eurekapd Chapter 149 149
Chapter 149 149
Then, scallion knots, ginger slices, and garlic cloves were stuffed inside, filling the chicken cavity until it was bulging. The prepared chicken was placed in a clean wooden basin and covered with a damp cloth. The damp cloth made a slight shaking sound when it was placed on top.
The shadow of the sun moved from the east side of the persimmon tree to the west side, and the patches of light on the ground changed from rectangles to rhombuses, and then to even longer rhombuses. Su Peixue lifted the damp cloth, and the marinated chicken lay quietly at the bottom of the basin. Its skin, soaked in the sauce, had turned a light brown color and shimmered with a moist sheen in the light, emitting a fragrant aroma of soy sauce mixed with ginger and garlic. She inserted chopsticks into the thickest part of the chicken breast and lifted it up to examine it—the marinade had penetrated into the meat, and the color of the meat was a shade darker than when it had just been plucked.
Two fresh lotus leaves were spread out on the wooden table. Having been sun-dried for half a morning, the leaves were no longer as brittle as when freshly picked; they were less likely to crack when folded and had gained a bit of resilience. The marinated chicken was placed in the center of the lotus leaves. As the chicken fell, the leaves dipped slightly, their surfaces concave to perfectly cradle the chicken. She wrapped the chicken from all sides—first the bottom, folding the bottom leaves upwards to cover the chicken's belly; then the sides, overlapping the leaves on both sides towards the center; finally, the top leaves were folded down, forming a tightly wrapped rectangular lotus leaf bundle. A few turns of hemp rope were wrapped around the bundle, knotted, and tightened, the knots creaking as they tightened inside the lotus leaves. Another layer of lotus leaves was wrapped around the outside, and then another layer of hemp rope was tied. The double-layered lotus leaf bundle, tightly bound with hemp rope, felt heavy in her hand, the green of the outer lotus leaves reflecting a moist sheen in the sunlight.
At dusk, the kiln stood quietly in the corner of the courtyard, its surface riddled with tiny cracks that resembled a map in the setting sun. Su Peixue arrived carrying a bundle of chopped pine strips, piled beside the kiln opening. She knelt down and first stuffed dry straw into the opening, piling it loosely in the center of the kiln's cavity. The chopped firewood was then placed on top of the straw, arranged in a grid pattern with gaps for air circulation. A match was struck—a small flame burst forth the moment the match head struck the sandpaper. She touched the match to the dry straw, and it ignited from the point of contact, the flames spreading rapidly along the straw stems. The flames licked at the chopped firewood, rising higher with a whooshing sound. The flames rose within the kiln, tongues of fire swirling and churning inside, while heat billowed out from the opening. The kiln walls, baked by the flames, slowly changed color from dark gray to white. Her face was illuminated by the firelight from the kiln opening, and a thin layer of sweat beaded on her forehead.
A long stick was used to push the embers to the sides of the kiln, leaving a space in the middle just enough for the lotus leaf chicken. She first used the stick to move the burnt charcoal to the sides, creating space in the middle; then, she used tongs to compact the embers on both sides, concentrating the heat. The lotus leaf chicken was placed on a long shovel, which was then inserted into the kiln opening. With a gentle lift of the shovel, the chicken slid into the kiln, landing softly on the firebricks. An old wooden board was used to seal the kiln opening, making a short, muffled sound as it closed. The high temperature inside the kiln would cause the moisture in the lotus leaves to turn into steam, slowly cooking the chicken.
Su Peixue sat on a stone beside the kiln, waiting. The sunset on the horizon changed from orange-red to deep purple, then from deep purple to gray-blue. One by one, the stars lit up, first the brightest one, then a few beside it, then a dense swarm. The chirping of insects gradually rose, weaving together a chorus, and occasionally the croaking of frogs came from the direction of the pond.