Chapter 40 Honey Glazed Chicken Wings
The next morning, when it was already bright and there were already quite a few sounds outside, Yu Miaoyin noticed that although Xiao Tangbao's gaze was somewhat vacant while she was washing up, it was obvious that she was looking at the mooncakes.
Yu Miaoyin simply cut one up and gave it to Xiaotangbao to taste. Although it wasn't quite soft yet, it tasted pretty good.
As soon as it was cut open, the rich aroma of egg yolk mixed with the fragrance of lotus seed paste wafted out, and the egg yolk inside was crumbly and crumbly. "It's divided into two pieces, one for Little Tangbao and one for Big Sister."
Because it contained two egg yolks, the yolks seemed to overflow when it was cut open. Xiao Tangbao stuffed it in one bite, not wanting the yolks and shells to fall out.
Yu Miaoyin also took a bite. The salty taste of the egg yolk and the sweet taste of the lotus seed paste blended together. The lotus seed paste had a slightly sweet taste, and the salty and sweet flavors were just right. After baking, the oiliness of the egg yolk permeated the lotus seed paste filling, making the lotus seed paste even more fragrant. The lotus seed paste was delicate and soft, the egg yolk was crisp and oily, and the outer crust had the aroma of baked eggs.
"It's so delicious!" Little Tangbao chewed on the mooncake and said, "This is much tastier than the mooncakes I make."
"In my heart, your mooncakes are the best." Yu Miaoyin coughed twice and said leisurely, "Maybe it's just a bias."
After tasting a mooncake, Xiaotangbao felt even more motivated to go to school. She slung her little backpack over her shoulder and skipped out the door.
After sending Xiaotangbao to school, Yu Miaoyin took out the chicken wings she bought yesterday to thaw. She had only bought some chicken legs, not many, and it definitely wouldn't be enough to sell to everyone, so she didn't plan to take them out. She would make a honey-glazed chicken leg for Xiaotangbao when she came back, and also give one to Grandma Chen.
Yu Miaoyin spread a few slices of garlic on the bottom of the bowl to help the chicken wings absorb the flavor, poured in various seasonings and half a spoonful of honey, massaged them for a while, and waited for them to take effect.
While waiting, someone called Yu Miaoyin to say that they had enough packaging boxes she needed and asked if she was in the store so they could deliver them to her. These packaging boxes were for mooncakes, and although they didn't quite resemble traditional mooncake boxes, they were still quite pretty.
Yu Miaoyin said it was at the store and asked him to deliver it.
After checking the quantity and confirming that there were no problems, Yu Miaoyin nodded and paid, "Thank you."
Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Yu Miaoyin needs to pack them up for everyone as soon as possible. Generally speaking, by this time of year, with visits from relatives and friends plus company benefits, everyone has already received quite a few mooncakes. She hadn't initially planned to make mooncakes; it was just that everyone was so excited that she started making them, and despite rushing around, she managed to finish them.
It wasn't sold in large quantities, so those who were able to try it were considered lucky.
Thinking about mooncakes reminded her of the Mid-Autumn Festival. She bought some pomelos and her own mooncakes. But she still felt it wasn't enough, so she decided to buy some other snacks when she went grocery shopping in the afternoon, since children definitely love snacks.
After thinking for a while, Yu Miaoyin steamed the rice and then made honey-glazed chicken wings. The chicken wings had been scored, allowing the sauce to seep into them through the cuts and the pores on the surface of the chicken. Yu Miaoyin heated the pan, poured in hot oil, and within seconds it sizzled. She then added the chicken wings and fried them briefly. The chicken wings immediately turned an enticing golden brown, releasing a wonderfully fragrant aroma.
Because Yuncheng No.1 Middle School is quite close to the small restaurant, most of the students taking the exam could smell the faint aroma.
Right now, the geography exam is on, and the geography students will be taking it until 12:15. Meanwhile, the students who didn't choose geography are already getting ready to go eat. This is the teachers' way of showing care for their students by having them eat at different times.
Xu Jiajia didn't choose geography. She closed her biology book and muttered to herself, "The liquid environment composed of extracellular fluid is called the internal environment..."
"Yiling, let's go eat. I'm so hungry, so hungry!" It's all because biology has drained her energy. Xu Jiajia said, "Let's eat first, then we can study. Besides, we won't have to fight with those geography students for food!"
Yi Ling had the same idea. "Let's go, I'm hungry too."
As Xu Jiajia walked, she said, "We left a little early today, but we have a biology exam this afternoon, so we'll be the last ones to leave. I don't know if the little restaurant will still have any delicious food left. My child will be very hungry after the biology exam. I can't lose Yu Ji Little Restaurant, or I'll cry!"
The biology exam lasts until 6:15 PM, the latest they get off work. Everyone else is happily going home for dinner, but they're still fighting hard in the exam hall. It's really pitiful.
Xu Jiajia glanced at the geography students inside and surprisingly saw a hint of envy in them. "But I think the students who chose both geography and biology are even worse off, because they have to go hungry for every exam."
Despite the niche nature of the combination of biology and geology, quite a few students at their school chose it.
Yi Ling agreed: "Wouldn't it be even better if we just used physical objects? We wouldn't have to take the exam this afternoon."
"Oh my god, does that mean they're going to get a holiday right away?!" Xu Jiajia asked. It was scary that she got a holiday late, but it was even more worrying that her classmates would get a holiday!
"You either study on your own or have extra classes," Yi Ling said. After all, it's a tradition, and the school won't let everyone leave easily.
"Then I feel better." Xu Jiajia chuckled twice. "Let's cherish our privilege of getting out of school early for dinner, and hurry up!"
The chicken wings were pan-fried until golden brown on every side. After simmering, the sauce had completely seeped into the meat and bones, giving them a rich, reddish-brown sheen. The parts that had been scored and pan-fried in hot oil even curled up slightly, making them look incredibly tempting. Just sprinkle some sesame seeds on top and they're ready to serve.
Xu Jiajia was already hungry, and now she was even hungrier. Yu Miaoyin brought the chicken wings to the two of them and said, "Come on, Jiajia and Yiling, it's time to eat. Why are you out so early today?"
Xu Jiajia nodded: "Because we are distinguished non-geography test takers."
Xu Jiajia hadn't eaten yet when she immediately asked, "Sister Ayin, what time do you usually close this afternoon? I have a biology exam this afternoon, which ends at 6:15. You haven't already closed, have you? I'll cry if I don't get your food!"
She usually eats around 5 PM, and now that she's eating an hour later, she'll definitely starve.
"The exam's going on this late?" Yu Miaoyin didn't understand the current subject selection system. Back then, they separated students into arts and sciences tracks. It wasn't like now, with the 3+1+2 subject selection system and the grading system, which was quite chaotic.
Yu Miaoyin thought for a moment: "At this time, it should still be open."
Xu Jiajia was overjoyed to receive a positive answer, and said with a smile, "That's good."
Xu Jiajia happily took a bite of the chicken wing. Her tongue touched the sticky honey coating, which was slightly sweet. After her teeth broke through the wing, the aroma of the sauce mixed with the honey glaze burst out. The outer skin was slightly charred, soft yet chewy, and incredibly delicious. Moreover, this chicken wing was very fresh, and the meat was firm. It was completely different from the chicken wings she had eaten before that had a strange taste. This chicken wing had a honey glaze mixed with saltiness and fragrance that went straight into her mouth, making her feel dizzy with the aroma.
"So delicious!" The chicken wings were so tender and juicy, with a sticky, irresistible flavor. "It's so good!" Xu Jiajia said happily as she ate.
On the other side, the proctors at No. 1 High School were also a bit hungry. Since they were only proctoring their own students and it wasn't the college entrance examination, the proctoring was quite lenient, and the teachers usually chose to correct some of the homework.
By the time people are in high school, very few will cheat because they know the grades aren't their own. Most importantly, being caught cheating is like being nailed to a pillar of shame; the news will spread, and nobody will take that risk.
After grading the students' homework, Teacher Li looked around and noticed that a student in the corner seemed a little off.
She didn't make any rash moves, but instead glanced at the student out of the corner of her eye. When no one was looking, Ji Xiaotong pulled a tissue from her pocket and wiped away her tears.
Was she crying? Teacher Li looked at her uncertainly...
Ji Xiaotong scratched her hair, picked up a pen to think, but her mind was a mess, and she had no idea what to write.
Liu Jiang, as the dean of students, was on patrol when he happened to see this student wiping away tears, so he took a few more glances at him.
Ji Xiaotong seemed unable to control her emotions and quietly cried in her seat.
Ji Xiaotong's homeroom teacher happened to be passing by, and Liu Jiang called out to her, "Teacher Shen, is this your student?"
Teacher Shen squinted to see clearly, then nodded, "It's Xiaotong."
Liu Jiang: "What's wrong with the students?"
"Her situation is a bit complicated. Her father passed away, and she came back to take the exam right after the exam. I guess she misses her father. I've looked into it, and at home, only she and her mother are left..." Teacher Shen had only been in her position for a short time, and encountering such a situation made her feel quite sad, and she couldn't help but feel a little distressed as she spoke.
Liu Jiang and Teacher Shen chatted for a while longer until the papers were collected. Teacher Li then came out after tidying up the papers and told Teacher Shen about the situation.
Teacher Shen sighed softly: "Her mother has been busy looking for a job lately and hasn't been home much. I guess she'll be eating the breakfast she bought this morning in the classroom again."
It could be a cold steamed bun, or it could be leftover fried noodles...
Liu Jiang also has children and couldn't bear to hear this. He said, "I'll buy her a meal. She has an exam this afternoon. How can she eat like this?"
“Hmm…” Teacher Shen said, “I’ll buy it. The children have self-esteem, we need to find another reason.”
Upon hearing this, Teacher Li said to Teacher Shen, "You can go to Yu's Restaurant to buy some food. The food there is delicious, and it might help comfort her."
Anyway, whenever Ms. Li is unhappy, upset by her students, or criticized by the school leaders, she likes to have a meal at a small restaurant, which can instantly dispel her bad mood!
Liu Jiang agreed, saying, "Yes, yes, it's delicious! My daughter and the neighbor's kid also love it!"
"Okay." Teacher Shen agreed, went to a small restaurant to get two meals to go, and returned to her office. She was thinking about how to give them to Ji Xiaotong when Ji Xiaotong came into the office.
"Teacher, this is a leave slip. Thank you for your help these past few days."
"Okay, it's alright." Teacher Shen took the leave slip, thought for a moment, and said, "I have a meal here that was originally for another teacher, but she went home and said she wouldn't eat it. I can't eat that much, and it would be a waste to throw it away. Why don't you take it home and eat it?"
Before anyone could refuse, Teacher Li handed the meal to Ji Xiaotong and said in a joking tone, "You'd better hurry up and leave. This meal was paid for by that teacher. Don't let her find out. Who told her to stand me up?"
Seeing the teacher's sincerity, Ji Xiaotong did not refuse, "Thank you, teacher."
After returning home with the lunchbox, she opened it and saw that the chicken wings inside were glistening with oil, and the rich sauce was dripping down the wings. The rice underneath was also a dark brown and oily color, with a fragrant aroma wafting out. There were also a few green vegetables next to it.
Ji Xiaotong swallowed hard, picked up a chicken wing, and started eating. The surface had a slightly sweet taste mixed with the rich aroma of meat. The skin was crispy and dry, while the inside was tender and juicy. After biting into the meat, she bit into the bone, and the slightly hot juices mixed with the sauce overflowed in her mouth.
Even the greens are exceptionally crisp and sweet, with a slightly sweet taste in the leaves and a tender, crisp stem. The aroma of oil carries a subtle, refreshing fragrance. There are no other seasonings; the mild saltiness highlights its freshness and sweetness.
Ji Xiaotong picked out some chicken wings. This meal was so delicious, she wanted to save some for her mother to have a bite too.
The remaining rice is also very fragrant after being stirred. The originally translucent rice is stained with soy sauce, and the rice grains are chewy and soft after absorbing the sauce.
She suddenly felt the urge to cry again, firstly because this was the first time she had ever eaten such a delicious meal, given to her by her teacher, and secondly because she was thinking of her father, who would never eat such food again...
Ji Xiaotong choked up, tears almost falling into her rice. She raised her hand to wipe them away, then took another bite of the chicken wing, and the sadness and pain in her body seemed to lessen slightly.
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