Today, it seems a mission impossible to count up the number of varieties of Chinese food, or to divide the dishes into groups geographically, without raising any objections.
要在数量上统计中国菜的品种，在地域上毫无争议地划分菜系，在今天是一件几乎不可能完成的事。
Besides food itself, there is something more important.
除了食材，更重要的是烹饪。
The control of heat, seasonings and knives.
火候的拿捏，佐料的配比刀工的精妙。
Too many secrets are there to be discovered in Chinese kitchens.
在中国的厨房里藏匿了太多的秘密。
This hut is where the Tashis dry their hand-made potteries, and also, the salted meat which is called Pipa Pork by the Tibetans.
札西家阴干陶器的小屋里悬挂着腌肉藏族人叫它琵琶肉。
They have been hung here for more than half a year.
它们已经在这里晾了大半年。

Fresh food is precious to the Tashis, so they process most of their food in such a way to preserve them as long as possible.
新鲜食材弥足珍贵许多食品都像这样处理便于长期保存。
The lunch is for the neighbours.
午餐是为了搞劳邻居们。
All the residence in Nixi grow highland barley, and when it is time for fertilization, they will help each other to save time.
尼西乡的人们都要给青稞地施肥为了不错过最佳时机各家互相帮忙。
Up till now, villagers here have stuck to the old customs, both of the method of cultivation and their lifestyle.
在今天他们的耕种方式，生活习惯依然保持着原样。
Tashi is a potter specialized in making black potteries.
札西是个黑陶匠人尽管有些黑陶。
Some of the black potteries he made will be bought by the travelers, but it does not mean that they are handicraft.
会出售给外来的旅行者但它们并不是工艺品。
Instead, the black potteries here are the secret of the kitchens.
而是每家厨房的秘密所在。
People in Nishi are not against modern kitchenware, but they still prefer traditional Nixi black potteries Tashi's sister when they prepare rice, vegetables, soup and buttered tea.
虽然新的炊具已经进入尼西人的生活但平日蒸饭、炖菜、煮汤，打酥油茶（札西的姐姐）用的器具依然是尼西黑陶。