HCB Chapter 298 Building an Ice Cellar
Chapter 298 Building an Ice Cellar
It hasn't been used for a long time, and you can smell the rust on the iron plate.
Xu Yi glanced at the specks of rust on the edge of the iron plate. "Anyang, make the fire burn brighter."
She rolled up her sleeves, revealing her strong, powerful wrists.
Xu Anyang quickly added firewood, and the flames crackled and leaped high, casting a warm glow on half of Xu Yi's face.
The chill dissipated instantly, as if we had returned to a June day.
The iron plate was placed on a specially made stove, and wisps of smoke gradually rose from it.
Xu Yiyi used tongs to hold a large piece of pork belly, gently rubbed it on the board, and with a whoosh, white smoke rose up, and the aroma of meat instantly filled the air.
"What delicious food are you making this time?"
As soon as the aroma of oil wafted out, someone immediately peered over the doorframe at the back gate.
Xu Yiyi flipped her wrist, making the meat chunks draw circles on the iron plate.
The iron plate underwent a transformation; its originally dull surface gradually became glossy, and the rust, under the influence of high temperature and grease, turned into wisps of red smoke and dissipated.
The aroma of the meat grew stronger and stronger.
"I haven't had barbecue in ages!"
Sihai pouted unhappily, his desire for the food growing stronger.
"The sea snake meat is processed and sold until the evening. If it's processed now, it's probably not fresh."
Old Lu is a foodie and is very afraid of wasting ingredients.
"Don't worry! I'll go to Boss Song's place later and get some more ice to keep it chilled. It'll still be fresh by tonight."
Xu Anyang blew on the fire with his puffed-out cheeks, and the flames grew stronger, making the aroma even more intense.
Yunniang had overcome her fear and was now helping to skewer the food in the courtyard.
"Doesn't the restaurant have an ice cellar?"
Yunniang asked curiously, "Usually, restaurants with such good business would have ice cellars."
"The original restaurant was not doing well and there was no need for an ice cellar. After I took over, the ingredients were freshly killed and prepared, so there was no need for one either."
As Xu Yi spoke, he picked up the dried pork belly and threw it into the trash can.
"But we should build one. It's a bit embarrassing to go to Boss Song's place to buy ice every day."
The ice at the ice shop wasn't sold individually; otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to buy it from Song Datou.
"If we build an ice cellar now, it probably won't be needed for more than a few days, and the ice workshop will probably have to close down soon."
Old Lu stroked his beard. The ice workshop harvests and stores ice in winter and sells it at a high price in summer.
Once the weather gets cold, the ice cream shop will close down.
"Let's build it first, then we won't be in a panic when it's time to use it."
Xu Yi casually said, taking a few skewers of pork belly and putting them on to grill.
Soon after, the hot plate started sizzling again.
"Sihai, go to your brother's room and get me a large, unused calligraphy brush."
Xu Yiyi gave the order, and Sihai happily ran to the room he shared with Sanchuan.
She picked up a calligraphy brush, dipped it directly into the peppercorn oil jar, and then brushed a layer of oil onto the pork belly skewers.
The aroma was so strong and overpowering that it wafted out of the courtyard.
Hong Gang felt even more disgusted when he smelled the odor.
Xu Yiyi learned to make this iron plate as soon as he started setting up his stall at the dock.
The baked food wasn't bad, but no matter how I made it, it just couldn't compare to what Xu Yiyi made.
Looking back now, I realize that her special dipping sauce was the most crucial element.
Thinking this, Hong Gang felt very resentful.
I reckon the business next door will be even better today.
Xu Yiyi, unaware of her thoughts, took a few more skewers of snake meat and started grilling them. The snake meat gradually curled up when it came into contact with the fire, and the skin turned into a golden and crispy crust. The spicy and fresh aroma wafted into everyone's nostrils.
"It's delicious!"
After smelling the aroma, Yunniang stood aside curiously and looked at it; she had never seen anything like it before.
"Is this a local specialty of Ping'an Town?"
Thinking about it, Yunniang asked the question aloud.
"Not at all!"
Xu Anyang shook his head and placed the tofu and vegetables on the table one by one.
The tofu, soaked in oil, is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside; it's his favorite.
"This was my sister Yiyi's idea; you can't find it anywhere else."