Chapter 246 Mountain Road in Torrential Rain
The torrential rain that had been pouring down for days was like a hole torn open in the sky, pounding down on the stone steps of the Heavenly Ladder and splashing water half a foot high.
The mountain fog was so thick that it was impossible to disperse, and the originally clear stone steps were slippery from the rain. The scenic area temporarily put up road closure warning signs, but a few hardcore challengers still refused to believe it and insisted on going up the mountain.
Before long, they were stopped by a rushing mountain stream and a slippery mountain path. Covered in mud, they rushed towards the cloud sea fireworks shop halfway up the mountain, becoming the only visitors on this rainy day.
When the rainstorm hit, they left the shop on the ladder and stayed at the small shop on the mountaintop.
"Boss! Do you have hot water?"
The man leading the group pushed open the door and shouted. His forehead was covered in mud, and his trouser legs were soaked with wet mud. Behind him were four companions, all of whom were so cold that their lips were turning purple. They were breathing on their hands to warm their mouths, and their windbreakers were already soaked through by the rain, exuding a chill.
Su Yingxue and Xu Qingqing had just finished cleaning the stove when they saw this and quickly went over to greet them, bringing clean stools for them to sit down. Su Yingxue quickly lit the wood-fired stove, while Xu Qingqing brought over clean, dry towels and handed them over.
"I'm really sorry everyone, our shop used to only sell drinks and didn't have any hot food."
Seeing the hungry and cold-looking people, Su Yingxue felt a little guilty. Her gaze unconsciously swept towards the storeroom—the rice that had just arrived a few days ago, the cured meat given by farmers down the mountain, and the salted egg yolks and pumpkins that she had previously stockpiled.
There was a basket of green vegetables and a few pieces of soft tofu piled up in the corner. They were things I had stocked up on for the occasional meal, but I never expected they would come in handy now.
The man leading the group, Zhao Lei, was a seasoned hiker who frequented outdoor areas. He smiled wryly upon hearing this, saying, "Anything hot is fine. This rain is too heavy. We've been walking since dawn without eating a single grain of rice, and we're completely frozen."
After a quick thought, Su Yingxue immediately decided, "Please wait a moment, everyone. I'll make you some hot dishes, guaranteed to be hot and filling."
Upon hearing this, Xu Qingqing immediately got up to help, "I'll lend a hand! The firewood stove burns brightly, so cooking will be faster!"
The firewood crackled and popped, quickly warming the small kitchen.
Su Yingxue first took out the piece of cured pork. This cured pork was made by Aunt Zhang down the mountain. It was a good mix of lean and fat, and the outer skin was charred and reddish. When cut open, the lean meat inside was firm and reddish, and the fat was crystal clear. It had a rich smoky aroma even before it was put into the pot.
She cut the cured pork into evenly thick slices, first blanching it in warm water to remove excess salt and smoky flavor, then draining it before stir-frying it directly in a hot iron wok. No oil was needed, as the cured pork itself was rich enough in fat.
As the heat intensified, the oil sizzled and bubbled out, filling the room with a rich aroma of meat. The originally firm slices of meat gradually curled up and became translucent. The oily fragrance of the fat mixed with the mellow aroma of the lean meat, making everyone frequently glance into the kitchen.
Then she rinsed two handfuls of rice, put them into an earthenware pot, added some spring water, spread the stir-fried cured meat slices on top of the rice, sprinkled a few crushed garlic cloves on top, covered the pot, and simmered it over low heat.
The mountain spring water is clear and cool. The oil and aroma of the cured meat slowly seep into the rice grains along with the steam. Before long, the aroma of rice mixed with the aroma of meat wafts from the cracks of the earthenware pot, making people's stomachs feel empty.
While the cured pork rice was simmering, Su Yingxue brought out pumpkin and salted egg yolks. The pumpkin she chose was a soft, mature pumpkin. After peeling and deseeding it, she cut it into evenly sized chunks, blanched it in boiling water until just cooked, and then drained it.
Place three salted egg yolks in a bowl, spray with a little water, and steam for five minutes, until the yolks become sandy and oily. Gently press with a spoon to reveal a fine, golden sand-like texture.
Heat oil in a wok, then add pumpkin chunks and fry over low heat until golden brown and slightly charred. Add crushed salted egg yolks and stir-fry quickly until each piece of pumpkin is coated with a generous amount of golden yolk.
Finally, sprinkle a pinch of salt on top for flavor, and your salted egg yolk baked pumpkin is ready.
The golden pumpkin, coated with sandy salted egg yolk, was glistening with oil. The salty aroma mixed with the pumpkin's sweetness made Zhao Lei and the others swallow hard as soon as it was taken out of the pot.
Finally, Su Yingxue used the remaining greens and soft tofu to make a greens and tofu soup.
Wash and chop the greens, cut the soft tofu into small cubes, bring water to a boil in a pot, add the tofu and cook for two minutes, then add the greens and cook until the greens are soft. Add a little salt and a touch of light soy sauce to enhance the flavor. No need for extra seasonings, this preserves the natural freshness of the ingredients to the greatest extent.
The milky white tofu paired with the bright green vegetables, and the clear soup, looks refreshing and helps to cut through any greasiness.
The moment the three hot dishes were served, they instantly became the focus of the entire table.
The braised pork rice in the earthenware pot is steaming hot. The rice grains have absorbed the oil from the cured pork, making each grain plump and glossy. Slices of cured pork lie on top of the rice, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat. With a gentle stir of the spoon, the aroma of meat and rice bursts forth instantly.
The golden-brown baked pumpkin with salted egg yolk is incredibly tempting. Take a bite and you'll find it crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a savory and slightly grainy texture that perfectly complements the sweetness of the pumpkin. It's fragrant but not greasy.
The vegetable and tofu soup is warm and refreshing. One sip instantly soothes the heaviness of the cured meat and pumpkin, warming the stomach and cutting through the greasiness.
Zhao Lei was the first to pick up a spoon, scoop a large spoonful of braised pork rice and put it in his mouth. The piping hot rice, with the aroma of meat, spread on his tongue. The braised pork was fatty but not greasy, lean but not dry, and the rice grains were soft, sticky and chewy.
One bite, and the warmth traveled down my throat to my stomach, instantly dispelling most of the chill in my body. The fatigue from days of hiking was also soothed away by this hot meal.
His eyes lit up and he couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow! This braised pork rice is so delicious! It's more authentic than any restaurant I've ever eaten at down the mountain!"
My companions also started eating, and for a moment, the only sounds in the shop were the clinking of bowls and chopsticks and satisfied exclamations.
The group devoured the food, finishing off a whole pot of braised pork rice and a plate of baked pumpkin with salted egg yolk in no time. They even drank every last drop of the vegetable and tofu soup. Everyone was sweating profusely and feeling warm all over, their previous hunger and cold completely gone.
The rain was still falling, and the mountain road was impassable for the time being, so Zhao Lei and his friends decided to rest at the shop and chat with Su Yingxue and the others about the fun they had while hiking.
Zhao Lei wiped his mouth and said seriously, "Boss, to be honest, your cooking is amazing! Most of the challengers on this ladder are rough guys who just love this hearty, hot home-cooked meal."
"If you could add hot dishes, your business would definitely be even more booming! Autumn and winter come early in the mountains, and a cup of hot drink isn't enough to warm you up. A bite of hot food and a bowl of hot rice are what truly refresh you and fill you up."
These words seemed to awaken Su Yingxue. She looked at the empty plates on the table and then at the surging sea of clouds outside the window, and her heart suddenly felt bright.
Xu Qingqing wholeheartedly agreed, pulling her arm and saying, "Sister Su, Brother Zhao is right! If we add some home-style hot dishes, we'll definitely keep more customers here!"
Old Wang and Wu Yong nodded repeatedly, rubbing their hands together and saying, "No problem! Let's think about it some more, and we'll definitely be able to make some hearty dishes that mountaineers love!"
The firewood was still crackling and burning, the shop was warm and cozy, and the lingering aroma of food still filled the air. Su Yingxue looked at the group of people in front of her, and she already had a clear plan in mind.
The transformation of Yunhai Fireworks Shop quietly began with this home-cooked hot meal that solved their immediate crisis.
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