Chapter 41 Chapter 41 The bowl cake is refreshing, chewy, beautiful and sweet...
The next day, when Su Tianli woke up——
Yao Meiyu had already gone back to work.
Zhang Wei went to the hospital to bring food to Cheng Yu.
Mao Li and A Juan went out together to buy food again.
Old Mrs. Su stayed at home and did housework...
Seeing Su Tianli got up, Old Mrs. Su hurriedly called her to come for breakfast.
Breakfast was millet, red dates and pumpkin porridge, a boiled egg, and a few buns that were obviously bought from the cafeteria.
The millet porridge must have been boiled by Old Lady Su last night and kept on the coal stove with the damper closed until this morning, so the millet in the porridge had been stewed very soft, and only the pumpkin cubes and red dates added this morning were still able to clump together.
The soft and sandy pumpkin flesh is thick and slightly sweet, and the red dates exuding a rich aroma are sweet and delicious...
The boiled eggs were bought by Su Tianli at the night market yesterday.
I bought fifty eggs in total!
At that time, everyone thought she bought eggs for business...
Later I heard her say that eggs were for everyone to eat, one per person per day.
Everyone was silent.
Including Cheng Yu who is currently in hospital, there are six people in total!
Fifty eggs are only enough to last for seven or eight days.
No one doesn't feel sad.
However, being able to eat eggs every day seems to be quite promising...
So no one objected.
Su Tianli thought this was natural.
Yes, eggs are expensive.
But we are creating value every day, aren’t we?
Why are you not worthy of eating an egg?
Eat an egg and some vegetables and fruits every day to get enough nutrition and stay healthy.
What’s more, there are several sick people at home!
Su Tianli finished her breakfast and prepared to go out.
The bicycle was taken away by my friends.
Su Tianli took the bus to the bookstore and bought a complete set of college entrance examination textbooks and teaching aids.
To be honest – books are really expensive!
Su Tianli gritted her teeth and paid the bill, which totaled more than thirty-two yuan.
It’s almost one month’s salary for an ordinary worker.
But for Su Tianli, this money cannot be saved.
So she returned home carrying a heavy pile of books.
By this time, everyone had returned.
Su Tianli quickly put down the book and ran over to see what everyone had bought today.
Of course, the braised pork skewers must be a must-try. Its biggest advantage is that it is cheap and easy to sell out.
The scallion pancakes were also kept, but Mao Li decided to reduce the quantity - even though the 600 pancakes from yesterday had been sold out, it also proved that the 300 or 400 customers who bought the pancakes yesterday would definitely not buy them again today, because eating too much of this thing would cause a sore throat.
So today’s micro-innovation is bowl-shaped cake.
Mao Li and A Juan had already bought most of the ingredients at the night market yesterday.
Early this morning, the two of them went out together to cut bamboo and brought it back to make sticks.
Su Tianli saw two rectangular flat-bottomed iron basins in the house, which looked especially like the rice bowls used for steaming rice in the company canteen.
Usually they would steam rice in this lunch box and then cut it into pieces, with each piece equaling one or two ounces of rice.
Seeing Su Tianli staring at the rice bowl, Ajuan smiled and said, "We borrowed this from the cafeteria, so we have to hurry and return it before 11 o'clock."
When Su Tianli heard this, she immediately looked at her watch.
——It’s already past nine o’clock!
She said anxiously, "Why didn't you tell me earlier? If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have gone out and would have stayed to work!"
A Juan smiled and said, "It's okay, second sister. We know what to do! You won't do too much either! Just be our backbone."
As he was saying,
Mao Li shouted in the kitchen, "Juan! It's almost done, hurry up and apply oil!"
Ajuan responded, quickly took the oil bottle, poured it into the rice bowl, and then shook the lunch box from side to side, as if she wanted to spread the oil evenly throughout the rice bowl.
Su Tianli is from Guangzhou, so of course she knows the process of making bowl-shaped cake.
After all, before she went to the countryside to work as a farmer, the Su family relied on her to be the head of the household.
In order to improve her life during festivals, the young girl would ask her neighbors how to make pastries.
The method of making bowl cake is actually very simple:
Mix tapioca starch and water chestnut cake flour in a ratio of seven to three, add water to make a thin paste, and set aside.
Then boil water to dissolve the sugar.
Take out a small portion of the paste, mix it with sugar and water, and stir continuously until the white paste becomes transparent.
Then pour the transparent paste mixed with sugar and boiled water into the large pot of white paste and steam it for twenty to thirty minutes.
Let it cool after taking it out of the pan, and it will become chewy and delicious bowl-shaped cake!
In the past, Su Tianli would imitate the adults and use small wine glasses at home to collect rice milk and then steam it in a pot.
Before filling the wine glass with rice milk, you must first brush a layer of oil on the wall of the glass so that it will be easier to remove from the mold after the bowl cake has cooled.
The rice cake turned upside down from the wine glass will maintain the shape of a small round bowl, which is the origin of the name of the bowl cake.
Now, when Su Tianli saw the two huge rice bowls and heard Mao Li calling Ajuan to "hurry up and grease them"...
Su Tianli understood immediately - if the friends wanted to do the bowl cake business, they had to produce in large quantities. Using small bowls to make them one by one was obviously inefficient.
That's why the friends decided to go to the cafeteria to borrow these two big food zombies.
So, Su Tianli hurried over to help. Seeing Ajuan busy brushing oil on the inner wall of the first large lunch box, she started to brush oil in another large rice bowl.
Soon, Mao Li and Zhang Wei carried the big pot together and hurried out of the kitchen. They walked to the big rice bowl and poured the rice slurry in the pot into the big rice bowl that Ajuan had already rinsed with oil.
Ajuan took the rice spoon again and scraped all the remaining rice milk in the pot.
Mao Li and Zhang Wei put down the big pot, then lifted the heavy rice bowl together and walked towards the kitchen - they were going to steam it!
Ajuan had already picked up the big pot that Mao Li and Zhang Wei had put down and ran quickly to wash the pot!
I don’t know why, but Su Tianli feels like a waste!
How come everyone cooperates so well...
However, Su Tianli soon found something to do - Old Mrs. Su asked her to go over and cut the red dates and meat into pieces, because she was responsible for making lunch.
The red dates and meat are cut into small pieces to add some toppings to the bowl cake.
The friends prepared four ingredients in total: red dates, red beans cooked with brown sugar, mung beans cooked with rock sugar, and raisins that Ajuan and her friends bought at the night market last night.
Su Tianli has seen the efficiency of her friends, so she dares not be slow in washing, cutting and pitting the red dates.
really!
As she thought,
After Ajuan quickly cleaned the big pot, she ran into the kitchen.
Ten minutes later, Mao Li and Zhang Wei came out again with a large pot full of rice paste and poured the paste into the second large rice bowl...
Su Tianli did not dare to delay, and her hands could not help but speed up the process of cutting the red dates.
After a while, Mao Li and Zhang Wei worked together to carry out the first large pot of steamed rice.
At this time, Su Tianli didn't need anyone to say hello, she knew what she had to do - she had to spread the ingredients on the surface of the rice cake while it was still hot and soft. Otherwise, once the cake cooled down, the ingredients would not be solidified.
So, Su Tianli ran over quickly, holding the red dates she had just cut, as well as the red beans, mung beans, and washed and half-dried raisins that her grandmother had prepared early in the morning.
Ajuan also rushed over to help her.
The two sisters divided the large rice bowl into four areas, one for red bean paste, one for mung bean paste, one for chopped red dates, and one for raisins.
After finishing this, Su Tianli rushed back to continue chopping red dates;
Ajuan ran to get a large wooden basin, washed it, filled it with tap water, and called Su Tianli for help. The two sisters lifted the large rice basin together, walked to the large wooden basin, and soaked the square rice basin filled with bowl-shaped cakes in the round large wooden basin.
Doing this will help cool the cake in the iron basin quickly.
Everyone cooperated with each other and almost everyone was busy like a top!
In return, two large pots of Bo Zai Gao were made in less than an hour.
Su Tianli looked at the time again - it was half past ten! There was still an hour and a half left before returning the big rice bowl.
So everyone quickly started the demoulding work.
——Clean the flat sieve and lay a clean white cloth on it first.
Another piece of white cloth is placed on top of the bowl of cake.
Mao Li and Zhang Wei stood face to face, both of them holding the white cloth tightly with both hands, then carefully tilted the large rice bowl so that the large lunch box was upside down on the flat sieve, and then kept hitting the back of the rice bowl with a spatula.
Knock here, knock there...
finally!
The trembling milky white cake finally fell out of the big rice bowl intact.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Ajuan grabbed the empty rice bowl and ran to wash it.
Su Tianli hurriedly went to tidy up another flat sieve...
After a while, Mao Li and Zhang Wei came over with another large rice bowl and removed the cake from the mold in the same way.
Ajuan quickly washed the large lunch boxes, carried one in each hand, and ran quickly towards the cafeteria.
She is going to return the big rice bowl.
Su Tianli subconsciously glanced at her watch again - 10:50 am!
She slumped in her chair and complained to Mao Li, "You guys are too hardworking!"
Mao Li smiled and said, "Not as hardworking as you! Look, grandma is already cooking! You have to deliver food to Cheng Yu later, and Zhang Wei has to make a tow rack in the afternoon... We have more bowl cakes to set up at the stall tonight, and I guess Juan will have to sharpen skewers all day! Well, come to think of it, I am probably the one who has nothing to do!"
Su Tianli scolded, "Just roll me to death!"
Of course she knew that Mao Li was just saying that.
Someone who moves so quickly, who does things as soon as he sees them, without needing to be told...
How could she have time to spare!
but--
Su Tianli asked Zhang Wei, "What kind of trailer are you going to make?"
Zhang Wei replied: "It was Cheng Yu who reminded me of this! Tell me, we have so many brains that are not injured, but we are not as good as him who has an injured brain... Why didn't we think of making a tow rack!"
Su Tianli immediately became interested, "Please tell me more about it."
Zhang Wei said, "Didn't I bring him breakfast this morning? It would be boring for two grown men to just feed each other, so I told him about our business at the night market..."
"Then I said something else, it would be nice to have an extra bicycle, but unfortunately we don't have the ability to do that now."
"Then Cheng Yu said 'drag the rack', and I was stunned, you know? Mainly because I couldn't react!"
"Cheng Yu's situation...he couldn't explain it in detail. He hesitated for a long time before I realized what he was talking about!"
As he spoke, Zhang Wei walked over to Su Tianli's old bicycle, which was about to fall apart, and explained while gesturing,
"Cheng Yu meant for me to go to the scrapyard, find two wheels and some wood strips, and we can make a trailer with wheels..."
"When we go to the stall, why don't we ride a bike? We can just put the two-wheeled trailer on the back seat of the car, and it will become a tricycle that can carry people and goods!"
"After arriving at the night market, we took the trailer off the back seat of the car and lowered the legs, so that it became a platform, which was convenient for us to display the goods..."
"Lizhi, tell me, is this true?"
Su Tianli took a deep breath.
Yes, Cheng Yu is right.
But this kind of... professional work with a bit of mechanics and carpentry,
Is it really that simple?
Mao Li was also skeptical. "Zhang Wei, I think you have made it very clear... Cheng Yu's idea is also very good, but can you really do it?"
Zhang Wei also took a deep breath and said, "Let me try!"
Then he gave everyone a shot of prevention, "If it really doesn't work, Lili and I will go by bike tonight, and Lizhi and Ajuan can take the bus, right?"
Mao Li gave Zhang Wei a blank look.
Su Tianli couldn't help laughing.
At this time, Mao Li saw the book that Su Tianli bought from the bookstore early in the morning, "Lizhi, is this the book you bought?"
She picked it up and looked at it, her eyes widened immediately, "College Entrance Examination? Lizhi, you——"
Su Tianli nodded with a smile, "Yes, I plan to take the college entrance examination next year!"
Mao Li and Zhang Wei were both stunned.
Zhang Wei cried out in shock, "You...you are a nurse! You were transferred back with a job position!"
Su Tianli said very straightforwardly: "I want to study medicine, be a medical student first, and then be a doctor in the future!"
Mao Li quickly asked, "Then your current transfer order...isn't it wasted?"
Su Tianli didn't want to hide it from them. After all, they were already friends who had been through thick and thin together.
"I will sell my transfer order." Su Tianli said directly, "...After all, as long as I can get into university, I will definitely be assigned a job."
Mao Li and Zhang Wei were dumbfounded.
After a while, Zhang Wei said regretfully: "Lizhi, you are the one who sees things clearly! If I had your courage, why would I have wasted my time?! Alas, one wrong step leads to another!"
Mao Li asked Su Tianli in a low voice, "Lizhi, what if... you fail the exam?"
Su Tianli replied: "I will rule out the possibility that I won't pass the exam. If I fail this year, I will take the exam again next year..."
"But I understand your concerns. You just think that I should prepare a way out for myself, right?"
"I have a way out!"
"Look, I'm going to work as a temporary worker at A-Yu's clinic next month, and now my family still has this night market business!"
Of course, there is one more thing that Su Tianli didn't say - the money she has is enough for her to live well without any income in the next three years.
Mao Li and Zhang Wei looked at each other.
Zhang Wei spoke first, "Then... is it possible for me to take the college entrance examination again?"
Su Tianli encouraged him, "I think it'll work!"
"But when I was in school... my grades were just average, and now... I'm already 22 years old. If I continue studying for a few more years, I'm afraid..." As he spoke, Zhang Wei backed off again.
Su Tianli smiled and said, "It's not necessary for you to get into college! If you get into a junior college, you will be guaranteed a job!"
"Besides, I don't think it's a big deal to start college at the age of 22! There are so many people who can't go to college at the age of 32 or 42!"
Not to mention that in her previous life, she took the college entrance examination at the age of 40 and studied medicine!
Zhang Wei's eyes lit up!
He really needs a job with a regular salary.
It was his fault - he had the skill of driving and thought he would have no problem finding a job. But the reality was that even though he knew how to drive, it was useless because there was no employer to take him to.
Looking for a receiving unit?
It won’t work if you don’t have money to smooth things over.
Mao Li's situation is the same as his.
The two have always insisted on doing their original positions.
The end result is...
I waited for three months in vain but still couldn't get the job.
They are the first batch of educated youth returning to the city, and the employment situation is already so severe. When more and more educated youth return to the city in the future, it will be even harder to find a job!
You see, due to the situation, Zhang Wei gave up his major and obeyed the transfer arrangement, but was assigned to a chopstick factory that was on the verge of bankruptcy... He was laid off before he even started working.
The unit is currently being liquidated.
And because he has no length of service in the chopstick factory, he will probably only receive two months' salary at most and will become a laid-off worker!
What if he could also take the college entrance examination?
According to Lizhi, even if you fail to get into an undergraduate program, you can still be assigned a job if you can get into a junior college as long as you study hard for a few years!
But, here comes the problem again.
Zhang Wei said in a low voice: "But I...even if I pass the exam, I don't have the money to study."
Su Tianli's eyes widened, "How is this possible!"
"First of all, as long as you pass the exam, the state will basically give you subsidies."
"Secondly, even if the government doesn't provide subsidies, aren't we making good money this year?"
"It's September now, and next year's college entrance examination is in July, so there's still time!"
Zhang Wei took a deep breath, "Okay! Then I'll try!"
Su Tianli smiled, "Okay, okay! Welcome to join us!"
"You guys?" Zhang Wei asked in surprise.
Su Tianli nodded, "Me and Ayu!"
Mao Li was even more shocked when she heard this, "Ayu also wants to take the college entrance examination?"
Su Tianli explained: "She is having a conflict with her brother and her father! She said she wants to change her major. Her father and brother are accountants, so she said she wants to study finance and taxation and join the tax bureau in the future. She is against her father and brother every day!"
Mao Li and Zhang Wei suddenly burst into laughter.
As Mao Li laughed, the smile on her face gradually faded.
She whispered, "Lizhi, you gave me a track...that I never thought of."
"I always thought that I had no other choice but to endure the hardship. I would be able to hold my head high when a suitable financial job was assigned to me."
"I know that without money and connections, it would be impossible to be assigned to a suitable position."
"My family members just laugh at those who have nothing and hate those who have something... They can't stand seeing me doing well, and I can't count on them at all."
"I originally thought that if I worked hard in the past few months and made some money, I would ask them to find ways to expand their network and help me find a job..."
"But I also know that, firstly, they won't help me at all, because if I get better, they will just be jealous; secondly, as long as they know that I have money, they will definitely not let me go..."
Mao Li turned around and grabbed Zhang Wei's hand, "So, I can also sell my transfer order!"
"Change the transfer order into money and hold it tightly in your hands."
"Then use this year to make money and study hard..."
"Take the college entrance examination next year! Choose a major you like."
"As long as you have money and pass the exam, why worry about not having money to study?"
"Three years of college, four years of undergraduate study... After graduation, no matter which unit you go to, you will definitely be a reserve cadre!"
"Zhang Wei, will you support my idea?" Mao Li asked.
Zhang Wei nodded desperately, "We will study together and apply to the same school?"
"Okay!" Mao Li nodded repeatedly.
The young lovers held hands tightly.
Su Tianli couldn't help laughing.
Very good, she brought two more companions on board.
We talked about the college entrance examination for a while.
Su Tianli stood up and said, "I have to go back today, lest my mom and sister live too comfortably!"
Zhang Wei immediately said, "Since you are going back, I will bring lunch to Cheng Yu at noon. I ride a bike back and forth, so I will go directly to the scrap recycling station to buy a pair of wheels when I come back."
Su Tianli nodded and went out.
It was 11:45 when she returned to the chemical plant, almost time to get off work.
Su Tianli stood in the corner of the cafeteria waiting for something to happen.
At 12:05, Tian Xiu arrived in a hurry.
Su Tianli watched Tian Xiu go to the meat window to get a meat dish, then carry the heavy lunch box in a net bag and walk home briskly.
Su Tianli hurriedly chased after him.
Go downstairs to the tube.
Su Tianli then called out "Mom" towards Tian Xiu's back.
Tian Xiu turned around and found that it was Su Tianli. His face darkened instantly, "Second brother?"
Su Tianli said with a smile: "Mom, I'm back! What delicious food do you want to eat today?"
Tian Xiu frowned and said, "Just let me know next time you want to come back for dinner!"
"I told you in advance that it would be convenient for you to hide the meat dishes and not let me eat them, right?" Su Tianli smiled sweetly.
Tian Xiu: ...
"Don't be ridiculous," Tian Xiu racked her brains to think of an excuse, "The main thing is--"
"The main thing is that you came without saying hello, and Lao Si didn't cook for you!" Tian Xiu tried to save face.
Su Tianli said nonchalantly: "It's no big deal. If there's not enough rice, I can just cook some noodles or go to the canteen to buy some more rice. I don't eat much!"
Tian Xiu was so annoyed by her that she couldn't say a word.
Su Tianli smiled secretly.
She is very happy whenever she sees Tian Xiu and Su Youzi enjoying themselves!
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