Chapter 248 Delicious Food

Chapter 248 Delicious Food

A gentle breeze rose in the mountains at night, dispelling the last trace of dampness. Su Yingxue and Xu Qingqing meticulously recorded the day's food consumption and customer feedback in their ledger.

It was specially marked

"Guests with sensitive stomachs should stew the meat until it is very tender."

"Guests who like spicy food can have a dish of dried chili peppers on hand."

By the time they finished their work, it was late at night. The sea of ​​clouds outside the window glowed with a faint light. The shop was quiet, with only the occasional chirping of insects from the mountains, which made it feel especially peaceful.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Su Yingxue woke up. She followed the morning light to the outside of the shop. The breeze from the previous night had blown away the mountain mist, and the distant peaks revealed clear outlines under the rising sun. The sea of ​​clouds surged like waves, and the golden sunlight shone on them, making them sparkle and appear even more magnificent than usual.

Not long after, Xu Qingqing came out rubbing her eyes, still clutching the menu in her hand. She said excitedly, "Sister Su, I'm thinking of adding two more dishes, like braised pork ribs with potatoes and winter melon meatball soup. The pork ribs are filling, and the meatball soup is light and refreshing, perfect to go with the main dishes."

Su Yingxue took the menu, looked at it, and nodded with a smile: "This is a good idea. For the braised pork ribs with potatoes, you should choose small ribs with cartilage and stew them until they are tender and flavorful. For the winter melon meatball soup, you should use hand-chopped minced meat and add some scallions and ginger to enhance the flavor. It should be refreshing and not too heavy."

As the two were discussing, the delivery truck from the farmers down the mountain arrived. Wu Yong accompanied the farmers as they carried the loads up the mountain, one end of which was filled with fresh greens, winter melon, and potatoes, while the other end carried freshly slaughtered local pork and ribs.

There was also a basket of still-warm farm eggs. The farmer put down his load and said with a smile, "Sister Su, today's vegetables were all picked this morning, they're very fresh. The ribs are freshly slaughtered this morning, look at the quality of the meat."

Su Yingxue stepped forward to look at the vegetables. They were covered in morning dew, and the ribs were bright in color. She smiled and thanked him. The farmer said, "From now on, we will deliver them to you every day before dawn. We guarantee that you will use fresh produce. We are honest people in the mountains and we will never try to fool you with stale produce."

Wu Yong added from the side: "I have discussed it with the farmers. From now on, we can tell them a day in advance what we need, and they can prepare it for us. The price will remain the same as before, without any increase."

With the ingredients ready, the shop gradually became lively. There were many more customers today than yesterday, mostly hiking enthusiasts, and some tourists who came in following the aroma after seeing the menu at the door.

Xu Qingqing was in charge of taking orders and keeping accounts, while Su Yingxue was in charge of cooking. The firewood in the stove was burning brightly, and the potatoes and pork ribs in the iron pot were sizzling. The pork ribs were stir-fried until they released their oil, and then scallions, ginger, garlic and fermented bean paste were added to make them fragrant.

Add potato chunks and stir-fry together, drizzle with light and dark soy sauce, add spring water and simmer. Before long, the rich aroma of meat mixed with the sweetness of potatoes will fill the air.

On the other side, in a clay pot, winter melon meatball soup was bubbling. Hand-chopped minced meat was shaped into round meatballs and sank into the clear soup. The winter melon slices were stewed until translucent, and a handful of chopped green onions were sprinkled on top, giving it a fragrant aroma.

Customers ordered the two new dishes and praised them highly after tasting them. A middle-aged woman drank two bowls of meatball soup and said, "This soup is so delicious, the meatballs are firm and bouncy, the winter melon is sweet and refreshing, and it's not greasy at all. It's perfect for cutting through the greasiness after eating braised pork."

Around noon, the shop was almost full of customers. Several wooden tables were surrounded by hikers, most of whom were carrying heavy backpacks and looked tired from their journey. But as soon as they picked up their bowls and chopsticks and ate the hot food, their faces were full of contentment.

Some people ate while chatting with those around them, talking about the interesting things that happened during the hike, the beautiful scenery in the mountains, and how good the Yunhai Xiaoyao Inn was. Their words were full of approval.

Xu Qingqing was so busy she barely had time to breathe, but she didn't feel tired at all. She always had a smile on her face, and she would occasionally add a bowl of soup for the guests and hand them tissues, being thoughtful and considerate.

As the afternoon wore off and the number of customers dwindled, Su Yingxue took advantage of the free time to teach Xu Qingqing how to make braised pork ribs with potatoes and winter melon meatball soup, including the cooking time and temperature control. Xu Qingqing studied diligently, taking notes incessantly. She even tried making a plate of braised pork ribs with potatoes herself. Although it wasn't as authentic as Su Yingxue's version, it was still quite good, and she controlled the cooking time perfectly.

Watching from the side, Old Wang couldn't help but praise, "Qingqing is making great progress. In a few more days, she'll be able to stand on her own."

Xu Qingqing blushed and said with a smile, "It's all thanks to Sister Su's excellent teaching and Uncle Wang's help in controlling the heat."

As evening approached, a special guest arrived: an elderly man with white hair, carrying a light backpack and leaning on a trekking pole. He looked energetic, but could not hide the fatigue of his journey.

He walked into the shop, looked at the menu at the door, and said gently, "Young lady, give me a bowl of braised pork rice and a bowl of vegetable and tofu soup. Please make the rice a little softer."

Su Yingxue agreed and specially cooked the cured pork rice for the old man for an extra ten minutes. The rice was soft and sticky, and the oily aroma of the cured pork had completely permeated the rice grains. The vegetable and tofu soup was also cooked to be exceptionally sweet.

The old man ate slowly, and after finishing, he took a sip of hot tea before slowly speaking: "When I was young, I often came to these mountains to climb mountains. Back then, there were no shops like this in the mountains. When we got tired from traveling, we could only find a cave to rest in, eat dry food and drink cold water."

To be able to enjoy such a warm, home-cooked meal here again is truly a rare treat.

He looked at the shop's furnishings, simple yet clean and tidy, the flames still flickering in the stove, and the aroma of food filling the air. He couldn't help but sigh, "Your shop is doing a great job. It warms the stomachs of hikers and their hearts. From now on, your Cloud Sea Leisure Shop will be a warm place in the hearts of hikers halfway up the mountain."

Before leaving, the old man specially wrote a piece of calligraphy, with vigorous strokes, which read "Fireworks warm people, clouds and seas understand hearts," and gave it to Su Yingxue.

Su Yingxue carefully put the calligraphy away and hung it on the main wall of the shop. The dim yellow light shone on the calligraphy, making it look especially warm.

Looking at the calligraphy, Xu Qingqing's eyes were full of anticipation: "Sister Su, our shop will definitely get better and better."

Su Yingxue smiled and nodded. She looked at the sea of ​​clouds outside the window. The setting sun was slowly sinking, dyeing the sea of ​​clouds a gentle orange color. The evening breeze carried the fragrance of grass and trees from the mountains into the shop, along with the faint aroma of food.

The firewood in the stove was reignited, preparing hot meals for the upcoming evening shift guests. The braised pork in the iron pot was still bubbling, and the rice with cured pork in the earthenware pot was steaming. Xu Qingqing was carefully chopping vegetables beside her.

They would add firewood from time to time, and the aroma of cooking would fill the shop, making it warm and comforting.

Su Yingxue knew that this small shop above the sea of ​​clouds, with its home-style dishes and its honest and thoughtful service, had become a heartwarming place for mountain climbers to rest and replenish their energy.

In the future, this warmth, like the warmth of everyday life, will accompany the sea of ​​clouds, comforting more travelers and lingering in the mountains for a long time.

However, new challenges followed.

The mountains are blocked by heavy snow.