Butcher Fulang’s Noodle Shop - Chapter 30
To be honest, ten cents for a bowl of noodles wasn’t considered cheap in Qingjiang Town. Yangchun plain noodles, cooked with lard, cost only three cents a bowl, and with a few pork slices as toppings, they only cost six cents.
Therefore, a bowl of noodles priced at ten cents, even with eel toppings, might seem extravagant to any reasonable person.
However, the store’s decoration was what initially captured people’s attention. The massive dragon head appeared capable of swallowing clouds and mist. The black plaque, with a gold-dusted signboard, features a dragon looking back, its three characters powerful and imposing.
Onlookers mentally compared the prices, associating the restaurant’s quality with Baihe Restaurant.
Some speculated that a table of noodles here would cost at least one tael!
With high expectations, the little girl’s inquiry about the ten-cent bowl excited the crowd. Curiosity and a willingness to try something new spread, and most people in town found it affordable.
With this mindset, the tables on the first floor quickly filled up. Song Shi’an, swift in his actions, had prepared the eel toppings a day in advance. Boiling the noodles and adding a spoonful, everyone was soon served a bowl.
The sight of steaming, white eel shreds on thick noodles aroused anticipation. Someone couldn’t wait to pick up a chopstick. The eel shreds, devoid of the earthy smell, were tender and soft. The perfect amount of spiciness complemented the soup base, making the eel shreds even more delightful.
One man eagerly devoured the toppings first, then the noodles, finishing a large bowl.
“Boss, can we get more noodles?”
“Yes!” Song Shi’an nodded with a smile, adding more noodles without hesitation.
In the big bowl, there was another whole serving of noodles, but unfortunately, no shredded eel was left.
The man, disappointed, asked, “Boss, can’t you just add more toppings? I’ll pay for it!”
Song Shi’an smiled and shook his head, saying, “I’m sorry. Each person can refill the noodles once, but not the toppings.” It was a rule he had carefully considered, balancing affordability and future options.
The eel topping, enticing customers to return, was the essence, so naturally, it couldn’t be replenished.
Despite this, the man, now hooked on eel noodles, requested another bowl of noodles. As word spread, the restaurant became more crowded, with new customers spontaneously joining and forming a long queue outside the entrance. Those waiting eagerly urged Song Shi’an to hurry up as they saw the satisfied customers inside.
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A regular teahouse customer approached and, pointing to the temporarily sealed second and third floors, asked, “Why hasn’t the boss opened these floors? We could go up with bowls in hand!”
This was Song Shi’an’s long-standing plan. The first floor operated differently with diverse recipes, allowing for elaborate banquets. Currently focused on building reputation, he intended to open the upper floors later.
If the second and third floors was opened due to booming business, it might compromise future quality. The compact first floor, with a slight guest lineup, created a sense of food scarcity.
Smiling, he explained, “Please forgive us; the second and third floors are still undergoing decoration.”
While speaking, a steaming bowl of eel noodles arrived, distracting the guest. What did Song Shi’an said?
On the first floor, two tall men efficiently cleared tables after customers finished eating. They wiped surfaces clean, putting dirty dishes in a basket and returning to the kitchen.
In the back kitchen, two bare-chested brothers washed dishes. Song Shi’an and Xu Zhongyue planned to hire based on business needs and enlisted help from Xu Zhongyue’s friends for now.
Grateful, the friends, even those with other jobs, took leave and were content with Song Shi’an’s evening meals in return for their assistance.
Some diners have just finished their meal, but the fact that there was still a queue outside, they still wanted to sit down and pick their teeth and take a rest. Unexpectedly, the waiter in the restaurant was so quick that he packed up everything in a hurry.
Then the new customers holding the noodles stood aside and watched eagerly. They had no choice but to get up and go out.
There was a trace of anger in the guests’ stomach. When they walked out, they saw the owner of the store, a young newly married couple.
Song Shi’an said with a smile, “Hey guys, here is the new product launched by our store tomorrow, loach rice bowl braised with soy sauce! Thank you for your visit. Please bring a sample to try before you leave so that you can come back again!”
Song Shi’an specially bought this small paper bowl from a Nanzhi shop. The slightly thick paper bowl became a small rice bowl, less than half the size of an adult man’s hand, and could only hold one bite.
“What is this? A taste tests? Are you asking us to get it for free?” The diners were extremely curious.
Song Shi’an smiled before he said anything, his red lips and white teeth were very pleasing to the eye, “Yes, you are the guests of our restaurant. If you have eaten, you can get one to try.”
Who wouldn’t be happy to eat for free? They didn’t expect that the shop owner was so clever and knew how to do business.
The guests’ anger completely dissipated and they picked up the small paper bowls with smiles.
It was a very delicate little bowl, with only a little bit of rice, sprinkled with black and white sesame seeds, a small piece of hot loach meat, and half of tofu.
The stewed loach was so tender that even the thorns were rotten. It tasted so delicious that it looked like it had just been caught from the fields.
The tofu was white and chewy. It absorbed the soup and oil. It was very tasty. It was soft and tastes better than loach!
With one mouthful of rice in your stomach, you could create a little space amidst your already full stomach.
The guests hadn’t taken three steps outside yet, and they were already contemplating a return for more food.
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After lunch, the crowd gradually thinned. Song Shi’an served a large bowl of noodles to the men helping him, eels piled high. Some added an extra dose of spice, tears streaming down their faces. Stuffed and unable to pull away, faces full, they ate until their noses sweated.
Song Shi’an, not a big eater, discreetly sneaked a few mouthfuls of loach rice into his meal. Upon seeing another guest, he warmly greeted them.
Several guests were well-known street kids from nearby streets, here to enjoy the autumn breeze with no one else in the store.
“Boss, we need double portions of shredded eel for our noodles.”
Song Shi’an, surprised, explained, “We don’t serve double portions of the eel. Order one portion of noodles and one portion of shredded eel. Our bowls are piled up; there’s no room for more.”
Jie Liuzi smiled, “Boss, you’re so beautiful; I’ll follow your advice.”
Song Shi’an, initially uncomfortable, realized there were still a few customers and ignored the streetwalker’s lies, serving the noodles.
The street boy, seeing Song Shian’s slender form and gorgeous jade-colored robe, tried to touch his arm. Just as he was about to succeed, Xu Zhongyue intervened, grabbing his wrist, causing him pain.
Xu Zhongyue, with tight grip, placed the bowl in Jie Liuzi’s hand, asking if he had the strength to carry it over. Sweating and nodding, Jie Liuzi walked away.
Several streetwalkers, frightened by Xu Zhongyue’s presence, walked dejectedly to the table. Before reaching it, they heard his cold voice: “Come back!”
The street boy’s bones almost softened, he walked over slowly, five steps away, asking, “What can I do?”
“Three bowls of noodles, thirty cents, and you haven’t paid yet.”
Xu Zhongyue maintained a cold expression, silently waiting for the three people. The boy, rummaging through his clothes and ankles, managed to gather thirty in cash. Accustomed to free meals, he shed silent tears after paying.
Tasting the eel noodles, tears welled up again. It was incredibly delicious!
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“Have you eaten?” Song Shi’an’s smile deepened when his husband arrived. Separated for just a morning, he missed him immensely.
“No, you rest; I’ll make the noodles.”
Though Song Shi’an didn’t admit to fatigue, Xu Zhongyue, understanding his morning’s busyness, gently urged him to sit on the small stool behind the stove, arranging toppings on the bottom strips.
Xu Zhongyue wished his wife wouldn’t toil so much. With occasional mountain trips and his butcher business, Song Shi’an could enjoy a comfortable, homebound life.
Yet, he recognized Song Shi’an’s aversion to being confined at home. Their initial meeting involved Song Shi’an, sweating alone, pushing the noodle stall. Xu Zhongyue, experiencing Song Shi’an’s cooking, imagined a future of marital bliss.
While chatting, Song Shi’an revealed, “My dream is to own a restaurant with a roof, shielding me from the wind and rain. I love cooking and seeing people enjoy my food; it brings them happiness!”
Xu Zhongyue wanted to shield Song Shi’an from the likes of Jie Liuzi, but knowing Song Shi’an’s dream, he vowed to protect him, ensuring his happiness, even with a forehead covered in sweat beads.