Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Lamb Offal Stew
The lamb stew and meatballs are both pre-prepared, even the vermicelli is pre-soaked in water.
Just need to cut some fresh scallions and cilantro.
Chili oil, pepper powder, soy sauce, and vinegar are all placed on the table for customers to add as they like.
People are starting to arrive gradually.
Not to mention the workers going to work, even those who came for the market smell the aroma, and seeing the steaming dishes, they also want a bowl of hot soup.
In this chilly wind, who wouldn’t want to drink a bowl of hot soup?
So both stalls started getting busy.
Many people who originally planned to buy fried and steamed dumplings to take home couldn’t resist asking when they smelled that fragrance, finding out that the place had new additions—meatball soup and lamb stew soup.
This was known to everyone, yet most couldn’t taste it because unless the lamb stew soup was made authentically, there would be a strong lamb smell which most had only tasted in the provincial city.
In small places, people have heard of the name but most have never seen it.
But meatball soup, that’s something everyone knows because they occasionally make it at home as well.
So quite a few still came specifically for the lamb stew soup.
However, not many were eating it at first, because having never seen it, people felt somewhat uneasy, fearing it’d taste bad and waste their money.
It was an official-looking man with a middle-parted hairstyle who first ordered a bowl.
Gu Xiaoqing quickly invited him to sit, first serving a basket of steamed dumplings.
Then deftly grabbed a ready-mixed portion of lamb stew, added vermicelli, dipped it in hot lamb broth to heat it up, placed the lamb pieces on top, then poured over two ladles of milky white lamb broth, and added scallions and cilantro to taste.
Many people watched Gu Xiaoqing’s skilled movements, growing intrigued, but remained focused on the first person to try it.
Wanting to know how it tasted.
After all, lamb stew soup cost fifty cents a bowl, quite an expensive treat.
They watched as the man confidently scooped some soup, then added a spoonful of chili oil from the bowl, a bit of pepper, and began to eat.
They saw the man devour a bowl of lamb stew soup.
After finishing, the man wiped his mouth, smiled, and handed the money to Gu Xiaoqing.
Many stared for a while, but the man hadn’t said a word, and they were already itching with curiosity, so they quickly asked, "Hey, brother, is this lamb stew soup good?"
That’s what everyone was waiting to hear.
The man, realizing everyone was watching him, smiled slightly awkwardly, and said, "Delicious, the flavor of this lamb stew soup is truly authentic, even better than the Yang’s Lamb Stew in the provincial city, this owner’s skill is excellent."
As soon as he said that, a crowd rushed forward.
"Boss, one bowl of lamb stew soup, one basket of steamed dumplings."
"Boss, two bowls of lamb stew soup, two baskets of fried dumplings."
"Boss, one bowl of meatball soup, one basket of steamed dumplings."
"Boss, ......"
The stall immediately became chaotic, with all the tables and chairs filled with people.
Many still didn’t have a place to sit.
They were eagerly watching those who had already begun eating, taking a slow sip of soup, then instantly wolfing it down, anyone who didn’t know it was good would be a fool.
Not far off, Li Weimin and Li Weiqiang’s business also grew, many who couldn’t wait for the lamb stew came here for the braised noodles.
Thus, both businesses became incredibly busy.
Gu Xiaoqing was so busy her hands were about to fall off.
But her mood was not bad.
As she was bustling, she heard a familiar voice in front of her say, "Hey, isn’t this Xiaoqing, brother, your business is doing well?"
Gu Xiaoqing looked up, seeing it was her third aunt, Xiao Xue.
Beside her were Gu Xiaofeng and Gu Xiaomin, seemingly just out of school, watching Gu Xiaoqing busy at work.
Gu Xiaoqing glanced back at Gu Ruhai and Li Xuemei, Li Xuemei quickly brushed the flour from her hands, greeting, "Third sister-in-law, just got off work?"
Xiao Xue gave a disdainful glance at Li Xuemei and Gu Ruhai, who were covered in flour.
Indeed, the two looked a bit messy.
If someone making dumplings didn’t have any flour on them, who would believe it?
Even though Gu Xiaoqing had prepared in advance for sanitation, both were wearing long aprons and white hats, not looking too bad, Xiao Xue didn’t see it that way.
In her eyes, Gu Ruhai and Li Xuemei looked like typical small-time vendors, full of contempt and disdain, yet keeping a forced smile, making the facial muscles seem almost twisted.
This kind of smile indeed made people uncomfortable.
Xiao Xue nodded, responding perfunctorily, "I’m off today, took Xiaofeng and Xiao Min to visit their grandparents, just returning, happened to pass by."
Li Xuemei was still busy, couldn’t say much, so she said to Gu Xiaoqing, "Bring two baskets of dumplings and three bowls of lamb stew for your aunt and Xiaofeng and Xiaomin to try."
Then said to Xiao Xue, "Sister-in-law, I’m busy here, please eat with the kids as you like, I won’t be able to entertain you."
And hurried off to work.
Gu Xiaoqing felt a bit unhappy, her parents were always so polite to everyone, but she knew it was pointless to complain, this was human interaction, not her temperament.
And she couldn’t act that way.
After all, Gu Ruhai is Gu Ruhe’s older brother, and Gu Ruhe is her uncle, as long as it didn’t cross her bottom line, Gu Xiaoqing was willing to maintain courtesy for her parents’ sake.
Couldn’t just exclude all the relatives, this wasn’t a normal social relationship.
Gu Xiaoqing courteously greeted Xiao Xue, Gu Xiaofeng, and Gu Xiaomin with a smile.
"Auntie, Xiaofeng, Xiaomin, have a seat, I’ll bring it over right away."
Xiao Xue saw the table was full of people, didn’t want to squeeze in, so she declined, saying, "No need, Xiaoqing, we’re just passing by, we’ve had lunch, you go on with your work, Xiaofeng and Xiaomin have to study in the afternoon, we’re leaving now."
Not waiting for Li Xuemei and Gu Ruhai to respond, she dragged the reluctant Gu Xiaofeng and Gu Xiaomin away.
Li Xuemei and Gu Ruhai exchanged wry smiles, the third family always looked down on them, they were used to it, and couldn’t dwell on it with more people coming in.