After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

Chapter 36 Selling Mala Tang, a Beautiful Misunderstanding

"Selling Mala Tang!"

"Selling Mala Tang!"

On a bustling street, inside a shop, a steaming iron pot was boiling, and a loud, energetic shout rang out.

The streets were bustling with pedestrians. Their eyes were initially on the surrounding stalls, but when they heard a series of noises coming from not far away, they couldn't resist their curiosity and walked over.

Looking at the "Happiness Residence" sign hanging on the shop in front of them, and then at the crowd gathered in front of the shop, the passersby who had come to watch out of curiosity were all speechless.

Not only them, but even Gu Lin hadn't experienced such a sea of ​​people in a long time.

Since Xingfuju opened, cold dishes and braised food are no longer limited in quantity. At the same time, customers no longer have to come and queue up before dawn.

Therefore, although Xingfuju's business was very good, apart from the first few days after it opened when the store was full of customers, there were only a few customers during fixed time periods each day.

Some pedestrians who had never been to Xingfuju before were still confused about what the spicy hot pot she was talking about was after hearing Zhao Saozi's shouts.

But some regular customers outside the shop quickly realized that Boss Gu had started making new dishes.

Wang Yue had just bought several cans of milk tea and was carrying them in his hand when he heard the words "mala tang" (spicy hot pot). He turned to Sister Zhao and asked, "Sister Zhao, what is mala tang?"

Having worked with Gu Lin for several days, Zhao's sister-in-law had become much bolder and more eloquent. She said, "This is a new dish that our family has developed. I can't describe its taste; you'll have to try it yourselves. But I can say that after tasting it, nothing else tastes as good!"

Upon hearing Zhao's exaggerated praise of the so-called spicy hot pot, Wang Yue smiled at first. Then, his mind involuntarily followed her words, thinking of the other delicious dishes at Xingfuju.

He had an idea and said to the woman in front of him, "Sister Zhao, give me a bowl of spicy hot pot."

Wang Yue thought that if other restaurants said such things, it might be just to make things mysterious, but Xingfuju... Wang Yue recalled the deliciousness of the braised food.

While fiddling with a bamboo tube in her hands, Sister Zhao asked Wang Yue, "Do you want it with chili oil or sesame paste?"

Wang Yue asked with a hint of curiosity, "Is there any difference?"

Sister Zhao opened her mouth to answer the other person's question, but with more and more customers coming and going, she was too exhausted to do so.

Just then, Gu Lin arrived after settling the final payment with the chili pepper vendor.

He stepped forward to take over Zhao's place, saying, "Sister-in-law, you go ahead and do your work. I'll answer this guest's question."

Upon seeing Gu Lin arrive, Sister Zhao immediately turned around and busied herself with her work.

Gu Lin turned to Wang Yue and explained, "This customer, our shop offers two types of mala tang. One is spicy red oil with meat and vegetables, and the other is non-spicy bone broth with all vegetables, but topped with a thick layer of sesame paste and maltose. Both types of mala tang are very delicious."

That's right, Gu Lin not only made spicy hot pot with chili oil, but also spicy hot pot with sesame sauce.

Originally, he only wanted to be the former, because in modern times, he and the people around him ate spicy hot pot with chili oil. Therefore, in Gu Lin's mind, spicy hot pot was always spicy with chili oil.

But that day, after Gu Lin made spicy hot pot at home, Zhao's wife took a bite and saw that she, who usually didn't have a strong reaction to cold dishes and braised food, was so spicy that she had to drink water.

After Sister Zhao drank several bowls of water to relieve the spiciness, Gu Lin asked with some concern, "Sister-in-law, are you alright? Is the mala tang really that spicy?"

"It's so spicy, Brother Lin! How come this hot pot is so much spicier than the braised dishes and cold dishes?" Even though she had drunk several bowls of water, Sister Zhao still felt her mouth was hot and tingling. She picked up her bowl and continued to drink water.

Upon hearing what the other person said, Gu Lin frowned slightly.

You see, when he was cooking the spicy hot pot, he was worried that Zheng Hao and Zhao's wife wouldn't be able to handle the spiciness of the chili peppers, so he only added a little bit of chili peppers. But he didn't expect that Zhao's wife would still find it hard to accept.

But he didn't feel anything while eating it, perhaps because the original owner wasn't afraid of spicy food.

He turned to Zheng Hao beside him and asked, "Xiao Hao, do you think the spicy hot pot is spicy?"

Zheng Hao looked up. He hadn't noticed the other person before, but now that Zheng Hao had looked up, Gu Lin immediately saw that the other person's originally slightly pink lips had become red and slightly swollen.

Clearly, this is the result of eating mala tang (a type of spicy hot pot).

Zheng Hao calmly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and shook his head slightly at Gu Lin, saying, "Uncle Gu, I can accept it."

Seeing Zheng Hao and Zhao's wife's completely different reactions to the spicy hot pot, Gu Lin thought that it seems that chili peppers are different from dogwood, and some people really can't accept the spiciness of chili peppers.

Gu Lin wanted to introduce new dishes that no one had tried before, but the premise was that the dishes could be accepted by most people.

If half the people in a county can't eat spicy food, then no matter how delicious the hot pot is, it won't help.

Gu Lin pondered for a long time; he didn't want to give up mala tang (a spicy hot pot dish) so easily.

As he was thinking, Gu Lin suddenly remembered that when he was in modern times, the internet had been pushing Northeastern Mala Tang (a type of spicy hot pot) to him for a period of time, which was a completely different food from red oil Mala Tang.

Although both are spicy hot pot, their flavors are completely different.

However, it is precisely because of the two different flavors of mala tang that people who like spicy food and those who don't can be catered to.

Gu Lin's immediate problem was solved, and he launched two types of mala tang (spicy hot pot) at the same time.

Wang Yue was conflicted, unsure which option to choose.

Seeing this, Gu Lin smiled and said, "Customers can each buy one to try. Mala Tang can not only be taken home as a dish, but also eaten as a main course by one person."

Wang Yue didn't want to linger on the matter any longer and said, "Okay, give me one of each."

Gu Lin asked, "Do you want all meat, all vegetables, or a mix of meat and vegetables for the spicy hot pot?"

Wang Yue replied without hesitation, "Half meat and half vegetables."

Gu Lin took two bamboo tubes and poured out the prepared vegetables and meat. Because there were only two people in the shop, him and Zhao's wife, and the place was not big enough, he couldn't put all the vegetables on the side for customers to choose themselves like modern mala tang shops.

The vegetables and meat in the mala tang (spicy hot pot) are all prepared in advance by them.

Gu Lin poured the prepared red oil broth and bone broth into two small iron pots respectively, then added the meat and vegetables. After the broth in the pots boiled, Gu Lin poured the two pots of spicy hot pot into two wooden bowls.

The spicy hot pot bowl didn't need any extra ingredients, but for the other bowl of bone broth hot pot, Gu Lin added a spoonful of garlic water, thick maltose, and a generous amount of sesame paste. Even before eating, just looking at it made one's mouth water.

Gu Lin looked up and asked Wang Yue, "Do you want to eat here, or take it back to eat?"

Wang Yue asked, somewhat puzzled, "You don't even have a place to sit in your shop, how can you let people stay here to eat?"

If Wang Yue were asked this question by the owner of another restaurant or eatery, he wouldn't find it strange.

But at Xingfuju, there are no tables or chairs in the store. The diners have always packed their food to take home and eat it.

Holding two open bamboo tubes, Gu Lin smiled and said to Wang Yue, "Guests can go to the tavern next door. I've already spoken to them, so you can bring your food and sit down to eat. However, if you want to stay and eat, you'll need to pay a deposit for the bowls. After all, the wooden bowls were made by my family one by one with great effort."

Wang Yue didn't care about the deposit at all and urged Gu Lin, "Then eat here with the takeout bowl!"

Gu Lin put down the bamboo tube in his hand and handed the hot pot to the other person, saying, "The hot pot will taste even better if you eat it right away after it's made."

After taking the hot pot from the other party, Wang Yue paid the money and deposit, then carried the hot pot to the tavern next door.

Wang Yue walked into the tavern, and saw the tavern owner look up at him, then lower his head to continue calculating the bill.

Wang Yue raised an eyebrow. He wasn't some naive child who didn't understand worldly affairs. His family was also in business, and he knew very well how profit-driven businessmen were. So he was curious about how Boss Gu had managed to persuade the tavern owner to let them, his customers, come and eat.

Although he was somewhat curious about it, Wang Yue's attention was gradually drawn to the spicy hot pot in front of him by the aroma.

He lowered his head slightly, first looking at the spicy hot pot with red oil on the left, then turning his head to look at the spicy hot pot with sesame sauce on the right, in a state of indecision about which one to try first.

Finally, Wang Yue thought the spicy hot pot on the left smelled better, so he picked up his chopsticks and started eating it.

As soon as he took a bite, Wang Yue felt an unprecedented spicy and fragrant aroma sweep over him, finally exploding in his mouth.

As Wang Yue ate the tender and spicy chicken, he felt as if his mouth was being scorched by flames, getting hotter and hotter. But he couldn't bear to spit out the food in his mouth. In the end, he endured the burning and numb feeling on his lips and swallowed all the meat and vegetables.

Looking at the bright red spicy hot pot in the bowl, Wang Yue's originally fair face flushed slightly.

His expression and eyes were filled with excitement because the spicy hot pot in front of him was so delicious.

Wang Yue's gaze involuntarily fell on another bowl of spicy hot pot.

The ingredients in sesame sauce hot pot contain no meat at all; they are all vegetables. The cooked vegetables are covered with a layer of not-fully-melted maltose and sesame sauce.

Wang Yue couldn't help but swallow, then stirred the spicy hot pot a few times as Gu Lin had taught him.

He picked up a piece of sesame sauce hot pot and started eating. He originally thought that the hot pot in front of him looked bland and oil-free, and probably couldn't compare to the deliciousness of red oil hot pot. But to his surprise, Wang Yue was amazed as soon as he put it in his mouth.

What a delicious taste that must have been!

The vegetables are soaked in the savory aroma of bone broth, coated with a layer of sesame paste and semi-melted maltose. When you eat them, you first experience a sweet and slightly numbing sensation, followed by an unforgettable aftertaste.

After finishing two bowls of spicy hot pot, Wang Yue felt thirsty.

So he looked at the tavern owner and called out, "Boss, bring me a pot of wine!"

"Alright, sir!" The tavern owner quickly filled a pot with wine and brought it to Wang Yue.

Sipping the cool, sweet drink, Wang Yue felt very thirst-quenched. After finishing one glass, he couldn't help but pour another.

Watching Wang Yue drink continuously, and more and more customers carrying spicy hot pot into the tavern, the tavern owner's smile grew even brighter.

Gu Lin also saw the lively scene in the tavern from Xingfuju, and he recalled the time when he went to discuss things with the tavern owner.

On that day, when Gu Lin asked the tavern owner to borrow the space for his customers to dine, the tavern owner thought that Gu Lin had a good plan and wanted to make him a sucker.

But when the other party says that the hot pot is heavy on oil and salt, and that the customers will feel thirsty after eating it, and they happen to be in the tavern at that moment, the tavern's business will improve!

The tavern owner was slightly tempted, but remained skeptical of Gu Lin's words.

However, considering the increasingly bleak business of the tavern since autumn, he decided to give it a shot and agreed to Gu Lin's request.

If the situation at the tavern doesn't improve, he'll end his partnership with Gu Lin; after all, he won't suffer any losses.

Looking at the packed lobby, the tavern owner was very satisfied and secretly glad that he hadn't turned Mr. Gu away.

After school, Zheng Hao brought back some good news.

"Uncle Gu, the school is on a monthly break."

That's right, students in this era don't have weekends.

Aside from major holidays, students are only allowed one day off per month.

Zheng Hao had been at the academy for over a month, and it was time for his monthly break.

Gu Lin said to Zheng Hao, "Since you have a day off, get some rest tonight. I'll take you out tomorrow."

.

After helping Zhao's wife finish her business at the shop, Gu Lin said goodbye to her and then took Zheng Hao to the clothing store.

Gu Lin and Zheng Hao's summer and autumn clothes this year were all ready-made clothes bought from clothing stores because they couldn't make them in time. They were not only expensive, but also very ill-fitting.

With winter still some time away, Gu Lin only needs to give the embroiderer some extra pay to get her to finish the work quickly, and he will receive the completed winter clothes in about ten days.

Upon entering the clothing shop, Gu Lin went straight to the shopkeeper and said, "Shopkeeper, could you please have someone take our measurements?"

The shopkeeper: "Okay."

Then he called out to the inside.

A short while later, a woman in her forties came out.

Gu Lin pointed at Zheng Hao, indicating that the other party should take his measurements. The shopkeeper chatted with Gu Lin, "Boss Gu, how many sets of winter clothes do you want to make?"

Gu Lin said, "The child is growing, and we don't have many winter clothes left. Let's make five sets first, and we can also make clothes for the Spring Festival at the same time."

Upon hearing what the other party said, the shopkeeper smiled and led Gu Lin to see the fabric.

He pointed to the smooth, soft, and brightly colored fabrics: "Boss Gu, take a look at these fabrics. The colors are light and lively, perfect for the younger generation."

Upon hearing this, Gu Lin glanced over the pile of gray fabrics in black, white, and blue around him, and finally his gaze fell on a piece of understated but not bright red cloth that the shopkeeper had pointed to. He said to the shopkeeper, "That red cloth is nice. Take it down and let me see."

After the shopkeeper took it down, Gu Lin asked, "May I touch it?"

"Naturally."

Gu Lin reached out and gently touched the red cloth in the other person's hand. The cloth felt smooth and moist to the touch, and Gu Lin felt a sense of fondness for it.

In the past, Gu Lin didn't understand why the aunties at the orphanage liked to dress the children in bright red or fuchsia clothes. Now that she was raising children herself, Gu Lin understood. Children are innocent and lively, so they should wear bright and colorful clothes to look good.

Gu Lin turned to ask Zheng Hao for his opinion, just as Zheng Hao finished taking the measurements and walked over.

Gu Lin pointed to the red cloth and asked, "Does it look good?"

Zheng Hao hesitated for a moment, but then said, "It looks good and suits Uncle Gu very well."

“But my father just passed away. If Uncle Gu wears red, I’m afraid it will cause others to criticize him.”

Gu Lin frowned slightly before realizing that this was an era where one had to remain a widow after the death of their husband and observe mourning for their father. He said with regret, "I was going to buy it for you."

Upon hearing Gu Lin's words, Zheng Hao paused slightly. He looked down at the extremely brightly colored fabric and remained silent for a long time.

Gu Lin looked away from the red cloth with some regret and said, "Let's go look at something else."

Seeing the slight disappointment in the other person's eyes, Zheng Hao pursed his lips and said, "Uncle Gu, I can wear it in three years."

Gu Lin was taken aback, thinking that the other person liked to wear red but couldn't wear it now, and comforted him, "Well, we can wear it again in three years."

As a result, the two had a misunderstanding.

Gu Lin thought Zheng Hao liked red, so three years later he bought him a lot of red clothes.

Zheng Hao thought that Uncle Gu liked him to wear red. Once the mourning period was over, the handsome young man put on a red dress, and under the blazing sun, he captivated the hearts of countless young girls and boys.