It had been almost a month since Li Yao arrived in this world. She was now completely adapted and her original body had mostly recovered. She felt it was time to start rebuilding her physique, beginning with something simple like running.
She ran from home towards the woods, all the way to the edge of the forest and back. Although she was panting heavily by the end, she managed to grit her teeth and finish. However, she was still far from her peak condition back in the day. This was a decent start.
Old Man Kang delivered over 30 geese at the break of dawn today. Liu Sao and Hu Sao came early to help. Grandpa and grandma had said they would come to assist yesterday.
Shen Shi also came over with her three kids, but they seemed reluctant. After all, they could earn money gathering herbs in the mountains. At most, plucking geese would get them a free meal, no cash to speak of.
"You all stay put and help out."
Wang Xueshi knew her daughter-in-law like the back of her hand. One look was all she needed to know what Shen Shi was thinking.
"You can gather herbs tomorrow. We can't delay your sister-in-law's business."
The most tedious part about slaughtering geese was plucking the feathers.
Most feathers could be easily removed after being scalded with boiling water. But those tiny pin feathers were difficult to clear off.
When there were only a few geese, plucking them one by one didn't take much time. But with almost 40 today, using the same method would take them well into the night.
Shen Shi was most unhappy, muttering under her breath, "It's not like you'll give me a penny of the money she earns..."
"Money, money, money. Is money all you can think about? Did you fall into a money pit or something?"
Seeing the two bickering, Li Yao quickly said, "Go gather herbs. We don't need your help here. Wang San'er and Xiao Si can go with you."
"Great!"
The two kids were thrilled they still had a chance to earn money today.
Naturally, Shen Shi was only too glad to leave as well, slipping away as if pardoned.
Li Yao didn't ask Wang JiaGui to help process the geese either, letting him continue ginning cotton while Wang Xueshi helped He Xiaoya sew quilt covers and make cotton clothes.
This left Liu Sao and Hu Sao as the main workforce for goose processing.
"Can just the three of you finish it?"
Wang Xueshi was worried, but Li Yao had her ways.
She was in charge of slaughtering, Liu Sao scalding, and Hu Sao plucking. They only needed to pluck off most feathers, leaving those tiny ones for later.
After a few geese, Li Yao set up a large pot in the yard, first adding two jin of vegetable oil, then over ten jin of rosin.
Once melted, she put the partially processed geese in to coat them with rosin, then quickly dunked them in cold water. Now, with just a gentle tug, all the small feathers came right off, stuck to the rosin.
Neither Liu Sao nor Hu Sao had seen such an ingenious feather-plucking method before, marveling at it continuously.
"Li Yao, how did you come up with this?"
"I heard it from someone else."
Liu Sao and Hu Sao exchanged a look. They all lived in the same village, how come they'd never heard of this technique?
But they knew Li Yao's temperament, and didn't dare ask more. As long as the job today was easier, that was all that mattered.
"Collect the excess rosin and reuse it. Be careful not to burn your hands."
After teaching Liu Sao and Hu Sao, Li Yao didn't need to help at all. The two women were able to breeze through the geese.
"Auntie Li."
Just as she was about to take a break, Du Xiao Hui came over with a few yellow kumquats in hand.
"You're not out gathering herbs?" Li Yao asked.
"Granny said I don't know herbs, so she went herself after telling me to watch the house." Looking at the dozens of geese in the yard, Du Xiao Hui asked, "You're slaughtering so many geese today? Need me to help?"
"No need, we can manage."
"I've got nothing else to do anyway."
Du Xiao Hui put the kumquats on Wang Er's desk and rolled up her sleeves to pitch in. The twelve-year-old girl worked efficiently, greatly speeding up the goose processing.
Before evening fell, they were done with all the geese.
"Auntie Li, I'm going home now." Seeing there was nothing left to do, Du Xiao Hui headed back.
"Wait."
Li Yao took out 20 copper coins.
The girl had helped the whole day without even staying for lunch. She deserved wages for sure.
"I don't want it."
Unexpectedly, Du Xiao Hui shook her head and didn't take the money.
"I came to help voluntarily. If I didn't, you'd have finished anyway. So I can't take this money."
With that said, she turned and ran off.
Li Yao could only put the coins away, planning to find an opportunity to give it to her later.
After such a laborious day, Li Yao was not stingy, giving Liu Sao and Hu Sao double wages, leaving them grinning from ear to ear.
As for her mother-in-law, Li Yao didn't pay her either, knowing she wouldn't accept it. Instead, she split the goose blood and let her take some home to eat.
Tonight they would be occupied brining geese through the night. Li Yao planned to make something delicious first, to reward herself.
Looking at the pink goose intestines, she suddenly thought of hot pot for some reason, drool flowing involuntarily. But she couldn't make hot pot ingredients now. That would have to wait until she found chili peppers.
Since Da Zhuang bought tofu, she could make goose blood tofu instead.
As she gently simmered the goose blood, she also rendered goose fat. The unique aroma of poultry fat made it perfect for cooking.
After rendering the goose fat, she kept some in the wok, stir-fried minced meat until fragrant, then added Sichuan flower pepper, salt, paste, goose blood, tofu and oil residue. She let it simmer to infuse the tofu, then started thickening.
Finally, she sprinkled crispy garlic sprouts and green onion. An intense, mouthwatering aroma instantly filled the air.
Da Zhuang had worked all day and was starving, but the two younger brothers weren't back yet. He could only endure for now.
Li Yao figured the little ones wanted to gather more herbs and lost track of time. She didn't plan on waiting: "Let's eat first. We still have to brine geese after."
A steaming bowl of rice smothered in a heaping spoonful of goose blood tofu was tonight's dinner.
The tender goose blood and tofu melted upon entering the mouth. The rich, thick sauce mixed with rice was incredibly smooth.
"Ma, this goose blood tofu is too delicious," He Xiaoya said as she mixed the sauce with her rice. She had already eaten two large bowls. "I think this is the best way to cook goose blood."
Li Yao smiled faintly.
In her opinion, hot pot or boiled goose were still the best ways to enjoy goose blood.
Just thinking about hot pot made her feel like that last bowl was for nothing. The gluttons in her stomach rioted once more.
She really needed to hurry to the mountains and find chili peppers.
"Ma, trouble!"
Before she even finished eating, she heard Wang San'er's urgent voice as he charged in holding a piglet.
"Slow down and tell me."
"It's Elder Sister Hui's mother. She...she fell and hurt her leg!"
It turned out there were too many people gathering herbs today. To get more, Pang Shi's mother-in-law had her climb a small cliff, but she fell and got injured.
Li Yao's brows furrowed. How could this happen?
"Where is she now?"
"Already taken home."
"Let's go see."