Qi Zhenzhen and Yingzi tidied up the leftover vegetable leaves. They leaned against the counter, their expressions calm, as if the events that had just transpired had no impact on them.
Tang Duo slowly finished his noodles. "This golden corn noodles are really good, very refreshing. The bean sprouts and tofu shreds inside are also delicious. It's quite nice to not eat spicy food occasionally."
"I'm glad you like it, Uncle," Qi Zhenzhen said, taking out the registration book. Tang Duo took the charcoal pencil and潇洒ly left his name.
"Why haven't I seen your efficient worker today?" Tang Duo asked.
"Brother Linzi went to the mountain east of the county town to gather firewood." Yingzi was quite familiar with Tang Duo since he came every day.
Tang Duo nodded with a smile. "That young man just now had good skills. Such a sturdy rolling pin, he broke it just like that. He's quite strong. Is that girl also from your family?"
"He's my younger brother, working in the capital. Naturally, his skills are good."
"Oh?" Tang Duo was a little curious. "I wouldn't have guessed. So young, yet so hidden. "
Qi Zhenzhen didn't know if Tang Duo's "hidden" referred to working in the capital or his impressive skills. However, she didn't intend to explain further. He was just a customer who came to eat noodles; there was no need to reveal everything.
Qi Zhenzhen smiled. "Uncle, it doesn't look like anyone else will be coming to eat noodles. We're preparing to close."
Tang Duo stood up. "Then I'll see you tomorrow."
After Tang Duo left, Qi Zhenzhen first secured the door with planks and then locked it from the inside.
"Come on, Yingzi, I'll make you something delicious." Qi Zhenzhen pulled Yingzi into the kitchen.
Lin Ruixue sat by the stove, her hands supporting her cheeks, her eyes vacant, lost in thought.
"Aunt, what do you want to eat?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
"Why are you two in the kitchen? Don't you need to attend to the front?" Lin Ruixue snapped back to reality.
"No one is coming to eat, so we're closing." Qi Zhenzhen said, taking a piece of firmer dough from the flour table and some powder from the burnt cattail from the bowl rack. She mixed it with warm water, poked a hole in the dough, poured the cattail water in, and kneaded it repeatedly until the dough with the cattail water gradually turned pale yellow.
She covered it with a cloth and let it rest for about fifteen minutes. Qi Zhenzhen poked the dough; it was just right in softness. She tossed the dough into the air and caught it steadily. With both hands, she stretched and flicked it, repeating the action. Soon, the dough transformed in her hands. Yingzi, watching from the side, was mesmerized. Can making noodles be done like this?
Years ago, to make authentic hand-pulled noodles, Qi Zhenzhen had specifically gone to learn. She could barely pull them into a "second thin" strand, but it was enough to impress here.
Lin Ruixue was also captivated, intently watching Qi Zhenzhen's technique.
Making hand-pulled noodles is not like hand-cut noodles. Anyone who can cook can learn to make the latter. It's known that she practiced for a full month.
The broth was made from the bone broth kept in the kitchen, with thinly sliced braised meat and a spoonful of chili oil, topped with a pinch of chopped garlic sprouts. The noodles were yellow, the soup white, the chili oil red, and with the green garlic sprouts, it looked very appealing.
Only Qi Zhenzhen knew that, apart from the noodles meeting the standard for hand-pulled noodles, the broth and chili oil were not authentic.
However, this was already enough to amaze Lin Ruixue and Yingzi.
Yingzi served a bowl of noodles without chili oil to her grandfather and then called for Aunt Lu to come eat.
"Where's Xiao Niu?" Lin Ruixue realized someone was missing.
"I suspect someone instigated the commotion outside earlier. Xiao Niu went to follow them," Qi Zhenzhen said. "Let's eat first. I'll make him something when he gets back."
The not-so-authentic hand-pulled noodles received rave reviews from everyone.
The noodles were smooth and chewy, with an excellent texture.
"Zhenzhen, I want to learn how to make these noodles," Lin Ruixue said seriously, putting down her bowl. She had been watching intently. The process was repeated with just two movements. It looked simple, but Lin Ruixue knew it was anything but.
Qi Zhenzhen shook her head. "If you're making hand-pulled noodles, you won't have any energy left to make other kinds of noodles."
It looked simple, but it was actually very difficult.
Lin Ruixue was slightly disappointed but didn't insist. If Zhenzhen said it couldn't be done, then there must be a reason.
A knocking sound came from the back door. Qi Zhenzhen hurried to open it; Zhang Xiaoniu had returned.
"You guessed right. Those two were instigated. I followed them all the way, and they went into Fumanlou. I waited outside for a long time, but they didn't come out. Fumanlou isn't like us, with a front and back door; they only have a front entrance," Zhang Xiaoniu said. "But Fumanlou is a large restaurant. Why would they have a problem with our noodle shop?"
Qi Zhenzhen was also puzzled. If the other party was also a noodle shop, it would make sense why they would resort to such underhanded tactics.
Lin Ruixue couldn't figure it out either. Since the noodle shop opened, they had always operated honestly, welcoming customers. They had no dealings with Fumanlou at all, so how could they have offended them?
"Have you all eaten? Where's my food?" Zhang Xiaoniu, looking at the four empty bowls, cried out anxiously.
Qi Zhenzhen gave him a look. "We ate noodles. If I had prepared yours at the same time, would you eat mushy noodles?"
After speaking, she skillfully pulled out enough noodles for three bowls and put them directly into a basin.
Zhang Xiaoniu beamed. "Add more braised meat; I love this meat."
With a basin full, Yingzi and Aunt Lu were stunned. "Xiaoniu, can you finish all that?"
Zhang Xiaoniu patted his chest. "Of course, I have a big appetite."
To the astonishment of the grandparents and grandchild, Zhang Xiaoniu ate it all, not even leaving the soup.
"I wonder if Er Niu has food in prison. Zhenzhen, can we send some food there?" Lin Ruixue asked wistfully.
Qi Zhenzhen shook her head. "They don't even let people see them, so how can they let us send food?"
"We can give some money to the bailiffs to give to Er Niu."
"There's uniform prison food. People who have committed crimes are fed uniformly, to prevent any issues with food sent from outside. After all, not everyone is like us, hoping people eat well and come out smoothly. Some people have truly done evil deeds, or they are taking the blame for others. When they go in, people outside don't want them to get out again. So they bribe the jailers and use the opportunity of sending food to administer poison, so they can never come out again. The laws have strictly prohibited this for the past two years, so no one dares to violate the law and do such a thing," Qi Zhenzhen said slowly.
Lin Ruixue let out a disappointed "Oh."
"Aunt, don't worry too much. Brother Zhang Er won't be too bad off in there. There's nothing we can do right now, so let's just wait patiently. Li Shan's commotion was aimed at getting benefits. He hasn't received his benefits yet, so he won't stop so easily. We just have to wait for him to make trouble, and then we can catch his tail!" Qi Zhenzhen comforted her.