roccoschili Chapter 390 Dad, the Taste of Home
Chapter 390 Dad, the Taste of Home
I rested at home for a while.
Gao Mengli then took Lin Xi to the pond at the head of the river to catch river shrimp.
As soon as the net was lifted out of the water, the silvery river shrimp began to jump and splash inside.
Gao Mengli quickly pressed her hand against the opening of the net, "Xixi, hurry up and get the basket! These shrimp are very fresh, they'll jump back into the water if we're a moment too late!"
"Hey! They're here!"
Lin Xi eagerly grabbed the basket and quickly took it!
"Look at these shrimp. They're not particularly big, but their claws are full of meat! They'd make delicious shrimp cakes!"
Gao Mengli doesn't consider herself a big eater, but the thought of shrimp cakes makes her mouth water uncontrollably!
Looking at the river shrimp jumping in the basket, and then at Gao Mengli's drooling expression, Lin Xi couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Look how hungry you are! It's just shrimp cakes, I'll make them tonight!"
It's a pity these shrimp are too small, otherwise we could have peeled them and made shrimp chips!
Shrimp chips, if stored properly, can last for up to a year!
Hearing Lin Xi's mutterings, Gao Mengli came up with a good idea: "Xi Xi, we can actually remove the head and stomach of the shrimp and grind the whole river shrimp into a paste."
Then, use a fine flour sieve to filter out the coarse outer shell, leaving the finer sediment.
"We don't have any starch, and this shrimp paste is quite thin, so why don't you just add some glutinous rice flour, knead it into a dough, and cook it?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Xi stared intently at Gao Mengli, "How come your mind works so fast?"
I was just thinking about making shrimp chips, and you've already come up with a new way to do it!
He squatted down and poked at the river shrimp in the basket. The more he thought about it, the more reliable it seemed. "Grind the shrimp into a paste, filter out the shells, add glutinous rice flour and cook, cut it open and let it dry, then fry it in oil. Wouldn't that be perfect shrimp chips?"
However, the taste is definitely not as good as the shrimp chips made from authentic prawns and starch!
However, the texture is a little different, but it will definitely taste incredibly delicious when made!
"Mengli, let's have two more nets, then we'll go back and do it!"
Without further ado, the two continued the salvage operation!
Finally, the two of them carried three baskets and returned to their own courtyard house in high spirits!
"Da Niu, light the fire, and Dad will make you shrimp cakes!"
Lin Xi called out to the study as soon as she entered the room.
Da Niu responded, immediately put down his calligraphy brush, and ran to the kitchen to pry open the fire!
Gao Mengli carried three baskets of river shrimp into the kitchen, where Lin Xi had already rolled up her sleeves and was waiting.
The two had a clear division of labor: Gao Mengli was in charge of processing the river shrimp.
Quickly remove the shrimp's stomach and trim off its whiskers, then rinse it repeatedly in clean water until the shrimp's body turns a clean bluish-white.
Lin Xi prepared the ingredients on the side, chopping the scallions into small pieces, mincing the ginger, and scooping out two bowls of flour from the flour bin, mixing in a little salt, and stirring everything evenly.
After heating the oil in the wok, Lin Xi scooped out a spoonful of the thick noodle soup, added a handful of small river shrimp, and then put the spoon and the noodles into the oil to fry until they came off the spoon, then flipped them over.
The aroma of the shrimp cakes wafted far and wide in an instant.
Da Niu huddled by the stove, staring intently at it, swallowing hard several times.
After his parents passed away, he never felt satisfied with the food cooked by other people.
No matter how delicious other people's cooking is, he still thinks his parents' cooking is better!
Because of Da Niu's love for home, he would rush home for meals every day after court!
Just like modern students waiting to rush to the cafeteria after class!
People laughed at him, saying he never went out for drinks or to restaurants to enjoy delicious food, and that he had none of the "airs" of a court official.
But when he learned that Da Niu's parents were Lin Xi, the very person who was so popular that others couldn't even get a reservation for a private banquet, he shut up!
He mocked the deliciousness of the beef, but little did he know, the clown was himself!
If his father were Lin Xi, he would still rush in, and no one could persuade him otherwise!
His father isn't Lin Xi, but his colleague's father is!
So every now and then I'd start talking about feelings with Da Niu. Once the feelings were pretty much there, I'd insist on going to Da Niu's place to "beg for a free meal," claiming that if I didn't, I'd be letting my colleague down!
Lin Xi scooped out the shrimp cakes, which were fried until golden brown on both sides, and placed them in a bamboo basket next to her to cool.
He didn't know if he made the neighbor's kid cry from craving, but he certainly made his own ox, who was digging in the stove, cry from craving.
Lin Xi picked up a shrimp cake and handed it to Da Niu, "It's still a little hot, eat it slowly!"
Da Niu had been craning his neck and waiting impatiently for a long time!
He took the shrimp cake and tossed it back and forth in his hand, hissing as he breathed on it, but couldn't resist taking a small bite first.
With a crisp "crack" of the golden-brown crust, the delicious shrimp juice burst in his mouth, mixed with the fragrance of scallions. It was so hot that he grimaced but couldn't bear to spit it out.
As he ate, tears streamed down his face.
"What's wrong, kid? Is it too awful?"
Upon seeing this, Gao Mengli quickly knelt down and wiped his eyes.
That shouldn't be the case. Products from Xixi are always of high quality.
She took a bite of the shrimp cake in Da Niu's hand, and her eyes lit up.
Crispy and fragrant, these shrimp cakes are made without any artificial technology or heavy processing, and are full of the original flavor of river shrimp. You can even taste the distinct shrimp meat when you chew them.
Gao Mengli was puzzled, "It's so delicious, why are you crying!"
Da Niu looked up with teary eyes and said, "Mom, it's not that it tastes bad, it's just Dad's cooking! Dad's cooking is the taste of home!"
Upon hearing this, Gao Mengli's nose suddenly stung with tears.
After two months apart, Da Niu must miss them.
She reached out and pulled Da Niu into her arms, patting his back and laughing, "Silly child, how old are you and still crying? Your dad is right here. From now on, as many shrimp cakes as you want to eat, your dad will make them for you."
Lin Xi stood to the side, and the oil-draining ladle in his hand clattered into the pan. He quickly turned his face away to wipe the corner of his eyes, then turned back around and scolded with a smile, "You brat, why are you being so sentimental while eating a pancake!"
Eat as much as you like! There's a huge pot frying on the stove, you'll be stuffed!
That good-for-nothing brat, how can he be so pitiful!
Gao Mengli patted Da Niu on the back, "Da Niu, when the autumn harvest comes, your parents will go to the prefectural city again and bring you there to study, so you can see us every day, okay?"
"Really, really?"
Da Niu's eyes lit up with surprise, and he no longer insisted on crying; all he felt was a longing for his parents to be together!
Lin Xi slapped Da Niu on the back of the head, feigning disgust, "Right, right, I won't let you be a left-behind child! Let's go together!"
Wipe your tears quickly, or they'll get too salty on the shrimp cakes!
Da Niu wiped his face haphazardly, grinned at Lin Xi, revealing his eight teeth, and said, "No way!"
Gao Mengli lowered her head and smiled.
They're still just kids; their emotions come and go quickly!
"Da Niu, go next door and call Fu, Lu, Lin, and your younger siblings over to eat shrimp cakes together!"
Upon hearing Gao Mengli's words, Da Niu grabbed half a shrimp cake and rushed out the door.
He stood in the yard, tiptoeing and shouting, "Fu Bao! Lu Lu! Lin Lin! Come to my house quickly, my dad fried some super delicious shrimp cakes!"
A moment later, the sound of chattering footsteps could be heard outside the courtyard, and three little children ran in, holding hands.
"Uncle, Aunt!"
Lin Xi had just come out of the kitchen carrying a basket of shrimp cakes when she heard the call. She smiled and put the basket on the stone table: "Come on over! They're freshly fried and still warm!"
Fu Bao, quick as a flash, was the first to reach for the table, tilting her little face up to take a bite. Then, remembering the rules, she obediently asked, "Uncle, can I have one first? It smells so good!"
Lin Xi picked one up and handed it to him, even blowing on it to warm it up: "Be careful, it's hot, take your time."
Lulu and Linlin also came over, and Gao Mengli quickly took out some oil paper and wrapped two shrimp cakes for each child: "Take these and eat them, and ask for more if you want more!"
"Thank you, Auntie!"
The two little bean sprouts took the vegetables and quickly thanked them.
They, along with Da Niu, sat on the steps at the entrance of the four courtyards, happily munching on their shrimp cakes.
Lin Xi and Gao Mengli also carried a stool to the doorway, each taking one, and sat down next to the children to watch the sunset.
Looking at the egg-yolk-yellow sun hanging on the horizon, Lin Xi couldn't help but sigh, "These days are really good; there's something to look forward to!"
Gao Mengli nodded, "Who says otherwise!"