Chapter 28: So This is How the Bamboo Dragonfly Works

Wang Shi was still thinking about how her hard-earned skills in making cold dishes would finally find a use. At that moment, Xu Nuo was outside with Zhang Yan and Shangguan, trying to move two round iron plates back to the courtyard.

“Oh my! I’m exhausted!” Zhang Yan panted heavily, sitting on a stone stool and wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.

“What is this junk? Sister-in-law, are you sure this is a pot?”

From their perspective, a pot should at least have a lid and be able to boil soup or stir-fry; instead, they stood before a large black circle, which didn’t match any of those criteria.

“Cousin, what do you need this bamboo dragonfly for, just to get us confused?” As they puzzled over the pot, Qi Lian entered holding a bamboo dragonfly.

Zhang Yan’s eyes nearly bulged out. “Are you kidding? This is what you were calling kitchen equipment?” Not giving up, he seized it to examine it, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t figure out how it could possibly be used to make pancakes.

By chance, Shangguan had some roasted chestnuts in hand.

He began to play around with the bamboo dragonfly, poking and prying at its two wings.

“Why can’t it work? You all are just too naive!” he declared confidently.

Xu Nuo cleaned the iron pan with water, had the children lift the stove, and began preparing to make the batter. No thin crisp could be found, so they would have to fry the potatoes and kelp themselves. She wouldn’t use any processed chicken strips, bacon, or meat sticks—she intended to use plain pork slices instead.

Without any starch sausage, they could buy pig intestines and make their own sausages, which would be healthier and tastier. The thought of the store-bought versions sent a chill down Xu Nuo’s spine, reminding her of past life traumas she could never quite forget.

Potato shreds and kelp strips went straight to Wang Shi to handle, while Xu Nuo sent Zhang Yan and Qi Lian with some young ones to nearby villages to see if they could gather surplus eggs. She and Shangguan would head to the market to look for fresh meat.

Once all the ingredients were collected, Xu Nuo set about preparing the pancake’s soul—the “thin crisp.” She mixed flour, salt, oil, eggs, and cool water and stirred it well before covering it with a quilt to let it rest for half an hour.

During that time, she cleaned the pig intestines, cut the meat into chunks, and marinated them with spices. She called the kids to help stuff the intestines, tying them off every ten centimeters.

After the dough had rested, Xu Nuo kneaded it into a long strip and rolled it out into thin sheets.

“Are we really preparing to make pancakes?” Shangguan, recalling how his mother had made pancakes for him as a child, thought they were ready to cook.

“Not yet! Not yet! The oil is heating up; this isn’t for making pancakes!” Xu Nuo’s comment piqued everyone’s curiosity; after all this effort spent to prepare the dough, it wasn’t even meant for the pancakes?

With a mysterious smile, Xu Nuo placed the thin dough into the hot oil, flipping it around until it turned golden brown and crispy. She scooped it out and placed it in a basket to drain the oil, letting it cool for later use.

During this time, Qi Lian discreetly took a taste, as did Zhang Yan. It was crispy, but tasted bland and they couldn’t quite grasp what Xu Nuo was hinting at.

“Keep your eyes peeled! This is how I’ll make your pancakes!” Xu Nuo finally showcased the bamboo dragonfly. She scooped some batter and poured it onto the preheated pan, twirling the bamboo dragonfly to spread the batter evenly across the circular surface.

For her busy family members, Xu Nuo didn’t skimp on the ingredients: two eggs, kelp strips, potato shreds, slices of meat—she added them all, generously brushing on a secret sauce. With a spatula, she flipped everything over, and a perfect pancake was ready. She wrapped it in a lotus leaf and handed it directly to Wang Shi to enjoy.

Zhang Yan and Qi Lian, entranced by the aroma of the golden pancake, knew it would surely taste fantastic. In a short time, everyone in the courtyard was handed a pancake.

“Mmm, delicious!” They hadn’t expected the batter to yield such delicacies.

“Exactly! Sister-in-law, when you mentioned pancakes, I thought we’d be mixing meat into the dough and frying it!” Zhang Yan was increasingly amazed by his sister-in-law’s culinary talent.

As Xu Nuo took a bite herself, the crisp skin crunched, and the sauce and meat filled her mouth, a perfect harmonious blend of flavors—crispy on the outside and delightful within!

“If I could add more sausage, it would be even better!” Xu Nuo eyed the sausages drying in the courtyard, knowing it was all meat.

Watching everyone devour the pancakes, she asked, “Do you think these will sell well?”

“Madam, with such tasty pancakes, they will definitely sell!” The young ones responded, their mouths still full.

“I haven’t had any grand meals, but with your cooking, madam, you will surely be the best in all of Quanzhou!”

“Keep eating!”

Shangguan thought about it; it seemed likely that his wife’s dream of becoming rich was on the verge of coming true. After all, in today’s society, food was paramount, and people would strive to satisfy their cravings.

The positive feedback boosted Xu Nuo’s confidence. “Alright then, let’s officially open tomorrow!”

“We should aim to spread the ‘Top Scholar Snack Stall’ across all the academies!” Xu Nuo, initially joking, found herself serious about the idea. It seemed destined to evolve into the first-ever chain of snack stalls, leading to a life of ease through hard work.

“Absolutely! I will play my part; I’ll be your manager and keep the accounts!” Zhang Yan would indeed do what he said, eventually not returning home to inherit the family business. Instead, he teamed up with Xu Nuo to carve out a success that surpassed even his father’s business ventures.

His line was, “Dad, you can keep that business for yourself and Mom to enjoy your old age!”

The following morning, Xu Nuo, along with Shangguan and the others, set up their snack cart at the entrance of the academy. After an afternoon of training, Wang Shi had mastered the art of making and spreading the batter evenly.

As students passed by, they were intrigued by the sight of the snack cart. “Good sir, may I ask what you’re selling here?”

Shangguan, who was busy writing a sign, looked up and said, “These are mixed grain pancakes. Without meat, they’re just five coins. If you want meat, it’s ten coins each.”

Seeing Shangguan’s icy demeanor, Zhang Yan quickly jumped in to promote their wares. “Today, you’re in for a treat! This pancake is unlike anything you’ll find in Quanzhou, or even across the whole country!”

“You can watch the entire production process! We use fresh, natural ingredients—eat with peace of mind and joy!”

“It’s crunch time for exams right now; aside from revision, what else is most crucial? Food and sustenance, of course!”

“Our pancakes use only the freshest ingredients—plenty of vegetables and meats! Just ten coins, and you can have all the nutrition you need! What are you waiting for?”