Chapter 3 Cold Noodles + Kelp and Mung Bean Soup
Tang Yiyi was happy to see that Xiaoyu liked to eat.
A chef feels a great sense of accomplishment when diners are satisfied with their food.
Tang Yiyi likes to mix rice with broth. The broth from the braised pork ribs wasn't much, but it had an enticing dark brown color. She scooped two spoonfuls into her bowl, and the broth seeped into the rice, coating each plump grain. She took a spoonful of rice and ate it. It had the soft, chewy texture of rice, as well as the rich aroma of the broth. One bite was very satisfying.
Seeing Xiaoyu mimicking her actions, ladling soup into the rice and then stirring it with a spoon, she smiled and said, "Good boy."
After dinner, Tang Yiyi washed the dishes and chopsticks for both of them, and then tidied up the stove, while Xiaoyu wiped the table.
The house is clean and tidy, making it comfortable to live in.
Then, after watching TV with Xiaoyu for a while, the lychees that Grandma Li gave them became their dessert. Tang Yiyi peeled a lychee; the skin wasn't thick, revealing tender, plump white flesh, which she popped into her mouth. The abundant juice burst in her mouth as she bit into it, sweet and juicy, seemingly sweetening her very soul.
Xiaoyu ate several of them; they were delicious, and his eyes curved into crescent shapes.
Soon Xiaoyu yawned, tears welling in the corners of his eyes, "So sleepy."
"It's nine o'clock now, Xiaoyu should go to sleep."
Xiaoyu stood up and said, "See you tomorrow, sister!"
After washing up, Tang Yiyi lay in bed, her mind drifting, thinking that if she worked hard to run the restaurant well, things would definitely get better and better.
Accompanied by the chirping of cicadas, the bright moonlight poured into the room.
Tang Yiyi fell into a deep sleep...
After a good night's sleep, Tang Yiyi woke up the next day feeling full of energy.
Most people don't have an appetite in the morning, so she prepares to cook noodles.
While cooking the noodles, she prepared the broth, then scooped out the cooked noodles and put them in a bowl. She then blanched some water spinach, and the vegetables were ready in just a few seconds.
To supplement her nutrition, she also fried two eggs, one for Xiaoyu and one for herself.
Then I went to wake Xiaoyu up. Xiaoyu was sleeping soundly in bed with a single hair sticking up on his head. "Xiaoyu, get up and have breakfast."
She called twice, and if Xiaoyu still hadn't gotten up, she wasn't going to bother her anymore. She was going to a restaurant after breakfast.
"Xiaoyu, wake up~" To everyone's surprise, the next second, Xiaoyu jumped out of bed, rubbing his sleepy eyes, looking adorable.
Xiaoyu quickly finished washing up, and the whole room was filled with the aroma of noodles.
The vegetable noodles have a mild flavor, but mild doesn't mean they're not delicious. The smooth and chewy noodles, paired with refreshing water spinach, are never greasy. A poached egg is topped on top, its surface an enticing golden-brown with a slight char.
Xiao Yu took a bite, and the yolk inside was runny, with no eggy smell.
She was worried about leaving Xiaoyu home alone. Besides, Xiaoyu would feel uneasy and scared.
I took Xiaoyu to the restaurant. After they cleaned it yesterday, the restaurant looked brand new and was much cleaner.
The primary school will reopen in about a week, and most of the other restaurants near the school are closed.
Since the original owner's parents had obtained the relevant business licenses, she only needed to go to the hospital to get a health certificate.
She rushed to the hospital for the health checkup, and the nurse told her she had to come back the next day to pick up her health certificate.
Then she and Xiaoyu went to the market for a big shopping trip. It was summer, and even though it was almost over, it was still very hot.
She bought some alkaline noodles, cucumbers, and peanuts. When buying cucumbers, Xiaoyu insisted on helping her carry the ingredients. The shopkeeper praised him, "Is this your little brother? He's so thoughtful."
In Xiaoyu's mind, he's about to enter the third grade and is now an adult.
Back at the restaurant, I erased the words on the blackboard and wrote "Cold noodles, eight yuan a serving."
Before selling cold noodles, she would taste them first, so she made a bowl of cold noodles. She chopped garlic and scallions, prepared the sauce, cooked the noodles, rinsed them in cold water, and drizzled sesame oil over them.
Add cucumber strips and crushed peanuts to the noodles, drizzle with sauce, and stir a few times to make them more flavorful.
The cold noodles were ready and divided into two bowls. Xiaoyu held the bowl, picked up a clump of noodles with his chopsticks, and put it in his mouth.
My eyes lit up immediately. The cold noodles had a wonderful texture, and when I chewed them, I could smell an indescribable fragrance. They were also very chewy. The cucumber strips were refreshing and helped cut through the greasiness, and the crushed peanuts were crunchy. Together, they were delicious and very appetizing, perfect for summer.
After finishing his meal, Xiaoyu went to get another half bowl.
Finally, he licked his lips and patted his bulging belly, "Delicious. It's a pity I can't eat anymore, or Xiaoyu's belly will burst."
Tang Yiyi hummed in agreement. The food was delicious, but she couldn't eat too much; eating too much would be harmful.
At this time, students were not in school and there was not much business, which Tang Yiyi could accept. She sat in the restaurant and waited.
Xiaoyu told her homeroom teacher that she wanted to pay her tuition later. The homeroom teacher, understanding the family's difficult circumstances, said she would speak to higher-ups, and they agreed.
Xiaoyu will not pay his living expenses for the time being; he will eat at the restaurant at noon.
"Boss, what kind of food do you have in your shop?" A voice suddenly rang out from above.
Old Wang is a security guard at Xingguang Elementary School. He had just finished his shift with his colleague and came to the restaurant across from the school gate to find something to eat.
Even before you get close, you can smell a faint fragrance that is enticing enough.
Following the aroma, Lao Wang found Tang's Little Restaurant. He recognized that this restaurant had been open near the school for a long time. The food was so-so, but the portions were generous and filling, and the prices were acceptable, so many students ate there for lunch.
Thinking of the fragrance from earlier, even though the decor hadn't changed, the interior was clean and tidy, with tables and chairs neatly arranged.
Old Wang was still happy to stay and eat.
Tang Yiyi: "We have cold noodles, eight yuan a serving."
"Then I'll have a cold noodle dish."
Old Wang found both the food and the price acceptable.
Old Wang found a seat and noticed that the table was spotless, without a trace of oil, and gleaming.
Then I watched as the owner held chopsticks in one hand and a bowl in the other, picking out noodles from the large porcelain bowl, adding side dishes and seasonings, stirring it a few times, and then serving it to me.
"There's chili sauce on the table. If you like spicy food, you can add some," Tang Yiyi reminded them.
The chili sauce made by the original owner's parents was spicy but not irritating to the throat and stomach, and it was also very fragrant and delicious.
Old Wang nodded, then picked up his chopsticks.
The noodles have a rich wheat aroma, are very chewy and elastic, have a crispy and fragrant taste, are smooth and refreshing, and are both fragrant and spicy.
The spiciness wasn't quite enough. Old Wang, who was used to eating spicy food, listened to the owner's advice, scooped a spoonful of chili sauce from the jar onto the noodles, stirred it a few times, and then picked up a cold noodle to taste. It was incredibly spicy, and the addition of side dishes like cucumber shreds made the flavor more complex.
Xiao Yu smiled slightly upon seeing Lao Wang's reaction. Even the security guard loved the cold noodles his sister made.
Old Wang wolfed down his cold noodles, not even leaving the side dishes at the bottom of the bowl, and finally smiled with great satisfaction.
When paying, Lao Wang sincerely said, "Boss, your cold noodles are really delicious!" He had made cold noodles at home before, but every time he ate them, he always felt that something was missing. Either the flavor was too bland and not flavorful enough, or the noodles were too hard and not tasty.
"Thank you, it's delicious, please come again!"
After seeing the guests off, Tang Yiyi took the dirty dishes to wash, while Xiaoyu took a rag and wiped the table like a little adult.
It wasn't until 8:30 p.m. that Tang Yiyi pulled down the roller shutter and closed the door.
When she got home, she did the math. There weren't many customers today, and the total cost, including cash and QR code payments, was around 300 yuan. After deducting the cost of ingredients, noodles, cucumbers, etc., she spent nearly 100 yuan in total.
In other words, she earned more than two hundred yuan today.
Tang Yiyi was quite satisfied with this income.
Looking at Xiaoyu watching TV, she said, "It's time for bed."
"Okay," Xiaoyu said, running off to turn off the TV and then returning to her room.
After obtaining her health certificate the next day, Tang Yiyi went to the market again. Yesterday, some customers had commented that the cold noodles were too dry, so she planned to make some soup to sell as well, hoping it would improve business.
The first thing that comes to mind is mung bean soup to relieve greasiness and cool you down in the summer heat, but even if you make mung bean soup on its own, it's just so-so. It's better when paired with other ingredients.
After buying mung beans, Tang Yiyi went to a dried goods store and bought several kilograms of kelp.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, she unlocked and pulled open the roller shutter door, first soaking the mung beans. The kelp was very dirty and difficult to clean, so she washed it several times.
Fresh kelp was being cut into strips when a voice came from the doorway, "Excuse me, is anyone home?"
Xiaoyu jumped off the chair and, seeing the person who came, greeted, "Hello, Grandma."
Tang Yiyi poked her head out of the kitchen, saw it was Grandma Li, and went over to her.
Grandma Li: "Yiyi, this is your family's restaurant. It looks so clean."
Then she mentioned the spare ribs from last night, "Yiyi, how did you make the spare ribs? They were so delicious! Even my picky husband and my picky granddaughter loved them. Before I knew it, there were hardly any spare ribs left in my bowl."
The ribs are tender and not dry, with firm lean meat and flavorful sauce that's both sweet and spicy. His family loves them.
Tang Yiyi: "Grandma, this is easy. First, you need to blanch the ribs and make sure to do it for the right time. Then, you need to make the sauce according to the correct proportions. When we get back, I'll write down the sauce recipe for you."
"Okay, thank you, Yiyi."
The fish in the plastic bag were still jumping around lively when Grandma Li remembered her important task. "Yiyi, you're a good cook. Can I ask you for a favor?"
"Our whole family is having lunch at your restaurant today. How about we price the dishes at twice the market rate?"
After eating the braised pork ribs that Yi Yi gave them, his family became picky about breakfast again and barely touched any of it.
Grandma Li decided to have lunch at Yi Yi Restaurant, even if it was a bit pricey, it was worth it.
“Okay, but Grandma, you might have to wait a while,” Tang Yiyi said as she got down.
Grandma Li told her, "Yiyi, this is a crucian carp that Grandma bought from the market. My husband loves fish and has been asking for some, so I'm troubleing you to prepare it."
"good."
After soaking the mung beans, Tang Yiyi put them into a pressure cooker, added kelp strips, and poured in an appropriate amount of water to cook.
There was still some time before lunch, so Grandma Li waited for her family to arrive at the restaurant.
Seeing that Xiaoyu, though young, was helping Yiyi, sometimes wiping the table, sometimes taking dirty dishes to the kitchen, Grandma Li sighed, "If only my Lili were as sensible as Xiaoyu."
Lili and Xiaoyu are about the same age and are both in the third grade at Xingguang Elementary School.
Worried that Grandma Li might be thirsty, Xiaoyu ran to get a cup of water and brought it to her.
Grandma Li took it, smiled, and said, "Thank you, Xiaoyu."
After the kelp and mung bean soup was cooked, Tang Yiyi brought it to the dining table.
Grandma Li glanced over and asked, "Yiyi, what kind of soup is this?"
"Seaweed and mung bean soup, freshly made."
"Then I'll have one bowl."
The food from the morning had been mostly digested after a few hours. Grandma Li scooped up some seaweed and mung bean soup with a spoon and blew on it to cool it down.
Having lived for decades, Grandma Li had never imagined that kelp and mung beans could be paired together. It looked strange, but it smelled delicious.
The soup had both the refreshing taste of mung beans and the aroma of the ocean, making Grandma Li feel as if she were standing by the sea, feeling the breeze. She's getting old and her teeth aren't very strong, but the seaweed and mung bean soup, when cooked for a long time, doesn't strain her teeth much.
The mung bean has a smooth texture, and the kelp is soft; the two combine perfectly, bringing a touch of coolness to the hot summer days. It's so refreshing to drink.
The soup, in particular, is incredibly fresh and sweet, so smooth and delightful that it makes you want to have another sip after each one.
Grandma Li immediately sent a message to her husband: [Delicious seaweed and mung bean soup, you might not have any left if you come late.]
Upon seeing this, his wife replied, "We're coming right away."
My wife is a gourmet with a deep love for food; for years she's only ever craved a particular dish. Neither of us is a great cook, just passable, so my wife loves to travel in search of delicious food.
Grandma Li drank her seaweed and mung bean soup, not wanting to leave a single drop in her bowl. It was sweet, refreshing, and left a lingering aftertaste.
Within twenty minutes, his wife arrived with their granddaughter.
When granddaughter Lili heard there was something delicious to eat, she immediately urged her grandfather to bring her over. As elementary school students, they don't have grand goals or ambitions; delicious food is their biggest motivation for going to school!
"Lili, would you like some seaweed and mung bean soup?" Grandma Li asked her granddaughter.
Lili nodded, and Grandpa Li also said he wanted to drink it. He had never seen seaweed and mung beans go together before.
Tang Yiyi brought over two bowls of seaweed and mung bean soup. "Enjoy your meal."
Judging from her youthful appearance, Grandpa Li had some doubts about whether this strange combination would taste good.
Unexpectedly, Grandma Li urged, "Old man, Lili, drink up, it's delicious!"
Lili was thirsty after walking all that way. She lowered her head and took a sip of the soup. The cool aroma enveloped her, and the sweet taste made her want more.
"Delicious!"
Children don't lie, and after hearing his granddaughter's words, Grandpa Li dared to give it a try. He first scooped up a spoonful of mung beans, mixed with some seaweed; mung beans are refreshing and appetizing in the summer.
As it turned out, my wife was right. The mung beans were smooth and melted in my mouth, with a subtle sweetness. The seaweed was easy to chew but not soggy.
And the best thing about this soup is that it tastes amazing. How wonderful it would be to have a bowl of it every morning.
Grandpa Li laughed and said, "No wonder he can run a restaurant, he really has some skills."
Winning over students' stomachs is no easy task.
After finishing a bowl, Lili licked the remaining soup from her lips and looked longingly at her grandmother, "Grandma, I want more."
Grandma Li always doted on her granddaughter. "Yiyi, I'd like another bowl of seaweed and mung bean soup."
"Two bowls, please," Grandpa Li said, adding that he wanted to drink another bowl.
After finishing the seaweed and mung bean soup, the grandfather and grandson were still a little hungry.
Seeing what they were thinking, Grandma Li spoke up to stop them, "You can't drink anymore, you need to save room for dinner."
A note from the author:
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