"Alright, I'll make the wonton filling today. No one can make it better than yours, so I'll give you one tael of silver."
Tao Wanniang calmly said, "Although it may increase costs, selling more will naturally lead to more profit. You know, it's all about small profits but quick turnover."
He Dazhu and Cuihua were both taken aback. They understood what she was saying, but they just couldn't believe that such words would come from the mouth of a thin, dark-faced old woman.
"Come on, give me the fatty meat, I'll render some lard for you!"
One tael of silver? That's a good deal. After Tao Wanniang was able to come up with forty coins at once, He Dazhu and Cuihua naturally believed that Tao Wanniang could come up with one tael of silver.
"It would be even better if you had Sichuan peppercorns, as the rendered lard would be even more fragrant."
As the fatty pork was added to the hot pan, its aroma instantly filled the entire kitchen, Tao Wanniang remarked.
"Sichuan peppercorns? I can buy them, but why would I use them to render lard?"
He Dazhu was eager to learn and asked questions. He watched as the fat meat shrank. This big piece of fat only yielded this much after being rendered. However, he could keep the cracklings for himself.
After removing the dried oil residue and lard, Tao Wanniang began chopping the filling.
"Here, add salt, an egg, some soybean oil, and some ginger."
"We know that rice wine and ginger can remove the fishy smell, but what do you need the eggs for?"
Cuihua immediately asked, "An egg can sell for three coins. Even if we have a domestic hen that lays eggs, we wouldn't dare to waste them like this!"
"Adding eggs will make the minced meat tender. Go ahead and add them. I'll give you an ounce of silver if necessary!"
Tao Wanniang said, with an air of certainty that she wouldn't let anyone suffer a loss.
Cuihua tenderly handed Tao Wan's mother an egg, which she had saved to nourish her husband.
"You chop it. Chopping filling is hard work, it's better if you do it!"
Tao Wanniang chopped a few times and then handed the cleaver to He Dazhu.
He Dazhu didn't mind and happily took it.
Cuihua was already rolling out wonton wrappers, while Taowan's mother was chopping up the fried pork cracklings.
"Girl, why don't you go pick some scallions from the front yard? These scallions aren't worth much, are they?"
Wanting this and that, is it really necessary to go through all this trouble for just five coins' worth of wontons?
Cuihua was somewhat skeptical, but thinking of the one or two taels of silver, she gritted her teeth and agreed.
"Time to cook!" After wrapping some wontons, Tao Wan's mother started boiling water. Once the water boiled, she put the wontons in, then put some lard and pork cracklings in a separate bowl. She then ladled out the cooked wontons, sprinkled them with chopped green onions, and a bowl of wontons with a rich aroma was ready.
"Let's see who can try it and see if it's more appetizing than the wontons you make?"
Tao Wanniang said with a smile, "Don't underestimate a small bowl of wontons. Sprinkle with scallions and add some fried pork fat, and it's a completely different story. I'm not kidding you, am I?"
Indeed...it's different. He Dazhu and Cuihua looked at each other, this was much better than the incense they burned.
"Auntie, may I have a bite?"
He Dazhu swallowed hard. A bowl of wontons costing five coins was something they usually couldn't afford.
The taste... is really good. Could it be that adding an egg makes such a big difference? No, and the soup too. This soup looks so delicious that I can't help but want to take a sip.
"Wontons are not filling, and at five coins, even poor people can't afford them. You tell me yourselves, aren't they much better than before?"
"Auntie, really? You used to be a cook, didn't you?"
Cuihua also hurriedly stepped forward and took a bite. She couldn't help but admire Tao Wanniang; the aroma of that bowl of wontons was simply irresistible!
"You guys should cook wontons like this when you set up your stall, and see if it attracts more people."
Tao Wanniang spoke up, "Our family has only stayed one night, we haven't taken advantage of you in any way, have we?"
"Auntie, what you're saying is not true. On the contrary, it seems like we stole your skills!"
He Dazhu gave Tao Wanniang a silly grin, feeling a little embarrassed.
Tao Wanniang scoffed, "This isn't exactly stealing a recipe; it's just making a bowl of wontons."
"Alright, you guys go set up your stall. We'll pack up and leave ourselves."
"Auntie, you haven't had breakfast yet, have you? How about I make you a bowl of wontons?"
He Dazhu felt bad, as he had only provided an empty house.
"No need, I have a lot of family members, it wouldn't be right for us to eat your food. I'd be reluctant to give you money, but you'd be reluctant to not give me any, so forget it!"
Tao Wan's mother readily refused, "If it's convenient, we can borrow your kitchen to cook for ourselves."
"Yes, yes, but ma'am, it's so late, why aren't they up yet?"
Cuihua also changed her attitude, and looked at Tao Wanniang with a mixture of sympathy and dissatisfaction.
“How can you expect your mother to serve the whole family? As her son and daughter-in-law, how can you be so unfilial?”
"Exactly! How can I cook for them? I'll go back and rest, and my wife will do it!"
Tao Wanniang followed Cuihua's words and said, "You can count the things in the kitchen yourselves. We won't take advantage of you when we leave."
"Auntie, you're overthinking it. We believe you!"
Cuihua thought that it must be because of her previous attitude that Tao Wanniang took it to heart.
"How about some scallions?"
Tao Wan's mother immediately suggested cooking some porridge and frying some scallion and egg pancakes. Just thinking about it made her a little hungry.
"Auntie, take what you want, just leave some for us!"
He Dazhu said magnanimously, "Then we should head out; it's getting late."
"Go ahead, take the lard and the cracklings with you, and I wish your wonton shop will grow bigger and bigger!"
Tao Wanniang waved her hand, urging people to hurry up and open for business.
"Mother, we're up. Let us handle whatever it is!" Wang Hongyu and Zhou Xiaoyun appeared at the kitchen door.
"Auntie, we're heading out now. Just lock the door when you leave. Actually, there's nothing of value in my house."
He Dazhu said with a simple smile, but he didn't have time to talk anymore. He hurriedly packed his things and went out with his wife.
"You've arrived. Did you bring everything we need?" Tao Wanniang looked at Wang Hongyu and Zhou Xiaoyun, and was somewhat displeased to see that the two of them had brought nothing.
"You came empty-handed? Do you intend to take advantage of others?"
"No, Mom, we just came to ask what you want to eat. I'll go get it later!"
Wang Hongyu immediately tried to please her, but she was also puzzled. Wasn't taking advantage of others her mother-in-law's forte?
"I'll go get it, and I'll cut some scallions while I'm at it." Tao Wan's mother said as she walked out. "Remember, you can't take anything from here, not even a single thing. You can't take advantage of others!"
Wang Hongyu and Zhou Xiaoyun exchanged glances, finding it extremely ironic that these words came from Tao Wanniang's mouth.
"Mom, don't worry, we won't take advantage of anyone."
"That's not right either. We still used someone else's firewood. Oh well, it's not cheap. We've already taken the scallions, so using a little more firewood is understandable."
Tao Wanniang suddenly remembered, muttered a few words, and left the kitchen.
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