Chapter 1
At half past five in the morning, everyone doing breakfast business got up. The lights in LeTan's shop had already been on.
Allison poured the rice that had been soaked overnight into the large pot together with the rice water, and poured the chopped ginger, shredded kelp, shredded broth into another large pot, and turned on the high heat. Then start kneading the dough, keeping an eye on the fire.
After a while, she started sweating. When Zhang came down from upstairs, she saw that her daughter Allison had taken off her cotton-padded jacket. Zhang and Allison made buns together, and put them on the drawer to steam.
At seven o'clock the helper arrived on time. Then the first wave of people eating breakfast began to walk in. More than a dozen tables were filled with people at once, and the queue outside was getting longer and longer. The four people were so busy that they wished they could have more hands.
LeTan Breakfast Shop is a long-established snack shop in this small town for decades. The porridge it makes is soft and glutinous, and the buns have thin skin and fragrant fillings. They make stir-fries at noon and evening. The most important thing is that it has a good reputation and uses both meat and oil. The food is clean and hygienic, the food portions are sufficient, and the prices are very reasonable.
Allison’s father Yao’s health has deteriorated in recent years, so he always asks Allison to do the work in the morning. It is said that Yao was the champion of the National Culinary Competition back then, but due to jealousy, he was falsely accused of using banned ingredients to participate in the competition, and was eventually disqualified. Yao came to the small town after being severely injured. He met LeTan previous owner’s daughter, Zhang, and fell in love at first sight, got married, and stayed in the small town.
Regardless of whether this statement is true or not, since Yao took over LeTan, LeTan’s reputation has become more and more famous. Simple and ordinary home-cooked dishes take on a different kind of deliciousness when they come out of Yao‘s hands. Those who have important matters or hotels where leaders are staying will sometimes ask Yao to take charge of the hotel for a few days. Some people want to hire him with a high salary, but they are all rejected. Over the years, LeTan has only expanded the shop next door into one and added a few tables in the past few years. Yao seems very happy to settle for the status quo.
It was past mid during the morning rush hour, and the number of people gradually dwindled. Allison took the remaining bowl of white porridge upstairs. Yao just got up, drank more than half of the bowl in one breath, pursed his lips, and nodded: "Have you read the new recipe I gave you a few days ago?"
"Yes, I have read it already."
"How much can you carry?"
Allison scratched his head, "I should be able to memorize it." Yao was not prepared to test her. He knew her daughter well and she had a gift of photographic memory. Even if she didn't know what it was and didn't understand how to do it, she could still recite it smoothly. It was completely pointless to test her recitation.
"You should depart for school."
"Ok."
The school is very close to home, it only takes five minutes to walk. Today the results of the final test of this semester have come out. Allison is undoubtedly the first in ranking again. She stuffed various test papers into the table and took out a thick notebook to read. Rather than her test scores, she cared more about her father's pursed lips and frown when she mixed up the materials. The notebook she was reading now belongs to her father. It contains some tips on cooking. On the title page it says: Practice makes perfect. Wisdom makes you smart. You don't show off your skill. You are as clever as clumsy.
"God morning, we are studying the recipe again." Liu, the classmate of Allison, next to her table, said and leaned close to Allison’s ear: "Look, Recca is very upset. The principal has found so many teachers for him to tutor him, but he still hasn't passed the exam. Meanwhile, You read the recipe every day and still the top on academic ranking list. Hehe.”
"Go, go, go, talk so close, your mouth smells like garlic." Allison pinched her nose in disgust.
"Damn, I just finished brushing my teeth and didn't even eat breakfast. Don't believe me? Smell it carefully again." After saying that, Liu moved Allison’s head with both hands, making a gesture to bring her mouth to Allison’s face.
"Go away." Allison slapped her face away. Liu turned her head and extended her mouth again.
"Hey, you're still here. If you keep doing this, don't even think about having something delicious to eat in the future."
Sure enough, this sentence still worked. Liu immediately flattered, "I'm wrong, I'm wrong, I'm wrong, repeat it a hundred times, you are kind, and don't care about the faults of a villain." As long as there is delicious food, Admitting a mistake or something is just a piece of cake.
Allison patted Liu’s head and said, "A girl can be taught." She generously took out two big meat buns from her bag and threw them into Liu’s hands.
Liu ate her mouth full of steamed buns, "Allison, these steamed buns of yours are really not made by humans. Oh my God, they are so delicious." In the end, Liu didn't forget to lick her fingers, and was seen by passed Recca. He ignored Liu with clearly a kind of disdain in his eyes. Liu didn't care: just be jealous.