stored for too long.

  "Third Uncle, wait." Lian Man'er suddenly had a change of heart and called out to stop Lian Shouli.

  "Anything else?" Lian Shouli stopped and asked Lian Man'er.

  "Third Uncle, don't throw away these leeks you've dug up. Give them all to me." Lian Man'er said to Lian Shouli.

  "Man Er, it's a lot better now. What do you want to do with it? Leave some for your family, it's enough for two or three days." Lian Shouli said puzzledly.

  "Third Uncle, just don't bother about it anymore. Just give me all these scallions and that's fine. I have a use for them." Lian Man Er said with a smile.

  "That's right." Lian Shouli nodded in agreement.

  "Third Uncle, just put the scallions you dug up in a shaded area under the windowsill."

  Lian Wan'er had made up her mind and instructed Lian Shouli before hurrying with Lian Zhier and a few others to the west wing.

  "How come it's been half a day, didn't I tell you that peanuts can't be sold? Just bring them back and we'll eat them ourselves." Zhang saw the children coming back, let out a sigh of relief at the same time, and couldn't help but scold, "If you guys hadn't come back, your father and I would have gone to look for you..."

  Zhang sat on the edge of the kang, and changed into a set of clothes for going out, it seemed that she was indeed just about to go out to find them. Zhang's body had long since recovered, if not for Lian Man insisting that she sit out the full thirty days of her postpartum confinement, she would have gotten up and started working already.

  "Wu Lang, how did your mouth corner get hurt?" Zhang Shi suddenly discovered that Wu Lang had an injury on his face and immediately stopped complaining, asking anxiously.

  "I..." Gorō scratched his head, unsure of how to put it into words.

  Lian Shouxin also found a fingerprint on Xiao Qi's neck and suddenly stood up from the edge of the bed.

  "What's going on, who bullied you?" Lian Shouxin asked hastily. The injuries of Wu Lang and Xiao Qi were obviously inflicted by someone else. Lian Shouxin knew the character of his own children, they wouldn't go around provoking others, so this could only mean they had been bullied.

  "Father, mother, don't worry for now." Lian Man'er saw that Lian Shou Xin and Zhang Shi had changed their expressions, so she hastily waved her hand and said, "Look at us, we're all fine... something just happened..."

  Several children chattered back and forth, telling Lian Shouxin and Zhang Shi all about what had happened in the town. Of course, Lian Man'er kept it a secret that she had known Shen Liu for a long time.

  Lian Shouxin and Zhang heard it, and then Zhang checked Wu Lang and Xiao Qi again, finding that they were not seriously injured, only then did she put her mind at ease.

  "Who would have thought such a thing could happen? Luckily that Sixth Master handled it fairly." said Zhang.

  "The peanuts didn't all sell, so Man'er gave the leftovers to Shen Liu Ye. Shen Liu Ye even gave a gift in return." Wu Lang then opened up the bundle of grass he had carried on his back, revealing the gift box inside.

  Lian Man'er was afraid that bringing such a gift into the village would be too conspicuous, and people would ask this and that. As soon as they left the town, they pulled out some grass and wrapped the gift in it, and brought it back.

  Lian Wan'er then brought the gift box onto the kang and let Zhang Shi and Lian Shouxin take a look.

  "Goodness gracious, these..." Zhang's fingers only lightly touched the large red and gold-edged fabric, "These are things used by wealthy families."

  "Not necessarily," Lian Shouxin also said.

  "Daughter, put these things away first." Lian Man'er only picked up the two silver letters and locked them in her and Lian Zhier's cabinet, handing over everything else to Zhang Shi.

  "Yes, let's just set these two chi aside for now," said Zhang. In a rural household, if you wore clothes made from such chi, it would be too dazzling. "What about the tea..."

  "The tea has been left for too long and its flavor is no longer good." said Lian Wan.

  "This is definitely good tea leaves. My grandfather isn't fond of drinking tea, but after a couple of days, I'll find someone to deliver it to him." Lian Shou Xin said.

  Lian Shouxin was able to think this way on his own initiative, and Zhang felt especially relieved in her heart.

  "There's also this fan, in our rural homes, no one uses this." Zhang said, looking at the paper fan.

  Lian Man'er took out the fan and opened it to take a look. On it was a landscape painting in ink wash style. Lian Man'er didn't understand art, but she thought the use of ink was bold and free, with a grand composition. She thought it must be a good piece, otherwise Shen Liu wouldn't have brought it out as a gift.

  "This fan, I'll keep it for myself. It will definitely come in handy later." Lian Man'er carefully put the fan back into the gift box and said so. She had an idea in her mind, but it wasn't clear yet, so she didn't say it out loud.

  Zhang's family then put away the gift box, and Lian Man'er also showed Zhang's family the things she had bought.

  "We sold it for 240 coins, and we were so happy that we spent them all." Lian Man'er said with a smile.

  Seeing several children buying things with their own money, Zhang was happier than seeing those gifts.

  Because there are buns bought back, lunch doesn't need to be done either. The whole family eats buns while talking.

  "Mother, let's have braised fin and stewed pork ribs for dinner tonight." Lian Man'er discussed with Zhang Shi.

  "Good." Little Qi hastily nodded without waiting for Zhang's response.

  "Little glutton." Zhang patted Xiao Qi's head and nodded in agreement, "Mother will cook dinner tonight."

  "Your mother's braised pig's trotters are the most delicious." Lian Shouxin said.

  "That night, I was waiting for a taste of your mother's cooking." said Lian Man Er.

  "Man Er, I've put all the leeks here for you." At this time, Lian Shouli was heard saying from outside the window.

  "Ah, got it." Lian Man'er hastily replied.

  "What's with the scallions?" Zhang asked Lianmang.

  "I'll get Third Uncle to give us all the leeks he's dug up," said Lianmang.

  "That's not a small amount, just now your third aunt sent me two bundles of fresh ones, that's enough for us to eat. Those leeks are old." said Zhang Shi.

  "Mother, aren't we supposed to make sauerkraut for winter?" asked Lian Manger. The weather here is cold in the winter, and there are no fresh vegetables to eat, only cabbage, potatoes and the like. The Lian family grew a lot of cabbage, about half of which was intended for making sauerkraut.

  "Yes."

  "Mother, don't we put scallion flowers in the stewed sour cabbage?" Lian Menger asked again.

  "Leek flower, what leek flower, tendrils, are you talking about leek seeds?" Zhang Shi asked in confusion.

  Lian Man'er suddenly understood that it was not a custom here to make chive blossoms.

  Scallion flowers are a good thing, especially with sauerkraut, which is a perfect match. In addition, when eating hot pot lamb, the dipping sauce must also have scallion flowers.

  "Mother, this leek flower is what I heard Shen Qian say." Lian Man'er had to say so, and then simply told Zhang Shi what the leek flower was. "Let's make a jar first, mother, you'll understand."

  To make scallion flowers, you just need to use them quickly before they go out of season. Some older scallions will do, and then just use salt - nothing else is needed.

  "It's a pity to throw away those leeks. Alright, let's make leek flowers."

  The whole family is diligent and gets things done as soon as they say they will.

  First, pick out the leeks and remove any rotten or severely bitten leaves. If there are small insects, remove them as well. Then, wash the leeks thoroughly until they are clean, and let them air dry slightly to remove excess moisture. Next, chop the leeks into small pieces on a cutting board. After that, put the chopped leeks into a clean ceramic jar, add an appropriate amount of coarse salt, and use a garlic press to mash everything together until it forms a paste.

  Actually, chive blossoms are just chive paste, and even the stems have a sudden enlightenment.

  The girls were divided into different tasks, Lian Shouxin was in charge of supplying water, Lian Man'er and Xiao Qi were responsible for picking scallions, Lian Zhi'er was responsible for washing the scallions, Zhang Shi's knife skills were good, so she was in charge of cutting, and then pounding the scallions was Lian Shouxin and Wu Lang's job. Zhao Shi and Lian Ye'er also came to help after seeing them.

  "This leek is all old, look at this stalk, if we leave it for a few more days, the leek seeds will be ripe." said Zhao.

  "Don't look at the axe, just rely on the leek flowers being delicious enough." Lian Man'er said.

  "Old Third's wife, come over here." Zhou Shi called out from the doorway of the upper house.

  Zhao put down the leeks in her hands and followed Zhou into the upper house. Lian Ye was worried about Zhao, so she also followed them in.

  Before long, they heard Mrs. Chou's angry shouting coming from upstairs.

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