Chapter Fifty-Five: Dried Mustard Greens and Meat Sauce Buns
After finishing her lunch, Yu Miaoyin took out the remaining flour to make steamed buns. The weather was a little cooler today, with a hint of autumn in the air, so making some warm steamed buns would be nice.
There wasn't much flour left, so Yu Miaoyin decided to use it all to make steamed buns. Few people in Yuncheng hoard flour, partly because the local noodle culture isn't very developed, and partly because the weather in Yuncheng is humid, making flour prone to getting damp after opening.
She had originally planned to make vegetarian buns, but then changed her mind. After all, these oily, juicy steamed buns with preserved mustard greens and pork sauce were much more fragrant. Since she was going to make them anyway, she decided to make something even tastier, so she bought some pork belly. She chose pork belly with a lot of fat, which meant more oil, and the preserved mustard greens would absorb the oil well, so lean pork belly wouldn't taste as good.
She started preparing the filling while the dough was rising. After sautéing the pork belly until fragrant, she added dried preserved mustard greens and stir-fried them together to bring out the aroma. After adding a round of seasonings, she simmered it again to allow the aroma of the pork belly fat and the saltiness of the preserved mustard greens to blend together completely.
After the dough had risen, Yu Miaoyin checked it. The dough was fluffy and soft, and when you tore it apart, you could even see some honeycomb-like patterns.
Aunt Zheng didn't go home today. She took a nap in the shop. Perhaps the meat filling Xiao Yin prepared smelled too good, because the aroma woke her up. Aunt Zheng rubbed her eyes and washed her face, feeling much more awake. She came over and asked, "Xiao Yin, what are you doing?"
"Dried mustard greens and minced meat buns. I bought some dried mustard greens a few days ago, and I happened to have some left over. I was also craving them, so I thought I'd make some myself." As she spoke, Yu Miaoyin had already rolled out a dough wrapper. Aunt Zheng could only admire her; the boss did these things with such ease and grace.
Aunt Zheng washed her hands clean. "Let me help you. With your fermented dough and seasoned meat filling, it'll taste good no matter how you mix them together."
Hearing Aunt Zheng say that, Yu Miaoyin felt a little embarrassed, "It's not that exaggerated!"
"It's really that exaggerated," Aunt Zheng said.
She wraps steamed buns quite quickly, and they turn out very beautifully, with pleats that look like they were made by a machine.
The dough and meat filling were used up, so the two of them steamed the buns together. Yu Miaoyin went out to check the weather. The sky was still gloomy and overcast, looking like it was about to rain at any moment.
Aunt Zheng also came out. "I just checked the weather forecast. It says the sun will be out tomorrow, which is perfect since we're getting ready for National Day."
Upon hearing the word "National Day," Yu Miaoyin's first thought was that the Mid-Autumn Festival had only just passed a few days ago. She wasn't particularly sensitive to dates and holidays these days because she owned her own shop and was quite free, so weekends, public holidays, and work-study programs were all irrelevant to her.
"Yes, it's almost National Day." Aunt Zheng took out her phone and showed her the calendar. Yu Miaoyin also remembered the national flags she had seen fluttering on the way to the market these past few days; so that's what they were doing in preparation for National Day.
National Day is a seven-day holiday, which means that workdays will be adjusted again.
While they were chatting, He Tianyou brought over some chestnuts. Knowing that Boss Yu was going to make chestnut and sausage rice, he volunteered to stay and help Boss Yu peel the chestnuts.
With several people working together, and knowing that peeling chestnuts requires skill, they were able to peel them quickly. Before long, the plate was piled high with a small mountain of golden chestnuts.
The steam in the kitchen made a sizzling sound as it pushed against the pot lid. He Tianyou sniffed, "Boss, what are you making? It smells so good!" The aroma wafting from the kitchen was simple, like the faint wheat scent of old-fashioned steamed buns from his childhood. Back then, an uncle would ride a motorcycle with a styrofoam cooler filled with all sorts of small steamed buns on it. When he opened the lid and the cloth covering it, the aroma that wafted out was just like this.
As soon as you open it, fluffy white buns, like cotton candy, come into view. They slowly shrink a little, as if they are alive.
The freshly steamed buns smelled wonderful, so Yu Miaoyin broke one open to check how well they were made. Instantly, the aroma wafted out, a blend of dried preserved vegetables and the scent of oil. He Tianyou sniffed and whispered to Aunt Zheng, "These buns smell so good, they must be filled with preserved vegetables and meat sauce."
Aunt Zheng said, "Yes, the boss's cooking is especially delicious. Working with her has made me happy with the food, and she's also a very nice person."
"Is it all-inclusive?" He Tianyou asked, peeling chestnuts with a satisfying crunch.
"Bao, the food and dishes you give us are plentiful and of good quality," Aunt Zheng said, her eyes crinkling into a smile.
He Tianyou roared inwardly, "Is there anything better than this? I get to eat almost state banquet-level food every day, and the boss is incredibly kind. Even if it means a 3,000 yuan pay cut, I'd be willing to do it, all for this one meal!"
As he spoke, he kept thinking about the steamed bun. As he thought about it, the steamed bun appeared in front of him. "Come and have a taste."
An angel has come to bring warmth again. He Tianyou was touched and, with a strong craving, took the steamed bun. "Thank you, boss. You are truly beautiful inside and out."
This statement is not an exaggeration when describing Boss Yu. She is indeed beautiful and kind-hearted, and in the eyes of these diners, she is simply an angel.
Yu Miaoyin sent a message to Grandma Chen and Grandpa Xu, asking if they wanted to come and eat preserved vegetable and pork sauce buns.
Grandpa Xu and Grandma Chen were very enthusiastic; they set off immediately after receiving the news.
"This bag is so soft, like cotton." Actually, Grandma Chen originally wanted to say it was like a cloud, but she had never touched a cloud. After touching this bag today, she secretly felt that this was the feel of a cloud.
"Wow, this is amazing, so delicious!" Grandpa Xu took a big bite. The meat filling inside was still piping hot, and the hot broth soaked into the dough. It had the saltiness of dried mustard greens and the aroma of pork belly.
"It's so delicious. If you owned a breakfast shop, I'd be willing to get up at five o'clock to eat it," said Grandpa Xu, licking his lips.
He Tianyou broke the bun open. The bun was very soft. It would dent when you pinched it lightly, but it would bounce back quickly. Because the bun skin was not particularly thick, some oil seeped out from the bottom. The filling inside was very full. After breaking it open, the meat juice slowly seeped out.
Even the bun skin is so delicious! He Tianyou exclaimed inwardly several times.
This hot, juicy steamed bun is truly priceless.
After they finished eating, Grandpa Xu and Grandma Chen voluntarily stayed to peel chestnuts for her. Grandma Chen said, "We're eating your steamed buns. You wouldn't take money from us anyway, so we can only sell our labor."
"Then I've actually gained something, thank you Grandma and Grandpa," Yu Miaoyin said. With the help of two more people, it really did get much faster.
When the store opened, Grandma Chen and Grandpa Xu stayed, saying, "We hadn't decided what to have for dinner, so we came here to eat."
He Tianyou sat down as well. "I want some too, I want some too, I want to eat here with you." After saying that, He Tianyou immediately added, "Boss, please don't say that you're treating me, I'll really feel bad eating like that."
Grandma Chen and Grandpa Xu also smiled and said, "Yes, yes, yes."
A short while later, two men, who looked to be in their thirties or forties, came into the shop. Seeing that there were people in the shop, one of them asked, "Is this the Yu's Little Restaurant that's mentioned online?"
Grandpa Xu quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes, this is it."
The two men nodded and thanked the old man, then sat down and murmured, "Looks like we found the right address."
Grandpa Xu asked curiously, "Did you see this store online?"
“Yes.” The two men nodded. “We drove for three hours to get here.”
He Tianyou was somewhat shocked upon hearing this, and he said in a low voice, "Three hours."
Grandpa Xu said this is perfectly normal. It's not surprising that people from Yuncheng drive for hours to some remote mountain areas just to find good food. People who don't know the area might think they've been kidnapped, since those delicious restaurants are hidden deep in the mountains.
Having come all this way, they all ordered one serving. "Boss, do you sell these steamed buns?"
The aroma wafting from the steamed buns on the table over there was so enticing; they were really hungry.
"I'll give it to you two. I didn't make much," Yu Miaoyin said, firstly because she heard that the two of them had driven for several hours to come, and secondly because they had ordered a lot of dishes.
"Okay, thanks, boss," the man said.
They first ate fried rice noodles with eggs. The eggs and the wok's smokiness seemed to combine and coat the rice noodles. The bean sprouts on top were crisp and had a little bit of sweet juice.
Seeing that the shop also had pickled green beans, the two of them went and got some to eat. Even the pickled green beans were so delicious, sour, spicy and very appetizing. This shop is truly extraordinary, even their pickled green beans are so good.
The man thought that even if the other things in this shop weren't good, they would still come for the pickled green beans.
When the rice was served, the two of them also took a bite of the steamed bun. The bun was steamed so fragrantly. They wished they could eat such delicious food every day. It was just too delicious.
After the rice was served, they scooped out the crispy rice crust at the bottom. The moist and delicious rice, soaked in sauce and sausage fat, was mixed with the crispy rice crust. Taking a big bite, the oily rice mixed with sausage and chestnuts was so satisfying, especially the chestnuts, which melted in your mouth with just a gentle touch.
Chen Churuo and Li Youran entered the room together. Li Youran was wearing a pretty dress and said as they walked, "Your photography skills are really good. You can take such atmospheric photos even on a cloudy day. This meal is on you today."
She came to Yuncheng again, partly to take nice photos for her business, and partly to have a good meal at a small restaurant. She squinted at the menu and saw that it listed today's dishes. "I'll have a little of everything. Hot and sour shredded potatoes, they have hot and sour shredded potatoes here, I especially love hot and sour shredded potatoes."
"Thank you, sister," Yang Churuo said. Although she had a financial relationship with her, the two were more like friends. The last meal had brought them closer.
"What do you mean 'sister'? Aren't you my friend? Call me Li Youran. Calling me 'sister' makes me sound old," Li Youran said with a smile, after all, they were the same age.
"good."
The food was served quickly, and the braised rice with chestnuts and sausage looked so good that Li Youran couldn't take her eyes off it. "Chuchu, let's take a picture together before we eat. I'll post it online for my fans to see and make them drool."
“Okay,” Yang Churuo said.
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