CH 9

Apr 30 2022

Household Registration

There are three dishes on the dining table, chopped fish head with fresh red chopped peppers garnished with green shallots, sweet loofah egg soup, and green pumpkin sprouts.

Color, fragrance, taste, everything is on point.

After the four of them arrived at the dining table, Yu Qingze first introduced them the name of each dish: “This is fish head with chopped peppers.”

Yu Qingze asked the translator to thank you for reading on hololo novels.

The three members of Chang Le’s family looked at the plate of bright red fish head curiously, but their focus was not the same.

Grandpa Chang was thinking that the fish head could still be eaten, Chang Le was curious about how to cook it, and Chang Hao was thinking about already eating, let’s eat, eat, eat!!!

“Grandpa.” Chang Hao sighed and looked at his grandfather eagerly.

Grandpa Chang smiled and said, “Let’s eat.”

Chang Hao cheered, and his chopsticks stretched out to the extra meat left under the fish head. With his food instinct, he also scooped the soup in the bowl.

“Wow! It’s delicious!” After sighing, Chang Hao took a big mouthful of rice and swallowed it, and then said, “Grandpa, brother, try it!”

The three of them looked at him and shook their heads and laughed. In the past two days, Chang Hao’s words have become a common language at the dinner table.

Grandpa Chang and Chang Le also tasted it and were surprised.

“Isn’t it delicious? It doesn’t have that fishy smell anymore. Hey, it’s so spicy, but it’s so good!” Chang Hao was so hot but his chopsticks didn’t stop at all, and he finished half a bowl of rice in a short while. Oh my, there is no trace of that sticky fish smell in the dish.

It has an unusual flavor, a light fragrance, mixed with the taste of fish and pepper, everything is very unique. And the fish is still very tender, dipped in a little soup, it’s full of flavor.

Chang Le is very curious, what is that smell? Is that the smell that hides the fishy smell?

Then, he found the purple leaves that had been boiled soft on the bottom of the plate. Isn’t this the weed on the side of the road?

He picked up a piece with chopsticks and looked at it. Yes, these are the plants that can be used as medicine growing on the side of the road. Can this be eaten?

“Wah, what kind of leaf is this?” Chang Hao asked curiously.

Grandpa Chang recognized some herbs and said, “Isn’t this the perilla that treats chills and colds?”

Yu Qingze nodded and said, “It’s perilla. You can use this to remove the fishy smell when you make fish, shrimp, and meat.”

I see! Chang Le looked at this small leaf with burning eyes, and was very happy that he had learned another little secret trick.

Yu Qingze gave them popular science again, “In addition to basil, wine, vinegar, ginger, onion and garlic as deodorizing ingredients, star anise, cinnamon, orange peel, etc. can also be used, especially for mutton, which is more stinky.”

Chang Le listened with gusto, but his eating movements slowed down. Chang Hao kept his mouth shut, and in a short while he finished a bowl of rice, and reminded his brother, “Brother, hurry up and eat, I have already finished a bowl.”

Yu Qingze asked the translator to thank you for reading on hololo novels.

Chang Le was a little embarrassed, glared at his brother, and ate silently.

Yu Qingze blinked, it seems, Brother Le is very interested in cooking?

Lunch was swept away, and even the chopped pepper soup in the fish head dish was all wiped clean.

When making dinner, Yu Qingze paid more attention. After picking the vegetables, he went back to the kitchen to wash them and was ready to start frying. Then he saw Chang Le who was originally harvesting millet coming in, and sent Chang Hao, who was burning the fire in front of the stove, to harvest millet.

Yu Qingze: …Speaking of which, when he was cooking these two days, as long as Brother Le was at home, he would be the one to burn the fire?

Dinner tonight isbraised fish and simmered winter melon. Yu Qingze skillfully heated the oil pan and fry the ingredients, while observing Chang Le’s movements.

He really made an interesting discovery.

Chang Le is secretly learning!

Looking at his careful observation, afraid of being discovered, pretending to look away for a while, and then unable to help but turning back, Yu Qingze was sure that he was stealing from the teacher.

If it was someone else, they might just look directly, and Yu Qingze is also used to the being stared at while cooking. But Chang Le, according to Yu Qingze’s observations in the past few days, is actually quite shy and embarrassed to ask directly, so he can only learn secretly.

Yu Qingze thought it was very interesting and watched it silently for a while, smiling in his heart.

After appreciating the other’s ‘secret’ actions enough, the winter melon was also already simmered in water, Yu Qingze said to Chang Le: “Brother Le, the fire can be simmering a little more now, simmer for ten…a little more than half an hour, the softened winter melon looks like it’s almost ready when it’s transparent.”

Originally wanted to say ten minutes, but suddenly realized that there was no such thing as a minute in ancient times, and he changed the way he said the timing.

Chang Le nodded, added two firewoods, and suddenly realized that Yu Qingze just now…was teaching him how to cook?

It used to be like “Brother Le, please burn a bigger/smaller firewood”, but Yu Qingze just said how long to cook the winter melon and how to tell when it’s done.

Chang Le looked at Yu Qingze suspiciously, but happened to meet the other’s smiling eyes.

Chang Le: …Could it be that his secret learning actions were discovered?

When Yu Qingze explained each step of the operation later, Chang Le’s face became hot, thinking that he must have been discovered.

The next moment, Yu Qingze confirmed his idea.

Yu Qingze asked with a smile, “Brother Le is very interested in cooking?”

…It was discovered.

Yu Qingze asked the translator to thank you for reading on hololo novels.

Chang Le’s face turned red, and he quickly closed his eyes, a little embarrassed, but nodded anyway.

I want to cook delicious meals for my grandfather and younger brother.

Then……

Then Yu Qingze gave him a surprise.

“Are you willing to learn from me?” Yu Qingze asked.

Chang Le’s eyes lit up, wide open, and his lips parted slightly involuntarily, he was taken aback. But soon, he reacted, nodded hurriedly, and quickly made two gestures with both hands.

“Wait, Brother Le, I don’t understand.” Yu Qingze hurriedly called out the little translator Chang Hao to come in.

Chang Le’s bright eyes dimmed for a moment, a little annoyed. It’s all because of him, if he communicates with Yu Qingze in the future, he must have either his grandfather or Xiaohao by his side, otherwise, if the master does not understand him, it will be too inconvenient, and it will affect his future cooking lessons.

Chang Hao ran in and asked, “What’s the matter? Let me try!”

“No.” Yu Qingze laughed and said, “Tell me what your brother just said?”

“Oh.” Chang Hao turned his head and asked his brother, “Brother, what did you just say?”

Chang Le made the gesture again, and Chang Hao translated it. It means that Chang Le is very willing to learn how to cook with Yu Qingze, and asks if it would be too much trouble for Yu Qingze.

Yu Qingze shook his head and said with a smile, “No, don’t worry.” He has also brought several apprentices before, and he is a skilled craftsman, so there is no trouble.

Chang Le was delighted to hear it and said that he will study hard.

Yu Qingze asked the translator to thank you for reading on hololo novels.

Chang Hao asked his brother in surprise: “Brother, do you want to learn how to cook with Big Brother Yu?”

Changle nodded.

Chang Hao was very happy, “Great!” In the future, even if Brother Yu moves out, they can still eat the same delicious food!

Then he ran out and told his grandfather the good news.

Grandpa Chang’s expression became complicated, he was happy, surprised, and hopeful. He let out a soft sigh.

This young man is very capable, and he has a good character!

Yu Qingze continued cooking and teaching Chang Le at the same time about cooking techniques, required heat, precautions, etc.

Chang Le listened very carefully, for fear that he missed something and if he doesn’t remember, it would trouble Yu Qingze.

After dinner, Yu Qingze went to the village chief’s house to discuss the contract.

The terms of cooperation were not complicated, and they were negotiated quickly. They also agreed to ask Master Xiucai to write the contract tomorrow, and then sign it.

After finishing this matter, Yu Qingze inquired about the household registration.

The village chief replied: “It has been fifteen years since the founding of the dynasty, and the management of naturalization is stricter than before. When the dynasty was first established, in order to appease the refugees, the imperial court directly distributed land for them to settle down, like the dozen or so households of the Chang family. It was easy then, but now, there are three ways to get naturalized.”

Yu Qingze listened carefully.

The village chief said: “First option, you can buy land at the place of naturalization, it doesn’t have to be much, just one mu of land is enough, and you can naturalize in that place; second option is to find a local to marry. However, because you are a man, then the household will have to give an extra portion of the land tax. There are also three other things.”

The village chief paused and said: “The third option, if you want to do it quickly, you can buy it with money, and they won’t care where you come from, you can enter wherever you want. Of course, it is civilian household registration and city registration. Just don’t let others know.”

Yu Qingze thought for a while and asked, “How much money do you need for the third option?”

The village chief shook his head and said, “I don’t know. I only heard that someone spent 80 taels.”

“How about buying fields? How much money would I need for the fields in Niutou Village.”

The village chief was surprised: “Do you want to settle in our village?”

Yu Qingze nodded.

Yu Qingze asked the translator to thank you for reading on hololo novels.

The village chief was a little surprised, but he replied quickly: “Our village is close to the county seat, and the land is fertile. The price set by the government is fifty taels for good farmland, and thirty taels for the lesser ones.”

Yu Qingze:  …

Three options, none of which can be done now.

He needs to make money … and quickly!

However, without a household registration, there will be hidden dangers when he wants to do business and make money. What if he’s caught as a refugee?

He had to find another way.

Yu Qingze returned home with a frowning face. As soon as he got home, he saw Wen Li in the main room with a 13 or 14-year-old ger.

He was about to turn around and go to the kitchen to avoid them, but was seen by the sharp-eyed Wen Li.