Chapter 233

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

This person stared at those many large bowls, inside each various fillings, every kind a different color, a different appearance, the aromas also each distinct, not interfering with one another; truly just looking and smelling made one's lips and teeth salivate.

His mind turned, and he immediately cursed himself.

Idiot! Reading books until you've gone stupid!

What's there to choose!

He definitely couldn't eat it all himself, but in the academy so many fellows, day and night hoping, each dreaming of eating at Song Ji; today he'd lucked into first place, take it back and there'd only be people howling and shouting to snatch it; getting them to return it later — who knows if next time he could queue this far forward, and when it reached him, whether there'd be any left!

He hesitated no longer, opened his mouth and shouted: "All of it, give me one portion of each kind! No! Make it two portions!"

Song Miao hurriedly said: "I'll make one portion for the Young Master first, you look at the portion size — one person eating two rolls is already filling, more would be cloying; look first then decide whether to buy that many?"

That student immediately said: "Not afraid! No need to look! Song Xiaoniangzi's new varieties, I'm helping the big guys bring them back to share — two rolls of each kind, I'm still afraid it won't be enough to go around!!"

His mouth said so, but his eyes kept fixed on Song Miao's hand movements.

Clean white round rice noodle skins, four or five inches in size, laid flat on the tray; a large spoon scooped a spoonful of filling, this spoonful was stir-fried long beans with minced meat; the spoon tilted, a light sweep, and it spread evenly thin over one-third of the rice noodle skin, a long strip nearly three fingers wide.

Such generous filling, can this be rolled up??

A thought only flashed through his mind, then he saw that Song Xiaoniangzi used long chopsticks to pinch a short-edge corner, holding the edge of the rice noodle skin, gulu-gulu rolling it two three four who knows how many full circles; it seemed she only blinked, and a long, round, plump so-called "rolled noodle" lay on the tray.

White and chubby, lying there quite steady and honest — no wonder it's called "rolled noodle", truly lives up to its name!

When that rice noodle skin was spread flat on the tray earlier you couldn't tell; now it's rolled up, the middle stuffed full to bursting, propped up with a feeling of almost splitting open, actually thin to semi-transparency, the filling faintly visible inside.

Through the thin rice noodle skin, the color of the stir-fried long beans with minced meat even paled; long beans cut grain by grain, scattered bits of fragrant fried meat crumbs, hidden inside yet bulging out, looking as if about to burst forth, seemingly eager to jump into his mouth.

Ah!

Aah!

He couldn't wait any longer aaaaah!

Song Miao's movements were extremely fast; six flavors, twelve rolled noodles, she finished rolling them in a moment, laid them flat in two lotus leaves, separately ladled sauce and poured over, then looked up and asked: "Can the Young Master eat fried garlic bits?"

"Eat! Can eat! Eat eat!!" That student practically answered with a stutter.

Song Miao's hand scooped, sprinkled a tiny little spoonful of crushed bits on top of the rolled noodles.

He hadn't even finished, when behind him someone urgently called out: "Song Xiaoniangzi, I don't like garlic, what to do!"

"There's without garlic, fragrant roasted walnut fried scallion bits, or no scallion also works, can you eat that?"

"Can!!! Must be able to wow!!!!"

By the time Song Miao here finished the first customer's rolled noodles, also took out several portions of drinks, calculated and collected all the money, Dabing's side had only just made the third portion of glutinous rice; making one side, anxious sweat breaking out on his head.

Song Miao smiled at those queuing students and said: "I hired a helper, though clever, it's ultimately his first day on the job, first time at it; trouble everyone to wait a bit, otherwise with just me alone it'd be even slower."

She spoke, and everyone scrambled to talk.

"Such a serious helper — what's he called!"

"Sigh, I also want to work at Song Xiaoniangzi's stall; does that mean I can eat my fill every day……"

"Slow is fine, steady hands is what counts!"

Dabing finally wrapped the last glutinous rice, took the cloth tied at his waist and wiped sweat, while going to the side to ladle water to wash hands, while lifting his head, loudly answered: "I'm called Liu Bing, call me Dabing is fine! Please forgive me, scholars, for one day; I'm very hardworking, tomorrow movements will definitely be faster!"

The queuing people behind immediately let out good-natured laughter.

"Don't rush! Not urging you! The bell hasn't rung yet!"

"This name, makes one's mouth water! Fitting you came to Song Xiaoniangzi's place!"

Everyone talked and laughed; some held books, queuing while reciting; more queuing while looking at the signboard's various fillings, discussing with companions what they'd buy, what the other would buy, how to share after going back.

But there were still those queuing further back, some splitting an ear to listen to the front's movements, some unable to resist running up front to look.

Among them one, seeing the front almost everyone buying two portions of every rolled noodle kind; this person ran once heart anxious, ran a second time heart panicked; by the third time squeezed forward and finally couldn't hold back, asked: "Song Xiaoniangzi, does this rolled noodle also have a set portion limit? Otherwise the front people will buy it all out; what about us at the back? Queued this long, isn't it nothing to eat??"

These words out, the front people glared at him angrily, the back people instead burst into cheers.

"Exactly! Exactly!"

"One person buying that many, what about us at the back?"

"Set a number! Like the previous glutinous rice, shaomai, one person can only buy three rolls!"

Those queuing in front turned heads and argued back angrily: "Hey! Hey hey! Harming others without benefiting yourself, there'll be a time when you're at the front too??"

"Exactly, we're not reselling, just bringing a bit for same-study same-dorm mates — you have no classmates, no dorm mates?? I don't believe you never brought any before!"

"Nonsense! My build, my stature, precisely the time for growing; you tell me to only eat three rolls — might as well starve me to death!"

The speaker truly was taller and sturdier; only his beard abundant, face large, voice also coarse; by that appearance, at least twenty-seven or eight!

Sure enough behind someone who recognized him shouted: "Hao Lao Liu, Sixth Brother! Didn't you just pass your twenty-ninth birthday? Which family's twenty-nine-year-old good person still grows? You're not allowed to buy more; I'm eighteen this year, truly need to grow, let me have a bite!!"

All classmates, discount, cursing each other, then discovering acquaintances across from them, words didn't dare go too far; for a moment the queue buzzed.

Everyone one sentence each, truly worthy of students; cursing not only without repetition, even dirty words few; Song Miao listened and laughed straight, spoon-holding hand trembling; hurriedly rolled the last one for the customer in front, she walked to the middle, smiling: "Everyone, everyone, this rolled noodle is officially first time selling; everyone don't rush to buy too much, must guard against not being used to eating it?"

Also said: "First time selling, also not limiting too much; for now in the queue each person limited to twelve rolls; see the situation first, later decide whether to adjust."

She spoke, walked to the queue end, said to that student: "Starting from this Young Master here, those queuing behind, rolled noodles, snow steamed cakes, drinks might be gone — if anyone else comes, please trouble to help say a word!"

A moment the whole queue all greatly delighted, also no more noise, no more fuss; pushing and yielding, calling each other brother, brotherly friendship and younger brother respect.

Not only that, even those previously reciting books, all no heart to recite, but suppressing laughter, watching Taixue Rear Gate, and along Nanlu Wall Root Dog Hole one by one heads drilling out.

Newcomers following the queue, familiar with the route, swept a glance, one by one stood at queue end, then in turn opened mouths to ask front people: "Brother, heard Song Xiaoniangzi set up stall, this queue is it?"

"Song Ji queues here right?"

"What time did she set up stall today? Front people didn't say what soup it is?"

The one guarding the very back, along with several people lined up ahead of him, heard the crowd's questions and, true to Song Miao's request, scrambled to "kindly" speak up and remind them.

"It's Song Ji's stall!"

"We didn't line up in the wrong queue!"

"Today there's Pork Rib Clear Soup and Caigan Paiqing Tang—but having them is as good as having none……"

Hearing this, the people behind were all bewildered: "What does 'as good as having none' mean?"

"Pass it back, Song Xiaoniangzi has set up her stall today, she's come out with a new food called juanfen, she said starting from behind me, juanfen, Snow Steamed Cake, and yinzi are all gone, there's only Glutinous Rice, you all think again if you want to queue!"

As soon as these words were spoken, more and more people followed behind, all showing stunned expressions and voices of disbelief.

"Ah?"

"I got up early this morning, and as soon as I heard the news I ran out!"

"Crazy, what time is it now! Isn't it just breakfast!? Is there no bond of classmates? Can't you leave some for us latecomers!?"

"Right! Right!! Shouldn't those in front buy a little less, make room for us!"

"No way, can't even buy it on the first day!"

"What new food, what juanfen? What does it look like? Is it delicious, what flavor is it! Ah ah! Leave one for me to try the taste!"

Seeing the people behind shouting and cheering, those in front could no longer hold back, already hehehe laughing at each other; though this description isn't quite fitting, they truly laughed maliciously, just like a weasel that successfully stole a chicken.

Hey, hehe, indeed the heavens have eyes, the Dao rewards diligence—one must get up early, one must persist without giving up, otherwise where would there be new juanfen to eat!

Song Miao was busy setting up her stall here with the big pancake, when early on someone holding several big lotus leaf wraps had already entered the Xue Zhai of Guozixue.

As soon as he entered the room, he immediately looked left and right, scanned a whole circle, didn't see the person he wanted to find, then called out to the nearest one, asking: "Where's Xiao Qi? Wasn't it said he'd come today? How come no one's here?"

"Haven't seen him; usually if he has class, he'd be here by this time—probably something came up again, I heard his Big Brother returned to the Capital recently, and the whole He family is quite busy."

The person holding the lotus leaf wraps was originally full of excitement, but hearing this, his expression instantly fell; he casually placed the several lotus leaf wraps on the table, pulled out a chair, plopped down, sighed "ai," and said: "White Busy One Round!"

As soon as these words were spoken, that person just now asked again: "What's wrong?"

"What business do you have with Xiao Qi? Must you find him? Tell us, maybe we can help!"

"Ai, nothing!" The man pointed at the several lotus leaf wraps in front of him, "Wasn't there once, I accidentally ate Xiao Qi's shaomai? Afterwards Xiao Qi returned to his hometown, and I never found a chance to repay it; when he came back, the shaomai stall owner had gone to Hua Prefecture……"

"Finally this time when I came back, I saw the long queue outside and hadn't reacted yet; hearing people say so, I hurried to queue—several attendants had all gone home, so I had to queue myself, queued for a good long while, originally wanting to apologize to Xiao Qi—who would have thought today there's no shaomai, only some juanfen……never mind, Xiao Qi isn't here anyway."

As soon as these words were spoken, someone just entering from the door heard it, then rushed forward in a few quick steps, calling: "Wang Geng, did you buy Song Ji's food?"

"Yes, what of it?" said the student called Wang Geng.

It turned out that this person holding several lotus leaf wraps, wanting to apologize to He Qi, was precisely the Guozixue student Wang Geng who, that day, had described things haphazardly, had his family's cook imitate Song Ji's shaomai, and ultimately failed.

The person coming toward him was extremely excited, saying: "Xiao Qi isn't here, but I am! I also love Song Ji's food very much; only a few days after eating it, she went to Hua Prefecture, and I've missed it for a long time. This past month I've had the cook at home learn to make Glutinous Rice and shaomai, making it seven or eight times already, but none of them have that taste."

"Just heard she's back and set up her stall again; I thought about sending someone, but said it was too late, so I queued myself. As soon as I stood there, someone said no need to queue, those in front were already sold out, and said there's a new food called rolled rice noodles."

"Wang Geng, Xiao Qi isn't coming; can you eat all this yourself? If you can't finish, give me a portion!"

Wang Geng was easy to talk to; he waved his hand and said: "No need to ask, take, take! I bought two of each according to taste; Xiao Qi isn't here, so I was going to share with everyone anyway—eat as you like!"

Speaking, he also greeted the remaining few people in the room.

Everyone gathered around.

"Don't say it; I saw how much Xiao Qi likes that Song Ji, and went to eat there a few times afterward; the taste is indeed good—no wonder Xiao Qi misses it so much."

"What is rolled rice noodles? Let me taste a mouthful; later my family will send my Early Food, and then we can all share."

Seeing a crowd around the table, Wang Geng opened several lotus leaf wraps, tore off a piece of Dried Lotus Leaf, used the long bamboo skewer provided to pick a so-called rolled rice noodles into the lotus leaf, and said: "You take yourselves; leave me one and that's enough."

As he spoke, he lifted two bamboo skewers and took a bite of that rolled rice noodles.

One bite down, just as he started chewing, he felt something was off.

This sauce outside……why is it so fragrant!

So fragrant his mouth felt like it had been punched, his tongue was dizzy inside, simply couldn't find north!

If He Qi were here, with his mouth, he could immediately tell that what's fragrant is that layer of crumbs sprinkled on the outside.

Sesame, walnuts, plus a little pine nuts; because the cost is high, the amount is very small, but they have too much presence.

All three are roasted, baked until extremely crisp, extremely fragrant, extremely crunchy; as soon as they enter the mouth, before even touching the tongue, they desperately scatter their overly rich nut aroma.

Sesame is pounded, walnuts and pine nuts are cut with a knife into uneven sizes; these three all contain their own oil; after being baked thoroughly, when put in the mouth, biting small pieces is fragrant and crunchy, biting large pieces has a rich, mellow aroma with dried fruit oiliness, completely different from ordinary vegetable oil or lard; in between, there's also a bit of crispy fried scallion……

Before recovering from this fragrance, he ate the filling juice.

This filling juice is very appetizing, salty and fresh, but the aftertaste is sour; the sourness is a rich fruit sourness, sour with sweetness, after the sweetness there's a very slight playful spiciness, spicy enough to make one dazed—is it really spicy?

After tasting the filling juice, below is the rice noodle skin.

Different from the rice noodle skin usually eaten, this rolled rice noodles' skin is exceptionally smooth; the teeth touch it, and if not careful, it feels like it will slip away.

It's very thin, but biting it has obvious toughness, slightly crisp, not at all rotten, yet it's soft.

The filling inside is wrapped so much, yet it doesn't break at all, wrapped very roundly, very easily, the rice aroma is particularly full.

Biting through this layer of skin requires effort, but after the effort, it gives the teeth a "is it really this easy?" sense of lightness; further down, one tastes that the filling inside this rolled rice noodles is stir-fried pickled cowpeas with minced meat.

The pickled cowpeas are especially crisp, sour and refreshing, with spiciness mixed in; the minced meat is naturally pork minced meat, fatty more than lean front leg meat, stir-fried until fragrant, all the greasiness forced dry by hot oil, seeping into the pickled cowpeas.

Thus this mouthful of pickled cowpeas fully absorbed the lard's oil fragrance, the stir-fried minced meat soaked up the pickled cowpeas' sour fragrance; biting it goes squeak squeak, chewing and chewing, the rice skin is smooth, tender, refreshing, the rice aroma is full, the filling is sour and fragrant and rich, and outside it's still wrapped in filling juice……

Truly both appetizing and delicious; one must swallow down at least three or five to barely feel satisfied!

Thinking of this, Wang Geng's whole body stiffened……

Wait, did he just leave a few for himself?