GBP Chapter 250 Temple Fair Preparations
Chapter 250 Temple Fair Preparations
The streets are very wide and paved with blue bricks. It can be said that in this era, there are not many county towns that can pave roads with blue bricks, which proves that the "tourism industry" of this county town is quite good.
There were two yamen runners guarding the gate of the county town. They looked straight ahead, as if they were playing with statues.
Next to it are two big stone lions, one male and one female, standing in pairs, looking majestic.
They have bulging foreheads, bulging eyes, open mouths and sticking out tongues as if making a hissing sound, with two whiskers hanging from their chins, embroidered ribbons around their necks with bells hanging from them, the ends of the embroidered ribbons spread out in a cross shape behind their backs, with hair scattered on their hips, and they look energetic.
After passing the yamen and walking for a while, Xiaowu turned. This was a small alley with high walls and deep courtyards on both sides. Occasionally, a few tightly closed doors could be seen.
In Xiaowu's words, this is Chaojin Road, and when you exit the alley, you will reach Nanshi.
As expected, the carriage continued to move forward and when it arrived at the entrance of the alley, there was a large square in front of it that was crowded with people and very lively.
There were performers, jugglers, fortune tellers, and all kinds of small vendors, and the shouts of hawkers could be heard one after another.
In the center of the square is a tall archway with the two big characters "Nanshi" engraved on it. The font is vigorous and powerful, and it is obvious that the person who wrote it put a lot of effort into it.
Shen Zhiqiu and the others were anxious and ran straight to the place where chickens, ducks and geese were sold.
The man who bought chickens, ducks and geese was an old man in a coarse cloth and short shirt. It was not the time for the housekeepers of the wealthy families in the county to go shopping, and the old man was chatting with a few retail investors while smoking welding fumes.
He looked quite relaxed as he puffed out smoke.
Xiaowu brought them to the stall he often visited, so he knew this person.
He came up and greeted directly: "Uncle Zhang, I brought you a big customer, please give me a lower price!"
The old man heard the voice and turned around to see Xiao Wu and Shen Zhiqiu and his daughter following behind him. He stood up and greeted them cheerfully:
"Hey, Xiaowu, I haven't seen you for a few days. How come all the chickens and ducks I bought at the post station are gone?"
Xiao Wu said: "It's not all used up. My uncle's relatives want to buy chickens and ducks. Please give them a discount."
The old man smiled so hard that wrinkles appeared on his face: "Okay, okay, how many do you want this time?"
The stalls selling chickens, ducks and geese had large ones that could be eaten as meat, as well as small and cute ones. Shen Zhiqiu and his friends did not plan to buy small ones to put in the rings.
Although in the past, many people would choose chicks, ducks, rabbits and the like and put them in cages for customers to put rings on.
But they took into consideration that firstly, they did not have enough time to make chicken coops, and secondly, they were worried that the young chickens and ducks would have difficulty surviving.
"Grandpa, what are the prices of these chickens, ducks and geese?"
"The prices of chickens, ducks and geese are obviously rising recently. My prices haven't risen yet. Chickens are 40 cents, ducks are 30 cents, and geese are 180 cents."
Shen Zhiqiu now gets a headache whenever he hears the word price increase, but Shen Mazi and his friends also charge this price when they go to the village.
"I need twenty chickens, thirty ducks, and five geese. Are you going to the temple fair tomorrow? Can you deliver them to the temple fair early in the morning?"
The old man said, "No problem. We are going to the temple fair tomorrow. Are you sure you want so much?"
He was also afraid that he would bring too many and would not be able to sell them, so he would have to buy them back. Moreover, there were many people at the temple fair, and it would be difficult to keep an eye on too many chickens, ducks and geese, and it would be easy for someone to steal them.
Shen Zhiqiu said that he could pay a deposit first, and he would definitely accept it, but it had to be delivered early, and it would be best if he could get in as soon as the city gate opened.
The old man also said that it was not a big deal. Our home was in the village closest to the north gate. Could anyone arrive earlier than us?
Shen Zhiqiu thought: "Wow, this is considered a 'satellite village'. If it were demolished in modern times, this old man would become rich overnight."
After paying the deposit, Shen Zhiqiu and his party agreed to meet fifty steps east of the entrance of Renzu Temple tomorrow, and then they returned.
On the way back, I passed by the grain store and asked about it. I was told that the ox cart delivering the grain had already gone ahead.
They returned with peace of mind, after all, they were in urgent need of buckwheat noodles.
We will start making it tonight. I’m afraid the buckwheat noodles that Mazi and his friends collected from the surrounding villages may not be enough.
When we returned to the post station, the people from the grain store had already unloaded the cart and left.
Shen Zhiqiu first gave instructions on ordering chickens, ducks and geese, and then began to assign new tasks to everyone.
The bamboo rings are ready, and I have made a lot of bamboo bowls and forks in the morning. The preparations are almost done, but I still need to weave some bamboo cages.
The chickens and ducks raised in the chicken coop of the post station have to be brought into the city tomorrow. They can't just drive them in directly. Even if they are not afraid of a few of them running away along the way, the gatekeepers at the city gate cannot let them in, as it will affect the cityscape.
The old men also need to order more bamboo steamers with bamboo strips, square ones will do, just to hold the steamed cakes.
Shen Zhiqiu also arranged for some old ladies to peel garlic, which could be used directly the next day. Also, they couldn't bring their luggage with them, as it would take up space, so they could leave it at the post station.
But the stone mortar used to smash garlic with the kitchen knife must also be put away first, so that you don't forget it in the rush tomorrow morning.
The next step is to fill their large rubber water bags with water. Fill a few bags and use them to wash bamboo bowls and forks after everyone finishes eating the steamed cake.
In addition, the side dishes for eating baogao require mixing sesame paste with water, and minced garlic also requires water.
I was so busy, racking my brains to think about the preparations.
Li Jingshu suddenly said, "Shouldn't you make several bamboo tubes to pack the sesame oil you bought? Then poke two holes in the lids of the bamboo tubes so that you don't miss any of them."
Shen Zhiqiu hurriedly arranged: "Dad, you can take people to make a few bamboo tubes later. You don't need to drill the holes yet. You can drill them when you need them in the city. Don't let them leak oil."
Old Man Shen nodded, indicating that he understood.
Shen Zhiqiu arranged for his wife again: "Take your sisters-in-law and brothers and sisters to make some pao gao first. Practice first. It doesn't matter if you don't do well at first. At worst, we can eat it as a meal tonight."
Everything is arranged, everyone should do what they are supposed to do.
Shen Youyou really followed her mother closely: "Mom, you guys make the pao gao and I'll make the dipping sauce for you."
Li Jingshu smiled without saying anything. Her daughter really wanted to eat pao gao.
There was a series of small tails following behind, which showed that Shen Youyou did not go with her sisters to make bamboo dragonflies and bamboo grasshoppers, but instead followed her aunt, proving that there must be something delicious.
Now the kids are very discerning. To get a bite of good food, they rush over without waiting to be told, and follow Shen Youyou closely, saying, "They can help carry firewood."
There are actually two ways to make baogao. One is to boil a pot of water first, then pour an appropriate amount of buckwheat noodles with salt into the pot and stir.
Stop heating when it becomes a thick paste.
Then cool the hot paste with the help of cold water.
Then you can directly roll a small ball the size of an egg, and use the four fingers of both hands to squeeze it into a pancake. Pay attention to make sure to squeeze out several finger marks.
Then put the cookies in cold water to cool completely.