Siheyuan: A Cook in the 60s

The town was not quiet in the early morning.

During this season, many people head to the mountains.

Every year in May and June, when the rainy season comes, mushrooms appear all over the mountains. Picking wild mushrooms is a laborious task. People often get up at four o'clock to go into the mountains. The taste period of wild mushrooms is only two or three months. Once the rainy season is over, the mushrooms in the forest will disappear instantly like magic.

Therefore, during these two months, the early mornings in the town will become particularly lively.

Zhuoma is one of those who get up early and go up the mountain.

In the past few years, there were not many people who went to the mountains, because after picking these mushrooms, they just ate them themselves. They were delicious, but after eating them for a long time, they would get tired of them. Until last year, some people came to the town to collect mushrooms. At first, they didn't believe it, but later, some people picked them and sold them for a lot of money. The money was not much, and in a day, they could probably earn enough food for ten days.

Now, everyone was enthusiastic.

This year, there is no need for anyone to urge them. Many people have already started to head to the mountains. They are all picking fresh mushrooms that day and they say they will leave on the same day they pick them and will not stay in the local area.

This is a money-making job and no one wants to miss it.

Zhuoma was unwilling to do so either. Today's harvest was good. She walked around the mountains and picked two full baskets.

When we returned to the town, it was already bright.

At this moment, the market at the foot of the mountain has been set up.

This was the market that was held last year. People from other places helped to buy mushrooms. Everyone had money in hand, so the market was set up. Moreover, there were not only mushrooms on the mountain, but also various other good things. After everyone discussed it, they decided to hold a market on this day, and this market would last until the end of the mushroom season.

Zhuoma carried her backpack and walked towards the mushroom harvesting place with a clear purpose.

As she walked, she smelled a fragrance and couldn't help but stop and look for the source of the fragrance.

Zhuoma's nose has always been quite sensitive. She can not only smell the fragrance, but also the direction. In the southeast corner of the market, there is a small stall with a dozen pots in front of the stall owner. One of the pots is bubbling. The fragrance comes from that pot. The closer you get, the stronger it is.

Zhuoma was not unfamiliar with this taste.

The taste of mushrooms.

But, there are some differences.

It seems to be much more delicious than the mushrooms I usually eat.

There were three good-looking women and a good-looking man on the stall. The man was making soup while the woman was tidying up things beside him.

The soup seemed to be ready, and the man served a bowl.

One of the women who looked the youngest took it and ate it with a slurp.

Seeing how delicious it tasted, Zhuoma couldn't help swallowing her saliva. She also wanted to eat it...

The woman seemed to notice Zhuoma's gaze, raised her head, showed her eight teeth at her, and waved at her.

Zhuoma didn't know what happened and she walked over involuntarily.

"Do you want to eat?" Qin Jingru raised the soup in her hand.

Zhuoma nodded heavily.

"Exchange the mushrooms, one for one, not too much, one handful for one bowl."

Zhuoma understood. People of her generation all learned Mandarin, so they could understand. She happily untied the backpack, took it out, and let Qin Jingru carry it.

Mushrooms are not valuable in the local area, and the purchase price is just that. Grab a handful and exchange it for a bowl of soup, it's worth it.

Qin Jingru took another sip and motioned for her to put down the backpack.

Then he took a sip.

In this short period of time, she drank three sips.

Zhuoma felt that this woman was pretty, but she was too greedy.

Cao Wei had taught Qin Jingru how to pick mushrooms. After picking a few mushrooms that looked good, Qin Jingru waved her hand and said, "Add the soup."

Qin Huairu rolled her eyes, poured a bowl of soup and handed it to Zhuoma.

Zhuoma took it impatiently. She had gone into the mountains so early in the morning and hadn't eaten yet.

As soon as she took a sip of the soup, she was stunned. This was a taste she had never tried before, fresh and fragrant. The mushrooms seemed to be dancing in her mouth. She swallowed it in one gulp, and the rich fragrance went down her esophagus and into her stomach, warming her from head to toe. She didn't know how to describe this taste. It was completely different from the mushroom soup she usually ate.

A sip of soup seemed to wash away all her fatigue of the day, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled up slightly.

It was a feeling she couldn't describe.

"Hey, why doesn't anyone come?" Qin Jingru scooped another bowl.

"Of course no one is coming, so you can eat it all!" Qin Huairu patted her little head. This woman said she was opening a shop, but in fact, she ate bowl after bowl by herself. My goodness, she almost finished it all just by eating.

"How can you blame me? Look, didn't that little girl just come over because I was eating so well?"

"That makes sense." Cao Wei nodded.

"Just spoil her!"

"I've spoiled you, too."

"go with!"

Zhuoma felt like she was walking with the wind. The bowl of soup she had just had was so delicious that she wanted to have a second bowl. When she realized this, she quickly finished her soup, picked up her backpack, and ran away. She was going to sell it for money. If she changed it, her parents would scold her again. She couldn't stay here for long.

The look in her eyes as she ran away was as determined as if she was going to get D.

She had to be firm. She was really afraid that all her mushrooms would be gone soon.

When they arrived at the mushroom collection place, there was already a queue. She was one of the first to come. She was not big, but her feet were very fast and her eyesight was good, so she was the first to come down. After selling this batch, she wanted to go up and buy another batch, and if possible, go down the mountain and get another bowl. Thinking of this, she couldn't help licking her lips.

Well, let’s do it!

She couldn't help but feel a little motivated again.

"Oh, it's really painful to see these delicious foods disappear in front of us." Wu Lisheng sighed helplessly: "Brother, these mushrooms are delicious."

"It depends on who cooks it. If ordinary people cook it, it will taste ordinary. If you take it back and let a chef cook it, the taste will be different." Wu Zhen collected the mushrooms expressionlessly. He regretted bringing his sister out. His sister is a foodie. She wants to take a bite of everything she sees. It's because her family is well-off. If the conditions were worse, she would be so hungry.

"Hey, I want to eat something delicious..." Wu Li glanced at her brother.

"No, don't even think about it. Go back and eat it. I've told you many times that the people here are good at making mushroom hotpot, but..." He didn't continue talking here. After all, he was on someone else's territory, so there was nothing wrong in saying less.