106 Wash gluten
◎Be attracted by beauty◎
When Shopkeeper Zhang went downstairs, he heard Mr. Zhang, who was buying braised meat, using an abacus. He chuckled and said, "Shopkeeper Song is really amazing. He actually thought of hiring refugees to be idlers.
In the past, we sold one pig a day, and we'd barely finished selling them by the evening. Now, Shopkeeper Song not only has idle men deliver food to the second floor, but he also helps us deliver orders. We can finish selling by the afternoon, and can go back to do some farm work with my wife.
The other woman rolled her eyes and said, "She makes it sound like she's some kind-hearted bodhisattva, but she still wants to charge money, doesn't she?"
Mr. Zhang was a rough man, clumsy in speech and said "but" several times in a row without being able to say anything further.
Mrs. Li, who sold drinks, usually didn't like to get involved in such things, but now she couldn't stand it any longer and said bluntly, "I'll only charge you four or five cents per order. If you feel you're losing out, you can refuse."
Shopkeeper Zhang walked to the lobby on the first floor, glanced at the woman selling preserved fruits, and said to her, "You're right. I really shouldn't have charged you."
The preserved fruit lady knew the relationship between Zhang and Song Jinyi. She was a little uneasy at first when she saw that he had heard what she said. But after hearing what she said, she smiled and said, "That's right. We have already paid the rent here. Sending food is just a convenient thing. Why would you charge us for it?"
Shopkeeper Zhang nodded, seemingly agreeing with her statement, and said, "Indeed, when Chen Ming comes later, I'll tell him that he doesn't need to take any more work from you."
The woman selling preserved fruits thought that Zhang was a sensible person, but she didn't expect his expression to change suddenly. She got anxious and said, "I was just joking."
Shopkeeper Zhang didn't want to waste his words with the shrewd woman, so he was about to leave when he saw a scholar wearing a royal blue silk shirt with dark patterns, a jade hat on his head, and a graceful demeanor.
The merchants on the first floor treated him as an ordinary customer and began to shout to attract customers.
Only Shopkeeper Zhang, with his discerning eyes, determined that this man was of extraordinary status.
The first thing the visitor said was, "Excuse me, is Shopkeeper Song here?"
Shopkeeper Zhang didn't answer immediately. He knew why Song Jinyi came to Shengjing—to look for someone. She had no relatives or friends in Shengjing, and now a powerful figure suddenly appeared looking for her...
I don’t know whether it is good or bad?
Just as he was muttering to himself, he caught a glimpse of a lotus-pink figure on the stairs.
Song Jinyi calculated the time and thought that Sun Guo would be here soon, so she took the food box she had prepared in advance downstairs. Unexpectedly, Manager Zhang was also downstairs. She was stunned for a moment, greeted him, and handed the food to Sun Guo first.
"This is the egg tart the Crown Princess ordered. It also comes with a stack of newly developed almond tofu."
Since he sent some novel snacks last time, he captured the heart of the Crown Princess. From time to time, he asked Sun Zhanshi to come to Juxing Tower to buy snacks, which also suited Song Jinyi's wishes.
After Sun Guo took it, he gave the money as usual, "The Crown Princess is General Jiang's legitimate daughter, and she eats all kinds of delicacies from land and sea. Recently, she really likes the snacks made by Shopkeeper Song. This is the first time I have seen it."
Song Jinyi could see that the Crown Prince cherished the Crown Princess. She had taken a risk by proposing the fundraising initiative before conducting thorough investigations. She paused for a moment, her mouth slightly open, before speaking, "Last time, I didn't realize the owner of Zhaixing Tower was related to the Crown Princess. Is the Crown Prince... not angry with the Crown Princess?"
As the saying goes, "It is better to destroy ten temples than to destroy a marriage."
"It's okay. The Crown Princess has a weak relationship with that uncle. Our Crown Princess is a sensible person and will not be angry with the Crown Prince because of this."
Song Jinyi exchanged a few pleasantries with Sun Guo and sent the person away. Then she saw Manager Zhang at the corner of the restaurant, mysteriously waving her over.
Shopkeeper Zhang looked at the carriage moving away and asked Song Jinyi, "Who was that just now?"
Song Jinyi did not hide anything and directly said that he was the attendant of the Prince's Mansion.
"Oh, it turns out to be the attendant of the Prince's Mansion - the Prince's Mansion!" Manager Zhang suddenly turned his head and stared at Song Jinyi.
Song Jinyi felt uneasy when he stared at her. "What's wrong?"
Many emotions flashed across Shopkeeper Zhang's face: shock, disbelief, and loss. In the end, he just sighed softly and left without saying anything.
In stark contrast to his calm appearance, his heart was in turmoil.
He had been operating in Shengjing City for many years, and had tried his best to curry favor with several powerful people, but he couldn't even meet the stewards of their houses. And Song Jinyi, young and new to the city, had actually established connections with the Crown Prince's Mansion...
The gap in my heart is like the wind in cold winter, blowing into my heart.
This feeling followed him back home. He walked through the corridor alone, ignoring everyone until he saw his daughter fighting a wild cat that came from nowhere under the grapevines.
Although Zhang Yao worshipped Song Jinyi as her master, the two were almost the same age. Look at him, not only is his craftsmanship good, but he is also calm and prudent in his work. Putting that aside, he is also related to the Prince's Mansion.
Zhang Yao was teasing a kitten with minced meat when she suddenly shuddered. She turned her head and saw her father with a gloomy face.
?
She went over and took Zhang's arm and asked, "Dad, what's wrong with you?"
Shopkeeper Zhang looked at her and said, "Look at your master. He's only a few years older than you. Not only does he have his own business in Yunzhou, but he came to Shengjing alone and is able to handle things on his own... He's also connected to the Crown Prince's Mansion."
Zhang Yao listened to what he said at first, but only after hearing the end did she know what he had gone crazy for today.
Indeed, the master is a very magical person. Just as my father said, she seems to be omnipotent. At the beginning, I was no exception and felt envious and jealous.
But then I thought, since such a powerful person like her accepted me as her apprentice, then I am not bad either. As the saying goes, 'the disciple is better than the master'. I believe that one day, I will become someone more powerful than my master!
She said to her father, "No matter how powerful Madam Song is, she is still my master, equivalent to my family. Since she is family, no matter how powerful she is, we will also benefit from her, right? Dad, why are you unhappy?"
This was something he had never thought of before, and it was quite true. Thinking about it, he couldn't help but laugh at himself. He was an old man, so how could he be compared with a child?
******
In the backyard of Juxing Tower, the five ladies that Song Jinyi brought back from the refugee camp outside the city took a bath and changed into simple clothes. They looked like they had been completely transformed, and each of them was a pretty young lady.
Zhang Yao even teased Song Jinyi about this, "Master, you picked someone without even testing their skills. I thought you had a keen eye for talent, but it turns out you were just 'lusting at first sight'."
They were now surrounding Song Jinyi, watching her knead and wash the dough over and over again. They all used to be from rural farming families, they could cook and wash clothes, but they never thought that dough could be washed.
They suddenly felt curious, and each of them stretched their necks, staring at the movements of Song Jinyi's hands, afraid of missing any step.
The water in the basin absorbed the starch in the dough and soon became turbid. A lady in blue clothes was very considerate and immediately brought a basin of clean water.
She repeated this process dozens of times until the water in the basin became clear and only a yellow-white substance remained in her hand.
She asked the others to wash their hands, and then she felt the piece of yellow dough in her hand. When she pressed it with her fingertips, it was not as soft as ordinary dough, but slightly elastic and a little sticky. When she pulled her hand back, no matter how careful she was, she would still get some of it on her.
"Wow, Madam Song, what is this? It feels strange. Can it be eaten?" a lady asked.
Before Song Jinyi could answer, the lady in blue said, "It's just the dough that was washed a few more times. How can it be inedible?"
Song Jinyi replied to everyone: "This is gluten, which can also be called bran."
Song Jinyi asked the five of them to try making it themselves. They thought it was simple, just washing the noodles, but as soon as they started, the taste changed. Only two of the five people could make the gluten successfully on the first try.
The rest of the people either wash the gluten too loosely or wash the gluten so that it tastes dull.
Song Jinyi pointed to the lady in blue and asked her, "Why do you think you can succeed while they can't?"
Although the lady in blue was a little surprised, she still expressed her feelings openly: "It's a feeling! I saw that Lady Zhou and the others took note of the number of times you washed your face just now and followed suit.
What I remember is the feel of the dough in your hands, feeling the dough as you did, and then stopping."
Another successful woman volunteered to add, "...I think the gluten is related to the strength of the kneading and washing, and the strength of the kneading and washing determines the number of times."
Song Jinyi nodded appreciatively, "Very good."
When she was choosing people, she had thought about picking two smart ones to help in the front kitchen. These snacks only required the raw materials, and she could prepare the sauces in advance, so they didn't require superb cooking skills.
Since Zhang Yao has become her disciple, she should learn how to cook big dishes from her seriously. For her, this kind of snack is like killing a chicken with a butcher knife.
Song Jinyi already has plans for Zhang Yao, and there are other places where she can show her talents.
Song Jinyi taught the remaining three people step by step, and they were able to master the tricks after the second time.
Everyone worked together for two hours, and the table was filled with raw gluten.
The five ladies rubbed their wrists one by one, they were so sore that they couldn't lift them. They had finally found a place to settle down, and they all worked hard, fearing that Song Jinyi would send them back.
Song Jinyi noticed their efforts and quietly prepared some grilled gluten for them while they were resting.
She wrapped the raw gluten around a bamboo skewer and placed it on the stove. She then took out a small bowl and poured in soybean paste, soy sauce, malt sugar, rice vinegar, and cooking wine.
Then go to the restaurant's kitchen, heat oil in a wok, add onions, ginger and garlic and stir-fry until fragrant, then pour in the prepared sauce and stir-fry until fragrant, then add water and cook until thick.
Spread the sauce evenly on the gluten skewers, and brush the sauce evenly on the stove. The white and green gluten is cooked over low heat and soaked with the sauce, turning it into an attractive brown color. The sauce sizzles in the stove, and the rich aroma fills the whole house.
When the five ladies came in, they were all tempted by the aroma and swallowed their saliva. The lady in blue picked up a string and took a light bite. There was a slight "crunch" sound, and the elasticity of the gluten and the aroma of the sauce made her fascinated.
The remaining few people also took a taste, "It's chewy, springy, fragrant, and a little spicy, but I like it..."
Although everyone praised it, Song Jinyi saw that the edge of the dish was burnt. It was okay for her to eat it herself, but giving it to the guests would be a disgrace to her reputation.
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