Opening a Tavern in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 329 Winter

On this day, the sun shone warmly on the market. Although it was winter and there was no snow, it was still cold. It was a good time to cure fish.

The backyard of Zuixianlou was filled with basins and wooden barrels of various sizes, filled with fresh fish just caught from the river outside the city.

The fish were jumping around, and their scales were shining silver in the sunlight.

Xiaoyu stood aside, directing everyone in an orderly manner.

"Afu, clean all these fish and take out the internal organs carefully." Xiaoyu's voice was crisp and clear, with a reassuring majesty.

Ah Fu nodded quickly, rolled up his sleeves and started to work.

He was very skilled, and in a short while, all the fish were washed clean and neatly stacked on the chopping board.

Yuyu helped pass the tools by the side. Her eyes were sparkling as she watched Ah Fu process the fish with curiosity.

"What should we do after cleaning these fish?" Yu Yu couldn't help but ask.

Ah Fu smiled and replied, "The next step is to rub salt on the fish. Salt is the key to curing the fish."

At this time, Li Hao came over with a big bag of salt. "Mom, the salt is here."

He put the salt bag on the ground, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Xiaoyu smiled and patted his head: "Thank you for your hard work, Hao'er."

She picked up a handful of salt and began to demonstrate how to salt the fish.

Her technique was gentle yet even, and every part of the fish was covered with salt just right.

"Yu Yu, Hao'er, look, you can't put too much salt or too little. If you put too much, the fish will be too salty. If you put too little, the fish won't be able to absorb the flavor and will spoil easily." Yu Yu and Li Hao looked at it seriously and nodded from time to time.

Just as everyone was busy, Yuyu's eyes suddenly lit up. She tugged at Xiaoyu's clothes and said, "Mom, we can't just make cured fish. We also have cured chicken and duck. I heard there are a lot of fresh chickens and ducks for sale at the West Street market. Let's go buy some and make some cured meat. We can eat it together as a family."

Xiaoyu smiled and tapped Yuyu's nose. "My dear daughter, you're still thinking about the cured chicken and duck. Okay, when I'm done here, I'll go to the market with you."

Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao also came to the backyard. Cheng Chumo said carelessly: "Xiaoyu, today's salted fish work is really lively!"

Qin Huaidao added with a smile: "Yes, just by smelling the aroma of this fresh fish, I'm already looking forward to the deliciousness of cured fish."

Xiaoyu greeted them with a smile: "If you two don't mind, come and help."

Cheng Chumo immediately rolled up his sleeves and said, "Okay, this is the job I, Old Cheng, am best at."

As he said that, he picked up a fish and started to rub salt on it like Xiaoyu did.

Qin Huaidao also followed suit. Although his movements were a little unfamiliar, he was very serious.

Ah Cai brought some spices from the kitchen, including peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, etc. "Boss, these spices are ready."

Xiaoyu took the spices and nodded: "Crush these spices and mix them with salt later. The cured fish will be more fragrant."

Ah Cai responded and sat aside to start grinding the spices carefully.

The backyard was bustling with activity. Everyone was working and chatting at the same time, with laughter and joy all around.

With everyone's concerted efforts, each fresh fish was coated with salt and spices and hung neatly on the racks in the backyard.

A gentle breeze blew by, and the salt crystals on the fish's body sparkled.

As time passed, the fish slowly dried in the wind, and the aroma of bacon gradually spread.

After the work of curing fish in the backyard came to a temporary end, Xiaoyu took Yu Yu to the market on West Street.

The market was bustling with people and the sounds of hawking could be heard one after another.

Xiaoyu and Yuyu shuttled between the stalls, carefully selecting fresh chickens and ducks.

Yu Yu was like a happy little deer, jumping and leading the way in front, his eyes constantly searching the stalls.

Suddenly, she quickened her pace and shouted as she ran, "Mom, here, here, here!" Xiaoyu hurriedly followed.

But when they arrived at the place Yu Yu pointed to, they only saw stalls selling vegetables and fruits, and no chickens or ducks at all.

Yuyu's smile froze for a moment, her face full of confusion and disappointment, she muttered, "Why, I don't see any chickens or ducks, is there nothing to sell in winter?"

There was a gleam of confusion in her eyes, and she looked around anxiously, as if the chickens and ducks were hiding in some corner.

Xiaoyu patted Yuyu's shoulder gently and comforted her, "Don't worry, my dear daughter, let's look somewhere else. This market is so big, maybe it's at another stall." After saying that, she pulled Yuyu and continued to move forward.

They walked along the streets of the market for a long time and asked several stall owners, but the answers they got were all shakes of the head.

Yu Yu's mood became increasingly depressed, and her steps became heavier.

Just when she was about to be completely disappointed, Yu Yu suddenly heard a series of "cluck" and "ga" sounds.

"Mom, listen!" Yu Yu excitedly pulled Xiao Yu's hand and ran in the direction of the voice.

In a corner of the market, a man was guarding a few bamboo baskets filled with many lively chickens and ducks.

Yu Yu's eyes suddenly lit up, and she ran to the bamboo cage and looked at the chickens and ducks carefully.

"Your chickens and ducks are so energetic!" Yu Yu said with a smile.

The uncle smiled and responded: "Little girl, you have a good eye. The chickens and ducks here are all raised at home, so they are absolutely fresh."

Xiaoyu also walked forward, asked about the price, and carefully checked the condition of the chickens and ducks.

After some selection, they bought some chickens and ducks.

Yu Yu happily hugged a duck with a satisfied smile on her face.

On the way home, Yuyu said excitedly: "Mom, we can make cured chicken and duck when we get home. I will let Brother Cheng, Brother Qin, Ah Fu and Ah Cai taste them!"

Xiaoyu looked at her daughter's happy expression and started laughing too: "Okay, when it's done, we'll share it together."

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on them, illuminating two figures, one big and one small, who walked towards Zuixianlou with full harvest and joy.

Ever since Xiaoyu and Yuyu returned from the market with a full load, the backyard of Zuixianlou has become lively again.

The chicken and duck were carefully cleaned. Ah Fu boiled a large pot of hot water, put in spices such as green onion, ginger, garlic, peppercorns, star anise, etc., sprinkled with a handful of salt, and simmered over low heat until the flavor of the spices was completely absorbed into the water. A pot of fragrant marinade was ready.

Yuyu watched intently from the side, her eyes full of curiosity and anticipation: "Uncle Afu, this marinade smells so good. Will it be even more fragrant after I marinate the chicken and duck?"

Ah Fu smiled and nodded, "Of course, little girl, this marinade is one of the secrets to making preserved meat delicious."

Afterwards, Ah Fu and Li Hao carefully placed the cleaned chicken and duck into the marinade, ensuring that each one was completely submerged.

Xiaoyu reminded him, "Make sure to marinate thoroughly and time it well." Ah Fu replied, "Don't worry, Madam Boss, I know what to do."