In the kitchen, Cheng Liyue was setting up a noodle press, placing its four legs on the stove so that she could directly press the noodles into the pot.
Then I started kneading the dough, mixing half wheat flour and half sweet potato flour.
My family is here today, so we'll just have some plain noodles. If I were setting up a stall, I'd definitely make sweet potato noodles.
Wheat flour has a high cost, so it has to be sold at a high price. In a place like a dock, it's impossible to sell at a high price, so sweet potato flour is the only option.
Although sweet potato noodles are a whole grain, they can taste just as good as the sauce if you make the sauce well. In addition, sweet potato noodles have a unique sweet aroma, making them more delicious.
Cheng Yue kneaded the dough into a cylindrical shape and then began preparing the gravy.
There are two types of sauces: vegetable sauce and meat sauce. They are good for both soup noodles and dry noodles.
Cheng's father and his family brought meat, and Cheng Yue decided to have braised meat today. The meat, with alternating layers of fat and lean, was cut into small pieces and simmered with various spices.
Before long, the aroma of braised meat filled the entire courtyard, and everyone swallowed hard, wondering what delicious food Cheng Yue was making.
Da Ni and Er Ni, two little gluttons, were lying at the kitchen doorway, sniffing around with their eyes closed, making the family laugh out loud.
After making the gravy, it was time to press the noodles. Cheng Yue was too busy, so she had to call Wu Shi in to help.
Mrs. Wu had never seen anything like this before. "Noodles can be made like this? That's so convenient!"
Cheng Yue smiled and said, "I'll have your son-in-law make one for you too."
"No, no, the noodles taste so good because of the broth. It's all meat, it's bound to be delicious, how could we bear to use it?"
Seeing so much meat in the noodles, Mrs. Wu felt heartbroken.
She brought this meat for her daughter, son-in-law, and children, but unexpectedly, Cheng Yue cut off most of it, and it ended up in their stomachs.
Cheng Yue felt sorry for her parents and didn't say anything, but she was thinking about finding a suitable business for them.
Her mother didn't earn much money selling pork.
Although her father was a student who had passed the imperial examinations, he could theoretically be a private tutor, but where in the nearby villages could children afford to go to school?
Teaching in town wasn't easy, so there was no income.
My elder brother and sister-in-law are busy with farm work, and when they have time they have to do odd jobs, they also support a child's education. Their family lives a tighter life than theirs.
As Cheng Yue pressed the dough, she pondered this matter, and before long, the noodles were cooked.
After rinsing the cooked noodles in cold water in a wooden basin, place them in a bowl, top with a large spoonful of meat sauce, sprinkle with finely chopped green onions, and finally pour a spoonful of noodle soup over them. The aroma is immediately irresistible.
Ms. Wu took a deep breath and said, "It smells so good, it makes my mouth water."
Cheng Yue covered her mouth and smiled, "You should eat a few more bowls later."
Ms. Wu nodded, "Yes, yes!" Then she took the two bowls out first, and Da Ni and Er Ni came in to help carry them out.
While waiting, Cheng Yue took out the chili oil from her spatial storage and poured it into a ceramic jar. Eating noodles with chili oil is so satisfying!
The noodles were ready, and the roof was finished. The Zhang brothers and Liu Chunlai saw that Cheng Yue's family wanted to have dinner, so they quickly packed up and prepared to go down the mountain.
Mrs. Wu put down her bowl and called out, "The food is ready, come and eat with us, why are you leaving!"
They're all helping their daughter and son-in-law fix the roof, how can you not offer them a meal?
Zhang Dashan was very embarrassed. "Auntie, we won't eat. My sister-in-law brought us meat early this morning, how can we stay for dinner?"
As Liu Chunlai picked up a shovel, he chimed in, "Yes, Sister Cheng Yue brought out a whole bowl of meat. We can't take advantage of that."
Chen An said helplessly, "Stay and eat, A-Yue already made your portion!"
"this……"
Cheng Yue came out carrying a bowl of chili oil and said with a smile, "Brother Dashan, Brother Dajiang, Brother Chunlai, I'm planning to set up a noodle stall in town to do business. You guys can try it out for me and see how it tastes."
Cheng Yue didn't hide it from her, and besides, there was nothing to hide about doing business.
Mr. Cheng and Mrs. Wu stared wide-eyed. This child had been pampered since childhood and couldn't even sew clothes, yet he wanted to do business?
Seeing everyone staring at her, Cheng Yue said helplessly, "Sit down and eat, or the noodles will get soggy. How will you give me feedback then?"
Since Zhang Dashan and Cheng Yue had all said so, it wouldn't look good to refuse any longer, so they could only nod.
They had smelled the aroma long ago, and their stomachs were rumbling, but they were just too embarrassed to refuse. Who can resist delicious food?
Mr. Cheng waved his hand and said, "Come, come, wash your hands and let's eat!"
After washing their hands, everyone sat down around the dining table. There were still a few stools missing, so Cheng Yue, Cheng Yang, and the three younger children sat on the steps and ate from their bowls.
Cheng Yue said, "The flour in your bowls is white flour, and the black flour in the basin is sweet potato flour. Try it all in a bit."
Cheng Yang slurped up a mouthful of noodles, his eyes lighting up: "Little sister, this smells amazing! How did you make this sauce?"
Mrs. Wu said with heartache, "How did you make it? It's all meat, how could it not smell delicious?"
Liu Chunlai said, "Auntie, that's not how it works. Even with the same amount of meat, my wife can't make this flavor. Only someone as skilled as Sister-in-law Cheng can do it!"
He looked up and saw Chen An glancing at him sideways, so he immediately fell silent and continued to swallow his noodles.
Mrs. Wu puffed out her chest proudly, which was definitely true, regardless of who her daughter's father was.
Seeing her mother like this, Cheng Yue couldn't help but smile, and then said:
"Try that bowl of sweet potato noodles too. That's what I mainly sell. There's chili oil in the jar next to it. Add it yourself."
It was dark and obviously sweet potato flour. Even if Cheng Yue didn't say anything, others could tell by the taste. She wasn't afraid that others would learn how to make it.
The noodles don't matter; what matters is the flavor of the broth. She's confident that no one else can replicate this taste, since besides spices, there are many other sauces as well.
These are all extremely expensive items; most people can't afford them.
Upon hearing Cheng Yue's words, everyone quickly washed the noodles in their bowls, then picked up another bowl of sweet potato noodles, poured on some sauce, and began to eat.
"Hmm... sweet potato noodles can taste this good?"
"Yes, it's quite chewy and delicious!"
"We can't offer any suggestions. In my opinion, it's bound to be a huge hit! It's just so delicious!"
After Zhang Dashan and the others mentioned it, Wu realized a crucial question: "Daughter, you're putting in so much meat, aren't you going to lose money?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng's father also looked up at Cheng Yue. Yes, how could he not have thought of that?
After finishing her meal, Cheng Yue wiped her mouth and said, "I wouldn't put this much meat on the food when I'm setting up a stall. You can add some side dishes, tofu, and pig's blood. I can also buy some big bones to make a broth as the soup base. The taste will be great."
Mr. Cheng nodded and smiled, "That's fine, that's fine."
Madam Wu said generously, "When the time comes, whatever meat, blood, or big bones you need, I'll take care of it all for you!"
Cheng Yue almost forgot that her mother was a butcher. Since that was the case, she would definitely have to take care of her family's business, but she absolutely couldn't accept it for free.
“Mom, if you don’t take the money, I won’t buy meat from you. Doing business is all about making money. If you lose money, it’s the same as me losing money, right? I’ll give you the market price.”
Mrs. Wu frowned and pondered for a moment. Something felt off, but it also made sense. She replied with an "okay."
After finishing this, the family focused on eating.
Zhang Dashan and his group finished eating as quickly as possible, said goodbye, and went down the mountain. How could they have a private conversation when the other woman's family had come to visit?
The family ate until they were stuffed before putting down their bowls and chopsticks, rubbing their bellies, basking in the sun, and chatting casually.
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