"Yes! We can make mala tang!" Jiang Ling recalled eating mala tang in modern times. It was her favorite food from junior high school to college, especially in winter. Eating a bowl of spicy mala tang made her feel warm and comfortable all over.
Thinking of this, Jiang Ling quickened her pace and ran towards the herbal medicine shop. In this era, some seasonings such as star anise and cinnamon were still regarded as medicinal herbs.
"Boss, could you please weigh out some star anise, cinnamon, bay leaves..." Jiang Ling rattled off seven or eight medicinal herbs in one breath.
The shopkeeper, an elderly man in his sixties, stroked his white beard and asked with some surprise, "Madam, what illness does your family member have? Why do you need so many warming medicinal herbs?"
"This..." Jiang Ling didn't know how to answer for a moment. She stood there and lowered her voice, saying, "It's a woman's use. I hope you won't ask any further questions, sir!"
The pharmacy owner blushed deeply upon hearing this, slapped his mouth several times, apologized to Jiang Ling, and then quickly handed her what she wanted.
Jiang Ling took these things and hid in an empty alley. She then bought some dried chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns from the system shop. When she arrived at the butcher shop, she bought some pork bones and chicken carcasses. Carrying a large basket full of things, Jiang Ling boarded the oxcart back to Lujia Village.
When Lu Bo first saw Jiang Ling, he was startled. He asked with curiosity, "Jiang, why did you buy so many things on your trip to Pingxi County?"
"Summer is almost over, and I need to think about some business to make a living in the fall and winter, otherwise how will I survive?" Jiang Ling knew that this kind of thing couldn't be kept secret, so she decided to just admit it rather than let everyone speculate.
Lu Bo wasn't a gossipy person, and when he heard Jiang Ling's answer, he simply nodded and said to Jiang Ling, "It must be hard for you, a woman raising four children alone."
They barely spoke on the way home. After returning home, Jiang Ling began to study the broth for mala tang (a type of spicy hot pot).
Smelling the numbing and spicy aroma, Jiang Ling couldn't help but think of Jiang Wenxi, the little glutton who always followed her around. A while ago, the martial arts school sent someone to Jiang Ling's house, saying that Jiang Wenxi adapted very well and was really a promising martial arts talent.
Coach Qian also doted on Jiang Wenxi, but she was still his own child. Even though the visitor said that, Jiang Ling still missed Jiang Wenxi.
"Mom... what are you doing? Why does this smell so pungent!" Jiang Yaojie walked in from outside while Jiang Ling was in a daze. He sneezed several times and asked while rubbing his nose and frowning.
"It's delicious! I'll try it for you later and see how it tastes!" Jiang Ling said with a smile.
Jiang Yaojie seemed unconvinced. He frowned as he looked at the bubbling red oil in the pot, then shook his head and walked out.
Jiang Ling had already prepared a lot of vegetables, sliced meat, and meatballs. She had worked in a mala tang restaurant before, so she was quite adept at it. Before long, a pot of mala tang was ready.
Jiang Ling divided the mala tang into three large bowls, placed one bowl on her own table, and invited the children over to try it.
Carrying the second bowl, Jiang Ling arrived at Zhao Erleng's door. Zhao Erleng's wife opened the door and, seeing the bowl in Jiang Ling's hand, asked curiously, "Sister-in-law, what's this?"
"I was just trying to research some new food! You guys try this, it's something I just developed called Mala Tang!" Jiang Ling smiled and placed the bowl in Zhao Erleng's wife's hands.
"Oh, sister-in-law, you're too kind. How much is a bowl? I'll give you the money!" Zhao Erleng's wife said somewhat flusteredly, holding the bowl in one hand and reaching into her pocket for coins with the other.
"Don't be shy, consider this a sample. But give me your feedback after you try it. Go ahead and eat! It won't taste good if it gets cold!" Jiang Ling said with a smile.
Before Zhao Erleng's wife could say anything, Jiang Ling had already turned around and gone back to her own home, taken the last bowl, and headed towards the village chief's house.
While making the soup base, Jiang Ling thought that she needed a lot of tools to make mala tang, while the village chief's skills were famous far and wide. Jiang Ling guessed that given the village chief's personality, he would definitely not accept money. So she might as well use the mala tang to do him a favor.
Soon, Jiang Ling knocked on the village chief's door. The village chief glanced at the bright red bowl in Jiang Ling's hand and asked with some doubt, "Jiang, is there something you need?"
"Village Chief, this is something I just developed. You should try it!" Jiang Ling placed her own bowl in the village chief's hands before the village chief could react.
The village chief looked at the chili oil in the bowl and said hesitantly, "What... what's this rare stuff?"
Jiang Ling didn't offer much explanation, simply saying, "Village Chief, you'll know once you try it. I'm going back now, I'll come back for the bowl later!"
Before the village chief could say anything more, Jiang Ling ran back to her home in a flash.
"Mom, what is this? It tastes really... um... not bad!" Jiang Yaojie said, his face flushed and sticking out his tongue as he fanned himself with his hand as Jiang Ling returned.
"Yes, big sister, why does this thing taste so peculiar!" Jiang Zhishan, who was standing next to her, asked, sweating profusely as well.
"Mom, this is so delicious! Hmm... but my tongue hurts a little!" Jiang Suihe's reaction was much milder; she simply pointed to her tongue and said.
As for the youngest, Nianci, she was already sitting on the ground crying loudly because of the spicy hot pot, and kept shaking her head and shouting that she never wanted to eat it again!
"This is called Mala Tang! It's a recipe that your grandma passed down to me. You just put some vegetables and meat in that pot and cook them. The broth in the pot is spicy, and the vegetables and meat will also be cooked with a spicy flavor!"
"Oh, no wonder! This tastes really good!" Jiang Zhishan smacked his lips, savoring the memory.
"Do you think it would be better if it were served with some buckwheat pancakes or buckwheat rice?" Jiang Ling asked, looking at the children who were a little overwhelmed by the spiciness.
"That...that's definitely good! Eating the pancake will definitely make it less spicy!" Jiang Yaojie continued, flapping his tongue.
Looking at the children's performance, Jiang Ling felt that she should adjust the spiciness, but she did not rush to do so. Instead, she turned and went to Zhao Erleng's wife's family.
Just then, Zhao Erleng and his family finished eating. When they saw Jiang Ling arrive, Zhao Erleng's wife beamed and pulled Jiang Ling into their yard. Pointing at Zhao Dabao and Zhao Erleng, she said, "Son, husband, tell me quickly, how did that bowl of food taste?"
"Sister Jiang, how did you make this? It looks like just some ordinary vegetables, but it's so delicious! I just ate two buckwheat pancakes!"
"Yes, sister, this stuff tastes amazing! It's so fragrant and spicy, I want another bowl!"
"Go away! You two are good-for-nothings!" Zhao Erleng's wife blushed and frowned as she scolded her husband and son.
"It's alright, it's alright. If Xiao Bao likes it, I'll make some more tomorrow. Anyway, it's just a tasting, so you guys can help me taste it!" Jiang Ling was very satisfied with the two people's answer. She knew that her small business was about to succeed.
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