Chapter 45 Chili Fried Pork Noodles
Tang Yiyi went to the vegetable market with a canvas bag.
She stood in front of a rice noodle stall and noticed that the rice noodles were white, flawless, and had a strong rice flavor.
"The rice noodles are good, boss."
The shop owner smiled smugly, "Of course, young lady, we use genuine ingredients, so everyone can rest assured."
In the morning, Tang Yiyi would cook rice noodles and stir-fry some vegetables to go with them. So she bought several pounds of white rice noodles, as well as chili peppers and pork. The long, straight chili peppers were perfect for stir-frying and made the dish fragrant and spicy.
When Tang Yiyi returned to the restaurant, some shops were already open for business, especially breakfast shops, where many customers were queuing up to buy steamed buns.
Soak the rice noodles in hot water until softened. Tang Yiyi then rushed to wash the ingredients. The fresh vegetables were so crisp and fresh. She cut the chili peppers into diagonal strips and the pork into small pieces.
Heat oil in a wok, add pork, and stir-fry until the oil is rendered. Then add chili peppers.
When cooking this kind of dish, Tang Yiyi turns on the range hood beforehand to avoid being choked by the fumes.
But the aroma of chili peppers still wafted over, carrying a slightly pungent smell.
Tang Yiyi could vaguely see figures moving around in the kitchen; she realized it was Song Man.
After the stir-fried pork with chili peppers was ready, Tang Yiyi started preparing side dishes, which added a lot of flavor to the rice noodles.
Around 7:30, more and more students and parents gather at the school gate. Every day, a scene of reluctance to part unfolds, and sometimes the heart-wrenching cries of children can be heard.
Soon, customers arrived at the store.
"Boss, do you sell noodles today?" the customer asked, somewhat surprised.
Tang Yiyi nodded.
What kind of side dishes or the like are available?
"Stir-fried pork with chili peppers, stir-fried pork with wood ear mushrooms, and stir-fried eggs with tomatoes."
Without thinking much, the customer said, "Then I'll have stir-fried pork with chili and rice noodles."
"Okay, please wait a moment. There are seats available over there."
Tang Yiyi took out the soaked rice noodles, put them into the soup pot, cooked them for a minute or two, then took them out, poured two spoonfuls of broth over them, and then added two spoonfuls of stir-fried pork with chili peppers.
When the stir-fried pork with chili peppers was served to the guests, they were full of surprise.
"The previous guests received free side dishes," she reminded them before turning back to the kitchen.
Guest: "Thank you."
After saying that, he got up and went to the front desk to get a small plate, which he then put on some seaweed strips, chili sauce, and pickled cowpeas.
He always likes to add some side dishes when he eats rice noodles, which makes the noodles taste even better.
The rice noodles emitted wisps of steam, accompanied by a delicate aroma of rice. Guests couldn't wait to pick up their chopsticks and lift up a clump of rice noodles to cool it down.
The customers are always picky eaters, but they found the rice noodles incredibly tempting; the rice noodles were truly white and smooth.
The customer didn't even want to blink. He picked up a clump of rice noodles, the aroma filling his nose, and put it in his mouth.
Wow, the rice noodles are so delicious! They're smooth and chewy, not dry or astringent, and they leave a lingering fragrance in your mouth. The subtle aroma of rice is so irresistible.
Not to mention the stir-fried pork with chili peppers served on top of the rice noodles; the spiciness of the chili peppers and the perfectly balanced lean and fatty pork pieces make for a wonderful combination.
The guest felt incredibly hungry; a deep hunger surged in his stomach, and his mouth involuntarily produced saliva.
After a long day at work, a bowl of fragrant rice noodles is the perfect treat for any working person.
Then he picked up the stir-fried pork with chili peppers with his chopsticks. With both peppers and meat, it was as if someone was fighting with him for it, and he quickly stuffed it into his mouth. The fragrant and spicy peppers were like a fire igniting the meadow in his mouth, which was truly shocking and breathtaking, and even his dizzy head seemed to clear up a bit.
The meat chunks were just as I expected—tender, chewy, and increasingly flavorful with each chew; the texture was quite delicate. The owner must have bought fresh pork; otherwise, pork stored in the freezer for a long time wouldn't have this texture.
Xingguang Elementary School is very strict about early morning classes. Su Yue was worried about being late, so she packed some rice noodles at a restaurant and ran to school.
Fortunately, Su Yue ran to the classroom a minute before the school bell rang.
Su Yue, who entered the classroom almost at the same time as the teacher, patted her chest, "..." That was close.
She had already put the takeout box in her desk.
Gu Jia, who was sitting at the same table, whispered, "Did you buy this at a restaurant?"
Su Yue nodded lightly.
She bought her favorite rice noodles and added some side dishes; she was so happy.
The two dared not whisper to each other anymore, worried that the teacher on stage would see them, and instead listened attentively to the lesson.
After class, Su Yue took out a package from her desk, opened the lid, and saw her stir-fried pork with chili peppers, topped with a lot of side dishes, which looked quite delicious.
Gu Jia looked at it and felt a little hungry.
The two were close friends, and Su Yue said to her best friend, "Jiajia, bring your bowl over, I'll put some rice noodles and soup in it for you."
Even with such a large bowl of rice noodles, Su Yue was still a little hungry; otherwise, she would have been worried about wasting it.
Gu Jia took out the bowl, beaming, "Thank you, Xiaoyue~"
After the rice noodles were portioned out, Su Yue, who was already hungry, started eating.
The rice noodles in my mouth are smooth and chewy, with a rich rice aroma. I keep eating them one after another. The rice noodles soaked in the soup are a little soft and become more and more fragrant with each bite. They don't require much chewing.
By the way, he loves stir-fried pork with chili peppers. The chili peppers are fragrant and spicy, but not the kind that's intensely spicy and makes your throat feel uncomfortable. Instead, they're mild and gentle, and even have a slight aftertaste.
The sliced meat is chewy, tender, and juicy, yet smooth, making it a perfect match for the rice noodles.
Su Yue had intended to savor the experience, but seeing that there were still a few minutes before class started, she had no choice but to speed things up.
I didn't even leave a drop of soup in it, and there wasn't any strange or overpowering seasoning flavor. It was delicious.
Among the side dishes, her favorite is pickled cowpeas, which are sour and spicy, crunchy and delicious, and quite appetizing when paired with rice noodles.
Seeing her friend's reaction, Gu Jia thought to herself, "This rice noodle is really delicious." It's not dry or greasy, and the stir-fried pork with chili peppers elevates the flavor to another level. She could eat it again and again—it was the best rice noodle she'd ever had!
Ke Bi's classmates were drooling. How could she eat so deliciously? It was just a simple bowl of rice noodles, the kind you can find anywhere in a noodle shop! But it smelled so good.
The fragrance lingered until the teacher came to class.
"What does it smell like?" the teacher asked, sniffing the air.
Su Yue and her companion below the podium felt a little guilty, hoping the teacher wouldn't notice.
The rice noodles were all sold out by 10 a.m., and even after that, customers kept coming in to ask, "Boss, do you still have any rice noodles?"
"That's all. Let's come back tomorrow, or take a look at the menu and try something else?" Tang Yiyi suggested.
"Okay, it's fine."
Even the stir-fried pork with minced meat and chili was sold out. About half of the customers ordered takeout. Tang Yiyi checked the reviews and found that they not only praised the stir-fried pork with chili but also gave it a five-star rating.
Tang Yiyi responded to each customer's question and thanked them for their support.
Then I sat down to rest for a while, got up and went to the kitchen to prepare ingredients. I peeled the pumpkin, cut it into slices, and used it to make soup.
This kind of old pumpkin, when boiled into soup, tastes sweet and delicious.
Even before mealtime, customers came in to order food.
"Do you have pumpkin soup?" the customer asked, then added, "Please make some minced meat and eggplant soup with pumpkin."
"Okay, that'll be 26 yuan in total."
"I'll pay with my payment code."
The customer paid quickly and then found a seat.
In the kitchen, Tang Yiyi turned on the stove and heated the pan. She waited for the water in the pan to evaporate before pouring in the oil, otherwise the pan would sizzle and fry her. Then, she added the chopped minced meat to the hot oil and sautéed it until fragrant.
Seeing that the minced meat had changed color, Tang Yiyi poured in some cooking wine, soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. This not only enhanced the color of the minced meat but also added flavor and freshness, making the minced meat more appealing. Next, she added scallions, ginger, and garlic to sauté until fragrant. Over high heat, she stirred the mixture evenly with a spatula. Then, she added the chopped eggplant strips and continued to stir-fry until the eggplant softened. Finally, she added a spoonful of salt and stirred again.
The rich aroma of soy sauce wafted out, along with the fresh scent of meat. Tang Yiyi saw that it was almost cooked and the eggplant had softened, so she poured in some water before taking it out of the pan.
Pumpkin soup is even simpler to make.
Put the pumpkin chunks directly into the pot and add an appropriate amount of water. First, turn on the heat to high and bring the water to a boil. Then turn the heat to low. The pumpkin will become soft and tender in no time. Considering that the pumpkin itself is sweet, Tang Yiyi did not add any rock sugar.
The guests were waiting. They had originally planned to eat at Jucailou, but it was too far away. Although the dishes at Jucailou were delicious, they were not cheap. It would cost at least several hundred yuan for one person to eat there.
I came to this restaurant because a friend recommended it to me.
"The food is here!" Just as I was thinking this, a clear female voice rang out, and Tang Yiyi neatly brought the dishes over.
The restaurant serves food quite quickly; customers go to get their food and then return to their seats.
Before even touching the chopsticks, I saw minced meat piled on long eggplants, with some dark brown broth underneath, and chunks of pumpkin lying in yellow broth. It looked and smelled delicious.
The guest's appetite returned, and he picked up his chopsticks. He smelled the unique sweet aroma of pumpkin, took a piece of pumpkin, and found it to be soft, sweet, and delicious. The pumpkin in his mouth was truly satisfying.
Pumpkin soup was probably even better, so the guest picked up a spoon, scooped up some soup, and put it in his mouth.
The soup is so fragrant and sweet, and as smooth as silk, it feels like it's slowly gliding across your tongue.
Customers took out their phones to take pictures, and every shot was a beautiful one, making the food look appetizing.
Upon catching a glimpse of the minced meat and eggplant dish, which he hadn't yet eaten, and after the delightful pumpkin soup, the guest picked up a piece of eggplant, placed it on top of the white rice, stirred it a couple of times, and began to eat.
The soft eggplant has a delicate texture and a slightly spicy flavor. It's also soaked in some broth, which infuses the rice with the broth, making it a delicious accompaniment to rice.
The guests were completely absorbed in their meal, and no matter how they ate, the layers of flavor unfolded in their mouths, making it impossible to find any fault with the taste.
After finishing the meal, the guests felt their bellies were round and full. They hadn't expected to eat so much, as the portions were quite generous and the prices were very reasonable.
At 12:10, Xiaoyu came home from school with a small schoolbag on his back. At the same time, some students came to the store to eat.
Xiaoyu weaved among the guests, offering his assistance.
A student saw this and asked Xiaoyu, "Are you also a student at Xingguang? What grade are you in?"
"Third grade."
The fifth-grade student, seeing that he was more than half a head taller than himself, was speechless. "How can he be so tall?"
The students were very excited when they arrived at the small restaurant. Some took photos with their phones, while others talked to their classmates and friends about how they came to the restaurant on their friends' recommendation.
Just as they were getting into the conversation, the dishes were served.
Those playing on their phones quickly put them down, and those who were talking stopped talking altogether, all staring at the steaming dishes on the table.
The little radishes peeked out, trying to grab some food.
Wow, it tastes like home-cooked food, but it also seems different, even better.
The students don't have big appetites; at home they only eat a few bites of food. But when they get to the restaurant, they turn into starving wolves, eyeing the meat and feasting heartily.
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