Chapter 107 [107] My mom is the most evil person in the world! ...

The soup is made from pork bones and scallion oil is fried in lard. In this era, people don’t have much fat in their stomachs, so this is a luxurious delicacy for people at the bottom of society.

fragrant!

Not only are the toppings delicious, but the lady boss is also very welcoming, and her words touch your heart: "I can't stand sweet noodles, so I wanted to make something that's unique to us outsiders."

The kitchen is clean and hygienic, and the prices are affordable, which are all plus points for the restaurant. Xu Fei felt happy in his stomach and in his heart after the meal.

People are drawn to sharing things that bring them joy. When they see a fellow villager or neighbor, they can't help but share: "That new foreigner's noodle shop is affordable and delicious. It's our foreigner's noodle shop."

This is not a noodle shop that caters to the tastes of Shanghai people.

There are only four tables in this small noodle shop, but it was always crowded during the whole lunch hour. After eating, everyone left with satisfaction on their faces.

At this time, Zhang Lancao discovered the benefits of making noodles. The toppings and soup base were all prepared in advance. It only took a few minutes to blanch the noodles, and diners could eat them quickly, too. They could be finished and the table would be turned over in ten to fifteen minutes.

In just one lunch hour, 46 servings of noodles were sold.

Compared to steamed buns, noodles have higher profits. After deducting the expenses of rent and gas, Zhang Lancao calculated that she had earned three yuan and ten cents!

I can make some extra money in the evening.

It’s still faster to make money by doing business.

Although she was busy with business, she didn't let her daughter go hungry during lunch. She took advantage of the break to make her daughter a bowl of tomato and egg noodles. As for herself, she just had a quick bite.

A stable life can make people feel at ease. She was so happy that she took her daughter to buy her a bottle of soda before returning to the store.

The shop owner spends the whole day in the shop, which is a big disadvantage, but Zhang Lancao herself has no extra demands on life. Her biggest wish is to make more money. Every extra bowl of noodles she sells is a bowl of noodles, so she doesn't feel it's hard.

She felt very satisfied.

Her life had been too hard before, so she felt fulfilled with just this little bit of happiness.

Thinking that it might take a long time before she could get off work in the evening, she let her daughter take a nap on a recliner, with a small quilt underneath and a military coat on top. The stove in the store was still warm, warmer than at home.

Zhang Lancao took the book and learned to write. At that time, she was only 24 years old, in good health and with a good memory. After just a few days, she already knew pinyin.

Now she can read the words marked with pinyin by herself. With this foundation, she can complete self-study.

The handwriting was still not very beautiful, so she slowly traced it with a pencil, muttering the pinyin in a low voice. When she looked up, she saw her daughter's sleeping face.

No one blamed her, no one laughed at her, she could control the money, and she was the boss of the store. She felt so happy that she was in a trance.

I'm really afraid that all this is a dream.

But the days she was alive were truly blissful.

In fact, she didn't know what she could do at her age if she could read. It was impossible for her to go to school or get a diploma. She didn't need to be literate to run a noodle shop. It might be more economical for her to take a rest.

But she just wanted to learn to read and learn more words.

Although she left Yucheng forever and would never see Tang Aiguo again, she would still feel sad and her heart would tighten in her dreams when she thought of those contemptuous looks.

She can learn to read and become a little better, and then a little better.

When someone came in to eat noodles, Zhang Lancao closed the book and said, "Yes."

The diner saw the textbook and then the sleeping child on the recliner: "Are you learning to read?"

Zhang Lancao smiled a little embarrassedly: "Alas, I didn't have the chance before, but now I want to get to know some of them, so that I won't be blind."

"Big sister, your idea is good. If you can't read, you won't be able to understand what you are doing on the bus."

The diner's face was filled with regret, revealing a story to tell. Too many people of Zhang Lancao's generation missed out on the chance to study, and as they age, their regrets only deepen.

Zhang Lancao became even more determined. It was not shameful to learn to read at this age.

In the evening, the noodle business was even better. They sold more than 80 bowls. At the end of the day, after deducting the cost of the house they lived in, they earned 6.80 yuan.

This is the first day of opening the store.

Zhang Lancao believes that her store’s business will get better and better.

People didn't have much nightlife at that time, and there were few people in the store at eight o'clock. She kneaded the dough, woke her up, and settled the bill. Xiao Yuanyuan had already fallen asleep on the recliner. She picked her up with her military coat, tucked her clothes into place, and went out to lock the store door.

"Mother."

Little Yuanyuan smelled the unique fragrance of his mother with his little nose, and snuggled into Zhang Lancao's arms, feeling that his mother was fragrant and warm.

"Mom is taking you home to sleep."

After putting the little guy to bed, he woke up again, still fuzzy, with his little arms clinging to his mother's neck, unwilling to let go.

The feeling of being attached is so good, and my heart is always softened by her.

The New Year atmosphere is getting farther and farther away, and more and more people are returning home. Zhang Lancao's store is also making stable profits. She took time out in the afternoon when she was not busy to go to the kindergarten with Pang Juan to pay the tuition. After the 15th, her daughter can go to school.

She also took the time to cut a piece of cloth and sew a small schoolbag for her daughter, and put some colored pencils, notebooks and other things in it.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, the Lantern Festival arrived. These days, ordinary people don’t have any concept of traveling to see the lanterns, nor do they have these activities. The biggest way to express the New Year is through food, such as eating rice dumplings, and adding meat to lunch.

Making glutinous rice balls is not difficult. Just mix the glutinous rice, roll it into balls, and cook them in a pot. If you want it to be more delicate, you can wrap some fillings in the middle.

No longer having to worry about her mother-in-law's subtle gazes, and no one nagging her all day long that women should know how to manage their lives, Zhang Lancao decided to make a decent meal of glutinous rice balls.

She bought all the raw materials, fried the sesame seeds in a pan, fried some peanuts, crushed them, and added a little brown sugar to make the filling.

The food was so fragrant that passersby could not even walk anymore. They would lift the door curtain and come in to ask, "What is that that smells so good?"

Zhang Lancao originally made it for the mother and daughter. Since the quantity was large, it didn't matter if she sold a little. She said with a smile, "Tangyuan."

Working alone in a foreign country, how could one miss home? Especially since I had just separated from my family. There were no shops selling tangyuan here. I just wanted to try a bite. "How much is one serving?"

Peanuts are cheap, but sesame seeds are quite expensive. Zhang Lancao asked for one for nine cents, and the other party immediately asked for one.

After eating, I felt so full that I walked out of the store with a smile on my face. I couldn't help but share with my fellow townspeople: "The glutinous rice balls from outsiders are delicious."

The price is not expensive and the materials are good, so many fellow villagers came to buy it.

Many diners passing by were attracted by the food. Zhang Lancao gave away the portion she was going to eat and only left four for her daughter, but it was still not enough to sell.

In fact, sometimes opportunities lie in a small detail in life. Zhang Lancao herself didn’t know that she was actually quite sensitive. She had actually seized the turning point for the second time, although she herself did not realize it.

The noodle shop business was unusually good that day, and she discovered that the fragrance was an extremely attractive trick, so she started thinking about it.

The next morning, little Tang Yuanyuan also started school.

Little Yuanyuan was very unhappy. He clung to his mother's sleeve and said a little aggrievedly, "Mom, Yuanyuan doesn't want to be separated from you."

Zhang Lancao was a little reluctant to leave, but the school was safer than the store entrance. "It's not about separation, it's about you studying here. School ends at 4:30 p.m., and then mom will come to pick you up."

Little Yuanyuan doesn’t know the importance of studying yet. He just pouts and looks at his mother pitifully.

This aggrieved little expression is a big move!

Zhang Lancao had no choice but to make up her mind: "Mom needs to earn money. Only when you are in the kindergarten can Mom work more peacefully and earn more money."

Little Yuanyuan had no choice but to nod reluctantly, watching his mother walk away so far that he could no longer see her, but he was still watching her.

Zhang Lancao started thinking about new dishes as soon as she returned to the restaurant.

Fried peanuts can be added as a side dish. It is easy to make. Use very low oil temperature and fry them for a while, and the aroma will spread to the street.

I also tried putting sesame seeds into the chili oil and found that the chili oil made in this way had a stronger aroma.

Xu Fei was drawn in again: "Boss lady, what delicious food have you made today?"

Zhang Lancao said with a smile, "The chili oil has been seasoned today and has become more fragrant."

Noodle shops here in Shanghai don’t even have chili oil, let alone chili oil with sesame seeds. When you scoop a spoonful and pour it over the boiling hot noodles, the soup base will turn a bright red.

It looks good and tastes good. After eating it, your mouth will feel slightly numb and your internal organs will feel slightly warm. If you have a bowl of it in cold weather, you will feel warm all over.

tasty!

"Boss lady, I'll come back to eat in the evening and bring my coworkers with me."

Zhang Lancao smiled as she saw the last diner out. After checking the bill, she found that business was particularly good today. In just one lunch break, she had already sold 82 bowls.

I counted the money first and found that I had earned 4.6 yuan!

Maybe I can earn ten dollars today.

Zhang Lancao was happy for a long time before she remembered that she had not eaten. She was so busy that she didn't feel hungry at all. She generously cooked herself a bowl of shredded pork noodles.

The green shredded bell peppers and shredded meat, which have absorbed the oil and are shiny, are spread on the snow-white noodles and taste so delicious.

I don’t know what my daughter ate at school. I was busy all afternoon and didn’t feel anything, but now I actually miss her a little.

After reading for a while, I ran to the kindergarten to pick up my child ten minutes early.

"Mother!"

When little Yuanyuan saw Zhang Lancao, he was so excited that he jumped into his mother's arms as fast as a monkey with his short legs.

"Candy, Mommy eats it."

This is a reward from the teacher for her good performance.

Zhang Lancao shook her head: "Mom doesn't like sweets."

Little Yuanyuan peeled off the colorful candy wrapper and insisted on stuffing it into his mother's mouth. He tilted his little head back and smiled so hard that his chubby cheeks trembled.

"Mom, there's more, Rourou."

She opened her pocket with her little fingers, took out a meatball like she was presenting a treasure, and stuffed it back in her pocket. It was so delicious that she ate several of them at noon.

Zhang Lancao: “…” There’s no need to be so filial.

The mother and daughter returned to the store together. Little Yuanyuan's little hand tugged at her mother's big hand and shook it vigorously: "Mom, I finally remembered it today."

"Yeah, I missed you too."

"Yuanyuan will be with mom tomorrow."

"You can join me after kindergarten."

Little Yuanyuan has to go to kindergarten tomorrow. His cheeks are puffed up and his mouth is shrunken into a ball. He feels like the sky is falling.

He rubbed the back of his mother's hand, looked at her pitifully, and cried out with his little mouth like cotton candy: "Mom, Yuanyuan doesn't want to be separated from you."

Zhang Lancao smiled, what a clever fellow: "There's nothing I can do about it. You have to go to kindergarten. You have to get used to it."

Little Yuanyuan was so hurt that he stretched out his little arms and wanted his mother to hold him in her arms to comfort him a little.

The advantage of going to kindergarten is that Xiao Yuanyuan has more good friends. He plays skipping rubber rope with a few little girls at the door: "Little ball, kick it with your legs, Malan blooms twenty-one..."

While kneading the dough, Zhang Lancao looked up from time to time. When it got a little dark, she would not allow her daughter to go out and only let her stay in the store to play.

Zhang Lancao gave her a piece of dough to play with and told her not to make any noise. So she played with the dough quietly without making any noise or noise.

A customer came in through the curtain to order some noodles. Just as Zhang Lancao was about to come out, little Yuanyuan had already tilted his head back and quoted the price in a childish voice: "Yangchun noodles are 8 cents, pickled vegetable noodles are 9 cents, and meat noodles are 12 cents."

The customer was amused and asked, "What kind of noodles are delicious?"

"Of course it's pork noodles!" Little Yuanyuan's big round eyes seemed to be saying, "You're so stupid!" "Pork noodles are the best!"

"Then let's have some shredded pork noodles."

Little Yuanyuan climbed onto the stool with her short legs, took a pair of chopsticks out of the chopstick holder and placed them on the stool, smiling like a half-flowered lady: "Eat it all, no leftovers allowed. If you do, mom will spank you."

“…”

Customers came up one after another and the restaurant was soon full. Xu Fei walked into the noodle shop with four or five co-workers.

Zhang Lancao could only rub her hands and apologize: "Excuse me, look, do you want to wait a while, or go to another store?"

Xu Fei: "It's okay, we'll wait a while. Noodles are quick to eat anyway, it will be ready in about ten minutes."

Xiao Yuanyuan: "Do you also like the noodles my mom makes?"

Xu Ming smiled: "Yes, the noodles your mother makes are especially delicious."

"Yeah!" Little Yuanyuan puffed out his chest, held his head high, and said proudly, "My mom is the most powerful person in the world!"

"Yuanyuan has grown into a little pig. Uncle, if you come here every day, you can grow it into a big fat pig."