Chapter 98: Fish Fillet Noodle Soup + Braised Lamb and Tofu Skin

Yu Miaoyin smiled and said, "Of course, I'll make more."

"I was working late today and originally wanted to have dinner with Boss Yu, but I didn't expect to be late," Yang Fang said. "But I won't trouble Boss Yu. I'm here to talk to Boss Yu about something."

"It's nothing, just a quick thing. Let's eat first and then talk. Sit down for a while, and I'll let you try my cooking." Yu Miaoyin walked into the kitchen and took out fish slices and bamboo noodles.

The two children greeted Yang Fang warmly and asked her to sit down and wait for Sister Ayin to make delicious fish noodle soup.

In the kitchen, Yu Miaoyin marinated the remaining fish fillets with cornstarch, oil, pepper, and salt. She then fried eggs in lard in a pan before adding the marinated fish fillets and frying until fragrant. She then added water and simmered the fish into a milky white fish soup, releasing a rich aroma of fresh fish. Yu Miaoyin then added bamboo-pressed noodles to the soup.

A simple bowl of hot noodles is ready, with a thin layer of oil floating on top of the milky white fish soup. The bamboo-pressed noodles are nestled in the fish soup, while the poached egg and fish slices float halfway in the soup.

"Alright, you guys eat." Yu Miaoyin brought out the noodles, but she only scooped a small bowl for Xiaotangbao to taste, since they would be having lamb stew later.

After Xiao Ran thanked Sister A Yin, she pressed the poached egg into the fish soup.

"Thank you, Boss Yu."

"Thank you, Xiaoyin."

As He Li spoke, she showed Yu Miaoyin the gifts she had brought back. She had spent a very long time choosing gifts for adults, and she didn't know if Xiaoyin would like them. But she had experience with gifts for children, and she proudly showed them to Xiaotangbao: "This is a gift for Xiaotangbao. Open it and see if you like it."

Little Tangbao took the gift with both hands, her eyes shining as she began to unwrap it. She excitedly showed it to everyone; the gift was a Little Genius children's smartwatch.

He Li said, "This way I can chat with my older sister at kindergarten, and I can also chat with Xiao Ran when I miss her. Do you like it?"

"Is this gift very expensive?" Xiao Tangbao asked, because the watch looked very expensive.

Yu Miaoyin knew the market price of this watch, "It's too expensive, I'll wait a bit..."

“It’s not expensive. Your help to our family is far more valuable than this watch,” He Li said sincerely, and then gently patted her hand.

"Thank you very much, please eat your noodles." Yu Miaoyin said. He Li hadn't been to the shop for a long time, and Yu Miaoyin knew that she had been busy with chestnuts. She also knew that He Li was genuinely grateful to her.

He Li nodded. Xiao Ran had finished her noodles and only half a bite of the poached egg remained. She opened her mouth wide and ate the whole poached egg, then picked up the bowl and drank the noodle soup.

Yang Fang didn't eat as fast as the children, but she had already eaten half of it. "Thank you for your hospitality, Boss Yu. It's delicious. I loved your fried rice last time too. I tried to make it at home, but I couldn't replicate the taste."

The broth was very flavorful, and the fish slices were cut to a uniform thickness, tender and smooth to the taste. The bamboo-pressed noodles, soaked in the fish broth, remained smooth and chewy, with their own wheat and egg aromas. The poached egg was fried until crispy on the edges and puffed up, and with each bite, you could taste the rich egg flavor mixed with the aroma of the noodles and fish broth.

While eating her noodles, Yang Fang didn't beat around the bush and directly explained her purpose to Yu Miaoyin: "Boss Yu, I am the person in charge of Yuncheng Culture and Tourism Bureau. I've come to discuss a cooperation with you."

"Recently, because of your small restaurant, Yuncheng has also benefited from the attention it has received, and Yuncheng's tourism industry is gradually developing. Now we are planning a food festival that combines food and tourism promotion, and we would like to invite you to participate."

Yang Fang gave a detailed introduction to the food festival. Yu Miaoyin listened and nodded. This food festival was no different from the ones she usually went to; they all provided stalls for vendors to showcase their food and were usually aimed at locals in Yuncheng to boost consumption. But this time, Yang Fang wanted to promote it as a kind of "tourist attraction," mainly to encourage visitors from other places to come and taste Yuncheng's cuisine, thereby boosting the tourism economy.

Yuncheng has hosted similar food festivals before, and their official WeChat accounts would often praise them as having promoted cultural tourism. But Yang Fang wanted to make that praise truly meaningful. With Boss Yu in charge, she was confident.

Yu Miaoyin thought for a moment. She didn't need to do anything; she just needed to display her wares at the stall. Moreover, the stall fee was waived this time, and all the income would go to her. Yang Fang also said that she would arrange volunteers to help.

If cultural tourism can develop, it will boost the surrounding economy and create more jobs, allowing those who have left their hometowns to work to return home. It doesn't seem like a bad thing. She thought it was feasible and agreed.

"Thank you, Boss Yu. I feel relieved to have you here." Yang Fang smiled and added Yu Miaoyin on WeChat. After chatting for a few more minutes, she left.

Besides bringing gifts, He Li also talked about other things when she came over. She said she wouldn't be opening the noodle shop anymore, as there was still some time left on the lease. "I've given you the key. Feel free to use it if you need it. You can use the tables, chairs, pots, pans, and utensils in my shop. There are also chestnuts. If you need them, just contact me and I'll bring them over to you."

Yu Miaoyin knew she was serious, so she didn't refuse. "Thank you, but I just did it on a whim. You've already given me so many gifts."

"Your help is the greatest gift, and I haven't properly reciprocated yet..." He Li said something else to her, while the two children were studying how to use the Little Genius phone watch.

After tapping, the watch emitted an electronic notification sound: "Friendship successful."

"We can meet using our watches when we have a holiday!" Xiao Ran said excitedly, and then taught Xiao Tang Bao how to take pictures. Before long, a cute face filled the watch screen.

He Li looked at Xiao Ran; she was more lively than before.

It was getting dark outside, so the two didn't want to disturb each other. After chatting for a few minutes, they left. Yu Miaoyin took Xiaotangbao home for dinner, saying, "I'm making lamb stew today, so no snacks!"

"Okay." Little Tangbao held her older sister's hand and sent a voice message to Xiao Ran with her head down.

Grandma left the lamb belly at her house. When she heard Xiaoyin come back, she brought the lamb belly and the clothes she had bought for the child.

"This is for Xiaotangbao, isn't it cute? I bought it because all the other kids were begging for it." She didn't understand children's tastes, so she could only "follow" the children to see what they liked. In one store, every child who came in said that this dress was beautiful, but their parents didn't buy it because of the price. Grandma Chen decisively bought it.

Children share similar tastes, and Xiao Tangbao really liked it. Her smile was like a wind chime, clear and lively. "Thank you, Grandma. I really like this dress. It's so warm!"

"Wearing this, you'll be the cutest child in the whole kindergarten!" Grandma said affectionately. Then she took out the clothes she had bought for Xiaoyin. "You have one too, a black one. I see that you young people all like black. But black is good, it doesn't get dirty easily."

On the street, black and gray were the most common colors. Grandma preferred brightly colored clothes, as they made her look more energetic, like the colorful ones she wore in the summer—they were cheerful and uplifting. But remembering it was for Xiaoyin, she resisted the urge to buy bright red!

Grandma bought her a down jacket from a brand that specializes in down jackets. It's a common style that's hard to go wrong with. "Thank you, Grandma, you're so thoughtful. I love it."

"Let's have dinner here. I bought enough lamb belly; the two of us can't finish it." Yu Miaoyin thought for a moment, "Grandma, if you want to braise your lamb belly, just ask me for help."

"Or if you want me to make other delicious food, you can also come to me," Yu Miaoyin said.

Grandma nodded. "Okay, thank you, Xiaoyin."

Little Tangbao was still studying the watch. She successfully added her grandmother as a friend. "Later, I also want to add Sister Yiling and Sister Jiajia as friends so I can chat with them."

Yu Miaoyin cut the lamb belly she bought into large chunks, blanched it together with radishes, and then rinsed it with warm water. Next, she used an iron wok to sauté spices until fragrant, including star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, and cardamom (crushed and seeded to enhance aroma and remove the gamey smell). The aroma from these spices was already quite strong. She then added the lamb belly and stir-fried it until both sides were golden brown and the lamb fat was rendered. When it was almost done, she poured in her homemade sauce, and an even stronger aroma wafted from the kitchen.

It's easier to stir-fry the spices and lamb belly in an iron wok, so Yu Miaoyin transferred it to a clay pot for braising, simmering it over low heat to bring out the aroma and flavor. While braising, Yu Miaoyin went out to chat with her grandmother and tried on the clothes her grandmother had bought for her. "Xiaoyin is so tall and thin, she looks good in everything," her grandmother remarked.

Judging that the time was about right, Yu Miaoyin placed the soaked dried bean curd sticks and large chunks of radish on the lamb belly and continued to simmer it over low heat.

Grandma and Xiaotangbao cleaned up the table and put the heat-resistant mat in place. When it was time, Yu Miaoyin brought out the lamb stew and placed it on the heat-resistant mat, saying, "Time to eat!"

The mutton stew was covered with a clay pot, and the aroma wafted out from the ventilation holes and gaps, wafting out in wisps and strands, smelling incredibly delicious.

"It smells so good." Grandma Chen swallowed.

The aroma wafted all the way outside, and even reached the house of Grandpa Xu and his family who were having hot pot. The incredibly fragrant smell made them all swallow hard.

"Xiaoyin made this again, didn't she? What did she make? It smells so good." Xu Changxing moved his chair closer to the window. Although there was a cold draft, he could smell the aroma, so it was worth it!

Zhou Gui also thought it smelled good. When the cold wind blew in from outside, she moved her chair a little and said to Xu Changxing, "You should block the wind for yourself, so that we don't catch a cold too."

Grandpa Xu kept sniffing the aroma, and the more he smelled it, the hungrier he became. The aroma was simply an appetite stimulant, and he ate his meal with it, taking even bigger bites.

Xu Ruian was much shorter than Xu Changxing. He sat next to his father, whose body was the one that could "shelter him from the wind and rain" in the essay, blocking the cold wind and leaving only the strong fragrance around him.

The cold wind blowing outside seemed to be a bit stronger, but the fragrance blowing in was also more intense.

Just then, Yu Miaoyin lifted the lid of the pot. Grandma and Xiao Tangbao were both amazed by the presentation—as soon as the pot was lifted, the translucent steam rising from it, mixed with various aromas, filled the room instantly, and the room was instantly enveloped in this fragrant and warm smell.

The presentation was absolutely stunning, making one's stomach rumble. The broth in the casserole was still bubbling gently. Large chunks of beef brisket and radish were tinged with a dark brown color, and the soft, succulent tofu skin, soaked in the sauce, lay limply on top of the beef brisket and radish, its translucent color shining through the gaps, while the shallow broth slid down its sides.

"Are you stunned? Come and eat!" Yu Miaoyin said, feeling happy to see how much the two liked it.

The two sat down obediently, picked up their bowls, and began to eat.

Yu Miaoyin picked up a piece of dried bean curd for herself. The bean curd was very absorbent, so Yu Miaoyin had to move the bowl to the side of the pot to catch the soup and prevent it from spilling onto the table.

The freshly picked-up tofu skin trembled precariously, soaked in broth, which dripped onto the rice, staining it a dark brown color. She blew on it twice before popping it into her mouth; it was soft and fluffy, with no hard core whatsoever. One bite and the broth burst forth, adding a touch of radish and lamb flavor to the already rich bean aroma of the tofu skin—it was incredibly delicious.

"This is so delicious, I want to show it to Xiaoran." Xiaotangbao took out her watch, snapped a picture, and sent it to Xiaoran. Even though it was blurry, you could still tell how delicious the dish was.

After posting the photos, Xiaotangbao scooped half a spoonful of broth and soaked the rice in it. The rice was infused with the aroma of meat, the fragrance of radish, and the bean flavor of tofu skin. She could eat a whole bowl of it on its own.

A pot of lamb stew like this is so comforting in winter. The radish inside is also very fragrant, and the taste is just as good as the meat. Plus, it absorbs the meat juices, so taking a bite of half a piece and eating it with rice is absolutely delicious.

"It smells so good, even the radish and dried bean curd smell so good. Xiaoyin is really amazing. Last time you went on that show 'Yuncheng Fireworks' and you made a bowl of fried rice noodles with eggs. I was so hungry watching it. Even such a simple bowl of fried rice noodles can be made to taste so special by Xiaoyin. It's just like the dried bean curd and radish in the lamb stew. It's indescribably delicious." After saying that, Grandma picked up another piece of radish for herself.

Yu Miaoyin picked up a piece of lamb belly for her, saying, "Lamb belly is even tastier, Grandma, try it."

Grandma didn't eat the lamb belly because she was amazed by the taste of the radish after the first bite. It was like her tongue had come alive, so she couldn't help but take another piece.

"Okay, thank you, Xiaoyin." After finishing the radish, Grandma continued eating the lamb belly.

The lamb belly was even more fragrant, so delicious that Grandma couldn't describe it. The radish was just as good as the meat, but the lamb belly was meat, and it tasted even better than the radish. The large chunks of lamb belly had no gamey smell at all. The lamb belly, with its perfect balance of fat and lean meat, was stewed until extremely tender and soft. The skin was soft and chewy with a gelatinous texture, and the lean meat wasn't dry either. It was so delicious that your mouth was filled with the aroma of meat.

This braised beef brisket is so fragrant! The skin is tender and the meat is soft. It's fragrant but not greasy, and the meat has a subtle aroma of tofu skin and meat. Even after being stir-fried with spices, the flavor doesn't overpower it. In short, it's absolutely amazing!

"Xiaoyin, I heard that Yuncheng is going to have some kind of food festival. Do you want to go?" Grandma Chen heard this in the vegetable market. If Xiaoyin went, she would go with her.

“I’m going, but I won’t be able to play. The director of the Culture and Tourism Bureau invited me to participate, and I’ll have a booth there too. I’ll have to ask my grandma to help look after Xiaotangbao,” Yu Miaoyin said.

“Okay, it’s good that you can participate too. I see that the higher-ups attach great importance to it, saying that it can promote the development of tourism in Yuncheng and such. It’s a good thing.” Grandma said while eating. The juice of the lamb belly seeped out from the gaps in the meat. Although the pieces were large, they were not dry at all.

Little Tangbao was so engrossed in the aroma of the food that she couldn't speak, and she kept shaking her head and swaying her body. That's how she always does when she eats something delicious. Her mouth was stuffed full like a little hamster's, her head was bowed low, and she was eating with great relish.

“Last time you participated in ‘The Charm of Yuncheng,’ all my girlfriends loved watching it. I even saw people watching it at the market. It’s all thanks to Xiaoyin,” Grandma said.

"I just made Yuncheng visible. People genuinely like Yuncheng because it deserves to be liked." She didn't take credit; it was her honor to be liked by everyone.

"When is the food festival? Does Grandma know?" Yu Miaoyin hadn't asked clearly yet, and many details hadn't been handed over.

"It will definitely be around New Year's Day, when everyone is on holiday and has free time," Grandma said.

This is a good way to warm up for the New Year, so that during the Spring Festival, people might choose to go to Yuncheng because of the delicious food.

“That’s true.” Yu Miaoyin nodded. She knew Yang Fang’s real intention in contacting her was to “attract visitors,” like advertising. She wanted people to know she was at the food festival, attracting out-of-town friends to Yuncheng to taste the food, and consequently boosting surrounding industries, including food, accommodation, and transportation. If Yuncheng was good enough, people would prioritize it for their next trip.

"I hope everything goes well," Grandma said.

After the meal, Grandma helped clear the dishes.

Afterwards, she took the child to take a bath and washed and hung up the clothes her grandmother had given her. A weather forecast for Yuncheng popped up on her phone. She looked at it and saw that the temperature would drop again in a few days. Yuncheng is located in the north, and with many mountains, it gets really cold when the wind howls. She would need the down jacket her grandmother had given her.

When Yu Miaoyin got up in the morning, she dressed the child in thick socks and clothes, and with a hat on, he looked like a little bear, extremely cute.

"The holidays are almost here, just hang in there!" Yu Miaoyin encouraged every child struggling to go to school in winter. The school bell rang along with the listless sounds of morning reading. Yu Miaoyin wanted to say that if they were in high school, they would have to get up even earlier. But that would be too cruel for a child still in kindergarten, so she held back.

"If you miss your older sister, just send her a message, and she'll reply when she sees it," Yu Miaoyin said before seeing her off onto the school bus.

"Okay, goodbye, sister."

After they finished talking, one went to the kindergarten and the other returned to the small restaurant. The chicken stall owner delivered a batch of chicken feet, and after Yu Miaoyin inspected them, she carried the chicken feet into the kitchen.

The small restaurant has a new dish today; she's going to make chicken feet.