Chapter 8
Some lamb bones were bought. Add secret seasonings, and boil them for three hours. The bones had turned white from cooking, while the soup was mellow and fragrant. At this time, add water to the flour. Once kneaded into a dough, add water and keep kneading continuously to wash out the gluten. The excess water from washing out was poured into the bone soup. Following this, add radish, bean curd, vermicelli, spinach, etc. Finally put the kneaded gluten into the pot. Bring it to a boil on high heat. Small heat to make the soup thicker. A big pot of hot and spicy soup was completed.
That something Vice General Zhao reminded Jiang Yun Zhu that it was late autumn and they were in the mountains. Wasn't it suitable to drink this? It was hot and spicy. When drinking a bowl, all the seven orifices will be fully unblocked and all problems will be gone.
Jiang Yun Zhu scooped out a bowl, added chopped green onion and coriander, and handed it to old Mister Chen first, "Maternal Grandfather, try it."
Jiang Family was already teased by the smell of the sheep's head soup. Hearing this, old Mister Chen fumbled to take the bowl and scooped up the contents of the bowl with a spoon.
It was like soup but not completely. A strong fragrance hit his face.
When it entered the mouth, the taste of pepper exploded in the mouth immediately. Then followed by the umami of mutton soup, the sweetness of radish, the fragrance of bean curd, etc and blended together. Spicy and sour. The silky fragrance moistened the mouth, as if the soul had been awakened.
Old Father Chen took a sip. He couldn't resist and took a second. Then a third sip.
Only when he finished the whole bowl did he put down the bowl in satisfaction. At this time, fine beads of sweat appeared on the tip of his nose.
"How is it?" Jiang Yun Zhu asked eagerly.
"Comfortable." Old Mister Chen can only use this word to describe it. Drinking this soup was so much of a comfort.
This was the effect Jiang Yun Zhu wanted. She immediately asked with a smile, "Then Maternal Grandfather, what are your thoughts on me selling this soup?"
She wanted to sell #Hulatang/ Spicy soup, but Mrs. Chen didn't agree. The family only had that bit of money. If used for business and they lose money, wouldn’t their family drink northwest wind this month?
With no other choice, Jiang Yun Zhu can only seek help from old Mister Chen. His words still carry weight.
Old Father Chen didn't rush to answer. He lowered his head and pondered for a while. He asked, "How much is this pot of soup’s base cost?"
Jiang Yun Zhu had calculated it out a long time ago and immediately replied, "Originally, this soup tastes better when cooked with mutton, but it is cheaper to use mutton bones. These mutton bones only cost nine wens. It can be cheaper if more is bought. The rest is flour. 200g flour is three wens.
With vegetables, this soup is called Bazhen Soup, which means that there are eight kinds of vegetables in it. These dishes can be matched according to the seasons. I used the cheapest and most delicious vegetables that are in season. Adding it up, it’s three wens.
Finally, there are seasonings, firewood, etc., take it as three wens. The total cost of this pot of soup is eighteen wens. "
Old Father Chen was surprised when he heard this. The cost of such a big pot of broth was this low?
"Then how much are you going to sell for a bowl?" He sensed something amissed and asked immediately.
"Two wens per a bowl. There should be twenty bowls of this pot of soup. Which means it can sell for about forty wens."
Old Father Chen was taken aback when he heard this. Such a delicious and rich soup only cost two wens a bowl? Even so, there were nearly double the profits. Good business, this was indeed a good business.
He stroked his crutch twice and suddenly suggested, "This soup should be paired with something."
Jiang Yun Zhu had also thought about this. She wants to make some white flour pancakes and stewed meat. The white cakes can be dipped in soup, or sandwich the meat between them, or eaten alone. The main reason was that it was convenient. It can be made at home and directly sold over there.
The key for selling food at the market at the foot of the mountain was speed.
Old Father Chen noticed this granddaughter wanted to start a business and wasn’t messing around. She had already thought of everything.
"I think it can work!" He solemnly stated.
Mrs. Chen had tasted Jiang Yun Zhu's soup just now. When hearing her clear and logical pitch, her heart began to waver. Now she heard old Mister Chen’s response, she hesitated. How about she let Jiang Yun Zhu try?
"If you want to do it, properly do it. I tasted your soup. It doesn't seem to go well with white flour pancakes. It’s good with meat pancakes, but meat pancakes are too expensive." Old Mister Chen suddenly interjected at this moment.
After Jiang Yun Zhu heard this, she wanted to give him a thumbs up. Sure enough, the old man's eyes were sharp. This hulatang shouldn't be served with white flour pancakes. It should be served with Youmotou. Youmotou was similar to deep-fried dough sticks, only smaller than deep-fried dough sticks, about the length and thickness of fingers.
Freshly fried Youmotou were loose and crispy. Rolled in the hot and spicy soup, the two complement each other. Double the deliciousness!
However, Youmotou was too troublesome. They were small and required kneading and frying. So she gave up.
"How can you be afraid of trouble?" Mrs. Chen quickly said. She wasn't afraid of trouble. She was only afraid that the money invested would be in vain.
"Okay, then make Youmotou. En, meat pancakes can be made too." Jiang Yun Zhu had her own considerations.
This matter seemed to be settled like this.
The pot of soup made today can't be wasted. Mrs. Chen first scooped out a big jar and told Jiang Yun Zhu to send it to the village head and old Father Xu. Then she filled another jar for herself to send to old Mrs. Feng. Old Mrs. Feng was the old woman who rented the house to them. She had delivered pancakes and hot soup to Jiang Family before. Mrs. Chen had always kept it in her heart. She will naturally reciprocate if she had the opportunity.
The rest was left to be drunk in the evening and nourish Jiang Cheng.
The two came out of the house and one went left and one went right.
There wasn’t much to say on Mrs. Chen’s side. When Mrs. Feng saw her bring something, she immediately warmly invited her in. Knowing that it wasn't easy for her and the mantou happened to be steamed at home, she gave her five-six mantou. This made Mrs. Chen embarrassed.
At the village head's house, Xu Qing Shan was standing anxiously in the courtyard. Jiang Cheng had already gone to the mine today. He wanted to go too, but his cousin uncle wouldn't let him go...
At this moment, he raised his eyes and saw a person standing there holding an earthen jar.
"Yun Zhu." Xu Qing Shan hurried forward and took the jar in her hand.
"I made some soup. My mother said to give it to the village head and Uncle Xu to taste." Jiang Yun Zhu smiled and explained the purpose of her visit.
Her voice was clear and her dimple shallowly appeared when she spoke. Xu Qing Shan almost forgot to respond.
"I'll give it to Cousin Aunt." Xu Qing Shan hurriedly carried the jar into the house.
Shortly later, a woman with a kind face came out and enthusiastically chatted with Jiang Yun Zhu.
She was Gu Yong De's wife, Mrs. Lin.
Jiang Yun Zhu dutifully responded before mentioning farewell.
Xu Qing Shan sent her to the door.
Jiang Yun Zhu turned her head. Wasn't he going to give her the empty earthen jar in his hand?
Xu Qing Shan was really reluctant to let go of the earthen jar.
"My cousin uncle said that my family had a donkey. Although transportation doesn't make as much money as the mine, it is easier and has more freedom." Reaching here, he was afraid that Jiang Yun Zhu might misunderstand and hurriedly added, "Actually, I'm not afraid of hard work. I want to go to the mines."
He wanted to make some money quickly and build his own house. And then...he didn't dare to look at Jiang Yun Zhu.
Jiang Yun Zhu was wondering why there was no news after he said that he would go to the mine with her father. So it was like this.
"Village Head is thinking for your best. I think he's right." Jiang Yun Zhu immediately affirmed. It was a pity that her family was poor and can't afford a donkey. If not, she wouldn't let her father go to the mine.
"Do you really think transportation is good?" Xu Qing Shan's eyes sparkled.
Jiang Yun Zhu nodded.
"But transportation make less money." Xu Qing Shan anxiously responded.
Less? Jiang Yun Zhu felt that this business had a bright future. There were so many miners in Wuling County. Just choose a more populated road section that require transportation service and what worry was there about not having a source of customers?
With more people, the price can be lowered. Or implement a monthly subscription- one month costs 40 yuan a month to travel on a cart. It was 30 yuan to live on the mountain. Only fools would suffer that bitterness on the mountain!
A donkey cart can hold seven or eight people. With a monthly subscription, it meant three silver coins. If he did two runs a day, he could earn as much as going to the mine.
This was only in the morning and evening. He can also make money at other times.
Once business grows bigger, he can buy more donkey carts and increase more road sections. He can deliver goods part-time, and even... Alright, Jiang Yun Zhu was thinking too far. All in all, she truly felt this was a good business. How about she wait for later when she gets the capital and get Jiang Cheng to partner with Xu Qing Shan in this business.
She told Xu Qing Shan a little bit of what she thought of. Consider this as a way of repaying him and Father Xu on the journey of seeking refugee.
Xu Qing Shan was speechless. Can it be done this way? But she seemed to have a point.
Immediately, he was full of confidence, "Yun Zhu."
He felt that Jiang Yun Zhu was truly good; good-looking as well as smart.
He was about to say something when a man came over from the road side. Tall figure with long eyebrows and starry eyes. Gentle and handsome. The autumn sun lingered on his body, faint like ink smudged as well as a jade’s beauty.
Jiang Yun Zhu proclaimed to had met many outstanding people. Still, she couldn't help but glance at the young man once more. She didn't expect such a person to exist in this mountain village.
Xu Qing Shan also saw the young man and immediately greeted him, "Younger Cousin Brother."
The young man showed a warm smile, like a dew between bamboo and breeze below the pine.
Xu Qing Shan introduced the two of them at once. Jiang Yun Zhu, who fled with him, and Gu Yan Zhou, his younger cousin brother.
"Yan Zhou is different from me. He is a scholar. He passed the examination and became Xiucai the year before last. Once next year’s imperial examination year starts..." Speaking of Gu Yan Zhou, Xu Qing Shan felt proud.
Hearing what he said, Jiang Yun Zhu felt that the name Gu Yan Zhou was a bit familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere.
Some lamb bones were bought. Add secret seasonings, and boil them for three hours. The bones had turned white from cooking, while the soup was mellow and fragrant. At this time, add water to the flour. Once kneaded into a dough, add water and keep kneading continuously to wash out the gluten. The excess water from washing out was poured into the bone soup. Following this, add radish, bean curd, vermicelli, spinach, etc. Finally put the kneaded gluten into the pot. Bring it to a boil on high heat. Small heat to make the soup thicker. A big pot of hot and spicy soup was completed.
That something Vice General Zhao reminded Jiang Yun Zhu that it was late autumn and they were in the mountains. Wasn't it suitable to drink this? It was hot and spicy. When drinking a bowl, all the seven orifices will be fully unblocked and all problems will be gone.
Jiang Yun Zhu scooped out a bowl, added chopped green onion and coriander, and handed it to old Mister Chen first, "Maternal Grandfather, try it."
Jiang Family was already teased by the smell of the sheep's head soup. Hearing this, old Mister Chen fumbled to take the bowl and scooped up the contents of the bowl with a spoon.
It was like soup but not completely. A strong fragrance hit his face.
When it entered the mouth, the taste of pepper exploded in the mouth immediately. Then followed by the umami of mutton soup, the sweetness of radish, the fragrance of bean curd, etc and blended together. Spicy and sour. The silky fragrance moistened the mouth, as if the soul had been awakened.
Old Father Chen took a sip. He couldn't resist and took a second. Then a third sip.
Only when he finished the whole bowl did he put down the bowl in satisfaction. At this time, fine beads of sweat appeared on the tip of his nose.
"How is it?" Jiang Yun Zhu asked eagerly.
"Comfortable." Old Mister Chen can only use this word to describe it. Drinking this soup was so much of a comfort.
This was the effect Jiang Yun Zhu wanted. She immediately asked with a smile, "Then Maternal Grandfather, what are your thoughts on me selling this soup?"
She wanted to sell #Hulatang/ Spicy soup, but Mrs. Chen didn't agree. The family only had that bit of money. If used for business and they lose money, wouldn’t their family drink northwest wind this month?
With no other choice, Jiang Yun Zhu can only seek help from old Mister Chen. His words still carry weight.
Old Father Chen didn't rush to answer. He lowered his head and pondered for a while. He asked, "How much is this pot of soup’s base cost?"
Jiang Yun Zhu had calculated it out a long time ago and immediately replied, "Originally, this soup tastes better when cooked with mutton, but it is cheaper to use mutton bones. These mutton bones only cost nine wens. It can be cheaper if more is bought. The rest is flour. 200g flour is three wens.
With vegetables, this soup is called Bazhen Soup, which means that there are eight kinds of vegetables in it. These dishes can be matched according to the seasons. I used the cheapest and most delicious vegetables that are in season. Adding it up, it’s three wens.
Finally, there are seasonings, firewood, etc., take it as three wens. The total cost of this pot of soup is eighteen wens. "
Old Father Chen was surprised when he heard this. The cost of such a big pot of broth was this low?
"Then how much are you going to sell for a bowl?" He sensed something amissed and asked immediately.
"Two wens per a bowl. There should be twenty bowls of this pot of soup. Which means it can sell for about forty wens."
Old Father Chen was taken aback when he heard this. Such a delicious and rich soup only cost two wens a bowl? Even so, there were nearly double the profits. Good business, this was indeed a good business.
He stroked his crutch twice and suddenly suggested, "This soup should be paired with something."
Jiang Yun Zhu had also thought about this. She wants to make some white flour pancakes and stewed meat. The white cakes can be dipped in soup, or sandwich the meat between them, or eaten alone. The main reason was that it was convenient. It can be made at home and directly sold over there.
The key for selling food at the market at the foot of the mountain was speed.
Old Father Chen noticed this granddaughter wanted to start a business and wasn’t messing around. She had already thought of everything.
"I think it can work!" He solemnly stated.
Mrs. Chen had tasted Jiang Yun Zhu's soup just now. When hearing her clear and logical pitch, her heart began to waver. Now she heard old Mister Chen’s response, she hesitated. How about she let Jiang Yun Zhu try?
"If you want to do it, properly do it. I tasted your soup. It doesn't seem to go well with white flour pancakes. It’s good with meat pancakes, but meat pancakes are too expensive." Old Mister Chen suddenly interjected at this moment.
After Jiang Yun Zhu heard this, she wanted to give him a thumbs up. Sure enough, the old man's eyes were sharp. This hulatang shouldn't be served with white flour pancakes. It should be served with Youmotou. Youmotou was similar to deep-fried dough sticks, only smaller than deep-fried dough sticks, about the length and thickness of fingers.
Freshly fried Youmotou were loose and crispy. Rolled in the hot and spicy soup, the two complement each other. Double the deliciousness!
However, Youmotou was too troublesome. They were small and required kneading and frying. So she gave up.
"How can you be afraid of trouble?" Mrs. Chen quickly said. She wasn't afraid of trouble. She was only afraid that the money invested would be in vain.
"Okay, then make Youmotou. En, meat pancakes can be made too." Jiang Yun Zhu had her own considerations.
This matter seemed to be settled like this.
The pot of soup made today can't be wasted. Mrs. Chen first scooped out a big jar and told Jiang Yun Zhu to send it to the village head and old Father Xu. Then she filled another jar for herself to send to old Mrs. Feng. Old Mrs. Feng was the old woman who rented the house to them. She had delivered pancakes and hot soup to Jiang Family before. Mrs. Chen had always kept it in her heart. She will naturally reciprocate if she had the opportunity.
The rest was left to be drunk in the evening and nourish Jiang Cheng.
The two came out of the house and one went left and one went right.
There wasn’t much to say on Mrs. Chen’s side. When Mrs. Feng saw her bring something, she immediately warmly invited her in. Knowing that it wasn't easy for her and the mantou happened to be steamed at home, she gave her five-six mantou. This made Mrs. Chen embarrassed.
At the village head's house, Xu Qing Shan was standing anxiously in the courtyard. Jiang Cheng had already gone to the mine today. He wanted to go too, but his cousin uncle wouldn't let him go...
At this moment, he raised his eyes and saw a person standing there holding an earthen jar.
"Yun Zhu." Xu Qing Shan hurried forward and took the jar in her hand.
"I made some soup. My mother said to give it to the village head and Uncle Xu to taste." Jiang Yun Zhu smiled and explained the purpose of her visit.
Her voice was clear and her dimple shallowly appeared when she spoke. Xu Qing Shan almost forgot to respond.
"I'll give it to Cousin Aunt." Xu Qing Shan hurriedly carried the jar into the house.
Shortly later, a woman with a kind face came out and enthusiastically chatted with Jiang Yun Zhu.
She was Gu Yong De's wife, Mrs. Lin.
Jiang Yun Zhu dutifully responded before mentioning farewell.
Xu Qing Shan sent her to the door.
Jiang Yun Zhu turned her head. Wasn't he going to give her the empty earthen jar in his hand?
Xu Qing Shan was really reluctant to let go of the earthen jar.
"My cousin uncle said that my family had a donkey. Although transportation doesn't make as much money as the mine, it is easier and has more freedom." Reaching here, he was afraid that Jiang Yun Zhu might misunderstand and hurriedly added, "Actually, I'm not afraid of hard work. I want to go to the mines."
He wanted to make some money quickly and build his own house. And then...he didn't dare to look at Jiang Yun Zhu.
Jiang Yun Zhu was wondering why there was no news after he said that he would go to the mine with her father. So it was like this.
"Village Head is thinking for your best. I think he's right." Jiang Yun Zhu immediately affirmed. It was a pity that her family was poor and can't afford a donkey. If not, she wouldn't let her father go to the mine.
"Do you really think transportation is good?" Xu Qing Shan's eyes sparkled.
Jiang Yun Zhu nodded.
"But transportation make less money." Xu Qing Shan anxiously responded.
Less? Jiang Yun Zhu felt that this business had a bright future. There were so many miners in Wuling County. Just choose a more populated road section that require transportation service and what worry was there about not having a source of customers?
With more people, the price can be lowered. Or implement a monthly subscription- one month costs 40 yuan a month to travel on a cart. It was 30 yuan to live on the mountain. Only fools would suffer that bitterness on the mountain!
A donkey cart can hold seven or eight people. With a monthly subscription, it meant three silver coins. If he did two runs a day, he could earn as much as going to the mine.
This was only in the morning and evening. He can also make money at other times.
Once business grows bigger, he can buy more donkey carts and increase more road sections. He can deliver goods part-time, and even... Alright, Jiang Yun Zhu was thinking too far. All in all, she truly felt this was a good business. How about she wait for later when she gets the capital and get Jiang Cheng to partner with Xu Qing Shan in this business.
She told Xu Qing Shan a little bit of what she thought of. Consider this as a way of repaying him and Father Xu on the journey of seeking refugee.
Xu Qing Shan was speechless. Can it be done this way? But she seemed to have a point.
Immediately, he was full of confidence, "Yun Zhu."
He felt that Jiang Yun Zhu was truly good; good-looking as well as smart.
He was about to say something when a man came over from the road side. Tall figure with long eyebrows and starry eyes. Gentle and handsome. The autumn sun lingered on his body, faint like ink smudged as well as a jade’s beauty.
Jiang Yun Zhu proclaimed to had met many outstanding people. Still, she couldn't help but glance at the young man once more. She didn't expect such a person to exist in this mountain village.
Xu Qing Shan also saw the young man and immediately greeted him, "Younger Cousin Brother."
The young man showed a warm smile, like a dew between bamboo and breeze below the pine.
Xu Qing Shan introduced the two of them at once. Jiang Yun Zhu, who fled with him, and Gu Yan Zhou, his younger cousin brother.
"Yan Zhou is different from me. He is a scholar. He passed the examination and became Xiucai the year before last. Once next year’s imperial examination year starts..." Speaking of Gu Yan Zhou, Xu Qing Shan felt proud.
Hearing what he said, Jiang Yun Zhu felt that the name Gu Yan Zhou was a bit familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere.
No comments:
Post a Comment