Siheyuan: A Cook in the 60s

There is a new stall in the town’s market.

No one was surprised.

There are a lot of people here, and quite a few come here to eat.

Lao Li, who used to sell fried meat in this market, found that there were people coming to the stall next to him today.

The boss looked young, about 30 years old, and had a very calm temperament. There were three women beside him. They looked like a couple, but it was unclear who was the couple. With the attitude that they would be neighbors in the future, he went over to say hello.

"Hey, comrade, are you new here? I used to sell fried meat next door. I came to see if you need any help. We are neighbors from now on, so we should get closer." Old Li greeted Cao Wei with a smile.

"Neighbor, hello, hello, what's your name?"

"My last name is Li, you can just call me Lao Li. Hey, it looks like you want to open a stall?"

"You are an expert. I am planning to make knife-cut noodles."

"Then you'll have to try it then."

The two exchanged a few pleasantries and then Lao Li returned to his stall.

My wife came over and asked, "What's going on? What do you do?"

"From the looks of it, he's an expert at making knife-cut noodles."

"Wow, knife-cut noodles, that's a good thing. But can it taste good when you're so young?"

"Who knows? We'll know when we try it out."

"Why did they leave?"

"I don't know, haven't you bought everything yet?"

Cao Wei learned from his last experience and decided not to open the shop all the time. He decided to open it for dinner, which was the most suitable. He observed that in this place, as long as people got off work at night, some would go home to eat, and some would simply look for food in the market. Therefore, there was a lot of traffic here. Dinner was also busy enough.

As for the daytime, he would naturally take his wives out to have fun.

Get up early in the morning and go to the market to pick out some ingredients for making soup.

There are two major requirements for knife-cut noodles. The first is the noodles, which should be thick in the middle and thin at the edges, shaped like a willow leaf. The second is the toppings, which is the marinade. There are many kinds of marinade. Cao Wei did not plan to make so many, so he only made one, meat marinade.

As for the rest, they are all small matters. As long as these two details are taken care of, the knife-cut noodles will be fine.

The light of the setting sun fell, and the street lamps were lit up. The light was not bright, and it was a bit useless, but it could bring a glimmer of light. The market was still bustling, with curling smoke floating in the air. People were holding their own things in their hands, looking left and right, thinking about what to eat.

For experienced foodies, they know very well which food is delicious and which food is average in this market.

Mr. Li’s deep-fried pork is a specialty of this market.

Many people like to gather here, but the meat is very filling. Other stalls are reluctant to open next to Lao Li because they may lose business.

At this stage, there are not so many tricks. Just go to whichever restaurant serves delicious food.

Today, there is a new stall next to Lao Li, which is quite novel.

The key is that this boss is even more novel.

The vendors have to shout no matter what, but they just sit there and chat with their wives. There are three other women who don't look like they are here to set up stalls, but rather to have fun.

"Boss, have a bowl of noodles!"

When there are a lot of people, there will always be people who want to give it a try.

"Okay." Cao Wei responded and started to cut the noodles.

Of all the noodles, knife-cut noodles have the most stringent requirements for dough kneading. The kneading and kneading skills must be in place to make good noodles. To cut the noodles, they don't use a kitchen knife, but a special curved knife. It's really hard to find in other places, but you can find one in Shanxi.

This sliced ​​noodle is also quite attractive.

Hold the kneaded dough with your left hand and hold the knife with your right hand. Your wrist must be flexible and the force should be even and uniform. Facing the soup pot, cut it with a knife, one by one, and the dough leaves are cut one by one, just like a meteor chasing the moon, drawing an arc-shaped white line in the air. The dough leaves fall into the soup pot, the soup boils and the noodles flip over, which looks like whitebait playing in the water, which is very beautiful.

"Good!" Let alone anything else, just Cao Wei's move made Qin Jingru applaud.

The diners around took a look.

Hey!

Although it was the proprietress who was clapping, it somewhat felt a bit like Wang Po selling melons.

But this craftsmanship is really beyond reproach.

"Madam boss, I'll have a bowl too."

This beautiful craftsmanship immediately attracted the diners' attention.

In this place, you can see everything, and there are many people who know the skill of knife carving.

"Hiss... this side..."

"This tastes great, boss, give me another bowl!"

Once this guy gets going, he can't stop.

Whether it is delicious or not, there is no need to say much, just look at the way you slurp the noodles and you will know.

"Is it really that delicious?" Old Li swallowed his saliva and looked at the diners at the stall who were eating with great relish, and he felt a little moved.

"Hey, Lao Li, I'm going to get some noodles. There's no room over there, so I'm coming to eat at your place." An old customer came over and said hello to him, "And give me a portion of deep-fried pork, too."

"Okay, you can buy me one too. I want to try it."

"Okay!"

Qin Huairu understood one thing a long time ago, that the food cooked by Cao Wei was delicious. But she had never had a clear idea of ​​it. Now, as she watched more and more people gather, she understood.

Cao Wei didn't prepare much noodles, only about 200 servings, and he called it a day when he was done, shouting to the back:

"It's sold out. Don't queue anymore."

"Ah? Boss, why don't you make more?"

"I can't handle too much." Cao Wei replied with a smile, "That's all I can give you every day. Besides, there are so many delicious foods in the market, and you don't have to eat all mine."

Good guy!

Cao Wei immediately said what others were about to say.

I won't do it to anyone.

Just like what Cao Wei said, food may taste good, but in the eyes of most people, it is just something to fill the stomach. When it is gone, everyone will just curse and leave.

"Pack up, here, this is reserved for you." Cao Wei also brought out four more bowls, one for each person.

"Just right, I'm hungry." Qin Jingru ran over.

She is in charge of the above and collects the money at the same time.

She is the most active and gets hungry the fastest.

Cao Wei picked up the noodles and controlled the temperature just right, hot but not scalding. She slurped it up and the taste was so comfortable that she couldn't help but squint her eyes.

"good to eat."

"This is the Master..."