Chapter 8: Pork Stewed with Vermicelli

"Veterinarian, of the th Division."

"th Division."

Everyone began talking to the people around them.

Jiang Anguo was still very satisfied; people sometimes have to learn to seize the momentum, and he didn't say he was from the Supplement Battalion.

One should leverage one's own advantage; he himself was the Major Company Commander of the th Division, regardless of whether it was the Supplement Battalion or whatever.

"From now on, you are also of the th Division; all the soldiers at the Shelter will join the th Division," Jiang Anguo said loudly.

Everyone instantly reverted to their original demeanor, lax, their eyes more fixed on the big stew in the pot.

Jiang Anguo instantly understood: the th Division was formidable, definitely so; this time they were even going abroad to fight the devils. Fighting the devils meant life and death, so joining the th Division meant death.

And this group of broken soldiers were all veterans.

Those who survived the battlefield and made it here were seasoned veterans; these people were as slick as loaches, and it was far from easy to command them.

Myanmar, that was a foreign land; they were in Chanda, where it was better to survive than to die a good death. Here they couldn't eat enough or stay warm, but at least they wouldn't die in battle.

If they joined the Expeditionary Force, they might no longer be broken soldiers, but a corpse.

You say this dilapidated courtyard, why is it so broken? In winter they dismantled some wood to use as firewood.

Jiang Anguo curled the corner of his mouth; subduing this group was clearly not easy. Long Wen Zhang relied not only on eloquence, the kind that deceives people, which Jiang Anguo claimed he lacked.

Obviously, because Jiang Anguo appeared, the once lively courtyard suddenly fell silent.

"Xiao Si, bring all the pots up, fire them up for me, and I'll show you what Northeast pork stewed with vermicelli is," Jiang Anguo, in his violent temper.

Xiao Si was getting a little hungry; it was really looking too hungry.

The large pot prepared in advance was taken from the house, and there was also a big iron barrel, which originally should have contained fuel; now empty, it saved the time of setting up a stove.

"Yao Ma, what do you think this officer wants to do?" Dou Bing asked curiously.

"Damn it, how would I know!" Yao Ma replied with a Sichuan accent.

She Pigu held the Knife, "Looks like we're about to cook."

Indeed, Jiang Anguo was about to cook.

"Xiao Si, be quicker with your movements."

"Yes, Young Master."

"Hmm, what should I call you?"

"Yes, Company Commander," Xiao Si said.

Jiang Anguo liked teasing Xiao Si; it was a pleasure in life.

"Company Commander, the pork is too heavy," Xiao Si shouted deliberately, and indeed it was heavy—half a slab of pork weighing about seventy jin.

That cost the boss a hefty sum to acquire.

It cost about forty‑five silver dollars to buy this half slab of pork; Jiang Anguo wasn't short on money now, but with internal and external troubles, prices were already sky‑high.

Everyone was living meal to meal; even buying pork was extremely difficult.

She Pigu's Knife fell to the ground, and he saw what? Bright white pork.

Lin Yi instantly felt that the pork he had bought for two silver dollars no longer smelled good; nobody knew that after Lin Yi bought himself a watch, he used that money to purchase the pork.

"Hey Xiao Si, you know? This pork stewed with vermicelli must use pork belly; the meat shouldn't be cut into large chunks, it should be moderate."

Jiang Anguo raised his hand and swung the knife; it looked proper. He wasn't a professional chef, but the appearance had to be there.

He cut a large piece of meat from the pork, at least ten jin, which was far larger than Lin Yi's three jin four liang six qian piece.

Slices of pork belly of uneven thickness were cut in an unappealing way, but no one complained; they were just starving, hadn't had a good meal in ages, and had never seen so much pork belly.

Even Xiao Si hadn't eaten meat for a long time; he was as skinny as a rib.

Jiang Anguo also knew that Xiao Si, to take care of him, was cutting his own rations daily; all the money he brought was spent on Jiang Anguo.

In response, Jiang Anguo prepared to showcase his cooking skills, to perform well and reward Xiao Si.

Jiang Anguo could still cook, but he had never made pork stewed with vermicelli, because he was from the South and his daily diet didn't include that dish.

But he had watched videos of pork stewed with vermicelli; it's basically a chaotic stew, yet to make it tasty, pork belly is essential.

"Young Master."

Jiang Weiguo turned around, and Xiao Si immediately corrected himself, "Company Commander, is the pork stewed with vermicelli tasty?" Jiang Weiguo said.

"Delicious, of course it's delicious. Look at those people salivating around this pot of pork stewed with vermicelli; the two of us have such a huge pot. Young Master, go outside and gather some firewood, and get the fire going for me," Jiang Anguo said louder than ever.

"Got it, Company Commander," Xiao Si ran off swiftly.

Company Commander, he is the Company Commander, really wants to snatch that piece of meat, and there seems to be good stuff in the vehicle.

Sizzle—

Xiao Si was unreliable; gathering firewood was a bit slow, but even though the pork was a little lean, it still had some fat, and a piece of fatty meat was cut off.

Hmm, there was no pot, so there was no choice but to grab a bamboo stick and stir it inside, not knowing whether the stick was clean, but who cared.

Ah, the aroma of the pork was such that even Jiang Anguo felt he could eat two bowls of rice; today he wouldn't eat rice, just pork stewed with vermicelli.

The fat rendered out, and the pork belly was added again, filling the pot; there wasn't much ginger, but there was some, and all the sliced pieces were poured in.

Supplies were extremely scarce, so some scallions were bought; the white parts were all added to remove the pork's gaminess.

Blanching would be a waste; if we blanched, these broken soldiers might even drink the blanched pork broth.

The pork belly turned golden, or rather charred yellow; hmm, the heat wasn't controlled, it got a bit burnt, but who cared!

"Cabbage, slice it," Jiang Anguo shouted loudly, whether cutting or adding anything.

Cabbage was as free as money; four Yunnan high‑mountain cabbages were sliced and tossed into the pot.

He stirred quickly, and when it seemed about right, Jiang Anguo poured in soy sauce, and the color instantly changed.

"Hmm, that faint aroma rises with a little stir."

"Xiao Si, does it smell good?"

Xiao Si lit a fire and got ash all over his face, smiling broadly, "Camp commander, fragrant."

He swallowed, Xiao Si didn't know how long it had been since he last ate pork; this aroma truly was unforgettable, Xiao Si's eyes stared fixedly at the pork in the pot, and tears slowly welled up at the corner of his eyes.

He thought of his father and mother.

Jiang Anguo saw it, but thought Xiao Si had been smoked by the fire.