Chapter 38 Lotus Root and Pork Rib Soup

The watermelon was sweet and juicy, the oranges were sweet and sour, and the cantaloupe was refreshingly sweet...

Many students looked at Xiaoyu with envy. Since the beginning of this semester, Tang Xiaoyu seemed to have become a different person. He was much more cheerful and loved to laugh.

Xiaoyu's eyes crinkled when he smiled, and he shook his head as if he was enjoying the delicious food.

...

Saturday arrived quickly. After breakfast, Tang Yiyi set off for the market.

As for Xiaoyu, he was still sleeping, so she didn't wake him up.

The market stalls open early, so you have to get there early to pick out the freshest ingredients.

Tang Yiyi wanted to buy some tender lotus roots to make soup, as it was the perfect time to eat lotus roots. However, after looking at several stalls, she found that the lotus roots were either too large or too dirty, and none of them suited her taste.

When she reached the other side of the market, the beautiful and clean lotus roots caught her eye. They were the right size and not too crooked.

She first asked about the price, and if the price was acceptable, she selected lotus root. She would then buy pork ribs, as pork rib and lotus root soup is delicious.

After buying the lotus root, Tang Yiyi noticed that the chili peppers at this store were quite good—long and green-skinned, fragrant and spicy when stir-fried. She decided to buy those chili peppers from the same store as well.

Tang Yiyi went to the pork stall and bought lean meat and ribs. Because she was a regular customer, the owner gave her a discount.

After returning to the restaurant, Tang Yiyi tidied up the shop and started boiling tea eggs.

The shop mainly sells tea eggs in the morning, and only sells rice noodles if you find something you like.

Other restaurants or breakfast shops prepare porridge or soy milk to sell in the morning, and Tang Yiyi thought that the shop could do the same.

Rather than preparing soy milk, she prefers to cook porridge and sell it with tea eggs.

The tea eggs had only been in the rice cooker for a short time when several customers came in to buy them.

After seeing the guests off, with Song Man watching over them, Tang Yiyi went to the kitchen to prepare the lotus root. She peeled, washed, and cut it into chunks, then placed it in a bowl. The pork ribs, after being washed, needed to be blanched to remove the blood and impurities, so they wouldn't taste fishy.

As Zhao Nan passed by the restaurant, he smelled a strong aroma that made him unable to leave.

I saw a customer coming out of the shop carrying a dark, unappetizing egg. Do restaurants sell tea eggs?

Zhao Nan, who had planned to buy steamed buns for breakfast, returned home. He was short on cash, so he checked the prices first.

A tea egg that costs three yuan is more expensive than the one at a breakfast shop in the east of the city.

Can't afford it? Let's go!

As Zhao Nan was about to leave, he inadvertently caught sight of a child smacking his lips while eating a tea egg. It wasn't that his eating manners were bad or particularly delicious, but rather that he looked blissful, as if the egg in his hand wasn't just a tea egg, but some kind of delicacy.

Not to mention the aroma was so strong that it attracted many passersby like him.

Some people even bought more than ten at once. If they didn't have a large family, would they be eating them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

Zhao Nan made up his mind completely. It was expensive, but he would just buy one and try it!

With that thought in mind, Zhao Nan stopped hesitating and directly said to the shop owner, "Boss, I'd like a tea egg?"

He wanted to see just how delicious it was, and how it could captivate so many people.

Tang Yiyi quickly packed the tea eggs for the guest and took them.

Most people who come to buy tea eggs in the morning are in a hurry; some are rushing to send their children to school or to work.

When things go smoothly, Tang Yiyi tries her best to get the food for her guests as quickly as possible so they can enjoy breakfast.

Zhao Nan still had time to eat a tea egg, so he chose a seat near the door.

The restaurant has a very nice environment, it's clean and tidy, and the service is warm and welcoming.

Zhao Nan had only eaten at the restaurant once before, but the aroma still drew him in.

The aroma of tea and savory sauce lingered in his nose, making Zhao Nan wonder how good an ordinary tea egg could taste.

I tapped the tea egg on the table, and the shell peeled off quickly. The tea egg's texture deepened, revealing an enticing dark brown color.

It seems a bit different from other stores.

Steam rose from the tea egg, and Zhao Nan patiently blew on it to make sure it wouldn't burn his mouth before eating it.

A perfect tea egg, with the aroma of sauce and the flavor of egg, even the yolk, which many people don't usually like, is flavorful and creamy.

Zhao Nan finished one in a few bites, and before he could even react, he had finished it so quickly.

A feeling of hunger and craving for food arose within me.

One tea egg is not enough for him; he needs to eat several to feel full!

After Song Man finished serving the tea eggs to the guests, she smiled slightly upon seeing Zhao Nan's reaction.

The tea egg is delicious, isn't it? Otherwise, the customer wouldn't have looked like that. This isn't just any ordinary tea egg; when she first tasted it, her soul trembled!

What an amazing tea egg! It stirred her heart even more intensely than the feelings her beloved had for her.

Tang Yiyi put the lotus root and pork ribs into the washed pressure cooker, then added an appropriate amount of salt and started cooking.

No seasonings were added, but the simple method made the ingredients taste even better.

When the time was up, Tang Yiyi slowly turned off the heat, and after a few minutes, she took the pressure cooker off the stove, let it cool for a while, and then twisted open the lid.

The aroma is fresh and delicious, the surface is clear and bright, and there is a thin layer of oil on the surface. The lotus root is soft and tender after being stewed for a long time, while the pork ribs are firm.

Not long after the lid was lifted, a customer came over and asked, "Is this lotus root soup?"

"Boss, how much is one serving?"

"twenty."

The customer pursed his lips, seemingly pondering, "May I... taste it?"

His tone was uncertain; he wasn't confident his boss would agree.

Tang Yiyi nodded, "Okay, just a moment."

She brought over a small white porcelain bowl and ladled out a full bowl of lotus root and pork rib soup from the pressure cooker.

Turning back to the guest, he asked, "Would you like some chopped green onions?"

Only after the customer nodded did she feel relieved enough to sprinkle on the chopped green onions.

Seeing that the lotus root and pork rib soup served was plentiful and smelling its fragrant aroma, the guests felt much better after their fatigue.

"It smells delicious!"

Tang Yiyi just smiled at this.

The guest lowered his head and took a sip of the soup. It was just right, neither too salty nor too bland, and the soup was rich and delicious, with a pure and original bone aroma. There were no heavy or unpleasant seasonings, and it felt very nutritious and delicious.

The soup was so delicious that the guests drank it all in one gulp. Then they picked up the lotus root with their chopsticks. The tender lotus root pieces were soft and delicious. When you bit into them, you could see the fibers in the middle. The pork ribs and lean meat were firm and chewy. When you bit into the lean meat, the texture was very delicate, and it was soaked in the delicious soup.

This is the best lotus root and pork rib soup she has ever eaten!

Her son used to be passionate about cooking and cooked a lot, but now it seems he wasted all that lotus root and pork ribs.

The lotus root and pork rib soup at this restaurant is perfectly fresh, without any fishy or strange taste. The chef's skills are top-notch, and the customers are full of praise for it.

After finishing the meal, he said directly to Tang Yiyi, "Could you please pack three servings of lotus root and pork rib soup?"

"By the way, should we charge a packaging fee?"

The customer suddenly remembered that many shops charge a takeaway fee, so they got used to it.

"No need," Tang Yiyi replied, then took out a packaging box to pack the lotus root and pork rib soup.

The customer, beaming with joy, mentioned the takeout containers, saying, "Thank you. This restaurant is great; I'll recommend it to my friends in the future."

"You're welcome, you and your friends are welcome."

Tang Yiyi felt a surge of joy and confidence after selling her first serving of lotus root and pork rib soup.

When they had nothing to do, to pass the time, she chatted with Song Man about everyday matters.

Song Man looks a bit shy, but she's actually quite talkative and eloquent.

Sometimes Tang Yiyi couldn't help but laugh, creating a harmonious and pleasant atmosphere in the restaurant.

The peak dining period arrived quickly, and takeout orders surged. Tang Yiyi prepared meals one after another, while Song Man packed them up, waiting for the delivery person to come and pick them up.

In the security room, Uncle Li asked, "Where are you going to eat lunch?"

They got paid yesterday. It wasn't a lot of money, but they were happy. They'll definitely go out for a nice meal in the next few days to make it more enjoyable.

"I haven't decided yet, I might as well eat in the cafeteria," Xiao Yu said without thinking. He studied an unpopular major and applied for a security guard job right after graduating from university. The pay wasn't high, but the work wasn't tiring. He usually maintained order at the school gate and watched the surveillance cameras, and that was about it.

However, he needed to save money to prepare for a comfortable retirement, so he often ate at the school cafeteria to save money.

"Old Wang, what about you?" Uncle Li looked at Old Wang, who was not speaking and seemed to be looking out the window.

"I'll eat at the restaurant across the street."

I haven't had a decent meal in the last couple of days, so I'm not going to treat myself when I get paid.

Uncle Li: "Then, Lao Wang, I'll go to the restaurant with you later."

Normally, only one person is needed to be on duty at the school security office.

"Boss, give me a lotus root and pork rib soup and stir-fried dried tofu with pork."

Tang Yiyi glanced at Lao Wang, who was wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt. If she remembered correctly, he was a security guard at the school.

Uncle Li stepped forward: "I'm the same as the one in front."

While waiting, Uncle Li suddenly said, "Old Wang, are you eating so blandly? I'm ordering stir-fried dried tofu with pork, and I'm going to order it medium spicy!"

"It's better to eat something light when it's hot."

The two of them didn't like playing on their phones, so they chatted idly, and before long, the dishes were served.

Both dishes looked good, especially the lotus root and pork rib soup, which was fresh, fragrant, and rich, with excellent color, aroma, and taste.

Old Wang quickly picked up his chopsticks without hesitation and used them to scoop up a piece of lotus root in the bowl. The lotus root was so tender and pink, with thin strands on top. One bite revealed a soft, sweet, and incredibly delicious flavor. The pork ribs were also very fresh and tender.

Old Wang only started paying attention to health when he got older. He remembered that lotus root and pork rib soup was very nourishing and nutritious. Although it was light, it was not tasteless. In fact, it was bland at first, but left a lingering aftertaste.

Old Wang feels this way now, enjoying the delicious bone broth on his tongue, and even mixing the broth with rice.

Uncle Li also enjoyed the meal and was very satisfied.

I picked up a piece of dried tofu; it was tender and smooth, slightly salty, and of course a little spicy—it suited my taste perfectly.

The meat slices are chewy, tender, and smooth, and the more you eat, the more delicious they become.

The two ate in silence, both quite content.

All the hard work is relieved by the delicious food.

After finishing their meal, the two were still somewhat unsatisfied and went to pay the bill.

Song Man was tidying up her desk when Tang Yiyi saw Xiao Yu return.

After finishing her business at the shop, she cooked two dishes, along with today's lotus root and pork rib soup, which became their lunch.

For Song Man, eating meals every day is very therapeutic. She hopes to work hard and stay at the restaurant forever.

The owner is kind and funny, and his younger brother is cute and sensible. Also, and very importantly, the food is delicious.

Touching her increasingly round face, Song Man felt a sweet burden.

Suddenly, Tang Yiyi asked, "Xiaoman, have you gained weight recently?"

"Yes, the food is so delicious! Boss," Song Man nodded helplessly but willingly.