102 – Made Vermicelli
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Lei-Qin Zhong opened the gate and deeply bowed with folded hands, “Little Young Master, you are back.”
“En.”
Qin Mian was about to enter the gate when he was stopped.“Please wait.”
Manager Wei1 had just secretly measured up this young man. Hearing Lei-Qin Zhong called him “Little Young Master”, he immediately confirmed his identity. Instantly, he cupped his hands in salute and let out a hearty laugh. For businessmen, perfecting laughter that made people feel comfortable must also be a type of skill.
“You must be one of the owners of Double Xiang House and Eating Savory Restaurant: Boss Qin.”
Qin Mian had to stop and nodded his head.
“I’m Wei Fugui, the second manager of Taibai2 House in Zhaoyang County. I’ve heard a lot about Boss Qin for a long time, like thunder piercing the ears.” Sun Fugui was determined to accomplish his goal for this trip. Taibai House was one of the three famous wine houses in Zhaoyang County. There were three managers in total. The chief manager was now old and had decided to step down in half a month. The new chief manager was to be chosen between him and the third. If he could negotiate the purchase of fruit from Leisurely Farm Residence, he was sure to be the chief manager. Although they were managers, their authorities and salaries were quite different.
“It turns out to be Manager Wei. You have overpraised me.” All businessmen valued harmony. At this moment, Qin Mian couldn’t ignore him.
Manager Wei suddenly realized that Boss Qin was open to persuasion compared to Boss Lei. He said with a smile, “I’ve heard of the beauty of Leisurely Farm Residence for a long time. May I be lucky enough to enter Boss Qin’s farm residence for a look?”Qin Mian shook his head and looked apologetic, “Manager Wei makes it awkward for me. Since A-Tie didn’t invite you in, he has his reasons. Please don’t blame me.”
At this time, Wei Fugui also felt that he had said something inappropriate. Qin Mian and Lei Tie were a married couple. Lei Tie had already refused him. If Qin Mian let him enter, it would inevitably dishonor Lei Tie. Now, he intuitively realized that the two owners of Double Xiang House had a deep companionship, and secretly reminded himself to pay attention to this point when dealing with them.
However, he was not a person who gave up easily. He talked and laughed as usual, “I was very thoughtless. It’s my first time coming to the countryside and experiencing such beautiful rural scenery. I honestly envy Boss Qin and Boss Lei for living in such a peaceful village. I wonder if Boss Qin can take a walk with me, considering I came from afar?”
Qin Mian was not interested to stroll on the embankment of the paddy field with a stranger. He didn’t answer the question, “Could it be that Manager Wei comes for my family’s fruit?” It was not hard to guess. At present, besides the seasoning recipe, the only thing their family could cooperate with others was fruits.
“Precisely. It would be well if—” Manager Wei was a bit annoyed that this Boss Qin was also very difficult to deal with.
Qin Mian smoothly responded, “Manager Wei, to tell you the truth, it’s not only Taibai House in Zhaoyang County who wants to buy our fruits. Two days ago, a guest from Anding County even offered a high price of 50 Wen per Jin of peach, but we did not consent. Firstly, we don’t lack money. Secondly, our fruits are one of the characteristics of Double Xiang House. Thirdly, once we agree to sell fruits to one person, it will surely lead another. Will we sell or not sell it then? Therefore, we’re not going to set a precedent. Manager Wei is also a businessman, so you must be able to understand.”
His smiling face was so welcoming that it would not be good for Manager Wei to pull a long face.
“Next year, part of our fruits will be sold to outsiders. Maybe, there will be an opportunity to cooperate with Manager Wei.” Qin Mian said sincerely, “Manager Wei has come from afar; Qin is unworthy of this. Lei-Qin Zhong.”
“Your servant is here.” Lei-Qin Zhong came forward.
“Go to pick a basket of peaches and give it to Manager Wei. I wish the business of Manager Wei’s Taibai House scales new heights.”
When he did this, Manager Wei could only cup his hands and said, “Then, many thanks to Boss Qin. I hope we have a chance to cooperate in the coming year.”
Qin Mian nodded with a smile. As soon as he entered the gate, he saw Lei Tie standing not far away with his hands behind his back. He immediately smiled at the man. The man came because of worry but didn’t approach because of the trust in his (QM) ability. You have to tightly hold on to such a man.
He quickly walked up to Lei Tie, hooked his shoulders, and went in together.
Their paces were brisk. After closing the gate, Lei-Qin Zhong saw it and also followed after them with a brisk mood.
“Lei-Qin Zhong, don’t be too honest to outsiders. Find a nice small basket and put eight peaches in will be enough. 888; get rich.3 What a good metaphorical meaning.”
“Yes, Little Young Master!” Lei-Qin Zhong left, running.
“How are things with the Zhao Family?” Lei Tie led Qin Mian to the tree shade.
“It went very smoothly. I also bought the pond. It’s convenient to use the water later. Anyway, I have to look at the account book first. In the afternoon, I still have to see if there is anything in the house that needs to be renovated.”
“I don’t have to watch the training in the afternoon. I’ll accompany you.”
“En.”
Upon seeing Lei-Qin Li weeding grass in the orchard, Qin Mian asked him to pick a basket of peaches and send it to Zhao Wenzhong’s home.
Due to the struggle between Du Shi and Wei Shi had reached its peak, Qin Mian had never let people send honey peaches over there, even though Wei Shi was pregnant. It was to avoid Wei Shi from misunderstanding they were trying to rope her in. Before the battle situation of the old house cleared, they better stayed away from that side. Just like the cherries, he would send some over when the honey peaches stopped producing.
Back home, Qin Mian ran to the room on the second floor and opened the drawer of the desk. After he found the account book, he sat at the head of the bed and flipped it.
Lei Tie poured a cup of herbal tea and brought it upstairs. He put the cup on the table and sat beside his wife.
“By the way, we need to add more summer clothes.” While Qin Mian said this, he turned his head and his lips inadvertently rubbed against the man’s cheek. He licked his lips, “Salty.”
Such a move was no doubt an invitation to Lei Tie. He clasped his wife’s nape, sealed his lips, and vigorously stirred in his mouth. His other hand, as facile as traveling along a familiar road in a light carriage, probed into the lapel of his wife’s clothes. He pressed and pinched, sometimes gently and strongly.
Qin Mian’s lips were sealed, so he could only blink to show his helplessness. We’re talking about business; how did he get into the mood? The summer was good; the body felt lightweight. The summer was also bad; the light clothing could be taken off quickly. He had yet raised strength to resist, the man on his body had impolitely started to eat. He could only throw away the account book and hugged the man’s neck.
“Hasn’t it been three times this month?”
His wife still had the leisure mood to count, so Lei Tie thought that he had not done enough. He swept all the obstructing pillows on the floor and his whole person enveloped…
Nearly two hours later, Lei Tie was finally full for the time being. He picked up the exhausted Qin Mian and let him lean on his shoulder as he caressed his back.
Qin Mian panted with mouth open wide. He pushed aside the man’s hair and bit hard at the side of the man’s neck, “Told you to slow down, but you don’t listen!”
Lei Tie gasped in surprise. His body tensed, and he asked in a deep voice, “Want to do it again?”
Qin Mian conscientiously loosened his bite, “I don’t want to eat too light today.”
“White gourd balls, steamed tofu, fried eggs with chives, and fried vegetables.”
“You actually order food, isn’t it still me who cooks?” Qin Mian drowsily rested his head on the man’s shoulder.
Lei Tie was silent for a moment, “I do the dishes?”
“Don’t rob Aunt Fu’s work.”
From the past to the present, neither of them mentioned about inviting people to cook at home. They didn’t want too many outsiders. Every cooking time, one washed and one cooked, which was also a kind of delight.
“Teach me how to cook?”
Qin Mian repeatedly shook his head, “No, no.” This guy honestly had no talent in cooking. He could only cook dishes such as boiled pork slices and boiled tofu. He just added water to boil in the pot, poured some oil in, and then threw all kinds of ingredients into it. After it was thoroughly cooked, he added salt a little bit and then continued to add if it tasted bland. Stir-fry, pan-fry, and deep-fry was totally out of the question. A few days ago, the two men also tumbled about in the daytime. It was unknown whether it was a whim or something, this guy went to stir-fry dishes. As a result, he accidentally invented a new dish: quick-fried “black charcoal”.
“Pff…” Thinking of that day, Qin Mian burst into laughter.
Lei Tie massaged him, being as silent as grave.
When Qin Mian had enough rest, he went downstairs to take a bath and then made lunch.
After lunch, Lei Tie pressed him to take a nap for more than an hour before they went out.
The old house of the Zhao Family did not need much renovation compared with last year. Only a part of the tiles was crooked due to the wind, rain, snow. It could be done with little effort.
As soon as they got home, they started making homemade vermicelli. Qin Mian bought the Zhao Family’s old house as a vermicelli workshop.
The most common vermicelli was sweet potato and potato. Today, they were going to make sweet potato vermicelli. It was not difficult to carry out because there was a guide book in the space.
The first step was to make sweet potato flour. Washed and peeled the sweet potato. After mashing it into a paste, added a proper amount of cold water. Kept grasping and pinching the sweet potato paste by hand until the water turned turbid. Took out the sweet potato paste with a spoon and drained it. What was left in the basin was starch water. Put the sweet potato paste into another basin, added water, and repeated the previous steps until all the starch was washed out, which left the starch slurry water. Let it rest for about half an hour until the water became clear. Then, slowly poured out the water. What remained in the basin was starch slurry. The starch slurry was then placed under the sun to dry. Later, pounded it by hand and made it into sweet potato flour. Next, added some cold water into the sweet potato flour to make it mushy and mixed until it was well-blended into a dough. Used the noodle machine to press the dough into strips and boiled it. While boiling, simultaneously added water and stirred.
Near noon the next day, the first made vermicelli dried under the sun. At noon, it was cooked to see how it turned out.
The most common dishes made with vermicelli were “Ants on the Tree”4 and braised pork with vermicelli and cabbage. Summer was not the season to eat cabbage. Qin Mian asked Lei Tie to pick a cabbage from the space. He also cooked a small serving of hot pot and threw a handful of vermicelli into the hot pot – it must taste good.
The homemade vermicelli was clean and hygienic. It tasted almost the same as those bought in the previous world. The two men loved it and cleanly wiped out the three dishes.
The production method of potato vermicelli and sweet potato vermicelli was practically the same, and the taste was good too.
Note:
Footnotes
- the said 魏掌柜 Manager Wei, but here and below, he’s 孙掌柜 Manager Sun. But since we already have a Manager Sun, I corrected it. FYI, this book has a lot of typos.
- ancient name for Venus
- Original is 八八八[ba]，发发发[fa]. In Cantonese, the number 8 [八] and rich [发] sound alike, therefore “888” is just like “I will get rich”. Source: clspod.com
- a Beijing dish of spicy ground beef sauce poured over deep-fried tofu skin
