Siheyuan: Survival Guide for Courtyard No. 95

Because of the uncertainty of purchasing time, the purchasing department of the steel rolling mill has office staff on duty every day except during the Chinese New Year. Zhao Shanhe took the fish directly to the staff on duty today to weigh them. The total weight was 53 jin, which was 15 yuan per jin, and the price was 9 yuan. However, he could not get the money today and had to wait until the accountant went to work tomorrow.

Fish meat is still incomparable to pork. Fish meat has a fishy smell and bones. It requires a lot of oil and a lot of seasonings when cooking. Otherwise, even if an idiot cooks it, it will not taste good. This leads to a huge price drop.

However, Zhao Shanhe said he didn't care about it. The best things in the world are nothing more than two things: buying for free from Bald Eagle and getting something for free from Golden Finger.

He was very pleased with himself for completing half of this month's task in one day, but he couldn't do this kind of thing all the time before summer, otherwise it would be too conspicuous. After spring comes and flowers bloom, especially when summer and autumn meet, the fish in Shichahai will be almost grown, and that will be the time for him to show his skills.

After checking the time in the purchasing department, it was not yet two o'clock in the afternoon. There was nothing to do in the yard at this time, so Zhao Shanhe decided to go to the pigeon market again. In fact, there were often good things there, but it depended on whether he could find them. If he met hunters from the nearby villages, he would make a lot of money.

The steel rolling mill was too far from Yongdingmen, so this time he went to the Pigeon Market near Xizhimen. There were several Pigeon Markets like this in the city, and they were all similar in size.

The outskirts of the market are all selling grains. I walked around but didn't buy anything. There are four kinds of food that are more popular among the public in this season: cornmeal, sweet potatoes, red and white radishes. There are others that ordinary people like more but can't afford, such as cornmeal. It is made from pure corn without the corn cob in the middle, and it doesn't make your throat irritated when you eat it, but the price is the same as fine grains. Most of the people who can come to the Pigeon Market don't have a ration at home, so why would they pay a high price for this?

When he walked into the market, it was his first time here and he didn't know who the ticket scalpers were, so Zhao Shanhe didn't make any moves. This place was far away from Nanluoguxiang, and he didn't know if there were any Buddha statues. He came here mainly to see living things, and didn't pay much attention to those who sold other things.

Walking from the front to the back of the market, he actually saw someone selling pheasants. The man was wearing tattered clothes and looked like he was from the countryside. Zhao Shanhe squatted down and touched the two pheasants, but it was a pity that they were both dead.

"Master, where are you? You can still kill pheasants at this time. What's the price for these two?"

In the 21st century, pheasants have become rampant in Northeast China. They flock to farmlands to eat crops, but no one dares to catch this nationally protected animal. But it was completely different in the 50s. Even if a bear came, it would have to leave two claws. Everyone was hungry, so who would care about the life and death of animals?

Pheasant meat is fresh and has a particularly good taste, even better than native chicken. Zhao Shanhe's father cooked it for him several times before, and he still remembers it.

If you buy this and stew one in a pot and roast another on the stove in your little world at night, that would be life.

"I'm a hunter from Xiangfang Village. I caught these chickens this morning, so they're still fresh. I'm selling two for five dollars, which is the lowest price. It can't be any cheaper."

A low and hoarse voice came out from the hunter's mouth. From the way he spoke, it was clear that countless people had asked about the price.

Zhao Shanhe took out five one-dollar bills from his pocket and handed them over.

"Okay, I'll take the chicken after I pay you."

After picking up the two chickens and about to leave, he suddenly remembered that since the other party was a hunter, he would definitely set a trap to catch them alive. Thinking of this, Zhao Shanhe squatted down again.

"This...master."

Zhao Shanhe wanted to call him "uncle" or "big brother", but he couldn't tell the other person's age because he had a scarf wrapped around his face.

"I want to ask you something. Can you still catch live game? I'm a buyer for the Third Steel Rolling Mill. If I can catch live game, I'll buy it at a high price. I'll take as many as I can."

After saying this, the hunter opposite straightened his hunched back, looked at the cotton work clothes on Zhao Shanhe, and saw that there was indeed the word "Steel Rolling Mill" on it, so he spoke.

“It’s hard to catch them alive. The mountains are covered with snow now and no one dares to go deep into the mountains.

At most, we could set traps at the foot of the mountain to catch some rabbits and pheasants, but this depended on luck. Sometimes we might not see a single one even after squatting for a whole day and night.

If you really want it, you can come to our village in a week. If I can catch it, I'll keep it for you. If I can't catch it, you can't blame me for making you come here in vain."

Zhao Shanhe just felt that his luck was a bit off today. He went fishing in the morning, ate chicken in the evening, and even ordered future game. What worried him most now was that there were too few species in the small world. If there were pheasants and rabbits, it would be almost like having the freedom to eat meat.

I read a novel before I was transmigrated. It was so long ago that I only remember it was called "Hainan Island". It described in detail the reproduction speed of rabbits. They really had one litter after another.

It’s a pity that I got banned in the end because I wrote about a rabbit falling from the sky in the square. This time I caught a rabbit and ate it myself. No one will say anything, right?

After some more negotiations with the hunter and exchanging names, he learned that his name was Gao Daquan. He was actually about the same age as Zhao Shanhe, but he looked mature because of long-term hunting in the mountains. If he hadn't told his age, people would have thought he was in his 40s.

They agreed to meet him in Xiangfang Village next Sunday. Zhao Shanhe even left a big black ten as a deposit, and then went to pick up the car with satisfaction.

It was estimated that it was 4 o'clock when we returned to the courtyard. The two pheasants had already gone into their own world. If the people in the courtyard saw them, they would be furious. Jia Zhang came to your house to beg for them, and Yi Zhonghai advised you to be more generous. There was also the deaf old lady who blocked your door with a cane and asked you how to eat these chickens. Wouldn't you be angry?

So it’s best not to let anyone see it, and the proper thing to do is to eat it secretly.

He moved the stove in the kitchen directly to the small world, and went to the kitchen to get a pot. As for plucking the feathers, he could do it in the small world with just one thought. Zhao Shanhe looked at the greasy roast chicken on the stove and just hoped that it would be cooked quickly.

It is troublesome to cook two dishes on one stove. Fortunately, static space and accelerated time can cook food quickly and keep it warm. Eat a bite of stewed chicken leg and then a bite of roasted chicken neck. The happiness that human beings pursue is so simple and delicious.

Zhao Shanhe didn't dare to eat it all in one meal, otherwise he would have diarrhea in the middle of the night. People who have not had oil in their stomachs for a long time need to pay attention to this and not eat too much greasy food at one time.

After eating, taking a shower and washing clothes, I had nothing to do. It was mainly because cooking and washing clothes were too easy in the small world. If I were outside, it would take a long time just to wash clothes. It seems that I have to go to Xinhua Bookstore to buy some books to read when I have time, otherwise this boring time would be a real torture.