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Before long, the glutinous rice in the pot turned from white to yellow, gradually emitting a rich, woody, and slightly burnt aroma. The fragrance wafted out through the chimney, making the little dog in the neighboring yard bark with envy.

"It's done!"

Qiao Xinxin scooped out the slightly yellowed glutinous rice and poured it into a heavy stone mortar. She gripped the heavy pestle with both hands and pounded it down hard.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

A dull, powerful thud echoed through the kitchen. Although Qiao Xinxin looked delicate, she was anything but careless when it came to work. She didn't grind the rice too finely; instead, she deliberately pounded it into a coarse powder with a grainy texture, so that the steamed meat would be chewy enough and wouldn't be sticky and mushy.

By this time, the pork belly and ribs in the large porcelain basin were almost fully marinated. Each piece of meat was soaked in the sauce, turning a bright, dark reddish-brown.

Qiao Xinxin poured the mashed rice flour into the bowl all at once, stretched out her hands, and vigorously mixed it. In no time, each piece of pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat was firmly coated with a layer of golden rice flour.

At this moment, Bai's mother had already followed Qiao Xinxin's instructions, washed the fresh lotus leaves that she had bought from the supply and marketing cooperative a few days ago, scalded them with hot water, and laid them flat and neatly at the bottom of the exquisite bamboo steamer.

"Mom, help me out, let's put the meat in!"

As Qiao Xinxin spoke, she neatly stacked slices of meat coated in rice flour onto the lotus leaf. At the bottom, she also thoughtfully placed a few pieces of sweet potato cut into chunks.

The eight small steamers were quickly filled to the brim. Qiao Xinxin stacked them one by one, like building blocks, and finally placed them in the large iron pot, covering it with the heavy wooden lid.

"Mom, turn the fire up high! Steam it for forty minutes!"

……

Forty minutes passed incredibly slowly. Mother Bai glanced at the clock on the wall every now and then, muttering, "Can this meat really be steamed with rice flour? Will it even taste good?"

"Mom, don't worry, if it's not tasty, you can deduct my allowance!"

Finally, the time has come.

"It's ready!"

Qiao Xinxin took two clean, damp towels to cushion her hands, took a deep breath, and suddenly lifted the heavy wooden pot lid.

"Sizzle—"

In an instant, scalding white steam billowed out, instantly shrouding the entire kitchen in a misty haze.

Immediately afterwards, an indescribable, unique aroma surged forth like a tidal wave, hitting the very top of my head! It was an incredibly rich meaty fragrance, yet it was also mixed with the unique aroma of lotus leaves and the smoky aroma of roasted glutinous rice. The three flavors blended perfectly together; any more would be greasy, any less would be bland.

"Oh my god!"

Bai's mother, who had been squatting on the ground picking vegetables, dropped the vegetable leaves she was holding upon smelling the aroma. She involuntarily stood up, sniffed deeply, and stared intently at the steaming bamboo steamer.

"This...this flavor is so intense! How can it smell so good?!"

Qiao Xinxin smiled smugly and carefully picked up a piece of pork belly from the top steamer with her chopsticks.

The meat slices were steamed to perfection; the originally greasy fatty parts had become translucent, shiny, and oily; the rice flour coating had absorbed the meat juices, becoming glossy and tender without being mushy.

Qiao Xinxin blew on the hot food and took a small bite.

"Hmm!"

The moment the sliced ​​meat enters your mouth, you barely need to chew; its tender, savory flavor explodes on your tongue. The fatty parts melt in your mouth, while the lean parts are anything but dry, instead absorbing the delicate fragrance of lotus leaves. The sandy, chewy rice noodles are the perfect complement!

"Mom, please try this!" Qiao Xinxin quickly picked up another piece, held it in her hand, and brought it to her mother's lips.

The white mother couldn't wait and took a bite.

She closed her eyes, chewed a few times, and remained silent for a long time, her face full of shock. After swallowing the piece of meat, she didn't say a word, but directly took the chopsticks from Qiao Xinxin's hand and hurriedly picked up a second piece and stuffed it into her mouth.

Only after the second piece of meat was eaten did Mother Bai finally let out a long sigh of relief, slapped her thigh, and nodded repeatedly:

"Delicious! So delicious! I've lived half my life and never eaten meat this good! The tenderness and the aroma are even better than braised pork! Xin Xin, listen to Mom, this dish is sure to be a huge hit, it would be a disservice to our skills if it didn't!"

Qiao Xinxin finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled sweetly, "Then let's add this dish today!"

Without hesitation, Qiao Xinxin immediately grabbed a red chalk and neatly wrote the five characters "Lotus Leaf Steamed Pork" on the small blackboard by the door. She also drew a small and cute outline of a bamboo steamer next to it.

Then, she took out the store's large red megaphone, cleared her throat, and recorded a short video:

"Bai Family Restaurant's newest dish today: Steamed Pork Belly in Lotus Leaf! Made with premium pork belly, wrapped in a secret-recipe rice flour, and steamed fresh in a bamboo steamer, it melts in your mouth with a lingering aftertaste. Welcome to try it!"

Once the loudspeaker was hung at the entrance, its clear sound echoed repeatedly through the street.

On the first day of the new product launch, the steamed pork with rice flour unsurprisingly became a bestseller.

As noon approached, the irresistible aroma of steamed meat wafted along half the street, and with the loudspeaker's enthusiastic advertising, customers who entered the store immediately clamored to try it.

"Boss lady, give me a basket of that steamed pork with rice flour! It smells so good, I'm practically drooling!"

"I want a basket too! For the kids to try!"

On the first day, Qiao Xinxin only prepared eight baskets, which was hardly enough for these hungry wolves to fight over. Before noon, the last basket of steamed pork was taken away by a worker from the factory.

The customers queuing behind immediately became unhappy, surrounding the white-clad woman in front of the counter, shouting anxiously:

"Boss lady, what happened to them all? I took a day off to come all this way just to have a taste of this. Could you please steam a few more baskets?"

"That's right, boss lady, isn't it good to make more money? Hurry up and make some more!"

Surrounded by people, Bai's mother was anxiously wringing her hands, but her face was full of undisguised joy. She could only repeatedly bow and apologize.

"Oh dear, brothers, I'm so sorry! It's only the first day, and we haven't prepared very well. Tomorrow! Tomorrow we'll definitely prepare more. Everyone, please come early tomorrow, please come early tomorrow!"

After a week of continuous business, steamed pork with rice flour became the signature dish of Bai's small restaurant, and almost every table ordered it.

Some loyal customers with a sweet tooth even make a special trip to the store at 11:30 a.m. just to grab the first batch of freshly steamed meat, the hottest one yet.

The shop's revenue skyrocketed. Every night, Mrs. Bai would sit under the kerosene lamp, counting stacks of small bills and coins, beaming with joy and praising Qiao Xinxin as the Bai family's lucky star.