SFS Chapter 146: Eat More Hoofs
Chapter 146: Eat More Hoofs
Pick up the sesame cake with chopsticks and put it into your mouth. The rice noodles are smooth and chewy, and the delicious shrimp, the mellow meat and the sweet vegetables instantly bloom in your mouth.
His eyes lit up and he nodded repeatedly, "Delicious! Sister Yuntao, this is the best rice noodles I've ever had!"
Cheng Yuntao looked at the satisfied look on Shaobing's face, with a gentle smile on her face: "If it tastes good, eat more. There's still a lot in the pot. If you're not full later, go get another bowl."
Shaobing nodded vigorously and started eating again. He ate very seriously, savoring every bite.
At this moment, the morning light was shining brightly in the yard, and the breeze was blowing gently, carrying with it the aroma of rice noodles. Everyone was busy slurping the noodles, immersed in the satisfaction brought by this delicious food. Only Cheng Jingzhu was silently looking at the sesame cakes.
Inadvertently, he saw Shaobing's tears falling into the soup. The tears made a "plop" sound, splashing tiny water droplets, and then merged with the hot soup in an instant. He also witnessed him hurriedly wiping away the tears, and when he tried to smile, the corners of his eyes turned red due to the hard wiping.
Cheng Jingzhu felt as if something had gently hit his heart, causing ripples to appear, and the resistance in his heart began to gradually subside.
After finishing the rice noodles, Cheng Jingzhu and Jiang Yu helped Shaobing take a bath. Shaobing was actually very shy, but he was also embarrassed to stay in Cheng Yuntao's house dirty. The steam in the bathroom made Shaobing a little hesitant, but Cheng Jingzhu and Jiang Yu's carefree attitude gradually made him relax a little.
After washing, Cheng Jingzhu took the initiative to take out a set of his own clothes for Shaobing to wear. Although it was well-intentioned, his tone was still a little stiff: "Hey, I'll lend you these clothes first, but you have to return me a new set in the future."
Shaobing was stunned for a moment, then he understood. He knew Cheng Jingzhu's good intentions, took the initiative to show a friendly smile, and said sincerely: "Yes, yes, I will definitely return it. Thank you, Xiaozhu."
Cheng Jingzhu looked at Shaobing's smiling face and turned his head away a little uncomfortably: "Alright, alright, stop fussing and put it on quickly."
When Shaobing came out after changing his clothes, everyone's eyes lit up. Without the dirt covering him, the dirty and dusty little beggar seemed like a different person.
He has delicate eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and his lips are slightly pursed, with a hint of shyness and restraint. His eyes are clear and bright, revealing intelligence. His hair is still a little damp and slightly messy on his forehead, but it makes him look more youthful and energetic.
Zhou Xiufang couldn't help but exclaimed in admiration: "Oh, I said this child looked smart, I didn't expect him to be so handsome after washing himself."
Shaobing felt a little embarrassed by the praise. Cheng Yuntao noticed his embarrassment with her sharp eyes, so she took the initiative to get a mirror and wanted him to see what he looked like now. Shaobing took the mirror, held it in front of his eyes, and stared at it blankly.
Deep in his memory, he always felt that he was still very young, but now the face reflected in the mirror has gradually opened up, and although it still has some childishness, it already has the outline of a teenager. He has grown up so much.
"Shaobing, do you still remember how old you are this year?"
Shaobing raised his head slightly, looked away from the mirror, and after thinking for a moment, a trace of confusion flashed in his eyes, and he whispered: "I should be thirteen years old."
Cheng Yuntao couldn't help but be a little surprised. She widened her eyes slightly and said, "Thirteen years old? You're actually older than Xiaozhu and Xiaoli, but you two look about the same when standing together."
Perhaps it is because he has been wandering around for these years, not having enough food to eat and having no place to live, that Shaobing looks so thin and his figure is far smaller than that of his peers.
Cheng Yuntao looked at Shaobing's thin body and immediately decided to give Shaobing some good nourishment at noon.
Pig's trotters are an excellent food ingredient. They are plump in shape, with firm and elastic skin and meat. If cooked using traditional methods, whether slow-cooked in a wok or steamed in a cauldron, they can produce a mouth-watering delicacy.
Over a blazing fire, the trotters are served in a clay pot, seasoned with scallions, ginger, garlic, and other spices, and filled with clear well water. Simmered over low heat until the broth thickens like honey, the trotters are perfectly tender. The skin breaks easily, as light as paper, while the tendons within remain firm and chewy. Alternatively, they can be roasted until golden brown, then slowly simmered in the broth, achieving a perfect blend of charred skin and tender interior.
In addition to the above-mentioned methods, there are many unique ways to eat it.
Prepare a marinade in a pot, carefully blending spices like cinnamon, bay leaves, star anise, Sichuan peppercorns, and dried chilies, along with light and dark soy sauce and rock sugar. Add the pig's trotters and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Over time, the marinade's aroma permeates the pot, gradually turning a brown sauce. Remove the trotters, let them cool, and then slice them thinly. Enjoy as an appetizer or with wine or rice, the savory, fragrant, and lingering marinade flavor is palatable.
After carefully cleaning the pig's trotters, put them into the pot and cook them. After cooking, remove the bones from the trotters and cut the meat into chunks. Add a little gypsum into the pot and cook them together with the antlers and stone flowers. After cooling, they will solidify into a jelly state. When eating, cut them into slices and eat with fermented rice wine. It has a unique flavor.
……
At lunch, Shaobing saw the large pig's trotter placed in front of him and couldn't help but show a look of surprise. He almost forgot how long it had been since he had eaten meat, let alone a more delicious part like the pig's trotter. The trotter was bright red and shiny, and the rising aroma penetrated his nostrils directly, making his stomach surge with greed.
His eyes were glued to the pig's trotter as if drawn by a magnet, his hands clenched nervously at his sides, his Adam's apple involuntarily moving up and down, and the sound of his swallowing was particularly clear in the quiet dining room. While he was greedy, he was also worried about how he would repay this kindness in the future.
However, at noon, no one greeted him like before, but was busy gnawing on the pig's trotters in front of them. Shaobing, on the contrary, relaxed a lot and joined the group.
At first, Shaobing was quite cautious. Every time he took a small bite of the pig's trotter, he would steal a glance at the person next to him, fearing that his eating habits would be too ugly. As time went by, he gradually forgot his restraint and began to eat with relish.
The braised pig's trotters just out of the pot are bright red in color and attractive. If you take a closer sniff, the rich and mellow aroma of the braised pork will instantly hit your nose. The aroma of spices and meat blends perfectly, stimulating your taste buds.
The soft, almost glutinous subcutaneous tendons, imbued with the flavors of the spices during the marinating process, unfold like silk with a gentle sip. A delicate sensation spreads throughout the mouth, a cascade of salty, savory, and spiced flavors, each so rich and indigestible. The small amount of lean meat hidden within retains just the right amount of firmness, and with every chew, you can feel the pull of the meat fibers, making it impossible to stop eating.