Chapter 24: Fifty Taels of Money

A woman who could make ice jelly, gray tofu, and gray bean shreds must have a very clever mind. Shopkeeper Tang was very interested: "Miss Xu, would you please come in and tell me in detail?"

"No need, it's just a matter of a few words. This fish skin can be made into something delicious. It will definitely add another specialty to the Lotus Restaurant. It's not only delicious, but also easy to make. I wonder if Shopkeeper Tang is interested?"

“Is it made from this fish skin?”

"yes."

"But this fish skin is fishy and has no meat. I really can't think of any special dish that can be made from it."

"I'm still working with Shopkeeper Tang. How could I possibly lie to him?"

Manager Tang has been managing the restaurant for many years. Even if he hasn't eaten pork, he has seen pigs run. He has seen many kinds of exquisite dishes being made and tasted many delicacies. It can be said that he has been immersed in this for a long time. However, no matter how he thinks divergently and uses his imagination boldly, he can't think of what delicious thing can be made with ordinary fish skin?

Seeing that Xu Zhichun looked confident and didn't seem to be lying, Shopkeeper Tang became even more itchy.

"Okay, if you can add a special dish to our restaurant, I will buy the recipe from Miss Xu. However, after I buy it, Miss Xu can make it herself, but she can't sell it or teach others to make it."

Xu Zhichun nodded and smiled, "Of course. This dish is really easy to make. Shopkeeper Tang, it would be best if you change the name when you sell it, otherwise it would be easy for people to guess the recipe."

Shopkeeper Tang nodded. Everyone knew that fish skin looked like this, so it was not surprising that it was easy to see.

"If it's good, I want fifty taels of silver."

"this--"

"Shopkeeper Tang, this is a recipe."

She knew quite a few recipes for various dishes, but those complicated things were clearly not for someone like her. She could make a snack, but if she made a big fuss from the beginning, it would attract attention and easily cause trouble. This was also the reason why she didn't dare to show off the good stuff in the harbor warehouse.

When she has a solid foundation in the future and opens her own restaurant, she will naturally need it.

Fifty taels of silver for a recipe is indeed not expensive. Shopkeeper Tang smiled cheerfully and said, "As long as the food is really good, it's fine."

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "I'll do it right away. Please tell my fellow driver to go ahead and tell him I have something to stay for a while."

Shopkeeper Tang nodded and said, "Go quickly and explain it to them."

"Yes, boss."

Xu Zhichun went into the kitchen and asked everyone to leave. It was not yet time for dinner, so it would not delay the restaurant's business.

She cleaned the fish skin with quick movements, boiled water over high heat, and put the cut fish skin into the boiling water to blanch it.

After about a minute, pick up the fish and quickly rinse the scalding fish skin with cold well water. This will remove the fishy smell and blood, and also make the fish skin more elastic and crispy.

Then put the fish skin back into boiling water and blanch it for six or seven seconds, then quickly take it out, cool it in cold water, and cut it into finger-sized strips.

Finally, mix the fish skin with the prepared chopped green onion, coriander, crushed peanuts, minced garlic, sesame oil, vinegar, salt, dried chili peppers, etc.

Originally, fresh soy sauce was needed, which was specially used to make cold dishes, but it was not available at that time. Xu Zhichun had to boil the soy sauce and water in a pot, pour it into the bowl, and mix them together.

A crispy, refreshing and slightly spicy cold fish skin dish is ready.

Xu Zhichun opened the kitchen door and said, "Manager Tang, please come in."

Shopkeeper Tang brought in Chef Fang, and they were both a little disappointed to see that the fish skin was still as ordinary as before.

However, since it has been done and has come this far, just take a bite.

Just one bite, just for the sake of it, and definitely not a second bite.

Um?

Both of them were stunned.

Chef Fang exclaimed, "Is this really made of fish skin? It's crispy, delicious, chewy, and a little spicy. It's perfect as a side dish!"

Xu Zhichun gave a thumbs-up and smiled, "Chef Fang has good taste!"

Chef Fang looked at Shopkeeper Tang in surprise: "Shopkeeper."

Shopkeeper Tang also smiled and nodded, "Not bad, really good. I didn't expect fish skin could be made into such a delicious dish. I am willing to spend fifty taels of silver, and I think it is well worth it."

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "Then let's sign the contract as a proof so that Manager Tang can rest assured."

"become."

Shopkeeper Tang asked someone to prepare the contract. Xu Zhichun taught Chef Fang how to cook fish skin, and Shopkeeper Tang took a pen and wrote it down in detail.

From now on, there will be another special dish on the menu of their Lotus Restaurant.

Shopkeeper Tang felt a strong sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

He looked at the notes he had written, then at Xu Zhichun who was giving instructions to Chef Fang, and secretly sighed: It is true that different fields are like different mountains, and it is true that it is not difficult to be capable.

Look! Who would have thought that fish skin, once destined for pig feeding, could be transformed into a delicious cold fish skin dish with just a few simple treatments?

It can be said to turn decay into magic!

Shopkeeper Tang couldn't help but say, "Miss Xu, if you have any good ideas in the future, you must think of our Lotus Restaurant first."

Xu Zhichun nodded and smiled: "Of course."

The method of making cold fish skin salad is very simple. Chef Fang will learn it after trying it once.

Xu Zhichun happily returned to the market with a contract, fifty taels of silver notes, and a box of two snacks given by Manager Tang: mung bean cake and jujube and yam cake, and sold konjac tofu and konjac noodles with Zeng Xiaoyan and others.

As for the jelly, they would no longer sell it from today onwards. The Lotus Restaurant would take all the jelly we brought today. When asked, they explained the reason and suggested that everyone go to the Lotus Restaurant or the Bishui Tea House to eat.

A bowl of ice jelly with only brown sugar water and no added ingredients costs three cents, and everyone in the city can afford it.

Today's closing was similar to yesterday's. Several small restaurants came to buy konjac tofu and konjac knots. Each restaurant bought three to five kilograms. These small restaurants alone ordered more than twenty kilograms.

The amount they brought today was about the same as yesterday.

Zeng Xiaoyan and Aunt Zhu'er were a little regretful, "It's a pity we are too busy, otherwise we could make more and sell them." "That's right, it's all money."

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "This quantity is actually just right. We can only add about twenty more pounds. Any more and it might be hard to sell. Let's leave it like this for now. We can discuss whether or not to hire someone later."

"Hire someone?" Aunt Zhu'er was taken aback. "Why not just forget it? We can do it ourselves."

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "We're just hiring someone to help. We're the ones who sell the konjac and we're the ones who make it. If we need to hire anyone, we'll just hire someone to dig the konjac, peel it, and cut it into pieces."

Aunt Zhu'er breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, yes, that's good, that's good. I was scared before. What if someone knew about it?"

Zeng Xiaoyan also laughed: "Sister-in-law Zhichun has thought it through very carefully. Let's just listen to her."

"Yeah, that's right!"

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "Let's not talk about this for now. Let's go have lunch first. We're having noodles with meat sauce today. Each person should have two tablespoons of meat sauce. It's my treat."

The fifty taels from the house were of course hers, but she felt there was no need to hide it from them. She should tell them and treat them generously.

(End of this chapter)