Ji's mother was extremely anxious when she came back, "Now that these people are gone, what will happen to the restaurant? If it doesn't open, it will suffer losses every day. Your father is still sick." She said and turned around again, "No. , I have to talk to them one by one."
Ji Huai pulled her back and said, "Mom, don't waste your efforts. Since they have this idea, how can they stay? Unless it's processing money, but if we add more, our family will suffer even more losses."
"Don't worry, I'll think about it later."
Ji's mother looked sad and could not sit still.
Ji's father needs to take medicine every day, and the restaurant is the only source of income. Although it has declined, there is still income. If it stops, they will be desperate.
"Cough cough cough."
Ji's father's voice kept coming from inside the house, calling Ji's mother's name in a hoarse and weak voice.
Without the maid at her disposal, Ji's mother had to prepare meals for the family. She rarely entered the kitchen in the past. During this time, she was tortured so much that her hair became white.
After finally comforting Ji's father, she went out and smelled a fragrance coming from the kitchen. She walked over with doubts in her eyes.
All she saw was her son standing in front of the stove, busy with work. The hay was burning vigorously and the smoke was very choking.
Ji Huai's robe was stained with a lot of cigarette ash, his hair was a little messy, and his movements were unfamiliar and hasty, with a stiffness that made Ji's mother's eyes wet.
Because he had a son at an old age, the two of them doted on him even more. He enjoyed everything he had and turned a blind eye to his bad points. When had he ever suffered like this
She tried to wipe away her tears and stepped forward quickly, "Leave it alone, mother. You can go and wait outside. There is a lot of oil smoke in the kitchen and it will make your eyes burn."
"No, I'll make it soon." Ji Huai said as he opened the lid, and a strong aroma hit him. He stir-fried twice quickly, and the braised pork with sticky gravy was put into a bowl.
Ji's mother looked over, the color was dark, but it didn't seem to be burnt, and it smelled delicious, "This is it?"
Compared with the food, she was more surprised that Ji Huai, who had never been in the kitchen, could cook it. Although it didn't look good, it was not easy.
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed it.
"Mom, you can try the braised pork." Ji Huai put the dish aside and raised his hand and said, "It is written in the book that grandpa collected, cut the pork into small pieces, blanch it, take it out, put it in cold water, add sugar and fry until it turns sugary color. Then add onions and ginger…”
He spoke slowly, explaining the steps one by one. At the end, he was a little excited, "In this way, the braised pork has a full taste, the meat is fat but not greasy, and it melts in your mouth."
Grandpa Ji used to be a chef in a wealthy family in the city, and he was also accepted as an apprentice by a master chef who was also the royal chef of the palace and had excellent cooking skills.
After he came back and opened a restaurant, he also thought about the dishes by himself. In the past, Ji's Restaurant was quite lively and was a famous time-honored brand in the town. But Ji's father was not that good. He had never looked through the recipes in the study, and many of them were lost. Since the death of Grandpa Ji, the restaurant has been in decline and cannot compete with others. The couple are honest and honest people, but the waiter is listless at work and the business is getting worse and worse.
Ji's mother was persuaded by him and picked up a piece of slightly dark meat with her chopsticks. She had already thought about how to appease Ji Huai who was in high spirits.
She must be very salty, should she show it
The moment she entered the mouth, she only felt that the juice was soft and thick, with just the right amount of salty and sweet. The skin was a little elastic, but just right. She suddenly looked up at Ji Huai.
This is definitely more delicious than the one made by Yang Mian in the restaurant, many times better.
Seeing that Ji Huai also had expectations in his eyes, she gave him a strong affirmation.
Then, as if inspired, the other party took away the steamer and took out a few buns, "Mom, try this again."
While Ji's mother was eating, he spoke again, "Mutton and cabbage buns. Add a small amount of salt to the noodles to soften the gluten. Kick it. Dip it in water to make the noodles shine. Knead the noodles to moisten them... Soak the peppercorns in hot water, peppercorns. Remove the mutton, add cooking wine...Add color and seasoning, add onion, ginger and garlic..."
While he was talking, Ji's mother had already taken a bite. It was tender and juicy, and the mutton fat had spread out. It was soft and juicy, and the aroma was rich and not greasy.
"When frying vegetables, the color must be green, and the heat is the key. Take water spinach as an example..."
While he was talking, he fried a cabbage, or cabbage, for Ji's mother on the spot. The color of the stir-fry was naturally green, it looked very light, and it tasted crispy and sweet.
"The business of the restaurant is not good now. If we force workers to be retained, I'm afraid it will be a matter of face. If we don't retain workers, we won't be able to open. So if we want to continue to open, someone in our family must take up the heavy responsibility and learn to cook." Ji Huai said. Then he continued, "In the past, I have seen the recipes that my grandfather kept in the study room, just for fun, but now I want to learn them carefully."
"If you save wages, you can earn money for father's medicine. If mother thinks these buns are good, I will make more tomorrow and sell them in front of the restaurant."
…
In fact, he had read Grandpa Ji's recipes, but he still bought a little Chef Master program with the system and integrated it into one.
His current cooking skills are no worse than those of senior chefs who have been cooking for decades, but his movements are a little rusty, and he will become more proficient with more practice, which will make him appear more real.
How could Ji's mother say no? This steamed bun was the most delicious steamed bun she had ever eaten. It was the braised pork. If the color was changed, it would be great.
She thought it was feasible, but in a blink of an eye she looked at him anxiously, "Do you really want to sell steamed buns? I'm afraid it's inappropriate. If outsiders see it, they will definitely talk about you. How about you think of a way and let someone do it?"
He was also a young master, and he was selling steamed buns in public, which made her feel very distressed. Even a restaurant as big as theirs was reduced to selling steamed buns at the door.
She lost her old face because she was afraid that Ji Huai would find it hard to accept, but she was just trying to be weird.
Ji Huai: "How can others do it? What kind of dignity do I need now? What is more important than my father's medicine money? Opening the restaurant as soon as possible is what I should do."
After hearing what he said, Ji's mother couldn't help crying again.
The family is not impoverished. If it can't be sold, then that's it. You have to make money to pay for Ji's father's medicine. He has this kind of heart, which is the most rare and valuable thing.
That night, Ji's mother told Ji's father, "You have to try it. You can't eat it, but I ate three. Huai'er worked hard and made three flavors. The taste is better than what I bought on the street. It’s a hundred times more delicious.”
Seeing that Ji's father didn't believe it, she lowered her face and said, "Don't think I'm hiding my selfish motives for saying this. Dad is the chef. Although you haven't learned it, Huai'er has talent, which is very common. He said he is interested in this thing. I used to read books and learn to memorize them, but I just didn’t get started.”
If you listen carefully, it seems to make sense.
The old Ji family has been connected with food since birth. Ji's father was a little relieved and secretly happy. If this was true, his son would not starve to death guarding the restaurant in the future.
It's early in the morning and the sky is misty.
As soon as Ji Huai got up, Ji's mother was already dressed and came to help him. She also said with a smile, "Don't dislike mother. Although mother can't do it, she has quick hands and feet and can do a lot of work."
How could she be holding back? She wished she could take his place.
"How dare I say that to you? You are the proprietress of a restaurant." Ji Huai finished speaking with a smile and started to work.
Because it was the first day, I didn’t dare to try too much, so I made fifty meat buns and fifty steamed buns.
In the lively market, shouts and shouts kept coming and going.
A stall was set up in front of Ji's restaurant. The proprietress and her son were standing in front of a bamboo steamer. Look at this posture. Are they selling steamed buns
I have long heard that Ji's Restaurant is about to be out of business, and it seems to be true.
Ji's father is already ill in bed, and both mother and son are making steamed buns and selling them. The food in Ji's restaurant is really not good, but steamed buns are good
Of course not.
"Selling buns."
"Fragrant steamed buns, steamed buns are one cent each, pork buns are two cents each... delicious steamed buns..."
"Candied haws on a stick, would you like some candied haws on a stick?"
…
People were coming and going, and the vendors were shouting. In contrast, no one stopped in front of Ji's Restaurant.
Ji's mother was originally full of confidence, but her eyes showed worry. Why didn't anyone come to buy it? Try it, her steamed buns are delicious.
Opposite Ji's Restaurant, a woman is sitting at the window on the second floor. She is wearing a light green dress, a hosta in her hair, and a jade bracelet on her hand. She is smeared with rouge and gouache. She is dressed like Xiaojiabiyu and looks light. Shaking the fan gently, looking at the mother and son setting up a stall downstairs, annoyance rose in her eyes.
"It's all reduced to selling steamed buns." Yun Shiqiao felt embarrassed and said with a dark face, "Do they think they can sell the steamed buns after making them? If they can sell them, everyone will make steamed buns. Is it possible? Do you want me to marry a bun maker?"
"It's so annoying."
She asked her maid to bribe Yang Mian, because she didn't want Ji's Restaurant to reopen, so she quickly closed it down. Unexpectedly, the other party actually started selling steamed buns.
Hearing this, Qiao Xin next to her also looked over. She was dressed less well than Yun Shiqiao. She was wearing a simple plain dress, no decoration on her head, a melon-shaped face without makeup, a straight nose, white lips and red teeth. , looks delicate and kind.
Her beauty is pure and natural, making people feel very comfortable. It is stunning at first, but becomes more and more attractive the more you look at it. If you dress up a little, you can make people look at her more when walking on the street.
Qiao Xin saw Ji Huai downstairs at a glance. He stood upright, pursed his thin lips slightly and looked at the people passing by. His face was calm. Although he was standing in front of the stall, he seemed to be a unique presence in the busy city, or maybe it was hers. Care gave him a layer of light.
Thinking of the Ji family's plight, her eyes couldn't help but be filled with worry.
"Mom!" Yun Shi happened to see He coming over and stomped her feet coquettishly, "Look at Ji Huai, he has been reduced to selling steamed buns now, and he can't sell them. If I marry him, I won't be able to live either."
"Keep your voice down." Ms. He walked over, glanced out of the window, and scolded, "You have been engaged to Ji Huai. This marriage is a done deal. If others hear you say something like this, your reputation will be even worse." don't want?"
After she finished speaking, she said to Qiao Xin, "Go down and help first."
Qiao Xin knew that he was trying to get rid of her, so she nodded and turned to leave.
"Mother." Yun Shi saw her leaving by chance, and protracted her voice in a disdainful tone, "I won't marry such a person. If you marry her, you might as well let me die."
"Ji Huai has no ability. Why should I marry him? I will definitely starve to death, be ridiculed by others, and have to serve my parents-in-law. I don't want to."
"It's also bad luck." Mr. He also lowered his face, "I thought it was good. Ji Huai's temperament is easy to control. After all, there is such a big restaurant, but it turned out to be an empty shell. It is worse than ordinary people. If I had known that I would not accept the betrothal gift, I would say horoscopes. No. You will definitely suffer if you marry. However, the Ji family is short of money now. Give them some money and let Ji Huai come to cancel the engagement. It won't affect you at all. "
"Isn't that simple? No one will sell these buns at all, and there must be serious losses. I heard that his father can't afford the medicine. In a few days, he will be extremely poor. My daughter will come forward to give him some money. Let him He hurriedly came to break off the engagement." Yun Shiqiao said confidently, with contempt in her eyes, "You don't even know what he is like, do you think that if you just make some buns, people will buy them? I don't think he can sell any of them. It will definitely taste unpalatable.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Ji Huai lifted up the white cloth, picked up a mutton and cabbage bun, broke it in half, and placed it on top.
The fragrance of the meat filling spread, and a strong man in coarse linen clothes stopped and looked at the half of the bun on top of him. He was attracted and asked, "How do you sell this?"
"Mutton and cabbage buns cost two cents each. They have just been made and are still warm." Ji Huai said as he opened the white cloth and found that each bun had a pointed tip and a round belly. They were all the same size. He also took half of the buns and handed them to him. To the strong man, "Try it and buy it if it tastes good."
The strong man was still hesitating, and just when he was about to refuse, he stuffed it into his hand and said, "Try it. On the first day our store opens, we don't charge you any money. If you don't buy it, we don't charge you any money."
The strong man took it and took a bite.
The buns are soft and chewy, and the meat is fresh but not greasy. I am really surprised. A lot of seasonings are added, but the unique fishy aroma of mutton is retained, and the taste is excellent.
People coming and going didn't buy it, and when they saw someone standing in front of Ji's Restaurant, they stopped to watch the joke.
I heard that it was the boy from the Ji family who did it. Isn’t that deceiving people
Who's responsible if it doesn't taste good? Might as well not buy it.
In the midst of everyone's doubts, the strong man stuffed the remaining bit into his mouth and praised it without hesitation, "You made good buns, give me two more."
"Okay." Ji's mother smiled happily and quickly made arrangements.
The people watching were dumbfounded, right
Isn't it a hired help? The food at Ji's Restaurant isn't very special, it's mediocre and even a bit unpalatable. Will the steamed buns they make taste good
Seeing the hesitation of several people, Ji Huai handed another broken bun to a man, "Brother, you can try our new mutton and cabbage buns. You can try them if you don't want to buy them."
The man himself was hesitant to buy it and try it, but half of it was given away and he thanked him profusely.
"Come and try, steamed buns cost one penny, mutton and cabbage buns cost two cents." Ji Huai picked up another one, this time divided into four portions, and handed it to the person next to him, and also gave it to a little boy.
Yun Shi happened to see this and snorted coldly, "It's really stupid. You can't sell it, so you give it to people for free. Ji Huai's brain is really not working well. What are you still doing? I want to see how he does it. Make a fool of yourself.”
"When I get through life, I will go find him. He will definitely agree to break off the engagement."
She fanned herself, raised her chin slightly, and looked down at the mother and son of the Ji family diagonally opposite.
"When the time comes, Mom will find you a more satisfactory husband's family." Ms. He also felt the same way.
The two of them stood in front of the window and looked across, expecting to see no one in front of Ji's stall, but they never expected that more and more people wanted to buy steamed buns.
"I want one."
“This bun is really good, with plenty of fillings and a pure taste.”
"I want two."
…
Some men tried it on the street and bought another one.
There are more and more people watching, and more and more people are buying. Ji's mother is too busy with her work, and the smile on her lips never stops, "Soon, soon, there will be another steamed bun, right?"
"Okay, okay, three cents."
"Here you go."
…
In just half a stick of incense, all the steamed buns were sold out.
Some people wanted to try it and asked unwillingly, "Are all of them gone? I'll only buy one."
"No. Tomorrow, make more tomorrow." Ji's mother apologized, "I'm really sorry."
The little boy who Ji Huai had given half to just now came over and was hugged by his father. He also said to Ji Huai, "Brother, your buns are so delicious. I will come to your house to buy them tomorrow."
"Okay." Ji Huai responded to him with a smile, "I'll wait for you tomorrow."
Children never lie, right
Those who didn't buy the buns just now felt a little regretful. They would have stopped waiting if they had known better. So many people said they were delicious, so they couldn't be lying.
It smelled so good just now, and it only cost two cents.
I didn't expect the Ji family boy to have such skills, but thinking about it, the Ji family has been running a restaurant for decades, so he must have some skills.
Yun Shiqiao, who was upstairs in the inn, was stunned, "How could it be? No one bought it just now, how come it was sold out all of a sudden?"
If everything is sold out, doesn’t the Ji family have income
Then isn't she going to get married