Chapter Six: Tomato Beef Brisket Noodles (2)
High school students usually eat quickly, but in this small restaurant, everyone ate slowly. Such delicious food—who would dare to just stuff it into their mouths and swallow it without even tasting it? Everyone savored the flavor of the tomato beef brisket noodles.
Moreover, before eating tomato beef brisket noodles, everyone will buy a tea egg to try as an appetizer.
About forty minutes later, most of the people in the small restaurant had left. Day students went home to sleep, while boarding students chose to go back to their dormitories to rest or back to the classroom to do their homework, and then catch up on sleep in the classroom.
"Hey boss, give me a bowl of tomato beef brisket noodles and two tea eggs." An uncle in a black uniform came in.
"Okay, you can sit here." Yu Miaoyin glanced at the uncle's clothes and realized that he was a security guard at the entrance of Yuncheng No. 1 Middle School.
Uncle Yu glanced at the small restaurant. He had been on duty maintaining order when he smelled the delicious aroma wafting from the restaurant across the street, making him feel dizzy with hunger. The aroma coming from that newly opened, signless restaurant was just too tempting.
While waiting, Uncle Yu bought a tea egg. His eyes lit up after just one bite. He quickly took out his phone and sent a voice message to another uncle who was on guard duty at the dormitory.
Uncle Yu sent a voice message on WeChat: "Old Liu, a small restaurant opened across from the school. Their tea eggs are so fragrant and delicious, and the tomato beef brisket noodles today are also very tasty. Come and try them."
At this moment, Uncle Liu is eating rice noodles in the school cafeteria. Uncle Liu was poor and hungry when he was young, so he is quite accepting of the school's communal meals. However, he still habitually brings a bottle of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce to add some flavor.
Uncle Liu scooped a spoonful of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce into the rice noodles. After stirring it, a thin layer of red oil floated on the soup base, which was originally like plain water, making it look much tastier.
Uncle Liu replied via voice message: "What good food can you find across from the school? You might as well eat at the school cafeteria, it's free."
All faculty and staff at Yuncheng No. 1 Middle School, from the principal and teachers to the security guards and canteen aunties, can eat for free in the canteen. This is why Uncle Liu chose to eat in the canteen.
Uncle Yu's next voice message quickly followed, "Don't blame me for not telling you, the food at this restaurant is really delicious."
The second one, "You're out of luck!"
Uncle Liu slurped up several mouthfuls of rice noodles and replied, "Then bring me back a tea egg, let me see how delicious it is."
After listening to the voice message, Uncle Yu replied, "Okay."
Yu Miaoyin was touched by the uncle's enthusiastic promotion of her little-known shop. There wasn't much tomato and beef brisket left in the pressure cooker, so Yu Miaoyin gave Uncle Yu a little extra, kept some for herself for lunch, and then hung a "Temporarily Closed" sign on the door.
Uncle Yu quickly put down his phone and used his chopsticks to rummage through the large chunks of beef brisket and tomato pieces covering the tomato.
The beef brisket glistened with oil, looking incredibly tempting. Uncle Yu couldn't wait and quickly popped it into his mouth.
The noodles were chewy, and the beef brisket was tender and flavorful, neither tough nor dry. Uncle Yu is getting on in years; his appetite is poor, and even his sense of taste has deteriorated, so he can't really taste the flavors of many foods. He can't bring himself to eat a single bite of the fried food that his children love.
But after just one bite of the tea egg, his tongue seemed to be awakened. If they could make tea eggs this delicious, everything else in the shop must be pretty good too. And sure enough, it was. Uncle Yu slurped up mouthful after mouthful, savoring the sweet and sour taste of the tomatoes and the rich aroma of the beef brisket. This bowl of tomato and beef brisket noodles was truly delicious.
After finishing a bowl of noodles, Uncle Yu wiped his mouth with satisfaction, still wanting more.
Uncle Yu paid the money and hurriedly asked, "Young lady, will you be open for business tonight?"
"It's open, both in the afternoon and evening."
"Good, good, that's good. Your cooking is really delicious." Uncle Yu had to go back to his post, so he praised Yu Miaoyin a few times before leaving.
After finishing her noodles, Yu Miaoyin washed the pots and pans. She habitually wiped the table while cooking, so she didn't have much to do. It wasn't even two o'clock yet. After cleaning, Yu Miaoyin quickly pulled down the roller shutter door, planning to go home for a short nap.
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Uncle Yu returned to the school and first rode his security patrol bike to the dormitory entrance, where he handed the tea egg to Uncle Liu. "Here, a tea egg. Don't say I didn't take care of you; I even brought you a tea egg."
Uncle Liu thought to himself, what kind of favor is this? It's just a two-yuan tea egg, and it's not even from Zhang's shop!
"Try it now, and if I say it's delicious, then it's delicious," Uncle Yu said with absolute certainty.
Uncle Liu said "Oh". Although he had just finished eating, he could still eat a tea egg. So he quickly peeled the egg and was indeed impressed by the aroma that came out.
Uncle Liu popped it into his mouth and tasted the firm, flavorful egg white and the smooth, creamy yolk. He was truly impressed. Delicious, especially the yolk, which was both flavorful and moist, not dry at all. "Is this really from that newly opened little restaurant? It's really good."
Uncle Yu looked at him and snorted, "If I say it's delicious, then it's delicious. Do you think I would lie to you?"
Uncle Liu nodded, "I'll eat there next time too."
_
Yu Miaoyin took a nap for almost an hour and woke up feeling refreshed. She tidied herself up and then took her canvas bag to the market.
As Yu Miaoyin walked with the groceries, she thought to herself that she should buy more next time and store them in the refrigerator so she wouldn't have to make two trips a day.
The roller shutter door was opened, and Yu Miaoyin rushed to wash the groceries she had bought. The green beans that the old lady was selling at the market today were so green and fresh, they were very tempting, and Yu Miaoyin couldn't resist buying some.
Fruits and vegetables are seasonal. If you don't buy them now that they're in season, you won't be able to eat them so fresh when they're gone. Yu Miaoyin loves going to the farmers' market, even before she transmigrated into the book. Whenever there are fresh fruits and vegetables at the market, she always buys some and cooks them into delicious dishes.
People live to eat.
The green beans were crisp and fresh. Yu Miaoyin snapped off one, and the juice mixed with the fresh aroma of the green beans wafted out. These green beans were so tender that you could squeeze water out of them.
The green beans sold by the old lady were so fresh that Yu Miaoyin bought a lot. Some of them were used to make braised noodles with green beans, and the rest were used to make pickled green beans, which could be served as an appetizer with porridge, noodles or rice, or as a side dish in the shop.
Yu Miaoyin remembered that there used to be a noodle shop downstairs from her old home, and their side dish was spicy dried radish, which was both crispy and spicy. Whenever she didn't feel like cooking, she would go to that shop just for their spicy dried radish.
Therefore, being able to make good pickled cowpeas can attract a large number of customers.
Yu Miaoyin took out one-third of the green beans to make braised noodles with green beans.
Making braised noodles with green beans is quite quick, making it suitable for high school students who are in a hurry.
Actually, Yuncheng No. 1 High School is quite good to these high school students, willing to release them. After all, many high schools are like prisons, locking up students at all times and preventing them from leaving.
Yuncheng No. 1 Middle School is different. In fact, Yuncheng No. 1 Middle School is one of the best middle schools in Yuncheng with a high college entrance rate. As for why it is one of the best, it is because there is also the affiliated middle school competing with it. Neither of them is willing to give way to the other.
Just as Yu Miaoyin started cooking, Xiao Tangbao got off the school bus and ran into the store, shouting, "Sister, I'm out of school!"
"There are longans on the table. The aunt next door gave them to us. They're very sweet. Little Tangbao, have some," Yu Miaoyin said to Little Tangbao as she poked her head out of the kitchen.
Xiao Tangbao put her schoolbag in the corner of the store, because she couldn't take up the spot where her older brothers and sisters had been.
"good!"
The pork belly sizzled and rendered its fat, releasing a fragrant aroma. After adding dark soy sauce, the pork belly turned a deep brown color. Then, green beans were added and stir-fried briefly. Hot water and sauce were poured in and the pork was simmered for a while to allow the green beans to absorb the flavors.
"Big sister, what are you making? It smells so good!" Xiao Tangbao helped wipe the table and straightened the chairs, waiting for the older high school students to come and eat.
"Braised noodles with green beans, I'll make you a bowl later, but eat only a little. I'll make you pork belly for dinner," Yu Miaoyin said.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Tangbao couldn't help but smile. Everything her older sister made tasted especially delicious. She could eat braised noodles with green beans and also enjoy pork belly. Wasn't she the happiest child?
Xiao Tangbao nodded and said okay.
While the simmering was still going on, Yu Miaoyin turned on the heat in another iron pot and poured in rapeseed oil. Although people online say that people in Yuncheng can't handle spicy food, Yu Miaoyin felt that chili oil was an essential item in a restaurant, and if the chili oil was fragrant, it could attract many people who love spicy food.
The oil heats up very quickly. Yu Miaoyin had prepared and placed various chili powders and Sichuan peppercorn powders in advance. Once the oil was hot, she poured in the steaming rapeseed oil. With a sizzling sound, the aroma of chili powder, minced garlic, cumin powder, Sichuan peppercorn powder, and sesame seeds immediately collided with the oil, bursting out a unique and pleasant fragrance.
This chili oil smells amazing!
Yu Miaoyin placed the chili oil where the tableware was.
By this time, the green beans and pork belly were almost cooked. Yu Miaoyin scooped up a spoonful of broth, then placed the fresh noodles she had bought from the supermarket on top, poured the broth over them, covered the pot, and continued to simmer.
This iron pot is quite large, so it needs to be simmered for a while.
The aroma emanating from the pot grew stronger and stronger. Seeing that it was almost time, Yu Miaoyin opened the lid, and a wave of steam carrying the fragrance of meat and green beans wafted out. At the same time, the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class at Yuncheng No. 1 Middle School.
As soon as get out of class ended, Xu Jiajia would drag Yiling away, afraid that they wouldn't be able to eat at that little restaurant. That restaurant was her motivation for going to school every day!
The two of them ran down from the third floor and then from the teaching building to the small restaurant across from the school.
"Sister Yiling." Little Tangbao sat in the corner, holding a small bowl and eating noodles.
Xu Jiajia's eyes lit up when she saw it; she was so happy to be able to eat such delicious food today!
Little Tangbao's eyes darted around and landed on Xu Jiajia's face, and she obediently greeted her, "Hello, sister."
Xu Jiajia and Yi Ling ordered their food and sat down opposite Xiao Tangbao.
"Is Xiaotangbao full?" Xu Jiajia asked curiously. After all, as a high school student who could devour an entire school, such a small bowl of noodles was simply not enough for her!
Little Tangbao shook her head. She also ate a lot because her older sister said she needed to eat more to grow taller.
"My sister said she'll make braised pork for me when we get back. I need to eat just a little bit, otherwise I won't be able to eat it!" Upon hearing this, the two of them imagined the taste of braised pork in their minds, and then their imaginations made them drool.
Does the boss need any younger sisters? They can apply to be them!!!
"The braised noodles with green beans are ready. There's also chili oil over there; you can add it if you like it spicy."
Yi Ling and Xu Jiajia had been hungry for three classes. When they saw the bowl of braised noodles with green beans, their eyes lit up. They nodded eagerly, not wanting to look away for even a moment.
The braised noodles were still steaming, the glistening noodles intertwined with vibrant green beans, the edges of the marbled pork belly slightly curled, and the noodles coated in a rich sauce, gleaming enticingly. The noodles, glistening with moisture, had absorbed the essence of the meat and beans, and their aroma was irresistible.
"Yiling, Jiajia, you're here too!" Before the two of them had even started eating, they heard a familiar voice.
Before they saw him, they heard his voice. Xu Jiajia and Yi Ling turned around and saw someone—it was Xiao Du, the guy who loved playing basketball so much that he would rush to the court as soon as class ended, afraid of not getting a spot. What was he doing at the small restaurant today?
Did the sun rise in the west today?
Xu Jiajia asked, "Aren't we going to play ball today?"
"Eating is the most important thing," Xiao Du chuckled and said.
Why can't someone say this when they usually disappear as soon as get out of class is over to play basketball and fill their stomach with bread and instant noodles from the convenience store?
But Xu Jiajia knew that Xiao Du was just as picky about food as Yi Ling; he thought bread and instant noodles tasted better than the food in the school cafeteria. Fortunately, his parents always left him some leftovers when he got home, which is why he was able to grow into the physique he is today.
Xiao Du stood there watching Yu Miaoyin's actions, and confessed, "Actually, it's because the tea eggs at this shop smell so good!"
A note from the author:
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