Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 359 Everything is ready, go to Guang'an Temple to make cakes

Shen Yu took the small ceramic pot containing shrimp powder and said, "Remember the basket of small river shrimps I bought a few days ago? This soup tastes delicious, all thanks to it."

Li laughed and said, "No wonder you've been drying those little river shrimps like they were treasures these days."

Shen Yu nodded: "In fact, many ingredients can be used to enhance the flavor, not just river shrimp."

"Shiitake mushrooms can be sliced, dried, ground into powder and fried to enhance the flavor."

"Or you can boil fresh mushrooms into a thick soup and add some to vegetarian soup to create a very rich and fragrant soup base."

Qi Xi listened in and suddenly realized: "No wonder I often see Chef Xu simmering mushroom soup in the small kitchen in the back hall, and it takes two or three hours to simmer it."

"I asked him what it was used for, but he wouldn't tell me. It turns out it's used as a soup base."

Everyone finished the Yuanbao wontons in their bowls in no time and found it very convenient and delicious.

The soup in the bowl is sour, fragrant and delicious. The fried Yuanbao wontons have been soaked for a short time, so the skin still maintains a crispy texture. The filling inside is very fresh and hot, and is no worse than the cooked ones.

Qi Xi said happily: "This method is really good, simple and convenient. I've made a note of it and I think I'll be able to use it often in the future."

Shen Yu put all the remaining Yuanbao wontons into the food box and also put the small can of shrimp powder in there.

After assembling it, he said to Qixi: "This is fried and crushed shrimp powder. Just add some when cooking."

Qi Xi agreed and said, "Don't forget, girl. Help me make more Yuanbao wontons tomorrow."

He thought for a moment and then said, "In addition to the boiled pork slices ordered by the masters, please leave me two large portions of amber meat."

"Everyone loves this dish. I took it back yesterday and originally planned to keep a portion for the next morning."

"As a result, once the two portions of amber meat were taken out, there was more than enough to share."

"The two masters, the young master, and a few yamen runners who followed them finished it all in one meal."

"I'll order two more today. Keep the order for the young master. Don't share it out. If you can't finish it in one meal, you can use it for the next meal."

"All these things I ordered must be recorded in the account. They are the money spent on official business in the county government. Please don't be polite, young lady."

After Qi Xi finished speaking, he winked at Shen Yu slyly.

Shen Yu smiled and agreed to everything, and Qi Xi left with the full food box.

A few busy days passed like this, and in the blink of an eye, it was already October 24th, only two days away from the Wanshou Festival.

Li and her friends practiced carving patterns whenever they had free time, and they were very skilled at making all kinds of patterns. As a result, the people in the restaurant and the county government also ate a lot of various kinds of cakes and pastries in advance.

Shen Yu specially timed and estimated the speed of Li and the others. Even if Master Wen Yuan and the others didn't need to help, and the people in the restaurant were just wrapping the fillings and carving the patterns, they could make the dough for seven or eight hundred flower-shaped pastries in an hour at most.

Shen Yu felt relieved and thought that he would have to make flower-shaped cakes and pastries tomorrow evening. He should go to Guang'an Temple today to see how Master Wen Yuan and the others were preparing.

After noon, Shen Yu saw that there were not many guests, so he said goodbye to Li and rushed to Guang'an City.

The monk on duty in front of the gate of Guang'an Temple remembered Shen Yu because she had come twice. He also received Wen Yuan's instructions, so when he saw Shen Yu coming, he let her in directly.

As soon as he entered the temple, Shen Yu couldn't help but sigh in his heart. It had only been a few days since he last saw Guang'an Temple, but it had already been completely renewed.

The temples are neatly arranged and magnificent, giving the impression of a large and prosperous temple.

Shen Yu went to the dining hall of Guang'an Temple based on his memory. As soon as he entered, he saw Master Wen Yuan sitting there talking to Yan Xin.

When Wen Yuan saw Shen Yu coming, he happily came forward to greet her.

Shen Yu squatted down and bowed: "Master Wenyuan, we will start making flower cakes tomorrow. I came to see how your preparations are going."

Wen Yuan said confidently: "Don't worry, Miss Shen, we only need to know how to knead the dough and fry it."

"We have practiced these past two days, and I have already decided on the fillings. We can start frying them tomorrow morning."

"I will mix the dough tomorrow at noon, and when you arrive, I can start making the crust and wrapping the dough."

Shen Yu was relieved when he saw that Wen Yuan had arranged everything in an orderly manner: "Master Wen Yuan, we have been practicing in the restaurant these days. I estimated that we can make about 700 to 800 pancakes in an hour."

Wen Yuan clapped his hands excitedly when he heard this: "That's great, thank you for your help. Now I feel relieved."

Shen Yu smiled and said, "We'll come together tomorrow after the restaurant closes."

Wen Yuan stroked his forehead and said, "Oh, I've been so busy these days that I forgot to ask how many people will come to the restaurant?"

Shen Yu didn't know what Wen Yuan meant, so he said, "There are six people in total, including me, who came to help make the pastries from the restaurant."

Wen Yuan nodded: "Then I will ask Yan Qing to drive a mule cart to pick you up tomorrow."

Shen Yu asked worriedly, "Won't coming to pick us up delay Master's work?"

Wen Yuan waved his hand and said, "As you saw when you came here, the temple has been repaired almost completely. The craftsmen don't need to come tomorrow."

"Starting tomorrow, we won't have to prepare vegetarian meals for them. We only need to prepare the temple's three meals a day and the pastries."

After hearing this, Shen Yu stopped refusing and nodded in agreement. He then agreed with Wen Yuan on the time to pick up the person the next day and then said goodbye and left.

On the second day, after lunch, Li and his friends were already standing at the door looking around from time to time.

Shen Yu smiled and said, "Mom, don't worry. It's not the agreed time yet. Master Wen Yuan said that he would send a carriage to pick us up."

Li said a little embarrassedly: "I just can't sit still."

"Although I usually go to the temple to worship Buddha, burn incense, donate money, and count rice, but it's not as good as this time. I have to make cakes for three consecutive days at the temple."

Shen Yu listened with a smile on his face. Seeing everyone happy and expectant, he felt that this kind of festival seemed pretty good.

In a blink of an eye, it was the time agreed with Wen Yuan.

Li and her friends had already changed into clean clothes and packed all the necessary tools, such as aprons, rolling pins for rolling out dough, and small knives for carving, into a carry-on bag.

Li asked Yucheng and Dundun to look after the house, and they stood in front of the store and waited.

Just as he finished packing, he saw Yan Xin and the driver driving a large mule cart. Shen Yu greeted them and got on the mule cart with everyone and rushed to Guang'an Temple.