Chapter 53 053 Fried Rice Noodles, Pork Rib Soup [Second Update Combined]...
As soon as Wen's mother arrived at the store in the morning, Song Hui from next door came over to greet her.
"Ei-chi, is that your family in this video?"
On my phone, there was the trending video "Little Boy and Big" that had topped the hot list last night.
Being recognized by an acquaintance made Wen's mother a little embarrassed. She explained, "Our family went hiking yesterday. We didn't expect this to happen."
Who would have thought that the little boy would start yelling as soon as he squatted down?
Song Hui was overjoyed, her Northeastern accent spilling out: "Oh my god, I'm not embarrassed, this is wonderful!"
"I see everyone's doing that, becoming pet bloggers! Why don't you get Xiao Fan to open an account too, so she can take pictures of your dog, Egg Yolk, build up her fanbase, and start live streaming!"
Mother Wen: "..."
"Sister Hui, you actually know how to do live streaming?"
Song Hui slapped her thigh: "What do I not know! My rascal always loves to dabble in these kinds of crooked ways. If I hadn't sent him to work here during summer vacation, he would have been streaming himself playing games. Just the other day, he called and said he wanted to start a live streaming account to do restaurant reviews. He realized that food is the most important thing for people while working here, so doing restaurant reviews seems like a good idea."
Song Hui complained about her son Yang Tao's lack of ambition, but Wen's mother could easily hear the pride in her words.
So he chimed in, "That's because Xiao Tao is quick-witted. Look at the post he made for our shop during the summer vacation; people are still coming to see it recently."
Back then, there was no other way. The store's takeout orders weren't generating enough traffic. Although Yang Tao's posts on the local forum quickly sank, Yang Tao was an exceptionally persistent person. Throughout the summer vacation, he would go and bump the posts whenever he had free time.
Even now that school has started, she still posts every now and then. It's just that the content has all changed to things like, "Ahhh, I want to eat braised chicken legs," "I dreamt about claypot rice last night, it smelled so good," and "Can I come to your house for dinner? Just one spoonful.jpg (huge spoon)"...
Perhaps it's the constant madness that attracts people, because this post actually kept getting traffic, and some people who followed it ended up coming to the restaurant to eat.
Wen's mother: "I haven't asked yet. Xiao Tao's school is in the south, it should be very humid, right? Did the braising liquid you brought go bad?"
Upon hearing this question, Song Hui waved her hand and said, "It's bad! It was all gone in less than three days after we arrived at school."
"That's a huge bottle, did you finish it?"
"Yeah, when asked how he ate it, he said his roommate had braised some chicken and duck wings and he just mixed the braising liquid with rice and ate it."
The actual situation was even more dire. Yang Tao wailed on the phone, saying that he had lost Jingzhou due to carelessness.
I forgot to lock the door!
"Mom, there's such a big bottle of braising liquid, and I didn't get a single bite!"
A group of animals burst through the door, ignoring his heart-wrenching cries for him to leave them a bite. In the end, more than twenty boys from the last class even passed around the bottom of the electric cooker and licked it clean.
Mother Wen:......
Why do I feel a bit nauseous?
Song Hui steered the conversation back on track: "Seriously, you guys really don't plan to open an account? Even if you don't open a pet account, you could at least open a store account to advertise."
We're living in the era of live streaming for everyone; an ordinary person can become an internet sensation with just a chance encounter. That video from yesterday will likely stay popular for at least a few more days. It would be a waste not to open an account and capitalize on this opportunity!
Wen's mother: "Let's forget about it."
She pointed to herself and then to the kitchen: "You know, Lao Wen and I aren't good at this. Xiao Fan has to go to school now, and she also has to help us on weekends, so we really can't manage."
“A few days ago I saw that Qingqing opened a pharmacy account, and I learned a bit about it. I realized it’s not easy.”
Qu Qingqing's family opened a pharmacy purely to sell Sanfu Patch or health products, so the video was made very simply, just a few pictures with music.
However, Wen's mother tried it and still had to admit defeat.
Qu Qingqing's hands flew up and down, pointing at this and that, and she couldn't keep up!
Song Hui felt sorry for Wen's mother: "Actually, with your family's skills, you might have become famous by opening an account."
"Forget it, I don't have any other thoughts right now, I just want to do a good job in business."
The two chatted idly at the door. Yao Qingqin came in and out from time to time. She heard Wen's mother and Song Hui talking. She wanted to say something, but in the end she didn't. She was just absent-minded while washing vegetables.
"Oh dear, I didn't even check the time, it's already eleven o'clock. You go ahead and do your work."
After Song Hui took her leave, Wen's mother asked her, "Will you still have a sesame seed cake with vegetables for lunch?"
Song Hui nodded: "Give me one, I'll come pick it up at 11:30."
One of the store's most loyal customers is the landlord, Yang Hong, but she hasn't been coming as often lately because Wen Fan started school.
The other two are Song Hui and Qu Qingqing.
Other neighbors on the street, even if they wanted to eat there every day, would be deterred by the slightly higher prices at Wen's restaurant. Haven't you noticed that so far this weekend, only Zhang Fengqiu and Qu Qingqing's family have come to patronize their private kitchen?
But Song Hui and Qu Qingqing almost never missed a meal, unless they weren't at the store.
There's nothing we can do about it; the two restaurants are on the left and right, and the smell alone is unbearable.
The newly launched sesame seed cake with fillings is economical and affordable. Song Hui eats it almost every meal and occasionally takes pictures to show off to Yang Tao.
"Sister Hui, there's pork rib soup for lunch. Xiao Fan made it yesterday."
Song Hui: That's great, I'll bring a bowl over later.
Song Hui has a loud voice, and the owner of the milk tea shop across the street heard her and also called out to ask Wen's mother to save a bowl for her.
"And me! Eiko, leave some for me—"
"I'll bring a bowl over to get it in a bit—"
The sound carried over little by little, and as soon as the neighbors heard about the pork rib soup, they all said they wanted a bowl for lunch.
The weather forecast predicts rain for the next week, and we'll need to bring a jacket in the mornings and evenings. In this kind of autumn, a bowl of pork rib soup is the perfect treat.
Wen's mother entered the shop with a smile. Wen Fan had made a lot of pork rib soup last night, and added lotus root and corn to stew until the soup turned white. The price wasn't high. Each bowl, which was neither too big nor too small, contained three pieces of pork ribs, some corn and lotus root, and sold for eight yuan.
"Old Wen, didn't Xiao Fan say what he wanted for lunch?"
Mr. Wen wiped his sweat: "She said it doesn't matter."
"This child..."
While preparing lunch, Wen's mother kept an eye on her watch.
Soon the bell rang, and the first to rush out of the school gate at noon were the first-year high school students. A group of people in camouflage uniforms surged out like a tide and stopped in front of the pancake stall at the shop entrance.
"Auntie, I'd like a basic vegetarian pancake with vegetables."
"I'd like a vegetarian one, plus two skewers of fish tofu and one skewer of chicken skin."
"I want three, and one braised chicken leg as well."
...
As soon as Wen Fan brought Han Lulu and Qin He to the store entrance, the two were stunned by what they saw.
"Your business is doing very well."
There were dozens of first-year high school students lining up in a long queue, and more and more people kept coming in.
Han Lulu whispered to Wen Fan, "Your mother looks so young."
The woman serving food to the first-year high school students looked a little sallow, but anyone who didn't know her would think she was only in her thirties.
Wen Fan: "...That's not my mother."
She gestured for the two to follow her into the store, and upon entering, she shouted "Mom!"
Mrs. Wen looked up from behind the counter: "Why are you so late today... This is..."
Wen Fan pulled the two of them aside: "This is my classmate, my deskmate Han Lulu, and Qin He, who has been tutoring me in math recently."
Mother Wen subconsciously wiped her hands on her apron, her enthusiasm tinged with a hint of unease: "Alright, alright, please sit down, children."
Han Lulu and Qin He greeted Auntie politely, leaving Wen's mother even more at a loss for how to entertain them.
All I could do was point to the menu on the wall and say, "Tell Auntie what you want to eat."
Han Lulu was too shy to speak, and Qin He was also unusually timid.
Wen Fan: "Mom, do you have rice noodles in the kitchen?"
"Yes, I bought it the day before yesterday. I had your dad soak some this morning."
Wen Fan stood up: "Take a look at what you want to eat, I'll go check the kitchen."
Today we have pork rib soup, so Wen Fan wants to make some fried rice noodles to eat.
Wen Fan pulled his mother away, and Han Lulu and Qin He's tense shoulders instantly relaxed.
Han Lulu looked left and right: "Hey, you know what, Xiao Fan's family seems to be doing quite well in business."
In just a short time, the store was packed, and some people even ordered takeout as soon as they saw it was full.
Qin He lowered her voice: "Yes, my dad said that these small street shops may look inconspicuous, but they can make a lot of money."
Han Lulu patted her chest: "That's good, that's good."
The two of them had assumed that Wen Fan's small shop would also be deserted. They had prepared themselves mentally before coming, and Han Lulu had even thought about how she would comfort Wen Fan if she saw that his business was not doing well.
Qin He adjusted her glasses and carefully looked at the menu.
"How about we order a steamed rice bowl and a clay pot rice? We can try different things."
Han Lulu: "There are also pancakes with vegetables at the entrance."
Qin He: "Can you finish it?"
Han Lulu was speechless. She glanced left and right, and then she noticed that very few people were talking at the table next to her.
Everyone buried themselves in their food, wielding their chopsticks with impressive skill.
At the nearest table, two girls were each holding a pancake with vegetables, and constantly picking at the meatballs in their bowls with rice. Just looking at this carb-on-carb diet made me want to choke.
But the other person seemed oblivious. The meatball was the size of a child's fist. They tossed a piece into the rice with their chopsticks and ate with great relish.
Han Lulu swallowed hard, staring silently at Qin He.
Qin He: "...They're doing military training!"
Wearing camouflage uniforms, standing there all morning, what can't they eat?
Wen Fan walked over with his fried rice noodles and asked them naturally if they had ordered.
The two ordered the food and then smelled a rich aroma of fried rice noodles.
Han Lulu, Qin He: ...
Han Lulu: "Why do you eat differently from us!"
Wen Fan gave the list to his mother, somewhat puzzled: "It's my own family's shop, we can't just eat braised dishes every day, can we?"
It gets cloying after eating too much.
Wen Fan brought over another dish of sauce, a spicy sauce, which he added to the fried rice noodles. After mixing them together, he took a big bite.
Han Lulu could clearly feel her mouth watering, and a craving rose from her stomach.
"Xiao Fan, your rice noodles look delicious."
Wen Fan: "It's alright."
The rice noodles were soaked for the wrong time.
After saying that, Wen Fan glanced at Han Lulu and suddenly realized what was going on.
Push the rice noodles towards the center: "Try it."
Han Lulu couldn't wait to take a bite, and that one bite shattered her worldview.
"This...this is considered normal?"
If this were normal food, what would she have been eating before?
The rice noodles were stir-fried until dry and fluffy, without any of the greasiness typical of stir-fried noodles. The scrambled eggs inside were tender, and the shredded vegetables were cooked to the perfect texture, with just the right amount of oil and aroma. The most outstanding feature was the scattered sauce. Although I didn't know what kind of sauce it was, I could vaguely taste bits of fried meat. The spicy flavor didn't overpower the rice noodles; their original aroma and texture remained the main focus.
Qin He also took a bite, her expression showing the same amazement.
Wen Fan brought out the three bowls of soup that had been prepared and took a sip from the small bowl himself.
"It's a bit tough though... but it's alright with soup."
This bowl of pork rib soup was stewed to perfection. The sweetness of the lotus root had seeped into the soup, and the corn added a bright touch. Wen Fan didn't put anything fancy in it; the soup was simple yet delicious.
Han Lulu and Qin He tasted the soup and were even more shocked.
"How come the soup tastes so good!"
With a bite of rice noodles and a sip of soup, the two looked at Wen Fan with envy.
Fortunately, their meal arrived quickly.
Qin He ordered a claypot rice with pork ribs and sausage, while Han Lulu ordered a steamed pork rib dish marked as a "new dish" on the menu.
Steamed pork ribs are not difficult to make. At least when Wen's father was looking for a new dish besides steamed pork ribs, Wen Fan subconsciously gave him this dish.
In any case, it's all done by steaming small bowls in a pot, and the process is pretty much the same as steaming in a covered bowl.
The evenly coated and delicate rice noodles coat the ribs, enhancing the tenderness of the meat. The ribs are so tender and flavorful that the bones easily fall off with a gentle bite. The potatoes underneath the ribs soak up the meat juices and, with a gentle press, turn into mashed potatoes. Mixing the mashed potatoes into the rice makes it delicious even without eating any meat.
Han Lulu and Qin He felt as if their souls and bodies had separated. Their souls seemed to be suspended in mid-air, watching themselves devour themselves like gluttons, unable to even spare a moment to utter a word. Meanwhile, their spirits were intoxicated by the symphony of fragrances.
When their souls returned to their original places, the two discovered that not only had the claypot rice and steamed pork ribs been completely devoured, but they had also drunk every last drop of the pork rib soup.
Qin He looked at Wen Fan, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.
Han Lulu, however, was straightforward and outspoken.
"With your family's excellent culinary skills, you could easily impress everyone with your cooking."
What does a privileged family background matter? In Han Lulu's eyes, a bowl of steamed pork ribs in front of her made her want to kneel down before Wen Fan.
No matter how rich you are, apart from classmates like Jin Rui who fawn over the powerful and look down on the weak, what can others do besides express a few words of envy?
But being able to cook is a different story. Now Han Lulu wants to grab Wen Fan by the collar and ask her why she didn't show such outstanding cooking skills in the first year of high school.
If only she had known earlier... if only she had known earlier, she could have enjoyed delicious food for an extra year!
The two of them were feeling very full, but they noticed that few others were not. Even though the mother had posted a sign on the counter saying "Free rice refills, please eat in moderation," many students in camouflage uniforms were still so full that their eyes were glazed over.
Qin He and Han Lulu were so full they almost didn't pay for their meal.
This was the first time Wen's mother had seen her daughter bring a classmate home. No matter what she said, she didn't want any money. In the end, Qin He threw the money into the counter, grabbed Han Lulu, and ran. After running a few steps, the two almost vomited the food in their stomachs, so they stopped and walked slowly.
Wen Fan quickly caught up with the two and gave them their change.
"They promised a 10% discount, and they also said the pork rib soup was on us."
Han Lulu tried to refuse, but Qin He nudged her and accepted the change.
The three of them slowly walked towards the classroom. As they walked, Han Lulu suddenly chuckled.
Qin He: "What are you laughing at?"
Han Lulu whispered, "I think some people in the class are going to regret this later—"
Such delicious food... just thinking that Jin Rui will never get to eat it in his life, and Fu Chuan might never get to eat it either, plus that bunch of sarcastic guys...
Han Lulu became more and more excited as she thought about it: "I'll go back and spread the word, making some people drool!"
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Author's Note: My stomach hurts a bit today, so I'll be updating less, this is the only update. I apologize to everyone, and I'll try to write more tomorrow.
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