Opening a Tavern in the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 224: The subtle aroma of bacon: Chicken and duck breasts bacon become delicacies

Xiaoyu looked at Yuyu, who was jumping around excitedly, frowned slightly, and said softly, "Don't jump around. We just finished dealing with the chickens and ducks, and the ground is dirty and wet. What if you accidentally slip?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Yu stuck out her tongue and stopped jumping, but the excitement in her eyes did not diminish at all.

She looked curiously at the processed chickens and ducks on the ground and asked, "Mom, should we start pickling them next?"

Xiaoyu nodded as she packed up the tools in her hands and said, "Well, once Mommy has cleaned up here, I'll start pickling. You, just stand aside and don't make any trouble."

Yu Yu responded obediently, but her eyes were always fixed on the chickens and ducks. She had already started imagining how delicious the cured chickens and ducks would look like after they were cooked.

Si Li watched the interaction between the mother and daughter and couldn't help but smile. This ordinary scene of farm life had a unique warmth and simplicity.

Xiaoyu washed her hands, wiped off the water stains, and said with a firm look, "Okay, start pickling."

She turned and walked towards the kitchen, and soon brought out a wooden basin filled with seasonings. It contained a mixture of spices such as salt, peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, etc., exuding a rich spicy aroma.

Xiaoyu squatted down, picked up a processed chicken, and evenly applied the prepared seasoning on the inside and outside of the chicken. Her technique was skillful and meticulous, and she did not miss any gap.

She continued to mutter, "The amount of salt must be sufficient to ensure the preserved meat can be preserved for a long time, and the spices must be evenly applied so that the flavor is rich enough."

Yuyu watched intently from the side, wanting to help but not knowing where to start. She could only anxiously ask, "Mom, what can I do?"

Xiaoyu replied without even looking up, "Go get some clean cloth for Mom. We'll tie up these chickens and ducks and hang them out to dry."

When Yu Yu heard this, he immediately turned around and ran into the house.

Seeing this, Si Li took the initiative to step forward and said, "Xiaoyu, let me help you apply the spices, you can just give guidance from the side."

Xiaoyu smiled and nodded, handing the seasoning in her hand to Si Li.

Si Li imitated Xiaoyu and carefully applied spices on a duck. Although his movements were a little clumsy, he was very serious.

He would ask Xiaoyu from time to time: "Auntie, is this thickness okay? Are the spices evenly distributed?" Xiaoyu patiently answered and corrected him.

Li Hao helped to tidy up the place, placing the chickens and ducks that had been coated with spices in an orderly manner on a bamboo plate on the side, ready to be tied up and dried in the sun later.

He looked at Xiaoyu and Sili busying around and said with a smile, "We can definitely make this cured meat super delicious. When we eat it, I'm sure everyone will be full of praise."

Li Hao said: "When the sun comes out, cover yourself with a quilt."

Yuyu ran back with the cloth strip. After hearing what Li Hao said, she tilted her head and asked curiously, "Brother Li Hao, what? You cover yourself with a quilt when it's sunny, but why do you cover the cured meat with a quilt?"

Li Hao smiled and touched Yuyu's head, explaining, "Silly girl, although these cured meats need to be dried in the sun, if the sun is too strong and the temperature is too high, you can't leave them exposed to the sun directly."

"You have to cover it with a quilt to block it out a bit. Otherwise, the outer layer will get too dry and hard while the inner layer won't be completely dry. Then the wax won't taste good, and it won't be easy to preserve for a long time."

Xiaoyu added, "Yes, there are some things to pay attention to when covering yourself with a quilt. You can't cover it too tightly. You have to leave some gaps so that the wind can get through and slowly carry away the moisture. When we make preserved meat, we have to pay attention to every little detail. That way, we can make it delicious and long-lasting."

Si Li continued to smear spices on the cured duck in his hand, nodding and saying, "I see, there's a lot of knowledge in making cured meats among the people. There are many tricks everywhere. I really learned a lot today."

Yuyu nodded, not quite understanding, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the chickens and ducks that were about to be made into cured meats. She said with anticipation, "Then we have to make them well. I can't wait to taste the cured chicken and duck."

After hearing this, everyone couldn't help but laugh, and their hands moved more and more skillfully, continuing to work towards the goal of making delicious cured meat.

Xiaoyu looked up at the bright sun and shouted, "There are still a few left. Hurry up, everyone. The sun is so strong today. It's a perfect time to take advantage of this good weather to clean them up and dry them in the sun. Don't miss this great opportunity."

As she spoke, Xiaoyu increased the speed at which she applied the spices on her hands. She picked up a duck deftly and rubbed the spices back and forth on the duck's body quickly, looking very focused.

Si Li also hurriedly speeded up his movements. He was originally a little cautious, but now he was much more skilled. After evenly applying spices inside and out of the chicken in his hand, he handed it to Li Hao.

Li Hao took it and quickly placed the chicken on a bamboo plate beside him, then turned around to help get the remaining chickens and ducks.

Yuyu hurriedly urged, "Mom, let me help you pass it, it will be faster this way."

As she spoke, she squatted beside the wooden basin, and whenever Xiaoyu needed seasoning, she would quickly hand it over, her little hands busy all the time.

Li Hao moved the remaining chickens and ducks in front of everyone, jokingly saying, "Haha, the sun is really helping us today. At this rate, our cured chickens and ducks will surely be cured deliciously. When we eat them, the taste is so good that it makes us drool."

Yuyu stood on tiptoe, poked her head towards the bamboo plaque, and asked anxiously, "Is it done?"

Xiaoyu wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead, and with a relaxed smile on her face after completing a task, she responded, "Okay, this is the last chicken. After applying the spices, we can tie it up and dry it in the sun."

As she spoke, she took the last bit of spice handed to her by Yu Yu and carefully applied it on the chicken. Her fingers flexibly moved around every part of the chicken, ensuring that every part was covered with the spicy aroma of the spice.

She murmured softly, "We can't be careless with this last one either. We have to do it right."

Si Li stood up, stretched his numb arms, and looked at the nearly finished chicken and said, "Xiaoyu's cooking skills are truly admirable. Every step is done meticulously. I'm sure this cured chicken and duck will taste amazing when it's done."

Li Hao also came over, looked at the chicken and nodded with satisfaction. "Yes, after working so hard for so long, it's finally done. We're just waiting to hang them out in the sun. The sun is so strong today, I guess it won't be long before we can smell the unique aroma of the cured meat."