fictionpage Chapter 56 Spicy Meat Buns
Chapter 56 Spicy Meat Buns
After finishing today's work, Xu Liang was already standing in front of the kitchen, busy with his tasks.
Yesterday, the spicy steamed buns sold out quickly, with eighty buns snapped up in one go, and the revenue jumped to over sixty yuan in the morning.
This sets a record since the shop opened.
Lying in bed at night, his mind was filled with thoughts of dough, fillings, and cooking time.
I tossed and turned like that, which is why I couldn't sleep soundly and got up before dawn.
Today, in addition to continuing to make spicy steamed buns, he will also officially launch his newly developed spicy meat buns.
The night before, he finely chopped the pork belly into minced meat, and slowly stir-fried it with Pixian chili bean paste, sweet bean sauce, dark soy sauce, Sichuan peppercorn powder, and cooking wine to bring out the aroma of the sauce. After cooling, he refrigerated it to let the flavors infuse.
The dough was proofed in advance, ready to be freshly wrapped and steamed early in the morning, guaranteeing that the first bite would be so fresh that it would be unforgettable.
Heat the wok, add rapeseed oil, and as soon as the oil releases its aroma, Xu Liang pours in the finely chopped pork belly.
"Sizzle."
Oil splattered everywhere, and the aroma of meat exploded instantly.
He quickly stir-fried the minced meat with a spatula, rendering out some of the oil so it wouldn't be greasy.
Next, a spoonful of Pixian chili bean paste is stir-fried to create a bright red sauce, and then a little Sichuan peppercorn powder is sprinkled on top to enhance the numbing sensation.
Add a handful of chopped scallions for extra flavor.
In just a few minutes, a pot of bright red and spicy minced meat was ready.
It's numbing, spicy, fresh, and fragrant—just smelling it makes your mouth water.
Xu Liang scooped up a little with a spoon and tasted it. The saltiness was just right, and the numbing sensation was neither overpowering nor pungent.
The savory sauce and meat flavors complement each other perfectly with the soft, fluffy dough.
Nodding in satisfaction, he began to wrap the steamed buns.
The risen dough is snow-white and fluffy. After kneading to remove air, cut it into evenly sized dough pieces and roll them out into wrappers that are thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges.
Xu Liang scooped a large spoonful of meat filling, and with nimble fingers, he evenly gathered the pleats, and a round, plump bun was formed.
The raw embryos are neatly arranged on the steamer, with just the right amount of space between them to allow for a second proofing.
At the same time, the spicy steamed buns also started production.
Rolling out dough, brushing oil, sprinkling chili powder and Sichuan peppercorn powder, rolling and cutting into sections—the movements were fluid and effortless. After a busy day yesterday, today the skill was almost instinctive.
Before long, two steamers of steamed buns and one steamer of spicy meat buns were ready.
Xu Liang covered the pot with the lid, brought it to a boil over high heat, then turned to medium heat and steamed it steadily.
Steam gradually rose, and two different aromas wafted from the kitchen at the same time.
On one side, there's the aroma of wheat mixed with refreshing spiciness; on the other, there's the fragrance of noodles wrapped around a rich aroma of braised meat.
The two aromas mingled together and wafted out into the street through the crack in the door.
As soon as it was light, people were already peeking out from the street corner.
"Boss Xu, what delicious food did you make today? It smells even better than yesterday!"
The speaker was Li Lei from the brick and tile factory. He had come half an hour early today, fearing that he would miss out on the goods again, just like yesterday.
He pressed his face against the doorframe and peered inside, taking deep breaths through his nose, his eyes shining.
"This smell...is it a meat bun?"
"You have sharp eyes."
Xu Liang smiled, and then he lifted the lid a crack, from which steaming hot vapor billowed out.
"We've just released some new spicy pork buns today, one yuan each, want to try them?"
"One yuan each? That sounds like a good deal! Save me two, and two steamed buns too!"
Without hesitation, Li Lei slammed the money onto the counter.
As soon as he finished speaking, a group of familiar faces rushed in through the door.
Aunt Wang, who was going to the market, arrived with an empty basket and started shouting as soon as she entered.
"Boss Xu, please save me extra steamed buns today. My wife kept asking if there were any left after I tried them yesterday."
Old Zhao, who drives long-distance trucks, also stopped at the door with his old bicycle and said to Xu Liang in a very loud voice.
"Boss, besides the steamed buns, give me two more meat buns today. They'll fill me up if I get hungry on the way!"
Elementary school teacher Chen Xiulan also came with several colleagues, smiling as she spoke.
"We ate your steamed buns yesterday, and everyone in the office has been talking about them all night. We came early today especially because we heard you also have meat buns. We'll all try them."
A queue quickly formed outside the small restaurant, even more bustling than yesterday.
Xu Liang kept an eye on the heat while greeting people with a smile.
"Don't worry, everyone, we've prepared plenty today! There are steamed buns and braised pork buns, they'll be ready in no time!"
As he was speaking, when the time was up, he suddenly lifted the pot lid.
Steam billowed into the sky, and the aroma instantly filled the entire street.
Inside the steamer, the spicy flower rolls are arranged in alternating red and white colors, while on the other side, the spicy meat buns are all plump and round, with smooth skin that reveals the bright red and oily meat underneath.
"Out of the oven! Spicy steamed buns are 50 cents each, and spicy pork buns are one yuan each, piping hot!"
The team sprang into action instantly.
Li Lei was the first to get a steamed bun and couldn't wait to take a bite.
The scalding soup almost spilled out, so he quickly reached out and caught it, slurping it with loud slurping sounds.
The minced meat, with its perfect balance of lean and fat, is coated in a rich, savory sauce; the numbing sensation is mild, yet it enhances the aroma.
The spiciness is mild and not pungent, the meat filling is firm and not dry, and it is oily but not greasy.
"My goodness... this is so delicious!"
Li Lei's eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth greasy and he didn't even bother to wipe it clean.
"One yuan each is a real bargain! They're even better than the steamed buns from the city shops!"
Aunt Wang ordered three steamed buns and two meat buns. She first broke open a steamed bun and tasted it, then took a bite of the meat bun, nodding repeatedly.
"It smells so good, really so good! The steamed buns are delicious, and the dumplings are delicious too. We Sichuan and Chongqing people can only handle this!"
After trying it, Teacher Chen and several colleagues also praised it highly.
"I was worried it would be too spicy for my taste, but it's surprisingly mild with a rich soy sauce flavor. I think my kids will like it too."
"The dough has risen perfectly; it's both soft and chewy."
"From now on, we'll make this our regular morning spot, and we'll alternate between steamed buns and twisted rolls."
There were also many locals in the crowd who hadn't been able to buy steamed buns yesterday.
I came early today, and after trying the braised pork buns, I decided on the spot to come every day from now on.
"Before, breakfast in town consisted of nothing but steamed buns and porridge. There was nowhere to get anything flavorful. Now, at least we have somewhere to go!"
"Boss Xu is honest, the portions are generous, and the taste is authentic. It's sure to be a hit every day from now on!"
Xu Liang was so busy he barely had time to breathe, collecting money, giving change, and packing orders.
He kept responding, and the smile on his face never faded.
Today he prepared 150 steamed buns and 60 braised pork buns, almost double the amount from yesterday.
Even so, the queue was still incredibly long, and as soon as a batch of food came out of the steamer, half of it was gone in the blink of an eye.
Just then, two familiar figures appeared at the door.
Zhang Jingchen and Xiao Lin arrived on time as always, dressed in their usual clean and neat attire.
Standing outside the crowd, watching the lively scene, a faint smile appeared on his face.
Xu Liang saw it immediately and quickly broke away from his busy schedule to go to meet it.
"Comrade Zhang, you're here! Besides the steamed buns, I also made some spicy meat buns today. Would you like to try some?"
Zhang Jingchen nodded, his gaze falling on the freshly cooked braised pork buns.
"It smells good, so let's make the same amount as yesterday, and add four more buns."
"Okay!"
Xu Liang quickly packed sixteen steamed buns and four meat-filled buns, wrapped them in a food-grade plastic bag, and handed them over.
"Here you go, it's fresh out of the pot and still hot."
Xiao Lin paid the money, and Zhang Jingchen picked up a steamed bun and gently broke it open.
The meat filling inside is generous, the sauce is bright red and not greasy, and the numbing and spicy flavors perfectly complement the aroma of the meat.
He put it in his mouth and chewed slowly, his previously calm eyes lighting up again.
"The steamed buns are even tastier than those in the state-run canteens in the city. They are fragrant with sesame seeds and have a rich, savory sauce. The meat filling is also clean."
Zhang Jingchen was lavish in his praise.
"Boss Xu, your pastry-making skills are hard to find in the whole county."
Xu Liang quickly declined the offer.
"It's just a simple home-style recipe; I hope it suits your taste."
Zhang Jingchen ate about half a bun and looked at Xiao Lin.
"Go back and tell the receptionist that our work group can also order breakfast from here in the future. It's clean, substantial, and tastes good."
Kobayashi immediately responded.
"Understood, Director Zhang."
Xu Liang paused in his movements, his heart skipping a beat.
Director Zhang?
Xu Liang steadied himself and didn't ask any more questions, just smiled and nodded.
"Don't worry, I guarantee it will be freshly made every day, and I will never cut corners."
Zhang Jingchen nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to leave with the steamed buns and rolls.
With his departure, Xu Liang felt more at ease.
With the approval of leaders and word-of-mouth recommendations from neighbors, this breakfast business is now completely secure.
Before long, all sixty spicy meat buns were sold out.
Many people who missed out looked disappointed and surrounded Xu Liang, asking him questions.
"Boss, where are the steamed buns? I haven't even had a taste yet!"
"Make extra steamed buns tomorrow, they're even more popular than twisted rolls!"
Xu Liang apologized repeatedly.
"Sorry, sorry, this is my first time making them, so I didn't dare prepare too many. I'll add more meat filling tomorrow, I promise there will be plenty of buns!"
Soon after, the steamed buns were all gone. The last few dozen were bought up by a group of workers who said they would take them back to the factory to share with their colleagues.
Once the crowd had completely dispersed and the street corner had gradually quieted down, Xu Liang finally breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against the table to wipe his sweat.
He bent down and sorted out the money he received, counting it over and over again.
We sold 150 steamed buns, earning 75 yuan.
Sixty steamed buns with braised pork, bringing in sixty yuan.
Our revenue this morning actually reached 135 yuan!
It's more than double the price of yesterday's sixty-two yuan.
In an era when a worker's monthly salary was just over 300 yuan, he earned in one morning what an average worker would earn in nearly half a month.
Previously, they only served lunch and dinner, and even working themselves to the bone, they could only earn thirty or forty yuan a day. Now, after expanding into the breakfast market, their revenue has skyrocketed in just two days.
The spicy steamed buns became an instant hit, and the spicy meat buns sold out as soon as they hit the market, establishing a strong reputation.
He walked to the door and looked at the town that was gradually becoming lively.
Sunlight, like a disc player dispersing a thin mist, spills across the streets and alleys, leaving behind a clear picture of the early morning.
At this moment, Xu Liang took a deep breath.
One spicy steamed bun, and one spicy meat bun.
The small restaurant successfully filled its morning lull, thus securing a stable customer base.
At this rate, it won't be long.
He can then continue to introduce new products, such as brown sugar potstickers, scallion pancakes, and spicy potstickers.
We strive to make breakfast more comprehensive and refined step by step.
At that time, achieving daily revenue exceeding two or three hundred will not be a dream.
He glanced back at the clean and tidy kitchen.
Then I remembered that the skills I had honed in hotels over many years in my previous life were finally blossoming in this small town in the 1990s, showcasing my culinary charm.
Tomorrow, we'll increase the quantity!
His small restaurant is destined to become the most prestigious restaurant on this street.