Chapter 61: Making Sauerkraut

The day after the spicy kimchi was ready, Zhang Fan began teaching Fei Er how to make sauerkraut. Since sauerkraut needs to be dried in advance before it can be made, when the spicy kimchi was ready to eat, the sauerkraut was still being dried.

The day Zhang Fan opened the jar of spicy kimchi, Fei Er also had Mo De bring over a jar of his own family's spicy kimchi. When the jar was opened, Zhang Fan couldn't help but start drooling. Just thinking about it was delicious; he hadn't had spicy kimchi in a long time. Seeing Zhang Fan's appearance, Fei Er also began to look forward to it. When the first piece of spicy kimchi was taken out, everyone started salivating continuously. After eating the spicy kimchi, even Ba Ke Er and Mo De, who couldn't do without meat, began to like spicy kimchi.

After the cabbage had been dried for several days in a row, Zhang Fan finally announced: The sauerkraut can now be made!

The method for making sauerkraut is somewhat simpler than that for spicy kimchi, only the preparation time is a bit longer. That day, Fei Er and Mo De arrived early at Zhang Fan's house, because when making spicy kimchi before, they often had to move the materials and jars back and forth. Although the distance from Fei Er's house to Zhang Fan's house is not far, doing this every day was too troublesome. So this time they came empty-handed.

Zhang Fan first sprinkled a layer of salt on the bottom of a clean large vat, then took the dried cabbage out leaf by leaf from the bamboo sieve and placed it in the vat, arranging it neatly before sprinkling another layer of salt. He continued doing this, layer after layer, until the vat was full, then added a final layer of salt. Finally, he covered it. Making sauerkraut is different from making spicy kimchi: sauerkraut does not need to be sealed; one only needs to lay the old cabbage stalks and old leaves on top of the sauerkraut and press them down with wooden strips and stones.

Fei Er, Mo De, and Ba Ke Er, upon seeing Zhang Fan finish arranging a small vat, also began to make sauerkraut themselves. Having experience making spicy kimchi, the three were able to quickly master the technique for making sauerkraut.

After spending another morning, the four finally finished arranging the sauerkraut at Zhang Fan's and Ba Ke Er's homes.

After lunch, Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er followed Fei Er and Mo De back to their homes to help make sauerkraut at Fei Er's house.

After a day's work, Zhang Fan and Ba Ke Er left Fei Er's house after dinner and headed back to their own homes. Before leaving, Zhang Fan did not forget to remind Fei Er to remember to come to his house the next day to learn the remaining steps. Fei Er had thought the sauerkraut was already done and just needed to wait to eat it, but who knew there were still more steps! Nevertheless, he agreed without even thinking. After all, Zhang Fan's place still had plenty of delicious food! He thought: Hehe, after finishing work tomorrow I can again mooch food and drink at Fan Fan's place! Just thinking about it feels wonderful.

The next day, Fei Er and Mo De arrived as promised after breakfast.

Seeing them arrive, Zhang Fan also took out the prepared ingredients: clean water and vinegar fruit.

Seeing that Zhang Fan had everything ready, the three gathered around the vat in front of him. Seeing everyone so eager to learn, Zhang Fan stopped keeping secrets and began to explain: 'Since sauerkraut must be sour, it needs fermentation. Fermentation requires water, but because we will be attending the tribe gathering next month and want to eat sauerkraut before then, I have chosen to add vinegar fruit. The acid from the vinegar fruit will speed up the sauerkraut's fermentation.'

Several people nodded, seeming to half-understand.

Zhang Fan realized that his explanation might not be understood much, so he gave up talking and directly began to demonstrate, letting them see clearly.

Zhang Fan first removed the stones and wooden strips pressing down on the sauerkraut vat, then took off the old cabbage stalks and leaves covering the surface of the sauerkraut. After that, he poured in the clean water and vinegar fruit juice. Having done that, he began to restore the old cabbage stalks, leaves, wooden strips, and stones.

After understanding Zhang Fan's method, the three also began to work. With many hands, the sauerkraut at Zhang Fan's house was soon taken care of. The remaining task was to help at Fei Er's house. However, Mo De and Fei Er insisted that no help was needed; only Mo De alone could do it. Seeing their determination, Zhang Fan did not insist.

After returning home, Mo De began to add water and vinegar to his family's sauerkraut vat. When he had finished and returned to Zhang Fan's house, he happened to see Fei Er and Zhang Fan sitting in the courtyard, eating snacks and basking in the sun. They looked especially relaxed, and he felt especially happy. With Zhang Fan keeping him company, his Fei Er would no longer be bored staying at home all day as before.

Ba Ke Er walked out of the door, saw Mo De looking at Fei Er's silly smile, walked over and patted Mo De on the shoulder. After the two greeted the two people in the courtyard, they went out hunting.