Chapter 18: Loofah Soup + Mapo Tofu

Xiao Yu's mouth was watering; he really wanted to eat some braised lotus root slices. But the braised lotus root slice seller was going to sell them to customers, and he had to be a good boy and couldn't eat them.

Tang Yiyi noticed Xiao Yu's gaze falling on the pot of braised lotus root slices, and without hesitation, she braised another pot of lotus root slices.

Then I made two more dishes, loofah soup and Mapo tofu, which looked very appetizing.

Xiaoyu brought bowls and chopsticks and served rice to his sister and him.

Tang Yiyi placed two bowls of food on the table and said to Xiaoyu, "Xiaoyu, go wash your hands and eat!"

The tender green loofah is topped with a layer of minced meat, the pieces are distinct, and the soup is very clear. The tofu in the Mapo Tofu looks tender and bouncy, with red oil soaking into the surface, mixed with a few small pieces of minced meat, and garnished with chopped green onions. It smells so good.

Xiaoyu didn't know which dish to eat first, as every dish smelled delicious.

He hesitated for only a few seconds before picking up his chopsticks.

The tofu is so smooth and tender, it bounces around and almost melts in your mouth. The texture is so delicate, and it has a savory, slightly spicy flavor.

The minced meat is also incredibly fragrant, with a slightly charred aroma, distinct grains, and a very chewy texture.

Xiaoyu scooped a spoonful of tofu and two spoonfuls of broth onto the rice, then stirred it with a spoon. The red oil-colored broth coated each grain of rice, giving it both the aroma of rice and the rich flavor of the sauce.

Xiaoyu finished a bowl of rice in a flash, then went to get more, and then picked up a piece of loofah.

The loofah is a vibrant green and very appealing. It has a mild flavor but is incredibly tender, and the minced meat is chewy and satisfying.

After finishing her meal, Tang Yiyi scooped out half a bowl of loofah soup. The soup looked clear and bright as she picked it up.

The soup is fresh and delicious, with a hint of sweet loofah flavor that makes you want to drink more.

Seeing that Xiaoyu was almost finished eating, Tang Yiyi hurried to the kitchen and saw that the braised lotus root slices in the pot were ready. She ladled out half a bowl.

"Xiaoyu, the braised lotus root slices are ready to eat."

Even though he was a little full, Xiaoyu saw the dark-colored lotus root slices, each one about the same thickness, and they smelled so good that he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

It's enough to eat it with braised lotus root slices and half a bowl of rice.

Tang Yiyi doesn't cut corners when cooking; in her mind, the taste and texture of the ingredients are what truly win over diners.

The braised lotus root slices are slightly spicy, with an indescribable aroma, and are very crisp and chewy, becoming more and more delicious with each bite.

Xiao Yu looked completely absorbed in the world of food, as if he were the happiest child in the world.

Tang Yiyi is addressed as "Sister Xiaoyu" in Xiaoyu's parents' group. In addition to their children's studies, the parents of third-grade students are also concerned about their children's living conditions.

I wonder if my child is eating enough at school. My little devil has already lost weight in just a few days since school started!

When it comes to food, many parents get excited. Even if their children's grades aren't good, it doesn't matter, but what they eat is related to their children's health, so they have to pay attention.

The food in the school cafeteria is either too watery or too greasy. No wonder my son Zihan isn't growing properly. I ate there once after the semester started, and I never want to eat at the school cafeteria again!

[Don't say it's because of the school cafeteria's food that I enrolled my child in a day school; they can come home for lunch every day, and I'm always more at ease knowing the food is cooked at home.]

...

When it comes to children's eating habits, many parents have a lot to say and can go on and on about it.

When Tang Yiyi clicked in, she saw that within minutes, the number of messages in the parents' group had reached an astonishing "99+".

The latest question is from a parent: "My child is a day student and it's inconvenient for him to commute to school. I'm worried he'll get used to the school cafeteria and would rather eat instant noodles than go there. Parents, are there any recommended restaurants near the school?"

Less than a minute later, Grandma Lili replied: "There's a small restaurant right across from the school gate; the food is quite good."

Tang Yiyi was touched that Grandma Li would recommend her restaurant to others.

But I'm afraid the parent who asked the question won't believe me.

But the next second, the parent who asked the question said: "Thank you, Lili's grandma. May I ask what the store's name is?"

Wearing her reading glasses, Grandma Li typed out the reply, word by word: 【Tang Family Restaurant.】

Yi Yi's restaurant is delicious and affordable, far better than those rip-off restaurants. More people should see her restaurant.

[Tang Family Restaurant? Okay, I'll remember that. I'll give the kid money to eat there next time.]

Most parents remain silent; they've never even heard of this restaurant, so how could the food be good? Grandma Lili is probably a shill hired by the restaurant owner to advertise for them.

A small group of parents think it's okay to go eat there, since you can tell if it tastes good or bad after eating it once, and if it doesn't taste good, you can avoid it next time.

Tang Yiyi sent a message to Grandma Li: 【Thank you Grandma for recommending my restaurant! [Flowers]】

Grandma Li quickly replied, "What's the big deal, Yi Yi? Good restaurants deserve to be seen by more people!"

[By the way, Yi Yi, I'm taking my husband and Lili to your restaurant again in a couple of days.]

Welcome, Grandma!

I didn't have much of an appetite in the evening, and the weather was still unbearably hot.

Tang Yiyi cut a few pieces of watermelon, and Xiaoyu and she each ate a few pieces. Then she went to the kitchen to make fried rice.

Heat the wok over high heat, add a spoonful of lard, and it sizzles and crackles. Then pour in the leftover rice from last night. Quickly grab two eggs, wash them, crack them into the corner of a bowl, and whisk them with chopsticks. The rice is already loosened. Pour in the golden egg mixture, and stir-fry rapidly with a spatula to coat each grain of rice with egg. Add chopped greens, ham slices, and other ingredients, then pour in soy sauce, oyster sauce, and a spoonful of salt. Stir-fry quickly to prevent the rice from sticking to the bottom of the wok and burning.

Xiaoyu was doing his homework at the table when he looked up and saw a magnificent sunset overhead, a sea of ​​orange and yellow.

Suddenly, a delicious aroma of food wafted over, and Xiaoyu turned his head to look towards the kitchen, unable to resist sniffing.

Then the older sister came out carrying two bowls. "Xiaoyu, dinner's ready!"

"Here you are~" Xiaoyu ran over, putting her homework into her little backpack. Oh, it's fried rice! She washed her hands and got some chopsticks.

The older sister has a pair, and he has a pair.

The siblings immediately started eating, their movements quick and efficient.

The rice was a bit oily, but not greasy. The ham slices were a little salty, while the bok choy was very refreshing and delicious. Together, they made the dish less dry.

Xiaoyu kept taking big gulps and couldn't stop!

The rice grains are fragrant, and the eggs are not very fishy. They are very tender and smooth, with each grain of rice distinct and plump, and have a faint aroma of rice. The mouth is filled with an enticing egg flavor.

After devouring the fried rice, Xiaoyu was still a little unsatisfied.

Tang Yiyi smiled and said, "If Xiaoyu thinks it's delicious, I'll make some more fried rice for him."

"good."

After washing the dishes, Xiaoyu tidied up the table, wiping it very carefully.

Tang Yiyi brought out a notebook and pen and started listing the ingredients for tomorrow.

Many customers gave positive feedback on the sour plum drink last time, praising its sweet and sour taste and its refreshing and thirst-quenching properties. However, due to the poor quality of the ingredients used in the dried goods store, the sour plum drink has been temporarily removed from the menu for the past two days.

If the dried goods store has fresh produce tomorrow, I can buy some.

There are also chili peppers and pork to buy, and...

Just as I was finishing writing, a voice suddenly rang out from the doorway, "Boss, what dishes does T restaurant have?"

The person who came was holding a camera pole and filming something with their phone.

Chen Gang is a well-known food blogger on Douyin (TikTok), with hundreds of thousands of followers and hundreds of food videos, but only one or two of them made him a viral sensation.

On a whim today, he took his phone stand and wandered through the city's streets and alleys, searching for delicious food hidden in the alleys.

Then he discovered Tang Family Restaurant. The name and decor were quite ordinary, but he asked the neighbors in the neighborhood, and they all had a very high opinion of the restaurant.

There were only a few dozen viewers in the live stream. Chen Gang smiled and looked at the camera, introducing, "Hello everyone, fans. Today we're going to explore a restaurant."

The comments flashed by:

[This restaurant is so run-down and tiny; it made me feel like I'd been transported back more than ten years.]

This restaurant isn't big, but the tables and walls are quite clean. If I happen to pass by, I might go in and order something.

[Host, I need to see this restaurant's menu. It looks completely ordinary. Please, don't let it be an assassin's lair!]

...

Chen Gang saw the comments and selected a few to reply to.

Xiaoyu jumped off the chair and whispered to her, "Sister, we have a guest."

Tang Yiyi knew that this customer looked quite different from the other customers.

She stepped forward and said, "Hello, may I take a look at what we'd like to eat? The menu is on the blackboard."

After speaking, Chen Gang moved his phone camera towards the blackboard, where the names and prices of the dishes were clearly visible.

The menu wasn't extensive, but this dish was very inexpensive, definitely not an assassin's.

The comments section sparked a frenzied discussion about the menu:

[Braised lotus root slices and stir-fried pork with chili peppers? Wow, I love both of these dishes! They sound so delicious!]

Am I the only one who noticed how cheap this restaurant is? Every time I order takeout, even just one dish, it starts at twenty yuan. Working people really can't afford it!

Regardless of the taste, I'd be willing to try it at this price!

...

Chen Gang suddenly noticed that the chat was much more active, and more viewers had entered the live stream. They were probably attracted by the restaurant's pictures, menu, and the owner. After all, the owner's smile was clean and healing, with the corners of his eyes curving, which made people feel a warm current flowing through their hearts.

A note from the author:

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