Chapter Ninety-Five: Braised Pork Rice + Steamed Chicken + Pork Ribs and Radish...
Grandpa Xu wasn't even in a hurry to eat his braised pork rice; instead, he quickly picked up his phone and started reading the news.
A short while later, the sentimental Grandpa Xu silently wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes. Little Tangbao came over and saw Grandpa Xu crying, and exclaimed in surprise, asking curiously, "Grandpa, is it because the food was too delicious that you're crying?"
"Oh dear, how could that be? Do you think I'm that easily moved to tears?" Grandpa Xu said somewhat awkwardly. He quickly tried to save face: "Grandpa just saw something very touching. Come here, Grandpa will show you this news too. It's about your sister's restaurant."
Little Tangbao doesn't know many characters, so Grandpa Xu turned on the reading mode and let Little Tangbao listen to the news.
The braised pork rice on the table still emitted a warm, fragrant aroma. After grieving, Grandpa Xu quickly looked down at the braised pork rice. He specially asked Xiaoyin to drizzle a spoonful of braising sauce on it. The sauce slowly seeped into the rice noodles, dyeing the white grains a deep brown. The sauce then coated the braised pork, adding even more visual appeal and aroma to the already rich, dark-colored meat. Beside it sat blanched green vegetables, making the whole bowl of rice refreshing.
He couldn't wait any longer, so he quickly started eating, while the news was still broadcasting next to him.
The rice and braised pork were piping hot. He scooped it out with a spoon, and the even hotter aroma wafted to his nose. The rice wrapped around the tender and flavorful braised pork, the soft and chewy meat and the springy rice blending together in his mouth before he swallowed.
"This food smells so good!" Grandpa Xu said, eating with a happy expression on his face. At the same time, he was moved to tears by the news, and his expression seemed a little distorted.
Little Tangbao next to her also sniffled with emotion.
Little Tangbao glanced at her grandfather's strange expression and suddenly smiled, then asked with concern, "Is this older brother alright?"
Yu Miaoyin happened to come out of the kitchen and saw the two bitter gourds, one big and one small. She walked over, touched Xiaotangbao's face gently, and asked her, "What's wrong?"
"Sister, take a look at this news." She handed Grandpa Xu's phone to her sister.
This is news from Yuncheng Community. The news tells the story of a cancer patient who regained hope in life after eating radish cake from Yu Ji Restaurant. The news also mentions Liu Yi's life story, his rescue of stray animals, and his sponsorship of a girl from his village to go to school. Even though he himself is struggling, he still tries his best to spread warmth, just like how he opened up his own scars to comfort Chen Xi.
The news report also included screenshots of Liu Yi's original blog post and the comments, which were heartwarming.
My mother also underwent chemotherapy, and there are many things she can't eat; she'll vomit if she does. I have to cook for her myself. Cancer patients like this, so this shop is truly conscientious. I hope my friends in Yuncheng won't let this shop close down.
Don't worry, the food at this restaurant is absolutely amazing! I worry every day that I won't get a table if I go too late.
[I'm so touched, I almost peed my eyes. I've decided to punish myself by eating only at small restaurants for the next few days.]
[Whether this is a reward or punishment, you know best...]
Yu Miaoyin felt a warm glow in her heart as she read everyone's comments.
"Xiaoyin, you've really done something incredibly good. Even I, at my age, am moved to tears." He still had a mouthful of rice in his mouth, the braised pork with its perfect balance of lean and fatty meat was exceptionally fragrant, fatty but not greasy, lean but not dry, and his mouth was filled with the aroma of braised meat. Even the vegetables next to it were perfect, fresh and crisp, perfectly balancing the richness of the braised pork rice. "I'm so touched, but it's not surprising, Xiaoyin, the rice you make is just so delicious, this braised pork rice is so good."
Yu Miaoyin smiled and only felt slightly relieved after reading the entire news article. The article concluded by mentioning that Liu Yi had received assistance from kind-hearted people from all walks of life, and that Liu Yi himself was an online novelist. People found his novels through his Weibo account and subscribed to and tipped his works on the platform.
It can be considered a good beginning and a good end. Yu Miaoyin was initially worried that Liu Yi would become a tool for the media to gain traffic. But fortunately, the traffic was used in the right way.
"Your brother is getting better in the hospital now, don't be too sad." Yu Miaoyin gently hugged her to reassure her. Just like in the good and beautiful cartoons, kind people always have happy endings.
Yuan Jianjun also saw the news. He silently sighed, "No wonder this small restaurant is endorsed by my own palate; good food can give people endless strength, and it can even save someone who has given up on life."
The other diners in the small restaurant were also quietly scrolling through the news. Yuan Jianjun ate a little more, savoring the rich aroma of the braised meat and the slightly sticky braising sauce. His mouth was filled with the fragrance of meat.
In the hospital, Chen Xi felt relieved after reading the message Liu Yi sent. He said that he was currently undergoing intensive treatment at the hospital, and whether he could be cured was up to fate.
Chen Xi sent him a message to encourage him, telling him that there were many delicious foods at the small restaurant, and that they could go to the restaurant together for a meal when he felt a little better.
Liu Yi: I'll treat you to dinner someday. It's gotten colder recently, so please keep warm. I hope to hear good news from you in the spring.
Chen Xi: Okay, I'd love to hear good news about you too. There are so many delicious things to eat at that little restaurant, and my dad's bamboo-pressed noodles are really fragrant. You can come to my house next time and see how my dad makes bamboo-pressed noodles; it's so much fun.
...
The temperature in Yuncheng is dropping, winter has begun for this city, but spring is just around the corner.
"Don't unzip your clothes when it gets cold, otherwise the cold air will easily get inside." Yu Miaoyin washed the ribs and then nagged at Xiaotangbao. She increasingly felt like a mother hen, worrying that Xiaotangbao would get sick, feel uncomfortable, or be unhappy.
"Okay." With two quick zips, Xiao Tangbao pulled the zipper all the way up and even tucked her neck in.
"Good girl, how about your aunt takes you to buy warm clothes, socks, and hats in a few days?" Every winter, her aunt would take her to buy lots of warm clothes and lay out a quilt that had been sun-dried for her. Yu Miaoyin had received a lot of love from her aunt, so she wanted to give that kind of love to Xiao Tangbao as well.
Yu Miaoyin put the blanched ribs into a pot and pan-fried them until they turned slightly yellow. She then took out a clay pot, put the ribs and ginger slices in, and simmered them over low heat. When they were almost done, she added the diced radish.
"Call Grandma over too. These are radishes and chickens she gave us. Let her try them." The day before yesterday was Grandma's birthday. Her daughter brought over several chickens, and Grandma remembered her and gave her one.
"Here you are, here you are again, coming to freeload a meal." Grandma walked in happily, carrying some fruit in her hand. "I've put the things over there in the living room."
Yu Miaoyin knew her grandmother's good intentions, and the two families were acquainted, so she didn't refuse politely. "Thank you, Grandma. Please find a seat. The food is ready."
The chicken my grandma gave me was excellent, with a perfectly thin layer of fat in the middle. When I steamed it, the chicken fat was rendered out, making the chicken less greasy and incredibly delicious.
She poured a bowl of water into the pot, placed a plate on the iron rack, and turned on the heat. The pot boiled completely, steaming the plate on top until it was hot. Only then did she put the marinated chicken into the plate to steam.
White smoke billowed from the iron pot as the high temperature steamed out chicken oil, and the aroma of the chicken oil wafting out from the cracks in the pot was incredibly enticing.
"Stop smelling it, we'll have something to eat soon." Yu Miaoyin didn't know if Xiao Tangbao had been spending too much time with her grandma, but every time she saw her making something delicious, she would look up at the kitchen, her mouth watering.
She first brought out the pork rib and radish soup. Large pieces of pork ribs and radish lay in the milky white soup, with a thin layer of oil floating on top. It smelled delicious.
"It smells good." Grandma sat in her chair and looked into the kitchen with the anticipation of a child on their first day of kindergarten, constantly looking outside, wondering if Mom and Dad were still there.
Fortunately, the steamed chicken was finally ready. Yu Miaoyin opened the lid, and the white smoke billowing out of the pot filled the kitchen. The kitchen looked like a fairyland, and the aroma was so enticing that it could steal your soul.
"It's edible now." Yu Miaoyin placed the glistening steamed chicken on the table. The chicken fat had been steamed out and nestled in the dish, which was sprinkled with chopped green onions. The aroma of the hot chicken fat was instantly enhanced with a touch of freshness. The chicken pieces stuck to the bottom of the dish rolled over as she put it down, revealing the browned edges.
"This chicken is really worth it for you, and this radish too, tsk tsk tsk," Grandma exclaimed, her eyes glued to it.
"Then you must eat more," Yu Miaoyin said. She herself was also craving steamed chicken. Steaming is just as fragrant as plain steaming, and it preserves the original flavor of the dish, making it especially delicious.
Just like the dish she made, some of the chicken fat slid out of the chicken under the high-temperature steam, making the chicken meat not greasy, but with a rich aroma of chicken fat. Although it was steamed, surprisingly, it also had a hint of charred flavor.
"This smells so good!" Grandma picked up her bowl and took another sip of the pork rib and radish soup that Xiaoyin had made. The sweetness of the radish was completely infused into the soup, and you could also taste a hint of the meaty aroma of the pork ribs. The milky white soup base was especially appetizing. If she wasn't worried about drinking too much and not being able to eat, Grandma would have already downed it in one gulp.
After drinking it, I felt warm all over. "Eating radish in winter and ginger in summer is so comforting."
"Thank you so much, Xiaoyin. I don't even know how many meals I've gotten for free. Xiaoyin is so kind." Every time Xiaoyin invites her to eat out, she feels a little embarrassed. But no matter how embarrassed she is, she really craves the food, and she can't bring herself to refuse.
Yu Miaoyin picked up two chicken drumsticks from the pot and gave them to the two of them. "I'm so happy that Grandma likes to eat them."
“Yes, my sister said she loves seeing people eat her cooking with gusto,” Xiao Tangbao said.
That's absolutely true. As a chef, seeing others enjoy the food she makes fills her with a sense of happiness.
Grandma and Xiaotangbao each took a chicken leg and started eating. Grandma had good teeth, so she tore big bites of the chicken leg meat. No water was added when making the steamed chicken, but the dish wasn't dry at all. The rendered chicken fat gave the whole chicken leg a light sheen, making it fragrant and tender.
The bones were steamed until they were soft and tender, exuding the aroma of oil and marinade. Grandma chewed the bones into crumbs. If she weren't inedible, she would have swallowed them long ago.
"Grandma, did you have a happy birthday?" Xiao Tangbao asked. After saying that, she jumped off the chair, took out a small origami cake she had made, and handed it to her grandma. "This is my gift to Grandma."
She made this origami cake in her craft class.
"I'm so happy! I'm even happier with your gift." Grandma said, still unable to resist the food Xiaoyin had made. She quickly picked up a piece of pork rib and put it in her mouth. The rib was tender and smooth, and it tasted delicious when eaten with the translucent and chewy tendons.
"Is it your birthday too? Grandma will give you a present to make you happy, okay?" After swallowing the ribs, Grandma quickly picked up the origami cake that Xiaotangbao had given her, looked at it again and again, and praised it repeatedly. She remembered that Xiaotangbao's birthday was January 3rd, two days after New Year's Day.
Little Tangbao didn't remember her birthday. She turned her head and asked, "Sister, when is my birthday?"
“January 3rd, baby,” Yu Miaoyin said. Her aunt would celebrate her birthday in a very grand and solemn way, and she wanted to give Xiaotangbao a birthday like that too.
"Okay." Knowing that she would receive many blessings and gifts, she became excited.
The mention of birthdays actually made Yu Miaoyin start thinking about how to celebrate Xiao Tangbao's birthday. She took a bite of a sweet radish, and the radish juice and the soup it had soaked up overflowed, making it incredibly delicious.
Delicious food is a must. She picked up another piece of steamed chicken; the skin was chewy and tender, and the meat underneath wasn't heavily seasoned, only having the rich, natural flavor of the chicken, along with the aroma of oil and salt. When the chicken pieces touched the rice, the rice turned a golden yellow and became more oily, making it fragrant even on its own.
She also wants to invite her friend Xiao Ran, her favorite older sisters Yi Ling and Jia Jia, and Xiao Du. Even before Xiao Tang Bao's birthday, she's already mentally drafted the invitation list.
...
Winter arrived unexpectedly. The next morning, Yu Miaoyin got out of bed and shivered as she came into contact with the cold air. She silently brushed her teeth, wrapped in thick clothes, thinking how nice it would be to have a bowl of warm porridge.
Now that I've opened my own shop, I should naturally make my own decisions.
So, on a whim, Yu Miaoyin went to the market to buy the ingredients for making porridge.
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