Chapter 92 Lotus Root Sandwiches Back on Track

After the banditry subsided, Qingquan Town remained quiet for quite some time.

For the first few days, the streets were deserted, with very few shops open. Occasionally, pedestrians would walk by, but they were all in a hurry, and a sense of oppression permeated the air.

The soldiers continued to patrol the town, though less frequently. Damaged houses could still be seen in the corners of the streets and alleys, reminding people of the harrowing events of that night.

Lin Yao's eatery opens on time every day. At first, there weren't many customers, mostly familiar neighbors who came to buy some hot food and chat about their recent lives.

The people in the shop gradually recovered from their shock, but they would still glance out the door from time to time while working, as if afraid that something else might go wrong.

Taking advantage of their free time, Lin Cheng and Lin Yao followed Liu Dazhuang and Lin Yougong to the back mountain. They found the mountain hollow that Lin Cheng had mentioned, and it was indeed as he had said—sheltered from the wind and with a clear stream flowing nearby, making it a good place to build a shelter.

Immersive wilderness shelter building videos were a favorite of Lin Yao's for helping her sleep. She thought she could use some of the tips she learned from the videos this time, but she forgot that almost every family in Linjia Village had hunters, and the ancients were very skilled at building shelters.

The group discussed and first cleared a space, felled some sturdy tree trunks, built a few simple sheds, and opened up two hidden paths leading out of the mountains. They planned to gather the workshop's workers to make the shelter more secure once the town was more stable.

As the days went by, the government began to organize people to repair the burned-down houses, and the streets gradually came back to life.

The shops that had closed down gradually reopened, and Qingquan Town slowly returned to its former bustling state.

Lin Yao stood at the entrance of the restaurant, looking at the familiar scene before her, feeling very happy. She still preferred this lively atmosphere.

"Fresh lotus roots! Just dug from the pond, crisp and sweet!"

Lin Yao looked in the direction of the sound and saw an old man carrying two baskets of lotus roots, slowly walking over. The old man's trouser legs were still stained with mud, obviously he had just come from the fields. The two baskets of lotus roots were stacked neatly, the roots were thick and looked very fresh.

Such fresh lotus roots are excellent, whether made into lotus root sandwiches or lotus root starch. Lin Yao quickly called out to him, "Grandpa, wait a moment!"

Hearing the shout, the old man stopped in his tracks. "Young lady, do you want to buy lotus roots?"

"Hmm," Lin Yao nodded, looking at the lotus roots in the basket. "Your lotus roots look really fresh. How much are they?"

The old man quickly replied, "Ten copper coins a pound, all freshly dug this morning, guaranteed fresh!"

Lin Yao looked at the two baskets full of lotus roots and said, "I'll take both of these baskets."

The old man paused, seemingly unable to believe his ears, and asked, "Young lady, are you serious? These two baskets are quite a lot."

“Really,” Lin Yao said confidently, “My restaurant needs it. Could you please pick it out for me and take it to the kitchen?”

The old man's face immediately lit up with a joyful smile, and he said repeatedly, "Hey, all right! Thank you, shopkeeper, thank you, shopkeeper!" He carried the load on his shoulder pole, his steps becoming much lighter, and followed Lin Yao to the back kitchen.

Upon arriving at the kitchen, Wang Xiaoyu and the others were somewhat surprised to see so many fresh lotus roots. Lin Yao explained, "These lotus roots are so fresh; we can use them to make some new dishes, which will surely be popular."

The old man helped unload the lotus roots, and Lin Yao had Afu weigh them and pay for them. The old man took the money, carefully put it in his pocket, and bowed to Lin Yao: "The shopkeeper is such a kind person. Now I can go home sooner."

"You're welcome," Lin Yao said with a smile and waved her hand. "Take care."

Watching the old man happily leave with his empty load, Lin Yao turned back to the kitchen, her gaze falling on the pile of fresh lotus roots. She pondered what new dishes she could make besides cold lotus root slices and lotus root and pork rib soup.

"Su Niang, wash these lotus roots several times, especially the mud on them, make sure to wash it clean." Lin Yao said, rolling up her sleeves. "Zhao Niangzi, go chop some minced meat, a mix of lean and fatty meat, and also chop some scallions and ginger."

Wang Xiaoyu asked curiously from the side, "Master, what new dish are you making?"

"Let's make lotus root sandwiches." Lin Yao picked up a lotus root, peeled off the outer skin with a knife to reveal the snow-white flesh inside. "These lotus roots are crisp and tender. Stuff them with minced meat and fry them. They'll be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. They'll definitely taste delicious."

As she spoke, she had already sliced ​​the lotus root into evenly thick slices, leaving a small connecting piece between each slice, like a little clip. Zhao Niangzi also brought over the minced meat, which was already mixed with salt, soy sauce, minced scallions and ginger, and smelled delicious.

Lin Yao picked up a slice of lotus root, used chopsticks to pick up the meat filling, carefully stuffed it into the middle of the lotus root slice, and then gently pressed it to distribute the filling evenly. Her movements were skilled and nimble, and in no time she had made a large plate of lotus root sandwiches.

She prepared another bowl of batter, adding eggs and flour, and sprinkling some five-spice powder. "Later, I'll coat these lotus root sandwiches with batter and fry them in oil."

The fire in the stove was burning very brightly, and the oil was heated up very quickly. Lin Yao picked up the prepared lotus root sandwich, dipped it into the batter to coat it evenly, and then gently placed it into the oil.

The lotus root slices were quickly cooked in the oil, turning golden brown and releasing an enticing aroma. Wang Xiaoyu couldn't resist coming closer to watch, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"Try it first and see how it tastes." Lin Yao picked up a freshly fried lotus root sandwich, blew on it, and handed it to Wang Xiaoyu.

She took it, carefully took a bite, and the crispy outer layer crumbled with a single bite. The meat filling inside was tender and juicy, and the sweetness of the lotus root balanced the richness of the meat filling. It tasted absolutely delicious. She nodded repeatedly, "It's so good!"

Ah Fu, who was serving the dishes, couldn't resist picking one up and trying it. "Yes, yes, it's so delicious. The guests will definitely love it."

Watching them enjoy their meal, Lin Yao picked up one and tasted it herself, nodding in satisfaction: "Hmm, it tastes good." She picked out a few pieces of lotus root sandwiches, cut them into small pieces, and said, "Afu, take these lotus root sandwiches out and let the guests try them."

Ah Fu quickly took the lotus root sandwiches out, and soon the guests' praises could be heard.

"What kind of new food is this? It's so delicious!"

Give me ten!

"I want one too! I want one too!"

Lin Yao put the last batch of lotus root sandwiches into the oil, watching them slowly turn into an enticing golden color in the hot oil before wiping her hands with satisfaction.

"Ayu, please put the rest of these lotus roots into a basket for me. I'll take them to the workshop." Lin Yao pointed to the pile of cleaned lotus roots in the corner. "Teach them to make some lotus root starch. This stuff can fetch a good price."

Wang Xiaoyu quickly packed the lotus roots into the basket and covered it with a cloth: "Do you want me to help you carry it?"

"No need, I can go by myself. You guys keep an eye on the shop." Lin Yao picked up the basket and walked quickly towards the workshop.

The afternoon sun was a bit too bright. As Lin Yao walked down the street, she could hear the shouts of vendors from the shops on both sides; the lively atmosphere of Qingquan Town had returned. Thinking about how to make lotus root starch, she quickened her pace.

Upon arriving at the workshop, Zhang Ping was directing the workers to move ingredients, while Zhang An was checking the ledgers. Seeing Lin Yao enter, both of them stopped what they were doing.

"Boss, what brings you here? And with so many lotus roots." Zhang Ping wiped the sweat from his brow. When they started work, Zhang Ping and Zhang An insisted on calling Lin Yao "Boss," reasoning that Lin Yao was still quite young, and if they didn't show respect to the workers, she might be looked down upon, causing her trouble. Lin Yao thought this made sense, so she complied, never neglecting the proper work etiquette.

Lin Yao put the basket on the ground and lifted the cloth: "These lotus roots are fresh. I was thinking of teaching you how to make lotus root starch. This stuff is very valuable."

Zhang An quickly put down his account book and came over: "Lotus root starch? That's what those wealthy families like to drink? Can this really be made?"

“Of course.” Lin Yao picked up a lotus root. “Look, first wash these lotus roots carefully again. Then cut them into small pieces and put them in a mortar and pestle to crush them.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than a dark-skinned, lean worker stepped forward and said, "Boss, let me wash it. I guarantee it will be spotless!"

Lin Yao looked up and recognized Wan Chunsheng, Wan Chunlai's elder brother.

She remembered that when Wan Chunlai first came to the restaurant, he was shy and, although he worked diligently, he was always a little reserved. But this Wan Chunsheng was completely different; he was very clever and seemed much more experienced and worldly-wise than his sister.

"Okay, then I'll trouble you." Lin Yao nodded with a smile.

Wan Chunsheng immediately agreed, quickly picked up a bunch of lotus roots and walked towards the well, calling out to his two coworkers beside him, "What are you standing there for? The boss is teaching us a new trade, why don't you lend a hand?"

Seeing how he took the initiative to do tasks and lead others, Lin Yao understood that he was trying to curry favor with her.

She doesn't dislike such people; on the contrary, she greatly admires those who actively seek opportunities to perform. After all, it's only natural for people to strive for higher positions and water to flow downhill.

The restaurant recently opened, and Liu Xu was transferred to work as a waiter, while Wan Chunlai was sent to help in the kitchen. Both places are short-staffed. If Wan Chunsheng is really capable, he can be put to good use.

She continued to demonstrate to the workers: "After crushing, filter it with gauze and collect the lotus root pulp. Discard the remaining residue. Let the lotus root pulp settle for a while, changing the water several times until the water becomes clear. What's at the bottom is pure lotus root starch."

Zhang Ping followed the instructions: "Watch carefully how the boss does it. Learn this skill, and you'll make a living!"

Lin Yao continued, "The settled lotus root starch should be placed in a well-ventilated place to air dry, and should not be exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise it will easily clump together. After drying, grind it into powder with a stone mill, and then pass it through a fine sieve several times, so that it will be smooth when brewed."

Zhang An carefully wrote down the steps. "Boss, how long does it take to air-dry this? What kind of container is best to store it in after grinding it into powder?"

“It will take about three days to air dry. After grinding it into powder, I will have someone order some ceramic jars with ‘Lin’s Mark’ engraved on them. Each jar will contain about half a pound.” Lin Yao thought for a moment, “The price is 130 wen per jar. Our products are finely made, so they are worth the price.”

Wan Chunsheng returned after washing the lotus roots and overheard this conversation. He came over with a smile and said, "Boss, this is a great idea! Our lotus root starch is so finely made, it will definitely sell better than others!" In one sentence, he both flattered Lin Yao and expressed his own enthusiasm.

Lin Yao glanced at him but didn't reply. She only said to Zhang Ping, "New lotus roots will be delivered tomorrow. Use these to practice your cooking. Once you've cooked them well, send them to the restaurant."

As the sun set, Lin Yao prepared to return to the restaurant. When she reached the door, she called Zhang Ping over and asked, "How is Wan Chunsheng doing at work?"

Zhang Ping replied truthfully, "It's great. He works diligently, is quick and efficient, and gets along well with his coworkers."

"Okay." Lin Yao nodded. "Then once the lotus root starch is ready, let him be in charge of delivering it to the restaurant."

Zhang Ping immediately understood that his employer intended to give Wan Chunsheng an important position, and quickly replied, "Okay, I'll talk to him about it later."

-----------------------

Author's Note: Writing is hard work, please add this to your favorites! [Please!]

For instructions on making lotus root sandwiches, please refer to Baidu.