Chapter 82 Braised Beef Brisket with Bamboo Shoots
Just as Xiaoyu had imagined, the bamboo shoots, soaked in broth and meat juices, were tender and flavorful. The fried bamboo shoots were filled with thick broth, which dripped down, releasing a rich bean aroma and the savory flavor of beef brisket—it was exceptionally delicious.
When Grandpa Xu arrived at the small restaurant, he smelled such a delicious aroma that he immediately swallowed hard and then quickly sent a message to Grandpa Sun.
During the National Day holiday, the small restaurant was practically "besieged by zombies." Fortunately, Grandpa Xu lived nearby; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to enjoy such delicious food every day.
Grandpa Sun rushed to the small restaurant as soon as he received the news. The middle and high school students were all in school, and the young people were all at work. Grandpa Xu hummed a little tune while waiting for his food. "Retirement is good, retirement is good," he thought. "I have money, leisure, and good health. Having a meal at this small restaurant every day—this life is truly heavenly, priceless."
Aunt Zheng served the braised beef brisket with bamboo shoots to Grandpa Xu. The braised beef brisket was indeed as delicious as its name suggested. You could hear a sizzling sound if you got close enough. The sauce was bouncing on the clay pot, bringing out the hot aroma of the bamboo shoots and beef brisket.
Grandpa Xu picked up his bowl and began to eat heartily. He was most proud of his good teeth, and even at his age, he could still eat and drink without any worries. The feeling of eating meat in big bites was truly satisfying. The beef brisket was braised until tender and flavorful, even the tendons were soft and chewy, and the fat in the rich parts had been rendered out, making it not greasy at all, and filling his mouth with the aroma of meat.
A bite of beef brisket, a bite of rice, and then a bite of bamboo shoots soaked in sauce—Grandpa Xu was so happy he didn't want to say a word.
It was lunchtime, and the small restaurant was already quite full.
While enjoying his delicious meal, Grandpa Xu suddenly smelled an extremely unpleasant odor. He quickly raised his hand to swat away the smell, as if swatting away a fly, afraid that the stench would spoil his delicious food.
Smoking is prohibited in public places. Isn't that something every normal person knows? Grandpa Xu couldn't stand anyone smoking in the small restaurant and ruining the delicious food. He coughed twice and went to the man before Xiao Yin came out.
"Smoking is not allowed here," said Grandpa Xu.
"Such a small restaurant, and they won't even let you smoke? What kind of ridiculous rule is that?" It was his first time at a small restaurant, and he had no leisure or refined taste whatsoever. It was nothing like those big teahouses. Why would so many people recommend it? What's so good about it?
Catching a glimpse of his exposed front teeth, Grandpa Xu hesitated, thinking to himself, "Go ahead and smoke, I'll let you smoke. When you're old and all your teeth fall out, you'll be left only drinking porridge." He had never smoked before, and with a full set of good teeth, he could eat anything and was in excellent health.
Nobody likes the smell of smoke, so Yu Miaoyin came out and said seriously, "Sorry, smoking is not allowed here. If you really want to smoke, please go outside."
Amidst the swirling smoke, the man awkwardly stubbed out his cigarette. He figured he'd come all this way, and he wanted to see if it was really that good. Lots of people online were raving about it, even saying big celebrities loved it. But it was just a small shop, and the owner was a young girl—what could she possibly make that was delicious?
If the food doesn't taste good, he'll post it online to warn others.
Yu Miaoyin also disliked the smell of smoke. The people in the small restaurant were generally of high quality, but when you run a business, you're bound to encounter some bad people. She figured she should still put up a "No Smoking" sign on the wall.
When Grandpa Sun came over, the wind carried the lingering smell of smoke to his nose. Grandpa Sun coughed twice and cursed in his dialect, "Who the hell smoked? They have no sense of public decency."
man:……
Grandpa Xu called him over. Grandpa Sun had come all this way, so he ordered a clay pot of braised beef brisket with bamboo leaves, a roast goose, and a bowl of local delicacies.
The smoke had mostly dissipated, and the aroma of food wafted from the small restaurant. Only then did Grandpa Sun sit down to eat. He first ate a bowl of local-style spicy stew, with crisp chilies and a strong, fresh spiciness. Paired with tender eggs and crispy, dry, fragrant pork belly, it was incredibly delicious with rice.
He's getting old, but he still enjoys strong flavors, especially spicy ones. A bite of the spicy, flavorful farmhouse-style soup and a bowl of fragrant food really whetted his appetite.
As Grandpa Sun ate, he grew increasingly envious of Grandpa Xu, who lived close to Xiao Yin's restaurant and could eat there every day. Grandpa Sun, on the other hand, lived far away and had to look after his grandson, making it difficult for him to find time to eat. Seeing Grandpa Xu's leisurely lifestyle, Grandpa Sun began to envy Aunt Zheng, and he too wanted to work at the small restaurant.
"Old Sun, are we going to play chess again today?" Grandpa Xu asked. Waiting for Xiao Yin to open her shop was too unbearable, so playing a few games of chess with him would be a good way to pass the time.
"Okay," Grandpa Sun replied, then went to eat the roast goose. The skin was crispy but not greasy, and the light layer of fat gave it an extra oily feel. The roast goose meat inside was even more fragrant; after being roasted, the marinade had completely seeped in, making it flavorful, tender, and juicy.
Other roast geese are a bit dry and not very flavorful, they're worlds apart from Xiaoyin's roast geese.
Yu Miaoyin brought out the plum sauce for Grandpa Sun and told him that it tasted good when dipped in it.
Grandpa Sun looked at the plate of amber-colored plum sauce in front of him. The crisp fruity aroma and the tart fragrance of plums wafted out, making one's mouth water. "Did you make this too?"
“Mm,” Yu Miaoyin replied.
Grandpa Xu was watching Yunhe's videos. He usually enjoys watching short dramas or inspirational stories on his phone, but recently he's become obsessed with Yunhe's "Little Restaurant" series. He never expected that watching others eat could make him so hungry.
"Xiaoyin is really amazing! I heard that even big celebrities like your cooking." Grandpa Sun had seen some news about it, but he didn't understand what trending topics were. He only knew that many people liked Xiaoyin's cooking.
Grandpa Xu nodded, as if he were also benefiting from the situation, and replied, "That's right, of course Xiaoyin is amazing. If you ask me, you won't find anyone better at cooking than Xiaoyin anywhere in the world."
"That's an exaggeration," Yu Miaoyin chuckled, but didn't argue. She knew Grandpa Xu was just trying to compliment her. Although she was being modest, there was no one else around to compare her to, so she had no choice but to accept this sincere praise.
The man standing nearby scoffed inwardly, thinking, "How delicious can this be?"
Just then, Aunt Zheng brought the dishes up. Smelling the strong aroma, he swallowed hard, then thought, "It just smells good, how delicious can it be?"
He opened the lid, and in that instant, steam carrying the aroma of soy sauce rushed out, the fragrance rich and intoxicating. His stomach growled at the most inopportune moment.
The man quickly picked up his chopsticks and started eating. The long simmering had thoroughly cooked the beef brisket, rendering out the fat and making the area almost transparent. Biting into the large chunks of dark brown beef brisket released a burst of meaty flavor that filled his mouth. Then, taking a bite of the bamboo shoot, the rich aroma of beans and sauce collided with the meaty flavor, making it impossible to stop eating.
How can it be so delicious? The man's eyes widened, and he picked up another piece of bamboo shoot to taste. The deliciousness was so good that it made him want to chop his feet, and the layers of texture and flavor burst forth from the folds of the bamboo shoot.
"It's so delicious!" The man clenched his fist. He had truly been blind to the quality of the chef. How could he have thought such a great chef was bad when he was standing right in front of him? He felt utterly ashamed. He scooped some broth over the rice. The braised beef brisket with bamboo shoots cooked in a clay pot had a slightly charred aroma and a wok-like fragrance from the sauce and the beef brisket sticking to the sides of the pot. It was especially fragrant when poured over the rice. He didn't even need any side dishes; it was incredibly satisfying to eat it in big mouthfuls.
It was so delicious it brought tears to his eyes, and he secretly vowed to write a long, positive review for the small restaurant.
The food smelled so good that everyone ate quickly. Grandpa Sun ordered three portions and finished them in no time. Just then, the bell rang from the No. 1 Middle School, and the group quickly moved to make room for the children.
Xiaoyu and Zhang Yuling had just finished eating when Zhang Yuling received a WeChat message from Liu Jiang and ordered another braised beef brisket.
No matter how big a small restaurant is, there are never enough seats. Today, He Li didn't open her shop, so I gave her the key to the noodle shop and told her that if there wasn't enough room, the students could sit there, since it was empty anyway.
He Li said she had been helping with packing and shipping for the past few days and was too busy to keep up. Hearing the good news about chestnuts, she was also happy.
Yuncheng Junior High School.
Teacher Zhang walked into the office with the answer sheet in her hand. Perhaps it was because she was in high spirits, but although proctoring exams was tiring, exhausting, and making her hungry, she was happy to see her students improve and grow.
My colleague, an English teacher, asked Ms. Zhang with a look of utter despair, "What's gotten into you today? Why are you so happy?"
"My takeout arrived, so I'm very happy." Just then, she received a call from the delivery service, which made her even happier.
After counting the answer sheets, Teacher Zhang handed them to the teacher in charge and then walked out.
My colleague, an English teacher, also needed to pick up takeout, so the two of them decided to go together. Teachers' conversations always revolve around their students, and these teachers sometimes even get together to compare whose student is dumber.
The two women chatted about the difficulty of today's exam, jokingly remarking that the students must have complained about how hard it was. After their self-deprecating humor, they started worrying about their own class's results. They were teaching a graduating class, which put them under a lot of pressure.
"I've noticed that Xiaoming has been studying quite diligently lately, and that blond boy in your class is also studying hard. It's really incredible," Teacher Zhang said, just as she caught a glimpse of two figures. The blond-haired student and Xiaoming were running towards the school gate, presumably heading to a small restaurant for lunch.
"I also find it incredible. How can a person change so quickly?" My colleague, an English teacher, was curious. Someone who couldn't even recite the 26 letters of the alphabet properly is now starting to study hard. The blond student even promised their homeroom teacher that he would dye his hair back.
"I'm willing to wear the school uniform now." Even though there are some unconventional words on the school uniform, being able to wear it is already a great thing.
After receiving the takeout, Teacher Zhang walked quickly to her office.
The English teacher ordered a bowl of wonton noodles. When she opened it, a few green vegetables floated on top, the wontons sank to the bottom, and the bamboo-pressed noodles were tangled together, making it look unappetizing.
When Teacher Zhang opened her takeout order, all the teachers in the office turned to look: "Wow, whose takeout smells so good?"
The English teacher also came over to look, "Teacher Zhang, where did you buy this? It smells so good!"
“Yu’s Little Restaurant,” Teacher Zhang said, adding that the large serving of braised beef brisket with bamboo shoots soothed her wounded heart while proctoring the exam.
"Yu's Little Restaurant?" The teachers, who were also surfing the internet, had all heard of this little restaurant, but they never expected the food to be so delicious, which was beyond their comprehension.
"I'd like to order one too," someone said, immediately picking up their phone to order.
"The owner doesn't do delivery; I call a courier." The original price of this braised beef brisket with bamboo shoots, plus the delivery fee and tip for the rider, isn't cheap, but Ms. Zhang feels it's worth it. She can make the food so delicious because she's selling her skills; she only considers the price-performance ratio if the food isn't tasty.
"Okay," someone said regretfully. "I'll eat it tomorrow. It's really delicious. No wonder it's so popular. There's a blogger who goes to this small restaurant to film videos every day and she became famous too. I watch her videos every night before bed."
Many people expressed that they were in the same boat, saying that watching mukbang videos was an essential way to fall asleep.
The English teacher picked up a wonton and started eating it. The soup base was bad, and the wonton itself was just so-so.
"I'll share some with you, you can try it." The kind-hearted and beautiful Ms. Zhang shared some of her beef brisket and bamboo shoots with the English teacher, and even ladled some of the soup from the bottom of the pot over to her.
The soup, which was originally as plain as boiled water, instantly became oily, with a thin layer of grease floating on top. Fearing that the food wouldn't taste good if it soaked in the soup, Teacher Zhang placed the bamboo shoots and beef brisket on the lid.
After saying thank you several times, the English teacher finally began to enjoy the delicious food. The wontons were still as unappetizing as ever, but the soup had gained some flavor. Eating the beef brisket and bamboo shoots alone, the taste was far superior to the wontons in every way.
The English teacher nodded repeatedly, "This smells amazing, no wonder everyone loves it so much."
"Yes, I thought it was an exaggeration at first, but now it seems it's not an exaggeration at all." Recalling the story of Xiaoming and Huang Mao, Teacher Zhang sighed, "If Xiaoming really got into No. 1 Middle School, we could really make a big fuss about it for days."
"The wontons at this shop are really bad, and the noodles aren't good either," the English teacher complained. But thankfully, Mr. Zhang's feeding her soothed her wounded heart.
"The boss also makes wontons, it's a pity you missed out." She asked, and the boss said he was a bit busy lately and would consider whether to make them after she had some free time.
They had to continue proctoring exams in the afternoon, so after eating, the two of them took a nap on the table.
...
After finishing lunch, Aunt Zheng started washing dishes and cleaning. Seeing that Aunt Zheng was almost done, Yu Miaoyin brought out a recliner and said, "Auntie, why don't you lie down here and sleep?"
The recliner can be folded up and leaned against the wall without taking up much space, and unfolded up it can be used as half a bed, which is convenient.
Aunt Zheng: "Thank you, Xiaoyin."
Yu Miaoyin smiled and told her not to be so polite. She set an alarm and went back to take a short nap.
Half an hour of sleep was enough to make her feel refreshed. Yu Miaoyin stretched and took out high-gluten flour, eggs, milk, and other ingredients from the kitchen. She had promised to make something delicious for Xiaotangbao, and after thinking for a while, she decided to make honey bread rolls. These old-fashioned honey bread rolls were very fragrant, and she loved them. She could eat them one after another when she was little, but fewer and fewer people made them now.
After kneading the dough, Yu Miaoyin put it in the oven to let it rise faster. Taking advantage of the time, she went upstairs to check on the cantaloupes the two of them had planted long ago. They were growing well and had the potential to become big, fragrant, and sweet cantaloupes. Yu Miaoyin watered the cantaloupes and, imitating Xiao Tangbao, said, "Little cantaloupe, little cantaloupe, grow up quickly! You are the best and most wonderful little cantaloupe in the world!"
It is said that there is a scientific basis for this: plants that grow under praise and those that grow under curses are different.
After watering the cantaloupe, she went to check on the chives.
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