usatvline Chapter 8 New Food and New Guests
Chapter 8 New Food and New Guests
The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, the three of them began their busy work for the day.
The scholar who came to taste the braised food yesterday came early this morning and took away some convenient take-out cakes to eat in the academy.
This morning, Anqiao prepared cold glutinous rice balls and put them in the pot. Compared with glutinous rice balls with fillings, Anqiao prefers white glutinous rice balls without fillings. She kneaded the thumb-sized glutinous rice balls one by one, put them on the chopping board, and then put them in the pot one by one. Then she used rose flower pieces and brown sugar syrup to make rose brown sugar. After the cooked glutinous rice balls cooled, she added a spoonful of syrup. It was placed in a small white porcelain bowl, refreshing and not greasy. The petals floating on it made many diners want to buy some back for their wives to taste.
The rich aroma of the peanut drink paired with the brown sugar pot cake does not contain milk, but it has a strong milk flavor. This peanut drink is probably unique in Kyoto, or even in this dynasty, and it attracts diners' amazement.
This was the eighteenth time that Dali Temple Chancellor Zhao Qinghuai had passed by this small shop and was attracted by the aroma of the shop. Recently, the Dali Temple had not taken on any major cases and everyone got off work on time. Every time he saw so many people queuing up, he always thought that he was an official after all, and it would be inappropriate to squeeze in like this.
Yes, Zhao Qinghuai is a little brother with baggage.
But even their gatekeeper knew that Zhao Qinghuai loved sweets, so today's milk-like aroma was a little unbearable for him.
"Da Su, go buy me some breakfast. I'll wait for you at the corner of the street." As he said that, he snatched the carriage from the servant Da Su and drove the horse towards the corner of the street.
Dasu answered yes and entered the Kyoto restaurant.
"Boss, are you selling milk? Give me some."
"We have never sold milk. What you smelled was probably peanut drink." An Qiao replied.
"Then... just give me one." Da Su looked around. This small shop looked ordinary from the outside. Although it was a bit simple inside, it was clean. The large cork board was really eye-catching. He couldn't help but stare at what was written on it.
"I'm sorry, the peanut drink is best drunk hot, and we can't take out for the time being." An Qiao saw that Dasu was a little distracted, and spoke at the right time.
Da Su frowned slightly. This store was indeed a bit shabby, so he walked out of the store and headed towards the corner of the street.
"Master, the peanut drink is not for takeout. Let's go. It's so shabby." Dasu said as he got on the carriage. Zhao Huaiqing frowned slightly. He wanted to leave, but he left home late today and didn't have time to eat the breakfast made by the cook at home. He was already starving. If he didn't eat now, he would have to go to the Dali Temple's shabby canteen after entering. He earned a few taels of silver every month, but he couldn't even have a satisfying breakfast. How miserable was he?
The more he thought about Zhao Huaiqing, the angrier he got. The angrier he got, the more he wanted to try the food that couldn't be taken out and see how delicious it was.
"Stop the car and go home. I'll walk to the Dali Temple by myself later." Zhao Huaiqing remained calm on the surface and instructed Dasu.
Dasu doesn't understand, but he will do it.
Zhao Huaiqing rolled up his sleeves and walked back. This time he had to have a breakfast that tasted like milk. What did peanut drink taste like?
At this time, Zhao Huaiqing had already secreted a lot of saliva, and his steps became lighter and lighter as he walked. "Boss, give me a bowl of peanut drink."
An Qiao looked at the uniform of the Dali Temple, then lowered her head to look at the empty peanut soup pot, and then remembered the servant who had just come in and left quietly, and she understood that this gentleman would not be able to eat peanut soup this morning because of his face.
"I'm sorry, sir, today's peanut drink is sold out. We also have cold rice dumplings and cold vegetarian noodles, which are both delicious. Why don't you try them?" An Qiao thought that those who were interested in peanut drink would probably like sweets, so she specially showed the syrup in her hand to Zhao Huaiqing.
Zhao Huaiqing was already devastated. He should have gotten out of bed just now. But now, the peanut drink has been circling in his mind over and over again. He is really upset that he can't eat it in this life. He will probably spend the whole day thinking about this peanut drink. But he remained calm, "Cold dumplings, give me more syrup."
Looking at this relatively clean little shop, he suggested that there were too many people in the lobby, so he asked, "Does your shop have any private rooms?"
Actually, there was a private room on the second floor, but An Qiao felt that breakfast and some stewed food were not so particular, so it had never been opened. Now that this young master needed it, she could just take him upstairs. After instructing Jinli, she quickly served Zhao Huaiqing glutinous rice balls and lots of syrup, and asked Jinli to take Zhao Huaiqing up to the second floor.
As soon as the koi left, Zhao Huaiqing looked at the small bowl of dumplings and his appetite grew excited. That was great, that was great. A private space and no one would see his expression. How great.
He quickly picked up a small spoon and scooped up a white and tender dumpling, along with the top half of the soup, and slurped it into his mouth. The syrup was so fragrant, the rich sweetness hit the taste buds, and with the fragrance of the petals, it was not at all greasy. The taste of the glutinous rice was just right for the syrup, and the soup was also fragrant, it was so delicious.
Zhao Huaiqing took spoonful after spoonful, and soon even the soup was finished.
He felt very happy after eating the bowl of glutinous rice balls, but he still felt not full, so he went downstairs and ordered two more brown sugar pot cakes to take away. After paying, he walked back to the Dali Temple with satisfaction.
Before they even reached the inner courtyard of the Dali Temple, a familiar clerk recognized the oil-paper bag in Zhao Huaiqing's hand as one from the Kyoto Restaurant, and asked, "Master Zhao, do you also like the food from the Kyoto Restaurant?"
Zhao Huaiqing should have felt a little embarrassed. He was the Dali Temple Secretary, and he was just passing by. But thinking of the dumplings today, he kept nodding his head. What face is not face, deliciousness is king. He will definitely eat more in the future and ask the shopkeeper to open the restaurant into a restaurant as soon as possible, so that he won't lose face. Thinking of this, Zhao Huaiqing simply said, "Today's cold dumplings are delicious."
The clerk stamped his feet in annoyance. He got up late today and was in a hurry to escort the criminals who were to be executed in the Dali Temple. He had no time to eat breakfast. He was furious that he missed the new food in the store. Even Lord Zhao said it was delicious. How delicious must it be? He was famous for his picky taste for sweets.