Chapter 83 Laba Congee

Teacher Chen didn't usually like sweets, but her eyes lit up after she tasted the porridge.

The fragrant and sticky porridge is just right; any more would be too greasy, any less would be bland.

The restaurant uses large, transparent round lunch boxes, so you can clearly see the porridge inside, which is very generous with its ingredients.

There was no exaggerated takeout packaging; it wasn't flashy at all.

The eight-treasure porridge looked very appealing, not so thick and complicated as to be unappetizing. The porridge, cooked with a variety of ingredients, had a smooth and delicate texture, and the aroma filled the air the moment it entered the mouth.

The sweet taste spread in her mouth, and Teacher Chen's tired brows relaxed.

"The porridge is delicious," the son said contentedly, wiping his mouth.

After saying that, he buried his head in his porridge again.

Then, Teacher Chen finished his drink in a flash, finally feeling full and refreshed.

Even though it's winter break, Tang Yiyi hasn't rested. With more savings, she's even more eager to make money.

She did receive messages from Ji Ze every night, messages that were always there and always full of concern.

Several times on the street, Grandma Li ran into Tang Yiyi and jokingly said, "Yiyi, have you started dating recently? You've been smiling a lot more lately."

Tang Yiyi quickly waved her hand, "No, Grandma."

"By the way, Grandma, come to the restaurant for porridge on Laba Festival."

"Okay, I'll go."

On Laba Festival, Tang Yiyi prepared to cook some Laba porridge.

That day, she got up early to go to the market, and after buying the groceries, she didn't forget that she was going to cook porridge.

I bought millet, barley, lotus seeds, peanuts and other ingredients.

Back at the restaurant, Tang Yiyi's face was red from the cold. Winters in Huai City are very cold, and many residents have installed heating in their homes to get through the winter.

Tang Yiyi soaked rice, millet, beans, lotus seeds, etc. in advance and washed the pressure cooker.

Only after finishing all that could I free up my hands to boil tea eggs.

The menu is set; there aren't many dishes to choose from today.

Vegetables are expensive in winter, but meat prices haven't increased much compared to other times of the year.

A customer came to buy tea eggs, and smelling the rich aroma of porridge, asked, "Boss, what kind of porridge is this?"

"The Laba porridge still needs to cook for a while." Tang Yiyi could manage it all by herself.

"Yiyi, I made porridge today. How's business?" A little while later, Grandma Li came over with a smile.

Tang Yiyi stood up. "It'll be ready soon."

"The shop looks like it's doing very well," Grandpa Li said, looking around with a beaming smile. "The porridge smells so good, no wonder business is good."

"Sister Yi Yi," Lili, wearing a red cotton-padded jacket, called out sweetly from behind.

Tang Yiyi: "The Laba porridge in the kitchen will be ready soon. Lili, would you like to try some?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Lili nodded heavily.

"Three bowls of porridge, please," Grandma Li said, peering closer at the menu. "How much is it in total?"

Tang Yiyi quickly explained, "Grandma, the porridge is free, it's free, it's a holiday today."

"You're such a generous child," Grandma Li said, deeply moved that she hadn't seen Laba porridge on the menu.

"You sit down, I'll go get you some porridge."

I had only been sitting down for a short while when the Laba porridge was served. The freshly cooked porridge was steaming hot, and a wonderful aroma wafted out. It was served in a large, round white porcelain bowl, and the portion was quite generous. The porridge base was thick and contained a lot of ingredients, not the thin, watery kind.

Grandma Li paused for a moment, a rare occurrence, as she looked at the Laba porridge in front of her. She had almost forgotten how long it had been since she had porridge; the porridge, with its appealing color, aroma, and taste, was very tempting.

Scooping up a spoonful of porridge, you can taste ingredients like lotus seeds, peanuts, and red dates in your mouth; one bite is very satisfying. The porridge is fragrant and sweet, but not cloying.

Lili smelled the aroma and swallowed hard. She then took a big gulp of the porridge, which was just as delicious as she had imagined. The aroma of the porridge filled her nostrils and lingered on her tongue.

The porridge was sweet, but not overly sweet, soothing the throat gently and quietly, even Grandpa Li, with his weak teeth, could taste it. His eyes slowly widened; good heavens, this porridge was unbelievably delicious! He couldn't stop eating it, one mouthful after another.

Despite his advanced age and inability to eat many things, the aroma of the Laba porridge, a blend of rice, dates, and other ingredients, grew stronger with each sip. Grandpa Li licked his lips, as if savoring the taste.

"This porridge is so well made, fragrant but not greasy, smooth and delicious, and made with lots of ingredients," Grandma Li said, stopping to remark.

Grandpa Li nodded in agreement.

After finishing her porridge, Grandma Li didn't rush to leave. Instead, she asked Tang Yiyi, "Yiyi, what are your plans for the New Year this year?"

"Life will continue as usual, but I won't take Xiaoyu back to my hometown."

"Okay, if you need anything, just tell Grandma."

The Laba porridge was sold out by 1 p.m., and the free and delicious porridge was very popular with diners.

Tang Yiyi was slightly taken aback when she received Ji Ze's message.

[Any plans for the New Year's Eve dinner?]

She thought for a moment and replied, "Just live your life the way it always has to be."

His answer the next second stunned him.

Why don't you come stay at my house? My elders are very kind.

Tang Yiyi did not reply immediately.

That day, a familiar figure entered the restaurant.

Tang Yiyi carried the soup out and saw, "Teacher Wang."

Every year during winter and summer vacations, teachers visit students' homes to check on their well-being during the holidays.

Xiao Yu greeted the teacher in a clear and cheerful voice, his eyes shining.

"Sister Xiaoyu, Xiaoyu," Teacher Wang greeted.

"Teacher Wang, please sit down, I'll go pour some tea," Tang Yiyi said, inviting them to sit down.

Ms. Wang was unusually reserved; she deliberately chose a time when there weren't many customers, afraid of affecting the shop's business.

The restaurant was very clean and tidy, making people feel comfortable.

With a form and pen in hand, Teacher Wang began recording the home visits.

"Xiaoyu, may I trouble you for a few minutes to fill out this information?"

Tang Yiyi filled out the form.

"Does Xiaoyu often help out at the restaurant during winter break?" Teacher Wang suddenly asked.

"Yes."

"What a good boy! But Xiaoyu, while you were helping with the chores, did you actually finish your holiday homework?"

"Yes, teacher," Xiaoyu raised his hand and answered earnestly, "I've finished all my homework. I'll go get it for the teacher to check."

"No need, I trust Xiaoyu."

Tang Yiyi covered her mouth and laughed, "Xiaoyu doesn't have time to play at the restaurant. He's busy doing his homework, wiping tables, or packing takeout."

With such a wonderful Xiaoyu, she absolutely had to change his fate.

"Teacher Wang, would you like some soup after sitting for a while?"

Teacher Wang first said "Ah," and then said, "Thank you, Sister Xiaoyu!"

"It's nothing." Tang Yiyi went to the kitchen, ladled out a bowl of freshly cooked pork liver soup, and sprinkled some chopped green onions on top to add aroma.

Xiaoyu brought over the soup, "Teacher."

"Thank you, Xiaoyu," Teacher Wang said with a smile as she took the bowl. She first blew on it to cool it down, then scooped some out with a spoon. The soup looked very rich, and there was no fishy smell in the air.

"This is pork liver soup?" Teacher Wang asked incredulously.

"Yes."

Teacher Wang frowned slightly. The pork liver soup was not quite what she had imagined. The pork liver was sliced ​​to a suitable thickness, and there was scallion and ginger added. It did not have an unpleasant fishy smell.

It has a slightly salty taste at first, followed by the aroma of meat. The saltiness is gradually masked by the sweet aftertaste, and the rich aroma fills the air. The pork liver is very smooth.

After taking a sip of soup, Teacher Wang felt a surge of heat rush to her cheeks.

It's so delicious; one bite and you'll crave it for a long time.

Then, Teacher Wang used chopsticks to pick up the pork liver from the soup. The pork liver was fully soaked in the soup, and it was not fishy but sweet and quite chewy.

With each bite, Teacher Wang was amazed. Even the most unpalatable ingredients became incredibly delicious when Sister Xiaoyu cooked them.

After finishing the soup, Teacher Wang asked a few more questions before leaving.

Tang Yiyi is preparing the menu for the New Year's Eve dinner. Although it will only be her and Xiaoyu spending the New Year together, the traditional New Year's Eve dinner still needs to be included.

When Grandma Li found out, she decided to come and help.

"Grandma, preparing the New Year's Eve dinner will take a long time and is very tiring," Tang Yiyi advised.

Grandma Li scolded playfully, "Yiyi, I know my own body. I'm old, but I can still stay up all night once in a while."

"Okay, I'll call Grandma over then."

The next day, Tang Yiyi had just gotten up and opened the door when she saw a figure at the door. "Xiaoyu, why are you up so early?"

"Sister, I want to go to the market to help you carry the groceries."

Tang Yiyi: "Okay, let's finish eating quickly."

She quickly prepared breakfast for the two of them; the noodles were still steaming hot.

Xiaoyu picked up a mouthful of noodles and ate it in big bites, seemingly oblivious to the heat.

"Slow down, there's no need to rush," Tang Yiyi stopped and reminded her.

The noodles were smooth and chewy, with a perfect balance of saltiness, and Xiaoyu really enjoyed them.

After finishing breakfast, the two got ready and went out.

The streets were filled with a festive atmosphere, and laughter echoed throughout.

Tang Yiyi prepared a red scarf and put it on Xiaoyu. "It looks so good!"

Meat is an essential part of the New Year's Eve dinner. Tang Yiyi bought a free-range chicken, and then went to buy pork, beef, mutton, and other meats. She also bought some vegetables such as bok choy and spinach.

On the street, I ran into Wang Juan with her child. "Boss, are you here to buy groceries? It's almost Chinese New Year."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yiyi smiled and showed her the spoils of war in her hand.

Several large bags of ingredients; thankfully I drove over, otherwise there would have been nowhere to put them.

A week ago, Tang Yiyi bought a car to make it easier to pick up and drop off Xiaoyu and go shopping.

She couldn't resist the urge and drove Xiaoyu around Huai City.

Tang Yiyi put away the ingredients and went back to her room to catch up on sleep before preparing the New Year's Eve dinner.

It suddenly started raining outside, and the rain got heavier and heavier.

The room was warm and comfortable, perfect for sleeping.

Xiaoyu was fast asleep when his soft, rhythmic breathing could be heard.

Tang Yiyi tiptoed out of the room, feeling sleepy, and went to sleep as well.

Tang Yiyi was woken up by the sound of firecrackers, not even knowing when the rain stopped.

Xiaoyu was still asleep in the room.

She went to the kitchen to prepare lunch. She heated oil in a wok, added chicken pieces that had already been marinated in soy sauce and oyster sauce, sautéed ginger and garlic until fragrant, then added the chicken and stir-fried continuously. Next, she added wood ear mushrooms and stir-fried, adding a spoonful of salt.

Tang Yiyi flipped the wok, and the aroma filled the air.

The two dishes and one soup were prepared, and Xiaoyu was awakened by the aroma, so he very consciously went to get the bowls and chopsticks.

She brought over the dishes, glanced at Xiaoyu's hair, and said she was taking Xiaoyu to get a haircut that afternoon because his hair was too long.

Xiaoyu has had a good appetite lately. Stir-fried wood ear mushrooms with pork over high heat is delicious. The wood ear mushrooms are crisp and refreshing, while the chicken is chewy.

Wood ear mushrooms served on top of rice are soft, chewy, and crisp, making them a great accompaniment to rice.

Even Tang Yiyi accidentally ate too much.

There was no barbershop in the neighborhood, so Tang Yiyi drove Xiaoyu to get a haircut.

Children generally dislike getting haircuts, especially when they see shiny, reflective scissors, but Xiaoyu didn't resist and sat there obediently.

Xiao Yu, after getting a haircut, showed off his full forehead and looked very cute.