Chapter 78 Winter Solstice Lamb Dumplings

Because the store was short of staff, and had to deal with the business of Gudongtang every day, the production of instant noodles and seasoning sauces was limited, and the market demand was huge. Not only Jiang Yanyi was worried, but even Chef Yao and Auntie Guo were worried for her. They got up early and came to her store to help every day.

Yang Xiu and Bing Shao did not go back at night. They just put the benches together in the front shop, put a layer of quilts underneath, and covered themselves with a layer of quilts to sleep.

The number of ovens increased from one to five, but it was still not enough.

Everyone was on the edge of a rope. It felt like knowing that there was a big golden brick in front of you, but you couldn't move it!

The store's income still comes mostly from hot pots. Jiang Yanyi knows that if she wants to make money from instant noodles, she must start from scratch. They are now in the retail stage. They work hard every day to make instant noodles, but the money they make is actually not as much as that of hot pots.

But if instant noodles can be mass-produced in the future, it will be a very considerable income.

After all, only a few people can afford hot pots, but the general public can afford instant noodles. The money earned from selling ten yuan of noodles is not as much as the money earned from selling a hot pot, but how can the money earned from selling one hundred or one thousand yuan of noodles not be as much as that earned from selling a hundred or one thousand yuan of noodles?

Jiang Yanyi knew that she had to take it slow. In order to prevent the staff in the shop from being exhausted, she limited the number of noodles she made every day and asked Yang Xiubingshao to find out if there was a noodle shop in the city that specialized in making "bearded noodles". The bearded noodles of this era were the dried noodles of later generations. They were named because the noodles needed to be dried in the sun when they were made, and the noodles hung down from the wooden poles and looked like dragon whiskers.

Jiang Yanyi planned to cooperate with the noodle shop to produce instant noodles. People who had worked in the noodle shop were familiar with the process of kneading noodles. The process of making instant noodles was simple. If she could negotiate, she wanted to use the noodle shop's space and workers to mass produce instant noodles.

However, when there are too many people, their eyes are mixed. It is only a matter of time before others learn the skills and follow suit. Jiang Yanyi planned to create a brand effect.

In this way, even if there are instant noodles everywhere, with the brand effect, the main customer base will still be here.

She originally wanted to make rice sauce, but making instant noodles alone was already too tiring. She was afraid that if she opened up the market again, the subsequent supply would not be able to keep up, so Jiang Yanyi had to put this idea on hold for the time being.

The money earned from selling instant noodles and seasoning oil in the past few days was small and messy. Jiang Yanyi was not very good at using this ancient abacus. She held the homemade charcoal pencil and her eyes were blurry. Several times, the accounts did not match, and she was so worried that she pulled her hair. Once, Chu Yan came back and saw her mad while calculating, so he said that he was free anyway, so he helped her to check the accounts.

Jiang Yanyi thought it was just a child's kindness and declined several times. Chu Yangui insisted again and again, so she handed him the account book to take a look. She wanted him to give up, but Chu Yangui read it quickly and soon found the problem.

"Sister, you missed a sum here."

"This one doesn't match either. It was 1.3 yuan on the previous page, but it became 1.5 yuan on this page."

Jiang Yanyi was confused: "Really? Let me take a look."

She took the account book and found that there was indeed a problem with the place Chu Yangui circled. After correcting it, she carefully proofread it and recalculated it. The account book finally matched the money received.

Jiang Yanyi was very surprised: "You are good at abacus."

Chu Yangui smiled and showed a pair of dimples: "If you trust me, I can help you with the store accounts in the future."

Jiang Yanyi shook her head: "I am asking someone to find a teacher for you. Once you find a teacher, you can concentrate on studying, and I can handle the store by myself."

Chu Yangui saw that Jiang Yanyi worked so hard to run the store and always wanted to help her. Hearing this, he said: "It won't take me much time to check the accounts."

Jiang Yanyi saw that he insisted, thought for a while and said: "Then I will ask you to help me with difficult accounts in the future."

Although she only said this, Chu Yangui was still very happy.

The masons that Jiang Yanyi found had already opened up the wall of her house and the west wing of Feng Mansion, and built a hanging flower gate instead.

Jiang Yanyi went over to take a look and found that the west wing had changed a lot. When she fell off the wall to save the parrot, there was no other plants in the west wing except a pomegranate tree. Now there are several red plum trees planted in the yard. This is obviously the work of Feng Shuo.

The house was also rearranged early in the morning. The furniture inside ranged from tables, chairs and benches to blankets and pillows. It looked like it could be lived in directly.

The room prepared for her and Chu Yangui was easy to identify.

Chu Yangui's room was divided into two rooms, the inner and outer rooms. Chu Yangui slept in the inner room and Chu Zhongye slept in the outer room, so that it was convenient to take care of Chu Yangui.

Perhaps considering his inconvenience in moving, the bed and the desk were placed next to each other. On the desk were placed the four treasures of the study, the inkstone and the brush. Even an outsider like Jiang Yanyi could see that they were extraordinary items.

On the other side was a bookcase filled with books. She flipped through a few of them and found that these books were not just randomly stuffed into the bookcase to make up the number. Each one was very suitable for Chu Yangui to read. There were also poetry collections written by predecessors who were disabled. They were not at all decadent, but full of fighting spirit.

Jiang Yanyi had never known what it felt like to be pampered by someone, but at this moment she had the urge to burst into tears.

With Feng Shuo's status and family background, giving him a house was nothing, but he cared about her family to this extent.

The rooms of the brother and sister were both located in the east wing. Feng Shuo also placed a small bookcase in her room, where he put all the travel notes she had read before about customs, human relationships, and food.

On the yellow pear wood dressing table, there was a large silver mirror that was so bright that it could almost reflect half of her body. The table was filled with all kinds of rouge and powder, and the jewelry box was filled with pearl hairpins and jewelry. There were at least eight sets of seasonal clothes in the box, all of which were the most fashionable styles, and each one was made according to her size.

On the agarwood desk were the four treasures of the study, as well as a copybook for her to practice calligraphy. Jiang Yanyi opened the copybook and found a line of small words written on the first page: Practice one page of calligraphy every day, and don't be lazy.

She had become familiar with his handwriting without knowing when. Looking at the vigorous thin gold script, she could even imagine his wrist being held straight when he wrote. He always looked very focused when reading and writing, with a tight jawline, full of noble air.

Jiang Yanyi raised her hand and stroked the handwriting on the copybook. The corners of her mouth raised, but tears were faintly in her eyes.

How could she be so worthy of such a person in her life?

On the day of the winter solstice, some details in the west wing were tidied up, and Jiang Yanyi decided to move in.

Qiu Kui insisted on having a room next to Jiang Yanyi's, and refused to take the large room in the west wing. Instead, she asked for the ear room next to Jiang Yanyi's room. Although it was called an ear room, it was much larger than the room they lived in before, so Jiang Yanyi let her go.

As there were not enough rooms before, Yang Xiu and Bing Shao had been living together with Chu Changping's other bodyguards. Later, they used benches to make a bed on the floor of the shop. Now that the yard is big enough, they and Aunt Guo moved in together.

The house that Jiang Yanyi originally rented was just used as a warehouse.

Although they were moving, the west wing had everything. They didn't have much stuff originally, just some sheets and quilts, so they moved everything in a few trips.

But the yard was several times bigger, so sweeping the snow became very tiring. Fortunately, Jiang Yanyi and Qiu Kui didn't have to do this job themselves, as Yang Xiu Bing Shao took over the job.

Jiang Yanyi went to the kitchen to prepare dumplings.

Eating dumplings on the winter solstice is an ancient custom, and there is even a folk saying that "If you don't eat dumplings on the winter solstice, your ears will freeze off and no one will care."

In the world where Jiang Yanyi originally lived, dumplings originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty and were created by the medical saint Zhang Zhongjing. Because they were mainly used to treat frostbite on the ears, they were called "dumpling ears" and were shaped like a half moon, like ears.

Lamb is the most nutritious meat in winter. Jiang Yanyi plans to make mutton dumplings. The most nutritious vegetarian dish to go with it is carrots①.

Making dumpling skins naturally involves kneading the dough. The dough for steamed buns should be soft, while the dough for making noodles should be slightly harder. The dough for rolling dumpling skins should be somewhere in between. How to grasp this degree depends on the chef.

However, there is a little trick. If the dough is not kneaded hard enough, you can add some salt to improve the toughness and toughness of the dough.

The pastry chefs who make steamed buns often say the old saying "Alkali is the bone and salt is the tendon". There is a lot of knowledge in a small dough.

The dough that Jiang Yanyi kneaded this morning was just right, and there was no need to add salt to make it more chewy.

While the dough was kneading, she started to prepare the stuffing.

Now that Aunt Guo has moved in, Jiang Yanyi has someone to help her with everything. While she was kneading the dough, Aunt Guo had already helped to chop the mutton stuffing and some pork stuffing. Jiang Yanyi just added the seasoning.

When making dumplings with mutton filling, adding some pepper water can effectively remove the mutton smell. Scallions, ginger, cooking wine, and refined salt are indispensable. In order to enhance the flavor, Jiang Yanyi also poured a few spoonfuls of the soup prepared last night, stirred it evenly, and poured sesame oil into the filling to lock in the moisture.

It is said that if the mutton and pork are used as fillings in a ratio of 30% to 70%, the dumplings will taste better. Jiang Yanyi also prepared a bowl of mixed meat fillings.

She peeled and washed the carrots and cut them into small cubes. Fearing that some people don’t like to eat carrots, Jiang Yanyi specially mixed some fillings and then mixed the carrot cubes into the mutton fillings.

The dough is cut into small pieces and rolled into thin skins with a rolling pin for stuffing. Jiang Yanyi always scoops a large spoonful of stuffing into the skins. The dumplings are beautifully folded and bulging, and look cute. The water

in the pot is boiled by the fire. Jiang Yanyi puts some salt in the pot before putting the dumplings in, so that the dumplings will not stick together.

Many people like to use only aged vinegar for the sauce for the dumplings, but Jiang Yanyi prefers spicy ones. While the dumplings are cooking in the pot, she finds two small bowls, pours vinegar into one bowl, and puts oil-sprinkled dogwood chili, crushed garlic, and aged vinegar into the other bowl.

As soon as the dumplings came out of the pot, the aroma of meat wafted out of the kitchen. Jiang Yanyi asked Qiu Kui to call everyone to eat, and she packed some dumplings of each of the three flavors, put them in food boxes and sent them to Feng Mansion.

Seeing this, Aunt Guo smiled.

Her affair with Feng Shuo had not been made public yet, and Jiang Yanyi was shy, so she sent some dumplings to Feng Shuo on the pretext of thanking her neighbors, and also sent a plate of dumplings to Mrs. Chen from the tailor shop.

There was a carriage parked in front of Feng Mansion. Jiang Yanyi guessed that Feng Shuo might be meeting guests, so she did not go to see Feng Shuo in person, and asked the doorman to bring the dumplings to Feng Shuo.

When she returned, no one had started eating yet, and they were obviously waiting for her. There was also a plate of halved pork head on the table, which was a return gift from Mrs. Chen.

The people in the restaurant had a great time eating

dumplings during the winter solstice. The soup inside was so hot and rich that it was delicious even without the sauce.

Jiang Yanyi was worried that some people would not like carrots, but it turned out that she was overthinking. The dumplings with carrot filling were the most popular.

Chu Yangui wanted to dip them in hot sauce several times, but Jiang Yanyi didn't allow him to.

During the meal, Yang Xiu mentioned what Jiang Yanyi had told him a few days ago. There were still quite a few noodle shops in Xizhou City that made mustard noodles. He had talked to the managers of all the noodle shops, but the results were not satisfactory. There was even a noodle shop that, seeing the popularity of instant noodles, boasted that it would buy out their instant noodle recipes.

Speaking of this, Yang Xiu also had a gloomy face: "There is also a noodle shop. The old boss died, and the young boss is a gambler and owes the casino a lot of money. When I went to discuss the business, there was not even a manager. The young boss was drunk and said that we might as well buy his noodle shop."

He mentioned this, and Jiang Yanyi really had an idea. She raised her head and asked: "How much money does it cost to buy that noodle shop?"

Yang Xiu was surprised by Jiang Yanyi's Yang Xiu was stunned by the question and replied, "At least three to five hundred taels."

Jiang Yanyi asked again, "Are all the experienced noodle makers in the noodle shop here?"

Yang Xiu was a little embarrassed: "This... I haven't found out so much, I'll ask later."

Jiang Yanyi nodded, "As soon as possible."

The remaining money she had, whether it was to expand the store or open a branch, could only be used to make a steady profit. It was a bit risky to throw this money into a noodle shop that was on the verge of bankruptcy.

But Jiang Yanyi knew very well that the business in her antique soup shop was already stable and she didn't need to spend too much effort at the moment, but if she wanted to expand the antique soup shop in a short time, it was unrealistic, and there were restrictions in all aspects.

But instant noodles were different. From the perspective of market demand, instant noodles were more popular and easier to popularize.

From the perspective of cost and technology, the cost of making instant noodles is relatively low, and the technical content is also lower than that of making pots. If a noodle shop is established, it will be much easier to open branches later than to open branches of Gudong Soup.

Even if the taste is worse than that produced by later industrial production, it is enough in ancient times without convenient fast food.

She is just a cook, and she can't sell preservatives to preserve the quality and freshness of food, but she opened stores in various prefectures, counties and counties, and she can still let the people of the Daxuan Dynasty buy her instant noodles!

There was no such thing as franchising in ancient times, but Lai Fu Restaurant copied everything from her Gudong Soup Shop, which also gave Jiang Yanyi a lot of inspiration. Imitation may be late, but it will never be absent.

In the area of ​​commodity marketing, the ancients did not have as many marketing strategies because they had not practiced enough, unlike later generations who could learn skills from various business competitions. But they were not stupid either, and they knew which way was easiest to make a profit.

She started by herself, and her power was strong enough. Only then could she attract others to join her and achieve the effect of franchising. Before, Lai Fu Antique Soup was like a follower, learning everything from her. The reason why she was fearless was because her Antique Soup shop was not big enough. At this time, even if she took the initiative to approach them for cooperation, the other party would not look down on her, and even wanted to swallow her shop.

The benefits brought by instant noodles may seem small now, but if it is extended to the entire Xuan Dynasty, it will be her main economic chain, which can not only provide economic support for her hot pot restaurant, but also lay the foundation for her hot pot restaurant to open other places.

"Sister, the dumplings are cold."

"Sister?" Chu Yangui called Jiang Yanyi several times before she came back to her senses.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Yanyi interrupted the idea in her mind and turned her head to look at Chu Yangui.

Chu Yangui said, "The dumplings in your bowl are cold."

Jiang Yanyi had been in a trance for too long, and she was embarrassed to put down her chopsticks, "I've finished eating."

These days, Chu Yangui saw that they were busy every day, and knew what Jiang Yanyi was worried about. He said, "Sister, if you want to open a bigger store, just open it. Don't worry about the money. I have it here. When I left the Chu family, my grandmother secretly gave me a lot."

Jiang Yanyi interrupted him, "Keep those banknotes for yourself in case of emergency. The money in my store is enough to make ends meet. In fact, if you want to live an ordinary life, it's good to maintain the status quo, but I want to try how far I can go."

Feng Mansion.

As soon as the large plate of dumplings Jiang Yanyi brought was placed on the table, an old man with gray hair and ragged clothes picked up a dumpling with wooden chopsticks and put it into his mouth.

"Hey! It's stuffed with mutton!" The old man bit into it and a mouthful of delicious soup came out. He praised: "This mutton tastes authentic!"

While he was talking, Chi Qing had already picked up another one and started eating.

The old man was so angry that he hit Chi Qing's hand with the end of his chopsticks: "Traitor, you have no respect for your teacher. You should eat slower!"

Chi Qing's cheeks were puffed up, and he muttered dissatisfiedly: "How can you ask others to give way to you when eating!"

Feng Shuo looked at the speed at which the two of them picked up their chopsticks, and the veins on his forehead jumped. He directly reached out and took away the plate of dumplings, put it back in the food box and covered it: "This plate is a little cold, the kitchen is just I'm cooking dumplings, they'll be ready to eat soon."

The old man noticed something fishy, ​​and seeing the Jiangji seal on the food box, he remembered that the girl who ordered wine from him also gave the address of Jiangji, so he elbowed Feng Shuo and said, "You little bastard, are these the dumplings that girl made the other day?"

Feng Shuo's ears turned slightly red, and he pretended not to hear the old man's question, and said business in a serious tone with a straight face, "Prince Xinyang and Fan Wei formed an alliance and cut off the food supply to the court. The army in the south that was suppressing the rebellion might have to collect food from the people on the spot..."

The old man didn't buy it and continued to ask: "I'm asking you a question, right?"

Feng Shuo glanced at the old man and said: "You already know everything, but you still ask."

The old man clicked his tongue and shook his head: "The apprentice has grown up and is no longer under the master's control. He can't even eat the dumplings made by the apprentice's wife."

Feng Shuo frowned tightly and said disdainfully: "In the Imperial College, "When I was young, you only taught me half a poem, and you dare to call yourself a teacher?"

The old man stiffened his neck and said, "Once a teacher, a father for life. I have been your teacher for half a day, so I am still a teacher for half a lifetime."

Chi Qing continued, "Your Highness, there is carrot stuffing in the dumplings. If you don't eat carrots, I can help you solve it."

Feng Shuo: "..."

Are this master and disciple really not the reincarnation of hungry ghosts?

Chi Qing was scared quickly. Seeing that Feng Shuo looked unhappy, he quickly put down his chopsticks and sat up straight.

Only the old man slapped his chopsticks on the table in dissatisfaction, and stood up and left: "I'll take the wine to that girl!"

Chi Qing turned his neck and shouted at him: "It's the antique soup shop next door, go in and order a mutton hotpot, I'll come over in a while."

The old man was a little relieved, turned his head and deliberately said to Feng Shuo: "Finally there is still someone with conscience."

Feng Shuo raised his eyelids slowly: "Why don't you ask him if he came to help you eat or to help you pay the bill."

The old man looked frightened.

Chi Qing smiled cheekily: "Don't be afraid, old man, we will keep a public account."

The veins on Feng Shuo's forehead began to jump again, and Chi Qing looked innocent.

As soon as the old man left, Feng Shuo said, "He came to see you specially. You two can have a good chat."

Chi Qing glanced at the food box beside him. Why did he feel that Feng Shuo said this just to get him out of the way and eat dumplings?

Feng Shuo noticed his gaze and asked with a cold face, "What are you looking at?"

Chi Qing reacted quickly and said, "I am wondering if I should report something..."

Feng Shuo was too lazy to expose him and said, "Report."

"When we searched for the Turkic prince before, Lu Linyuan seemed to want to make a contribution. Recently, he has suddenly stopped moving. A woman has moved into his house. She lives a secluded life and I don't know where she comes from."

This was the news that the spies had just found out recently. Chi Qing just remembered this and said it.