Rebirth 07: Starting with Saving a Bankrupt Restaurant

"The ones with thicker stems, firmer cotyledons, and some yellow color are soybean sprouts, while the smaller ones next to them are mung bean sprouts. The former are more resistant to overcooking and are suitable for soups; the latter have more water content and are suitable for stir-fries."

Shi Ying listened attentively while trying to feel the process herself.

Although there were more people shopping for groceries this time, it still took several tens of minutes longer than usual.

Zhou Wen planned to use buckwheat noodles for the cold noodles, but it was difficult to buy buckwheat noodles in Fujian Province in 07, so he went to a large local supermarket to buy them.

On the way back, Zhou Wen and Shi Ying each carried two large bags of groceries; they had bought more groceries than usual this time.

Back at the shop, Zhou Wen began preparing stew and braised beef. Shi Ying was able to help with things like washing vegetables and preparing seasonings.

After the soup was cooked, Zhou Wen began to prepare the braised beef.

Zhou Wen cut the beef in half and didn't blanch it immediately. Instead, he took an iron basin, added salt and white vinegar, and soaked it to remove the blood, just like he had done with pork bones before.

Next comes blanching, and Zhou Wen even added some high-proof liquor to remove the fishy smell and enhance the aroma.

After boiling water, add scallions, ginger, dried chili peppers, and other seasonings to the water, and then add the beef.

Finally, add the prepared spice packet, cover, and simmer over low heat.

An hour later, Zhou Wen lifted the lid of the pot, and the aroma of braised beef immediately filled the entire kitchen.

I have to say that the aroma of meat is more captivating.

Knead the buckwheat noodles you bought in water until they are soft, then cook them in a pot until done. Immediately after cooking, soak them in ice water.

Next comes preparing the broth for the cold noodles.

Sugar, white vinegar, sesame oil, light soy sauce, salt, MSG, ginger juice, and ice water.

While preparing the broth, Zhou Wen felt a little fortunate. Luckily, he had later become a food blogger and had personally researched and made most of the dishes. Otherwise, he might not have been able to make these dishes himself.

Sliced ​​beef, shredded cucumber, sliced ​​tomatoes, and half a braised egg—that's how you make a bowl of cold noodles.

"Try it."

When Zhou Wen placed the cold noodles in front of Shi Ying, her eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly. She had never seen such food before.

It took him a while to recover: "Boss, did you research this yourself?"

Zhou Wen smiled and casually made up a story: "I've been to the North before, and this is a local specialty. I thought it tasted good, so I asked the owner for the recipe."

Shi Ying blinked and said, "Then the boss is actually quite nice."

"Northerners are generally quite warm and hospitable."

While it's not entirely fabricated, it's true that I've actually been to the North and eaten cold noodles, and Northerners are indeed warm and hospitable.

"Let's try the beef first."

Shi Ying nodded, then picked up her chopsticks, and for some reason, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upwards.

Zhou Wen didn't say anything; most people do smile when faced with delicious food.

I picked up a slice of beef, took a small bite, and the aroma of braised beef immediately filled my mouth; it was also quite chewy.

Shi Ying's eyes lit up immediately, and she nodded emphatically, saying, "Delicious!"

To Shi Ying's surprise, the soup was cold. She had always eaten hot soup noodles since she was a child, and had never eaten cold noodles before.

An unprecedented sensation overwhelmed Shi Ying's taste buds.

The soup is sour and cool, making it exceptionally appetizing, unlike the sweet and sour flavor of tomato and egg noodles.

I've never eaten buckwheat noodles before. Compared to regular white flour, they're chewier, a little rough when you bite into them, and cool and refreshing. The more you chew, the more you taste the delicate aroma of buckwheat.

Generally, you can add some ice to cold noodles, but Zhou Wen felt that it wasn't good to eat something too cold so early in the morning, so he didn't add any ice.

Because the restaurant's fried rice and fried noodles come in large portions, they have attracted many workers.

It's not the hottest time of the year yet, but most of the work on the construction site is heavy. Often, by the morning, their clothes are already soaked through, and most workers are shirtless with their wet clothes draped over their shoulders.

Before long, several workers arrived in groups.

Shi Ying's service has always been excellent, and it can even be said to be getting better and better, without the slightest slackening.

"Hello, would you like something to eat?"

"The usual, or would you like something different?" one of the workers asked the others.

"I've had too much fried rice and fried noodles, so I'll switch to tomato and egg noodles," said the shirtless coworker.

"Tomato and egg noodles might not be enough to fill you up, have you thought it through?"

"I have two leftover steamed buns from this morning, so I can eat them if I get hungry in the afternoon. Sometimes you need to change things up."

The shirtless coworker smiled after he finished speaking.

"Xiao Gang, what about you?"

The construction worker, nicknamed Xiaogang, was the youngest among them.

After a brief moment of thought, Xiao Gang looked at Shi Ying and asked, "Does the restaurant have any new dishes today?"

Zhou Wen had already done some pre-event hype the night before.

"Yes, we have something new today. Cold noodles, twelve yuan a bowl."

"Twelve yuan?" The other workers shook their heads after hearing the price.

A bowl of fried rice costs only seven yuan, and even a large bowl of tomato and egg noodles costs only eight yuan, which is almost five yuan more.

It's not worth it, it's really not worth it. Five yuan is enough for two or three days' worth of breakfast.

A bowl of cold noodles costing twelve yuan was indeed a bit expensive in 07, but whether it was buckwheat noodles or beef, the ingredients alone were not cheap.

"What kind of noodles are these cold noodles? Can I get refills?" Xiao Gang asked, having never heard of cold noodles before.

"This cold noodle dish doesn't come with refills, but we can add extra noodles for you while we're making it," Shi Ying explained patiently.

"This cold noodle dish is quite appetizing and refreshing. You should give it a try."

"Is this cold noodle just regular noodles, or is there something different about it?"

"The cold noodles are made with buckwheat noodles, which are different from regular noodles. As a whole grain, they are more filling than regular noodles. The side dishes are also quite plentiful, including cucumber, tomato, braised egg, and braised beef."

Xiao Gang originally wanted to give up, since he couldn't add more noodles and would likely go hungry in the afternoon.

But after hearing Shi Ying's introduction, he decided to give it a try.

"Then please get me a bowl of cold noodles."

"Okay. So that's two bowls of fried rice, a large bowl of tomato and egg noodles, and a bowl of cold noodles."

After giving the menu to Zhou Wen in the kitchen, Shi Ying poured hot water for everyone.

"You can leave your helmets on that small table over there, and I'll bring them over for you."

"Thank you for your help, beautiful lady."

"If it gets hot, let me know; there are small fans in the store."

"The service at the store is still very attentive."

The group nodded in agreement.