Born in the 1980s, she was remarried and became a stepmother; a cold, rough man doted on her, pinchi

Juxiangge has been around for half a year. During this time, it has firmly established itself in the hearts of diners with its home-style delicacies and warm service.

Every morning, before the sun has completely dispelled the mist, Jiang Man and Wang Xiu are busy in the kitchen, meticulously preparing for the day's business.

The stove fire roared, and billowing steam rose from the steamer—the smoke and fire of daily life, and a symbol of the vibrant vitality of Juxiang Pavilion.

As the weather gradually turns colder, the chill of winter quietly permeates the air. Amidst their busy schedules, Jiang Man and Wang Xiu begin to ponder adding some new dishes to the restaurant to soothe the palates of their customers during the winter months.

One evening, after the restaurant closed, the two sat around the table and discussed the new products.

“Wang Xiu, you know, in the South, everyone craves something warm and soft in winter. I suddenly remembered sticky rice cakes from my hometown in Northeast China. They’re quite rare in the South, and most people haven’t even tried the authentic ones. Why don’t we add them to the menu?”

Jiang Man asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Wang Xiu nodded slightly, lost in thought: "Sure, these sticky rice cakes are a 'treasure' of our Northeast winters. They're sweet, soft, and warming. I just don't know if people here will accept them."

"It's okay, let's try making it first and then promote it gradually. I believe that as long as it tastes good, it will definitely be popular," Jiang Man said confidently.

Without further ado, the next day, Jiang Man and Wang Xiu began preparing the ingredients for making sticky rice cakes.

They searched far and wide for high-quality millet, finally finding a satisfactory source at a long-established grain store. They also carefully selected red beans, preparing to cook the filling themselves.

Back at the restaurant, Wang Xiu washed the red beans, put them in a large pot, added an appropriate amount of water, and simmered them over low heat. As time went by, the beans tumbled in the pot, gradually becoming soft and tender, and a rich aroma of beans filled the entire kitchen.

Meanwhile, Jiang Man poured the millet powder into a basin, slowly added warm water, and gently stirred it with his hands to knead it into a smooth dough.

The two worked together seamlessly, one focusing on cooking the filling and the other carefully making the dough, as if they had returned to the warm times when they were back in their hometown, preparing winter delicacies for their families.

After several hours of hard work, the filling and dough for the sticky rice dumplings were finally ready. Wang Xiu scooped out the cooked red beans, put them in a stone mortar, and pounded them into a smooth paste. Then she added an appropriate amount of white sugar and stirred it well. Jiang Man divided the dough into small portions and rolled them into round wrappers.

She picked up a piece of dough, placed it in her palm, scooped a spoonful of red bean paste into the center, and then wrapped it up like a bun, before shaping it into a round shape. Soon, the cutting board was covered with tiny, exquisite sticky rice dumplings.

Looking at the sticky rice cakes that were about to be cooked, Jiang Man and Wang Xiu were filled with anticipation. They carefully placed the sticky rice cakes into the steamer, covered it, and turned on high heat to steam them.

As the steam rose, the kitchen filled with an increasingly rich and sweet aroma. Twenty minutes later, the sticky rice cakes were finally ready.

The moment the steamer lid was lifted, a wave of heat rushed out, revealing golden, plump, and round sticky rice cakes.

Jiang Man couldn't wait to pick one up and take a small bite. The soft, chewy dough spread in her mouth, and the sweet red bean paste filling instantly filled her entire oral cavity.

"Wang Xiu, try it! This is exactly the taste!"

"Jiang Man said excitedly. Wang Xiu also picked one up, tasted it carefully, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face: "Mmm, it's so delicious, it tastes exactly the same as the ones from our hometown."

To help customers better understand and accept sticky rice cakes, Jiang Man and Wang Xiu decided to set up a tasting stall at the entrance of their restaurant. They cut the steaming hot sticky rice cakes into small pieces, placed them on plates, and invited passersby to try them.

"Try it! This is our newly launched Northeastern sticky rice cake. It's soft, chewy, sweet, and especially delicious," Jiang Man enthusiastically invited. At first, most passersby cast curious glances and hesitantly accepted the sticky rice cakes to try. But after taking their first bite, their faces lit up with delight.

"Wow, this tastes so unique! I've never eaten anything so delicious before."

"Yes, it's sweet, sticky, and warm, perfect for winter."

The customers' praises were endless, and the number of people at the tasting booth kept increasing.

After finishing his sticky rice cake, an elderly man with gray hair gave a thumbs-up and said, "Young lady, your sticky rice cake is so authentic. I visited Northeast China when I was young and loved this kind of food. I never thought I could find such an authentic taste here."

Encouraged by the customers' recognition and love, Jiang Man and Wang Xiu officially added sticky rice cakes to Juxiangge's menu and posted eye-catching posters in the store to promote it.

As the news spread, more and more customers came to try this unique Northeastern cuisine.

Inside Juxiang Pavilion, customers sat together, enjoying steaming hot sticky rice cakes while sharing anecdotes from their lives. "These sticky rice cakes are truly a warm and comforting dish in winter. Every time I eat them, I feel warm inside."

A young mother said with a smile. Her child nodded in agreement, "Mom, I want more! This sticky rice cake is so delicious!"

On a cold winter day, Juxiang Pavilion became even more lively with the introduction of sticky rice cakes.

Jiang Man and Wang Xiu bustled between the kitchen and the restaurant. Although they were tired, they felt a great sense of accomplishment seeing the satisfied smiles on the customers' faces.

Over time, sticky rice cakes not only gained a good reputation in the town, but also attracted customers from surrounding cities to come and taste them.

Some customers even buy sticky rice cakes as a local specialty and take them home to give to relatives and friends.

The Juxiang Pavilion was filled with a warm and inviting atmosphere in the afternoon. Jiang Man and Wang Xiu were in the kitchen preparing ingredients and planning tomorrow's menu.

At that moment, the shop door was gently pushed open, and a middle-aged man in a sharp suit walked into the shop with steady steps.

His gaze swept over the tidy restaurant, and he walked straight to the counter, politely asking, "Excuse me, which one of you is Mr. Jiang?"

Hearing the voice, Jiang Man came out of the kitchen and replied with a smile, "Yes, it is. May I ask what brings you here?"

The man handed over his business card and introduced himself: "Hello, Mr. Jiang, I am Chen Hong, the logistics manager of a large local company."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Hong explained his purpose: "Our company is holding a large annual meeting the day after tomorrow, with many employees and partners to be invited. I've heard that your sticky rice cakes are very popular, and I'd like to order 1000 as a special snack for the annual meeting. I wonder if you can arrange that?"

Jiang Man pondered for a moment, considering the store's recent food reserves and manpower situation, and hesitated.

Seeing Chen Hong's sincere eyes, and considering this was a rare opportunity, he agreed: "Mr. Chen, 1000 sticky rice cakes is quite a lot, but we will definitely do our best. However, to ensure quality, there are some details we need to confirm with you." (End of Chapter)