How did hiring someone to press a pig image during Chinese New Year become a top trend?

The live stream chat was filled with messages like "Received" and "Task will be completed."

Xu An carried the jar into the house.

In the dimly lit kitchen.

Grandpa had already scrubbed that large iron pot, which was a meter in diameter, until it shone brightly.

On the cutting board.

Two large pieces of pork belly that Xu An had bought were laid out on the table.

That's what Da Biao insisted on putting in the refrigerator before he left yesterday.

It weighs a full ten pounds.

"Sir, this dried radish..."

Xu An placed the jar on the chopping board.

It still has soil from eighty years ago clinging to it.

The mouth of the jar was sealed tightly with yellow mud.

Even after so many years, the seal has not cracked.

Grandpa took down the kitchen knife he had used all his life from the wall.

I gently tapped around the mouth of the jar with the back of a knife.

"Click."

The yellow mud crumbled.

It revealed a layer of slightly yellowed oil paper underneath.

Grandpa carefully peeled off the oil paper.

It exudes an extremely domineering aura.

It rushed out instantly.

It doesn't smell bad.

It's not simply acidic.

Rather, it is a blend of soil, salt, time, and plant fermentation... a mellow aroma.

The taste was like it had hooks.

It goes straight into a person's nose, then hooks the cravings in their stomach along their throat.

Xu An couldn't help but swallow.

"Sir, is this still edible?"

"It's been eighty years, hasn't it turned into a fossil?"

Grandpa rolled his eyes at him.

"Those who don't know their stuff."

"This is called the patina of time."

Grandpa held up two fingers and picked out a dried radish from the jar.

The dried radish had turned dark brown.

Shriveled and curled up.

It looks like a dead tree branch.

But its surface has a glossy sheen.

Grandpa held it under his nose and smelled it.

A look of ecstasy appeared on his face.

"These are the best Weihui carrots your great-grandmother chose back then."

"I was exposed to the sun for a full forty-nine days."

"Using coarse sea salt."

"Salt was very expensive back then, and she pawned her silver bracelet from her dowry to buy salt."

Xu An was stunned.

He stared at the dark, murky jar.

Suddenly I realized this was more than just a jar of pickled vegetables.

This is the fate of our family.

It was during that era that the people of Xujia Village fought for their last bit of stubbornness in order to survive.

"Alright, stop spacing out."

Grandpa threw the dried radish into the basin of warm water.

"Cut the meat."

"Separate fat and lean meat."

"Today, let these construction workers experience what the true heritage of Xujia Village is all about."

Xu An washed his hands.

Pick up the kitchen knife.

Despite his social anxiety, he never hesitates to get things done.

"Clang clang clang—"

The rhythmic sound of chopping vegetables echoed in the kitchen.

The pork belly was cut into thin, even slices.

Crush the scallions, ginger, and garlic.

Cut the dried chili peppers into sections.

At this time.

The dried radishes soaked in warm water also unfurled.

The aroma of aged wine becomes even more intense when heated.

It floated straight out the window.

It drifted into the courtyard.

It drifted to the bustling construction site.

Li Daguo, who was directing the excavator, suddenly twitched his nose twice.

He looked around in confusion.

"What does it taste like?"

"Who's cooking stew?"

The surveyor next to him also gasped twice.

"Dean, it smells so good!"

"Like... the pickled vegetable and pork stir-fry my grandma used to make when I was little?"

"No, it smells even better than that!"

The excavator operator even stuck his head out of the cab.

"Director Li!"

"Are we still digging the foundation or not?"

"If I keep smelling it, my hands will start shaking while I'm shoveling the bucket!"

Li Daguo glanced at his watch.

11:30.

It's time to eat.

To meet the deadline, these people ate a steamed bun in the morning and got to work.

I was immediately drawn in by the aroma.

The cravings in my stomach are collectively rebelling.

"Gurgle—"

The sounds rose and fell, even drowning out the idling noise of the excavator.

Li Daguo waved his hand.

"stop!"

"Everyone take a break!"

"Have a meal!"

The workers cheered.

Although it's a rest day.

But their synchronized movements still resembled those of a well-trained team.

Everyone patted the dirt off their clothes.

Take off your helmet.

They stared longingly at the Xu family's small courtyard, where smoke was rising from the chimney.

Xu An came out carrying a stainless steel basin as big as a washbasin.

Grandpa followed behind, carrying a basket of freshly steamed white flour buns.

In the basin.

Stir-fried pork with a pile of dried radish.

Dark brown dried radish, and translucent slices of pork belly.

It gleamed with an alluring sheen in the sunlight.

That fragrance.

It's practically a biological weapon.

Although the camera in the live stream couldn't detect any smell.

But the high-definition image quality captured the entire dish of food clearly.

Especially that layer of bright red oil.

There was also broth clinging to the dried radish.

The live chat exploded instantly.

[ID: Dry Rice Person Dry Rice Soul]: The police have been called! This time, the police have really been called! This is late-night food poisoning... no, this is midday food poisoning!

[A stumbling block on the road to weight loss]: The salad in my hand suddenly doesn't taste good anymore, I want to eat steamed buns dipped in vegetable soup!

[ID 80-Year Aged Wine]: Those dried radishes look delicious! Absolutely crunchy!

[ID wants to go to Xujiacun for a free meal]: @Dean Li Daguo, do you need any helpers? No wages needed, just meals!

Xu An placed the basin on the millstone.

He rubbed his hands together a little awkwardly.

"Um... Dean Li."

"We didn't prepare any good dishes at home."

"I just dug up some pickled vegetables from the ground and stir-fried them with meat."

"The steamed buns are homemade, and there's plenty to eat."

Please don't mind the quality.

Li Daguo looked at the pot of food.

His Adam's apple bobbed violently.

dislike?

What a joke!

This is practically state banquet-level treatment!

"Comrade Xu An!"

"You're too kind!"

Li Daguo stopped being particular.

He simply grabbed a steamed bun with his hand.

break apart.

He picked up a large amount of dried radish and slices of meat with his chopsticks and stuffed them into the steamed bun.

Then open your mouth wide.

He took a big bite.

"Snap!"

The sound of dried radish crackling between your teeth is crisp and pleasant.

Followed by.

It's the fat from the pork belly bursting in your mouth.

And then.

It's that salty, savory, and aged aroma that has been mellowing for eighty years, exploding on your taste buds like an atomic bomb.

Li Daguo's eyes widened suddenly.

He chewed it twice.

I chewed it a couple more times.

I couldn't bear to swallow it.

Until the flavor slid down the esophagus into the stomach, spreading warmly.

Li Daguocai let out a long breath.

"call--"

"Absolutely amazing!"

"That's absolutely amazing!"

"I've eaten so many delicacies in my life, but none of them compare to this bite of dried radish!"

"This taste..."

"That's powerful!"

The surrounding workers watched the director's blissful expression.

How could they possibly hold back?

They swarmed forward.

"Leave some for me!"

"I want fatty meat!"

"Don't take the dried radish! That's the real essence!"

A group of grown men.

Squatting beside the millstone in Xujia Village.

Holding a steamed bun in his hands.

They ate until their mouths were greasy.

That scene.

It's more entertaining than any mukbang video.

Xu An stood to the side.

Watching these builders wolf down their food.

Looking at the pure satisfaction on their faces.

My social anxiety seemed to have been suddenly swept away by the warmth and life around me.