Chapter 79 Big Plate Chicken

Sun Li is a delivery rider in the area across the street from the school, and he mainly delivers takeout orders to restaurants.

But recently I've noticed fewer takeout orders, so I'm not making much money.

He found the person in charge of the local food delivery platform, saying, "I don't want to deliver food for Tangjia Restaurant anymore. On average, the food delivery costs a little over ten yuan, but I don't make much money from it."

Upon hearing this, the person in charge said, "Tang Family Restaurant's dine-in business seems to be doing alright. They haven't paid any promotion fees recently, so their platform traffic is just average. I'll urge them to pay the promotion fees as soon as possible and see if that works."

The rider sighed, "This is the only way for now."

At 2:30 p.m., not long after Xiaoyu went to school, Tang Yiyi received a call from an unknown number. "I am the person in charge of the Xingguang Elementary School area. Your store's traffic on the platform has been not very good recently. We recommend that you buy some promotional funds."

Tang Yiyi immediately replied, "No need."

Even though the restaurant's business has declined compared to its peak, the total number of customers is roughly the same.

No need to spend extra on promotion to acquire customer traffic.

"Your store shouldn't regret this. You're the only store on the whole street that hasn't spent any money on promotions every month. It's no wonder you get fewer takeout orders than other stores!" the manager said angrily.

Before Tang Yiyi could speak, the other end of the phone hung up hastily.

Tang Yiyi: "..."

She got busy with other things and forgot about the promotion fee.

Wearing an apron, Tang Yiyi deftly began adding noodles to the soup pot, scooping them out, adding beef and radish, and then pouring in a few spoonfuls of soup...

No one saw her smooth and skillful technique.

The waiting guests, captivated by the enticing aroma wafting from the kitchen, sniffed the air.

The rich aroma of the braising sauce is mixed with the fragrance of meat, making it truly intense.

Tang Yiyi put the noodles she had ordered for the restaurant into a large, round, blue porcelain bowl, and then, when she had a spare moment, delivered the takeout order to He An.

"Deliver the food to the customer as soon as possible, and be careful."

He An said "Okay".

By evening, Tang Yiyi had done the math and found that she had earned about 1,500 yuan that day. After deducting the cost of ingredients and labor, she was quite satisfied with the income.

I'm tidying up the shop and getting ready to go home.

As the roller shutter door was pulled down, a low, husky male voice came from a corner in the darkness, "Boss."

Xiao Yu stepped back, and Tang Yiyi was almost startled as well.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that it was Zhao Nan.

He asked, "Are you still having beef noodles?"

Tang Yiyi exclaimed "Ah!" and explained, "The beef noodles are sold out, and we have to close down if we want to."

After finishing his work, Zhao Nan rushed over from the suburbs just to have a bowl of beef noodles.

The disappointment was palpable when they heard that the beef noodles were no longer available.

"Okay, I'll come over for breakfast tomorrow morning."

After Zhao Nan left, Xiao Yu muttered under his breath, "That uncle is such a glutton!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Yiyi covered her mouth and laughed.

He countered with, "So, is Xiaoyu a foodie?"

Xiaoyu thought about it carefully, then nodded.

Seeing his adorable appearance, Tang Yiyi couldn't help but smile and really wanted to pinch his soft cheeks.

The next day, after washing up, Tang Yiyi prepared breakfast and then took Xiaoyu to school.

Tang Yiyi rode her bicycle to the market again; she was already very familiar with the market.

The beef and noodles I bought yesterday were well received by many customers. Some elementary school students went so far as to tug at Xiaoman's clothes, insisting on staying and becoming her younger brother.

His family was so ashamed that they took the child away.

She made money and satisfied her customers at the same time—nothing could be more perfect!

She walked past several stalls, checking the freshness of the ingredients.

Seeing that the chicken looked good today, I went back and bought several pounds. I also noticed that the potatoes nearby looked good, so I bought some potatoes and onions as well.

She's making a big plate of chicken, which sounds like a generous portion just from the name. It's cheap and affordable, and one serving is enough for two or three people.

Leaving the market, Tang Yiyi was so tired she could barely carry the groceries. The bag she had specially prepared was quite full, but thankfully she was used to it and didn't feel too tired.

Back at the restaurant, the sun was shining brightly; it was a clear and sunny day.

"Boss, you're here."

Who else could it be but Zhao Nan at the door? I didn't expect him to come so early, just for a bowl of beef noodles.

Tang Yiyi smiled and explained, "We just opened, it will take a while to make the beef noodles."

Zhao Nan's attitude was gentle, and he smiled broadly. "It's alright, I have time. I'll take a stroll around the area and then come back to eat."

Tang Yiyi gave him an "OK" sign.

To remove the gamey smell from the beef, it must be braised with spices for a period of time before adding radish chunks and cooking together.

The beef is cut into uniform chunks, neither too fatty nor too lean, so it's neither dry nor greasy, and leaves a pleasant aroma on the palate.

After being braised for a period of time, the beef changes from light pink to brownish-red.

Tang Yiyi scooped up a spoonful of soup and tasted it. "Hmm, it's okay."

It was neither too salty nor too bland, and the soup was very rich.

With the addition of spices and dried chili peppers, the beef becomes very fragrant after being braised for a long time.

The beef is braised in a pressure cooker to ensure it is thoroughly infused with the flavors of the spices.

Tang Yiyi asked Song Man to write down today's menu.

Song Man held the chalk, a little nervously, "Sister Yi Yi, my handwriting isn't very good, you should do it."

Tang Yiyi had no choice but to step forward and write today's menu on the blackboard herself.

As soon as the lunch bell rang, the campus came alive with activity.

The students scrambled to come down from the teaching building, with the teachers in the middle and behind them.

Tang Yiyi looked around in the direction of the school, trying to find Xiaoyu among the group of students in school uniforms.

Lili and Xiaoyu disappeared into the crowd as they walked towards the school gate, side by side, very close.

"Tang Xiaoyu, what delicious food is your sister going to make today?" Lili asked, very curious.

Xiao Yu honestly replied, "I don't know."

"Then let's hurry up, or the restaurants will be packed," Lili urged, her tone urgent.

Xiaoyu quickened his pace silently, as he always felt hungry whenever he was in class.

Lili, suppressing her hunger, used her watch to call her grandmother, "Grandma, school's out now, and Xiaoyu and I are on our way to the restaurant."

"Okay, Xiaoyu is coming with you too? Then you both need to be careful," Grandma Li couldn't help but remind her.

"Okay, Grandma."

As soon as they entered the restaurant, Lili's mouth dropped open in surprise—there were so many people! Xiaoyu, on the other hand, seemed unfazed.

Lili searched for her grandmother and found her grandmother and grandfather sitting at the innermost table in the room.

"Grandma, Grandpa."

When Grandma Li saw her granddaughter coming over, she asked, "Lili, are you hungry? We ate at a restaurant for lunch. What would you like to eat?"

“Lili likes to eat at Sister Yiyi’s house,” Lili said happily.

Eating at a restaurant always gives me a warm feeling, like I'm back home.

Grandpa Li was also very happy. When he saw a little boy, he asked, "Is this Xiaoyu?"

"Yes, he's grown into a little man," Grandma Li smiled. "Xiaoyu is very sensible and often helps out at the restaurant."

Lili sat next to her grandmother, while Grandpa Li sat opposite Grandma Li.

Grandma Li and the others hadn't decided what to eat yet, so they got up to look at the menu. They'd finally come to a restaurant, so they definitely needed some meat dishes.

"Little girl, what is 'Big Plate Chicken'?" Grandma Li asked Song Man.

"Grandma, Dapanji (Big Plate Chicken) contains chicken, onions, potatoes, green and red peppers, and other ingredients, all stewed together."

Upon hearing about the abundance of ingredients and the generous portions, Grandpa Li was intrigued; he had never tasted anything called "Big Plate Chicken" before.

"I'll have a plate of braised chicken, tofu and minced meat soup, and stir-fried bok choy. Just these three dishes will do."

After ordering, the three of them returned to their seats.

Tang Yiyi was busy in the kitchen when Song Man's clear voice carrying dishes came from the front.

"Okay, I understand."

Tang Yiyi turned on the stove and heated the pot. After the water in the pot evaporated, she poured in rock sugar. As the rock sugar melted, she added the blanched chicken pieces and stirred them continuously until each piece of chicken was coated with the caramel color, causing the color to change.

Then, in a separate pot, heat oil and stir-fry the chicken, add the prepared ingredients, including several kinds of spices, pour in some hot water, cover the pot and cook.

First, add the potatoes, then the onion chunks and cook. Finally, add the green and red peppers and stir-fry. The broth and ingredients blend together, making it even more flavorful.

When the braised chicken was served, Tang Yiyi was so enticed by the aroma that she hesitated for a few seconds.

The tofu and minced meat soup that followed, along with the stir-fried bok choy, were easy to make and only took a few minutes to prepare.

A large celadon plate holds freshly cooked braised chicken, its steaming aroma filling the air. The rich chicken scent mingles with the fragrance of onions, wafting into the nostrils. The evenly sized pieces of chicken gleam with an enticing sheen of oil, garnished with some green and red peppers, making it look incredibly flavorful.

As soon as the braised chicken was served, Lili's eyes widened, and she swallowed hard. Before Tang Yiyi could turn around, she picked up her chopsticks and reached for the fattest piece of chicken.

With her goal clear, Grandma Li smiled and said, "Let's eat."

When stewed for a long time, the chicken meat becomes firm and elastic. With one bite, it becomes tender and flavorful, and the bones easily separate from the meat. At the same time, the chicken has an indescribable savory aroma that lingers on the tongue.

After taking just one bite, Lili hissed and squinted her eyes.

Grandma Li picked up her chopsticks and started eating; eating was the most important thing for her right now.

The potatoes look just as good as the chicken. Each piece of potato absorbs the broth and seasonings, becoming smooth and fragrant. The potatoes are creamy and smooth, and when eaten with the tender chicken, they create a rich and layered taste that is unforgettable.

"This big plate chicken is so delicious!" Grandma Li exclaimed excitedly. The fresh and tender chicken, the soft and fluffy potatoes, and the spicy and savory onions all came together to make it incredibly fragrant!

Seeing her granddaughter eating heartily, Grandma Li felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

Eating should be like this: don't harbor resentment or bitterness; it's best to feel happy and joyful.

The only child at the table, Lili, was completely focused on the braised chicken. When her grandparents spoke, she mumbled incoherently, "Yes, that's right..."

Everyone slowed down their eating pace. Such delicious food can't be enjoyed every day, so why rush?

Half an hour later, Grandma Li and the others finished eating and left.

They packed up the remaining half of the braised chicken to take home and eat it for dinner.

Then Old Wang came in. He hadn't been to the restaurant in a long time, but he had no choice because it cost money.

"Hello, T is here!" Tang Yiyi came out carrying dishes and greeted Lao Wang when she saw him.

Old Wang was surprised that the restaurant owner still remembered him.

"Boss, what dishes do you have at the restaurant today?"

"Tofu and minced meat soup, stir-fried bok choy, stir-fried dried tofu with meat, and braised chicken with potatoes."

Old Wang's eyes lit up when he heard about braised chicken with potatoes.

"Then I'll have a plate of braised chicken, to eat at the restaurant."

Old Wang found a seat, then called Uncle Yu to come over and eat together.