Chapter 51 Making Food on the Spot
After Jiang Zhi, in a fit of rage, led Xiao Mahua out to cause trouble for those gossipy brats who had been forced to speak ill of others,
Little Twist finally realized that he had someone backing him up, and he became noticeably bolder. He solemnly repeated what the little kids had said to him.
Then Jiang Zhi got so angry that she almost dragged each of them to their parents.
However, after all this commotion, the matter has finally been mostly resolved.
*
After much deliberation, Jiang Zhi was still worried that things might change if she waited too long. Without even having a bite to eat, she rushed to the You family's house and, in a few words, swiftly and decisively set the school schedule for Xiao Mahua.
She also conveniently bought all the books that Xiao Mahua needed to carry while she was out on the street. Apart from the tuition fee, which was a gift for becoming an apprentice, Jiang Zhi didn't prepare anything else, leaving the You family to prepare something more expensive. She bought the rest, such as book boxes and the Four Treasures of the Study, so that Xiao Mahua could carry all of them by herself.
So, as Zuo Tianyuan was curiously wondering when to prepare for dinner, he saw the little girl carrying a stack of things taller than herself, walking back unsteadily.
Upon seeing this, his eyes widened, and he stormed towards his mother like a cat with its fur standing on end, pouting and asking a somewhat unhappy question.
"I want to go to school too!"
Yan Mo was knitting rapidly during surgery when she heard this. She merely glanced at him casually and sneered coldly.
"Zuo Tianyuan, others have already memorized the classic texts like the Three Character Classic and the Thousand Character Classic by heart since they were young. Can you do that?"
"The school requires students to study at sunrise and rest at sunset. Let's not even talk about whether you've ever gotten up at sunrise; can you even sit still?"
With just a few words, it was indeed her mother, instantly hitting her child's weak spot.
Zuo Tianyuan was immediately silenced. He first pretended to look around, then quietly backed away, intending to run away.
Yan Mo didn't even need to look to know what a coward her son was like. She opened the window, glanced at the sky outside, and finally put down the knitting she was doing, preparing to tidy up and make something to eat.
*
Jiang Zhi also brought out the pot of soybeans and pig's feet.
Then a bowl of rice was served to each person.
Just in case, she also prepared a dipping sauce for the pig's feet.
I added Sichuan peppercorns, soy sauce, a little vinegar, and a small amount of sesame seeds, poured some oil on top, then added some minced garlic and ginger, and mixed it all together.
That's about it.
Jiang Zhi first dipped the already cooked, milky-white pig's trotters in the sauce, then put them in her mouth.
This taste!
The best thing about pig's trotters is that they have a lot of skin but aren't too fatty. The tendons are simmered over low heat for a long time; they don't quite melt in your mouth, but they will tremble slightly when you hold them between your chopsticks.
Not to mention the slightly pinkish pig skin, which, after being skillfully prepared by Jiang Zhi, became incredibly tender and fall-off-the-bone. Then, when dipped in the slightly salty and spicy sauce, the flavor exploded on the taste buds, making Jiang Zhi smack her lips in delight.
This time, Jiang Zhi made a generous portion. In addition to the food for herself, Pei Ye who came over for a free meal, and Xiao Mahua, she also delivered a bowl to each household: two bowls to the You family, which were given to Gu Yi and You Yi; and a large bowl to Yan Mo's family, which she planned to give to her helper and his son to try!
In this slightly chilly autumn, a bowl of hot pig's trotter soup is simply the most delicious thing ever!
*
After finishing dinner, Jiang Zhi decided to go out and set up her stall.
Since Xiao Mahua was going to school, Jiang Zhi decided to take Zuo Tianyuan with her. This kid not only ate well, but was also quite eloquent; he and Xiao Mahua each had their own unique charm!
Pei Ye followed behind with a grin, occasionally telling jokes to the two serious-looking people. Whenever they reached an uphill section, he would come over to lend a hand and help Jiang Zhi push the cart.
Since Jiang Zhi made her stern statement at the Pei family, Pei Ye, being a shrewd man, naturally understood her meaning and toned it down considerably. At least for the time being, he hasn't been hanging around Jiang Zhi every day, though he still pays her some money and eats dinner there as usual.
What else could Jiang Zhi do? She was already grateful that the person could even hear her.
While lost in random thoughts, Jiang Zhi and her group arrived at the night market with the food cart. It was still early, so they chose a good spot.
Several familiar customers had already lined up with smiles on their faces.
Jiang Zhi greeted them with a smile, then quickly tidied up a bit, arranging the stools and small wooden tables in order before starting to make rice balls.
*
Jiang Zhi chose rice balls because they are quick and easy to make, so the preparation work is not particularly difficult.
Jiang Zhi first slightly opened the lid of the rice container halfway, which made it easier to cool down without letting the rice cool down too quickly.
Then, the boxes containing the golden and crispy fried small fish, the boxes containing diced pickled cucumbers, and the boxes containing fried and mashed pork cracklings were all neatly stacked together by Jiang Zhi.
Jiang Zhi then pulled a clean cutting board from a large box next to her; this was the key to making the rice balls…
Once everything was ready, she looked up and smiled at the first guest.
"Oh, Miss Zhang, you're here so early today! Today's dish is a new style, with glistening rice on the outside and various kinds of vegetables inside, each one fragrant and delicious. I call it a rice ball!"
As she spoke, Jiang Zhi laid down the rolled-up bamboo curtain from the side. She then scooped a rice ball about the size of a small fist from the rice bowl, kneaded it a few times in her hands, and the rice ball became a round shape.
She had already prepared by applying cooked oil to her hands beforehand, both to prevent sticking and to keep them clean. Then, with a slight pressure, she pressed the round rice ball into a thin sheet, thicker in the edges.
While working at such a rapid pace, she looked up and asked the first customer, Miss Zhang, with a smile.
"Miss Zhang, the ingredients I brought today that can be stuffed into these rice balls are: homemade pickled cucumbers, which are fragrant, crispy, and chewy! Crispy fried pork cracklings, which are full of meaty flavor! And, my secret recipe baby fish!"
"Do you want to add some of everything, or is there one thing you can't eat?"
Ms. Zhang is a regular customer, and she waved her hand, indicating that she wanted them all.
Jiang Zhi picked up a piece of rice with chopsticks and placed it in the center of the rice ball, which was thin in the middle and thick on both sides. Then she gently cupped her hands together, and in an instant, the rice ball turned into a perfectly fitting, plump, white doll.
Of course, that's still not the end.
Jiang Zhi then picked up a brush from the side and swiped it a couple of times on the plump white rice ball, instantly dressing the doll in brown clothes.
Then it was placed directly on an oiled griddle and fried.
That's right, Jiang Zhi didn't intend for her customers to directly eat rice balls wrapped in rice.
Back in the day, she used to make rice balls for herself, stuffing them with sausages, cured sausages, meat sausages, shredded carrots, seaweed, and shredded eggs... But she didn't have any of those, and eggs were expensive, so Jiang Zhi decided to work on the rice instead.
As for what kind of kung fu?
First, brush a layer of sauce on top, then lightly fry it in oil until the skin is slightly browned!
This is such a brilliant idea, it sounds delicious!
Not to mention that Jiang Zhi, a seasoned foodie, actually did make it this way before, and the taste was simply amazing!
*
Given her existing popularity, Jiang Zhi's group quickly formed a long queue again.
This made the old man who sold lunchboxes on the east side of the bridge extremely envious.
The old man's surname was Wang, and he was also a shrewd and resourceful person; otherwise, he might not have been able to sell his three acres of poor land and start a business.
Business was usually pretty good, but ever since word started spreading in the market about a stall that sold different foods every day, some of which tasted so good that people lingered there, most people have started to ignore his shop, which was right at the front of the market.
Business has been slow these past two days...
Old Wang anxiously ran his fingers through the few remaining hairs on his head, then looked at the hair that had been plucked from his hand and discovered that another one had fallen out.
He sighed again.
Before Old Wang could even let out a sigh, a girl who was about shoulder-high popped out from behind him and patted his shoulder in a very professional manner.
"Dad, what are you doing here? The lunchboxes aren't finished yet!"
Old Wang looked at his daughter, hesitated for a long time, and finally expressed his distress.
The girl was not only beautiful, but also quick-witted. After hearing what her father said, she realized the crisis the situation was in.
But in the blink of an eye, he immediately thought of a way. He quietly comforted Old Man Wang, which made Old Man Wang smile from ear to ear. Then, he naturally had a plan in mind.
*
Unbeknownst to Jiang Zhi, a girl dressed in monastic attire had quietly infiltrated the rear of the group.
She didn't try to hide it much; she simply combed her hair and changed her clothes, and she looked like a dashing young master, yet also like a well-read scholar!
That's not wrong; she was indeed a scholar.
After all, no matter how much they disguised themselves, there were only so many people in Sichuan, and everyone still knew each other.
She was able to come and probe the enemy's situation because she usually stayed in the school all day except for mealtimes, and not many people knew her.
Therefore, she was exceptionally relaxed. Even though she didn't know many of the people queuing around her, she still chatted and laughed as she blended into the crowd, and for a moment she didn't feel strange at all.
Jiang Zhi's hands moved incredibly fast. Even though Miss Wang was at the very back of the line, she soon caught a glimpse of her father's nemesis.
Jiang Zhi was wearing that red jacket today, with a white blouse underneath, and a long skirt. Although they were different colors, they looked exceptionally good on her, exuding a graceful and joyful aura.
Coupled with the female boss's welcoming smile, it only made people feel friendly.
When Ms. Wang came to her senses, it was already her turn in line. She cleared her throat and changed her voice.
"Give me two!"
Yes! Miss Wang gave herself an excuse: she wasn't stunned by the female boss's gaze at all; she just planned to savor it herself, then have her father analyze it, and finally make her family surpass the female boss!
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Author's Note: I finished this chapter before midnight and could have posted it, but then I realized I'd overlooked something—it's not accessible during online review. [Please!]
I was so angry I almost exploded!
Oh no! The little pink flowers from that day are all gone!
11.2: No updates today, I'm really too tired!
There will be consecutive updates on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday!
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