Life is a Game

Jiang Weiguo is not a person who is good at telling stories. His tone is very flat. Even when he talks about the exciting parts, he still has a flat tone. His voice is low, without cadence, and even without the necessary pauses at key points.

The only advantage is probably that these stories are real, not fabricated, so real that they are more exciting than some fabricated stories.

Jiang Feng and Zhao Lanhua listened carefully.

Zhao Lanhua listened very carefully, with full concentration and concentration, without being distracted for a moment. Jiang Weiguo may be the only one in her life who has told him stories in the past eighteen years. It's not that other people have no patience, but that other people have no stories. In this era, people who want to have as rich experience as Jiang Weiguo are really rare.

Zhao Lanhua didn't make a sound and didn't ask questions. She didn't start asking what she didn't understand until the whole story came to an end.

The angle from which Zhao Lanhua asked the question was also very clear.

Is it delicious to put this crab in a jar alive without cooking it? Zhao Lanhua was very puzzled, I think the crab itself is not delicious, and it is difficult to eat because it is small and has no meat. The only thing is that it is not easy to catch. In our village, only those children who are very young and don’t need to work or collect firewood will go to the river to catch these things.”

Jiang Weiguo's explanation was also very simple: Next time I have time, I will pickle it for you.

After Jiang Weiguo finished speaking, he got up to fiddle with the roast duck in the oven. The oven-hung roast duck is made by removing the internal organs of the duck, pouring water on it and roasting it with sauce. After putting it in the oven, you need to change the position of the duck from time to time to make it evenly heated.

When Jiang Weiguobo was handling the ducks, the scent of fruit trees also came out.

Zhao Lanhua sniffed and sighed, It's so fragrant, the roasted duck actually tastes like this.

It's not the smell of ducks, it's the smell of wood. Jiang Weiguo glanced at the duck in the hanging stove, and sat back to his original position after confirming that there was no problem, The wood burning now is date wood and pear wood, and the fruit wood itself is natural It is fragrant, and the bottom fire is strong, and the burning time is long, so that after a long time of roasting, the duck that comes out of the oven will also have a faint fruity aroma.

Although Zhao Lanhua didn't understand, she still nodded obediently.

After the story of the drunk crab was finished, Jiang Weiguo didn't know what to say for a while, so he sat silently. Zhao Lanhua was looking at the roast duck in the hanging stove, but he didn't notice that the atmosphere had become silent.

Weiguo, you have been to so many places, why did you come here in the end? Zhao Lanhua asked, You are from Beiping, you have been to Shanghai, the provincial capital, and the provincial capital next door, I think Those places are pretty good, definitely better than ours.”

Jiang Weiguo thought for a while: We're looking for workers here.

The reason why he settled down in City Z is very simple. When he came to City Z, the state-run hotel had just been established and was recruiting workers. He originally wanted to find a relatively stable job for a few years and then leave, but he stabilized after doing it.

What else do you want to hear?

Zhao Lanhua thought for a while: Pork belly.

Jiang Feng:?

Then Jiang Weiguo told her the story of how he learned Dongpo meat back then.

Jiang Feng:? ? ?

That's okay too? ? ?

For a whole afternoon, Jiang Weiguo turned into a storyteller and told Zhao Lanhua about the dishes for the afternoon. After each dish was finished, he went to the stove to fiddle with the roast duck. As the dishes become more and more fragrant, the roast duck is also more and more fragrant. Generally, it only takes more than half an hour to roast a duck.

Jiang Weiguo's roast duck skills are good, and the duck sliced ​​skills are even better. This is the first time Jiang Feng knows that the old man is actually a skilled duck slicer. The only fly in the ointment is that this duck is not very good.

Roast ducks need to be fat and thick, and the ducks with thin skin and breasts are most suitable for roasting. Although the duck Jiang Weiguo selected is big and looks quite plump, it is obviously not up to the standard. The most important thing is that the duck species is not up to the standard. Duck breeds are a matter of geography, it is difficult to find duck breeds specially used for roast ducks in the north in the south in City Z. Even so, each piece of willow leaf-shaped roast duck placed in front of Zhao Lanhua is definitely a qualified and excellent roast duck.

Is it ready to eat now? Zhao Lanhua had already begun to swallow quietly at the sliced ​​roast duck.

Wait a minute. Jiang Weiguo took out two warm steamed buns from the pot and handed them to Zhao Lanhua, It was supposed to be wrapped in lotus leaf cakes, but the flour in the store ran out and it would be delivered the day after tomorrow. This is There are no scallions left over from yesterday, so I'll cut some cucumber slices for you, it's too boring to eat alone.

Zhao Lanhua:?

She looked at the steaming plate with some puzzlement, and she seemed to know that the roast duck slices were full of oil and water and glowing with oil.

greasy?

How could it be boring?

The plate of roast duck in front of me is delicious at first glance. The duck skin is roasted until it turns maroon, and the white duck meat exudes an attractive aroma. Sugar water is used for coloring, and the sweet aroma is accompanied by the aroma of fruit and wood. Zhao Lanhua felt that the plate of roast duck in front of her was much more delicious than the stewed meat that she could only eat at home during the Chinese New Year.

When the family had a meal of meat during the Chinese New Year, she felt that eating two pieces in a row was not enough, but it was a pity that she couldn't eat any more. Now that the whole duck is hers, how could she feel tired?

Of course, Zhao Lanhua didn't say anything, she just picked a piece of duck skin that seemed to have the thickest skin, the most oily, no meat, and stuffed it into her mouth.

Chew.

Standing next to her, Jiang Feng could feel the crispy duck skin exploding in his mouth, the warm, sweet and roasted duck-filled juice on his tongue.

Jiang Feng understood this feeling all too well.

The first two mouthfuls were shocking, the third mouthful felt that something was wrong, the fourth and fifth mouthfuls made me feel so tired that I didn’t want to eat anymore.

Zhao Lanhua obviously didn't have this kind of problem.

She likes this feeling so much, it's delicious, fragrant, with a hint of sweetness, and the most important thing is the feeling of sufficient oil and water.

Whether it is physical or psychological, have a great sense of satisfaction.

Zhao Lanhua ate three pieces in a row, and each piece was thick duck skin. When Jiang Weiguo came back with sweet noodle sauce, sugar, and sliced ​​cucumber sticks, the steamed buns in Zhao Lanhua's hands hadn't even touched a mouthful, and the roast duck on the plate had already Seven or eight pieces are missing.

Jiang Weiguo:?

Aren't you tired? Jiang Weiguo was startled.

If Zhao Lanhua was asked such a question by Jiang Weiguo when they met for the first time, she would definitely be ashamed and ashamed, wishing to find a crack in the ground to sneak in. But now that she has been with Jiang Weiguo for half a year, she has completely let herself go, and she has gained a lot of weight.

How could it be so delicious! Zhao Lanhua admired, and finally saw the steamed bun in her hand and took a bite, I have never eaten such a delicious thing, it is better than the bowl you ate for me last time. Roasted pork trotters with soybeans are also delicious.

Hearing what Zhao Lanhua said, Jiang Weiguo showed a smile: Then eat more, and I will make soup for you with the leftover duck rack.

Zhao Lanhua nodded vigorously, took a bite of the steamed bun, chewed it twice and suddenly remembered something, swallowed the steamed bun in a hurry and almost choked herself.

This roast duck is so big, why don't we leave some for Master Huang and the others?

No need. Jiang Weiguo resolutely refused, Hurry up and eat the duck before they come back so that they don't see it, otherwise the leader will definitely ask me to do it if they find out.

It was written all over Jiang Weiguo's face that he didn't want to cook roast duck every day.

Zhao Lanhua nodded again and again, and stuffed two mouthfuls of duck meat into her mouth.

Although there is no lotus leaf cake, Zhao Lanhua's way of eating roast duck is too rough. Jiang Weiguo handed her cucumber sticks and sauce in front of her: Dip it in sauce, and it will taste better with some cucumber sticks when eating.

Zhao Lanhua had never tasted or seen sweet noodle sauce before. Looking at the dark sweet noodle sauce in the small bowl, she was afraid to dip it, fearing that the sauce would spoil the delicious roast duck. After hesitating for a while, Zhao Lanhua dipped some sweet noodle sauce into her mouth with her chopsticks and took a sip.

Zhao Lanhua's eyes lit up immediately.

Sweet!

For Zhao Lanhua, who is still addicted to sweetness and thinks that brown sugar water is one of the supreme delicacies, the sweet noodle sauce mixed with other delicious flavors is definitely a fresh and delicious sweet food that has never been seen before.

Is this sauce specially used for dipping roast duck? Zhao Lanhua licked her lips, licking off the remaining sweet noodle sauce on her lips.

Not specifically, but it is generally used when eating roast duck.

It's so delicious. Zhao Lanhua's lack of vocabulary prevented her from expressing more cultural exclamations, It's even better than brown sugar water.

Jiang Weiguo smiled and pointed to the sugar: Dip the duck skin in the sugar, and it will taste better after the sugar melts.

Zhao Lanhua did as she did, and couldn't stop once she ate it. She ate three or four pieces of pure duck skin in a row, and almost ate all the fatter duck skin on the plate before stopping.

Zhao Lanhua ate another half of a steamed bun and almost half a cucumber, feeling a little full already.

Her appetite is actually not that small. If she drank porridge at home, Zhao Lanhua could drink five or six bowls and eat two pancakes without feeling full. It was still a big bowl like the ones eaten in rural areas. Of course, under normal circumstances, she does not have the opportunity to eat so much food. She is half-starved all the year round. Generally, she has the opportunity to eat all she can eat in one go only during festivals or when someone has a wedding. full.

Ever since she went on a blind date with Jiang Weiguo, Zhao Lanhua came here half full every time, and left with a hiccup, taking some back with her when she left. Sometimes Zhao Lanhua felt that she didn't come to the city to meet someone, but she just came to the city to grab a meal, and the kind who would pack it up and take it home if she couldn't finish it.

She sees other people going shopping, watching movies, or going to the park by the lake, but when it's her turn, they meet at the restaurant and go to the kitchen for dinner, dinner, and dinner. Every time I eat, I eat myself fat. What Zhao Lanhua hears most at home during this time is that others say that she has gained weight, and she looks much more blessed. It is true that her partner in the city is the same as her original partner. It's different.

Zhao Lanhua thinks this is very good, she thinks this way of dealing with someone who eats and listens to stories is much better than watching movies.

What's the use of watching a movie, and there's no meat to eat.

Zhao Lanhua suddenly remembered what Aunt He Hua had said to her before.

Her mother also told her those words when they were at home. She has been with Jiang Weiguo for eight months, and her eldest sister married her eldest brother-in-law for four months. She is still married for eight months. object, no additional information at all.

Her mother urged her several times to bring Jiang Weiguo home. The Jiang family has no elders or even relatives. As long as she brought Jiang Weiguo home to meet the elders in the family, the meal would basically be settled.

But how should she speak?

Zhao Lanhua suddenly became distressed. She wanted to eat two more pieces of roast duck, but now she couldn't even eat the roast duck.

Neither Jiang Feng nor Jiang Weiguo could see Zhao Lanhua's inner drama. It might be that her inner drama was too rich to be conveyed by facial expressions. From Jiang Feng's point of view, Zhao Lanhua suddenly became frowning while eating. From Jiang Weiguo's point of view, she was finally tired of roast duck.

Should have been tired of it!

Jiang Weiguo walked over here and took a look at the duck soup that was being cooked. It was almost enough to drink. The original soup turned into the original food. If the roast duck was so greasy, he should use the soup cooked on a duck rack to relieve the greasy.

The soup is almost ready, do you want some soup?

Yes. Zhao Lanhua subconsciously said.

Jiang Weiguo served a bowl of soup to Zhao Lanhua, but the soup was still boiling hot, and it was a bit hot even through the bowl. Zhao Lanhua's hand had a thin layer of calluses and didn't feel hot, just holding the bowl like that and staring at the soup, she started to be dazed again.

Zhao Lanhua felt that it was too difficult for her.

Other girls in the village had already married and become mothers at her age, but she was still dating.

All the other girls in the village married people from the same village or the village next door, and she was dating someone from the city.

Other people in the city have met their parents long after they have been in a relationship for eight months. Both parties have finalized their affairs and started preparing for marriage. She is still in a relationship after eight months.

Obviously her date is so good, why is her process of dating different from others?

Zhao Lanhua felt that what Aunt Hehua said was right, she should hint.

But how to hint?

Do you want to say directly, we have been together for eight months, shouldn't it be time to meet the parents and get married?

Isn't it a bit too eager to say this, will you just say that the object you have been with for eight months is gone?

Ms. Zhao Lanhua's mind is full of twists and turns. Even Jiang Feng, a face-reading master, can hardly read a few words, let alone Jiang Weiguo, a face-reading master.

He thought it was because the soup was too hot to drink, Zhao Lanhua was tired of eating too much roast duck at one time, and had some physical nausea that made her face tangled and uncomfortable.

Do you want me to peel half a cucumber for you? Jiang Weiguo suggested.

Ah, no need, I really can't take it anymore. Zhao Lanhua refused again and again, and continued to diverge.

Jiang Weiguo finally realized that Zhao Lanhua's current expression might not be because of the roast duck, but because of some other things he didn't know.

What's wrong? Jiang Weiguo asked.

ah?

You have something on your mind and want to talk about it, but you dare not tell me. Jiang Weiguo said very straightforwardly.

Well, I, actually... Zhao Lanhua is a little bit driven out of the market now. She hasn't figured out how to hint tactfully, and she is afraid of saying too directly, That's right, we, too. I've been married, for eight months, and I'm married.

When Zhao Lanhua was nervous, she jumped out with a few words.

Jiang Weiguo was a little puzzled.

My parents haven't seen you yet, so they just want to find a time, no, no, when you are free, let you go back with me and let them see what you look like. Zhao Lanhua used her The most euphemistic way that can be thought of in a short time.

I'll be off next Sunday. Jiang Weiguo didn't understand the real meaning of the words.

It's not an ordinary meeting, it's that kind of meeting. Zhao Lanhua was so nervous that her hands were shaking.

What kind of meeting? Jiang Weiguo was a little confused.

That's the kind... the parents of both sides... yes, there are no parents, we are not, no, I mean the kind of parents of both parties. Zhao Lanhua said that his tongue was tied, Jiang Weiguo still didn't understand.

Confusion was written all over his face.

Zhao Lanhua only regrets why she didn't go to study back then, and now she can't even speak clearly.

Gritting her teeth, her heart swayed, the hot duck soup in her hand seemed to give her strength, Zhao Lanhua took a deep breath with the courage and spirit she had when she broke the jar when she first met and wanted to have a sip of sugar water.

It's just that my parents want to meet you and talk about when we will get married.

The courage is gone, Zhao Lanhua now wants to find a crack in the ground to get in.

Jiang Weiguo was stunned.

Zhao Lanhua wanted to make amends again: I actually didn't mean that, I think we are getting along pretty well now, mainly because of my parents, not my parents, I don't know who it is, anyway.

not now.

Zhao Lanhua lowered her head, thinking about it, and sure enough, she said she lost her partner.

I haven't bought a radio yet, Jiang Weiguo said.

Ah? Zhao Lanhua raised her head suddenly. She never expected that the culprit who made her eight months without any follow-up progress was actually the radio.

What's the matter with the radio!

Zhao Lanhua thought so, and asked the same question.

Don't you need four big things to get married? Jiang Weiguo asked Zhao Lanhua, Bicycles, sewing machines, radios and watches. I already asked someone to buy the sewing machines. I bought second-hand bicycles because I didn't have enough industrial coupons. The watches went out two months ago. I asked someone to buy it in Fujian, but now the radio is missing. If I want to get married, I have to wait at least another three months until I get all the industrial vouchers.

Zhao Lanhua was already stupid.

Who, who told you that you need these four things to get married? Zhao Lanhua asked weakly.

Jiang Weiguo frowned: Is it not enough? These are the four that Sun Guanyun told me.

Don't say that Zhao Lanhua is stupid, Jiang Feng is also stupid.

Three turns and one sound, even in the 1960s and 1970s, it was a top match. The marriage between the old man and Grandma Jiang was a thing in the 1950s. This kind of behavior is simply driving up the wedding market in the entire Z city by itself.

No need, who needs this kind of thing to get married, and our entire commune only has one bicycle. Zhao Lanhua felt that her three views had been greatly impacted.

Don't you need it? Jiang Weiguo was also married for the first time, and he had never participated in other people's weddings since he came to Z city. There were no elders in his family, so he didn't know this. The marriage he remembered was Jiang Huiqin's wedding, and his eldest brother's wedding.

Needless to say, Jiang Huiqin's wedding was reported in the newspaper. Since his elder brother's wedding was the first among the younger generation of the Jiang family to get married, and he was the eldest son, Jiang Chengde spent a lot of money to organize it grandly. From Jiang Weiguo's point of view, it is normal for married people to need bicycles, radios, watches and sewing machines. These are all good things, and they are not bad if you buy them, they are very practical.

No need! Zhao Lanhua said loudly, feeling absurd at the same time and couldn't help but be happy, In fact, getting married is just a meal with relatives and friends. My eldest sister's marriage is like this. You paid so many betrothal gifts. I can't afford that much dowry either.

My eldest sister got married, so our family only had two quilts and a new set of clothes. Zhao Lanhua whispered, There are also twenty catties of sweet potatoes and two taels of brown sugar.

Zhao Lanhua lowered her head lower and lower, and almost fell into the soup bowl, so she just held the bowl and began to drink duck soup.

As he drank and drank, the corners of his mouth almost reached his ears.

Jiang Weiguo was still at a loss as to what he needed to get married: Then do we need these things or not?

Do I need to come over to your house next Sunday?

It was foggy, and Jiang Feng began to gradually lose sight of everything around him.

Yes. Zhao Lanhua whispered, I'll ask my mother to make stew for you.

Jiang Feng: ...