Chapter 182 Selling Roujiamo (Chinese Hamburger) at the University Gate
In the bright morning light, at the bustling crossroads of Yue City, three universities stood neatly arranged, their campuses appearing quiet yet vibrant in the morning light. These were Qingdao University, known for its strengths in science; Yulin University, known for its strengths in humanities; and Agricultural University, known for its strengths in agriculture.
As a city with relatively good modern urbanization, Yue City has more than 30 universities, among which Xiangxue Road is the most famous.
This road, known online as "one foot in three schools," connects a school filled with the sound of students reading aloud to a bustling market street. Every evening, it's packed with people and has become a popular spot for online food enthusiasts. The aromas and laughter intertwine to create a unique urban landscape.
Su Yingxue's task this time was to sell snacks at the university gate.
She first took a quick walk around to check out the situation and found that there were many of the usual stalls: grilled squid, large sesame cakes, grilled chicken legs, fried rice cakes, etc.
However, most of them are either heavily seasoned or fried, lacking some comforting and substantial options.
Afterwards, she wandered around the streets and alleys, tried some of her favorite snacks, and kept an eye on the students' preferences and peak hours for pedestrian traffic.
As she walked to the familiar alleyway, she remembered her favorite treat from her school days—a freshly baked baiji bun filled with tender braised pork, simple yet fragrant, capable of instantly warming her up from exhaustion.
After much deliberation, she decided to make a traditional dish – roujiamo (Chinese hamburger).
We want to preserve the taste of our memories and also offer a simple yet heartwarming experience to passersby in this vibrant neighborhood.
Su Yingxue decided to make roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) not only because she liked it, but also because the origin of this snack was very interesting.
Roujiamo originated in Shaanxi Province. The name is actually a simplified expression of the ancient Chinese phrase "meat sandwiched in a bun," meaning to put meat inside a bun.
Its history can be traced back to the Qin Dynasty. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, it was called "mo jia rou" (馍夹肉), and by the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was already very popular among the common people. The steamed bun used is Baiji bun, which is known for its crispy exterior and tender interior.
The meat is braised pork, cooked slowly in a broth, resulting in a rich aroma. Later, this snack gradually spread beyond Shaanxi Province and became one of the familiar representatives of Chinese fast food for many people.
Su Yingxue thought that such a traditional delicacy with a story and substance should satisfy the college students passing by and make them remember this simple warmth.
Su Yingxue got right to work, starting with preparing the ingredients. Flour met warm water, and under the gentle encouragement of yeast, it slowly awakened and was kneaded into a smooth dough.
After proofing, divide the dough into small portions, roll them into round cakes, and place them in a hot pan.
With a soft "sizzle," golden lines gradually appeared on the surface of the pastry. The outer crust was slightly crispy, while the inside remained soft and warm, like a handful of sun-dried wheat.
Choose pork belly with a good balance of fat and lean meat. Blanch it to remove any unpleasant smell, then stir it in a pot with rock sugar until it turns an amber color, giving the meat a glossy sheen. Add scallions, ginger, star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves, and other spices and stir-fry together, creating layers of aroma.
Pour in Shaoxing wine, light soy sauce, and dark soy sauce, add hot water, and simmer slowly. Time flows quietly over a low flame.
The meat gradually becomes tender and the braising sauce becomes thick and rich.
Infused with the rich flavor of spices and the deep, mellow color of soy sauce, it melts in your mouth, and even the broth has a comforting sweetness.
When setting up her stall, she carefully slices open the hot steamed buns with a knife, stuffs them with finely chopped braised meat, adds a few green peppers for extra flavor if she prefers a lighter taste, and then drizzles on a spoonful of warm braising sauce.
The moment you bite into it, the crispy aroma of the bread and the rich flavor of the meat intertwine on your tongue, the savory aroma of the braised meat wafts into your nostrils with the steam, and the wheat fragrance, carrying the meat juices, lingers in your mouth.
The warmth spreads from the tip of your tongue all the way to your heart, making you want to close your eyes and savor this simple yet profound happiness.
As dusk deepened, a gentle orange hue spread across the sky. Su Yingxue packed up the ingredients and, following the address on her phone, searched her way through the food street of Yue City.
Turning the corner, she stopped at a rather "clever" spot—behind her stood a huge trash can, and in front of her was a large, leafy tree whose branches intertwined, completely obscuring the stall.
Comparing the description left by the previous stall owner—"convenient, environmentally friendly, and with high foot traffic"—she increasingly felt that this predecessor was a master of wordplay.
Convenience comes from the proximity to dispose of trash; environmental friendliness comes from the shade and dust protection provided by large trees; as for "dense pedestrian traffic"...
She looked around; the alley was almost at the end.
Further ahead is the school's large playground. Through the fence, you can see a few boys playing basketball, but there are very few pedestrians on the road. "This assessment is quite exaggerated."
"Oh well, what's done is done."
Su Yingxue composed herself and prepared to open for business.
Just as I was about to take action, the system, which had not appeared for a long time, suddenly sounded in my mind:
"Host, collect ten 'treasures' to unlock the secret to a new recipe."
"Treasure? Where did this treasure come from?"
She looked around, but couldn't see anything amiss despite the bustling street.
"It's about getting customers who buy roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) to call you 'baby'; you can complete it once you have ten people."
Su Yingxue's eyes widened as she stared at the faintly visible transparent interface in the air: "I sell them food, and they still want to call me 'baby'?"
"That's right. There are exclusive rewards upon completion, and it can also attract additional traffic."
The system image then disappeared.
Su Yingxue took a deep breath—although the location was remote, this was the Xiangxue Road, where one could "step into three schools at once," and it was never short of people trying new things and bustling with activity.
At this moment, Mu Yu, a sophomore at Qingda University, was also strolling at the end of the street. He had tried almost everything on the food street downstairs, and after class, he wanted to try his luck and find some new flavors. Looking around, he saw...
"Rice cake? I just had some a few days ago."
"Iced jelly? I've been eating too much of that lately, it's a bit too cold."
"Soup dumplings? I just had them yesterday morning."
Just as he was about to give up, his gaze was drawn to a new stall—the stall owner was a pretty young woman who was focused on cutting meat.
Noticing his gaze, Su Yingxue boldly extended her invitation:
"Hey kid, wanna have a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger)? It's ten yuan a serving."
She casually lifted the lid of the still bubbling pot of braised meat, and the rich aroma instantly filled Mu Yu's nostrils, making his throat bob.
"One order, please!" He readily scanned the code.
Su Yingxue moved swiftly, taking out the freshly baked Baiji buns—golden on both sides, with a fragrant aroma.
Then take the glistening braised pork belly out of the pot, chop it finely, mix it with green peppers, and stuff it into the steamed bun.
The steamed bun was packed full: golden white steamed bun, bright green bell pepper, and glistening brown minced pork, with juicy meat filling that looked incredibly appetizing.
Su Yingxue quickly packed it up and handed it over, saying, "Here you go, classmate. Your roujiamo is ready."
Suddenly, Su Yingxue remembered the system task and hurriedly took out a bottle of iced cola from the small ice box.
"Grand opening! Buy a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) and get a free Coke!"
Mu Yu's eyes lit up—a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) for ten yuan, and he could even get a free can of Coke? What a bargain! Mu Yu was just about to reach out his hand.
The young stall owner said earnestly:
"Call me 'baby' and the Coke is yours."
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