Chapter 139: Ice Cream Shop in Sijiu City
On the No. 3 bus, Pan Ye was introducing the cold drink shops in the capital to Lin Sanqi:
“Almond tofu from Dehezhai, sour plum soup from Luyuzhai, watermelon juice from Jiulongzhai, big ice bowls from Xinyuanzhai, cheese from Fengshenggong, and so on.
When it comes to summer's hottest treats, everyone in our city, young and old, can name a few of their favorite cold drink shops. Even sophisticated restaurants offer pre-dinner desserts and cold drinks in the summer.
Later, cold drinks began to spread, and cold drink shops appeared everywhere on the street. Each shop had its own unique products and characteristics, and they were very popular among the people. The ice cream was especially delicious. It was my favorite when I was a child.
"etc,"
Lin Sanqi was surprised when he heard this: "Pan Ye, are you saying there is ice cream in Sijiu City?"
Lin Sanqi couldn't help but be surprised. In his impression, ice cream was an imported product that was only available in foreign countries. How could it be available in such a backward country like China?
Pan Ye knew that Lin Sanqi was from the south and thought he was just an outsider with little experience, so he explained:
"Yes, there are many businesses selling ice cream in Beijing. I saw them making it when I was a kid.
Merchants usually prepare a large wooden barrel, then put ice and salt into the barrel, and then put a tinplate barrel in the middle of the ice. An axis passes through the bottom, and there is a vertical gear on the crank.
When you crank the handle, the shaft drives the blades to rotate. Then, put starch slurry, eggs, milk, sugar, spices, and juice into the barrel and rotate it for about 30 minutes. The mixture in the barrel is ice cream, isn't it?
Lin Sanqi was stunned after hearing this, but after thinking about it carefully, it was true. This method was the same as the handmade ice cream launched by merchants in later generations.
"Then what's called a big ice bowl?"
A middle-aged man on the bus couldn't help but interrupt after hearing this:
"Little comrade, you don't know about the big ice bowl, this thing is delicious.
Generally, fresh lotus root slices, fresh lotus seeds, fresh water chestnut meat, peeled fresh chicken head rice, peeled fresh walnut meat, fresh sweet almonds, etc. are placed in a small fine porcelain bowl, a little sugar is added, and a small piece of ice is placed on top. It tastes fragrant, crispy and cool, and it is so delicious.
Everyone else on the bus nodded repeatedly, and many were already wiping their saliva.
An old man sitting a little ahead added:
"Later, some businesses would cut some fruit into small pieces and put it in the ice bowl. This is the mixed ice bowl. It tastes sweeter and cooler, but it's also more expensive. In the past, every tea stall in Shichahai sold it, and I would often go there to try it. But unfortunately, now, alas..."
For a moment, the No. 3 bus was filled with sighs of regret.
Lin Sanqi didn't know what these people were regretting. They stopped talking halfway through their sentences and felt so suffocated.
Curious Lin Sanqi asked again, "What is almond tofu? Is it tofu with a few almonds on top? And some ice cubes?"
At this time, a middle-aged woman with short hair, who looked like a teacher, answered directly:
"Young man, almond tofu, almond tofu, as the name suggests, it should be tofu made from sweet almonds. You are not very good at understanding this."
Lin Sanqi blushed a little, and quickly lowered his head and smiled:
"Sister, you're right. Now I remember that almond tofu is made from sweet almonds. I won't make such a mess again."
The middle-aged woman nodded, obviously very satisfied with Lin Sanqi's confession. At this time, she continued:
"The production process of almond tofu is actually similar to that of soybean tofu, and both are produced with a jade-white color. However, the almond tofu needs to be chilled before being mixed with chilled osmanthus syrup, and finally garnished with red and green fruits such as red and green cherries and raisins.
This almond tofu has a light and elegant color, a sweet and intoxicating taste, and melts in your mouth. The cool feeling is simply refreshing, and it tastes much better than cheese."
Lin Sanqi has witnessed the domineering nature of the people in the capital. They are really enthusiastic and really like to educate people.
At this time, an old lady wearing glasses, who looked like an intellectual, said with a smile:
"Besides the ones you mentioned, in the summer here in our city we also have dried fruits, stir-fried red fruits, lotus seed porridge, glass powder, steamed cakes, jelly, pea yellow, etc. These are all traditional ice foods, but it seems that children nowadays only like to drink Arctic Ocean."
The old lady's words instantly resonated with everyone in the car:
"Who says it's not true? Kids just like to drink soda."
"What's so good about soda? It's so pungent, and if you drink too much, your stomach hurts."
"What else can I drink if not soda? How many of those old-fashioned places are still open? They're all fucking closed."
As soon as these words were spoken, the carriage fell silent. Even the people of Sijiucheng, who were usually fearless, shut up. It seemed that there was no point in continuing the conversation that day.
At this time, the bus also arrived at Shichahai Station.
In the summer of 1959, Shichahai was not a tourist attraction like it would become in later generations, with a bustling crowd of people.
The scenery is quite beautiful, but it is surrounded by slums and almost all people walking on the street are local residents.
Of course, next to Shichahai are the courtyard houses with their own gates and courtyards. Lin Sanqi also saw guards standing in front of many of the courtyard houses, and it was obvious that the people living there were not ordinary people.
Lin Sanqi was visiting like a tourist.
Pan Ye and a few others looked around but couldn't find Dehezhai's shop.
"Hey, that's strange. I clearly remember Dehezhai being right next to this lake. I walked 30 meters north across Yinding Bridge. How come it's gone?"
Lin Sanqi looked around and saw that the future bar street was deserted at this moment, with almost no shops open.
"Don't worry, ask someone."
Lin Sanqi stopped an old man and asked, "Excuse me, is Dehezhai here?"
"Tokuhezhai? Isn't it right here?"
The old man pointed to a shop not far ahead and said casually, "But Dehezhai is closed. You are late."
Pan Ren and Pan Cen were dumbfounded when they heard this. They rushed there with high hopes, only to find that the store was gone. The feeling of loss was indescribable.
The old man saw the young man's disappointed expression and shook his head:
"You young people really don't know how expensive food and fuel are. Don't you know what time it is now? Who the hell would want to eat ice cream when they can't even get enough to eat? Forget Dehezhai. In this area of West City, all the ice cream shops are closed."
Pan Ye quickly apologized, "Sir, you are right to criticize me."
The old man walked away with his hands behind his back, humming.
Lin Sanqi laughed when he saw Pan Ren and Pan Cen, who looked like frost-bitten eggplants, and had an idea in mind:
"What? Are you unhappy about not being able to eat ice cream?"
Pan Ren pretended to smile and said, "Brother-in-law, no, we are very happy that you can take us out to play."
Lin Sanqi patted Pan Ren on the head, thinking that this child was quite sensible:
"Okay, don't be disappointed. It's just a cold drink. Come on, come home with me. I can get it for you."
"Really? Brother-in-law, you are amazing."
Pan Ye covered his face with his hands. He was too ashamed to face Lin Sanqi. All his face was lost because of this stupid brother.
"Since you call me brother-in-law, how can I not let you two brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law have all-you-can-eat cold drinks? Come on, this place is not far from my house, let's go there now."
Pan Ye was horrified when she heard this. Calling Lin Sanqi "brother-in-law" in public was already rude. Now, what kind of girl would just go straight to a boy's house? That was too unreserved.
"No, no, no, how can I go to your house? I'm so embarrassed. Let's just walk around the street."
Girls from respectable families are not allowed to go to the man’s home before marriage. The Pan family comes from an old intellectual family, so they still have concerns in this regard.
Lin Sanqi wondered what he could possibly find by strolling down the street. At a glance, he saw that, with the exception of the grain store and the supply and marketing cooperative, almost all the small shops on the street were closed, and the atmosphere was quite desolate.
"It's okay. I don't live with my parents now. I live alone in the back garden of the Gege Mansion. I had someone open a door in the backyard so I don't have to go through the main courtyard to enter and exit. No one will see me."
The back garden of the Gege Mansion and the Kuanjie Chinese Medicine Hospital are two large courtyards that are back to back with a passage in between.
When Kuanjie Chinese Medicine Hospital was also the prince's palace, in order to avoid disputes, the houses of wealthy families in ancient times generally did not share a wall, but left a passage in the middle, which can also be called an alley.
The back door of a wealthy family is often opened here, which is convenient for servants to enter and exit, and also convenient for the master to have an affair without having to climb over the wall.
Later, the prince's mansion was turned into a hospital and the back door was blocked.
The Gege Mansion became a slum, and for the convenience of management the back door was blocked with bricks, so the small alley became a dead end.
After Lin Sanqi moved into the back garden, he found it troublesome. Every time he entered, he had to go through the front yard and pass through one yard after another. Not only was the way far, but he was also stared at by his neighbors like a monkey, and he had no privacy at all.
So Lin Sanqi asked the General Affairs Department to open another small door in the back garden.
Only Lin Sanqi has the key, so he can enter freely. He just needs to walk a few steps along the alley to reach the main street. It is also just a few steps away from the Chinese medicine hospital where he works, which is very convenient.
Half an hour later, the three sisters Pan Ye, Pan Ren and Pan Cen quietly appeared in Lin Sanqi's pavilion through the back door.
When Pan Ren saw the house, he began to envy it: "Wow, brother-in-law, you live alone, you have so much freedom."
Pan Cen disagreed somewhat: "This house is all alone in the back garden. It would be so scary at night."
Pan Ye was also carefully inspecting Lin Sanqi's hut, and the more he looked, the more he felt it was not simple:
"Lin Sanqi, your furniture is all old stuff, and your walls are newly reinforced. You even have a small yard for growing vegetables. That's great. But why is the outside of your house so shabby? Why don't you clean it up?"
Lin Sanqi said with some pride:
"The outside of the house looks shabby on purpose. Otherwise, while several generations of other people live in a small house, I am the only one occupying such a large yard with my own door and yard. How much hatred would I attract?
Now I live alone, and I close the door to avoid being disturbed by others. Behind closed doors, I can eat and drink whatever I want, and no one can stop me. Haha, you guys sit down for a while, I'll get you some cold drinks."
Pan Ye blinked, very curious about what tricks Lin Sanqi could perform.
(End of this chapter)
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