Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

I can use it to write papers, and there are tutorials for making simple instant noodles at home, but how the hell do you know anything about mass industrial production?

As for the seasonings, the powder packets are easy to handle; Zhang Dabiao knows how to prepare the Thirteen Spices. The sauce packets, however, are each person's own secret recipe, which can be imitated. But Zhang Dabiao doesn't have the ability to make them exactly the same. He could let Sha Zhu and Yu Shui study them instead.

As for the vegetable package, it's just dehydrated vegetables, which is easy to handle as long as you have the equipment.

But the most crucial aspects are the dough-making process, especially the assembly line process, as well as the type of oil used, the steps involved, and the timing and temperature...

Zhang Dabiao knew absolutely nothing about it.

Even if he wanted to make that money, he couldn't.

However, before Zhang Dabiao could refuse, Director Zhao spoke up.

"Mr. Tatsunosuke, I have a question for you. Could you sell us your Nissin Ramen recipe?"

Tatsunosuke was stunned. Of course, that was impossible. They now dominated the entire instant noodle market. How could they possibly sell a secret recipe?

Besides, he was a business negotiator, not the owner of Nissin Ramen, so he had no right to do so.

So he could only say with a wry smile, "That's impossible."

Director Zhao nodded: "I understand. Therefore, Comrade Zhang Dabiao's secret recipe cannot be sold to outsiders."

Please understand.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade suffered a setback last time with the lighter incident, so how could it possibly let the Japanese benefit this time?

So Director Zhao dismissed Tatsunosuke with a few words. After seeing Tatsunosuke off, everyone returned to Zhang Dabiao's small courtyard. The final step of verification was not yet complete.

"Da Biao, you really know how to make instant noodles?"

"Did you really make these, or did you buy them?"

If this problem is not resolved, Zhang Dabiao will still be unable to clear his name of suspicion.

Firstly, since it involves smuggling and connections with overseas entities, you can never be too careful.

Secondly, Director Zhao also had his own plans. If Zhang Dabiao really knew how to make it, then could we also produce this thing ourselves?

Zhang Dabiao wore a bitter expression. He regretted not going to the ministry today, but he had no choice but to comply.

"Director Zhao, I can make it once in front of everyone, but it will be a simplified version because I don't have enough time and ingredients."

"However, after we finish eating, you need to provide me with a statement in the name of the ministry, so that people won't accuse me of speculation, smuggling, or contacting overseas entities again..."

"Good heavens, my small frame can't bear such a serious charge."

"I'm just a bit greedy. My dad got a lot of recipes from other people, and I've only learned a little bit. Is that illegal?"

Director Zhao nodded. The ministry had investigated Zhang Dabiao's situation before.

The purchasing agent bought large grapes, chocolate, and cheese from the grasslands—these things may seem rare, but as long as they are things that are available domestically, it's your skill to be able to purchase them. They are all unplanned supplies, and these days no one cares what connections you have to get them.

Those Russians have chocolates, and quite a few people in the embassy district also have them.

The grapes, though large, were obviously not from overseas, because they would have rotted long before they arrived (at this point, cold chain transportation was practically nonexistent).

Moreover, Zhang Dabiao had a precedent of making his own butter and sour cream, so it's not surprising that he knew a lot of things.

But instant noodles are different. We have confirmed that you are talking about Yifu noodles, but there are currently no manufacturers producing instant noodles in China.

You either know how to do it yourself, or you smuggled it in. It's impossible not to explain this clearly. No matter how good our relationship is, this matter must be handled officially.

Director Zhao nodded. "As long as you can make it and the taste is similar, I'll write you a certificate or something. It's not a big deal."

Left with no other choice, Zhang Dabiao had to begin his performance.

He actually knows how to make instant noodles for home use.

During the pandemic, his community was locked down. He initially ate all the instant noodles, then dried noodles, and then craved hot dry noodles. Someone posted a home-style recipe online, so he followed along.

Anyway, Zhang Dabiao's cooking skills aren't that great, but they're not bad either; they're about 7% similar.

Later, when even the dried noodles were gone, I had to figure out how to make ramen and knife-cut noodles myself using flour. I wasn't very good at knife-cut noodles, but I could make ramen a little bit.

200g high-gluten flour, 1g edible alkali, 2g salt, 90-100ml warm water.

After kneading the dough, cover it with a damp cloth and let it rest for 15 minutes. Then, pull one half of the dough directly like you would make ramen. For the other half, roll out the dough thinly, fold it like a fan, cut it into thin strips, and sprinkle with plenty of dry flour to prevent sticking.

Zhang Dabiao's move stunned Sha Zhu and the others outside the courtyard. You even know how to make Lanzhou noodles?

How many good things did Zhang Banxian leave you? How come you even know this?

Then steam it in a steamer for about 8-10 minutes.

After steaming, take the noodles out and while they are still hot, use chopsticks to shape them into a circle or square. This is how you make "fresh noodles".

Then Zhang Dabiao placed the dough on a baking rack and put it in a preheated oven at 100°C. This dough had been given to him by Li Huaide when he was making cake cream, and it came in handy.

Bake in hot air for 60-90 minutes, until completely dry and hardened. This method is closest to the non-fried process.

While waiting, Zhang Dabiao went to prepare the broth powder and sauce, which were very convenient to mix on the spot.

The basic seasoning packet contains powdered dried shiitake mushrooms, as well as salt, sugar, and pepper.

The sauce packet is made by frying scallions, ginger, garlic and onions in a small amount of oil until golden brown and slightly charred, filtering out the spice oil, and then mixing it with light soy sauce, dark soy sauce and Sichuan peppercorn powder. Zhang Dabiao also added some diced meat and chili peppers, and then made it into a light and easy sauce.

After the noodles were ready, he made instant noodles again in front of the leaders, and also prepared some fresh vegetables and sauerkraut made by Aunt Mu. There were plenty of these things in the stables of the small courtyard.

The taste is actually more home-style than the previous instant noodles, and the noodles are very chewy, with a texture closer to fresh noodles or dried noodles.

Director Zhao was relieved; Zhang Dabiao really knew how to do it.

"Alright, Da Biao, we've had enough noodles from noon to afternoon today."

"I'll write the proof for you tomorrow. Let's go back and have a meeting to discuss it."

"About instant noodles..."

"Do you think our country can do this?"

He was initially very excited, as the Japanese were making a fortune selling this stuff all over Asia. But Zhang Dabiao bluntly pointed out that the source of this stuff was actually in our own country!

Yi Fu Noodles!

Moreover, Zhang Dabiao can make instant noodles himself, and watching him do it, it doesn't seem that difficult.

Furthermore, its taste and texture far surpass those of Nissin Ramen from Japan.

If they can do it, we can do it too! Let's earn foreign exchange!

But remembering the lighter incident and the "export civilian small commodities manufacturing plant" matter, Director Zhao felt it was best to ask Zhang Dabiao first, since this kid's perspective was different from others.

These days, everyone is excited and eager to make money from foreign exchange, but this kid never seemed to be optimistic about expanding production... yet facts have proven him right.

I should ask for his opinion first, to avoid another misunderstanding.

Zhang Dabiao pursed his lips: "Director Zhao, then I'll tell you the truth."

"Everyone knows what our country's grain harvest is like right now. We can't even feed ourselves properly, so why are we producing instant noodles?"

"Exporting it? That's utter nonsense!"