Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 77
Tled by Serena Love
Unedited
Chapter 77: Egg Fried Rice
As soon as Jiang Shuyao left the shop, she heard a quarrel bursting nearby.
She and Xie Xun looked at each other and walked along with the crowd.
As soon as they reached the edge of the crowd, a shopkeeper ran over until he was out of breath, "Miss, someone is making trouble."
Jiang Shuyao had bad guesses in her mind for a while, so she was not surprised and asked calmly, "What's the matter? You speak slowly."
"Well, young lady asked me to send someone to follow those sneaky people, so my people naturally followed them. Those people didn't try to get the secret recipe or tried to recruit the cook, but instead found a shop and sat down. After ordering the food, one of them ate half a plate and suddenly vomited, saying that the food was not clean. Then the other two also vomited up. They accused the food has problem and quarreled with the waiter." The shopkeeper said angrily. Unexpectedly, there are still small-time rascals who dare to come to the Lin family's site to run wild. "We have sent them to the officials and reported them."
Jiang Shuyao glanced at the arguing crowd and sighed, "This is not a shipyard. The people who are standing around and watching are all ordinary people. If you just twiddle and report them like this, can you convince the crowd?"
"This..." This is also the first time this shopkeeper ran a food business, so he hesitated, "Our people have already clarified whether the food is clean or not. The officials will clear us."
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Xie Xun watched by the side and interjected, "There is a more urgent matter for that shop. Three people vomited in a row and caused trouble. Even if they were wronged, the business would get worse tonight, and it may even affect the whole street for the next few days."
Speaking of this, the shopkeeper is also very angry, "No! What disgusting people! If it's an upright grab for business or conspiracy, go for it. But they have to get some tricks to make people disgusted. The damage is not too great, but if they come here from time to time, it will be annoying."
"Wasn't it all okay for a few days, but today there are ruffians?" Jiang Shuyao is not quite clear about the interest struggle behind these people.
Since they were going to open the street food market, the Lin family naturally has investigated various businesses' backgrounds. The shopkeeper is well-informed and replied, "A few days ago, everyone was watching jokes, thinking that our street food market will not survive. Although there are many shops, it is only for ordinary people. What is the threat? They didn't expect that in recent days, there are more and more diners. Both civilians and wealthy people will come to taste our food. The number of diners who usually like to go to restaurants is decreasing and come here instead. It was obvious that we are blocking their way. Naturally, someone was anxious."
Xie Xun is also an official, and he knows a lot about these things, "If these people are sent to the government, at most they will get hit a few times by a board and have to lay down a few days. After a few days, they will come out. As the shopkeeper said, although it won't hurt our business, it would disgust people."
The shopkeeper echoed, "Exactly. Xiangyang Mansion backs our Lin family, but there are also people behind other restaurants whose backing is not worse than ours. Hey, we are also businessmen, so naturally, we know that robbing people is not kind, but someone always try to squeeze in. In the shipping business, the Lin family could take action, but... but no one thought that those high-ranking officials or elegant scholars must come here to eat." This matter will not be so simple. There must be a big move, "It's a pity that the imperial concubine Lin has vowed never to intervene in the Lin family's business since she entered the palace. Otherwise, we will not be so suffocated, and we could deter those who want to reach out."
Hearing what he said, Jiang Shuyao couldn't help but fret together, "What should I do? If my mother is here, she will know how to deal with it."
Xie Xun stood by and cleared his throat, "Cough."
Jiang Shuyao turned her head and glanced at him curiously.
Xie Xun felt her gaze and emphasized his sense of existence, "Ahem."
Jiang Shuyao, "Give my husband a glass of water."
Xie Xun said helplessly, "I don't want to drink water." He stopped holding back, and said directly, "Behind the Lin family is the Xiangyang Mansion, which cannot compete with the strong and powerful behind the best restaurants in the capital, but you are different."
"Me?" Jiang Shuyao looked at him and said in surprise, "You don't say that my backing is Duke Xie Mansion, do you?"
Xie Xun was a little speechless, "Naturally not." He was not so loud, he explained, "His Royal Highness."
"Crown... Crown prince?" Jiang Shuyao was dumbfounded.
"Yes, I gave him the method of making ice before, and when there is delicious food involved, I believe the prince will help us." Xie Xun laughed, "Let them shut down tonight. I will see the prince tomorrow. If they want to bring people to make trouble in the future, they will have to think twice."
Jiang Shuyao nodded, and the stone in her heart fell. She looked at the diners, who were still talking at the door of the shop, and worried, "What should I do here?"
The steward said respectfully, "We have already clarified and told everyone that the government would give us justice."
Even if Jiang Shuyao doesn't understand business, she knows that this won't reassure the diners. Instead, they would feel that the Lin family is deceiving them, "It's not good, you have to dispel their doubts completely, so that even if someone makes trouble in the future, the diners will not doubt our cleanliness."
The shopkeeper was dumbfounded and scratching his head, "This..."
Jiang Shuyao said, "You go to a nearby food stall to borrow a cart with a stove. Didn't they say that our market is not clean? Then let's show them the cooking process and let them see how clean it is."
The shopkeeper's orders went down, and everyone worked quickly. The arrangements were quickly made.
The cook of the impacted restaurant was a servant from the Lin family. She was married and became a wife early, but her husband was greedy and liked to gamble. If he lost money, he would punch and kick her. Sometimes even her son would not be spared. There was not a day where she was not injured. After Lin-shi decided to open the street food market, she went back to the Lin family's mansion once and happened to see her limping, passing by with scars on her face.
The rest of the people were not cared about this. However, because of the grievances she suffered in her marriage, Lin-shi was extremely upset about bullying between the husband and wife and immediately asked her to come over. The lady's husband is picky. If the food is not delicious or meals are not satisfying, there would be another punching and kicking. She is afraid of being beaten, so she is very serious about cooking. Over time, she has developed a good cooking skill and is very good at controlling fire.
When Lin-shi wrote to Jiang Shuyao about this, Jiang Shuyao suggested that she learn to cook fried rice. Fried rice sounds simple, but it's not easy to make a good fried rice. From steaming rice to rice frying, every step is exquisite. The rice should be separated and not sticky. The eggs should wrap the rice grains as much as possible. The eggs' outer layer should not be burned in order to ensure the rice's fragrant flavor. The ability to control the heat is a strict requirement for making fried rice.
The woman was shy. When Lin-shi asked her to work as a cook in the market, her first reaction was to refuse. Later, Lin-shi repeatedly emphasized that she did not need to show her face and promised that her gambler husband would not dare to do anything to her again. Moreover, the cook would have enough money to allow her children to go to college, so the cook reluctantly agreed. Now that she has tasted the sweetness of this job, she shrinks into her small kitchen and fries rice with peace of mind.
But this peace of mind was broken tonight.
"Didn't the lady said that I don't have to show up?" she said in surprise.
The shopkeeper didn't understand her doubts, "What kind of showing up is this? You just have to cook a meal in front of people. Besides, you are not a young lady. You are afraid of showing your face, but haven't you seen the lady standing outside?"
The cook just didn't dare to meet people. In the past, her husband always punch and kick her from the head. Now that she has left her husband's claws, she still feels afraid of strangers.
The shopkeeper continues to persuade her and finally said, "Madam didn't treat you badly, and the young lady believed in you and bold enough to teach you her craft. Now it is time they need you. Do you even have to refuse??"
His words reached the cook's heart, and she gritted her teeth, "Okay, I'll go."
The food stall was pushed to the entrance of the shop. The street was crowded with people who are watching the excitement.
The shopkeeper brought out the fried rice that those rascals had eaten today, "This is what those people ate. You can see that the remaining half of the plate is egg fried rice." He pointed to Sun Niangzi, "This is the chef of our shop. We will let her cook a pot of egg fried rice on the spot. You can check the ingredients, utensils, and our method. Will the fried rice be unclean enough to make people vomit after half a plate? Come on."
The excitement is so new that diners talked wildly.
"Fried rice? It looks very simple. I think the other shops' foods are not easy, but fried rice should be easy at first glance."
"Yeah, it's nothing more than rice and eggs. How delicious can it be? Even if it is clean, it is not interesting to eat."
Sun Niangzi felt that everyone's eyes were on her, and she became even more nervous.
She seemed to remember the panic when she was cooking for her husband, and she would be beaten if she didn't do it well... When she thought about it, her hands began to shake.
Feeling that more and more people were coming around, she couldn't help but retreat a few steps.
Suddenly, a warm hand was placed on her shoulder, "Are you okay?"
The cook turned her head and met Jiang Shuyao's beautiful eyes.
"Are you scared?" Jiang Shuyao asked.
Sun Niangzi has never been so close to a nobleman and quickly lowered her head, "Don't dare."
Jiang Shuyao chuckled helplessly, "What do you dare or don't dare? If you are afraid, then you don't have to hold it. Let's think a different way. I know the things in your family, I can understand."
The cook trembled and looked up in surprise.
She is a servant. How can she ever think that her bad things will stain the ears of Missy? And she, a noble lady, not only heard and remembered her problem but also comforted her and sympathized with her so gently.
She opened her mouth several times, but didn't know what to say, so she blushed and lowered her head.
Jiang Shuyao patted her shoulder, "It's okay. Cooking shouldn't be burdensome. It should be pleasant, reassuring, and satisfying. In the same way, food should be healing. I hope that one day you can feel these feelings." After she said this, she turned and left, preparing to discuss how to end it with the manager.
As soon as she stepped forward, there was a trembling call from behind her.
"Miss!"
She turned around, saw the cook forced a big smile at her with red eyes, "I can."
Jiang Shuyao was taken aback for a moment, "...I said, it's okay, don't force it."
"No, Miss. This slave maid did not force herself."
After she finished speaking, she bowed respectfully, turned, and walked out of the hall. She came out to the door of the store.
The fire was burning, the flame's tongue was swaying in the air, and the air became hot.
As soon as everyone saw that it was just a woman, not a male cook, they immediately felt contempt. After all, all restaurants' cooks were descendants of royal cooks, and they had never heard of any female cook.
Sun Niangzi should have flinched when she heard their discussion, but at this time, her fighting spirit was aroused. The young lady taught the recipe of her fried rice. It is okay to despise her, but her young lady must not be despised.
She tried to ignore the look in the onlookers and imagined that she was in her kitchen.
The swaying tongue of fire, the cooked rice, the side dishes... As she swept around, her heart gradually sinking. But the moment she held the handle of the wok, she suddenly realized what the lady said.
Cooking should be peaceful for the mind.
Everyone saw that the woman, who looked timid, suddenly lifted up and changed her personality.
She held the wok handle and slid it on the fire a few times to heat the. She smoothly rotated and greased the wok, flipped her right wrist, and scooped a large spoonful of rice into the wok.
The egg fried rice uses overnight rice. When steaming the rice, she used gauze to padded the steamer to prevent too much moisture and ensure that the rice does not contain too much moisture so that the fried rice will be separated. Once the rice is put into the wok, it should disperse quickly. The strength holding the wok should be even, and the speed should be fast. The rice should not be mashed or cut so that every grain in the egg fried rice is full.
Sun Niangzi is ready for the next step. Her arms are hard when stir-frying. The rice is flipped and spun in the wok, a touch of rice fragrance gradually overflowing. After watching the water in the rice grains disappear, she stretched out her arms to fetch the golden and shiny egg liquid that had been whisked. She drew a circle in the air smoothly and evenly sprinkled the eggs evenly on the rice while her wrist kept shaking and turning the iron wok.
After the egg mixture was put down, Sun Niangzi started to stir fry quickly. She lifted the iron pot with one hand and kept the bottom of the pot rotating with the tongue of the fire. At the same time, she gently and evenly pushed the rice grains with a wooden spatula. The rich and mellow egg scent gradually dissipated in the air. Every time she moves, the rice grains would be wrapped with eggs. As she shakes the pan, the white rice grains jumping in the air gradually became golden.
She was used to heavy work, and this physical work is not worth mentioning. As she held the iron wok, shaking and frying, the rice grains bounced and turned in the air as if they were about to escape from the wok, but they could fall into the pan steadily every time. The onlookers were dazzled.
Seeing that it was almost done, she sprinkled fine salt and green onion into the pan. The egg fried rice had a stronger fragrance. After turning the pan again, the rice lightly drew an arc in the air. She knocked the metal ladle against the iron wok and poured the egg fried rice into a large white porcelain plate.
Everyone couldn't help but cast their eyes on the "simple" egg fried rice.
The piled-up fried rice is golden, yellow and tender, and full of fragrance. On the white porcelain plate, it seemed as if a plate of shredded gold was glowing. The aroma is simple, and there is no unnecessary cumbersome scent, just egg and rice aroma enhanced to the extreme.
The cook came out from her trance, only to find that the surrounding area became quiet.
The skeptical diners were all mute. Is it simple? Of course, it's simple. It's just egg and rice. But why is this pan-fried egg fried rice so attractive?
The shopkeeper said, "Are any guests willing to try the dishes?"
The fried rice just dispelled people's doubts about "unclean food." Now is the time to dispel the doubts about "plain taste."
An old man standing in the front stepped out first. He was a farmer who worked hard to study, competed for the imperial examination, and entered the court. Now he is an official of the court. His children and grandchildren are filial. Knowing that he likes to eat, they collect some fine delicacies for him all day long, but they don't understand that what he has reminisced for so many years is the simple and pure aroma, not the delicacy.
He took the spoon under the curious eyes of everyone and took a bite of egg fried rice.
The freshly cooked egg fried rice is steaming hot, and the egg fragrance is overflowing. In the mouth, the delicate and mellow aroma immediately sweeps the entire mouth. The egg is soft and tender and is tightly wrapped the plump and sweet rice grains. It is smooth and tender. Even and fine.
The rice grains are plump and soft. The frying eliminates the moisture, making the rice round and elastic. The rice grains collide and beat in the mouth clearly, accompanied by the fresh fragrance of onion, a light oily aroma, the mellow fragrance of egg yolks, and the clearness of rice. The sweetness blends and merges, and his mood is instantly immersed. It seems that this is the epitome of the words "warm," "natural," "pure," and "peaceful."
The old man hadn't felt this way for a long time, and he was even a little excited at the moment.
"How?" The lively diners next to him saw that he hadn't spoken for a long time, and hurriedly asked.
"Okay." He nodded lightly, and then heavier and heavier, "Very good, just... this... give me a plate!" He said while turning around and stepping into the deserted shop.
"This... what is this mean?" Everyone was looking at each other, all suspecting that this old man belongs to the shop.
At this moment, those college students, who had just finished eating, passed by and squeezed in the crowd to watch the excitement.
The picky student is always greedy. Hearing that someone needs to taste-test, he rushed to the front, "I'll come, I'll come."
The shopkeeper saw that he was dressed in brocade clothes. He was obviously not an ordinary citizen, nor the ordinary diners that the market wanted to attract, so he looked at Jiang Shuyao in the distance. But Jiang Shuyao did not shake her head. He retracted his gaze and hesitantly handed the porcelain spoon to the picky student.
Although the picky boy has a strong mouth, he knows right and wrong. This plate of food only consists rice and egg, so he will not ask for the smell of dragon meat.
He took a spoonful and put it in his mouth. The egg was soft and delicate, and the rice grains were wrapped thinly in eggs. He was clearly eating rice, but the rice itself had a strong egg fragrance. The sweet rice has a chewy texture, and after biting it, the egg's aroma is even stronger. The precise heat makes the rice soft, and the egg retains a delicate and silky mellow watery feel, similar to a fatty scent, which rotates and spreads in the mouth.
"The taste is simple, only egg and rice fragrance, but the two flavors are perfectly balanced together, and it is enhanced to the extreme. It seems simple, but it contains a lot of ingenuity." He commented and wanted to scoop the second time, but the shopkeeper immediately took the plate.
What are you doing? There is drool on your spoon!
"Ah." He only cared about the taste but forgot about this. He said, "Then what, give us a few plates."
The classmate behind poked him, "Have you not had enough?"
"Let's take it back to the academy. When we stay up late to study, don't we need to eat supper?" The picky student whispered, "Do you still want to go to the cafeteria and eat steamed buns?"
The classmates were dumbfounded.
The picky guy ate delicious food today and was in a good mood. He praised Sun Niangzi, "Your craftsmanship is good."
Sun Niangzi stared at him blankly and then turned her gaze to the diners who were watching. They shook their faces, tried to breathe in the aroma, and talked about the scent in their mouths. The expressions on their faces did not have the slightest maliciousness, only the yearning and expectation for food, peaceful and full of goodwill.
The old man who entered the shop patted the table and yelled with his farmer-style loud voice, "Don't freeze! Quickly cook me a plate. This old man can't help being hungry."
The diners burst into good-faith laughter. The old man was walking around the street food market all day. They also got acquainted with him and joked, "Old man, be careful to eat too much, and your stomach can't support it!"
"Bah, you think I am you? You have a cat's stomach."
The cook has long been accustomed to a life of trembling, and she would kowtow to the heavens if she was not beaten. Thank God for his pity. In this kind and leisurely atmosphere, she felt like a world away from the life she once lived. As if the green bud broke the picture, a certain part of her heart trembled, and she fell into an indescribable softness. She felt that she suddenly understood what the lady said.
Food is healing.
"Hahaha, old man, don't just push yourself just because this sister-in-law is so skilled." The diners were still talking.
"No, no, it's not my credit." Sun Niangzi suddenly raised her head and corrected quietly. But her voice is getting louder and louder, and finally full of vitality and vigor that she hadn't had in a long time. "It's the young lady who taught me. The fried rice I made is far less delicious than what my young lady made! Don't rush, old man, I'll cook it for you now!"
The picky guy listened and looked at his classmates. Finally, his gaze fell on Xie Ye, "The young lady? No, it's not Miss Jiang?"
Xie Ye rolled his eyes, "Otherwise?"
The picky guy collapsed, and he almost throw the spoon in his hand, "No! I won't accept it! I'm not reconciled! This, this—what are you laughing at?! It's not you who are in shock!"
They were moving too much, and everyone looked at them. After a while, someone recognized their clothes, "Is this a student from Qingtang Academy?"
"Huh? That's the best academy. The students in it are either rich or expensive, and they won't be working for this shop."
"Then... let's go in and try it?"
"Okay, okay, I'm hungry by the smell."
After there were one, then there were two. The crowds who were only watching the excitement entered the shop. The shopkeeper was ecstatic and quickly asked the waiters to greet them to sit down. He thought that the business in the next few days would be more popular than the previous few days.
The street food market has resumed its past liveliness. The storm just now seems to have never happened. There are only laughter and lively diners who pass their word of mouth. In addition to the delicious novelties of the street food market, there will be snack shops. The owner behind the market is upright and open.
The steaming heat dissipates, but the street food market is still fragrant for the next ten miles. Diners walk or sit, everyone has a story for everyone, either joy or sorrow, but in the end, they will be comforted by a bowl of fragrant food. They wholeheartedly integrated into this ordinary lively summer night.
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Red lanterns hang on the street and light up the long street, like a bright and dazzling fire dragon, wanting to be brighter with the stars.
Xie Xun, who was watching the lively curtain call, turned his head and said to Jiang Shuyao, "Relieved?"
Jiang Shuyao nodded and smiled, "Relieved." She turned and walked towards the street, "Finally, the arrangements are almost done here."
Xie Xun walked side by side with her, protected her from a rampage urchin, and asked, "Are you still going to come here often?"
Jiang Shuyao waved her hand to the naughty kid, who apologized and said that she was fine. After an elder grabbed the little boy and walked away, she continued to walk with Xie Xun and replied, "I won't come as often."
Xie Xun nodded.
She added, "I will try to stay with you at home in the future."
Xie Xun was caught off guard, and his ears were quickly red, but he was no longer the shy young man who concealed his thoughts. He is now the sweetheart that Jiang Shuyao admitted personally.
He cocked the corner of his mouth and said, "You are so good."
This cheeky confession made Jiang Shuyao suddenly smile and bend over.
With a smile, Xie Xun suddenly stood still.
Jiang Shuyao stopped her smile, thinking that something was wrong with him, but she heard him asking, "Tired, right?"
"A bit." Jiang Shuyao replied unclearly.
Xie Xun stretched out his hand, "Then I will take you home."
The bright and warm lights gleamed on the side of his face, making his cold facial features appear soft and warm. Jiang Shuyao placed her palm in his palm and repeated his words, "You are so good."
On the ordinary and lively street food market, the two of them walked on the street holding hands. Sometimes they moved closer, and sometimes they scattered to avoid the crowd, but their fingers were always clasped together. Their backs disappeared on the street and gradually merged into the summer.
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