Chapter Forty-Eight: Braised Duck with Dried Bamboo Shoots + Stir-fried Eggs with Chives...

After Jiang Yu finished speaking to her, she rode her electric scooter. There were many stalls outside the hospital selling boxed lunches and fried noodles. Jiang Yu hesitated for a while, thinking that the boxed lunches and fried noodles didn't taste as good as Yu Ji's, but they were just as expensive as Yu Ji's, so she immediately passed on them.

Jiang Yu was thinking of going to the food street to buy some food to take back. She was still wondering what kind of delicious food stalls were there. As she was thinking, her thoughts drifted to Yu's Little Restaurant—she wanted to eat the restaurant's sweet but not greasy mooncakes, crispy fried tofu, and sweet and sour scrambled eggs with tomatoes...

She was so lost in thought that she drove off course. Jiang Yu drove into a small alleyway leading to a restaurant. Just as she was about to turn, she noticed a line of people ahead of her.

Wait, wait, is the store open for business?

Jiang Yu was both surprised and delighted as she drove to the entrance of the small restaurant and rushed inside to join the queue.

Jiang Yu was extremely happy and ordered both dishes, but because there were too many people, she packed them up and took them back to her rented apartment.

When she got home, Jiang Yu put the rice in the rice cooker to keep it warm. As soon as she opened the box, the aroma filled her small house. She resisted the urge to eat and took her clothes to take a shower.

She likes to take a shower first thing after get off work because she feels that the time after showering is truly her own.

After taking a quick shower, Jiang Yu put on her favorite variety show, made herself a cup of milk tea, and then quickly turned on the rice cooker.

I was just about to eat when my mother called—

"Xiaoyu, have you eaten? You're not coming home for Mid-Autumn Festival again, Mom misses you so much," Mom said, a hint of worry in her eyes. "Did you not eat properly again?"

Jiang Yu shook her head. "How could that be? I love to eat."

As she spoke, she turned the camera around and said, "Look, doesn't it smell delicious?"

The stir-fried potato slices with pork belly and the hot and sour shredded potatoes were glistening with oil. Just looking at them made Mrs. Jiang's mouth water. "Did you make these yourself?"

"You think too highly of your daughter. This is what I bought. Mom, let me tell you, the food at this restaurant is really delicious." Jiang Yu turned the camera around. "I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm going to eat. I'm so hungry."

As Jiang Yu spoke, she fixed her phone in one spot so her mother could watch her eat.

The pork belly was stir-fried until the fat was rendered, the lean parts became dry and fragrant, and the fatty parts had a soft and tender texture. It was especially delicious when eaten with potato slices. She put the pork belly and potato slices into a bowl, the sauce on top coloring the rice. She picked up the bowl to show her mother, her eyes shining, and scooped up a big mouthful of rice. Before even swallowing, she couldn't stop giving a thumbs up, saying in a muffled voice, "Mom, let me tell you, this stir-fried pork belly with potato slices is so delicious, so incredibly delicious, waaaah!"

And then there's this hot and sour shredded potato. The hot and sour flavor is incredibly addictive. Eaten with rice, the rice is soft, chewy, and springy, while the hot and sour shredded potatoes are crisp and delicious, creating a rich texture. The heat of the rice also enhances the spiciness, making it even more enjoyable with every bite.

"Hey, let me see what's going on." Suddenly, a head squeezed in. "What's wrong?"

"dad."

Mr. Jiang was especially happy to see his daughter eating so heartily. "That's right, you should eat properly."

"You're blocking my mom's view! I want to show her!" Jiang Yu said. After her father's head was pushed away, her mother's smiling face appeared on the screen. Jiang Yu picked up a piece of shredded potato and showed it to her mother. "Mom, look at these shredded potatoes! The vendor cut them so well, and they taste especially delicious."

The crunching sound rang out, and the aroma of vinegar and spiciness spread together in the mouth, making every bite sour and spicy that it was hard to stop eating.

Jiang Yu's mother knew from the dish that it couldn't be too bad. The finely shredded potatoes, bright red chili peppers, and emerald green scallions were intertwined, creating an enticing color. She even wanted to jump into the screen and take a bite.

Small restaurant.

"Xiaoyin, there are so many people here." Xu Changxing sighed as he watched Yu Miaoyin work so hard before finally having a chance to rest. He had just ordered another plate of hot and sour shredded potatoes because it was so delicious with rice—the tangy and spicy flavor was appetizing, and the crisp texture was irresistible.

Zhou Gui nodded: "Xiao Yin cooks so well, everyone likes her. I just think it must be tiring for Xiao Yin to do it all by herself."

After all, she had cooked before. For someone who cooks, the most tiring part is not the cooking process, but the preparation of ingredients and the cleaning afterwards.

With most of the people gone and the potatoes running out, Yu Miaoyin put up a sign announcing that the business was temporarily closed.

"Big sister, I'll help you wash the dishes!" Little Tangbao quickly ran downstairs. She had just watched her big sister working for a long time, spinning around like a little top, and she looked so tired.

Xu Changxing quickly got up. "Xiaoyin, sit down and rest for a bit. You always bring us delicious food, and we remember it all. I'll help you wash the dishes. I can't cook as well as you, but don't worry about washing the dishes; I do it all the time at home!"

Yu Miaoyin wanted to say something, but before she could, Zhou Gui came over and held her down, saying, "Let Xu Changxing wash them. He washes dishes very well. You've been busy for so long, so sit down and rest for a bit. If you refuse us again, we'll be too embarrassed to accept your things next time."

Grandpa Xu also said, "Xiaoyin, you can really rest assured this time. I dare say I've washed more dishes than you have."

Zhou Gui also said, "Yes, they are the best at washing dishes in our family. You can rest assured that they are the ones to handle the dishes."

Xiao Tangbao massaged her older sister's shoulders, and Zhou Gui sat down and talked to Yu Miaoyin.

Xu Rui'an often washes dishes at home, so he went over to help his father and grandfather. Xu Changxing said, "Be careful not to break Sister Ayin's plates. Make sure they are clean!"

Xu Ruian nodded, carefully finished writing on a porcelain plate, then picked it up and showed it to Xu Changxing. "Can you see my face? Is it clean?"

Xu Changxing nodded in satisfaction, "Let's go with this standard."

Zhou Gui smiled at the two of them and said to Xiao Yin, "Don't worry, just get some rest."

Yu Miaoyin also looked away, "Okay, thank you so much."

Zhou Gui asked, "I see you're doing all this by yourself. Aren't you planning to hire someone?"

She has seen many shops run by husband-and-wife teams or in partnerships. In any case, it's impossible for one person to work such long hours without their body taking a toll.

"We are planning to hire someone," Yu Miaoyin said. She had considered this issue from the beginning because with more and more people, she was indeed busier than usual.

“It’s good that someone can help you,” Zhou Gui said, so Xiao Yin won’t have to work too hard. Also, when they eat, Xiao Yin can cook faster, and they can enjoy their hot and delicious meals sooner…

Xu Changxing and his son Xu Ruian worked together very well, quickly washing the dishes and chopsticks, putting them away, and tidying up the kitchen. The remaining cleanup was done by Yu Miaoyin, which took a little time because she has her own habits and knows where the seasonings are most convenient.

"Thank you, you've worked hard." Yu Miaoyin pulled the roller shutter closed, and Zhou Gui and Xu Ruian walked together, chatting as they went.

Xu Ruian took out some treats and gave them to Xiao Tangbao, who thought her little sister was very cute.

Grandpa Xu hummed a little tune as he went home, still savoring the memory of today's meal.

Yu Miaoyin felt that this place was really nice; she had met many kind and warm-hearted people, and everyone was very good.

...

After a busy day, Yu Miaoyin fell asleep as soon as her head hit the bed. Little Tangbao pulled up the mosquito net and quietly crawled to Yu Miaoyin's side; she loved sleeping with her older sister. The next morning, Yu Miaoyin woke up earlier than Little Tangbao. Little Tangbao slept peacefully, her eyelashes fluttering gently with her breath. She took out some flour, rolled out some dumpling wrappers, chopped some chives, mixed them with minced pork to make filling, and then wrapped the dumplings.

Making dumplings was a leisurely affair, with the sounds of birds and leaves outside. After finishing the dumplings, Yu Miaoyin leisurely went to fry them. The dumplings were plump and stuffed with plenty of filling; after all, they were for her own consumption, so she couldn't skimp on her own enjoyment.

There was only a shallow amount of oil in the pan. Yu Miaoyin placed the dumplings in and fried them until the bottoms were golden brown. Then she poured in a little water to evaporate the excess water. This way, the dumplings were cooked through, and the bottoms were crispy and fragrant.

Just thinking about Yu Miaoyin made her hungry. She put the dried bamboo shoots she had bought from the dry goods store a few days ago into water to soak. Yu Miaoyin looked at her several boxes of chives and thought of other dishes she could make, which she wrote down in her mind.

When the dumplings were ready, Xiao Tangbao woke up. It was unclear whether she was awakened by the aroma or woke up naturally. Yu Miaoyin called to her, "Come and have breakfast."

"Okay." The pan-fried dumplings smelled delicious, the outer skin was slightly crispy as if they had been fried, and the dumplings were plump and full, the filling inside stretching the skin thin. "Is it chives again? It smells so good!"

Little Tangbao took a big bite; she liked chives, they were delicious.

"Yes!" These chive and pork pan-fried dumplings are really delicious. The outside is crispy, while the inside is tender and juicy. The meat juice bursts out with the fresh chives, and the filling is really big. It's so satisfying to eat them.

The filling inside has a slight oily aroma, but it's not greasy at all. It's very chewy and delicious!

Xu Ruian was awakened again by the aroma of fried dumplings...

Xu Changxing brought out the cooked noodles. "Xiaoyin makes everything taste delicious. Why doesn't she make breakfast? If she did, I would get up at five o'clock to eat too."

Zhou Gui tasted a bite of the noodles he had cooked. "Making breakfast is hard work. Xiao Yin must insist on making her own steamed buns and mantou. Doesn't that mean she has to get up at three or four in the morning?"

"Too."

After finishing breakfast, Yu Miaoyin received a WeChat message from Chen Fugui.

More and more people are coming to Chen Fugui's bakery. He happily messaged Yu Miaoyin, saying that if it weren't for Yu Miaoyin's help in promoting the business, so many people wouldn't have come.

Chen Fugui: Boss, I know you also own a shop. If you want to make any desserts, come to me. If I have them, I'll give you the cheapest price!

She really liked the lotus seed paste that Chen Fugui made himself, and if she needed desserts in the future, she would naturally ask Chen Fugui for help.

Chen Fugui also had other businesses. She told Yu Miaoyin that her son made bamboo-pressed noodles and even showed her a video.

In the video, a thick, long bamboo pole is placed across the dough, and he uses his body weight to sit on the bamboo pole and repeatedly press and roll it.

His movements were exceptionally skillful and effortless.

The name "bamboo-pressed noodles" comes from the fact that a long bamboo pole is used to press the noodles during the making process. This long bamboo pole is also called a bamboo press, so the noodles pressed with a bamboo press are called bamboo-pressed noodles.

Bamboo-pressed noodles paired with wontons are a classic combination.

Yu Miaoyin replied: I'll contact you if I need anything.

Unexpectedly, opening a small shop allowed her to connect with some people, such as Liang Hekang and Chen Fugui.

In the afternoon, she went to the market and bought some ducks. The vendor saw that she bought a lot and kindly helped her cut them up.

Xiao Tangbao accompanied her older sister into the store, and Yu Miaoyin joked with her, "Xiao Tangbao is going to school tomorrow."

The three-day holiday went by so fast.

As soon as Yu Miaoyin put her things down, she saw many high school students in school uniforms dragging their suitcases into the school, the wheels of the suitcases creaking and rolling on the cobblestone road.

Another person got off the bus. The girl was wearing a school uniform. "Mom and Dad, I will miss you, sob sob sob."

The mother reached out her hand to say goodbye to her daughter, "Okay, study hard, my dear. I'll pick you up next week."

After saying that, the two men turned a corner and drove away, leaving the girl alone, dragging her suitcase, as she walked into the No. 1 Middle School.

Yu Miaoyin was a little confused. Xiao Tangbao said, "Sister Yiling told me that they are coming back for evening self-study."

She returned to the shop, tore the soaked dried bamboo shoots into strips, and sighed, "High school was still too tiring."

Xu Jiajia lay on the bed, extremely anxious. She flipped through her test papers and the exercise books she had brought home, and sent Yiling more than a dozen messages asking, "What should I do? What should I do?"

What should I do? She hasn't touched her homework at all!

Yi Ling comforted her, saying, "Don't be afraid, you're definitely not the only one."

So Xu Jiajia went to ask Xiao Du, who said he had already found someone to copy it for him.

Ugh, what's the point of going back to evening self-study on the last day of the holiday?! The thought of going back to evening self-study made Xu Jiajia anxious from the moment she opened her eyes. She couldn't even play on her phone, which shows how serious her anxiety was.

"Jiajia, come eat! Mom made lots of delicious food for you." Mom called her out to eat.

"Okay," Xu Jiajia replied in a drawn-out tone. Actually, she was so anxious that nothing tasted good to her.

"It's like this every time I have to go to school," Mom sighed. "Should we pack some leftovers?"

After taking a couple of bites, Xu Jiajia shook her head and said, "I can't even eat at home, so how can I eat anything when I go to school?"

She ate very slowly, her mood as heavy as if she were about to be tortured. Her mother put a large piece of shrimp on her plate, and after saying thank you, she continued to pick at her rice, her mind elsewhere.

Even with her favorite food laid out in front of her, she couldn't eat. Xu Jiajia opened her phone and received a WeChat message from Yiling.

Yi-ling: Shall we go eat at Sister A-yin's place?

Jiajia: Sister Ayin, open the door?

Yiling: Yes, the door is open. I'll go grab a seat and order first. Hurry up and come over.

Xu Jiajia exclaimed in surprise, her previously serious face instantly breaking into a wide smile. She sprang up, quickly packed her schoolbag, and excitedly shouted, "Mom and Dad, I'm going back to school! Take your time eating!"

"Okay." Xu Jiajia's mother found it strange to see her daughter so happy. Hadn't her daughter just been acting like she'd lost her soul? What was wrong?

After her daughter left, Xu Jiajia's mother cautiously asked, "Jiajia, are you dating someone?"

“That’s possible! When I was in high school…” Mr. Xu quickly shut up before he could finish speaking.

Xu's mother rolled her eyes at him. "Didn't you say I was your first love? How come you dated someone else in high school?"

Mr. Xu immediately remembered that he had only dated one person, and there was no one else! So he said, "Really, there isn't. I was like that when I was in high school. I was happy just thinking about seeing you when I came back to school for vacation."

"So, Jiajia might actually be in a relationship?" her mother said thoughtfully.

She sighed as she carried her backpack, "I should have left it empty." She had even brought several of her workbooks home, thinking she would catch up on her studies during the holidays, but they only added to her weight and did nothing to help her!

Xu Jiajia rode her electric scooter to the small restaurant, and for the first time, she felt that the breeze on her way to school was sweet!

When Xu Jiajia arrived at the shop, the braised duck with dried bamboo shoots was already ready. Yu Miaoyin was stir-frying chives and eggs. She chopped the chives, mixed them with the egg mixture, poured them into a hot pan, and fried them until they were crispy and fragrant.

Xu Jiajia's anxiety vanished. "Finally, I can eat Sister Yin's cooking again! I've been thinking about it for so long!"

Stir-fried eggs with chives and braised duck with dried bamboo shoots were served together. Xu Jiajia served herself a large bowl of rice. The stir-fried eggs with chives looked particularly tempting, with bright green chives sandwiched on top of tender eggs. The fluffy eggs were also slightly caramelized.

"I'm so hungry!" Xu Jiajia picked up a small piece of scrambled eggs and put it in her mouth. The eggs were tender, with a slightly caramelized and oily aroma. Xu Jiajia's earlier anxiety vanished, and she savored the scrambled eggs with chives. The eggs were very fragrant, mixed with the natural fragrance of chives. The flavors of chives and eggs blended together perfectly, making it delicious.

Xu Jiajia sighed, "If it weren't for the food Sister Ayin cooked, I wouldn't have gone back to school so early."

She always arrives at school right on time!

"This braised duck with dried bamboo shoots is also delicious," Yi Ling said. The duck pieces are uniformly sized, and the dried bamboo shoots are torn into strips. The broth clings to the surface of the duck and bamboo shoots, emitting a rich aroma.

The duck meat glistened with oil, and strips of dark brown dried bamboo shoots were torn and attached to it. Some gaps in the bamboo shoots were also coated with rich sauce, mixing with the aroma of bamboo shoots and duck meat...

Xu Jiajia picked up a piece. The dried bamboo shoot was a bit chewy and had absorbed the juices and sauce from the duck meat. It didn't taste bitter at all. The natural sweetness of the bamboo shoot blended with the salty and savory flavor of the broth. "How can even this bamboo shoot taste so good?"

Xu Jiajia took another bite of duck meat. The duck skin was chewy yet tender, and it was very savory. The texture of the duck meat was clearly visible, and it could be easily torn apart with a gentle bite. It also had a hint of bamboo shoot flavor.

Mr. and Mrs. Wen also came over, saying, "There's so much delicious food again today."

They both ordered one serving, since they wouldn't have such delicious food again once they went back to work.

Seeing that Yiling and Jiajia were both there, Wen's mother greeted them and said to Jiajia, "You've come so early to have lunch with Yiling?"

Xu Jiajia nodded, "I'm here to recharge. I need to go back and finish my homework. I won't be able to do it if I don't eat something."

Seeing that the two of them were only eating one serving, Wen's mother worried that they wouldn't be full. "Would you like some more? It's my treat today, so please eat as much as you like."

Xu Jiajia felt embarrassed, but Yi Ling warmly invited her to treat her own mother, and the two of them ordered another serving of fried rice noodles before going back.

"This braised duck with dried bamboo shoots smells so good!" Wen's mother said while eating. The bamboo shoots inside were very chewy and had a firm texture. They were not dry or tough, and even after being soaked in the broth, they still had their own flavor. They were delicious and tasty.

Mr. Wen particularly liked stir-fried eggs with chives. The aroma of the chives blended perfectly with the eggs, and they were fried until they were incredibly fragrant and crispy.

Ji Xiaotong dragged her luggage to the school gate. After smelling a very fragrant aroma, she walked towards the source of the scent and then stood still.

She didn't have much money on her; it was used to top up her meal card. Once it was all gone, she wouldn't have any more. Her mother hadn't found a job, so she couldn't spend more.

But the food at this restaurant smelled so good that she couldn't resist going in. After looking around, she spotted the menu.

Rice was free, and stir-fried eggs with chives only cost five yuan, which was a little cheaper than the school cafeteria. After thinking about it, she told the owner she wanted to take some home.

Grandpa Xu walked into the shop and said, "What delicious food did Xiaoyin make today? It's making my mouth water."

"Here we go again?" Yu Miaoyin said.

Zhou Gui nodded, found a place to sit, and then asked Xiao Yin, "How's your recruitment going? Do you want me to help you find some candidates?"

When it comes to hiring, Yu Miaoyin hadn't actually started working on it yet. She didn't know where to look. She thought for a moment, "Okay, I'll put up a sign later and see if anyone's willing to come."

"Little sister, here's your stir-fried eggs with chives. Help yourself to the rice, and some pickled green beans. You can add some if you like," Yu Miaoyin called out to her, noticing that she seemed to have something on her mind.

Ji Xiaotong nodded, walked to the food counter, bought a meal to go, and scooped up a few spoonfuls of pickled green beans. After hesitating for a moment, she went over and asked, "Hello boss, are you hiring?"

Yu Miaoyin paused. "Yes, what's wrong?"

"I want to ask for my mom. She recently lost her job. My mom is a great cook. Would you like to consider it?" Ji Xiaotong asked, mustering her courage.

Yu Miaoyin nodded at the girl and said gently, "Okay, can your mother come for a trial job? She can come here at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

Ji Xiaotong nodded, somewhat surprised, "Thank you, boss, thank you, boss."

"You're welcome. I'd like to thank you for your great help. Now I don't have to worry about hiring anymore," Yu Miaoyin said.

Ji Xiaotong gave her a slight bow, then walked briskly back to school with her lunchbox. When she passed the office, she stopped and placed the mooncake on the teacher's desk, along with a thank-you note.

Perhaps because she had helped her mother find a job, she was in a good mood today. She sat in her chair, opened her lunchbox, and saw that the boss had given her a lot of stir-fried eggs with chives, and the pickled green beans smelled delicious. Although it was all vegetarian, the smell still made her hungry.

The pickled cowpeas were crunchy and their tangy and spicy flavor whetted her appetite. The stir-fried eggs with chives were also delicious. This meal, along with the good news that her mother had found a job, comforted her heart, and her sadness was slowly being soothed.

The aroma of sour and spicy flavors and the smell of stir-fried chives and eggs wafting out were exceptionally delicious. Ji Xiaotong's classmate came over and asked shyly, "Where did you buy this? It smells so good."

They weren't very close, just ordinary classmates, so Lin Jiaying felt a little embarrassed. However, Lin Jiaying quite liked her, but Ji Xiaotong preferred to play alone. She was quiet and reserved, spending all her time studying, so Lin Jiaying felt awkward bothering her even if she wanted to chat.

Ji Xiaotong said, "I bought it at Yu Ji Restaurant across the street."

After hesitating for a moment, she said softly, "Would you like to try this? I've never had it before..."