In ancient times, on the edge of the water town in the south of the Yangtze River, there was a small town surrounded by a light gauze like mist all the year round, called "Liuxi Town". The four seasons here are like spring, the rivers are crisscrossed, and there are willow trees planted in front of every house, swaying gently in the wind, as if whispering a thousand-year-old story. There is a family surnamed Li in the town, who grows beans and weaves bamboo for a living, and although they are not rich, they are also warm and harmonious.
The Li family has a daughter, named Wan'er, who is twenty-eight years old, born handsome and lovely, and has a clever mind. Since childhood, he has had a strong interest in cooking, and he has always been able to make something unexpected in the kitchen. Whenever spring comes and the beans are ripe, it is a good time for Wan'er to show her talents. She is especially good at making a delicacy called "capers", which has become a delicacy in the town, with a moderate amount of sweet and sour, crisp and delicious.
First try
One spring day, the catkins are flying, and the bean rack in the backyard of the Li family is full of green beans, and the growth is gratifying. Wan'er looked at the harvest scene in the garden, and a passion for creation surged in her heart. She remembers her grandmother mentioning an ancient method of pickling capers, which is said to last for months and has a unique flavor. So, Wan'er decided to try this ancient skill and bring a different kind of surprise to her family.
She first carefully selected dozens of the fullest beans, washed them one by one, removed the head and tail, and then cut them into small pieces, each knife contains her awe and love for food. Then, following the recipe she remembered, she prepared the right amount of salt, sugar, white vinegar, and a few slices of ginger and a few cloves of garlic, which were the keys to the flavor.
"Mother, look at it, I'm going to make that legendary capers!" Wan'er smiled and said to her mother, who was weaving bamboo baskets in the courtyard.
Mother raised her head, her eyes full of love and expectation: "Okay, my mother is waiting to taste our Wan'er's craftsmanship." ”
Ingenuity
Wan'er put the cut beans into a large clay pot, lightly sprinkled with salt, and gently mixed with her hands so that each bean could be evenly coated with salt. She then adds sugar, white vinegar, and chopped ginger and garlic in turn, each as if to inject soul into the dish. Finally, she gently closed the lid, sealed the mouth of the jar with a damp cloth, and placed it in a cool, ventilated place, waiting for the magic of time.
In the following days, Wan'er had to check the situation of the can of capers almost every day, for fear that there would be any mistakes. In the dead of night, she would quietly come to the clay pot, gently uncover the wet cloth, and smell the sour fragrance that gradually became stronger, and her heart was full of anticipation and apprehension.
Delicious is born
In the blink of an eye, half a moon has passed. Early one morning, Wan'er went to check the capers as usual, and found that the jar was already crystal clear, and the beans were attractive and sour. She knew it was time to unravel the mysteries of the delicacy.
At lunchtime, the whole family sat around, and Wan'er carefully brought out the elaborate jar of capers. My father tasted it first, and his eyes lit up: "This capers, sweet and sour, crisp and delicious, is really a rare delicacy!" The mother and younger brother also nodded their heads in praise, and the home was filled with happiness and contentment.
Spread the deliciousness
Wan'er's capers soon spread in Liuxi Town, and the neighbors came to ask for advice on how to make them. Wan'er always taught patiently and never hid herself. She also innovatively paired capers with various ingredients to create more delicious dishes, such as stir-fried minced meat with capers, capers mixed with noodles, etc., each dish was loved by everyone.
As time passed, Wan'er's fame grew, and merchants from afar even came to sell her capers farther away. Wan'er did not refuse, she hoped that this taste from her hometown would bring more people happiness and satisfaction.
Perception and hope
On that warm spring afternoon, Wan'er sat alone under the willow trees in the courtyard, looking at the willows swaying gently in the wind, and her heart was full of emotion. She realized that the small capers not only carry her love for cooking, but also connect the emotions between people, conveying warmth and hope.
"Life, like this jar of capers, needs to go through time to precipitate and wait before you can harvest the final deliciousness." Wan'er silently said in her heart, "And I, I am willing to be the one who cooks with heart, and bring more beauty to the world with love and enthusiasm." ”
In this way, Wan'er and her capers have become a beautiful scenery in Liuxi Town, and her story, like the jar of capers, has lasted for a long time and always exudes an attractive aroma.