Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Tasting Lamb
Luo Anmin was still happy when he heard that his daughter was going to her friend's place.
This child has always been introverted. She didn't make many good friends when she was in school, and she kept in touch with even fewer after graduation. Because her work was not going well, she stayed at home to help take care of the farm, and she interacted with even fewer peers. Except when she was a child, I have never seen her go to her friend's house.
Luo Anmin and his wife stuffed some cash into her pocket, and his wife Luo Yue kept nagging, "I heard the food at Boss Jiang's place is really expensive. She invited you over, so you should know your limits. Give her the gift I prepared as soon as you see her, okay? Also, it's quite far, so remember to take a picture of the license plate when you take a taxi..."
Luo Qi agreed obediently and packed her clothes one by one.
Isn't this a bit too many clothes?
Aren’t you going there to play for two days?
You even need to bring a suitcase?!
The couple always felt that something was not right.
But Luo Qi didn't say anything, and the two of them couldn't think of anything else. They could only watch their daughter pack up and send her to the high-speed rail station. Then they heard her say, "Boss Jiang invited me to be a chef there, specializing in various types of lamb. Today, in addition to celebrating the opening tomorrow, he also wants to test my cooking skills. If I pass, Mom and Dad, I'll stay there as a chef!"
Couple: ???
"How could she poach people like this!" Luo Anmin couldn't believe it.
This is his own daughter!
Luo Qi lowered her head and insisted, "But I want to go. The mutton she sent me last year for Chinese New Year was delicious! The meat didn't have any mutton smell at all, and it's much better than the mutton we raise at home!"
Luo Anmin: ...I was really moved.
Luo Yue nudged her husband with her elbow, signaling him to stop being so rude. Then she said softly, "If you like it, go ahead and try it. It's not far from home, so it'll be very convenient for you to come back."
Luo Qi immediately smiled: "Yes! I will."
Luo Anmin complained in his heart: If I expressed my opposition, she would not say a word, but if his wife agreed, she would agree immediately.
This attitude is already very obvious.
My daughter's heart has passed.
Seeing that he was a little disappointed, Luo Qi thought for a moment and comforted him, "Boss Jiang offers a high salary and high requirements. I'm a self-taught person, so I may not succeed. Maybe I'll come back in a couple of days."
Luo Anmin exploded: "Impossible! The mutton you cook is so delicious, how could they not want you?!"
Luo Qi: "Pfft."
Luo Yue also laughed: "You've really said enough! When someone becomes a boss, they definitely have to consider all aspects. Even if they really didn't get the job, it's definitely not Xiaoqi's fault."
Luo Anmin curled his lips, feeling sour, but still drove his daughter there.
After watching their daughter enter the station, the couple sighed deeply: "I don't think she will be back in the short term."
"I think so too."
"What do you think this guy was thinking? He even poached someone's own daughter?!"
"Because our daughter is amazing~"
*
Luo Qi didn't know how good she was, but she was very excited when Jiang Heng invited her.
She has never been an outstanding child in the eyes of the world since she was young.
Her academic performance was average, and she didn't get into a very good university. She could only make a living by working outside. What's more, she was introverted and not good at socializing. Every time she socialized, she would consume all her energy, which resulted in her working very hard every day and not being able to save any money.
She came back just because the family was short of help.
Raising pigs, cattle and sheep with my parents is a busy and hard life, but being with these animals makes my body and mind feel more relaxed than ever before.
However, as time went by, she inevitably became more and more introverted, and would blush whenever she spoke to people. She wanted to change this state of herself, but she was hesitant to make up her mind.
Until this invitation.
She likes eating meat and cooking, and her favorite is lamb. The development of modern Internet allows her to find many recipes without leaving home. Based on her own exploration and adjustments, she has figured out her own set of superb lamb cooking methods, and everyone who has eaten it says it is delicious.
But she never actually thought that she would become a formal chef.
But now it seems there is a chance!
Feeling nervous, Luo Qi followed the navigation system and took a taxi to get here. Just like what she had seen online, the place was incredibly crowded! Especially since it was late August, the end of summer vacation, it was even more crowded.
As soon as I got off the bus, I was greeted by the bustling hawking of vendors: "Delicious grapes! Boss Jiang's grapes and watermelons! They taste even better when chilled!"
"Snow pear stewed with rock sugar! Super delicious, it clears away heat and reduces internal heat..."
"Shaved ice! Fruit shaved ice! Made on the spot, the fruit is from Boss Jiang's..."
Luo Qi: Wow~
The variety of snack stalls and fruit stalls is dazzling.
Luo Qi was mentally preparing to ask someone for directions when she caught sight of a sign on the side of the road that clearly indicated the direction of Boss Jiang's house. She immediately shut up and followed the sign.
Soon I saw a restaurant that had become very beautiful and had been posted many times by tourists online, as well as a very large and spacious courtyard.
Luo Qi quickened his pace and walked over.
Over at the restaurant, the plaque has been hung up - [Jiang's Private Restaurant]
The large gold-plated characters are eye-catching.
I don’t know who wrote this, but the handwriting is really beautiful.
The door to the restaurant was ajar, and some noises could be heard from inside: "Put the flower pot here, right! Right here, it can get the sun."
"Oh, the mutton chef is coming soon. Who's going to bring the lamb over?"
"Don't you want to ask? When the time comes, are we going to do both together or one at a time?"
"Should we kill both sheep at once? It'll take a while to kill the sheep."
“…”
Everyone was talking at once, it was quite lively.
Luo Qi knocked on the door, and it opened. A familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar beautiful face came into view. She blushed subconsciously: "Boss Jiang~"
Jiang Heng was surprised: "You're coming, why didn't you tell me in advance?"
Luo Qi smiled sheepishly: "I thought about taking a taxi directly, so I didn't tell anyone."
She looked inside. Half of the yard had been turned into a kitchen, with a wide corridor in the middle leading directly to the front door. The house was now spotlessly clean, with brand new, polished tables and chairs gleaming. "Are you busy? Do you need any help?"
As she spoke, she wanted to put down her luggage, roll up her sleeves and get to work.
As a child who did a lot of work at home, she adapted very well here.
Jiang Heng quickly pulled him back: "No, you should rest first. The sheep are not ready yet. I will take you to my house first. You can stay with me for the next two days. Once things are settled, I will arrange accommodation for you. Is that okay?"
Luo Qi: "Okay."
She is very easy to talk to.
Jiang Heng took the luggage and took her over, asking by the way what to do with the sheep. Today's task was a bit heavy. They had to make roasted whole lamb, hand-pulled lamb, stewed lamb, lamb skewers, lamb and carrot soup, cumin lamb, etc.
Utilize all the lamb you can.
In order to ensure the freshness of the mutton, the time of slaughtering the sheep must be determined.
Luo Qi smiled confidently: "Don't you have the tools to make roasted whole lamb? Then you can arrange everything. I can handle it."
Jiang Heng: "Okay."
She immediately told Tong Yunqing and asked the specially hired master to take care of the two sheep, and she took Luo Qi with her to settle them down.
One of the two guest rooms reserved was occupied by Qin Siqi.
After the college entrance examination, the child made rapid progress in the last year and performed exceptionally well in the college entrance examination, successfully getting into a key university. Although it was a little bit close to the line, she was admitted anyway. Her uncle's family even specially held a banquet. Jiang Heng took the time to go and brought back a big red envelope, which the couple forced on her.
Their daughter had spent a month with Jiang Heng and had changed a lot when she returned. They could see that she was the main reason for her excellent performance in the exam.
This time Jiang Heng was not polite.
He turned around and gave Qin Siqi the gift she had always dreamed of.
So in late June, she came over immediately after she finished the farm stay activities.
Scissorhands is back to work, and all kinds of fluffy videos, farm videos, and food videos are frequently uploaded online. Fans of Jiang's Shop are really in pain and happiness. They are frustrated because they can't see the food but can't eat it, and at the same time they are clamoring for more and begging Scissorhands to make them salivate more.
It's so poisonous!
Ye Sui stayed in the other house for two days, and no one else has lived there.
She had cleaned the room in advance, making it clean and tidy, and it also had a separate bathroom to ensure safety and privacy.
After settling Luo Qi down and taking a short rest, Jiang Heng let her drink some honey water to replenish her strength, then took her to the restaurant.
Qin Siqi held up her graduation award, a super luxurious video camera, and said with anticipation: "Do you mind appearing on camera? I'm recording a video to prepare for the store opening promotion."
Luo Qi quickly shook his head and put on a mask: "Don't mind, I'm wearing a mask."
Qin Siqi understood: "I will try not to take pictures of your face."
Luo Qi smiled shyly, put on his chef's uniform, washed his hands, and started to work.
——
Today is a difficult day.
Gong Xuehong and her good friend who came with her leaned against each other and sighed.
They are both night owls and like to stay up late, even when traveling.
It happened to be late August, and it was very hot. Even though the temperature in Jiangjia Village was a little lower, it would still make people feel hot. Therefore, her activity time was after four o'clock in the afternoon.
There has been a bumper harvest in the summer recently, and at least for tourists, there is enough vegetables and fruits. Except for fish and shrimp, which need to be fought over, most other fruits can be easily bought.
It just so happened that they had used up all their luck in the previous two days and bought some crayfish and a few fish.
The meal was so satisfying.
On the last day of the trip, they decided to take it easy and asked the people at the B&B to help them buy some fruits and vegetables. They forgot about everything else and stayed in the air-conditioned room to eat and drink their fill. Then they took the opportunity to leisurely go out for a walk and enjoy the people while the sun was out.
This walk around felt wrong.
Why does it smell so good?!
It was still several hundred meters away from Boss Jiang's place, but the rich and distinct aroma of meat mixed with oil could be smelled so clearly, and the various spices further deepened its taste.
It's lamb!
Gong Xuehong and her friends almost involuntarily followed the scent.
As we got closer, more and more tourists came into view.
Obviously, countless greedy people were attracted by the fragrance and lingered around, refusing to leave.
A friend whispered, "If his limbs were a little stiffer, it would be a complete zombie siege!"
"It's not bad now, the city is surrounded by foodies." Gong Xuehong joked.
The foodies were so greedy that they almost surrounded the city, muttering, "Boss Jiang is spreading poison again! Wuuuuuuuu, I'm dying of greed!"
"It's the smell of stewed lamb! I smell it. Last year I bought a pound of lamb and stewed it specially. It smells so good! This is the smell!"
"No, I smell roasted lamb~"
"I think it's cumin lamb. Smell it, there's a distinct cumin flavor mixed in with the lamb..."
Gong Xuehong came over at this time and was already smelling the mixed aroma of various muttons. Hearing their discussion, she couldn't help but interrupt: "Is it possible that it's all of them?"
Everyone:?!
"Is Boss Jiang so extravagant?!"
"That's possible! I saw it online before. It said that Boss Jiang has a lot of sheep. When they're grazing on the side of the pasture, they're all white balls. With so many, it seems normal for her to be a little extravagant."
“But this is too tempting!!!”
Gong Xuehong nodded in agreement. It was so tempting, oh no, so cruel!
I can smell it but I can’t eat it. How hard it must be!
But let her go... the fragrance was so good that she really didn't want to leave, so she followed the example of the tourists here, found an empty grass field, and sat down.
It smells so good, it’s nice to just smell it.
Why!
Why is it coming out?!
There's no chance of sleeping tonight.
It smelled so good, she doubted she could eat it, and was tortured by the fragrance in her dreams.
Time passed by little by little, and the sky seemed to have pressed the fast-forward button. It suddenly became dark, the street lights came on, and the fragrance became stronger. You could see bursts of smoke floating out of the beautiful restaurant, making the air fragrant.
Many people couldn't wait and left first.
There are still some people here. If they can't eat it, they will continue to smell it and look at the night sky. The temperature in the mountains cools down at night and the temperature is just right. The sky above is also very bright and the stars are clearly visible.
Suddenly, the gate that had been closed was opened.
Everyone looked over subconsciously.
Several dining tables were pushed out, each with different meat dishes.
As the person in charge of Jiang's Shop, Tong Yunqing used his familiar loud speaker to announce, "Everyone, Jiang's Shop's private restaurant will be open for trial on August 26th. Today is the day for food tastings and a bit of publicity. Everyone, come and line up. Everyone can get a free sample!"
*
“Crash!”
The crowd, who had been craving for food for a long time, exclaimed and rushed over quickly.
Gong Xuehong ran with her friend, excitedly saying, "Ahhh! I knew a miracle would happen!!!"
The friend was also very surprised: "Oh my god, I almost left, luckily you didn't let me go! Thanks to your greed..."
Others also exclaimed: "I was just craving the smell, but I didn't expect I could actually eat it?!"
"Oh my god, what are you eating?!"
"Of course it's roasted lamb! It smells so good, it's what kept me craving it just now..."
"Is this hand-pulled lamb? I want this!"
"This is mutton pilaf with rice, and that one over there is mutton pilaf, pure meat. I want to eat meat!"
"Oh my god, there's also roasted whole lamb! Absolutely amazing! This trip is totally worth it!"
"Is this soup really milky white? Is it made with milk powder? Oh my god, it smells so nice. I want this, and I can drink some soup too..."
Each table is one meter apart, so it is impossible to queue for two at once.
Following Tong Yunqing's shout, countless people gathered around.
In the blink of an eye, several long queues formed.
Gong Xuehong ran fast with her friend, and was very smart to let her friend line up next to her. One of them lined up in the roasted whole lamb row, and the other lined up in the braised lamb row, both of them were in the front row, so they could just eat two different kinds of lamb.
While the tourists were waiting in line, someone brought out disposable bowls and chopsticks.
After everything is prepared, we start packing the dishes for tasting.
Except for the soup, which is half a bowl per person, everything else is half a spoonful. For example, for cumin lamb, each person has three or four pieces of meat, which is not too much and can be finished in two bites.
But this has already made the guests who ate it ecstatic.
Enough is enough.
I am already very satisfied!
Gong Xuehong really thought so.
Especially when she took a sip of mutton soup.
“So fresh!!!”
Unlike the freshness of vegetarian dishes such as mushrooms, the seasoning is very light, and what you taste on your tongue is the deliciousness of the lamb itself. The taste is smooth and thick, but there is almost no fat.
The milky white soup is steaming hot. In this hot summer, one mouthful makes you sweat all over, but you still can't help wanting to continue tasting the delicious taste!
Fortunately, Gong Xuehong restrained herself. There was not much mutton soup to begin with, and she wanted to leave some for her friend, so after drinking two sips and eating a piece of soft mutton, she stopped in time.
Then he stared at the roasted whole lamb with half a rack on the side.
The roasted whole lamb was the last one to be taken out, so its preparation was just finished and it was ready to be divided.
It lies on a spacious plate. As the chef moves, the crispy roasted skin and the stainless steel plate make a crisp collision. The joints are wrapped in tin foil, and the rest of the meat is a beautiful brown color. The whole piece of meat is covered with cuts, and you can clearly see the tender and juicy meat inside.
This roasted whole lamb looked like it had just been taken off the grill, with oil still sizzling in some places.
The skin is sprinkled with white sesame seeds, which are also roasted. Amidst the rich aroma of meat and spices, there is also an unignorable sesame aroma.
Among all the aromas just now, this and the cumin lamb are the most overbearing!
Then the chef took action, the knife deftly cutting through the skin, easily cutting off a palm-sized piece of meat and placing it in a bowl. A young man dressed as a waiter took it and handed it to her friend with a bright smile: "Be careful, it's hot."
My friend was already bewildered by the fragrance and said dazedly, "Thank you, thank you."
After leaving the team, Gong Xuehong immediately came forward and said, "Exchange?!"
"Change!" The friend nodded firmly.
"I love you!" Gong Xuehong's eyes curved with joy. Together with her friend, she carefully used chopsticks to divide a large piece of meat into two pieces. She picked up her own piece and put it into her mouth. When she bit it with her teeth, a crisp "click" sound came out between her lips and teeth.
It is not as greasy as expected, but has a surprising crispy and dry fragrance.
It also tastes like a smoky, burnt aroma and a hint of fruity aroma left after being roasted with fruit wood.
This is just the outer skin on the top. The meat inside is more tender and rich in fat, but not greasy. The perfect oily texture makes the lamb smoother when chewed. It is easy to bite and the meat is full of fragrance. It also has a pleasant fragrance, like green grass, but without the sourness of grass. It is a very comfortable taste.
The piece of meat was not big, so Gong Xuehong swallowed it in one bite. She felt extremely satisfied while eating it. But when she swallowed it carelessly and only a little aftertaste was left, Gong Xuehong realized something and her face wrinkled.
Ahhhh!
How did you swallow it?
So delicious! I want to eat more...
I could hear the exclamations of tourists who had also tasted the mutton: "This mutton smells so good! It's so delicious!"
"So tender! Really, and not greasy at all!"
"Help, Manager Tong, can't you open the business early?!"
Tong Yunqing patiently answered the enthusiastic tourists' questions one after another: "Sorry, the restaurant is not fully prepared yet and cannot open immediately."
"What are the requirements for coming to the restaurant?! Manager Tong, there must be some requirements, right?!"
Tong Yunqing: "We don't have too many requirements. The main thing is that we won't be operating on a large scale. The restaurant will accommodate a maximum of 30 tables of guests a day, 5 tables in the morning, 10 tables at noon, and 15 tables in the evening. Farmhouse guests will be given priority, and the remaining seats will be released."
"A farm stay?! Oh, right, didn't they say they were going to open a farm stay? When will it open? There'll always be more places available at a farm stay, right?"
Tong Yunqing's eyes drifted a little. "The number of places for the farm stay is currently about ten people per day. You can bring one family member. Everything is based on your ID card. We will have a special mini-program to place orders. You need to fill in your ID card information when placing an order. It is not tradable or transferable."
Everyone: “?”
The others hadn't listened at all, and when they heard what had been said before, they were all shocked: "...One has 20 people, the other has 30 tables, are you all so unmotivated in business?!"
"That's right! Such a big farm should be able to accommodate a few hundred people, right? Please~"
Tong Yunqing remained silent.
This decision was not made by her, so don’t look for her!
Everyone understood her expression immediately and turned their heads to look for the 'culprit'.
Jiang Heng was pulling Luo Qi to watch the enthusiastic reactions of the foodies. Although there was no voting ceremony, the deliciousness of the food could be judged by the diners' attitude after eating it.
It not only suits her taste, but also the taste of everyone in the restaurant. At least everyone who has eaten it likes it very much.
In addition to the delicious mutton itself, Luo Qi’s cooking skills are really good.
Especially the two sheep, she handled them in an orderly manner and everything was under control.
Jiang Heng was about to formally extend the job invitation when he realized something was wrong and immediately pulled Luo Qi back into the house, "Let's go back and sign the contract first!"
Luo Qi's eyes, which had always been bright, instantly became even brighter: "Okay!"
She succeeded!
The guest who arrived a little later: Damn it! You run so fast!
——
It is definitely not possible to accommodate too many people, we will be too busy.
This was something Jiang Heng had carefully considered with Tong Yunqing and others.
It takes up just about 40 to 60 percent of the energy of all employees, which is just the right level. If there is any emergency, they will not be unable to cope with it.
Jiang Heng is not a boss who likes to exploit his employees, and he doesn't like to exploit himself even more. Especially since many of the employees on the farm are children, they cannot be exploited.
A maximum of twenty tourists is suitable.
A little less is okay.
But Jiang Heng felt that given how popular her ingredients were, it was unlikely that they would be in short supply, unless during special times like the Chinese New Year.
Therefore, I dare not face dissatisfied customers at all.
Let me show my respect first.
The next day, Luo Qi's employment contract was signed.
Accommodation was also arranged, and we stayed at Jiang Peng's home. Her family did not run a farm stay, and they were mainly worried that the coming and going of people would affect the children at home, and they were also afraid that they would be too busy to handle it.
It just so happens that Luo Qi is moving in, which can provide additional income.
The salary is the same as that of Chen Aying and Master Zhang. In addition to the basic salary, there are five insurances and one fund, plus a certain amount of car allowance, housing subsidy, and monthly sales commission.
There are two days off every week, but the rest days are Monday and Tuesday to avoid the peak period on weekends.
The restaurant gives priority to serving guests from the farm stay and provides free food processing. The remaining spots are also available for purchase on the mini program. The reservation fee is 500 yuan, and the amount will be refunded or supplemented based on actual expenses.
The same farm stay sells tickets, with ten spots available each day. Guests can bring one relative, so each spot costs 600 yuan, which actually comes to 300 yuan per person.
But this is just a place to enter. If you want to get ingredients, you need to redeem them with points, and points can only be redeemed by helping with work. If you don’t have points by then, you have to spend money to buy them extra, and the price is not cheap.
The method of obtaining points is similar to the previous activities, except that the redemption ratio has changed to some extent.
Previously, the activities were for welfare, but now the purpose is to increase business, so the prices are gradually approaching the normal selling price. The only two benefits are that some fruits and vegetables can be eaten directly, and you can eat as much as you want as soon as you enter. If there is a bumper harvest of strawberries, blueberries, etc., as long as you can eat them, you can make your money back.
The second advantage is that the types of exchangeable items are more numerous and complete than those sold.
For example, eggs, fish, shrimp, etc. are given priority to the guests of the farm stay.
After redemption, you can also ask the chef at the restaurant to process it for free.
Jiang Heng felt that the last benefit was the most attractive. Of course, it wasn't obvious on the surface, but the main reason was—
Most of the various seasonings and plant-based seasonings in her restaurant kitchen are grown by herself, not to mention the onions, ginger, and garlic that we eat daily. She also plans to transplant a few pepper trees to the mountains and replant various peppers.
The upgraded seasoning tastes much better than the unupgraded one.
We guarantee that the same method and the same ingredients will make the taste better than those sold elsewhere!
In order to ensure quality, Jiang Heng also plans to set aside some land to grow rapeseed and peanuts. Rapeseed oil and peanut oil are also very good for cooking.
After writing down the next arrangements in a notebook, Jiang Heng opened his phone and saw the restaurant opening promotional video that Qin Siqi had made overnight.
There are various ways to cook mutton.
After a year of progress, my cousin's editing skills have become more and more fluent. Coupled with the high-quality footage taken with her expensive camera, every frame and scene is more appetizing than seeing it with your own eyes.
The video was released and immediately became a hot topic.
Netizens who saw this were immediately furious: [You are committing a grave sin by spreading poison late at night! ! ! ]
[Last night I was bashed by the tourists over there, and today I was bashed by the boss himself. This is too much!]
Ahhh, I told you I was going?! I already booked the tickets, but my friend changed his mind at the last minute and couldn't go. Now, I didn't get to try the food, and I'm getting slammed online. I'm so sad.
Was I the only one who noticed the soft opening date? The 26th! Hahahaha, great! School hasn't started yet, hahahaha.
When will the spots open? I need to prepare in advance!
[Shh, I’m so greedy, but it’s so expensive…]
[Six hundred for one spot isn't so bad, actually. If you use your brain a little more, you can definitely sell the free spots~]
[Hmm? This needs to be booked in advance, right? How much is it? There are only ten spots available, and you might not even get one.]
[I asked, and they told me I need to use my ID to reserve it. They can't sell it unless you arrange it in advance, but there's no way to guarantee you'll get one, so... forget it. I'm going with a friend, and 300 per person isn't too bad.]
[No one cares about the restaurant opening. Is it all-you-can-eat roasted whole lamb?!]
[What are you thinking? We can't just eat whatever we want. Even if Boss Jiang has a lot of sheep, it can't handle so many foodies like us.]
[I see, I see! Grab a spot three days in advance, and it will be released at noon today! I'm going to bed early, so I'll get up at 12 o'clock to grab it!]
[Holy crap, so fast?! Can't they wait a few more days for it to spread?]
[What are you spreading? Just look at the number of likes and comments on this video!]
The netizen who received the reply took a look at it.
His pupils immediately trembled.
Less than an hour after posting, it already has over 200,000 likes, over 50,000 comments, and over 200,000 reposts! It's even!
It's really not needed.
The traffic itself is already large enough.
*
August 23rd.
As soon as twelve noon arrives.
The mini program that has been promoted many times before and has been clicked by netizens has been launched.
Then……
This small program that Jiang Heng hired at great expense, which was said to be able to accommodate up to 500,000 people at the same time, crashed!
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