Chapter 247 Braised Rice with Preserved Meat
The torrential rain continued for two whole days. The fog in the mountains was as thick as milk that couldn't be dissolved. The moss on the stone steps of the Heavenly Ladder became even more slippery from the rain. The road closure warning signs swayed incessantly in the wind and rain.
As a result, Zhao Lei and his group stayed at their mountaintop accommodation for two more days.
Su Yingxue and the others simply had a lot of free time, and spent their days trying out different home-style dishes. The ingredients stored in the warehouse were thoroughly searched, which turned into an excellent opportunity to test the dishes.
Xu Qingqing assisted Su Yingxue. She had only made mochi and drinks before, but now she was holding a spatula and stir-frying vegetables. At first, she was clumsy and either burned the vegetable leaves because of the high heat or added salt unevenly, which made her sweat with anxiety.
Zhao Lei and his friends weren't picky at all; they ate everything clean, no matter how well or poorly it was cooked, and even offered advice with smiles.
"Girl, when stir-frying greens, you have to use high heat and stir-fry quickly. Take them out of the pan as soon as they're just cooked through; that way they'll be crisp and tender."
"Salt should be sprinkled along the edge of the pot and mixed evenly."
Old Wang took the initiative to chop wood and start the fire. He had been running around in the mountains for many years and had an exceptional skill in controlling the fire. The fire in the stove was always just right, and he could cook rice over a low flame and stir-fry vegetables over a high flame, with perfect coordination.
The next afternoon, as the rain subsided, Su Yingxue looked at the remaining half-piece of pork belly, a handful of dried chili peppers, and a few cloves of garlic in the warehouse and thought about making a flavorful main dish to whet the appetites of the group of people who often climb mountains.
She cut the pork belly into small, square pieces, blanched it in cold water to remove the blood and foam, rinsed it with warm water, drained it, and then stir-fried it in a hot iron wok.
The pork belly sizzles in the pan, the fat slowly seeps out, and the originally firm pieces of meat gradually shrink. When the skin is fried to a golden brown and slightly charred state, remove the excess fat, leaving only a little oil at the bottom.
Add ginger slices, scallion segments and a few dried chilies to sauté until fragrant, then add back the meat chunks and stir-fry. Drizzle with a spoonful of light soy sauce to enhance the flavor and half a spoonful of dark soy sauce for color, and stir-fry until the meat chunks are evenly coated with the sauce.
Add enough spring water to cover the meat, add a few rock sugar pieces to neutralize the saltiness, cover the pot and simmer over low heat.
The stewing process took an hour, during which the firewood in the stove slowly burned into charcoal, gently warming the kitchen.
The pork belly in the pot gradually simmered until it was tender and soft, the thick sauce coating the meat, making it look glossy and tempting. The rich aroma of the meat mixed with the sauce slowly spread out of the kitchen.
The aroma was so enticing that Zhao Lei and his companions couldn't sit still, constantly peeking into the kitchen from the doorway. Qingqing stood guard by the stove, occasionally lifting the lid to stir the pot, muttering, "This smells so tempting! It's even better than the braised pork in city restaurants!"
Su Yingxue smiled and advised him, "You have to be patient when stewing meat. You have to simmer it over low heat to make the meat tender and flavorful, so that the sauce can seep into the meat."
Once the braised pork is cooked and served, pair it with a pot of white rice and a plate of refreshing cucumber salad for a hearty lunch.
The bright red braised pork chunks trembled slightly when picked up; the fatty parts were soft and tender, melting in the mouth, while the lean parts were firm and not dry. Coated in a perfectly balanced sweet and savory sauce, each bite was a burst of rich flavor.
Zhao Lei took a bite, his eyes immediately lit up, and he exclaimed with delight, "This is the real deal! Climbing mountains is exhausting, so I love eating this meaty dish. It's filling and satisfying, even better than braised pork rice!"
The group devoured the braised pork in no time, even using the broth to mix with rice, leaving not a single grain.
Seeing everyone enjoying their meal, Xu Qingqing felt happy too. She quietly pulled Su Yingxue aside and whispered, "Sister Su, let's make braised pork, preserved pork rice, and salted egg yolk baked pumpkin our signature dishes. Brother Zhao and the others love them so much, the other mountain climbers will definitely like them too."
Su Yingxue nodded with a smile. She thought the same way. The home-style dishes she had tried making over the past two days were all tailored to the needs of mountain climbers. They were flavorful, filling, and warm, which was much more comforting than drinks.
She also made a special note of everyone's preferences; Zhao Lei liked spicy food, so she prepared extra dried chili peppers.
A young man with a weak stomach would use less salt and chili, and stew the dishes until they were very soft. These small gestures of care are hidden in the homely food.
On the morning of the third day, the sky finally cleared, the mountain mist gradually dissipated, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, falling on the surging sea of clouds and refracting into tiny golden light, a beauty that was impossible to look away from.
Although the ladder was still slippery, it was passable. Zhao Lei and his group packed their bags and prepared to continue their ascent to the top of the mountain.
Before they left, the group insisted on paying more for the meal, but Su Yingxue refused to accept more and only charged them the usual cost of the ingredients.
Zhao Lei felt bad and insisted on giving him more money.
He paused, then added with a smile, "When we come back next time, we'll definitely come back to eat your braised pork again. You have to save some for us then!"
We'll also recommend this place to our fellow hikers; from now on, this cloud-and-fireworks area will be the canteen for all of us hikers!
Su Yingxue felt a warm glow in her heart and nodded solemnly: "Don't worry, there's plenty of braised pork. I'll be waiting for you to come back."
The group waved goodbye and climbed the still-damp stone steps, their figures gradually disappearing into the depths of the sea of clouds.
Su Yingxue stood at the shop entrance, watching the direction they had gone.
Xu Qingqing sidled up to her, her eyes full of anticipation: "Sister Su, shall we start preparing the hot dishes now? I can't wait to make braised pork for the guests!"
Su Yingxue smiled and nodded, then turned to look at the stove in the shop. The stove was still warm, and the air seemed to still carry the aroma of braised pork and the smoky fragrance of cured meat.
She already had a clear plan in mind: first, finalize the few main dishes that she successfully tested, then order more cured pork, local pork and fresh vegetables from farmers at the foot of the mountain, and organize the menu of drinks and home-style dishes so that Yunhai Xiaoyaopu could truly become a heartwarming place for mountain climbers to rest and replenish their energy.
Xu Qingqing, holding a pen and paper, carefully recorded the recipes and cooking techniques for the dishes she had been trying out over the past few days, afraid of making even the slightest mistake.
Before long, Wu Yong brought good news. The farmers at the foot of the mountain were very enthusiastic when they heard that they were going to cook for the climbers. They not only agreed to deliver fresh vegetables and local eggs to their door every day, but also offered to supply them with their own cured pork and freshly slaughtered local pork at affordable prices.
Xu Qingqing posted the prepared menu in a conspicuous place at the entrance of the shop, with dishes such as braised pork rice, baked pumpkin with salted egg yolk, braised pork, and vegetable and tofu soup prominently listed.
The signs next to it were thoughtfully labeled "Flavorful and Filling" and "Gentle and Refreshing," attracting the occasional tourists passing by to stop and admire.
As evening approached, several hikers descending the mountain followed the aroma of food into the shop. Their eyes lit up when they saw the home-style dishes on the menu, and they immediately ordered braised pork rice and braised pork belly.
Su Yingxue and the others each performed their duties, the firewood in the stove was lit again, the braised pork in the iron pot simmered, and the cured meat rice in the earthenware pot steamed.
Before long, two hot dishes were served. As the hikers ate their hot meals, they gazed out the window at the gradually setting sun and the surging sea of clouds, and couldn't help but sigh, "To be able to eat such a hot, home-cooked meal halfway up the mountain, this trip has truly been worthwhile!"
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