Chapter Four: Stir-fried Beef Noodles

Xu Jiajia picked up a mouthful of rice noodles with her chopsticks, and rolled the rice noodles, along with beef, bean sprouts, and scallions, into her mouth.

The rice noodles, stir-fried over high heat, curled slightly at the edges, coated in oil and fragrant, yet not greasy at all, exuding a wonderful wok hei (wok aroma). While eating, Xu Jiajia glanced at Yu Miaoyin, who was busy in the kitchen. The rice noodles were being stir-fried quickly over a high flame, the pale blue flames licking the bottom of the wok as if they were about to leap out. Yu Miaoyin skillfully turned the wok with her wrist, appearing completely at ease.

No wonder it's so delicious, Xu Jiajia thought happily. The rice noodles were springy and chewy, the aroma of rice mingling with the savory sauce; the beef was tender yet slightly crispy; the bean sprouts were crunchy and juicy; the scallions added freshness; and together they balanced the richness, leaving only a mouthful of savory sauce...

Xu Jiajia kept her head down and ate the rice noodles quickly. She didn't want to stop at all. These stir-fried rice noodles were so delicious, just as amazing as the tea eggs she had just eaten. They successfully became Jiajia's top choice.

Little Tangbao sat with Grandma Chen, slowly savoring the food with her chopsticks, then rested her chin on her hand and thought, "My sister's cooking is so delicious!"

Grandma recognized Jiajia and asked where Yiling was. Jiajia replied while eating her noodles, "Yiling is on duty."

Speaking of Yiling, Grandma slapped her thigh and said with some heartache, "Is Yiling not eating?"

This stir-fried rice noodles are so delicious, I'm sure Yiling will love them. Jiajia replied while eating her noodles, "Grandma, don't worry, Yiling asked me to buy them for her."

Although Yi-ling didn't ask Jia-jia to help buy it, it put her grandmother at ease, since her grandmother was always worried about whether Yi-ling was eating properly.

The new restaurant was surprisingly popular, with a steady stream of high school students in their uniforms coming in. No wonder, the aroma wafting from this unsigned little eatery was just too tempting. As a struggling high school student burdened by homework, and someone who can't live without a good meal every day, I simply couldn't resist that smell.

After finishing her rice noodles, Xu Jiajia ran to Yu Miaoyin and said, "Boss, I'd like another order of stir-fried rice noodles, to go, and three more tea eggs!"

"Okay, wait a minute." After saying that, Yu Miaoyin went back to the kitchen.

Xu Jiajia glanced around the small restaurant, which was filled with students dressed in the same uniforms as her, all from Yuncheng No. 1 Middle School. Seeing customers made Xu Jiajia genuinely happy; such a delicious restaurant deserved her profits, and she was going to make a lot of money from it.

Xu Jiajia silently prayed that this shop would stay open until she graduated from high school, otherwise she would lose her pillar of support!

The kitchen was filled with sizzling sounds, and Xu Jiajia finally understood what it meant to hear celestial music and have her ears suddenly clear. The aroma emanating from the kitchen grew stronger and stronger, and finally, the stir-fried beef noodles were ready.

Yu Miaoyin put the fried noodles into a takeout box. Xiao Tangbao ran over and handed her a bag containing tea eggs. "Sister, here are the tea eggs you ordered. They're still hot."

"Thank you, little one." Is this the boss's sister? She's so cute and adorable, I want to kiss her!

"Sister, my name is Yu Wentang. You can call me Xiaotangbao from now on. Xiao means little, Tang means crabapple, and Bao means baby." Xiaotangbao earnestly told Xu Jiajia her nickname.

“Okay, I got it. I’m going back to study now, goodbye Tangbao,” Xu Jiajia said.

Little Tangbao waved obediently, "Bye-bye~"

There were quite a few students in the shop at first, but most of them have left now because they all have to go back to evening self-study. As a result, Yu Miaoyin has some free time.

Yu Miaoyin had a break, so she sat down opposite Grandma Chen. Xiao Tangbao quickly ran over and handed Yu Miaoyin a water cup, saying, "Sister, have a drink of water, you've worked hard."

Yu Miaoyin held the cup, bit the straw, and took a big gulp of water. Xiao Tangbao sat next to Yu Miaoyin, also drinking water from her own children's cup, resting her chin on the cup and biting the straw.

The two, one big and one small, move in unison, which is inexplicably adorable.

Grandma Chen felt a sense of warmth watching the scene unfold, and she was happy to see the two of them doing well.

"By the way, are you only planning to make dinner now?"

Yu Miaoyin shook her head, "No, I was planning to make lunch."

High school students don't have long mealtimes, usually only one or two hours, and the more they work, the more they earn. She wants to give Xiaotangbao the best life.

Grandma Chen hummed in agreement, then couldn't resist trying to learn her secret technique again, "Xiaoyin, how did you make these tea eggs? Even the yolks are flavorful!"

A few days ago I asked Xiaoyin for her recipe for sweet and sour pork ribs and tried making it myself. Although it's nowhere near as good as Xiaoyin's, and the skill gap is hard to match, it still tastes much better than what she usually makes.

"Well, when you make it, put it in cold water first and boil it for about five or six minutes. While the yolk is not fully cooked, crack the eggshell and then braise it for a longer time so that the yolk can absorb the flavor." Actually, it takes skill to cook a soft-boiled egg like this. Some people succeed on their first try, while others can't cook the egg white and yolk at all.

Grandma Chen felt that she belonged to the second type of person. Even though she followed Xiaoyin's instructions step by step, she didn't know which step went wrong, and the taste was completely different.

"But you can also try another method. Before braising, use a toothpick to poke into the yolk and braise it for a longer time. It will be just as flavorful." Yu Miaoyin suggested another method that was less demanding on technique.

Grandma Chen quickly nodded. This kind of unorthodox cultivation is quite good. Even if it's a crooked path, it's still a good path if it can make good tea eggs. "Okay, okay, I'll try it next time."

Grandma Chen couldn't help but praise again, "Xiao Yin's cooking skills are truly impeccable."

—

When Xu Jiajia returned to the classroom, Yi Ling had just come back after taking out the trash.

Xu Jiajia sat down happily, placed the stir-fried beef noodles on the table, and coughed twice to attract Yi Ling's attention.

Yi Ling took out the bread she had bought a few days ago from the drawer, and then pulled out a small Chinese dictation and recitation book, intending to read and eat at the same time. Seeing Xu Jiajia's radiant appearance, she asked curiously, "Did something very happy happen to you today?"

Xu Jiajia nodded seriously and emphatically, "How did you know?"

Yi Ling: ...

It's written all over your face.

"Let me tell you, I had some incredibly delicious stir-fried rice noodles today. One bite and I'll never forget it, it was absolutely amazing!" Xu Jiajia said, thinking about the taste of stir-fried beef noodles, and felt herself getting hungry again.

After saying that, she took out the takeout box and handed it to Yiling, saying, "Thank me on your knees, I also brought you a portion!"

There were three tea eggs inside. As soon as Xu Jiajia placed them in front of her, she smelled the faint aroma of tea.

It smells so good. For some reason, Yiling feels that the bread she's eating now doesn't taste so good anymore. Cold bread can't compare to a hot tea egg.

Xu Jiajia took out two of the tea eggs, saying, "These are for you. I'll eat the other two after the first evening self-study session."

Seeing that a certain picky eater was still a little hesitant, Xu Jiajia assured him, "Don't worry, the fried rice noodles at this restaurant are really delicious! Trust me, this food connoisseur, okay? If it's not good, you can hit me!"

Very precise words, very earnest tone.

"And the tea eggs are especially delicious!" Xu Jiajia's eyes sparkled with excitement.

Yi Ling hummed in agreement and chose to eat the tea egg first. Peeling off the shell, the tea egg was slightly warm, and the rising steam, along with the aroma of star anise, cinnamon, and tea, wafted into her nose. Taking a bite, the tea egg was even warmer inside, with a smooth and creamy yolk that melted in her mouth with the flavorful broth, leaving her tongue filled with the aroma of spices.

"It's so delicious! This is the first time I've ever had a tea egg where the yolk is so flavorful! Jiajia, where did you buy it?" Her eyes lit up, and she quickly turned to ask.

Xu Jiajia shared the delicious tea eggs, feeling a little proud of herself. She hummed, "See? I told you they were delicious."

Xu Jiajia leaned back in her chair. "I bought it from a newly opened shop, the one that used to be a noodle shop. It's changed owners now."

Yi Ling paused as she opened the takeout box for stir-fried beef noodles. Wasn't this the shop run by her neighbor? After the incident, the shop closed down, and the current owner was probably Sister A Yin.

No wonder it tastes so good! It's made by Sister Ayin, how could it not be delicious!

After finishing the tea eggs, Yiling couldn't wait to open the takeout box. The aroma of stir-fried rice noodles, cooked over high heat, wafted out immediately. The rice noodles were dyed an enticing dark brown, each strand distinct and glistening with oil. This sight made Yiling hungry. She eagerly grabbed her chopsticks and took a large bite. It contained crisp bean sprouts, tender beef, and refreshing scallions—all incredibly fragrant. The wok hei (wok aroma) seemed to be locked into every single strand of noodle.

When Yiling was in junior high school, she was a boarding student. Rice noodles were a regular breakfast item at the school cafeteria. They were stir-fried in a large wok and cost five yuan a serving; you could take them away by swiping your card. The rice noodles stir-fried at school were either oily or dry and crumbly. So for a long time, Yiling felt nauseous whenever she saw rice noodles.

But after eating the rice noodles Xu Jiajia brought her today, she understood what "amazing" meant. She realized that someone could make stir-fried rice noodles so delicious. What about all the stir-fried rice noodles she had eaten before? Did she have a hard life?

What a delicious plate of stir-fried rice noodles!

Seeing Yi Ling's expression change from disbelief to happiness as she ate the stir-fried beef noodles, Xu Jiajia felt happy. She clicked her tongue and said, "Finally, she's not being picky about food today."

Yi Ling shook her head and said slowly, "I'm not a picky eater, it's just that what they cook doesn't taste good, and my palate is a bit too delicate."

"What smells so good? Who's having hot pot in the classroom?" A chubby boy sniffed as he entered the classroom.

The speaker was Du Chenyang, the sports representative of Class 11, affectionately called Xiao Du by his classmates. He had probably just finished playing ball and came in with instant noodles in his hand.

Xu Jiajia could tell at a glance that this person was willing to skip meals to play ball, and only in the last half hour did he reluctantly put down his racket to buy instant noodles or bread from the convenience store to make do.

But Xu Jiajia knew that with such a physique, he would definitely have plenty of fried chicken, hamburgers, and milk tea when he got home.

Xiao Du, carrying a bowl of instant noodles, passed by Yi Ling. Smelling the aroma of stir-fried rice noodles, he stopped in his tracks. "Yi Ling, where did you buy this? It smells so good!"

A plate of stir-fried beef noodles successfully lured Xiao Du away.

Xu Jiajia coughed twice and said for Yiling, "The new one that opened across from the school is the old noodle shop, but it has a new owner now."

Smelling the aroma of stir-fried beef noodles, Xiao Du said with a mournful expression, "I feel like my instant noodles don't smell good anymore, even though I specially added an egg and sausage!"

Looking at Xiao Du's increasingly gaunt face, Xu Jiajia took out a tea egg from her bag. "Here, have this. Don't say I didn't take care of you."

"Is this also from that shop?" Xiao Du's eyes lit up. The eggs smelled so good!

"Of course," Xu Jiajia said. "Try it, the tea eggs at this shop are especially delicious. After all, you're my son, and it's only natural for a mother to be good to her son!"

Xiao Du wanted to retort, but looking at the tea egg, he choked and gave in to the temptation... It's all because this egg smells so good!

He was so touched that he pulled out several bags of snacks from under his desk, including chocolate, spicy strips, potato chips, and yogurt, saying, "Please have some, thank you, Jiajia."

Xiao Du opened the instant noodle lid, put the peeled tea egg in, and pressed it down with a fork.

In less than a minute, Xiao Du opened the instant noodle lid, forked up his precious tea egg, and took a bite.

This egg is so delicious… Xiao Du finished the tea egg in no time, and when he ate instant noodles afterwards, the taste seemed rather ordinary. Isn't this his favorite noodle and vegetable egg dish?

—

At seven o'clock, the sky was soft and the dim yellow light made the small restaurant look especially cozy.

Yu Miaoyin washed the dishes and chopsticks, while Xiao Tangbao helped wipe the table. The two, one big and one small, were busy with their own tasks, and soon the small restaurant was cleaned spotless.

Yu Miaoyin wiped the sweat from Xiaotangbao's forehead. "Thank you for helping me clean today, Xiaotangbao, but don't tire yourself out next time."

She quickly waved her hand and shook her head, "I don't feel tired at all. I'm happy to be able to help my sister."

After saying that, she loosened her clenched fist, revealing two milk candies in her palm, given to her by Xu Jiajia. "Sister, these were given to me by the first sister who came. One for you and one for me."

"Okay." Yu Miaoyin unwrapped the candy, put it in her mouth, and the rich milky flavor melted on her tongue.

"Let's go home and have dinner."

Just as she was about to leave, she heard a voice call out to her.

"Hello." A woman approached them, wearing an apron, and smiled gently at them. She looked to be in her thirties or forties, with a kind face.

Before Yu Miaoyin could speak, the other party stated his purpose, "I also run a small restaurant near Yuncheng No.1 Middle School, selling noodles. It's right next to you. You might not know this since you just moved here."

He Li smiled shyly and said, "I just wanted to say that when I was busy just now, I smelled the food you made. It smelled so good that it made me hungry. I was thinking of waiting until I had some free time to buy some from you."

After saying that, she glanced at the tightly closed door again, somewhat regretfully, "It seems I'm too late."

So that's why. Hearing that the restaurant owner next door also liked her cooking made her inexplicably happy. Little Tangbao, hearing this, unconsciously raised her head and became proud as well.

"Thank you." Yu Miaoyin smiled. She hadn't expected the other person to come to say something like this—specifically to tell her that her cooking was delicious. Yu Miaoyin added, "Then come again next time."

After Yu Miaoyin finished speaking, she pulled down the roller shutter door and took Xiao Tangbao home. The two figures, one big and one small, quickly disappeared around the corner.

A note from the author:

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