Chapter One: Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs
In early September, the summer heat had not yet subsided, making this summer seem exceptionally long.
Yu Miaoyin stood under the blue awning erected by the kindergarten, waiting with a group of parents for their children to be dismissed from school.
At four o'clock, the kindergarten bell rang. A group of children fluttered out like little birds, chattering and making a lively scene.
"Big sister!" A childish and innocent voice called out. Yu Miaoyin snapped out of her thoughts and lowered her head.
A little girl appeared before me, with two pigtails, fair and delicate skin, a round head and round face, like a glutinous rice ball. Her eyes were also round and bright, like pure and clean glass marbles without any impurities.
cute.
Yu Miaoyin squatted down and touched her little braids. "Let's go, little Tangbao, I'll take you home."
"good!"
The kindergarten wasn't far from their home, and the two of them walked side by side on their way home.
Xiao Tangbao is a very cute little girl. Children of this age are always very innocent and lively.
She excitedly told Yu Miaoyin about all the interesting things that happened at kindergarten, and Yu Miaoyin listened attentively and gave her feedback.
Passing by the market, she took Xiaotangbao to buy some spare ribs. On the way back, they passed an ice cream and milk tea shop. The ice cream there was cheap and delicious, so Yu Miaoyin bought one for Xiaotangbao.
The ice cream was milky white, and even before tasting it, it had a rich, creamy aroma. Little Tangbao took a bite, and the ice cream felt a little cold on her teeth. She immediately gasped and whispered, "My teeth are getting soft."
After she calmed down, she licked the ice cream in small bites. The delicate and soft ice cream spread between her teeth, the coolness carrying the aroma of milk, sweet and refreshing, the milk flavor becoming stronger with each bite.
The ice cream cone is also crispy, making a crunchy sound when you bite into it. The aroma of wheat and caramel is also very pleasant, and you can still feel a hint of sweetness in your mouth after swallowing.
Perhaps because she ate a delicious ice cream, Xiao Tangbao was in a good mood and kept chatting and laughing with Yu Miaoyin.
Until we passed a small, closed shop.
Xiao Tangbao glanced at the small shop and stopped talking, as if she had thought of something sad.
Yu Miaoyin knew what Xiao Tangbao was thinking, and she also knew that Xiao Tangbao was still sad.
Yu Miaoyin sighed silently in her heart. Yes, even she felt uncomfortable about this, even though she was a transmigrator...
The original owner of this book was a pitiful girl. Her parents died early, and she lived with her aunt's family. Her life was peaceful and happy. However, this happy time did not last long. Her uncle died in a car accident, and her aunt also fell seriously ill and eventually passed away.
By the way, Xiaotangbao is Auntie's child. Her name is Yu Wentang, and she's still in kindergarten.
The small shop they had just passed was their aunt's noodle shop, right across from the high school, but now it was closed, as if it had gone out of business.
Thinking of the original book's setting, Yu Miaoyin felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
The eldest sister is like a mother to them, and they depend on each other for survival. Although Yu Miaoyin is a young woman in her twenties and has never raised a child, she would never send Xiaotangbao to a relative's house. She doesn't want Xiaotangbao to live under someone else's roof. She wants Xiaotangbao to always be lively and vibrant, and doesn't want her to become sensitive and thoughtful.
Her aunt treated her well when she was alive, so she should take good care of Xiaotangbao.
Xiao Tangbao's mood only improved a little after they passed that little shop. Just then, high school students also let out, and the high school students, wearing blue and white school uniforms, came out of the school gate in groups of three or five to go out for dinner. They were so lively and full of energy.
Their homes were not far from the high school.
This area was originally a wasteland, but the school likes to choose wasteland to cultivate. Looking out from Yuncheng No.1 Middle School, all you can see are low bungalows, with a few houses clustered together as if they were huddled together for warmth.
"I'm making sweet and sour pork ribs today. You can watch cartoons first, and I'll call you when the food is ready," Yu Miaoyin said. "It's sweet and sour, and kids should love it."
“Mmm,” Xiao Tangbao said.
Wash the spare ribs bought from the market and chop them into small pieces. Blanch the ribs in cold water to remove any unpleasant smell, then wash them with warm water. Yu Miaoyin prepared the sweet and sour rib sauce by mixing appropriate amounts of light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, cooking wine, sugar, and vinegar.
After caramelizing the sugar, she stir-fried the ribs until they were evenly coated with the caramel. Then she added ginger slices, the prepared sauce, and enough hot water to cover the ingredients. Yu Miaoyin covered the pot, turned on medium heat, and simmered the ribs before wiping her hands and coming out of the kitchen.
After simmering for a while, Yu Miaoyin returned to the living room and watched cartoons with Xiaotangbao.
"Xiao Tangbao, Xiao Yin." After a while, Grandma Chen's voice came over.
"Grandma Chen, you're here!" Little Tangbao jumped off the chair and pulled Grandma Chen inside.
"What are you making? It smells so good!" Grandma Chen exclaimed.
"Big sister is making sweet and sour pork ribs," said Xiaotangbao.
Yu Miaoyin also called out, "Grandma Chen."
"Ready to eat? I'll just grab a few things for you, say a few words and then I'll be leaving." Grandma Chen put a large bag of sweet potatoes on the ground. "These are small sweet potatoes I grew myself, I brought some over for you to try."
Grandma Chen often brought things over for them. In just a few days since she transmigrated, Yu Miaoyin had already received many things from Grandma Chen.
Seeing that Yu Miaoyin didn't speak, Grandma Chen thought she didn't like it, so she quickly added, "It's homegrown, delicious, and it gets really sweet if you leave it for a while."
How could Yu Miaoyin possibly be disgusted? She smiled, her eyes crinkling, "Thank you, Grandma Chen. I'm just a little embarrassed."
Grandma Chen exclaimed and patted her thigh, "What's there to be embarrassed about? If you call me Grandma, Xiaotang, then I'll accept it."
Little Tangbao giggled, her voice like a little bell, "Thank you, Grandma, mua~"
"You haven't eaten yet, have you? Have dinner here. I made sweet and sour pork ribs, Grandma, why don't you stay and try it?" Yu Miaoyin said, already heading into the kitchen. She opened the pot lid and saw the sauce bubbling and simmering, the water evaporating, the sauce becoming richer and richer, and the aroma wafting out.
Grandma Chen couldn't help but praise the aroma, "Xiao Yin's cooking smells so good, it's making me hungry."
Xiao Tangbao also went to the kitchen to help Yu Miaoyin get bowls and serve rice. After the sweet and sour pork ribs were reduced in sauce, the flavor was rich and mellow, with a strong soy sauce aroma.
Yu Miaoyin ladled out the ribs. The freshly cooked sweet and sour ribs were still steaming hot. The ribs were chopped into neat little pieces, coated in a thick amber sauce, glistening with oil. The juices from the ribs mixed with the sauce and dripped down, making the surface shiny, and even the bones were covered with the sticky sweet and sour sauce.
Grandma Chen couldn't help but give a thumbs up just by looking at it, "I haven't even eaten yet, but the taste and appearance of your cooking have already lured me in."
“Then you should eat more,” Yu Miaoyin said.
"Big sister's cooking is so delicious!" Xiao Tangbao said.
Yu Miaoyin put a piece of spare rib on Grandma Chen's plate, then put a piece on Xiaotangbao's plate, and finally put one on herself.
The glossy, savory pork ribs on the plate had been tempting Grandma Chen for a while, and now that she could finally eat them, she picked one up and took a bite.
The sweet and sour pork ribs are perfectly marbled with fat and lean meat; the lean meat is tender and juicy, with a satisfying chewiness. The tendons clinging to the bones are springy and resilient, softening slightly after absorbing the oozing meat juices. Stewed long enough, they are incredibly flavorful and tender, falling off the bone with a single bite, even the marrow infused with the meaty aroma and sweet and sour flavor of the ribs.
She recalled her son's sweet and sour pork ribs, which were only slightly sweet, had a strong meaty smell, and turned out tough and dry. They were worlds apart from Xiaoyin's sweet and sour pork ribs.
I really can't imagine how many pork ribs her son has wasted over the years. These pigs died so unjustly.
Grandma Chen ate another piece and couldn't help but ask Yu Miaoyin how to make sweet and sour pork ribs, "Xiaoyin, how do you make sweet and sour pork ribs? Do you have any tips? How come you make them so delicious?"
Cooking tips?
After explaining how to prepare the ribs, Yu Miaoyin went on to share some other techniques.
Grandma Chen nodded repeatedly in agreement. When she cooked at home, she didn't pay much attention to the details; as long as the food was cooked through, everything was fine. She never imagined that there was so much to know about cooking a dish.
There's something to learn in every aspect of life!
She kept it in mind, "Then I'll try it next time. Your sweet and sour pork ribs are even better than what you get outside, your cooking skills are really good."
Yu Miaoyin put a few more pieces on her plate.
"Little Tangbao should eat more rice and meat so she can grow taller." Yu Miaoyin picked up a few more pieces for Little Tangbao.
Little Tangbao nodded, "I understand!"
"It's such a pity that Xiaoyin didn't become a chef," Grandma Chen sighed, then couldn't resist taking another bite.
Yu Miaoyin smiled. Before she transmigrated into the book, three generations of her family were chefs. Her parents and grandparents were all excellent cooks, and diners always praised their dishes. Perhaps influenced by her family, Yu Miaoyin loved cooking from a young age, and the presentation and taste of her dishes were superb.
Moreover, she always felt that she had inherited the family's culinary genes. Even if she had never cooked before, she could learn on her own and make it exceptionally delicious the second time.
Possessing rare cooking talent, or, as people online say, possessing top-tier cooking spiritual roots.
Grandma Chen wasn't exaggerating when she said that.
"Isn't your aunt's noodle shop across from Yuncheng No. 1 Middle School? Is Xiaoyin planning to reopen it?" Grandma Chen asked as she saw Xiaotangbao go to the kitchen.
"Yes, I'll open it in a few days. Once things settle down, I'll get the necessary documents sorted out and then I'll open it," Yu Miaoyin said softly.
The original owner had a decent education, but in today's society, especially in Yuncheng, a small city, finding a job with a satisfactory salary and weekends off is harder than finding a toad. Moreover, she had a child to support; Yu Miaoyin couldn't possibly let Xiao Tangbao live alone—she was still so young.
Therefore, reopening small restaurants is the best option.
Grandma Chen smiled. Having tasted Yu Miaoyin's cooking, she felt that reopening the small restaurant was a good choice.
Xiao Tangbao came out of the kitchen, holding a spoon in her hand.
She scooped a spoonful of broth and mixed it with the rice. The sauce blended perfectly with the rice, turning every grain a deep brown. The rice was soft, chewy, and had absorbed the flavor of the sauce. The aroma of rice, sweet and sour, and the meaty fragrance all combined together. Little Tangbao ate it mouthful after mouthful, thoroughly satisfied.
After dinner, Xiao Tangbao volunteered to wash the dishes with Yu Miaoyin. She was shorter than the sink, so Yu Miaoyin gave her a small stool to stand on. Yu Miaoyin used dish soap to clean the grease stains, while Xiao Tangbao helped rinse them.
Afterwards, they cleaned up the kitchen before washing up.
This house belongs to my aunt; it's a self-built house, not particularly beautiful, but it's clean and tidy. My aunt also reserved a large room for Yu Miaoyin.
Actually, her aunt treated her very well and never made her suffer any grievances.
"Big sister, can I sleep with you tonight... I can tell you a story. Our teacher told you about the little rabbit carrying a pumpkin today. Can I tell you the story?" Little Tangbao said, tugging at her clothes after brushing her teeth.
Auntie just left, and Xiao Tangbao needs company. Yu Miaoyin nodded, "Of course, I also want to hear Xiao Tangbao tell stories."
A note from the author:
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The author's drafts were too lonely, and lacking passion, so I decided to start writing. Updates will be based on rankings before VIP chapters, and daily updates afterward. Please click to favorite and help me reach VIP status soon! You can read my completed novel, "I Captured Hearts with My Braised Food Shop," in my author's column. Don't miss my other pre-order novels in the column either; they'll all be finished gradually if all goes well. [glasses]
My next book, "Top-Grade Food Spirit Root, But I Have to Transmigrate into a Book to Work," has a synopsis below. Please bookmark it to let me know as soon as it starts! I'm working hard to build up my drafts!
—The text is as follows—
[Portraits of Diners from Different Worlds + Everyday Food Entries]
Lin Yingyang was unexpectedly bound to a system
The benevolent system bestowed upon her an exceptional cooking spirit root, while the evil system told her that she had to travel to different worlds to cook in order to return to the real world.
Lin Yingyang: Can I not do it?
System: Then you can only die...
[Kindergarten Edition]
This place seems to have gathered all the world's pickiest eaters, crying and screaming during mealtimes, finding all sorts of ways to resist food.
Since Lin Yingyang arrived…
Even the pickiest eater sits obediently in his chair at mealtimes, eating heartily!
[The Universe's Number One Zootopia]
Yes, it's that Zootopia with cats, dogs, pandas, and Siberian tigers, and Lin Yingyang has become a rabbit who can cook because of it.
Ever since a rabbit chef arrived in Zootopia, the nearly bankrupt Rabbit Restaurant has been packed with animals: elephants, sloths, foxes, pandas, and Siberian tigers—each one patiently waiting for their meal.
All the furry kids love this store!
News headline: Shocking! What caused countless furry creatures to fight over it was actually a meal!
[The Imperial Kitchen]
Lin Yingyang: Will I be beheaded if I don't do a good job?
System: Yes
But unexpectedly...
The emperor was delighted by her cooking, and he became less serious during morning court sessions, more receptive to advice. From then on, the country was stable and the people lived in peace and happiness.
Your Majesty: So the reason I'm in a bad mood is because the food made by those guys in the Imperial Kitchen is just awful!
The concubines in the harem no longer competed for the emperor's favor. They didn't care whose concubine the emperor had chosen that day; they only cared about what to eat that day!
Later, Lin Yingyang also traveled to an interstellar world where resources were scarce and people survived by drinking nutrient solutions, a martial arts world full of chivalry and revenge, and a bizarre and wonderful magical world.
It's basically a story where the female protagonist can thrive in any world she travels to, conquering everyone with her culinary skills.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
