The grandparents and grandchildren enjoyed the happiness brought by the delicious food. Huang Nai ate with gusto. Xu Mengyao observed Huang Nai's reaction on the side. She thought that if there was someone like Huang Nai who loved spicy food, there must be someone who didn't eat chili peppers. What she had to do was to capture the hearts of every customer and take care of their various needs.
To satisfy a wider range of palates, Xu Mengyao decided to create a non-spicy seasoning. She took out the garlic mortar she often used for Huang Nai, a stone mortar weathered by time, its indentations bearing witness to countless grindings. She added cloves, cumin, and dill, grinding vigorously until a fine powder formed, filling the air with a subtle aroma of spices.
Next, she pours the powder into hot oil, slowly stirring it and adding white sesame seeds until the kitchen is filled with a rich, spiced aroma. She then cools the oil, seasons it with salt and MSG, and finally blends it with sesame paste diluted with boiled water, creating a secret sauce that's rich but not spicy.
After a busy day, the grandfather and grandson finally completed all the preparations. Now, they just had to wait for Huang's father to bring back the noodle gong to test its effectiveness and determine whether they could start mass-producing and selling their special noodle wrappers.
When Huang's father's tired figure appeared at the door, he was amused by the scene before him - the whole family was sitting in the middle of the main room, their eyes fixed on the seemingly insignificant object in his hand - the noodle gong.
Huang Nai couldn't wait to come over, snatched the noodle gong from Huang's father's hand, and handed it to Xu Mengyao. She urged anxiously: "Juanzi, try this thing and see if it works!!"
Huang Nai's impatience was tinged with childlike excitement. After handing over the noodle gong, she quickly turned and ran to the stove to boil water. Xu Mengyao carefully inspected the noodle gong and, once confirmed, rinsed it with clean water, carefully dried it, and then evenly coated the surface with cooking oil to prevent the dough from sticking and to make the finished product smoother.
Then, she scooped up a spoonful of the gluten water that had been prepared with yellow milk, gently shook the noodle gong to distribute the liquid evenly, and then carefully placed it into the boiling steamer.
Soon, a light noodle aroma wafted into the air, and the steamed dough, like a work of art, appeared before everyone. It was more perfect than any previous attempt, not only thin and transparent, but also more elastic.
Huang Nai leaned in for a closer look, her fingertips lightly stroking the surface of the dough, and exclaimed, "It's so translucent, even thinner than before! Juanzi, come on, roll a few for them to try!"
She smiled and nodded, then got busy. Huang Nai watched her repeat the steps of steaming the dough, and asked in confusion, "Why do you have to grease it after steaming it? Isn't that a waste? Can't you just not grease it?"
Xu Mengyao patiently explained, "Nai, this step is crucial. Brushing with oil not only improves the taste and makes the dough smoother, but it also prevents the dough from sticking together when stacked later. Although it will increase costs, the price we sell it for will also increase accordingly, so don't skimp on this little bit of oil."
After hearing this, Grandma Huang nodded repeatedly and patted her chest to assure him, "Don't worry, Grandma knows the math and will definitely not save this little money. Then, let's start selling tomorrow!"
Xu Mengyao shook her head and said helplessly, "Grandma, you're too anxious to make money! If we can't sell it tomorrow, we should go to Pengcheng to restock. Also, Wenxia and mother haven't been to Grandma Qi's house since returning from their hometown. Come with us tomorrow morning to get acquainted with the house."
Besides, one noodle gong isn't enough. We need to make a few more. We also need a bigger one with a higher rim to make it easier to stack the steamed dough. Our tea tray can't hold much."
After hearing what Xu Mengyao said, Grandma Huang sighed helplessly: "Okay, okay, you little girl really knows everything about the family affairs. However, looking at the weather, it might rain in the next few days. You should leave early tomorrow and come back early. Remember to ask your brother to come back for dinner as well."
Xu Mengyao smiled and agreed: "Don't worry, grandma, I will definitely bring your eldest grandson back."
The next morning, the four of them took the first bus, arriving before Grandma and Grandpa Qi went to work to avoid disturbing their daily routines. Huang's mother, clutching the various gifts she had meticulously prepared the day before and local specialties she had brought back from her hometown, wore a smile tinged with a hint of nervousness.
When Grandma Qi saw them, her eyes sparkled with surprise and she came forward enthusiastically: "Oh, it's Binzi's mom, right? You're back from your hometown? Please come in, please come in. Why do you have so many things with you? Put them down quickly, don't get tired."
Grandpa Qi also came out of the house upon hearing the voice, his face also filled with smiles: "Welcome, welcome, come sit down and have a rest. This child must be the literary hero, come and have a piece of watermelon, it's sweet and thirst-quenching."
He greeted her warmly while taking the things from Huang's mother's hand. At this time, Maomao ran over and stared at Wenxia curiously. Seeing this, Xu Mengyao immediately pulled the two children together and introduced them:
"Maomao, this is Wenxia, your youngest sister. Wenxia, this is Maomao, our foster brother. You two must get along well with each other in the future."
The two children quickly became close friends, playing with toys together. Grandma Qi took out an exquisite red envelope from the house and called Wenxia: "Xiaoxia, come here quickly. This is a red envelope that grandpa and grandma prepared especially for you. Your brothers and sisters have received it, and now it's your turn."
Huang's mother hurriedly signaled Wenxia to kneel down and respectfully call out "Grandpa and Grandma" before accepting the red envelope. The whole action was full of respect and tradition.
Grandpa Qi said cheerfully, "Good boy, get up. I'm going to ask for leave from work, and then go to the market to buy some fresh vegetables. We'll have a good meal at home at noon today."
Huang's mother quickly waved her hand, trying to politely decline the offer. "Uncle, please don't bother. We're here just to get to know each other. The children are about to go to Pengcheng to buy some goods, so time is tight. We appreciate your kindness."
However, Grandpa Qi was resolute: "You've come all this way, so why shouldn't I treat you to a meal? We can still go to Pengcheng tomorrow."
Faced with Grandpa Qi's enthusiasm, Xu Mengyao had no choice but to help her mother persuade him, "Grandpa Qi, my grandma said it might rain in the next two days, so we should go and come back as early as possible. There's no rush for dinner. I promise I will bring Wenxia back before school starts."
Upon hearing this, although Grandpa Qi felt a little regretful, he also understood his family's concerns: "Okay, then next time, Xiao Liu, you have to come with the children!" After hearing Huang's mother's promise, Grandpa Qi finally nodded and accepted their decision.
Following Grandma Huang's instructions, the three siblings quickly completed the restocking mission in Pengcheng and returned to the mining area together that night.
Before returning to the mining area, they first stored part of the goods at Qi's house, and instructed the whistles to stop setting up the stall if it rained. Everyone returned to the mining area to reunite with their families and have a good rest.
They were expecting Huang Nai to prepare a sumptuous dinner at home to reward them, but unexpectedly, Huang Nai had already left for her hometown.
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