1995: From a small restaurant to a culinary genius

Chapter 60 Spicy Potstickers, for those with a strong palate.

Ever since brown sugar potstickers became a huge hit in the town, Xu Liang's small restaurant has become the busiest landmark on the entire street in the early morning.

Every day, before dawn, someone is waiting at the door to open it.

An elderly person leads their grandchild, a woman carries a vegetable basket, and a student carries a schoolbag.

The small restaurant was still bustling with lively, everyday life.

Looking at the endless stream of customers every day, Xu Liang felt both at ease and always kept a clear head.

The hype of the past few days.

It made him see a neglected group.

The town has brick kilns, sand and gravel pits, agricultural machinery stations, and transport teams, and is full of young and strong men.

They do heavy physical labor, sweat a lot, have big appetites, and prefer strong flavors, so they can't live without spicy food; the more stimulating, the more they crave it.

However, these young people also frequently come to his shop.

They buy spicy steamed buns, munching on them until they're sweating profusely, exclaiming how satisfying it is. They also occasionally try braised pork buns to cut through the greasiness. If they're feeling a bit more curious, they might buy a brown sugar potsticker, but after a couple of bites, they find it too sweet and not flavorful enough.

Several times, Xu Liang heard them muttering in front of the counter.

"The steamed buns are spicy, but they're too small. I can't keep up with the hunger after working all morning."

"If only there were a big, spicy, and hearty flatbread!"

However, this kind of flatbread wasn't in Xu Liang's recipe book. He hadn't looked up any information about it in his previous life, and he had never made it in this life either.

"And the nearby snack shops only have sweets, which are boring. Only spicy snacks are flavorful enough."

As the saying goes, what is said without intention may be taken to heart by the listener.

Xu Liang silently kept these words in mind.

Actually, brown sugar potstickers are prepared for the elderly and children, while braised pork buns are prepared to suit the tastes of the whole family. The earliest spicy flower rolls were prepared for those who wanted a half-satisfaction.

But these young people who do heavy manual labor have a real passion for strong flavors.

This is similar to Xu Liang's previous life, where when he was tired from working, he would just look at some beautiful women and feel indifferent.

So far, there isn't a single dish that truly belongs to them, a dish that can satisfy the hearts of the young people who do heavy labor.

After much deliberation, Xu Liang made up his mind.

I've decided to make a spicy potsticker.

What is this spicy guokui like? The answer is that the outer crust is crispy, the inside is chewy, and it is filled with spicy filling. It is substantial and filling, and one bite will make your mouth water.

Of course, it's thoroughly spicy and incredibly numbing.

It best suits the tastes of manual laborers.

That night, Xu Liang made sure to go to bed early to get enough rest.

Because he knew that the next day would be another tough battle.

At four in the morning, it was still pitch black outside the window, with only a few lights shining in the depths of the town.

Xu Liang had already gotten out of bed, and after a quick wash, he went straight into the kitchen.

I cooked a bowl of noodles at home and ate it before heading to a small restaurant.

Upon arriving at the small restaurant, Xu Liang discovered that the coal stove, which had been sealed off overnight, was cooling down.

Yesterday, when Xu Liang was about to go home, he sealed the honeycomb briquette stove in advance.

At this moment, I poked it open and found a few small coal ash pieces inside. I took out a tissue that I had been keeping in the bathroom for a long time, lit it with a lighter, and flames started to spread from the edge of the tissue.

However, the fire quickly grew stronger, and warmth gradually filled the small kitchen.

He turned the light back on, and the dim light illuminated the cutting board.

The noodle vat and rows of seasoning jars were all neatly arranged.

As is customary, he first prepares the dough for steamed buns and twisted rolls.

Three hundred and fifty spicy steamed buns and two hundred and twenty braised pork buns—this was the quantity he ordered based on a 20% increase in sales over the past few days. The flour was poured onto the cutting board, piling up into a small mountain.

He dissolved the yeast in warm water, added a little sugar to promote fermentation, and slowly poured it into the flour while stirring. Then he started kneading the dough by hand.

The dough needs to be soft and fluffy to be suitable for steaming.

Xu Liang kneaded and slapped the dough repeatedly until it was smooth, delicate, and soft to the touch. Then he covered it with a damp cloth and placed it near the stove where the residual heat was strongest to let it rise.

With the newly purchased honeycomb briquette stove, the fermentation speed is much faster than before, and the dough quickly becomes fluffy.

After finishing with the basic items, Xu Liang took a deep breath and turned to the real highlight of the day: spicy potstickers.

This thing and brown sugar potstickers may both look like potstickers, but the ways of making them are completely different.

Brown sugar guokui (a type of flatbread) should be soft and layered, with a sweet and mellow flavor, while spicy guokui should have a crispy outer crust and a strong spicy flavor.

It should at least have a firm texture, not harden when cooled, and have layers of flavor.

Xu Liang took a sufficient amount of all-purpose flour, sprinkled in a small spoonful of salt to increase the elasticity of the dough.

Add a spoonful of pre-cooked rapeseed oil; the aroma of the oil permeates the flour, making the crust crispier and the layers more distinct.

The dough is made with only cold water, without any added yeast, in order to achieve a firm and chewy texture.

He rolled up his sleeves and used both hands to knead, fold, and pound repeatedly.

The dough made a dull thud as it hit the work surface, each slap delivered with full force.

This step was the most physically demanding. In just a short while, beads of sweat appeared on Xu Liang's forehead, and his arms began to ache slightly.

But he didn't slow down at all. He kept going until the dough became firm and smooth, and it bounced back strongly when he squeezed it in his hand. Only then did he stop, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rest.

While the dough was resting, he began to prepare the spicy filling.

This is the soul of Mala Guokui (a type of Sichuan-style flatbread).

Xu Liang chose the spiciest Erjingtiao chili powder from the town's supply and marketing cooperative, which had a bright red color.

Add some crushed Sichuan peppercorns, and the numbing flavor is pure and lingering.

He mixed the two ingredients according to the proportions he had repeatedly tested, then added an appropriate amount of salt and sugar to enhance the flavor, and sprinkled a handful of white sesame seeds on top to add aroma.

With everything ready, he heated a spoonful of rapeseed oil until it was boiling, then tilted his wrist and slowly poured the hot oil into the condiment bowl.

In an instant, the red oil sizzled and rolled.

The aroma of chili peppers exploded, and the intense numbing and spicy flavor rushed straight into the nose.

The spiciness was even more penetrating than that of spicy steamed buns, spreading throughout the small restaurant kitchen.

To make the flavor more interesting, Xu Liang also chopped Yibin preserved mustard greens into small pieces, squeezed out the water, and mixed them into the red oil filling.

The crisp and refreshing pickled mustard greens help to balance the greasiness, making the guokui (a type of flatbread) fragrant but not cloying, and adding more layers of flavor.

Finally, sprinkle some chopped green onions on top, mix well, and the filling will be glossy and shiny, making it look incredibly appetizing.

Once the filling has cooled down, the dough will have risen sufficiently.

Xu Liang rolled the spicy dough into long strips and cut them into small, evenly sized pieces. He carefully weighed each piece to ensure they were all the same size after frying.

He picked up a dough ball, rolled it out with a rolling pin, making it thicker in the middle and thinner at the edges, so that it wouldn't break when filling it. After frying, the outer skin was crispy and the inside was plump.

Scoop a generous amount of spicy filling into the center of the dough. Xu Liang's fingers flew, pinching the dough tightly like making a bun, ensuring it was sealed perfectly to prevent oil and filling from leaking out during frying.

With the seam facing down, gently flatten it, then gently roll it out with a rolling pin to form a round cake of even thickness.

The golden-yellow blanks were neatly stacked on the cutting board, arranged in an orderly fashion.

Beside it were prepared brown sugar potsticker dough.

One is sweet, the other spicy; one is mild, the other domineering. They are distinct yet complement each other perfectly.

The frying pan on the stove was already hot. Xu Liang poured in an appropriate amount of rapeseed oil, and the oil temperature slowly rose.

He first placed several spicy guokui dough pieces into the pan one by one and slowly fried them over low heat.

The key is controlling the heat. If the heat is too high, the outer skin will be burnt and the inside will be undercooked. If the heat is too low, the skin will be soft and not crispy, and it will taste like fermented dough.

Holding the iron tongs, Xu Liang kept his eyes glued to the pan, flipping the pancake occasionally to ensure that each side was heated evenly.

As the temperature rises, the pastry slowly puffs up, its surface gradually changing from snow-white to light yellow, then to golden yellow, and finally developing a crisp amber color, with the edges slightly curling up to form a layer of crispy scales.

Chili oil seeped out from the tiny gaps in the dough, sizzling as it collided with the hot oil.

The strong aroma of spicy food wafted out of the house through the open door.

This aroma is completely different from the sweet scent of brown sugar potstickers. The spicy aroma is extremely penetrating, instantly capturing the sense of smell of those young people with a taste for strong flavors.

At the same time, the steamer was also put on the stove.

Three hundred and fifty spicy steamed buns and two hundred and twenty braised pork buns were stacked on top of each other, with wisps of steam rising from them.

The aroma of noodles and meat, combined with the spicy and numbing flavor of the frying pan, creates an incredibly tempting complex fragrance.

The smoke drifted from the chimney of the small restaurant to every corner of the town.

Xu Liang managed to keep up with both sides, his hands and feet moving non-stop.

Flip the flatbread, check the heat, add coal to adjust the fire, and tidy up the cutting board.

Sweat trickled down Xu Liang's forehead, soaking his collar. His arms were sore and numb from exerting himself for so long, but his eyes remained bright, showing no sign of fatigue or impatience.

He knew that today, these young people who couldn't live without spicy food had finally found their own favorite.

At seven o'clock in the morning, the small restaurant opened its glass door on time.

The first group of guests arrived as scheduled, and most of them were familiar faces.

The old man led his grandson straight to the brown sugar potstickers, which were crispy, sweet, and chewy, without being gritty or greasy.

The child ate with a beaming smile, and the old man smiled with complete satisfaction.

The peaceful and lively atmosphere was broken around 7:30.

A burst of hearty laughter came from the street corner.

There was more than one person; their steps were heavy, and their presence was imposing.

A group of young men in overalls, with dark skin and strong builds, walked arm in arm toward the small restaurant.

Most of them are workers in brick kilns and sand and gravel pits, and they have to start work before dawn every day.

Those people had to eat a hearty and flavorful breakfast to be able to withstand a morning of heavy physical labor.

A few days ago, they could only satisfy their cravings with spicy steamed buns.

Even so, they still felt it wasn't enough.

Even before we got close, a spicy aroma wafted over us, more fragrant, pungent, and enticing than the usual spicy steamed buns.

"What smells so good? It's even better than steamed buns!"

The burly young man leading the group was named Wang Hu. He was a porter at the brick kiln and had a loud voice. He rushed to the counter in a few steps, his eyes fixed on the golden, crispy, and red-oil-glossy spicy flatbread in the pan.

"Boss Xu, is this another new trick?"

Wang Hu patted the counter, looking curious.

"It looks so spicy and delicious, what is this?"

Xu Liang wiped the flour off his hands, smiled, and looked up at him.

"I just made these spicy guokui (a type of flatbread), especially for you guys who do heavy work and love spicy food. The outer crust is crispy, and the inside is spicy and flavorful. They're filling and satisfying."

"Spicy Guokui?!"

A group of young people's eyes lit up instantly.

The snack shops in town only sell sweet guokui (a type of flatbread), which the locals have long been tired of, finding it too sweet and unappetizing, and not to the taste of young people.

Now that a spicy flavor has finally appeared, it's just what they want.

"You really have spicy ones? Give me two! I want to try how spicy they are!"

Wang Hu immediately shouted.

"I want two too! And one braised pork bun!"

"I want three! I'll definitely have the energy to work today!"

Xu Liang deftly picked up the iron tongs and grabbed the spicy potsticker that had been fried to a golden brown and crispy perfection with flaky scales.

Put it in a clean plastic bag and hand it to them.

Wang Hu took it and eagerly took a big bite.

A "click" sound.

The crispy outer layer shatters instantly, and the scalding hot red oil melts in your mouth. The numbing and spicy flavors explode on your tongue at the same time, intense yet not pungent, with the aroma rushing straight to your head.

The crispness of the bean sprouts, the aroma of the sesame seeds, the chewiness of the dough, and the richness of the filling intertwine to create a complex texture and a strong, robust flavor.

He hissed and gasped from the spiciness, a thin layer of sweat instantly appearing on his forehead, but he continued to chew heartily, unwilling to stop, with a look of thoroughly satisfied enjoyment on his face.

"It's delicious! Absolutely delicious!"

Wang Hu gave a thumbs up, and his voice echoed throughout the doorway.

"Spicier and more fragrant than steamed buns, with a wonderfully crispy outer layer, one is incredibly filling! This is the kind of breakfast we deserve for doing heavy manual labor!"

Their companions also started eating, their faces turning red and sweating profusely from the spiciness, but they couldn't stop eating, wolfing down their food.

"It smells amazing! The spicy flavor is just right! It's more potent than any other snack stall in town!"

"Crispy on the outside, flavorful on the inside, the more you chew, the more fragrant it becomes!"

"From now on, this is my go-to place for breakfast. I can skip the steamed buns, I absolutely have to have the spicy potstickers!"

The young people's praise was straightforward and enthusiastic, and their loud and boisterous exclamations instantly attracted more young people passing by.

The aroma of the spicy food drew everyone in town, and they all crowded around the counter.

They already prefer oily and spicy food, so how could they resist this smell?

So, everyone pulled out their spare change to buy.

In an instant, two groups of people naturally formed in front of the small restaurant.

The elderly, children, and women lined up quietly, waiting for brown sugar potstickers and braised pork buns. The atmosphere was warm and the sweet aroma filled the air.

On the other side were young and strong men, bustling and noisy, scrambling for spicy potstickers, the atmosphere was lively and the spiciness was overwhelming.

Xu Liang was so busy that he barely had a moment to rest.

He had to take care of the elderly and children with gentle movements, reminding them to be careful not to burn their mouths, while also dealing with enthusiastic young people, working quickly to bag, give change, flip, and roll out the pancakes, without even a chance to catch his breath.

The frying pan never stops; a batch of spicy guokui (a type of flatbread) is sold out in the blink of an eye as soon as it's cooked.

Xu Liang could only keep rolling out the dough, putting it in the pan, flipping it, and taking it out of the pan, repeating the same cycle over and over.

The dough on the cutting board disappeared rapidly, while the frying pan sizzled and released a continuous aroma of oil.

However, today a middle-aged man who runs a transport business bought five spicy guokui (a type of flatbread) in one go, saying he wanted to take them to his truck.

Because when the goods arrive at their destination, he needs to unload and move them. Eating spicy guokui (a type of flatbread) can satisfy hunger and cravings.

Another benefit is that the spiciness can keep you alert and make it less likely to feel drowsy while driving.

A few teenagers even had a competition to eat guokui (a type of flatbread) at the entrance.

It was so spicy that my nose was running and I was constantly inhaling, but I still smiled happily and exclaimed that it was so satisfying.

Several young workers even went back to buy a second one after finishing one, muttering to themselves.

"It smells so good, I haven't had enough!"

"Boss Xu, your spicy guokui (a type of flatbread) is absolutely amazing! It's so thoughtful of you to cater to us working-class folks!"

"Yeah, before we couldn't even buy spicy pancakes, but now we finally can!"

Xu Liang simply smiled and agreed, his hands continuing their work without stopping.

He specifically developed this spicy potsticker for these young people. The elderly and children in the small town need care.

But these young people who do heavy work and eat strong-flavored food also need a warm meal that suits their taste and makes them feel good.

What he wants to do is not just create a small shop that pleases only a small group of people, but to allow everyone to find the flavors they love to eat.

As time went by, workers going to work, passengers rushing to catch trains, and neighbors returning from grocery shopping flocked in.

The queue in front of the counter grew longer and longer, the place was bustling with noise and the whole street was ablaze with activity because of this little restaurant.

The elderly and children prefer brown sugar potstickers, which are soft, sweet and not hard on the teeth. Young people are crazy about spicy potstickers, which are chewy and spicy and satisfying. Housewives like braised pork buns, which are savory and flavorful and suitable for the whole family. For those who crave spicy food, spicy flower rolls are indispensable, which are delicious, appetizing and never get tired of eating.

The four dishes each have their own focus, complementing each other with sweet and spicy flavors, making them suitable for all ages and completely catering to the tastes of everyone in the town.

The steamed buns and dumplings in the steamer are decreasing at a visible rate, the spicy potstickers in front of the frying pan are in short supply, and even the brown sugar potstickers that were popular a few days ago are still maintaining extremely high sales.

Even though Xu Liang increased the amount of stock in advance, he still couldn't resist the enthusiasm of the townspeople, and almost ran out of stock several times.

Around 8:30, the last spicy potsticker in the pot was sold.

At this point, the steamer was completely empty, and the cutting board was spotless, with not a single piece of dough left.

After seeing off the last guest, Xu Liang slumped onto the bench by the door and finally let out a long sigh of relief.

My muscles are sore and swollen all over, it's hard to even lift my arms, my fingertips are red and swollen from touching the hot pot for a long time, and my waist is sore from standing for a long time.

But his heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of accomplishment.

After a long pause, he finally got up and began to tally today's revenue.

On the table, a small pile of loose change lay, crumpled bills and warm coins.

The brand-new banknotes were mixed together; every penny was a testament to a busy morning.

350 spicy steamed buns, revenue of 175 yuan; 220 braised pork buns, revenue of 220 yuan; 200 brown sugar flatbreads, revenue of 100 yuan; 230 spicy flatbreads, revenue of 115 yuan.

All of these add up to a total of 610 yuan.

Daily revenue exceeded 600.

In an era when the average worker's monthly salary was just over three hundred yuan, Xu Liang's income in one morning was equivalent to two months' salary for an ordinary person.

The small restaurant is no longer just a simple breakfast stall; it has successfully become the preferred place for daily breakfast for the neighborhood.

Xu Liang alone has been the sole source of popularity for this small shop.

This also forged Xu Liang's confidence after his rebirth.

Xu Liang stood up and walked to the door. He thought about how pathetic he had been before, and now, this was the starting point for his rebirth and rise.

This is the world he built up slowly with a bowl of noodles, and with steaming and frying.

The launch of the spicy potsticker is just a small step in his overall plan.

The future is long, and he will continue to innovate and refine the flavors to take his shop's business to the next level.

A new day may seem to have ended, but it has only just begun.