Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 93
Tled by Serena Love
Unedited
Chapter 93: Instant Noodles
After Xie Xun recovered from his injury, Jiang Shuyao returned to her previous habit, spending a lot of time thinking about food all day. A while ago, Xie Xun went out of Beijing on an official matter, but Jiang Shuyao did not have time to prepare, so she could only pack him sauces and bacon. Now that she had learned from the past, she began to think about making some portable and easy-to-make food.
Xie Xun often shared interesting things on the road with her during his recovery period, and Jiang Shuyao understood ancient people's habits better.
Most people don't bring some pots and pans with rice, meat, or vegetables as they travel. They only eat dry food. Xie Xun and the team didn't like to eat too much dry food, so they would soak their dry food with hot water to make it soft and eat it with over-rice sauce.
The more he talked, the clearer the thoughts in Jiang Shuyao's mind.
With only hot water, how can one make a delicious and easy-to-carry meal?
She has been busy in the kitchen these few days. After Xie Xun's injury recovered slightly, he followed her to the kitchen and stood aside, watching the excitement.
When Xie Xun stepped into the small kitchen, he saw a window panel was removed. A high wooden frame was placed in its place in front of the window with a lot of noodles hanging on it.
Jiang Shuyao unloaded the windows and installed the meshes. Now the noodles have almost dried out, and they are just in time for the next step.
"Why are you drying noodles?" he wondered.
While removing the noodles, Jiang Shuyao explained, "This is the dried noodles. This kind of noodle is easier to store after drying. Next time you want to eat noodles, you don't need to knead the dough. Just take a handful of instant noodles and cook it in the pot."
Xie Xun nodded and sighed, "So it can be like this." After finishing speaking, he paused and suddenly thought of something, "If it is like this, then I can bring some dried noodles and cook them next time I have to rush out, so I don't need to eat dry food?"
Jiang Shuyao smiled and said, "What's so delicious about plain noodles?"
"There is also over-rice sauce. I can cook the noodles and mixed them with sauce, just right." He thought about food quickly, but he was a little hungry when he said that.
Jiang Shuyao thought for a while, "This is also OK."
There are many kinds of dried noodles, such as red oil noodles, dried egg noodles, and wide noodles. In addition to noodles, there is also instant vermicelli, which can be eaten by boiling or soaking them in hot water.
But when it comes to food for convenience, they are nothing better than the most popular instant food—instant noodles.
Instant noodles are different from the foods mentioned above. The noodles are deep-fried, so they are tougher and more fragrant after being soaked. If there is no hot water, they can be eaten dry. The taste is not inferior to snacks, and they could be stored for a longer time.
The dried noodles she made are conventional and slender. She took them off and cooked them in a pot. Then removed it from the heat and drained them. When the noodles are drained, she poured a lot of oil into a wok and added the noodles.
The oily fragrance overflowed with a loud bang.
Because Xie Xun had been lying down every day, Jiang Shuyao was afraid that he would get indigestion, so she never let him eat heavy meals. So now Xie Xun kept swallowing as soon as he smelled the oily fragrance.
After the splashing oil bubble subsided, Jiang Shuyao used long chopsticks to remove the noodles. The noodles were eggs noodles. After frying, there is a strong, mellow aroma. The heat is controlled just right. The noodles come out with golden colors and distinct roots, which are crisp and delicious.
Xie Xie had eaten twisted rope, so he thought that Jiang Shuyao was making it this time. Although he didn't understand why she made the end separated instead of twisted, he still cheered up and said, "Good smelling twisted rope." After that, he sneaked around next to Jiang Shuyao, about to reach out and steal one to eat.
Jiang Shuyao turned around, and he immediately withdrew his hands, feeling guilty.
"It's not a twisted rope. It's noodles."
[T/N: Sanzi or twisted rope is a popular snack in Northern China. It is deep-fried noodles in a twisted shape. The snack is made by pulling wheat flour dough into thin ropes, which are deep-fried. Bunches of the ropes are then shaped into rings and twisted. See picture below.]
"Noodles?" Xie Xun was even more puzzled. "Why do you deep-fry noodles? How can you eat these crispy noodles?"
"Of course, the noodles should be boiled or soaked with hot water." Jiang Shuyao began to prepare the instant noodle seasoning. Since there is no time to dry some vegetables, the soup base's flavor cannot rely on dried vegetables. It has to be provided by the seasoning.
She turned her back, and Xie Xun began to move around again.
When he was preparing to move, Jiang Shuyao turned around again, took a bottle of sauce, and saw Xie Xun standing aside. She said, "It is not very convenient for cooking when you are standing here."
Xie Xun could only take a step back, looking at the golden and crisp noodles and feeling greedy.
It's so fragrant. The twisted rope sold outside is not that fragrant. Is it because there are eggs in it?
"I want to eat noodles with fried egg tonight." He requested.
Jiang Shuyao naturally nodded.
Just as Xie Xun was thinking about how to eat some instant noodles sneakily, a small carrot head ran in outside the door, bouncingly shouting, "Third uncle! Third uncle!"
Because Xie Xun was injured, Xu-shi did not allow the twins to disturb him, so the twins hadn't been to the third branch for a long time.
Now they could come to the third branch again, not only Xie Zhao was excited, but Xie Yao also trotted behind. It's a pity that Xie Xun was injured. They couldn't pounce on him but stopped in front of him.
As soon as Xie Xun stuffed some instant noodles into his mouth, Xie Zhao rushed in like a calf and caught him.
Xie Zhao's grape-like eyes rolled around a few times, looked at Xie Xun, and smiled, "Third Uncle~"
Xie Xun was extremely embarrassed in his heart but pretended to be calm on the surface. He beckoned, and Xie Zhao and Xie Yao walked over to him.
Jiang Shuyao was busy and unable to see their little movements.
Xie Xun whispered, "Your third aunts won't let me eat heavy or oily food."
Xie Zhao nodded, expressing understanding.
Xie Yao looked at him quietly, as if saying, "Is this the reason you stole food?"
Xie Xun was even more embarrassed. His eldest brother and his second brother said that he had the same temperament as Xie Yao when he was a child. No wonder he had been treated as a young adult since he could remember. Facing a child like this really makes adults helpless.
He was seen stealing food just now. Xie Zhao did a good job and also grabbed some instant noodles on tiptoes.
He was much bolder than Xie Xun, chewing loudly, one by one, without stopping.
Xie Yao looked at Xie Zhao, then Xie Xun, and followed him to grab a piece of instant noodles to eat.
Xie Xun was caught off guard and also ate with them.
The instant noodles pile went down in almost no time. At this time, Jiang Shuyao turned around and saw the two children who were stealing food. The older one just closed his hand and was not caught red-handed.
"Xie Boyuan!" Jiang Shuyao said with a frown, "Kids are ignorant, but are you ignorant?"
She walked over and asked the twins, "Have you washed your hands? How come you can eat without asking? What if you are not allowed to eat?"
Xie Zhao looked up at Xie Xun as if he meant to sell him out.
Xie Xun quickly said, "They asked me."
Hearing the words, Jiang Shuyao stared at Xie Xun, which made Xie Xun feel a little guilty for a while. Just as he was about to admit his mistake, he heard Jiang Shuyao muttering, "You are like this. How can you teach your children in the future."
These words hit Xie Xun, and he blushed immediately. He said, "It's my fault. I must correct it and be a good father."
When Jiang Shuyao took away the remaining instant noodles and returned to the kitchen to cook the noodles, Xie Xun was still frowning in a serious self-reflection.
Xie Zhao took out the instant noodles he had just concealed from his sleeves, chewed it with a crunch. He raised his neck and said to Xie Xun, "Third Uncle, is Third Aunt pregnant?"
Xie Xun was awakened all at once. Yes, the bun is not in the oven yet. What is he reflecting on?
In the kitchen, Jiang Shuyao started to make instant noodles. In order to test whether the thickness of the noodles is appropriate, she boiled and soaked the noodles and put them in separate bowls to test them.
The sauce package is rich in sauce and full of meat; the powder package is ground with seaweed, shiitake mushrooms, etc., mixed with spices to increase the flavor. The finished product has a taste similar to modern instant noodles. Even because of the sufficient ingredients, it has more smell of meat and fat.
The soup is clearer than the broth, but the umami taste is not bad because of the powder package. The instant noodles are also used eggs, so the mellow aroma is also compensated. Looking at the simple single bowl of noodles, it is actually quite ingenious.
After Jiang Shuyao tasted each bowl, she felt that it tasted good, so she sprinkled green onion, blanched some greens and put it in the bowl, and finally fried an egg as requested by Xie Xun.
Because the two little guys were there, Jiang Shuyao also gave them two small bowls to taste.
The three of them stood in a row and couldn't wait to taste them.
The chopsticks jumped, they sucked the noodles into their mouth, the movements were neat and uniform.
The fried egg noodles are golden in color, and the noodles are stronger than regular ramen noodles. After frying, the egg's fragrance is locked by the high temperature, and it tastes more delicious and mellow. It is said to be instant noodles, but it is more like ramen noodles with soft elasticity. Even the instant noodles that were just soaked with hot water will not lose the unique smoothness.
The smooth noodles are wrapped in a clear soy-scented soup base. The heat is just right so that the aroma of the sauce is incorporated into the noodle, but the noodle will not absorb too much soup and become soft, waxy, and losing texture. It has an equal side of tenacity and tenderness. When chewing the noodles, the rich egg aroma and light oily aroma linger on the tip of the tongue. Compared with ordinary noodles, it has a unique flavor.
After eating the soft and strong noodles, they looked up and drank the soup in the bowl.
The clear noodle soup has a soy sauce and braised meat fragrance. The minced meat is mixed with the soup and tasted delicate. There is also the egg noodle fragrance of the noodles scattered in the soup. This kind of deliciousness, not to mention hungry pedestrians on the road, even those who stay at home cannot refuse this bowl of noodles. It is quick and convenient to make. It is delicious, warm, and mellow, leaving a lingering fragrance on the lips and cheeks. It made people just feel completely happy.
So after eating the noodles, the three of them stood still and waited eagerly for Jiang Shuyao to fry the noodles again.
It's a pity that when Jiang Shuyao was about to continue, the old madam sent someone to pass a message. The eldest and the second young master of the first branch came back from the academy. The old madam would like the third branch to come over to have a family dinner at night.
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Let alone the two small ones. Even Xie Xun was a little disappointed.
When Xie Ye and Xie Hao arrived, Xie Zhao and Xie Yao squeezed out a smile to welcome their eldest and second brother, who had returned from the academy.
The brothers were usually extremely warm when they were together. Now, the four sons of the first branch greeted each other politely and sat down at the table.
Both sides glanced at each other and were puzzled that the other side was unhappy.
For Xie Ye and Xie Hao, after returning from the academy, they were finally free. But today, they couldn't go to the street food market to eat and drink, and instead, they had to have a family dinner first, which was really annoying. Thinking of the scene when they said goodbye to their classmates, Xie Ye and Xie Hao were very unhappy. Their classmates think the Lin market's food is already delicious, so Xie Ye and Xie Hao will definitely eat more delicious food when they return to Xie's Mansion. Xie Ye and Xie Hao feel very helpless facing the envy of their classmates.
Not only can they not eat more delicious food than the street food market, but they also have to eat some light and unflavored meals with the old madam.
For example, the simmered turtle in the soup in front of them was exquisitely cooked and fresh when drank, but it lacked flavor. They wanted to eat spicy fried skewers and hot and spicy dishes, or Mala Tang, compared to these expensive dishes.
In Xie Zhao and Xie Yao's mind, they were finally allowed to go to the third branch by their mother, and they could have dinner there tonight, but it was a pity that they had to eat this soup because their eldest brother and second brother returned home.
The juniors are not happy, but the elders are happy.
Even Duke Xie, who didn't show up so much, came over to look at Xie Ye and Xie Hao. He sounds quite relieved, "In the blink of an eye, you two are at the age of imperial examination."
Jiang Shuyao listened to the side and felt a little surprised. After thinking carefully, it is indeed autumn, which is the time of imperial examination.
The old madam also echoed a few words with a smile and asked if they were ready and whether everything was arranged properly.
Xie Ye and Xie Hao answered each question one by one.
The old madam beckoned, and a maid walked over to Xie Ye and Xie Hao to offer a wooden box.
"Grandma?" The two were puzzled.
"Open it and take a look." The old madam smiled kindly.
The two opened the wooden box and saw that ginseng with good roots was lying inside.
The rules of the imperial test were strict. They had to be confined to a small room and bring everything for food and lodging inside. Only simple food was allowed, nothing more than dried buns, steamed buns, or pickles. They had to be enough for three full days. People usually didn't dare to drink more hot water to avoid running back and forth to the toilet.
Xie Xun suffered during the imperial examination. He cannot eat or drink on the last day and barely supported himself until the last breath. Finally, he handed in his papers early because he was really hungry and uncomfortable, but he didn't want to eat the dried-up steamed buns.
Therefore, a piece of ginseng is extremely important to candidates. Even if they can't keep up with the condition of food and lodging, they might have the energy to keep answering questions with a bite.
"Thank you, grandmother." The two stood up and saluted her.
Xie Xun suddenly remembered something and interrupted, "By the way, you don't need to bring pickles, just bring some meat sauce made by your third aunt." He and his colleagues in the East Palace had understood the deliciousness of steamed buns.
Although they didn't understand what meat sauce is, the two words "Third aunts" are the warranty signs. Xie Ye and Xie Hao quickly thanked him.
At this time, Jiang Shuyao said, "Why don't you bring instant noodles. I will pack them in bamboo tubes. You could soak it with hot water on the spot and throw away the tubes. It's more delicious than eating steamed buns."
Xie Xun suddenly nodded in agreement. Xie Zhao followed the discussion. Xu-shi quickly asked her sons to thank her, Xie Li asked what instant noodles were, and Zhou-shi asked about the flavor...
The group of people is happy and lively. For more than 30 years, the old madam has never seen a family banquet so relaxed and noisy.
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After the old madam's face was beaten last time, she had been stunned for many days, but she also figured it out. She chanted sutras, worshiped the Buddha every day, and stayed quietly in Shouning Hall without asking about the third branch.
Looking at it now, as if it was just a blink of an eye, Jiang Shuyao, who was once hated by others, turned out to be the most favored person in Duke Xie's mansion. She couldn't understand, so she does not want to understand too much.
Even the reticent Duke Xie was amused by their noisy atmosphere and asked Xie Li next to him, "Look at you like this, you seem to have eaten food made by third daughter-in-law?"
The old madam waited for them to calm down, but before long, the atmosphere became more and more relaxed.
Even her scary and serious eldest son asked, "Third sister-in-law, can the spicy strips be sold in the Lin family's market? My colleagues have been pestering me all day after trying it once."
"We should be able to, but you have to ask second sister-in-law about this. Those spicy strips are from her hands."
"Since the spicy strips would be on sale, how about cakes?"
What is this? The old madam had a headache and couldn't bear to shout, "Quiet! Remember the rules!"
Everyone turned their heads to look at her in unison, making her feel out of place.
She swallowed her breath, her gaze gliding across the faces on the table of people.
Changed, everything has changed.
She is now sure that people who once disliked Jiang Shuyao have turned their backs. Not only have they turned their backs, but they are also holding her like the moon. They love Jiang Shuyao, who was once incompetent.
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