Chapter 73 The First Day of the Mala Tang Business
What you need to prepare before opening is, of course, sufficient ingredients and staff training.
Song Xinran has always used chicken carcass bones from Lei Hong to make her soup base. In the past, she only needed chicken carcass bones when she made oden, and Lei Hong's restaurant was very successful, so there was always an oversupply. Song Xinran would just go and get the chicken carcass bones whenever she needed them, and there was never a shortage.
Now, chicken carcasses are needed to make hot pot broth. Lei Hong joked, "Xinran, your business is booming. I think my chicken carcasses won't be able to keep up with your broth-making speed in the future."
Song Xinran smiled and said, "Brother Lei, we can definitely make it in time. Not to mention that the chicken that we've been waiting for is selling very well, I only need one or two chicken carcasses every day. But maybe every three to five days, or a week, we'll need more at once."
Upon hearing this, Lei Hong immediately understood: "The principle behind mala tang is actually similar to that of braised meat?"
Song Xinran nodded: "Yes, both of these foods can follow the principle of making them daily and cleaning them regularly. I plan to make the hot pot on a weekly schedule, which will ensure both the consistency and richness of the flavor, as well as the freshness and safety of the broth."
There are other benefits that Lei Hong understood without Song Xinran having to explain them. After all, he was also in the catering industry, and these benefits could save costs and time, maximizing efficiency.
Song Xinran had eaten mala tang (a type of spicy hot pot) in her previous life in the same way, but everyone's replacement cycle was longer, depending on the season. In summer, it was usually seven or eight days, and in winter, it was about ten days.
Making the broth for Mala Tang is a very troublesome task. Not to mention the time required, it takes a lot of effort to adjust the flavor to the right level. If the freshly made broth is not quite right, it will drive away customers. Shops with high standards will choose to change the broth and make it again on the same day, which will immediately increase the cost.
So, while a mala tang (spicy hot pot) shop may seem simple, a successful business requires the help of an experienced and steady chef.
Upon hearing this, Lei Hong thought to himself that this was indeed much simpler. Song Xinran had several businesses to run and couldn't handle them all by herself, so she would probably have to entrust them to others.
His gaze was extremely profound, and he thought to himself that Song Xinran had probably thought about these things when she bought the shop; she was truly a planner.
"Okay, just come and pick it up the same way as before!"
Song Xinran took two chicken carcasses from Lei Hong and went home. Before she even got home, she saw Ge Xia sitting on the cool couch. Song Xinwen was talking to her beside her. Ge Xia had her hands tightly pressed against her thighs, looking somewhat restrained.
"Xiaoxia's here so early," Song Xinran greeted her.
Since the shop was already fully renovated, Song Xinran asked Song Xinwen to send a message back and invite Ge Xia to come along.
When a new store opens, training employees is especially important. Today, she plans to take Ge Xia to make a hot pot soup base to see her cooking skills and character.
As soon as Ge Xia saw her enter the room, she immediately stood up, a smile involuntarily spreading across her face, but her eyelashes trembled violently, clearly very nervous: "Sister Xinran, I, I..."
She wanted to say something, but she was tongue-tied and couldn't get the words out. In the end, she could only manage to say, "Sister Xinran, I'm here."
Seeing this, Song Xinwen burst into laughter: "Xiaoxia is just too shy!"
She used to think Ge Xia was dull and taciturn, sometimes greeting people in the village and sometimes not, and even thought Ge Xia was impolite. But after spending a few days with her recently, she realized that the teenage girl was shy. In fact, she always greeted people, but sometimes her voice was too soft and the other person didn't hear her, so she was too embarrassed to call out again.
“Xinran,” Song Xinwen said with a smile, “When I was chatting with Xiaoxia just now, she kept asking me when you were coming back, wanting to hurry up and help out at the store, and even wanted to pick up a broom and sweep your house.”
Ge Xia blushed immediately and didn't dare to tell Song Xinwen to stop talking, so she just lowered her head and remained silent.
When she came, her parents told her to work hard at Sister Xinran's place, learn a skill, and that it was her good fortune that Sister Xinran was willing to take her on. Not only did she not have to pay any money, but she was also paid a salary.
Tell her to keep her eyes open when she gets to the shop, and do whatever work is available. She should go early every morning to clean the shop and arrange the tables and chairs neatly. Young people shouldn't be afraid of hard work; they should endure more hardship when they are young.
Ge Xia took notes carefully. She cherished this hard-won opportunity and hoped to satisfy Song Xinran so that she could stay in the company after half a month.
Ge Xia felt that her first impression of Song Xinwen was not good. She wanted to help out at the shop, but she couldn't find a place. She wanted to do some chores at home, but Song Xinwen stopped her. Now Song Xinran had already bought things and returned, while she was still sitting at home doing nothing.
Ge Xia was a little frustrated. She wasn't very good at talking and just wanted to do more work at the shop later so that Song Xinran could see her efforts.
Song Xinran smiled after hearing Song Xinwen's words: "Xiaoxia, you don't need to do these things. Come with me to the shop, and I'll teach you how to make the mala tang soup base."
Ge Xia's eyes lit up, and she quickly nodded, "Okay, Sister Xinran!"
On the way here, Ge Xia's imagination of shops was limited to traditional small restaurants on the street. She had eaten there before, and all she remembered was that there were some oil stains on the walls that couldn't be removed, the tabletops were yellowed and greasy to the touch, and she had to wipe the table with a tissue before sitting down to eat.
But when she saw the mala tang shop, she was surprised. It was completely different from what she had imagined. The shop's signboard read "Delicious Mala Tang" and looked ordinary, but the interior was clean and white.
Several large lights overhead illuminated every corner of the shop. The floor was the usual terrazzo floor, but the walls were half-tiled. The wooden tables were neatly arranged, without a trace of oil stains, and they didn't stick to your hands. A brand-new refrigerated display case was placed at the back against the wall. Overall, the shop looked very clean and tidy.
If Ge Xia came to the market alone, she definitely wouldn't dare to go into a shop like this, thinking that the things sold inside must be expensive.
But if you look up slightly, you can see the price tags hanging inside the shop, which read: 3 yuan per jin for vegetarian dishes and 11 yuan per jin for meat dishes.
Ge Xia habitually focuses her attention on lower-priced dishes. A plate of stir-fried vegetables on the street costs three or four yuan, which is not expensive at all, and she can afford it.
Following Song Xinran into the shop, Ge Xia saw the kitchen, which surprised her even more. A huge freezer was placed in one corner, the stainless steel countertop was sturdy and smooth, and there was a wide variety of seasonings, some of which she had never seen before. The kitchen was clean everywhere.
Ge Xia thought to herself, "Sister Xinran's shop must be very hygienic. I must clean and wipe the tables and wash the dishes frequently when I help out here, so that the shop will always be clean."
Seeing that Ge Xia didn't talk much and was just looking around the shop and familiarizing herself with the layout, Song Xinran asked, "Xia, have you ever eaten mala tang before?"
Ge Xia shook her head: "No."
Song Xinran then asked, "Do you know how to make mala tang?"
Ge Xia said, "I asked Sister Xinwen, and she told me that you just need to cook the spicy soup base, then put the vegetables in, cook them, take them out, and then mix in the seasonings."
Song Xinran smiled and nodded: "That's right. It sounds simple, but it's not easy to do it well. Xiaoxia, you often cook at home, so you know that. Take simple dipping sauce, for example. Everyone can make it, but it takes effort to make it taste good."
Ge Xia nodded: "I know, I make most of the dipping sauce at home myself."
She felt a little embarrassed when she said that, as if she was showing off something, but she was telling the truth. Her parents said that her dipping sauce was delicious, and they would ask her to make cold dishes whenever they had them at home.
“That’s great,” Song Xinran said with a smile. “The two methods are similar, and you might do well on your first try.”
"Let me do it once and you can see."
Song Xinran first put the chicken carcass bones into a pot of cold water, added ginger slices to remove the fishy smell, and after boiling, skimmed off the foam, took them out and rinsed them with warm water and set them aside.
This step takes a while, and while waiting for the water to boil, Ge Xia didn't rest. She looked around and found a towel on the kitchen shelf, asking, "Sister Xinran, is this a dishcloth?"
Song Xinran then told her where the miscellaneous items in the shop were piled up, including mops, brooms, and rags.
After the introduction, Ge Xia picked up a rag, wet it, and wiped the tables in the shop. Then she picked up another wet cloth to wipe the wall tiles.
Song Xinran assumed that it was her first time here and she was still a little uncomfortable, so she just let her do whatever she wanted to ease the awkwardness. She thought that it would be better for her to interfere too much.
Just as Ge Xia picked up the wet cloth, the water boiled. She put the things down and stood back by the stove to watch carefully how Song Xinran did it, even taking notes with a small notebook and pen in her hand.
Seeing this, Song Xinran couldn't help but chuckle, thinking to herself that Ge Xia was also a down-to-earth and earnest person.
After cooking the soup, she stir-fried the base ingredients and spices in a separate pot. Song Xinran has never liked to use cheap hot pot base ingredients. The taste of this dish seems okay, but it is more likely to cause internal heat and is a bit sticky in the mouth, with a heavy taste.
So she always uses locally pressed rapeseed oil and her own rendered lard to stir-fry, adding all kinds of spices, and the result is almost the same with the addition of fermented bean paste.
She specifically instructed Ge Xia: "Xiao Xia, you can remember the order in which you put the spices. There's a trick to it. You need to know how to stir-fry each spice to bring out its maximum effect and create the most fragrant flavor."
Ge Xia suppressed her excitement and nodded vigorously: "I understand, Sister Xinran!"
She could smell the aroma as soon as the ingredients were stir-fried. This ordinary cooking process was now shrouded in a mysterious and exciting veil.
Ge Xia remembered that she had never smelled such a strong and pungent aroma when she cooked or when her parents cooked. It was so strong and overpowering that it whetted her appetite.
The base sauce is oily and bright red, and the salty aroma of various spices wrapped in soy sauce is slowly released. The spiciness is accompanied by a rich and layered fragrance. At this moment, Song Xinran ladles the cooked chicken soup into the pot. The boiling chicken soup hits the hot oil and immediately stirs up a thick white mist. The white room is filled with a spicy and mellow aroma, and the two blend together perfectly.
Song Xinran added chicken bones to make broth to enhance the flavor, and began to season the soup. She added light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and rock sugar in that order, scooped out a little with a clean spoon to taste, and then gave some to Ge Xia, who was standing next to her.
Ge Xia's eyes widened upon tasting it, and her face flushed with excitement: "Delicious!"
This was the first time she had tasted anything made by Song Xinran, and her heart was pounding with excitement. Even before she could taste the flavor, she felt it was the most delicious thing in the world. In fact, psychological factors accounted for the majority of her experience.
But it was only after a while that my taste buds belatedly realized that it tasted unusual. By then, the soup had already been swallowed, and there was still a lingering aftertaste in my mouth.
Especially when the boiling broth bubbles and bursts, the aroma of rapeseed oil, the spiciness of spices, and the sweetness of freshly made chicken soup are so rich that they seem to melt away, complementing the aftertaste in your mouth and making your mouth water.
Ge Xia felt she had never smelled anything so fragrant before. She couldn't help but sniff to capture the aroma. Just this smell filled her with anticipation for the hot pot ingredients to follow.
Song Xinran said, "Each ingredient has its own appropriate cooking time, but it's not possible to be so precise when cooking in a restaurant. So, we generally follow the rule of putting the ingredients that take longer to cook in first and the ones that cook faster in the last."
As for why she gave Song Xinwen and Chen Jingfang a list of cooking times for various ingredients when she went to the city, it was because she knew that they were very particular about cooking food thoroughly, so they always extended the cooking time.
She had tasted Ge Xia's cooking and found it to be quite tender. Ge Xia was good at this, so she didn't need to be so rigid in her demands.
The longer you work in the catering industry, the more you realize that chefs with distinctive personal styles don't cook in a rigid way; the most important thing is to develop a feel for the food.
Ge Xia nodded obediently, indicating that she understood.
Finally, Song Xinran cooked a large bowl of spicy hot pot, put it in a large bowl, added various seasonings, mixed it well, and then served it. She looked at Ge Xia, who was still standing next to her, diligently taking notes, and called out, "Xia, come and have a taste."
Ge Xia paused slightly, somewhat incredulous: "Me, me?"
Song Xinran laughed: "Besides you and me, who else is in this shop? Don't just memorize the steps, taste it too. Taste will make a deeper impression."
Ge Xia originally wanted to refuse. She came to work and learn, and Song Xinran even paid her a salary. How could she be qualified to taste the food made by the boss and mentor? In her mind, she should be the one making it for Song Xinran.
But after Song Xinran finished speaking, she attributed the problem to her studies, so she walked over and carefully sat down: "Thank you, Sister Xinran."
Looking at the large bowl of spicy hot pot in front of me, every ingredient is coated with a glossy sheen, the colors are rich and distinct, and the "color" is outstanding.
You don't even need to smell it closely; the domineering yet alluring aroma wafts over your face. Compared to when the broth is being simmered, it's even more complex, with each ingredient adding its own unique flavor to the mala tang. In terms of aroma, it's absolutely superb.
Ge Xia swallowed hard, then handed the chopsticks to Song Xinran with both hands: "Sister Xinran, please start eating first."
Song Xinran chuckled, took a bite of the bean curd skin first, and then said, "Don't be shy, try it all."
Ge Xia then started eating, first taking a slice of lotus root. The crisp and tender lotus root slices were refreshing, which neutralized the spiciness of the soup base, yet it was still flavorful. She finished it in a few bites, feeling as if all the cells on her tongue had been awakened in an instant.
In terms of "taste", it is the most outstanding.
Ge Xia felt that she had never eaten anything so delicious. It didn't require complicated cooking or rare ingredients; it was just vegetables that could be found everywhere on the street that tasted so good.
She originally intended to savor the food and learn, but as she ate, she realized that human thinking is limited, and she couldn't think about two things at the same time. Her mind and attention were completely filled with the word "delicious."
At this moment, Ge Xia felt not only grateful, but also even more admiring. Sister Xinran's cooking skills were so good!
But amidst these two emotions, she also felt a sense of frustration, thinking she would probably never be able to make the same delicious food again.
"Sister Xinran, you're amazing," Ge Xia said sincerely.
Song Xinran laughed and said, "Then you should try it too, and use this pot of soup base to make spicy hot pot."
Ge Xia's eyes lit up. Her joy outweighed her embarrassment. She knew how spicy and delicious the broth was, and cooking ingredients in it would definitely be a good idea. This was such a rare opportunity.
"Okay, thank you, Sister Xinran!"
Song Xinran watched as Ge Xia imitated her, putting different vegetables into a strainer. She started with lotus root slices and potatoes as a base, and after cooking for a while, she checked the color and added vegetables that cook quickly. After letting them dredge in the boiling pot a few times, she quickly picked up the strainer and put them into a bowl.
The ingredients are steaming hot, with an enticing aroma and beautiful colors that make one's mouth water.
Ge Xia felt she had already eaten her fill, but she couldn't help swallowing. However, she didn't stop adding various seasonings. Finally, she stirred it well and placed it in front of Song Xinran, feeling both nervous and expectant: "Sister Xinran, please try it."
Her feelings at this moment were like those she faced in her class at school. Her grades were not good, and she did not do well in each exam. When the teacher handed out the test papers, he would shake his head when he saw her, feeling angry and disappointed.
But she wasn't at school today, and she wasn't doing a boring test she didn't understand. Instead, she was cooking, which she loved. The person in front of her, Song Xinran, was her teacher, and Song Xinran's words seemed to be a pronouncement on a different path in her life.
Song Xinran glanced at the spicy hot pot in front of her. Judging from the color alone, she knew it was cooked well. She picked up a piece and was about to put it in her mouth when she heard Ge Xia's nervous breathing. She turned to look at Ge Xia and saw that the other woman's eyes were not blinking. She chuckled and said, "Don't be nervous."
After saying that, she put it in her mouth. Since the ingredients were cooked in the same pot of broth, the taste was actually not much different. Adding seasoning after cooking only enhances the flavor. Ge Xia's skill in making dipping sauce is indeed good. This bowl of spicy hot pot tastes quite good, but there are a few too many chilies, and they are small red chilies, which makes it slightly pungent.
"Xiaoxia, your cooking is pretty good." Song Xinran said after tasting all the ingredients. "The leafy greens are cooked tender, the meat slices are not tough or dry, and the potato slices are cooked just right."
This was Song Xinran's true thought. In terms of cooking alone, Ge Xia was many times better than Chen Jingfang and Song Xinwen. This aspect also depends on talent, and Ge Xia's talent was clearly quite good.
"However, you can add a little less fresh chili when seasoning, and you can blanch the bean curd sheets a little longer." Of course, Song Xinran wouldn't overlook the shortcomings, "But they are all minor aspects, you can pay attention to them in the future."
At this point, Song Xinran decided that it was technically feasible for her to make the broth herself and have Ge Xia cook the dishes.
Upon hearing her words, Ge Xia immediately picked up a pen and wrote them down in her notebook, her face flushed with excitement: "It's all because Sister Xinran makes such a good soup base. With such a soup base, everything tastes delicious."
Song Xinran said, "You just saw how I did it. From now on, I'll be entrusting you with making the soup base. But don't worry, you don't need to make a new soup base every day."
Song Xinran told Ge Xia how to preserve the soup base of Mala Tang. Every day after closing, skim off the oil and residue from the soup base, filter it clean, pour it into a clean bucket, and put it in the freezer for refrigeration.
Before opening the next day, add fresh water and ingredients to the soup base, then simmer over low heat to blend the flavors of both, and then slowly season.
As Ge Xia scribbled quickly in her notebook, she felt both shocked and moved. On her very first day there, Sister Xinran had already shared such a business secret with her.
At this moment, it was pure trust, and Ge Xia vowed that she could not betray that trust and would have to work even harder in the future.
If Song Xinran knew Ge Xia's thoughts, she would definitely say she was stupid. This is not a trade secret at all. Everyone who sells mala tang knows this process. It's just that there is no mala tang in the town, so everyone only has a vague understanding of it.
After telling Ge Xia about what happened in the kitchen, Song Xinran demonstrated how to preserve the soup base. Finally, she told Ge Xia to come early the next day so she could see how she used the frozen soup base.
After handing over the kitchen responsibilities, Song Xinran took Ge Xia to the market to buy ingredients. Items that are easy to store, such as potatoes, kelp, and wood ear mushrooms, could be prepared in larger quantities in advance. Leafy green vegetables, such as rapeseed and water spinach, had to be purchased on the same day to ensure freshness, and these leafy green vegetables could not be kept overnight.
All kinds of fresh meats are purchased and marinated on the same day, and frozen goods can be taken out to thaw in advance. Finally, all the ingredients for the day are placed in the refrigerated display case for customers to choose from.
This was the first time Ge Xia had ever heard of this on-site vegetable selection model, and she found it very novel, especially since the vegetarian dishes were not expensive.
She imagined that if there were a hot pot restaurant like this near her school, it would definitely outshine the best-selling noodle shops.
Two bowls of noodles for two people would cost three yuan, but two girls could order a pound of vegetables for only three yuan, and rice for five mao per person. It wasn't much more expensive, but the taste was much better. Moreover, Ge Xia felt that the mala tang model was similar to the fried skewers and barbecue that her classmates liked to eat.
Ge Xia studied here for a day, jotting down countless notes in her notebook. In the end, she rode a motorcycle home with Song Xinwen.
Ge Xia wanted to give Song Xinwen the fare, but he refused: "Xia, you're too kind! I usually take the bus home myself, and giving you a ride is just a favor. I'd love to have someone to talk to. Besides, you always call me 'sister,' how could I, as an elder, let you pay for the ride!"
"By the way, how did you learn from Xinran today?" Song Xinwen inquired.
Ge Xia looked slightly excited: "Sister Xinran is amazing. She's great at cooking and shopping. I've learned a lot from her."
Song Xinwen smiled and said, "There will be more opportunities to learn in the future. You go home and get some rest first, and we'll go together tomorrow morning."
Ge Xia nodded.
When she got home, she told her parents about what happened today. She was so happy and excited, and her parents listened with tears streaming down their faces. They recalled that their daughter had been studying at a vocational high school for the past two years and had always been listless and unhappy, like a wilted eggplant. They hadn't seen her smile like that in a long time.
“Your sister Xinwen and sister Xinran are both good people. Bring some eggs to sister Xinran tomorrow. You can pay for the transportation if you go with sister Xinwen. You can’t keep taking advantage of others.”
Ge Xia nodded, filled with anticipation for tomorrow.
Song Xinran was also full of anticipation for tomorrow, which was market day in Lingde Town and the opening day of the Malatang restaurant.
Braised pork and oden are essential. Oden is fine, it can be served in the afternoon, but braised pork is sold every morning. She plans to use the braised pork to attract customers for the mala tang (spicy hot pot).
Tomorrow morning, we need to put the signboard on the street outside the wonton shop. This way, the regular customers of the braised meat stall will come and know that the braised meat and mala tang are owned by the same person. They will also become more interested in the mala tang, which will ensure a steady flow of people in the early stages of the opening.
Since there were two things to do, the schedule had to be arranged earlier than usual. First, the braised meat was prepared and kept warm in the braising pot, while Chen Jingfang and Song Xinwen took it out and put it in the car to be brought over. In the meantime, she went to the shop to boil the broth and add new ingredients.
Song Xinran was wide awake as she thought about these things, feeling increasingly alert and energetic.
How could she not be happy? This is the first shop in the world that belongs to her.
Song Yu was also getting ready to sleep, but before falling asleep, she habitually glanced at her mother, only to find that her mother's eyes were open and her expression was somewhat happy.
He found it a bit strange, because in the same situation, he was more often the one who was too excited to sleep.
Yes, Song Yu judged that his mother was too excited to sleep at the moment.
He's often like this, for example, he'll talk about going to the city tomorrow, what activities are happening at kindergarten tomorrow, what delicious new things he'll eat tomorrow...
He quietly turned to the side and softly called, "Mom."
Song Xinran snapped out of her daze: "What's wrong, Xiao Yu?"
Song Yu cleared his throat: "Mom, let me sing you a song."
Song Xinran was unaware of his thoughts at this moment, only assuming that the little one wanted to sing late at night. The corners of her lips involuntarily turned up, and she said gently, "Okay."
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star..." Song Yu's voice was childish, but she sang it very earnestly.
Song Xinran felt that the song sounded familiar, and then she realized that it was the lullaby that Song Yu sang to her when she couldn't sleep.
She was both amused and exasperated. Was Song Yu trying to coax her to sleep in the same way she did?
Song Xinran's heart softened, and she said softly, "Xiao Yu's singing is so beautiful, I want to go to sleep now."
Song Yu said, "Mom, go to sleep. I'll stay with you until you fall asleep."
Her lips curved slightly involuntarily, and she closed her eyes, seemingly having been coaxed into falling asleep quickly.
*
The next morning, Song Xinran woke up very early. Just as she put the braised food into the pot, there was a knock on the door.
"Xinran, we're here." It was Song Xinwen's voice.
When Song Xinran opened the door, she saw her and Ge Xia and was quite surprised: "Why are you here so early today?"
Song Xinwen yawned and said, "Xiaoxia came even earlier; I hadn't even gotten out of bed when she came to my house."
To be precise, Song Xinwen was still asleep when he heard Ge Xia's voice. He was not fully conscious after being awakened by the sound outside the window. Ge Xia said that it was her first day of work and she wanted to go early.
When Song Xinwen checked the time, it was not even five o'clock yet. He immediately felt dizzy; it was far too early.
Seeing her expression, Ge Xia said she would go first, as she had already found a motorcycle.
Song Xinwen thought to himself, "Let's go early then. The mala tang shop is open today, so it will definitely be busier." Then the two of them arrived at Song Xinran's door at 5:30.
Song Xinran said, "You don't need to get up so early in the future, Xiaoxia. You're still growing, so you need to get enough sleep."
Ge Xia showed no signs of fatigue or sleepiness on her face, and said with bright eyes, "Sister Xinran, I slept enough. I went to bed before nine o'clock yesterday."
Then she dreamed all night about mala tang shops. She couldn't sleep at all and just wanted to get to town as soon as it got light. But before dawn, her parents called her and told her to come early and work hard.
Song Xinran smiled helplessly and asked the two of them, "Have you eaten? I have some braised meat in the pot, just have something to eat."
Both of them said they had eaten.
Hearing that she was still braising meat, Ge Xia asked curiously, "Sister Xinran, are you setting up your stall today too?"
Song Xinran said, "The task of setting up the stall is mainly handled by you, Sister Xinwen, and another person. Today is the opening day for the mala tang shop, and I'll be mainly busy with the mala tang."
At this moment, Ge Xia also smelled the rich and alluring aroma of the braised meat and couldn't help but glance at the kitchen. Seeing this, Song Xinran said, "Xia, come to the kitchen and take a look at the braised meat. Your cooking is quite good. If you cook hot pot well in the future, you can also try making braised meat."
Upon hearing this, Ge Xia couldn't help but feel excited, as if she were being valued, something she had never experienced in her school class.
Seeing that the braised meat was almost ready, Song Yu got up. Song Xinran told him that she was about to go to the shop, and Song Yu nodded obediently: "Mom, I will go to kindergarten with Yuanyuan, don't worry about me."
Ge Xia had only met Song Yu during the Chinese New Year. At that time, he ate his meals quietly and didn't make a fuss; he was a well-behaved child.
Unexpectedly, she is even more well-behaved at home and will even comfort adults, which is completely different from her nephews, cousins and the like.
After explaining things to Song Yu, Song Xinran left home and quickly arrived at the shop with Ge Xia. Song Xinran first took Ge Xia to the vegetable market to buy a batch of fresh leafy greens, which were then delivered to the shop entrance by the vendor. She then went to Lei Hong's place to get a chicken carcass and went back to start simmering the soup base.
First, take the frozen soup base out of the freezer, add hot water to thaw it, add chicken bones to enhance the flavor, and then season it after the soup base has boiled a few times.
During this time, they were also busy, picking out leafy greens, washing them, and placing them in the refrigerator compartments. They also marinated the meat slices and sorted them into different categories.
Once the broth is seasoned, the dishes are almost ready.
Song Xinran was feeling a bit tired, but when she looked at Ge Xia, she still looked energetic and worked efficiently and quickly. Song Xinran thought to herself, "Indeed, eighteen-year-olds have the best stamina."
At seven o'clock, Song Xinwen and Chen Jingfang pushed their braised meat stall to the door on time. When they opened the door to the mala tang shop, the aroma of spicy and savory food filled the air because the broth had just been boiled. The smell alone was enough to invigorate anyone who smelled it so early in the morning.
Yesterday, Song Xinran introduced Ge Xia to Chen Jingfang. Today, the four of them greeted each other as soon as they met. Chen Jingfang said, "You two are so capable! You've prepared so much food so quickly, and even the dishes are arranged so neatly!"
Song Xinran smiled and said, "It's all thanks to Xiaoxia. She's very efficient and got it done in no time."
Song Xinwen also said, "Xiaoxia is known in our village for her delicious cooking and quick hands and feet."
Ge Xia blushed as her two older sisters praised her, thinking to herself that she couldn't possibly be that good; hardly anyone in the village said that about her.
Today, the braised meat stall is not doing as well as it used to. Back then, when they came out on the street, people would gather around to buy from them.
Song Xinran said, "Don't worry, we've moved to a different location. We need to give our regular customers some time."
Chen Jingfang was no longer as nervous as she was when she first set up her stall, and even reassured everyone, "It's normal, we'll just wait a bit."
They were all trying to comfort Ge Xia, because Ge Xia's nervousness was obvious to the naked eye. Her way of showing her nervousness was by working, wiping every table until it shone, and not even sparing the chairs, while occasionally glancing out the window at the few pedestrians on the street.
At 7:10, the braised meat stall finally welcomed its first customer, Aunt Feng, who lives on the street. As soon as she arrived, she said, "Why did you move to such a far place? I asked the owner of the wonton shop to find this place. Give me two pig's trotters and ten chicken feet."
Chen Jingfang packed up the braised food and handed it to Aunt Feng, saying with a smile, "Auntie, we won't move here anymore. This is our own shop, so it's convenient."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Feng glanced inside and saw a clean and tidy shop with bright lights and a large refrigerated display case filled with vegetables. She asked curiously, "What do they sell in here?"
Chen Jingfang said, "We sell mala tang (spicy hot pot), all made by the same owner. Aunt Feng, if you like braised meat, you definitely can't miss our mala tang. Our taste is guaranteed."
Aunt Feng shook her head upon hearing this: "I don't want to eat something so spicy so early in the morning. I'll try it another time. Anyway, your shop is here, so you can come anytime."
Aunt Feng took the braised meat and left.
A little while later, an elderly customer also arrived. He said something similar to what Aunt Feng said. He had heard about their shop and even went in to take a look. In the end, he shook his head and said that he didn't have much of an appetite in the morning. He also wished them a prosperous business.
Most of the people buying braised meat so early in the morning are elderly people living in the town; they are not very interested in mala tang (a type of spicy hot pot).
Sitting in the shop, Ge Xia was even more anxious. She picked up a handkerchief and wiped the front door clean. Then she went to the kitchen to peel lettuce. Looking at the bright green lettuce in the bowl, Ge Xia showed no sign of stopping. Song Xinran said, "Xia, don't be nervous."
Ge Xia said, "Sister Xinran, I'm not nervous, I just want to find something to do."
How could she not be nervous? She hadn't worried about customer flow at all when she came to Song Xinran's place. Song Xinwen and Chen Jingfang both said their business was good, so Ge Xia focused all her energy on learning the craft.
But looking at it now, the good business is due to the braised meat, and their own braised meat has attracted several customers, but not a single customer has ordered spicy hot pot.
Ge Xia couldn't understand why people would just glance at such delicious and cheap mala tang and walk away. She thought that if they bought it and ate it, they definitely wouldn't regret it.
If the mala tang shop doesn't do well, Xinran might rent it out, do something else, or she might simply stop working there.
Although it's only been two days since she arrived, Ge Xia has already grown to love the atmosphere and the work. There are no teachers scolding her out of disappointment, no classmates ostracizing or mocking her. The older women there are all very kind people, and the praise they've given her is more than she's received in the previous decades of her life.
If possible, Ge Xia would be willing to give money to others to come to the store, order dishes, and try the flavor of the mala tang (spicy hot pot), as it would not disappoint.
However, Ge Xia wouldn't tell others these thoughts and words, lest she cause them unnecessary trouble.
Song Xinran seemed to see through her, and sat down on the low stool next to her, saying, "It's still early. Most of the people who come to buy braised meat are older people. They want something light in the morning. The main target audience for mala tang is young people. Don't worry, our time hasn't come yet. Besides, we still have our opening ceremony."
Upon hearing the second half of her words, Ge Xia looked at her with some curiosity.
Just before eight o'clock, Song Xinran took out a long string of red firecrackers and placed it in front of the shop. Upon seeing this, Chen Jingfang quickly put the remaining braised meat into the cart.
Song Xinran lit the firecrackers, and a series of crackling sounds echoed across half the street. Accompanied by rising smoke, the firecrackers created a lively atmosphere, attracting the attention of passersby.
After the firecrackers stopped, many people looked over. Taking advantage of the moment, Song Xinran shouted, "Come and see, everyone! The first Malatang restaurant in Lingde Town has opened! You can choose your own ingredients, and you can see everything being sold and eaten. It's incredibly spicy and will whet your appetite. A big bowl of food is only three yuan. Don't miss it!"
She emphasized several advantages of mala tang: clean and transparent ingredients, good taste and low price, which attracted several people to come in.
"What is Mala Tang?" someone asked.
Song Xinran pointed to the picture on the sign: "That's it! You choose your own dishes, and they taste great!"
Chen Jingfang also said, "The braised meat stall outside is also our family's. Our braised meat is quite famous in the town. It's all made by the same owner, so don't worry about the taste."
It's peak time for foot traffic on the street right now. The braised meat has already made a name for itself in Lingde Town, and thanks to it, several customers have come in. However, most of them haven't tried mala tang before and don't know how to choose their ingredients.
Song Xinran then led them to take a stainless steel basin first, and then pick up the vegetables to choose freely in front of the refrigerator.
"I've never eaten at a restaurant like this before, boss, you'd better make the dishes better!"
"The lettuce looks quite fresh, a vibrant green."
Ge Xia is somewhat introverted. At first, she was worried that the mala tang shop wouldn't have any customers. Now that she sees Song Xinran attracting several customers by setting off firecrackers, she cherishes it all the more. However, she doesn't know how to say anything nice to flatter people.
But when he heard the customer praise the freshness of the vegetables, he mustered up his courage and said, "We bought them this morning. You can choose what you like and then weigh them later."
Ge Xia wasn't good at calculations, but Song Xinran provided her with a calculator, which made it easy for her to use it.
Song Xinran was cooking vegetables in the back kitchen, Ge Xia was greeting people in the front, and Song Xinwen also came in to help with odd jobs. Chen Jingfang was an experienced braised meat seller and could handle a larger number of people.
Both businesses are doing well.
At this moment, a group of three or four people arrived at the braised meat stall. One of them, a woman in her twenties or thirties wearing a padded jacket and with shoulder-length curly hair, asked, "Is this the braised meat stall?"
"I think so. It wasn't that they set up a stall in front of the wonton shop across from the market. The wonton shop owner said they moved here."
"It's true, why did they suddenly move? We had to search everywhere, and since we're not familiar with Lingde Town, we took so many wrong turns."
Hearing their conversation, Chen Jingfang smiled and said, "That's right, the braised meat stall in front of the wonton shop is ours. We'll be setting up our stall here from now on. What would you like to buy?"
The woman with shoulder-length curly hair glanced at her, then hesitated, "But the boss that Chef Fang described doesn't look like this."
Chef Fang said the boss was a pretty girl in her early twenties with fair skin, but the person in front of me didn't match up at all.
"Did we go to the wrong place?"
Chen Jingfang quickly said, "We didn't come to the wrong place. Where are you all from? I'm not the owner of this stall. I'm just helping out. The owner is busy in the shop."
One of them mumbled, "We came from the guesthouse."
Chen Jingfang immediately put on a smile: "That's definitely right, our boss even provided the guesthouse with braising sauce!"
"Oh, that's right!" the woman with shoulder-length curly hair exclaimed in surprise, "It really is you! Quickly, give me fifty pieces of braised pork, any amount will do."
"I want thirty yuan!"
"I want fifty too!"
Hearing these words, Chen Jingfang was stunned for two seconds. So much?
Normally, customers would buy around 80 or 90 yuan, and it's rare to see anything over 20 yuan. But these few people were asking for 50 yuan right off the bat, and in just a short while, they've sold over 100 yuan worth of goods!
"The people who came from the guesthouse are indeed rich," Chen Jingfang thought to herself, and quickly packed the food and handed it to them.
The woman with shoulder-length curly hair took a sniff and said with great satisfaction, "This is exactly the taste I've been looking for."
Chen Jingfang didn't want to lose these big customers, so she quickly tried to attract customers to the mala tang shop behind her: "Would you like to try our mala tang? You can choose your own ingredients, it's clean and hygienic."
"No need, what's so great about mala tang?" one of them said. They were clearly not rural people who rarely came to the city; this was the first time they had ever heard of mala tang.
"The other day the hot pot I had was so salty, I had to drink several bottles of water when I got home," another person complained.
Chen Jingfang smiled and said, "Our mala tang is special. It's made by the owner herself. You know how good her cooking is once you've tried our braised dishes. She even let us taste it beforehand, and the flavor is unforgettable. It's so spicy, numbing, and fragrant—it's incredibly satisfying!"
Hearing this description, the woman with shoulder-length curly hair was clearly tempted and said to her companion, "Anyway, we didn't eat much for breakfast, let's go in and take a look."
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