After drinking some water and catching her breath, Cheng Yue asked Chen An, "Tomorrow, it'll probably be too busy with just Xiao Lin and me. The two sisters will have to go with us too. Will you be able to manage alone at home?"
She needs someone to help her knead and press the dough, and someone also needs to help cook the noodles. The bowls aren't disposable fast food containers, so someone has to wash them too.
Chen An smiled and said, "Why not? You've been traveling for more than a day. Look at this..."
Cheng Yue followed Chen An's hand and saw him take out a cane from behind him. She asked in surprise, "When did you make this?"
Although it lacks the rationality of modern systems, it's enough to support a person.
Chen An pursed his lips and smiled shyly, "I just made it this morning. It's simple, but it's usable. A-Yue, don't worry about what you're doing. I can manage on my own."
Cheng Yue works so hard running around doing business, and he already felt guilty for not being able to help her. If he were to hold her back, it would be unforgivable.
Cheng Yue understood what Chen An meant, but said aloud, "Don't even think about shirking your responsibilities. Once your leg injury heals, all the dirty and tiring chores around the house will be yours."
"Of course, you can rest now that I'm better." Chen An's eyes sparkled.
Cheng Yue suppressed a laugh and turned her head away, "That's more like it. I'll go pack my things."
This Chen An, aside from anything else, is quite good at making people happy.
Cheng Yue carried down two wooden basins and a pile of wooden bowls, all covered in dust, and they needed to be washed clean first.
Chen Lin went to get water, and the Chen Tong and Chen Ning sisters started washing and scrubbing.
She didn't take the tables and benches down; she'd wipe them down once the stall was set up, to avoid having to tie them up again later. She didn't want any trouble.
Cheng Yue carried a bunch of pork bones and offal to the kitchen. After lunch, she would make the braising liquid and put it in her space so she wouldn't have to get up early the next day.
At noon, Cheng Yue simply made some food. After the family finished eating, she started making the sauce.
Throw the large bone into your spatial storage; you can make broth fresh when you set up your stall.
Anyway, I went early in the morning, and three or four hours of cooking is enough. Otherwise, if I cook it now, I'll have to use a cart to haul it away tomorrow, which is not only heavy but also prone to spilling.
The offal had all been prepared; Cheng Yue simply boiled it to remove the fishy smell before braising it together with the pork.
There was a lot of offal, so less meat was used, but plenty of lard and spices were still added.
It simmered in a wood-fired pot over a low flame for an entire afternoon, until it was tender and flavorful.
In the evening, Cheng Yue cooked white rice, served a bowl of sauce, and made two simple dishes for the family to try.
After trying it, everyone said that the offal broth was more flavorful than the meat.
After finishing his meal, Chen An asked, "A-Yue, how many coins are you planning to sell a bowl for?"
Cheng Yue said, "I've done the math. This sweet potato flour is cheap; one pound can make three large bowls of noodles. It uses little meat, and the offal isn't expensive either."
However, ours tastes good and the portions are large, so we only sell it for eight coins a bowl.
Upon hearing this, Chen Lin muttered, "A bowl of wontons at the dock costs five coins."
He could only eat one bowl to be full. If it were a man carrying a heavy load, he would definitely need two more buns, which would cost eight coins.
Besides, his mother made meat, fragrant meat, and eight coins is a great deal.
Chen An had worked at the docks before and knew that eight coins was a good price for a large bowl of braised meat noodles, so he nodded without saying anything.
Cheng Yue was tired after a long day. After eating, she took a walk to aid digestion and then went to bed early.
It was Chen Tong and Chen Ning's first time going to town. Although they were there to help out, they were still very excited. The next day, before dawn, they quietly got up.
Chen Lin didn't sleep well either. After all, it was his first day setting up a stall, and his mother had bought so many things. He didn't know if he could make any money.
Hearing the noise, he jumped up in a flash.
Cheng Yue was fast asleep. She had a spatial dimension, so things wouldn't spoil inside. Besides, she wouldn't be able to set up her stall until noon anyway, so there was no rush to get up early.
The three children were busy from the moment they got up. They fed the chickens and pigs, swept the floor, and finally started brewing Chen An's medicine before they were done.
Cheng Yue and Chen An got up when it was just getting light. Actually, it wasn't late; in modern times, it would only be a little past five o'clock.
After the family finished washing up, Cheng Yue cooked a pot of corn porridge and ate it with pickled vegetables until she was full. Then she took the iron pot down and set off.
When they arrived at the dock, the woman selling wontons greeted Cheng Yue warmly, but there were no other stalls there.
Cheng Yue deftly set up the pot, lit the fire, and began to simmer the broth.
The pork here is more fragrant than modern pork, with little fishy smell, and tastes great with just scallions and ginger.
After simmering the broth, Cheng Yue and Chen Lin set up the table and chairs, while Chen Tong and Chen Ning cleared away the dishes.
Scallions, cilantro, vinegar, chili oil, and a covered bowl of gravy were arranged on the long table.
The people selling wontons nearby looked on curiously, "Girl, what are you selling? So many toppings, and you've even cooked a big pork bone?"
Cheng Yue smiled and said, "Helu noodles."
The older woman said "Oh," and chuckled, "I've never heard of that before, but it looks delicious. How much is a bowl of this? If it's not too expensive, I'll buy a bowl and try it."
Cheng Yue found her older sister rather cute, warm-hearted and without any ill intentions, so she said, "Eight coins. When I cook noodles at noon, I'll treat you to a bowl."
The older sister didn't refuse and said generously, "Okay, I'll trade you five big steamed buns!"
While the two chatted idly, Chen Lin and his two siblings were not so calm and composed.
As the sun rose higher and the nearby stalls set up, the three little ones became even more uncertain, wondering how many bowls they could sell.
The aroma of the broth grew stronger and stronger. Cheng Yue saw that it was almost time, so she started kneading the dough.
I had just made a few dough balls when I saw the workers from the dock shout loudly and come rushing over in a swarm.
A man walked over and asked in confusion, "What are you selling? How do you sell them? And why is there a wooden rack on the stove?"
There are quite a few stalls set up near the dock, but they can't afford the expensive ones, and the cheap ones are either not tasty or the portions are too small, so only a few remain.
I can't help but ask when I see something new today. It's all so fancy and makes meat broth. I wonder what it's for?
Cheng Yue removed the lid from the broth and replied with a smile, "This meat-braised he luo noodle soup with a broth base is delicious, chewy, and comes in a generous portion. It's only eight coins. Would you like a bowl?"
"It's pig offal! This probably won't taste good, and eight coins is too expensive!"
The man next to him thought eight coins was acceptable, but he was afraid that the offal would be inedible if it wasn't cooked properly, so he shook his head and ordered a bowl of wontons.
The man who had just asked seemed a little hesitant, but Cheng Yue wasn't in a hurry. She smiled and said:
"I guarantee it will taste good. You can try it first. If you don't like it, you don't have to pay. You won't lose out, right?"
"Okay, give me a bowl!"
The man's brow unfurrowed. "It's just eight coins. If it doesn't taste good, I'll just not eat it again."
Cheng Yue agreed and picked up a lump of dough, stuffing it into the noodle press and starting to press it.
As the noodles, each one of uniform thickness, were dropped into the pot, the people around stared wide-eyed. Could noodles really be cooked like this?
Cheng Yue scooped up the noodles, added a large spoonful of braised meat topping, sprinkled on some chopped green onions, poured over some broth, and placed it on the long table. She said, "There's chili oil and vinegar here. What flavor would you like?"
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