Chapter 90 Spring Limited Edition Dishes
The braised food business should be doing very well, because after Song Xinran visited the store on the opening day, she didn't receive any calls from strangers in the following days.
Just as Song Xinran had predicted, the braised food shop became an instant hit as soon as it opened. Wei Dong counted so much money that his hands cramped, and he felt that the braised food shop was a golden goose that could lay eggs.
Song Xinran's skills were too good, and she was highly valued by the big boss. Wei Dong still felt a little threatened and hoped that Song Xinran would come to the store less often, so as to subtly separate her from Xianlufang. He wished she would not come unless necessary.
Although the shop is a bit busy now, he can handle it and is happy all the time.
It has to be said that Wei Dong's behavior was very much in line with Song Xinran's thoughts. She ran all over the city every day with her salary. Although she was a little tired when she got home at night, she felt a sense of satisfaction as she watched the empty house being filled little by little, and filled it according to her own preferences.
This wasn't the first house she owned, but it was the one she put the most effort into decorating.
The first house was in Lingde Town. When she first moved in, it was a rented house, and she had limited funds. Song Xinran would add things from time to time, and little by little it became what it is now.
Therefore, in terms of decoration style, the focus was more on convenience rather than comfort, as the family's situation at that time had not reached the next level.
But things are different now. She chose and bought the house herself, and it's in a relatively new neighborhood. The landlord emptied the house when he left, so she can do whatever she wants with it.
In both her lives, Song Xinran preferred a more rustic and artistic decorating style. However, most houses in the city are now decorated in the old style, which is commonly referred to as the aesthetic of the "mother generation." But Song Xinran thought that in twenty years, she would be middle-aged and also be considered a "mother generation" by young people. She felt that the decorating style of this house would not be outdated by then.
The house originally had dark wood flooring and all the walls were painted white. Renovating these areas would be too much of a project and would cost a lot of money, so Song Xinran decided to leave them as they were and simply decorated the kitchen and bathroom tiles with some plant-patterned stickers.
And you know what? Just a few scattered green stickers brought life to the otherwise dull atmosphere of the kitchen and bathroom.
In addition, we also need to put effort into the soft furnishings. For example, we chose solid wood furniture with simple lines for the dining table and benches. We have already chosen a beige fabric sofa, but it is still in the sofa store and has not been moved over yet.
In addition, buy some rattan and bamboo furniture, which are both beautiful and practical.
What Song Xinran liked most about the house was a large balcony, which the previous owner used to dry clothes. There was also a door inside the balcony. It was probably the best-lit place in the house, but the landlord hadn't done much to it. The floor wasn't even wood flooring; it was just the simplest terrazzo flooring, but that was exactly what Song Xinran wanted.
She stood on the balcony, overlooking the lush trees of the neighborhood, a sea of green as far as the eye could see, and looking up slightly, she saw the azure sky. Just then, a breeze came, and the leaves rustled in the wind, casting dappled light and shadows on the ground, which then streamed into the house, bringing the whole house to life, like a painting.
Song Xinran smiled slightly. She was very satisfied with the balcony and planned to lay the simplest off-white tiles and put a small wooden table on it. When the weather was nice, she could sit down, drink tea, and read a book. The comfort of life was fully realized at this moment.
With so much to do over the past three years, Song Xinran had been in a constant state of earning money only to spend it all immediately, making it difficult for her to stop.
However, she has now accumulated wealth and businesses, owning three houses in the town: two shops and one residence. The shops are still open and generating a steady stream of profits. She doesn't plan to rent out the residence for the time being, but intends to wait until the town's tourism industry truly develops before considering whether to retire there or rent it out to run a bed and breakfast.
Now that she owns a house in the city, Song Xinran's idea is to open a more upscale restaurant, slow down her work intensity, focus on making money from rich people, and then buy two houses in a big city in 2008, one for Song Yu and one for herself. She also plans to save some money for investment so that she can retire early.
Standing on the balcony, Song Xinran imagined her future life and felt that there was hope for the future. Her body was only twenty-five years old, and she was already thinking about retirement, which was quite advanced.
After making a plan, Song Xinran drew a simple renovation diagram herself. The first thing she needed to do was to find a mason to lay the floor tiles on the balcony.
After a busy week, the tiles that had been laid on the balcony were in the curing period. The cabinets in the house were to be made by a carpenter. Song Xinran didn't need many cabinets to make because the landlord had left some cabinets and wardrobes that couldn't be moved, mainly located in the master bedroom and living room. These could be painted white to blend in with the style of the house.
Song Xinran is going home for the weekend. She has been in the city all week and this is the first time she has been separated from Song Yu for such a long time.
On her way back, Song Xinran bought a case of milk. She felt that Song Yu's height was average among his peers. Although the book described Song Yu as 1.8 meters tall as an adult, Song Xinran felt that it was the author's special preference for the character.
Just like in romance novels, if the male protagonist is 1.7 meters tall, it's equivalent to being a level two disabled person, and the readers will definitely make a fuss.
In the era in which Song Yu lived, many people suffered from nutritional deficiencies in their childhood. As adults, the average height of this generation of men was less than 1.7 meters. Song Xinran wanted to give him more nutrition so that he could grow taller in the future.
She returned home on Saturday, but the door was locked. When Song Xinran took out her key to open it, she thought Song Yu wasn't home, since he always liked to go to the store on weekends.
With a soft creak, Song Xinran pushed open the door and met a pair of round, bright eyes.
Song Yu stood at the doorway, gripping the doorframe with both hands, peeking out slightly to look at the door, his body language conveying a wary, animal-like message.
But his wariness vanished the moment he saw her, his eyes lit up, and he ran toward her as fast as he could.
"Mother!"
The child was quite strong, and the impact made her take a half step back. Song Yu hugged her leg tightly, her voice muffled: "Mom."
Sensing the difference in his voice, Song Xinran's heart softened. She knelt down to be at eye level with him and gently rubbed his soft cheek: "What's wrong? Isn't Xiao Yu a man? Why are you crying?"
Song Yu hugged her neck, buried his face in her shoulder, and said in a soft voice, "I can temporarily stop being a man."
Song Xinran chuckled and said, "Okay, then I'll temporarily not be a man and be Mommy's baby."
Song Xinran picked him up thanks to her continuous physical exercise and improved diet over the past three years, as well as the strong arm strength required for her work, which allowed her to steadily lift the little one.
Song Xinran weighed her head and felt that her weight seemed a bit low. However, this was her first time raising a child, and she didn't quite know if it was within the standard weight range. Nevertheless, she said to Song Yu, "Xiao Yu, you need to eat more. Look how thin you've become."
Song Yu blinked rapidly in a panic. He hadn't been picked up by his mother in a long time. He was in kindergarten and would soon graduate and enter primary school. He felt like a big kid, but then he remembered what she had just said: he could temporarily not be a man...
Finally, she followed her heart and gently wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, resting her head softly on her mother's shoulder: "I haven't lost weight. I gained a little weight during my kindergarten physical exam."
"How much taller have you grown?"
Song Yu lowered his voice slightly and buried his head in her shoulder: "You've grown quite a bit taller too."
However, he was still of average height among his classmates. Wu Yaoxuan was the tallest, half a head taller than Song Yu, which Song Yu always envied.
Song Xinran sensed the hidden emotion in his tone and chuckled softly, "Mom bought some milk. Xiao Yu, drink more so you can grow taller."
As the saying goes, meat, eggs, and milk are the most nutritious. After Song Yu was taken to her side, she never lacked meat and eggs. However, the town had limited goods, and milk was only available for the past year, and it was of average quality.
Song Xinran had already inquired and found out that the city offered to subscribe to fresh milk for her child every day, meaning that a milkman would deliver fresh milk to her door every morning. Song Xinran planned to subscribe to one after the house was renovated.
Song Yu said, "Okay! I want to drink milk, and I want to grow taller!"
However, his initial ambition was dampened after he took a sip of the milk and frowned. Although he tried to restrain himself, his face still conveyed his resistance.
Song Yu kept recalling what Yuan Yuan had said: Yuan Yuan said that milk tasted awful, but her parents forced her to drink it. However, as a reward, she could eat a piece of her favorite candy after finishing the milk.
Upon hearing that Song Yu didn't need to drink milk, Yuan Yuan looked at her with envy and said, "You're so lucky."
Song Yu felt that she was missing something in her happiness right now, but her mother had specially brought it back from the city...
Song Yu held the milk carton, looking conflicted.
Song Xinran naturally noticed his predicament and asked, "Doesn't Xiao Yu like drinking milk?"
Song Yu told the truth: "Mom, the milk has a strange taste."
Song Xinran thought for a moment, poured out the milk, added a little sugar, stirred it well, and handed it to Song Yu: "Try it now."
Song Yu picked it up, took a small sip, and said with a hint of delight, "It's sweet."
Like a bowl of sugar water, Song Yu often ate sugar water as a snack when he was a child. Although milk with added sugar tasted a little better, the strange taste was still there, but Song Yu could accept it.
He drank it down in one go, thinking only of growing taller! Even Yuanyuan is a little taller than him.
Song Xinran looked around the house and found it was no different from when she left. Song Yu's clothes had also been changed and were hanging on the clothesline, obviously done by Song Xinwen. Song Yu was too young to know how to use a clothesline to hang clothes.
"How have you been these past few days, Xiao Yu?" Song Xinran asked him.
Song Yu said, "My aunt cooks for me, sleeps with me, and does my laundry..."
After listing a number of things, he added, "But I can do things myself too! I can sweep the floor, do my homework, and even sleep by myself!"
He used to sleep with Song Xinran. After his aunt came, she asked him if he wanted to sleep with her. Song Yu thought about it and decided that he could, so he slept in his mother's room by himself, while his aunt slept in another room.
He would be a little scared if he was alone in a big house, but if there were adults in another room, he could fall asleep bravely even if his mother wasn't home, because Song Yu had been able to sleep by himself since he was very young.
Hearing the barely concealed pride in his voice, Song Xinran clapped her hands in a show of respect: "Xiao Yu is really great!"
Song Yu's lips curled up slightly.
"Why did Xiao Yu stay home by herself today instead of going to the store?" When she came back, Song Yu was the only one at home. She was quite wary and would peek at people from the doorway.
Song Yu looked up at her and smiled, her eyes crinkling: "Because Mom is coming back today! I'm waiting for Mom at home!"
He remembered everything. His mother said she would come back after he finished eating the snowflake crisps. Song Yu hadn't finished his snowflake crisps yet, but he could keep track of time, so today was the day.
And here comes Mom.
Looking at the child's innocent face and bright, round eyes, Song Xinran felt a corner of her heart collapse, a wave of tenderness washing over her. She reached out and gently hugged him, saying, "Yes, Xiao Yu is amazing. Mom is back today."
"What does Xiaoyu want to eat for lunch? Mom will make it."
Song Yu said, "I saw my mother bring back bamboo shoots and scallions."
He has sharp eyes. When Song Xinran came back, she was carrying milk in one hand and groceries in the other, which she placed near the entrance. Song Yu knew it at a glance.
Song Xinran chuckled and said, "Okay, then let's make braised pork with bamboo shoots and stir-fried cured pork with wild scallions today."
Song Xinran bought some seasonal food today, including bamboo shoots, toon sprouts, and wild scallions.
The bamboo shoots were freshly dug up from the ground by local farmers and were still wrapped in a thick shell with fresh soil on them when they were sold at the stalls.
After buying it, the vendor used a knife to peel off the outer shell covered with fine hairs, revealing the white bamboo shoot inside. You could smell the refreshing, slightly astringent aroma while peeling it.
Chinese toon is also a newly sprouted bud on the branch. The buds and leaves are slightly curled up. You can squeeze out juice with your hands. It is the most tender to use when stir-frying eggs, and it also has a special aroma.
The wild onion was a genuine wild onion, which Song Xinran could recognize at a glance. Its leaves were slender and dark green, and its onion aroma was very strong, which was incomparable to ordinary scallions and green onions.
Song Xinran stumbled upon it by chance on the roadside on her way back. Wild scallions are at their most tender at this time of year, without any tough fibers, making them delicious as a seasoning or in stir-fries.
First, prepare to make braised pork belly with bamboo shoots and stir-fried cured pork with wild scallions. Both of these dishes require cured pork.
Song Xinran opened the freezer and selected a piece of fine pork belly.
The freezer is full of homemade cured meat, all made with good quality meat. After marinating for the required time during the Chinese New Year, it was hung on the balcony to air dry before being frozen for preservation.
In the past, Song Xinran's family could eat cured meat from the beginning of the year to the New Year. Every time they took it out, it was still in good condition and the taste had not changed at all.
Wash the cured pork and cut it in half. Cut one half into chunks to make pickled bamboo shoot soup, and cook the other half until done, then slice and stir-fry.
Cut bamboo shoots into chunks and blanch them in boiling water. Blanch pork ribs and cut cured pork into chunks together and skim off the foam.
Take out the clay pot, stir-fry the meat first, then add hot water. At this point, you can already smell the aroma, but it's still a bit plain, with a mild, smoky flavor, and the meat is rich and mellow.
Song Yu ran into the kitchen, stood beside the casserole, swallowed hard, but didn't say anything. However, his unblinking eyes clearly showed his feelings at that moment.
Once the bamboo shoots are added, the aroma suddenly comes alive. The rich meaty fragrance gains a refreshing touch, and the fresh, slightly astringent mountain flavor of the bamboo shoots is slowly released. The two flavors intertwine together, and the aroma alone is enough to make your eyebrows fall off from the freshness.
Song Yu asked curiously and with a craving for food, "Mom, what's this?"
Song Xinran: "Let's cook the pickled bamboo shoots and pork soup. After it's done, let Xiao Yu have a bowl to try first."
Actually, it's possible now, but Song Xinran feels that the various ingredients haven't been used to their full potential yet, so she'd better wait a little longer to enjoy the best food.
While stewing, she blanched and chopped the toon leaves, then added them to the eggs and stirred them.
Stir-fried eggs with toon leaves couldn't be simpler, but it tastes amazing. How can you miss this dish in spring?
Wild scallions are also cut into long sections. After being cooked, the sliced cured pork fat is oily and translucent, while the lean meat is firm and reddish. As soon as it hits the pot, it pops and crackles. After the amber-colored oil is rendered out, the fat becomes even more translucent, and the air is filled with the unique salty aroma of cured pork.
Then, fresh wild scallions are added to the pot. The dark green leaves are immediately coated with the clear oil from the cured meat, becoming shiny and tender. A rich aroma of scallions immediately fills the nostrils, making even Song Xinran, the "old chef," swallow hard.
Wild scallions are only available this season, and they have a unique flavor. Song Xinran felt that none of the wild scallions she had eaten in her past life smelled as fresh, spicy, and refreshing as these, and they also had a wild quality.
Finally, she ladled it into a bowl and couldn't resist taking a bite herself. She immediately exclaimed, "It's so delicious!"
The spicy and fresh aroma of wild onions and the rich and salty flavor of cured meat are a perfect match!
"Mom." A soft, childish voice came from below, and Song Yu looked at her expectantly.
Song Xinran realized she had almost forgotten about her child, so she quickly picked up a piece of cured meat for him to try.
The cured pork was stir-fried until it was translucent, and it was covered with bright green wild scallions, making it look incredibly appetizing.
Without any hesitation, Song Yu opened her mouth wide, took a big bite, her cheeks puffed out, her eyes sparkling, and finally exclaimed, "Mom, it's so delicious!"
Song Xinran smiled.
At this time, the pickled bamboo shoot soup was also ready. Song Xinran ladled out the soup and placed it on the table. There were three dishes on the table, each of which was seasonal.
First, ladle out half a bowl of soup. The soup is salty and fresh, and the bamboo shoots are sweet. With one bite, you feel as if you have swallowed spring itself.
Both Song Yu and Song Xinran thoroughly enjoyed the meal. It's hard for people to control themselves when they encounter delicious food, and even Song Xinran made an exception and ate until she was completely full.
It's rare to find such satisfactory vegetables. She told herself that it's okay to do it once in a while, but she should restrain herself in the future. She died too young in her previous life, so she wants to live this life well, and the first thing she needs to do is take care of her health.
Suddenly remembering something, she took out a stack of papers from her bag and waved to Song Yu: "Xiao Yu, come and take a look, let's choose a bookshelf."
"Our new home has a dedicated study!"
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