RBCT Chapter 75 Successive Ascensions
Chapter 75 Successive Ascensions
Another specialty dish on the menu is spicy dumplings.
This is the most unique way of eating mala tang (a type of spicy hot pot) in northern China.
A bowl of mala tang contains rice noodles, bean curd sheets, green vegetables, and about a dozen beef and radish dumplings.
After being soaked in the spicy hot pot broth, the dumplings have an extra spicy and savory flavor when you bite into them.
Then fill the gap created by biting with soup, and the dumpling will instantly become a unique soup dumpling.
This way of eating allows you to enjoy meat dumplings while also satisfying your craving for spicy hot pot; the taste is simply indescribable.
Two days before the opening, the aunties were mainly making dumplings, frying sandwiches, and frying gluten.
The dumplings used in this spicy dumpling dish don't need to be freshly made; this dish doesn't prioritize freshness.
Frozen dumplings can still accomplish the task of this dish without any compromise, but if you make dumplings on the spot, the process is too complicated.
A serving of spicy dumplings costs 3 yuan, which is considered a high price for the villagers.
Although the overall unit price of a mala tang restaurant is very low, the gross profit can reach a staggering 70%.
After all, the main dishes are vegetarian, and as farmers, the last thing they lack is vegetables from their fields.
Homegrown vegetables are both inexpensive and fresh.
Besides, there aren't many frozen meatballs available these days, so how high could the cost be?
Not long after Sister Cuilan sat down, the curtain was lifted again.
An elderly woman dressed simply walked in with a little girl. Looking at the room full of people, she seemed somewhat apprehensive and stood at the doorway, asking softly:
"Is it edible?"
"Yes, please come in!" Auntie immediately and warmly ushered the old lady into the house and began to introduce her:
"Take a look at the menu, what would you like to eat? Spicy hot pot or cold noodles?"
The old lady smiled somewhat awkwardly and said, "I can't read. May I ask how much a bowl of spicy hot pot costs?"
Auntie said, "Two yuan is enough for you and your granddaughter!"
The old lady hesitated when she heard the price, because a bowl of spicy hot pot in town costs 1.5 yuan, and 2 yuan is obviously a bit expensive.
But seeing her granddaughter's expression, she gritted her teeth and ordered one anyway.
Lu Yuan sat at Cuilan's table and didn't say a word the whole time.
Second Aunt was warm and generous, not at all shy, and Lu Yuan smiled and gave her a thumbs up.
Second Aunt went to the kitchen to place an order with Auntie, and at the same time brought out Sister Cuilan's spicy hot pot.
The bright red and oily chili oil floats on top of the vegetables, while the bright green cilantro and scattered white sesame seeds adorn the surface, making it very appealing.
The rich aroma of chili oil blends with the fresh and savory flavor of old hen soup.
Then there's the intense aroma of dried chili peppers, the numbing fragrance of Sichuan peppercorns, and the smoky aroma of sesame seeds and peanuts, layer upon layer, filling your nose.
In just a few seconds, the rich aroma of spicy hot pot filled the front hall.
Sister-in-law Cuilan immediately picked up a wide rice noodle with her chopsticks, blew on it twice, and slurped it into her mouth.
"Wow, it smells amazing!"
The others immediately picked up their chopsticks and started eating, and the spicy and fragrant flavors instantly won them over.
Even though the dishes were piping hot, it couldn't stop them from enjoying their food.
The essence of Mala Tang lies in the word "hot"!
In the kitchen, the seasonings and chili oil at the bottom of the bowl, under the impact of the hot chicken soup, instantly release an aroma that surpasses the chicken soup itself.
For diners, the hottest and freshest hot pot is always the most delicious, with the first bite being so scalding hot that it's almost unbearable.
The elderly woman and her granddaughter at the other table were already overwhelmed by the aroma, and seeing Sister Cuilan and the others eating with such gusto, they could only keep swallowing their saliva.
Fortunately, hot pot cooks very quickly. With a large pot and plenty of water, the ingredients only need to be boiled for 3 minutes after being added to the pot.
Their portion was served quickly as well. The old lady first picked up a small bowl, blew on it vigorously, and then handed it to the little girl.
The little girl clumsily picked up a piece of bean curd skin with her chopsticks and fed it to her mouth, eating while shaking her head.
Saibei Malatang is known for its fragrant yet not spicy flavor, making it suitable for all ages.
The old lady smiled with satisfaction, patted the little girl's head, and then picked up her chopsticks to put a slice of potato on her plate.
The old lady controlled her emotions very well. After taking a bite, her eyebrows shot up in surprise, but she still calmly ate.
However, the old lady's eyes revealed the joy of tasting the delicious food, and she even started to eat in small bites, as if afraid of finishing it all at once.
Just then, a familiar voice came from outside the door:
"What's going on with Boss Lu? Why did he suddenly close down?"
"Yeah, we finally arrived early this time, only to be turned away?"
"This shop is called Sister Lu's; it must be related to Boss Lu. Let's go in and take a look!"
When the curtain was pulled back, it was President Wang with several vice presidents.
"See? I told you this was definitely related to Boss Lu!"
President Wang pointed at Lu Yuan, smiled, and said to the other vice presidents, then asked Lu Yuan:
"Boss Lu, what are you doing? Why are you selling mala tang (spicy hot pot) now?"
"I can't just make money off Mr. Wang; I have to take care of the villagers too!" Lu Yuan joked with Mr. Wang.
"You really know how to do business! You could even rip off a dog running down the highway!" Boss Wang laughed, then turned to the vice president beside him and said:
"What are you standing there for? Go pick out your ingredients! Have you ever tried mala tang before?!"
"We've never had it before..." The vice president scratched his head awkwardly, and the others also shook their heads to indicate that they hadn't eaten it either.
This is quite normal; since its inception, mala tang (a type of spicy hot pot) seems to have been completely alienated from middle-aged and elderly men.
It seems like eating mala tang (a spicy hot pot dish) has become the domain of women and young people.
Mr. Wang shook his head helplessly and criticized his subordinates:
"It's obvious you don't care about your family. Go out for some spicy hot pot with your wife more often!"
Then, Mr. Wang went to the front desk area to select dishes and started taking skewers from a plate.
The vice presidents immediately got up and followed. Even if they didn't know how to eat, they couldn't let the boss serve them; that would be too inappropriate.
"Boss Lu is indeed a discerning person; he even has meat!" Upon seeing the meat skewers, Boss Wang immediately took half of them.
In the hot summer, there are no refrigerated display cases in front, so we can only put in small amounts and replenish frequently to prevent spoilage.
Mr. Wang's eating style was indeed extravagant; he took skewers by the handful, filling a whole plate after just one walk.
"These will do for now!" General Manager Wang handed the plate to the vice president and returned to his seat with his hands behind his back.
"Aunt Guan, bring two plates of cold noodles for Mr. Wang's table, it's on me!"
"Boss Lu is a man of principle!"
After settling in, Lu Yuan followed him into the kitchen. This meal had meat and vegetables, and the portion was generous, so he had to keep an eye on it.
After cooking two servings of spicy hot pot, the old lady's hands were already warmed up, and she wasn't nervous at all.
After receiving a large plate of skewers from Mr. Wang's table, the old lady strictly followed the method Lu Yuan had taught her.
Set the meat skewers aside and prioritize putting the potatoes, lotus root, and other hearty vegetables into the pot.
Taking advantage of this moment, she picked up a suitable deep bowl and began to season it.
After mixing the seasoning powder and chili oil at the bottom of the bowl in the correct proportions, add the vermicelli, green vegetables, and other soft vegetables into the pot.
Once the soft vegetables floated to the surface of the water, the old lady lifted the lid of the chicken soup pot, scooped a large spoonful of chicken soup into the bottom of the bowl, and the rich, spicy aroma was instantly activated.
Immediately afterwards, the old lady used a large strainer to scoop up all the vegetables in a few quick movements, drained the water, and put them into a bowl.
There was also a small pot on the side, which had boiled water at this time.
The old lady placed the meat skewers in a small pot, silently counted to eight, and immediately scooped the meat out and put it into a bowl.
The beef skewers are all made from thinly sliced beef tenderloin, and cooked in the same way as Chaoshan hot pot to preserve the texture of the beef.
At the same time, Lu Yuan insisted that the meat skewers must be cooked in a small pot.
Otherwise, if you cook meat a few times and then cook vegetables, the soup will become cloudy.
(Spicy Dumplings)