章 152: Chapter 152: Another Day of Routine
Lunch was simple, with roast beef sandwiches prepared in advance by Aunt Molly. The elderly Tiago couple brought a traditional Mexican hibiscus tea, known as "roselle" in some regions. The brewed tea had a beautiful ruby color, a staple in many Mexican households. It was not as tasty as the lavender tea from the previous night but was still pleasant.
It was certainly better than the Dr. Pepper that Walker had casually tossed him while they were working. Jack nearly spat it out upon tasting it. The drink reminded him of cherry cola with an added hint of camphor, making it even worse—comparable to the infamous bitter herbal drink from his previous life. Seeing the Texas men enjoying it so much, Jack almost thought he was being pranked.
After lunch, the women retreated to freshen up before heading to town for shopping, while the men continued working. There was a slight hiccup when Aunt Molly initially didn't want to go, preferring to spend the afternoon preparing dinner. It was only after Hannah confidently assured her that Jack could handle everything that she hesitated and agreed. Jack guessed it was probably his long list of spices he handed to Hannah that truly convinced her.
After lunch, everyone took a short break before resuming work. Jack assembled the wood beams into a frame, nailed on the boards, and joined the Walker brothers on the roof. With Bonham directing from below, they quickly repaired the damaged roof lining.
The brothers then laid the waterproof layer on the exterior, while Jack installed insulation inside the wooden frame. The most tiring and patience-demanding task was laying the cement tiles, which took them until 3 PM to complete.
"Wow, I thought this would take until tomorrow. Didn't expect we'd finish so early," Bonham said, leaning wearily against the truck as Augie helped him.
"Are you alright, old man? You've been looking a bit off lately. Maybe you should get checked out in Austin," Walker suggested while packing up.
Bonham waved his hand and laughed, "It's just old age catching up with me. But I did sleep well last night and felt great this morning. If this keeps up, I might join you at Twin Peaks for a beer again."
"Oh, come on, don't talk like that in front of Augie," Walker said dismissively.
"I'm 13 already! Stella had been there at my age, and it was Liam who took her," Augie protested.
"Hey, kid, you're dead. Don't expect me to take you anywhere fun anymore," Liam said, tackling Walker to the ground, leading to another playful scuffle.
"Stop it! Emily was there too at that time—ow, you hit too hard!" Liam yelped.
Jack watched the playful banter with envy, "Your family's bond is really admirable."
"You can consider us family too. Augie and Stella are almost grown up, and it's been a while since we had a baby's cries around here. You and Hannah should consider settling down here," Bonham said with a hint of nostalgia and a twinkle of slyness.
Jack was taken aback, not expecting to be urged to settle down even in the USA, feeling a sudden sense of familiarity.
"Maybe I should visit more often with Hannah. Texans have given me a new perspective on this country," he said.
"You talk like you're a foreigner. Haha, it's still early. How about we go catfishing at the lake, boys?" Walker suggested, and the men cheered. Jack, curious about the real-life experience of hand-fishing for catfish, eagerly agreed.
Fortunately, Texas didn't have severe heavy metal pollution like the Great Lakes region, and there hadn't been any major chemical spills like in Ohio. Whether catfish or other freshwater fish, as long as they weren't scavengers or alligator gars, Jack knew how to make them into American favorites.
Before heading out, he noticed the chicken coop on the farm, where Old Tiago kept dozens of Barred Rock chickens. These free-range chickens, common in rural areas, were rarely seen in American supermarkets. He spotted a few young roosters, just the right size for cooking.
Jack asked Old Tiago to prepare two young roosters for him, planning to handle them later. Then, the group drove off to a nearby lake.
The "lake" was actually a bend in a small river, forming a wetland area with a giant old cypress tree at the shore, its massive roots creating a mini-ecosystem. Catfish liked hiding in the muddy holes among the roots, and Walker and Liam, wearing thick rubber gloves, jumped into the water to lure them out.
Bonham relaxed nearby, fishing with bait. Within half an hour, he caught a sizable fish, slowly reeling it in. Jack and Augie excitedly grabbed nets, watching the water intently.
Eventually, a nearly 20-pound striped bass was hauled ashore, earning Jack a wet but proud moment as Bonham praised the "good luck" brought by the newcomer. Meanwhile, Walker and Liam caught a 30-pound catfish together. By 5 PM, the group returned with two big fish.
Back at Hannah's farm, the women had just returned from shopping. Hannah had bought a large bag of spices from the Asian supermarket. Using the leftover cement tiles from the roof repair, Jack built two simple stoves, amazing the onlookers with his culinary skills.
He glazed the two cleaned Barred Rock chickens with syrup, deep-fried them until golden, then slow-cooked them in a large pot with Western herbs substituting for missing spices. He created a dish akin to Texas-style braised chicken, amusing himself with the cultural pun only he understood.
Using half of the 30-pound catfish, he made thick fillets, lightly marinated them, fried them, and paired them with German sauerkraut and Mexican peppers, creating a unique Western-style fish stew.
Lastly, Jack achieved a culinary feat by making a whole 18-pound striped bass into a complete squirrel fish. Aunt Molly had to drive home and search the attic for a platter big enough to hold it.
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