Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 81 One pot comes out

Lao Bian Dumplings is indeed very famous. Even before noon, the restaurant was already packed with people. Tourists from other places usually visit the Forbidden City, and when they come to the Forbidden City, they will definitely come to Zhongjie. And when they come to Zhongjie, how can they not come and eat? So it became very popular.

In fact, like many century-old brands, the brand is now just a brand name. For example, Tianjing steamed buns, Fengtian dumplings, Beijing ducks, Nanjing ducks, Henan soup dumplings, and many others. These are not the original products. The public-private partnership after the founding of the People's Republic of China basically destroyed these things. After another ten years or so of reform, what was restored was just a brand name.

However, it still tasted good to people from the early 90s.

"It's delicious, it's really delicious, why do you say it's not good?" Xiao Hong asked Chen Xiao while eating.

The group ordered several kinds of dumplings, including boiled dumplings, steamed dumplings, pan-fried dumplings, and potstickers, along with a few side dishes and some egg drop soup. They ate with gusto, their mouths greasy from the food.

Chen Xiao said, "The dumplings are delicious. I'm not saying they're not good, but there are other places that can make good dumplings too. Daqinghua, Hongji, they're all good. I think Hongji makes them better than this. Daqinghua's dishes are good, it's just not as famous."

When people talk about Northeastern cuisine, they immediately think of things like scallions with dipping sauce, pickled cabbage, blood sausage, and braised pork ribs. But that's not really the case. These are just common Northeastern home-style dishes. It's unfair to compare famous dishes from other regions with these Northeastern home-style dishes.

The food in Northeast China varies greatly in price. Everyone knows the most famous Northeastern dishes: the Manchu Han Imperial Feast, right? The Whole Deer Feast, have you heard of it? The Whole Beef Feast, or the Whole Lamb Feast? The Whole Fish Feast? They're too expensive, so what you see here are mostly everyday dishes.

The imperial cuisine of my Qing Dynasty was nothing more than a variation of Northeastern Chinese cuisine. Try serving a dish made entirely of Sichuan peppercorns or chili peppers to a bunch of savages from the mountains of Northeast China, and they'll be dead.

"Where are we going after we eat?" Chen Xiao asked, wiping his mouth. No wonder this girl is so small; she eats so little.

Xiao Hong was still eating when she said, "Weren't we going shopping? Where do you want to go?"

Xia Maosheng, gnawing on a bone with greasy hands, said, "There's a Marshal's Mansion over here, aren't we going to take a look?"

Xiao Hong asked, "Zhang Liuzi's residence? Or his father's?"

Xia Maosheng reluctantly put the bone he had finished gnawing on the table and said, "Damn it, but he also lived there. It's just one building, and there's a stadium behind it."

Xiao Hong thought for a moment and said, "I want to go see Beidaying. Wasn't that where the Japanese suddenly occupied Beidaying and started the war?"

Chen Xiao said, "It's over at Liutiaohu, but you won't be able to see it even if you go there. It's still a military camp there, and you can't get in."

Xiao Hong turned to Xiao Wei and asked, "What else is here?"

Xiao Wei looked out the window and said, "There's a movie theater too." Everyone laughed, and Xiao Hong kicked Xiao Wei.

Xia Maosheng paused, thought for a moment, and said, "Hey, really? We could watch a movie. It's been years since we've seen a movie."

Chen Hui said, "What's the point of watching movies? Singing is much better. I love you endlessly~~, I'll love you year after year." Xia Maosheng nudged him with his elbow, interrupting his self-absorbed singing, and whispered, "Are you stupid? Are you not stupid?" As he spoke, he glanced at Chen Xiao.

Chen Hui belatedly exclaimed, "Yeah, yeah, let's watch a movie! It's been so long since I've seen one, I really want to!" Everyone laughed again, hahaha. Chen Xiao blushed and glared at Chen Hui before laughing along.

After everyone had finished eating and drinking, Chen Hui paid the bill, and the group left the restaurant and stood at the intersection of Zhongjie Street. The biggest advantage of a pedestrian street is that there are no cars; the wide streets allow you to walk wherever you want, which is the main reason why pedestrian streets have quickly become popular and welcomed by people.

"Hey, look at that, isn't it nice?" Chen Xiao pointed to a shop window in a shopping mall not far away and called out, pulling Xiao Hong along as they ran over, with a bunch of grown men having no choice but to follow.

"It looks really good, and it suits you well." Xiao Hong stood in front of the shop window for a long time, then turned to look at Chen Xiao and said.

Chen Xiao jogged in place, pushing Xiao Hong and saying, "Go in, go in, go in and take a look."

So there were no other activities, just shopping. For women, shopping has nothing to do with age, money, or time. As long as there are streets, they can shop forever, even if they don't buy a single needle in the end. I just don't understand what makes them satisfied.

Around 4 PM, Xiao Hong and Chen Xiao walked out of the mall hand in hand, Xiao Hong carrying a skewer of oden. Xiao Wei followed behind with a blank expression, carrying a camera bag. Chen Hui and Xia Maosheng also looked visibly listless. Yang Tiebin didn't even go inside; he just sat on a bench by the street, lost in thought.

Chen Xiao looked around and said to Xiao Hong, "Let's stop shopping and eat. Our legs are tired from walking."

Xiao Hong glanced at Chen Xiao's feet, nodded, and said, "Okay, I'm starving. What do you want to eat? Are there any good places to eat around here? My family will treat."

Chen Xiao said, "So how do you usually get by at school? I see you get hungry all the time. What do you eat there?"

Little Red blushed slightly and said, "We're just out having fun, and we've walked too much. I don't even do this at school. What do you mean?"

Chen Xiao covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "You always seem like you're never full. The amount you eat in one day is enough for me to eat for several days."

Xiaohong took a bite of the fish ball and said, "If there's something good to eat, I'll eat it. My stomach can hold it all. I just buy a few steamed buns at the school cafeteria, and I eat one when I'm hungry. Yeah, I seem to really enjoy being hungry. Do you think there's something wrong with me?"

Xiao Wei said, "Aren't you tired and have nothing better to do? Who would say they're sick for no reason? Just eat when you're hungry."

Xiao Hong stuck out her tongue and asked, "What do you want to eat? I don't want dumplings anymore, let's eat something else. Chen Xiao, what do you suggest?"

Chen Xiao thought for a moment and said, "How about we go back to our neighborhood to eat? Let's go to that Cantonese restaurant, it's on me."

Xiao Hong threw the empty skewers into the trash can next to her, rubbed her stomach and said, "I'm hungry. I won't go all that way. It's a rare opportunity to come here, so let's eat here. Think carefully about what good food is available here."

Chen Xiao looked around, frowning as he thought. Yang Tiebin came over and chimed in, "What can't we eat? Just find any restaurant and have a big stew, like green beans with pork bones or fish stew, anything goes."

Chen Xiao's eyes lit up. He glanced at Yang Tiebin and said to Xiao Hong, "Hey, I know a place that serves 'One Pot' food. It's really good, authentic farmhouse flavor. There are no tables, just an earthen stove with a big iron pot on top. Everyone sits around the stove and eats directly from the pot. Want to go?"