Translated by Serena Love

Edited by Azure

Chapter 31: Handmade Beef Meatballs with Noodles

"Boom! Boom! Boom..."

Early in the morning, there was a huge "boom boom" noise from the kitchen downstairs, disturbing Shen Yue from his good night's sleep.

When he rushed downstairs angrily, he saw Tang Qiaoqiao, wearing a yellow apron, holding a sturdy rolling pin on her hand with a rolled bun on her. She was beating a piece of meat on the table with the rolling pin.

Tang Qiaoqiao grit her teeth. Her hands were beating with fierce force as if she was cursing her greatest enemy.

"What are you doing?" Shen Yue had just woken up and had low energy.

Tang Qiaoqiao turned around when she heard his words and smiled brilliantly. "Good morning." But her hand movement did not stop.

Shen Yue lost his anger. "I asked you what you are doing? You made such a big move early in the morning. Are you dismantling the kitchen?"

"Can't you see? I'm beating the beef. I will make beef balls for you later," Tang Qiaoqiao turned the beef over and continued to beat it. "This is the freshest beef thigh just delivered in the morning. It's the most suitable for making beef balls. The best beef balls are made by hand, so they will be soft and flexible."

Although Tang Qiaoqiao was full of energy, just with one look, Shen Yue knew that she was a little strange.

"You go outside and wait. It will be done soon."

Shen Yue frowned and turned to leave.

Tang Qiaoqiao continued to beat the beef while muttering, "What's wrong with my strength? I will beat you. I beat you."

Tang Qiaoqiao felt that most of the frustration in her heart had disappeared after she had completely beaten the beef into minced meat.

Normally people would need to chop the beef for at least one or two hours, but when it was in Tang Qiaoqiao's hands, she turned a large chunk of the beef thigh into minced meat in half an hour.

Then she sprinkled a small amount of cornstarch, high-quality fish sauce, fine salt, and MSG. In order to make the taste smoother, she also added some pork fat cut into small cubes and beat it repeatedly to make the seasoning completely blend together.

Tang Qiaoqiao took out some chilled shrimp paste from the refrigerator. The shrimp paste was made by chopping fresh mantis shrimp into a puree. Then, she refrigerated the shrimp paste and cut it into evenly sized cubes.

At this time, the beef had been beaten into a pulp. She poured it into a basin and stirred in one direction until it formed a thick consistency. Then she grabbed the meat slurry with her hands, made a circle between her thumb and index finger, and squeezed the meatballs from the gap. Then she wrapped the shrimp paste inside the meatballs, put them in the boiling water, turned the heat low, and cooked them until the beef balls were firm.

Tang Qiaoqiao made a large bowl of beef balls and put most of them in the refrigerator, leaving enough for a bowl of noodles.

The noodles were just hand-pulled by Tang Qiaoqiao. After repeated kneading, stretching, pulling, throwing, and folding, the noodles were strong and smooth.

The soup base was a ready-made stock. Tang Qiaoqiao made stocks in the kitchen daily, using beef and pork bones to boil until they were milky white. Sometimes, she also added some body-replenishing herbs.

After the noodles were boiled in boiling water, they were placed in the broth and boiled for a while. The soup base was delicious enough. She just needed to sprinkle a little salt to taste.

Next, she went to her vegetable garden and picked up a handful of tender radish sprouts. It only took a few seconds to scald them. Then she spread them on the noodles together with the beef balls and then sprinkled them with chopped green onion and a few red goji berries.

Shen Yue had been waiting at the dining table for a while, lost in thought.

"Handmade beef ball noodles are ready!"

Tang Qiaoqiao shouted all the way like a little waiter in the food hall. She ran over with the dinner tray in small steps.

"Please try it." She put the porcelain bowl firmly in front of Shen Yue.

A big bowl of noodles.

There are bright white noodles, emerald green vegetables, and eight large round beef balls arranged neatly and beautifully in the huge porcelain bowl.

Those few red goji berries were just to look good, Shen Yue thought.

Shen Yue didn't move his chopsticks but looked up at Tang Qiaoqiao's face carefully.

'It's not right. Something seems wrong. She seems to be a little extra excited today.'

Tang Qiaoqiao didn't notice his thoughts, so she urged him, "Hurry up."

She had beaten beef and chopped shrimp paste for the whole morning. She was really hungry and took the lead in picking up a mouthful of noodles and sent it to her mouth.

Seeing this, Shen Yue picked up a ball and was about to bite it. Tang Qiaoqiao suddenly said, "Be careful. This beef ball might burst."

Shen Yue had already bitten the surface of the beef ball. After hearing her words, in order not to experience the terrible sight of the juice rushing from the ball, he immediately put the whole thing in his mouth.

Suddenly, the juice inside the beef balls exploded in his mouth, and the sweet smell of shrimp meat seemed to dance on his taste buds. The slightly hot taste made him close his eyes and savor it.

'It is too delicious.'

He chewed the beef ball again. The meat was firm, the texture was refreshing, and the more he chewed, the more enjoyable it was.

After he finished eating one, he couldn't help but pick up another one.

After eating the beef balls, he slurped the smooth noodles, bit through the tender and juicy radish sprouts, and took a sip of fragrant soup.

After a while, he ate a bowl of beef ball noodles cleanly, but he still was not satisfied.

Shen Yue put down his chopsticks contentedly, but saw Tang Qiaoqiao, who was opposite him, prop her chin on the table. She looked wilted, just like a balloon that was flying high and suddenly popped.

"Let's talk about it. What's the matter with you?" Shen Yue guessed that she had something in her mind. Anyway, he has some spare time.

Tang Qiaoqiao sighed slightly and said in frustration, "Shen Yue, I may be unemployed."

Shen Yue raised his eyebrows. "Why, did the brokerage company finally find out that you ate too much and now they want to cancel the contract with you?"

"Don't joke," She shook her head. "There is no more work for me. Brother Qian hasn't contacted me for a week."

It was rare to see Tang Qiaoqiao so bereaved, and Shen Yue felt amused inexplicably.

"No, aren't you brave and courageous?" The pennant was still hanging high in her bedroom, but he disliked her taste very much. The hanging position of the pennant completely destroyed the beauty of the room design.

"Oh, you don't understand," Tang Qiaoqiao put her hands on the table and explained to the "layman," Shen Yue, as if she was an expert on the industry, "Although the fans support me very much, my image has changed too much. This problem is unavoidable. Producers and directors in the industry may not dare to use me."

Shen Yue frowned as he listened to the sudden complaint.

"How did you know?"

"I guessed it. Otherwise, why would I not have a job during this time?"

Tang Qiaoqiao was depressed because she was thinking about this, and didn't sleep well at night, so she woke up early and relied on beating some beef into meatballs to vent her frustration.

Sometimes Shen Yue really wanted to knock on Tang Qiaoqiao's melon head to see what sort of paste was in it.

Although he didn't have much contact with the entertainment industry, he also knew that things should not be as outrageous as she said.

"Do you really like to be a star?" He always wanted to ask her this question. She did not have many works in her hand, and so far, she only had a guest star role as a fox demon in a web drama. What was it that made her continue doing it?

"I like it," Tang Qiaoqiao nodded seriously, "I like how people like me." Not only because the love of fans would increase her spiritual power, but she liked it when the fans called her "Qiao Bao." She liked when everyone expects her to share her dishes, and she also liked the different feelings when acting.

Shen Yue looked at her sincere eyes and felt moved in his heart. He coughed lightly, "If you really want to continue doing this business, and there is no other way, it's not a big deal for me..."

Before he finished saying, "I'll invest in a drama for you." Tang Qiaoqiao's cell phone rang.

As soon as she saw the caller ID, she immediately gestured to Shen Yue with a "hush."

She answered the phone and called, "Brother Qian."

"Really? "

"Hmm."

"Good."

"I can do anything."

"I'll sign it."

"When?"

"No problem."

When Tang Qiaoqiao hung up the phone, the listlessness on her face was swept away. She became cheerful, and she smiled with her small tiger teeth showing.

"Ah, a company has asked me to be their spokesperson."

"What company has such weird taste?" Shen Yue said venomously.

"It's a beverage company, and the brand is not small. The owner of that company was so insightful. He discovered my softness and cuteness." Tang Qiaoqiao was too excited. She was not paying attention to Shen Yue's slightly sour tone.

Shen Yue couldn't help but pour cold water on her. "You don't know the content of the advertisement, but you are so happy."

"Usually, those female celebrities will endorse green tea or oolong tea on TV. Isn't it just running two laps on the field with a drink or floating on the swing? I am especially good at swinging."

Tang Qiaoqiao thought more and more happily, "I want to take some handmade beef balls to the studio. I'll give them a taste, so they will take a more beautiful picture of me."

Shen Yue refused immediately, " No."

Tang Qiaoqiao: "Why?"

"It's all mine."

"I made it."

"Using my kitchen and my ingredients."

"Since when were you so stingy?"

"I've always been stingy, didn't you know?"

Tang Qiaoqiao was in a very good mood, so she was too lazy to care about him. She stood up and prepared to clean up the dishes, then suddenly turned around and asked him, "By the way, what was the big deal you just said?"

Shen Yue said with a cold face, "I didn't say anything. You were hallucinating."

"Oh."

Tang Qiaoqiao looked happy, but Shen Yue looked upset.

---

"Qiaoqiao is here."

"Hello." Tang Qiaoqiao greeted the staff with a sweet smile.

At the time agreed with the advertiser, Tang Qiaoqiao came to the filming set early. After all, it was her first commercial, and she had to leave a good impression for the advertiser.

It was too early, and the director hadn’t come yet. Several staff members were setting up the scene, and after seeing Tang Qiaoqiao, their eyes lit up. This girl looked really beautiful.

Today, she wore a bun on her head, wearing a blue ruffled shirt with a high-waisted printed skirt, and short black boots on her feet. She was very cute and charming, especially the pair of slender legs. How could she be so cruel when kicking people?

The staff came over to gossip, "Qiaoqiao, how did you kick so good? Teach me. I want to learn how to defend myself."

'Why do you have to mention it again?'

Tang Qiaoqiao had to come up with that set of excuses. "I learned kungfu for a few years when I was a child, you know, Chinese Kungfu."

"So that's why." Everyone suddenly understood.

Tang Qiaoqiao quickly changed the subject and pointed to the clothes on a row of hangers not far away, all white and pink flowing long skirts.

"Is this the costume I'm going to wear?"

"That's right."

"Great." Tang Qiaoqiao was happy. She liked these skirts.

After a while, the director finally came and learned that Tang Qiaoqiao had arrived long ago. He was very satisfied with this very dedicated artist.

He asked the stylist to take Tang Qiaoqiao to do the styling first when suddenly Tang Qiaoqiao noticed that a row of new clothes was suddenly pushed over the row of cute dresses.

'Huh?'

'There is something wrong.'

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