Twenty minutes later, Pei Yao carried the still steaming casserole to the table next to her with a thick cloth.
Manager Qian was eager to try it out; it was the first time he had ever seen this method of stewing pig's trotters.
It must smell so good, it must taste really good too.
Amidst everyone's anticipation, Pei Yao slowly opened the casserole and sprinkled some chopped scallions on top.
Instantly, a rich fragrance spread everywhere, enough to make one sway from the scent.
Pei Yao handed a pair of chopsticks to Manager Qian with both hands: "Uncle Qian, please try them first."
After taking it, Manager Qian reached out and picked up a piece of soft, mushy pig's trotter. Because it was cooked so soft, it broke in two with his chopsticks just as he was about to pick it up.
Manager Qian wasn't stupid either; when they stewed pig's trotters, they would often stew them until they were very tender, so that they would taste better and be more flavorful.
He then took a wooden spoon from the side and used chopsticks to pick up the pig's trotters. The spoon caught the tender pig's trotters underneath, and there were also a few plump soybeans soaked in the soup mixed in with the meat.
Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, Manager Qian put the pig's trotter into his mouth.
A mouthful of braised pork trotters and soybeans burst forth in Manager Qian's mouth.
The pig's trotters are tender and flavorful, almost melting in your mouth. The soybeans are soft and delicate. Because kelp and corn are cooked together, the soup has a lot of kelp umami flavor and corn sweetness. It's so delicious that you'll want to swallow your tongue along with it.
"This flavor is so rich! Master Qin, you should all try it too." Manager Qian reluctantly swallowed the pig's trotter in his mouth and quickly called on the others to try it as well.
It was the first time everyone had tried pig's trotters prepared this way, and they all thought it was delicious.
It tastes so much better than just stewed pig's trotters with soybeans.
Pei Yao didn't make a particularly large portion, so everyone took turns eating it and finished it quickly.
Shopkeeper Qian put down his chopsticks, still somewhat unsatisfied, and then remembered to ask Pei Yao, "Miss Pei, is this green vegetable seaweed? I didn't expect it could be cooked like this. The cooked seaweed is soft, tender, and very sweet."
Shopkeeper Qian grew up by the sea, so it's impossible for him not to recognize seaweed. After all, seaweed is plentiful in the sea and can be found almost everywhere.
However, compared to other seafood, seaweed, which is so abundant in the sea that it can be found in abundance, seems insignificant to them.
Seaweed is plentiful in the sea, but their cooking methods are very simple. Those who don't have money simply cook it with seafood in one pot, while those who have money stir-fry it with a little oil.
The taste was really just average; I never expected Pei Yao to be able to make them taste so good.
Not only can it be made into a cold dish, but it's also delicious in soup.
Pei Yao explained, "Uncle Qian, this is seaweed, also called kelp. There are many other delicious dishes that can be made with kelp."
After listening, Uncle Qian thought about it for a while. This soup was indeed very delicious. People here like to drink a bowl of soup before meals, and soup is indispensable at every meal.
If their Deyun Restaurant could serve such a delicious soup, their business would probably be even better.
After what happened last time, Manager Qian didn't directly ask Pei Yao how much the recipe cost this time. The soup looked complicated, but it was actually very simple. Not to mention the two chefs, they could learn it at a glance. Even Manager Qian himself had learned about 80% of it after watching the scene just now. With a little more thought, he could imitate it perfectly.
So he changed his question and asked, "Miss Pei, how much is this seaweed?"
Pei Yao remained silent for a while after hearing this. Although few people in this area liked to eat seaweed, there was still plenty of seaweed for sale in the market. The price was not high; you could buy a lot for just one coin.
Therefore, Pei Yao didn't want to sell this product, as it was laborious and didn't earn much money. She mainly sold prepared cold seaweed salad.
However, she actually had another purpose in making this dish for Manager Qian today.
He deliberately made this dish in front of Manager Qian without any concealment, intending to do him a favor.
Pei Yao asked Uncle Qian for some paper and pen, and then wrote down all the steps and precautions for making the pig's trotter and kelp soup.
Although the handwriting is not good, it is still barely legible.
Pei Yao handed the menu to Manager Qian, then glanced at him and said, "Uncle Qian, I'd like to ask you for a favor..."
Pei Yao asked Uncle Qian the same questions she had asked Niu Qingshan on the way.
She wanted to find out about Pei Dalang and Pei Erlang.
After listening, Uncle Qian remained silent for a long time, not reaching out to take the recipe Pei Yao handed him.
Manager Qian is a shrewd person; he has a scale in his heart to weigh things. This girl is generous and open-minded, giving away such a good recipe without hesitation, and she never guards against them when cooking.
He liked the girl's honesty, and after hesitating for a moment, he finally accepted the menu.
However, inquiring about two people at the salt field, especially two prisoners exiled from the capital, was no easy task, as it inevitably involved bribing various people along the way.
"But don't worry, it won't cost too much to cover it up, just two or three taels of silver at most," Manager Qian explained.
His words were not meant to frighten Pei Yao, but rather to show that these salt fields were managed by stewards and strictly supervised by government officials.
"Thank you, Uncle Qian. Money is not a problem. As long as we can find out that they are safe, my family and I will be at ease."
Money can be earned back. Even a few taels of silver could yield some news, at least enough to know if they're still safe and sound. What if they've saved up enough silver only to find themselves gone...
This is what Pei Yao is most worried about.
"Okay, I'll look into it for you in the next few days. I'll have someone notify you as soon as I get any news." Uncle Qian agreed, taking the matter to heart.
After saying all that, Uncle Qian asked Pei Yao to confirm the quantity for tomorrow.
Pei Yao and Niu Qingshan then packed up the empty buckets and drove the oxcart back home.
When they came across a stall selling chicks on the road, Niu Qingshan remembered his grandmother's instructions before he left home: if you see any chicks in town recently, catch some and raise them to lay eggs for us to eat.
In the past, Aunt Niu would never have dared to buy chicks to raise, because chickens that only eat grass and not grain don't lay many eggs.
Aunt Niu Er was not happy to raise this thing that only ate but didn't lay eggs.
Niu Qingshan parked the oxcart to the side and got out to ask about the price of chicks.
"Boss, chicks are five coins each, you can pick whichever you like." The chicken seller was very enthusiastic in promoting his chicks to Niu Qingshan.
These chicks were quite robust, and when they saw Pei Yao and Pei Yao coming over, they chirped and huddled in a corner, chirping incessantly.
Niu Qingshan carefully selected eight plump little chicks.
Pei Yao couldn't resist picking five of the adorable chicks, thinking that if they laid eggs, they could provide some nutrition for herself and her family.
After all, these are genuine free-range eggs from our own farm, and they are very nutritious.
......
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