Transmigrated into the fat wife of the future prime minister

Chapter 86 Braised Potatoes and Pork Belly
Although Xu Qingmeng also wanted to save some costs, she understood the difficulties faced by the simple couple in front of her and agreed.

Xu Qingmeng still had some things she hadn't bought, so she paid for them and asked the couple to deliver them to the Gu family's restaurant.

"No problem, girl, don't worry, we will definitely deliver it to you. We will also deliver it to you on time in four days. It will definitely not delay you."

"That's troublesome. There are people in the shop; you can give it to them."

After buying the duck eggs, Xu Qingmeng went to the liquor store and bought some high-proof liquor, which she would use when pickling the duck eggs.

Xu Qing dreamed that since there were no earthenware pots at home, she bought vegetables and then went to Shen's Grocery Store to buy several earthenware pots.

As soon as Xu Qingmeng arrived home, Madam He asked, "Mengniang, why did you buy so many duck eggs? How are we going to eat them?"

"Mom, don't worry, I bought it to make salted duck eggs. When they're done, you'll taste them and see for yourself. Just thinking about the taste makes my mouth water."

"If you say it's good, then it must be excellent. I trust you. So, can it be sold tomorrow?"

"It won't be that fast. If we put it in an earthenware pot, it will probably take a month."

"Oh, it takes that long?" Mrs. He was quite surprised. "Won't the duck eggs spoil if they're left out for this long?"

"No, don't worry, Mother."

Xu Qingmeng checked the duck eggs first, and only felt relieved when she saw that none of them were damaged.

Then I hurried to prepare for lunchtime business so as not to be delayed.

Today, Xu Qingmeng plans to make braised pork with potatoes.

She first cut the pork belly into chunks, then added Shaoxing wine and ginger slices to the water while blanching it to remove any unpleasant smell, before taking it out and setting it aside.

Heat the pan, add the pork belly pieces, and fry until the fat is rendered and the pork belly turns golden brown. Remove and set aside.

Next comes caramelizing the sugar. Add an appropriate amount of rock sugar to a pot and slowly melt the rock sugar over low heat until it turns a caramel color.

Xu Qingmeng poured in the stir-fried pork belly pieces and asked Aunt Li to turn up the heat and start stir-frying skillfully.

Add scallions, ginger, garlic, and various spices in that order, stir-fry until fragrant, then pour in Shaoxing wine and soy sauce and stir-fry to coat the ingredients with color.

Finally, add a little salt to taste, then add an appropriate amount of water and simmer over low heat.

Xinting had already cut the potatoes into chunks as requested and soaked them in water.

Xu Qingmeng spread the soaked potatoes on top of the braised pork, then covered the pot and continued to simmer.

Once the potatoes were cooked through, Xu Qingmeng quickly stir-fried them and the braised pork together, then simmered them for a while to allow the potatoes to absorb the flavors better before serving.

"Auntie, the meat looks different from before today, my mouth is watering."

"Such a grown woman, still craving food? Be careful she won't be able to get married."

"I don't want to get married!"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. He flicked her head and said, "What are you saying? You're not allowed to say that again."

Having been here for so long, Madam He has come to regard this girl as her own child. Xinting is indeed very well-behaved, and Madam He treats her like family.

Before long, it was time for the workers to finish their shift, and the shop quickly filled up. Ever since lotus leaf rice was introduced, the Gu family's restaurant has become even busier at lunchtime.

"Wow, this is a potato! I've never eaten it prepared this way before. I've never tasted anything so delicious."

"Exactly, exactly. It's all done by hand, but my wife just can't make it. She always boils it."

Looking at everyone praising Mengniang, Madam He was overjoyed, secretly rejoicing that she had found such a good wife. After seeing off one group of guests after another, everyone lauded the potatoes served that day.

"This broth and potatoes are even tastier than braised pork. I could eat two big bowls of rice just by soaking it in this broth."

"I think so too. Rice soaked in broth is soft, sticky, delicate and tender."

For an entire afternoon, all they heard was the guests praising the potatoes, which made He Shi, Xin Ting, and the others very eager to try them.

After the lunch service ended, Mr. He and his family couldn't wait to set out the food and start eating.

"Oh, this is really delicious. It tastes completely different from shredded potatoes."

"Auntie, this is delicious."

Xu Qingmeng had made an appointment with Madam Huang to look at the shop. After eating, she instructed Madam He and the others to wash the duck eggs with white vinegar mixed with water.

Xu Qingmeng arrived at the place she had agreed upon with Madam Huang, who was already waiting there.

"I'm so sorry, I was a little busy around noon and that's why I'm late."

"No, no, I just arrived too."

Along the way, Madam Huang kept teaching Xu Qingmeng some ways to get along as a couple because of what happened yesterday.

Xu Qingmeng felt embarrassed, but she didn't show it on her face, and occasionally chimed in with a few words of agreement.

Madam Huang's family was originally from Quan County, so she had quite a few shops there, on both East Street and West Street. However, most of them were rented out, and she didn't own many of them herself.

"When I was young, I always thought about making a name for myself. I spent a lot of money and took over many shops, such as clothing shops and jewelry shops, but in the end, I didn't succeed."

Mrs. Huang recalled the past, "In earlier years, although my husband's family background was not simple, but..."

Xu Qingmeng knew some of this as well; the Huang family and the Shen family were the same.

Xu Qingmeng and Madam Huang finally decided to open their pastry shop on Elm Street in East Street, which was also the busiest street in Quan County.

The location is good, the shop is big enough, and there is a large courtyard in the back. It used to be a restaurant, and there is a large kitchen inside.

However, what's not so good for them is that there's a Wufangzhai restaurant on this street.

Xu Qingmeng had great confidence in her skills, and besides, the pastry shop she wanted was different from that one.

What she wants to do is combine Chinese and Western styles, and now that Mrs. Huang has joined in, she also plans to make modern milk tea.

Madam Huang had tasted Xu Qingmeng's cooking before, so she was naturally not afraid. However, when the shop began to be renovated, the outside world learned that it was a pastry shop and was not optimistic about it.

Of course, these are secondary issues. The shop has been abandoned for a long time, and repairs, renovations, and procurement all take time.

Right now, the most important things are training apprentices and making the kiln; these are the top priorities.

The matter of recruiting apprentices was left to Madam Huang.

When Xu Qingmeng returned home, the duck eggs had already been cleaned and placed in a ventilated area to dry.

Tang's wife washed all the earthenware jars that Xu Qingmeng had bought, just enough to pickle these duck eggs.

However, since the container for holding the duck eggs must not contain water or oil, Xu Qingmeng carefully wiped it several times with a clean cotton cloth.

(End of this chapter)