Chapter 95 Family Reunion Dumplings.
Yang Shuyi and Xiaoyun chatted while drinking sugarcane and chrysanthemum beverage. The sweet and refreshing taste filled their mouths, making them feel particularly good while they talked.
There were quite a few people sitting around the restaurant, so the two of them naturally couldn't talk about anything related to the entertainment industry. They mostly talked vaguely about how they planned to spend their vacation and where they would go after returning to Beijing.
Thinking that Yang Shuyi has a big-name skincare brand endorsement to attend offline events when she gets back, Xiaoyun mumbled, "Sister, you have to keep your skin in good condition when you get back. Try to stay up less late and eat less sugary food. You have to keep up with your skincare routine."
Yang Shuyi nodded: "I know, I still have the spirit of contract, and I will definitely be in the best condition to participate in the event."
She finally managed to secure this endorsement deal with a high-end skincare brand, and she's been using the skincare products the brand sent her, which have indeed proven to be very effective.
She must have excellent skin to participate in the brand's offline events and shoot new promotional photos, so that she can be convincing and attractive to the public.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but reach out and cup her cheeks through her mask, unusually narcissistic, and said, "I feel like my skin is in pretty good condition lately. Sister Zhen, who does makeup, compliments me every day, and I'm almost getting carried away. I hope I can maintain this good skin condition when I return to Beijing. Please bless me! I promise I won't stay up late, I'll go to bed early, get up early, and eat a healthy diet!"
Xiaoyun's first reaction upon hearing this was, "To maintain such good skin, wouldn't you need to eat more meals at Gu's Private Kitchen? Where in Beijing can you find that kind of food?"
I don't know if the beauty and skin care effects will gradually improve Xiaoyi's skin, or if it will be effective in the short term like some medical aesthetic treatments, and then gradually return to normal. The former would be the best, but I'm afraid the latter might have some adverse effects.
The moment the thought crossed her mind, she immediately hoped it was the former. Then she remembered how fortunate Xiaoyi had suggested spending another day in Jiang City, so they could have another meal at Gu's Private Kitchen tomorrow, hoping the beauty effects would last longer!
She was still wondering whether to tell Sister Xiaoyi about the amazing effects of Gu's Private Kitchen's dishes, but she replied first, "Sure, I also feel that your skin is in incredibly good condition right now, even better than after cosmetic procedures. It has that youthful feeling of being full of collagen. I saw Sister Zhen wanting you to go out on camera without makeup before."
Yang Shuyi smiled, recalling that recently Sister Zhen had muttered several times while applying makeup that with such a fair and radiant face, why bother with makeup? She would look even prettier on camera.
But it was obviously impossible; going on camera without makeup would be terrifying. She was quite satisfied with the light makeup that Sister Zhen had done for her, which gave her a youthful look like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old high school girl.
She nodded: "I hope so. I don't understand what's been going on lately either. Maybe it's because the environment in Jiang City is good for people."
Xiaoyun opened her mouth, about to tell Xiaoyi about the miraculous effects of Gu's Private Kitchen. She had several notes on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) shared by netizens about their own changes, which she was waiting to use as evidence when explaining to Xiaoyi.
Just then, a waiter came over to serve the food and stopped her from saying what she was about to say.
"Hello, this is your family-style dumplings. Please enjoy."
"Thank you."
In front of each of them was a plate of plump, round white dumplings with beautifully pinched pleats. There were probably about ten of them. Through the thin wrappers, you could see the different colored fillings inside. Each dumpling was also served with a plate of two kinds of sauce, which looked like vinegar and chili.
Xiaoyun thought that since there was delicious food in front of her, she should eat first. Yang Shuyi, who had been looking forward to it, picked up her chopsticks, picked up a dumpling, and started eating.
The dumplings are still warm and hot when they are taken out of the water after boiling, so you have to be careful when you bite into them. Even after they are drained before being plated and served, there are still some water droplets on the dumpling skin. The dumpling skin is smooth and tender and full of wheat flavor.
Taking a bite, I realized it was a corn and pork dumpling. The filling was savory, flavorful, tender, and juicy. The corn mixed in with the meat filling had a satisfying texture, and the sweetness of the carrots added to the delicious flavor.
Eating the dumpling skin and corn and pork filling together allows you to taste the savory juices that overflow from the meat filling as you chew. There's the fresh and sweet flavor of the meat filling itself, as well as the aroma of the noodles. It's hard to tell how much of it is juice from the meat filling itself and how much is the noodle soup left over from boiling.
Anyway, it tastes really good.
After finishing one dumpling in a few bites, Yang Shuyi picked up another dumpling and ate it.
The dumplings we're having now are chive and pork dumplings. The filling is as savory and flavorful as ever, with the fresh aroma of chives, and it's even juicier.
After finishing this round, Yang Shuyi had learned a trick: she simply picked out dumplings based on the color of the filling showing through the thin dumpling skin, trying to try all kinds of dumplings in the first round.
A plate of "Family Reunion" dumplings contains 15 dumplings. Based on the various types of dumpling fillings we knew beforehand, we should have made two of each type, totaling fourteen. However, fourteen is not a very auspicious number in China, so we randomly added another dumpling to make a total of fifteen.
In terms of quantity, it is considered to be a relatively large amount.
Yang Shuyi ate other types of dumplings.
The cabbage and pork dumplings are the most juicy, bursting with the aroma of vegetables. One bite and a generous amount of sweet and savory juice oozes out, along with a slightly crunchy texture.
Celery and pork dumplings have a stronger grainy texture. Unlike corn and pork dumplings, which have a sweet taste when you bite into them, celery and pork dumplings have a grainy texture mixed with the fragrance of celery. You can also taste some of the celery juice that comes out. They are quite nice to eat together with the pork filling.
The pork and shiitake mushroom dumplings are an extra touch of freshness, with the aroma of the pork filling and the shiitake mushrooms blending together. They are tender yet slightly chewy, and the bits of shiitake mushrooms have a springy texture.
The sauerkraut and pork dumplings are salty and sour, with a hint of fragrance. When you bite into the meat filling, you can feel the unique crispness of the sauerkraut. The salty and sour taste of the sauerkraut and the savory aroma of the pork are intertwined. You can chew a few bites of the thin dumpling skin and swallow it before you even have a chance to savor the flavor.
Yang Shuyi reached into the plate again and picked up a dumpling with her chopsticks. She could see the dark filling through the dumpling skin. This was the last dumpling she hadn't eaten before, and there was a 99% chance it was a seaweed and pork dumpling.
One bite of the seaweed and pork dumpling reveals a rich seafood flavor that blends perfectly with the savory aroma of pork, making it incredibly delicious.
The pork filling is tender and juicy, and you can taste the traces of seaweed in every bite. It has a delicate and smooth texture that is different from the tender pork, like fine threads softly clinging to the meat filling, ready to be chewed and savored.
Yang Shuyi quite liked the seaweed and pork dumplings. Before she could even savor them, she had already finished one. She then immediately picked up another seaweed and pork dumpling with the same color filling and started eating.
After a few bites, my mouth was filled with the seafood flavor of seaweed and the salty aroma of pork. I felt somewhat satisfied, but still felt it wasn't enough.
Yang Shuyi reached for the dumpling with her chopsticks again and was surprised to find another dumpling with the same color filling. She changed the direction of her chopsticks, picked it up, and put it in her mouth.
Fantastic! Another seaweed and pork dumpling!
It seems that the last dumpling she made for this "family portrait" dish was seaweed and pork dumplings, which is one of her favorite fillings!
Yang Shuyi was overjoyed by this surprise and felt that her luck was absolutely incredible!
The two of them hadn't stopped eating since the waiter brought over two plates of "family reunion" dumplings and they hadn't said a word.
This allowed her to try dumplings with different fillings, and she was even lucky enough to eat seaweed and pork dumplings three times, which made Yang Shuyi exclaim in amazement.
"As expected of Gu's private kitchen dumplings, they are different from dumplings in ordinary restaurants. The dough is thin and translucent with a wheat aroma, and all the fillings are seasoned to be savory and flavorful without being too salty. Each filling has its own unique taste and is very fresh!"
Xiaoyun had already tasted all the different dumpling fillings, and she was still really into them, so she picked up another dumpling to eat.
In the first round, she ate dumplings by looking through the translucent dumpling skin at the colors of the fillings, just like Sister Xiaoyi. Each one was delicious and unique.
This time, she didn't care what she ate during the second round of eating; she liked every kind of dumpling, and everything she ate was a pleasant surprise.
Take a bite of this dumpling and you'll immediately smell the unique fresh aroma of shiitake mushrooms. The tenderness of the shiitake mushrooms and the freshness of the meat filling blend together, with a slight chewiness. The shiitake mushrooms also take on a unique salty and fragrant flavor under the salty aroma of the meat filling, making it very delicious.
Hearing what Sister Xiaoyi said, Xiaoyun chimed in, "Yes, it really is delicious! The dumpling wrappers are quite thin, and the meat filling, shiitake mushrooms, cabbage, and corn are all fresh and flavorful. The seasoning is also just right, everything tastes perfect, and it's so fragrant!"
"Yes, and the cooking time and heat of the dumplings are just right. The dumpling skin is soft enough but won't break when you pick it up, and the filling inside is fully cooked, so you can eat them with peace of mind," Yang Shuyi said.
Xiaoyun nodded enthusiastically: "And the best part is that there's a 'Family Reunion' dumpling option, so you can try all the different fillings in one plate! It's so wonderful! My favorites are the shiitake mushroom and pork dumplings and the sauerkraut and pork dumplings. One is fresh and flavorful, and the other is savory and sour. They're absolutely amazing! Sauerkraut and pork dumplings are usually only found in Northeastern cuisine. Their dumplings are thicker and have a completely different texture. I never expected that Gu's Private Kitchen's sauerkraut and pork dumplings would be so delicious!"
Yang Shuyi agreed wholeheartedly: "I also think both kinds of dumplings are quite delicious, but my favorite is the seaweed and pork dumpling. It has a seafood flavor that is quite nice. The seaweed is very tender and smooth. This is the first time I've ever had dumplings with this kind of filling."
She shared her good fortune with a smile, "And you know what? This plate of fifteen dumplings has two of each filling, and then one extra dumpling is randomly added to make it a lucky number. My plate had an extra seaweed and pork dumpling. Do you know how happy it is to eat three seaweed and pork dumplings in a row?"
Xiaoyun replied immediately, "I know! This kind of doubled luck is just too wonderful!"
She glanced down at the remaining dumplings on the white porcelain plate and her face instantly fell. "I'm so unlucky! The extra dumplings were corn and pork dumplings..."
The next second the sky cleared up again. "Well, corn and pork dumplings are alright, I quite like them!"
In this dumpling feast, there is no one who doesn't like it, only those who like it and those who like it even more.
Yang Shuyi adored Xiaoyun's personality and found her incredibly emotionally supportive. She chuckled, "It's alright, maybe you've saved your luck for more important things. How about we see if there's a lottery shop on our way back and we can buy a scratch-off ticket?"
Xiaoyun's eyes lit up immediately: "Great! I love buying scratch-off tickets the most. Maybe I'll really stay there with good luck! I remember seeing a lottery shop at the intersection of Suli Street when we got off the bus. Let's buy one when we go out later!"
Yang Shuyi laughed and agreed, "Okay, good luck!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the waiter brought over a plate of pan-fried dumplings with a combination of corn and pork and chives and pork. This time, there were twelve dumplings, which looked very appetizing. They were arranged in two neat rows on a beautiful white porcelain plate.
Each dumpling is round and plump with beautiful pleats. This part is fried until it is slightly golden and crispy. The dumpling skin inside has a light golden color and is crystal clear, revealing the color of the filling. One side is the green of chives, and the other side is the yellow and orange-red of corn and carrots.
Xiaoyun couldn't help but exclaim, "These pan-fried dumplings look so delicious! They're so characteristic of Jiang City! I saw some teahouse breakfast items on Xiaohongshu before, and the pan-fried dumplings were pan-fried this beautifully. You can see the oil bubbles rising on the dumpling skin from the frying process; they look so appetizing!"
Yang Shuyi nodded: "Yes, I was originally thinking that we should find some time to go out for breakfast, and I definitely had to order these chive and pork dumplings! I didn't expect that we would be eating them here at Gu's Private Kitchen today, which is perfect!"
Having read so many food blogs, she also knew a lot about the morning tea in Jiang City. As for pan-fried dumplings, they are usually pan-fried chive and pork dumplings. In the words of that blogger, "After pan-frying, chive and pork dumplings are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The chives will also release a lot of juice to moisten the filling, making them especially delicious!"
Of course, there are also pan-fried corn and pork dumplings, which taste pretty good too.
Many teahouses only offer these two types of pan-fried dumplings on their menus. Steamed dumplings are more varied, with shrimp dumplings being the most popular. Ordinary restaurants, of course, only offer dumplings with fillings they have on hand, which they then pan-fry and serve.
Gu's Private Kitchen is similar to the latter today. Customers can choose any filling for our pan-fried dumplings, or even a combination of two fillings, satisfying both customer needs at once.
On the way, Yang Shuyi and Xiaoyun were discussing what to order. They didn't expect the seaweed and pork dumplings to be so delicious. They decided to choose the most traditional and tried-and-tested double-flavor pan-fried dumplings made with corn and pork and chives and pork, which had been tested and approved by the people of Jiangshi. They were still looking forward to it.
Yang Shuyi was the first to pick up her chopsticks and eat a fried dumpling with chives and pork.
The dumpling skin at the pleated part is crispy and fragrant. When you bite into it, you can taste the aroma of the dough. It's not as soft as the dry-mixed dumplings, but it's not too hard either.
Take another bite, and the dumpling skin is still very crisp. After hearing the crispy crunch, you can immediately feel the soft and tender meat filling inside.
The savory aroma of pork and the fresh fragrance of chives spread between your lips and teeth. Biting into the tender and savory meat, you can taste the juices overflowing from the filling, along with an even stronger chive aroma, making it very sweet.
After chewing a couple of times, I discovered that the meat filling had a slightly crunchy texture, which I didn't have when I ate the dry-mixed chive and pork dumplings earlier.
After swallowing the first bite, Yang Shuyi took another bite of the chive and pork dumpling and savored it carefully. Then she said, "The filling of this chive and pork dumpling is a little different from the dry-mixed one we had before. It has a more crunchy texture, probably because some water chestnut pieces have been added. The flavor is richer."
"No wonder! I was wondering why it tasted so crisp and sweet. It tastes even better than the dry-mixed chive and pork dumplings over there." Xiaoyun suddenly realized, and added, "I feel that with the addition of water chestnuts, the juice that overflows from these chive and pork dumplings is even sweeter and richer. After all, water chestnuts also contain juice."
Yang Shuyi nodded: "Yes, the blogger I saw mentioned that in Jiang City, the chive and pork pan-fried dumplings usually have some water chestnut pieces added to enhance the sweetness. Gu's Private Kitchen's chive and pork pan-fried dumplings are quite delicious. They're fried to perfection, not too hard or burnt, nor are they undercooked. They're crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and juicy!"
After saying that, she picked up a corn and pork fried dumpling and ate it.
The dumpling wrappers are crispy and fragrant, just like the chive and pork dumplings from before. Biting into them, the thin wrappers have a slight chewiness from being pan-fried. The filling inside is savory and delicious, with plenty of corn and carrot bits. You can taste the sweet juice when you bite into it. It's a completely different kind of deliciousness from the chive and pork dumplings.
However, this time the corn and pork dumplings have the same filling as the dry-mixed ones, but the different cooking methods give them a unique flavor.
Compared to the dry-tossed dumplings, Yang Shuyi preferred these crispy and fragrant pan-fried dumplings.
She then picked up a chive and pork dumpling and ate it, once again savoring the fresh aroma of the chives, the savory flavor of the pork filling, and the rich juices. Only after chewing and tasting it to her heart's content did she reluctantly swallow it.
After eating another pan-fried dumpling with chives and pork, she picked up a pan-fried dumpling with corn and pork. This way of alternating flavors while eating dumplings is the most enjoyable!
She was so engrossed in eating the fragrant and crispy fried dumplings that she didn't even glance at the remaining six dry-mixed dumplings.
Xiaoyun managed to eat a variety of dumplings, one with chives and pork, then another with corn and pork. Only after enjoying the crispy and savory flavors would she randomly pick up a dumpling to eat. Discovering the filling was like opening a blind box.
They ate silently, only starting to chat quietly after they had enjoyed their dumplings a little longer, discussing the dumplings in general. The conversations of customers at the surrounding tables also drifted to their ears, as they too praised the dumplings.
"I knew it! Even the simplest dumpling feast at Gu's Private Kitchen is top-notch in terms of dumpling filling. This really didn't disappoint! The corn and pork dumplings are savory and flavorful, and the corn and carrots are sweet and juicy. They're soft and tender after being boiled and then drained, and they're moist and delicious with some noodle soup inside!"
"If you ask me, the chive and pork dumplings and the celery and pork dumplings are the best. I went there because of the fresh aroma of chives and celery. They are really delicious in their own way. Even after you finish chewing and swallowing, the flavor in your mouth is still very strong!"
"I think the seaweed and pork dumplings are quite novel. I've never had dumplings with this kind of filling before. The seafood flavor of the seaweed and the savory flavor of the pork blend together quite well. The seaweed is tender and smooth, and the delicate strands are very satisfying to bite into!"
"Say no more, I'm just glad the restaurant offered a 'Family Feast' dry-tossed dumpling option, so I could try every kind of dumpling. Otherwise, just hearing you guys talk about it would make me drool! I can't possibly order a plate of every kind of dumpling, can I? Even a big eater like me couldn't finish that!"
"I love these pan-fried dumplings the most. They're crispy and fragrant, and the meat filling inside is tender, savory, and delicious! Chive and pork pan-fried dumplings are the most classic, and corn and pork dumplings are also quite good. Hey, I didn't expect seaweed and pork pan-fried dumplings to be so fragrant! It's great to have a group of people. Everyone can choose one and share it with each other. It's so satisfying."
"These pan-fried dumplings are really good. I can see that the golden and crispy dumpling skin is even bubbly with oil. They look beautiful and taste delicious! Every bite is so crunchy and the meat filling inside is so tender and juicy. They're absolutely amazing!"
"I actually think these steamed dumplings taste pretty good! It's just a pity that you can only get a combination of two, so you can't taste the flavor of each type. Look at this plate of dumplings, they're so translucent after steaming, with thin skins and lots of filling. They're even brushed with a layer of garlic and sesame oil, they look so fragrant. When you pick one up and put it in your mouth, the first thing you taste is the rich garlic flavor. The dumpling skin is moist and slippery because it's brushed with oil, and the filling inside is very fragrant. The garlic flavor seems to have blended in as well. It tastes much richer than boiled dumplings or pan-fried dumplings!"
"..."
Yang Shuyi and Xiaoyun were chatting at first, but then they became engrossed in listening to the other customers praising the dumplings at Gu's Private Kitchen. So they stopped talking and ate the dumplings while listening to their praise.
However, both of them have a good appetite, especially Yang Shuyi, who has been controlling her diet for a long time and has a moderate appetite. She ate seven dry-mixed dumplings earlier, which would have been enough for her to finish her meal long ago. But now that filming has wrapped up and she can relax, plus the fried dumplings are so delicious, she ate four more fried dumplings.
She was about to put down her chopsticks and end this high-carb lunch when she heard a customer talking about how delicious the steamed dumplings were, and she suddenly became tempted again.
Speaking of which, after reading the menu notes posted on Gu's Private Kitchen's official account this morning, when discussing what dumplings to eat in the car, neither Yang Shuyi nor Xiaoyun had considered steamed dumplings.
They ate steamed dumplings too often. Many breakfast stalls sell steamed dumplings. Yang Shuyi controls her diet and eats a balanced diet every morning, and she might even say she eats less. Xiaoyun sometimes likes to go to breakfast stalls to buy breakfast for herself, either fried dough sticks with soy milk or steamed dumplings with eggs. So at first, the two of them considered three types of dumplings: dry-mixed dumplings, boiled dumplings, and steamed dumplings.
I used to think that steamed dumplings were simply arranged on a plate, steamed until cooked, and then served. But after listening to that customer, it seems that it's not that simple. Dumplings brushed with garlic oil should taste really good, right?
Yang Shuyi took a tissue from the pack on the table, wiped her mouth clean, pulled up the mask hanging on her chin to cover most of her face, and turned to search the nearby dining table for steamed dumplings.
She actually saw a plate of two rows of translucent steamed dumplings on a white porcelain plate. They must have been served recently and no one had eaten them yet. They were brushed with yellow minced garlic and glistened with oil. She could almost smell the aroma of the dumplings mixed with the garlic, which made her even more tempted.
Yang Shuyi turned to look at Xiaoyun and said, "Xiaoyun, how about we order another plate of steamed dumplings? It's okay if we can't eat now, we can just pack them up and take them home to reheat for dinner. Those steamed dumplings look pretty delicious, they've been brushed with garlic oil, don't you love garlic flavor the most?"
Xiaoyun gave a forced smile and said, "I think it's you who really wants to eat it, sister."
Well, to be honest, she was also drawn in by what the customer was saying. She glanced over and saw the plate of steamed dumplings brushed with garlic oil, and even swallowed hard.
Now that I think about it, Sister Xiaoyi's suggestion isn't a bad idea. I'm definitely too full to eat now, so I'll reheat it for dinner.
She said, "Since we're already here, let's pack another batch of steamed dumplings to take home for dinner."
"Okay, I declare today to be the happiest day I've had in the last three months. Xiaoyun, you're so wonderful!" Yang Shuyi said happily.
“Sister, you’re great too!” Xiaoyun replied sincerely.
It's rare to see an artist and their assistant so cooperative and talkative. She really enjoys her job and working alongside Sister Xiaoyi.
She asked, "Do you want the steamed dumplings to be double-filling? If so, what should you put in them?"
Yang Shuyi thought for a moment and said, "How about mushroom and pork dumplings paired with seaweed and pork dumplings?"
One is what she likes to eat, and the other is what Xiaoyun likes to eat.
Xiaoyun nodded: "Sure, that's exactly what I was thinking of doing too."
She immediately waved to the shop assistant and asked them to add an order for a double portion of steamed dumplings to go.
The two of them couldn't finish the remaining dumplings, and they didn't want to overeat, so they simply asked the waiter to bring over two takeout containers, which Xiaoyun then packed up.
After waiting a short while, the shop assistant brought over a box of pre-packaged double-portion steamed dumplings.
Xiaoyun smiled and thanked her, then opened the takeout box to reveal neatly arranged steamed dumplings inside. They were also brushed with garlic oil, making them look crystal clear and glistening with oil. The yellow minced garlic sprinkled on top made it seem as if you could already smell the garlic aroma.
Yang Shuyi also saw it and was tempted for a moment to pick up her chopsticks and try one, but fortunately, her years of self-discipline made her resist.
She said, "Let's cover it up, we're getting ready to leave."
There are still quite a few people waiting in line outside to eat.
Xiaoyun agreed, put the lid on, placed the box of steamed dumplings into the takeout bag that already contained two boxes of dumplings, got up, took the items, and went to the cashier to pay. Yang Shuyi followed closely behind.
The only thing they hadn't touched on their table was the vinegar and chili sauce from before. The dumplings at Gu's Private Kitchen were so delicious, their original flavor was the best, and they didn't need any sauce at all.
The two left the restaurant and walked into the street. They didn't forget to buy a scratch-off lottery ticket at the lottery shop. Xiaoyun won 100 yuan and exclaimed that she was blessed by the god of luck. Then they took a taxi back to the hotel to rest.
Before her afternoon nap, Xiaoyun was thinking that today had gone smoothly, as she hadn't been photographed by passersby.
Little did they know that someone had already taken photos and posted them online while they were dining at the restaurant; of course, this was an accident.
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