Chapter 240 Would you like a milk tea?
Upon returning, the two immediately plunged into the kitchen, busily preparing a pot of fragrant and flavorful chicken stew, where both freshness and proper cooking techniques were indispensable.
Su Yingxue first chopped the whole free-range chicken into evenly sized pieces, put them in a pot of cold water to blanch them and remove the blood foam, then took them out, rinsed them with warm water and drained them.
The chicken meat immediately becomes firm. Then, heat a little rapeseed oil in an iron wok, add ginger slices, garlic cloves and dried chili segments to sauté until fragrant. Once the aroma spreads, pour the chicken pieces into the wok and stir-fry over high heat.
The hot oil sizzled as it coated the chicken pieces, the golden fat slowly seeping out, gradually transforming the once firm chicken into tender, flavorful meat with crispy skin. A savory aroma slowly wafted through the air.
She then drizzled in a spoonful of aged cooking wine to remove any fishy smell and enhance the aroma, added light soy sauce for freshness and dark soy sauce for color, and while stir-frying, the chicken pieces were dyed an enticing reddish-brown, glistening with oil. The flavor of the chicken stew was immediately apparent.
Xu Qingqing had prepared the ingredients in advance. She peeled the fresh bamboo shoots picked from the mountains and cut them into chunks. She also prepared the crisp and tender potatoes and the soft rice noodles. After the chicken pieces were stir-fried until they were flavorful, she added enough hot water to cover the ingredients, covered the pot, and simmered it over low heat.
The pot was bubbling away, and the rich aroma of meat mixed with the freshness of bamboo shoots seeped out, filling the kitchen with fragrance. Even passing tourists couldn't help but peek inside.
What is this fragrance?
"It smells quite nice!"
"Is the boss researching new dishes again?"
After simmering the chicken pot until the broth thickened, Su Yingxue lifted the lid, sprinkled in a handful of green and red chili peppers for color and flavor, drizzled on a spoonful of her secret-recipe fermented bean paste, quickly stirred it, and then transferred it to a serving dish.
When she brought the steaming hot chicken pot to the table, the bright red broth coated the chicken pieces and side dishes, making it look incredibly appetizing.
The scallion pancakes on the side were also just cooked. Xu Qingqing took the pancake off the top. The outer skin was golden and crispy, and it crumbled easily when gently broken. The inside was soft and multi-layered, with the aroma of scallions and sesame seeds.
The aroma of freshly baked pancakes mixed with the rich and savory flavor of the chicken stew created the most enticing smell in the restaurant.
"Boss, what delicious food are you making today?"
"Oh, it smells so good."
"Absolutely amazing, I love this flavor today."
"I need to eat at least three of these scallion pancakes."
Diners were already drawn by the aroma, and the chicken pot that had just been served was immediately grabbed and eaten. A piece of chicken was put into the mouth, and the meat was firm and chewy, not dry or greasy. The aroma of the sauce seeped into the meat. The fresh bamboo shoots were crisp and refreshing, and they were soaked in the meat juice. When you bite into them, they make a crunching sound and the juice bursts on your tongue.
The rice noodle sheets are soft, chewy, and flavorful, coated in a thick broth that melts in your mouth. The potatoes are stewed until tender and melt in your mouth, bursting with meaty aroma.
Paired with crispy on the outside and soft on the inside scallion pancakes, the pancake crust is dipped in the bright red broth, a savory and fragrant combination, one bite of meat and one bite of pancake.
The warmth spread across the tip of their tongues, traveling down their throats and into their stomachs. Everyone ate with gusto, praising the food highly.
After serving the guests, Su Yingxue and Xu Qingqing sat down to try the food. Xu Qingqing bit into a scallion pancake, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons: "It's so delicious! This chicken stew is so fresh you could swallow your tongue. It's a perfect match with the scallion pancake!"
Su Yingxue smiled and nodded. Just as she picked up a piece of fresh bamboo shoot, she saw Old Wang sitting at the opposite table holding a bowl, poking at chicken pieces with his chopsticks. However, he only ate a few bites before frequently drifting off into thought, looking somewhat dazed.
"Old Wang, what's wrong?" Su Yingxue asked. She knew that Old Wang was the person in charge of the Wushan Scenic Area and was usually efficient. It was rare to see him so absent-minded.
Old Wang snapped out of his daze upon hearing this, shoveled down a couple of mouthfuls of rice, his mouth still full of fragrant chicken, and mumbled, "Little Su, your shop is really thriving. Look at all these customers, it's much more lively than the Heavenly Ladder area."
"It's really busy. Customers are queuing up every day lately. If you come late, you have to wait for more than half an hour. Many people are getting impatient with the wait."
Su Yingxue sighed softly, her tone tinged with helplessness.
"There are fewer people today, otherwise Qingqing and I wouldn't have been able to eat."
Xu Qingqing was enjoying her chicken stew very much. She couldn't help but reply, "Yes, Sister Su's shop is very popular! The potatoes are also delicious."
As soon as he finished speaking, Old Wang's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had suddenly found a solution. He put down his chopsticks and leaned forward: "I've been browsing the internet these past two days, and the popularity of our Wushan Ladder has dropped drastically. Nowadays, not many tourists go to climb it, and the long queues that used to form are long gone."
Su Yingxue immediately understood. No matter how good a novelty is, the hype will eventually fade. Once the novelty of the Sky Ladder wore off, the number of tourists would naturally decrease.
"Xiao Su, you're quick-witted and full of ideas. Can you help me think of a way to revitalize the Heavenly Ladder?" Old Wang asked earnestly, his tone full of expectation.
Su Yingxue picked up a piece of chicken and chewed it slowly, the fresh and fragrant flavor swirling on her tongue, but she began to make careful plans in her mind and did not respond for a moment.
Xu Qingqing, who was enjoying her scallion pancake dipped in soup, quickly put down her pancake and chimed in, "Brother Wang, I have an idea. Don't you think it's because it's too cold up the Heavenly Ladder and there's nowhere to rest that people don't like going there? What if we set up a small shop up there? Would that attract some customers?"
"A small shop?" Su Yingxue and Old Wang asked in unison, both with a hint of doubt in their eyes.
"It's the natural platform in the middle of the ladder. It's not a small place, enough for several people to rest. We can set up a small stall there, selling hot milk tea and brown sugar ginger tea, and also prepare some snacks. Tourists can rest and warm up when they are tired from climbing, and have a hot drink to relax. It's both relaxing and enjoys the scenery. How wonderful!"
Xu Qingqing spoke clearly and logically, her eyes shining brightly.
Upon hearing this, Su Yingxue's heart stirred. She suddenly remembered the joke she had made on the Heavenly Ladder that day, saying she wanted to drink hot milk tea, which Qingqing had remembered. She immediately nodded, and the more she thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed.
Old Wang's eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh, exclaiming, "That's right! This is a great idea! It solves the problem of tourists having a place to rest, and it also revitalizes the popularity of the Sky Ladder. It's a win-win situation!"
He grew increasingly anxious, quickly finished the remaining chicken and rice in his bowl, wiped his mouth, and got up.
"I'll go find Wu Yong right now to discuss this. We need to get this done as soon as possible!" With that, he hurried out of the shop, as if afraid of being a step too late.
The steam was still rising from the shop, and the aroma of the chicken stew mixed with the fragrance of scallion pancakes still lingered in the air. Su Yingxue watched Old Wang's hurried back, then glanced at Xu Qingqing beside her, who was smiling broadly. She picked up a scallion pancake and handed it to him.
Su Yingxue's eyes were full of smiles: "You're so clever. Now not only can we revitalize the Heavenly Ladder, but our Cloud Sea Fireworks Shop is going to be even more lively."
Xu Qingqing smiled as she took the pancake, took a bite of its crisp texture, and felt the rich, flavorful broth spread in her mouth, filling her with a comforting warmth.
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