Chapter 100: Where’s The Shrimp Oil?!
Sixty?
Honestly, Bai Lianqi was indeed tempted.
With these sixty silver dollars, he could live a leisurely life for a while.
But he hesitated, feeling the painting should be worth more.
“Wontons are here~~” the boss’s cry, stifled the words Bai Lianqi had been about to say.
Cao Weida proactively invited, “Come, Master Bai, eat.”
“Ah, okay.” Looking at the wontons before him, smelling the wheat aroma wafting out, having only eaten one steamed cornbread bun that morning, Bai Lianqi’s stomach was already empty. His cravings were instantly stirred, and he forgot all about the painting, deciding to fill his stomach first.
It must be said, these Bannerman descendants were all about pretentiousness.
A bowl of ordinary wontons was eaten by Bai Lianqi with the feeling of Buddha jumps over the wall.
His unhurried movements, his rapturous expression with each bite, tsk tsk, Cao Weida found it tiresome to watch.
He hadn’t even eaten a few bites before Bai Lianqi started to critique them,
“The soup base for these wontons clearly hasn’t been refined carefully. To talk about wontons, although simple, making them well involves a lot of nuances.”
“One bite of this bowl of wontons tells me it was boiled in plain water, significantly reducing the flavor.”
Cao Weida, with great interest, flattered him, “As expected of someone from a prominent family. I’m from a poor background and only know how to fill my stomach. It’s like Zhu Bajie eating ginseng fruit; you’re the expert. Could you enlighten me?”
Before transmigration, he was just an ordinary person, eating mostly home-style meals daily. He never had the time or energy to enjoy such refined culinary practices.
Now that he had transmigrated and had a bit of money, shouldn’t he be able to enjoy himself?
After all, if he didn’t enjoy himself now, it would be difficult to do so after Liberation.
But if you asked him to enjoy himself, he genuinely didn’t know how.
Other than going to famous restaurants in Beiping to gorge himself, he had no other avenues.
Now that he had encountered an expert, he naturally had to seek his advice humbly.
“Master Cao, it’s not that I’m bragging to you, but on other matters, I, Bai Lianqi, have nothing to say. But when it comes to eating, I can certainly tell you a thing or two.” When discussing his area of expertise, Bai Lianqi’s heart fluttered with excitement, and he spoke enthusiastically and volubly:
“Take these wontons, for instance. Anyone can make them, and anyone can eat them. But to make them meticulously, that’s where the real discussion lies.
These wontons must be boiled in chicken broth or pork bone broth, not plain water, to bring out their freshness!
When they’re cooked and ready to be served, if you add a spoonful of cooked lard, hey, that’s authentic!
As for the seasonings, cilantro, preserved vegetables, seaweed, dried shrimp, shrimp oil, and pepper powder – none should be missing. After serving into the bowl, add a couple of drops of soy sauce and vinegar, and the taste, oh, it’s simply divine!”
“Wow, so a bowl of wontons has so many subtleties. I’ve truly learned a lot.” Cao Weida couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up,
“Boss, boss! Come here for a moment.”
“Coming, coming, Master Cao. Is something not up to your satisfaction? If there’s anything you’re not pleased with, please don’t hesitate to say.” Hearing the call, the boss hurried over, putting down his work.
His familiarity and respectful demeanor indicated they were well-acquainted.
Bai Lianqi’s eyes darted, and he whispered to Dezi beside him, “It seems this Master Cao is quite approachable.”
Dezi whispered back in his ear, “Master, I didn’t have a chance to tell you earlier. This Master Cao is more than just approachable; he’s also kind-hearted and never bullies us small vendors.
In our area around Tianqiao, any business owner knows Master Cao. Ever since Master Cao arrived, our lives as small vendors have improved considerably.”
“Oh? It seems I was ignorant.”
Cao Weida ignored their hushed conversation and pointed his chin towards the wontons, “Why aren’t your wontons boiled in chicken broth or pork bone broth?”
“Ah?” The boss was stunned for a moment, then said with a wry smile, “Master Cao, please spare me. I would if I could, but we don’t have them.”
“You know how strictly Taijun controls grain. We can’t buy chicken or ribs right now.”
“Not to mention the flour; I had to spend a lot of money to buy this from the black market. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t dare use pure white flour.”
“And, I don’t mind telling you, even if I could buy them, I couldn’t afford it. The people who eat wontons here are all poor commoners. If I added chicken broth or pork bone broth, the price…”
That’s right; he had forgotten about that.
“What about the shrimp oil? Why don’t I see any shrimp oil? An expert said wontons are delicious with shrimp oil.”
“Oh dear, I apologize, Master Cao. The shrimp oil ran out yesterday. With the constant curfews lately, entering and leaving the city has been difficult. Even Shashahai is blocked, let alone sea shrimp; there aren’t many river shrimp either. I only managed to get some after several days of effort.
I’m fermenting some at home, and it will be ready tomorrow. I’ll have someone deliver some to your residence.”
Cao Weida thought for a moment, then took out three silver dollars and a certificate from his pocket and handed them over, “Take this certificate. When the time comes, go and procure some chicken or pork bones. Make eighteen portions of wontons tomorrow evening and deliver them to Ruixin General Store near Chaoyang Gate, then deliver five portions each to 36 Caomao Hutong and 28 Yan Dai Xie Jie.
Also, seven portions to 97 Nanluoguxiang. Is this money enough?”
“It’s enough, it’s enough, even more than enough. One silver dollar plus thirty union bonds is enough; you’ve given too much.”
As union bonds were continuously issued, the initial exchange rate of one silver dollar for 1.3-1.4 union bonds steadily increased over time.
By now, with another large issuance of union bonds, the exchange rate had once risen to 1:124 yuan, and it was foreseeable that this ratio would only continue to increase with time.
“Then prepare one more portion, the same amount as before. Send it tomorrow morning as well. I’ll deduct the rest next time I come.” One or two silver dollars were not worth bothering Cao Weida, who was rich and generous, to put back.
“Got it, I’ll remember for you!” The boss, with a beaming smile, took the money and put it away.
Due to the rapid devaluation of union bonds, most merchants were increasingly reluctant to accept them. If it weren’t for the military intimidation by the Little Devils, they might not have even bothered.
When a customer paid with silver dollars, any boss would greet them with a smile.
After dismissing the boss, Cao Weida continued to ask Bai Lianqi about famous snacks. Bai Lianqi, wanting to show off or perhaps build a good relationship with Cao Weida, spoke eloquently:
“We won’t even mention the time-honored Eight Great Towers in the Capital City. Let’s just talk about the snacks from the streets and alleys.
For example, minced meat pancakes and pea cakes; if you’re going to eat them, you must eat Fang Shan’s.
For stir-fried dough scraps, it must be from the Mu Family Village in Hufang Bridge!
For boiled sheep’s head, it must be made by the Ma family on Langfang Second Lane outside Qianmen.
For scabbard fire-baked buns, it must be from Rui Ming Lou in Dong’an Market.”
Cao Weida listened with great relish, marveling in his heart.
It was just that Bai Lianqi was born in the wrong era; with this level of culinary appraisal, in modern times, he would definitely be a formidable food critic!
“Master Bai, have you eaten all these things you mentioned?” Just hearing this made Cao Weida’s mouth water profusely. Although he had just eaten his fill, he felt hungry again.
“Of course. I used to be a regular at all those places. Whenever I went, everyone would greet me as Master Bai.” Bai Lianqi proudly lifted his head, “Let me put it this way, if any dish had the slightest flaw, just one taste from my tongue, and it would be exposed!”
Then, Bai Lianqi sighed mournfully, “Don’t laugh at me, but my family used to be prosperous. However, by my generation, we’ve already fallen on hard times.
We just didn’t get to live in good times. My father enjoyed all the pleasures he could; his life was truly worthwhile.
He played with great enthusiasm and ate with abandon.
Fortunately, he passed away in his fifties; otherwise, who knows what would have happened when he got older.”
Yes, your father certainly enjoyed himself back then, but all those enjoyments were funded by the sweat and toil of the people!
Cao Weida secretly shook his head. It wasn’t entirely true that all these down-and-out Bannerman descendants were villains; it was just that they couldn’t let go of their ancestors’ pride and were obsessed with saving face.
Take the birdcage next to them, for instance. It was covered with a cloth, but ever since Cao Weida approached, it hadn’t made a sound. It was clear there was no bird inside; it was just an iron cage for show.
“Burp~~ Comfortable.” The wontons of this era were plentiful and filling. The vendors were very honest. Bai Lianqi patted his stomach, a happy smile of contentment spreading across his face.
“Master Bai, have you finished eating?”
“Yes, yes, I’m done,” Bai Lianqi nodded repeatedly.
“Alright, then let’s continue talking about this painting.”
“Master Cao, I’ve been your guest, and I should offer something in return. But to be frank, this is already the last calligraphy and painting of my Bai family.”
“I understand. So, how much would you be willing to part with it for?”
“How about this: if you pay 100 silver dollars, you can take it!” Bai Lianqi gritted his teeth and said. He could tell that Cao Weida had some money and could definitely afford the hefty sum of 100 silver dollars!
He was already calculating in his mind where he would go for a lavish meal with that money.
“100 silver dollars? No, no, that’s too much. I don’t even know who the artist is. To spend a hundred silver dollars just because it looks good, wouldn’t that make me a sucker?” Cao Weida repeatedly shook his head and added,
“How about this: if you can introduce this painting and tell me one or two things about it, I’ll pay the hundred silver dollars.”
He was certain that Bai Lianqi was just a gluttonous good-for-nothing who only knew how to eat, drink, and play, which was why he said this.
Actually, he didn’t dislike Bai Lianqi.
Bai Lianqi was smooth and worldly, skilled in scheming, but his nature wasn’t inherently bad; he still had a bottom line.
Similarly, he didn’t particularly like those who were lazy, obsessed with face, short-sighted, and somewhat selfish.
He had no intention of pitying such a down-and-out descendant.
To put it bluntly, their ancestors had enjoyed their share of prosperity. Even if they were down on their luck now, they spent their days eating and drinking; did they need his pity?
