Sure enough, as dusk fell, Carpenter Li came pushing a bamboo flatbed cart.
He was truly dexterous. He even designed a hidden compartment on the cart to fix the bamboo chairs. Li Ying tried pushing it twice and liked it so much that she couldn't bear to let it go.
"Brother Li, I just bought some bowls and chopsticks, and I've spent most of my money. Could I pay you your wages after we come back from the stall?"
Before Li Ying finished speaking, Carpenter Li waved his hands anxiously.
"You're being too polite! My wife has eaten so much of your stewed chicken. I'm just doing a bit of work. It's nothing! There were some oysters left from yesterday's beach - combing. Granny Sun loves them the most. I'll leave them here! I still have some work at home, so I'll leave first!"
He left a bag of oysters and ran away quickly, afraid that Li Ying would decline.
Li Ying increasingly felt that being abandoned by the Qin family in this small fishing village was actually a blessing in disguise.
She was just worried that the seasonings at home lacked freshness. The oysters Carpenter Li brought could be boiled into oyster sauce, which would solve the urgent problem!
Granny Sun helped her pry open the oyster shells, take out the plump and tender oyster meat, wash it clean, and then add the oyster juice left when opening the shells and an appropriate amount of water, and boil it over a low - heat.
The old lady didn't need much sleep. Seeing the dark circles under Li Ying's eyes, she felt really sorry for her and forced her to go back to her room to sleep.
When she called Li Ying up in the middle of the night, a large pot of oyster soup had been boiled into a dark oyster sauce. Granny Sun nervously wrung her fingers.
"A Ying... I just stirred it constantly as you told me. There was clearly no burning in the pot. Why is it so black..."
Li Ying took a sip. Although the homemade oyster sauce was not as sweet as the ones sold in the supermarket, it was much better than the farm - made salty sauce.
After getting her affirmation, Granny Sun finally let out a sigh of relief, packed up her things, and took her to go beach - combing as usual.
Thanks to Xiaotuanzi's lucky constitution, they were naturally very successful again.
Although there was no longer the rare big green crab, besides the clams and conchs from yesterday, there was also half a basket of small octopuses waving their tentacles.
Knowing that she was going to sell bento, Granny Sun simply gave her own basket of seafood to her.
After getting home, Li Ying added a little coconut oil to a large wooden basin, poured in the clams and conchs, and let them soak for two hours to spit out the sand. During this time, she started to deal with the small octopuses.
After blanching them briefly in boiling water, while washing off the mucus, she also tore off the slightly fishy tough skin. The white small octopuses looked much more appealing.
These small octopuses were most suitable for stewing in sauce.
Li Ying carefully filtered all the self - dried sea salt and farm - made salty sauce to remove the bitterness and residue, and then cut some scallions and ginger.
She poured coconut oil into the pot. After stir - frying the scallions and ginger, she first added the salty sauce and slowly fried it over a low - heat.
The people here only knew how to pour the sauce into the soup and stew it together. It tasted bland and inevitably had a fishy smell.
Watching the salty sauce slowly turn bright red, the simple kitchen finally filled with a strong sauce aroma.
Then she added the small octopuses, poured a circle of yellow rice wine along the edge of the pot, and added large pieces of cut seaweed, and stewed them together.
When the seaweed and octopuses were both dyed with the sauce color, she finally poured in the homemade oyster sauce, quickly thickened the sauce over a high - heat, and the sauce - stewed small octopuses were ready.
If the oyster sauce was cooked for too long, its freshness would be lost.
Granny Sun had been muttering that the dark, medicine - like thing she boiled might make the customers sick.
Li Ying cheerfully picked up a chopstick of the dish and asked her to taste it.
The seaweed had absorbed all the soup, being thick, plump and soft. In contrast, the small octopuses were more chewy. When you took a bite of the round head, there was even some roe inside, which was sweet and delicious.
"A Ying, you're amazing! I usually can't chew octopuses with my teeth and I don't like them at all. But the roe you made is so fragrant and soft. It's simply incredibly delicious!"
"And this seaweed. It has a strong fishy smell. But when stewed with the octopus, how can it be so delicious that I can't get enough of it!"
She wanted to eat more, but was stopped by Li Ying.
"Auntie, your gout hasn't recovered yet! After we make money today, I'll cook a whole table of delicious dishes to celebrate!"
As she said this, she quickly stir - fried scallion - flavored conchs and stir - fried clams. This time she added dogwood. Although it couldn't compare with the real spiciness of chili, it was better than nothing. The bright red little fruits even added some color to the dishes.
The oyster meat had been boiled dry of its essence and tasted tasteless, but it was quite large and looked plump and appealing. She added shredded seaweed and cooked a pot of hot seafood soup, making the most of the ingredients.
Granny Sun had already scrubbed the large wooden barrel inside and out several times with plant ash, making it clean.
Seeing that it was already dawn, the two of them put the three dishes and one soup into the barrel, wrapped it with a quilt for insulation, pushed the bamboo flatbed cart, and headed straight for the dock.
Most of the coolies had already unloaded their goods. They were chewing on the dry rations they brought with them and chatting idly.
Li Ying's big green crab yesterday had caused quite a stir at the dock. Seeing her come again today, pushing a big cart, many people curiously gathered around.
Li Ying put down the bamboo stools, cleared her throat, and greeted, "Freshly cooked, hot stir - fried dishes. Choose two for three copper coins, and you'll also get a hot soup!"
What?
What stir - fried dishes could be sold so cheaply?
The gentle breeze generously wafted the aroma of the dishes into the noses of the coolies.
Li Ying warmly opened the barrel and introduced, "This is stir - fried clams, scallion - flavored conchs, sauce - stewed small octopuses. There's also oyster meat in the seaweed soup. They're all meaty dishes fried with sesame oil. Choose any two for three copper coins. I'll fill this big bowl for you. It's guaranteed to be delicious and filling!"
The coolies looked at the shiny oil on the small octopuses and knew that this young woman with a child was being honest. They all couldn't help but swallow their saliva and were a bit tempted.
But they were all seafood... Wouldn't they be too fishy to eat?
While they were hesitating, a tall and thin man walked out of the crowd. His skin was slightly fairer than the coolies. He stretched out an arm full of scars, opened his hand, and gave her three copper coins.
"Give me a bowl. I'll have the conchs and octopuses."
"Sure!"
Li Ying replied crisply. She quickly scooped up a large spoonful of scallion - flavored conchs and then added a spoonful of sauce - stewed small octopuses. A small mountain immediately piled up in the big open - mouthed bowl.
"Sir, please enjoy your meal slowly. You can sit on the bamboo stools over there..."
As she said this, she looked up, showing a standard "thank you for your patronage" smile. But when she saw the man's face, she was stunned.
This man...
Wasn't he the one she met in the dilapidated temple?
The man took the bowl and walked aside to eat without saying a word. He didn't seem to recognize her.
Li Ying sensibly didn't say anything more.
Many coolies, seeing him gobbling up his food, curiously gathered around and asked, "Brother Lu, how does it taste?"
The man surnamed Lu didn't even raise his head and said in a deep voice, "The conchs are crisp and tender with a strong scallion flavor. The octopuses are plump, and the seaweed is soft. It's really good."
The coolies knew that this new Brother Lu was very taciturn. It was quite rare for him to say more than a dozen words. Hearing his praise, they finally mustered up the courage to try it and gathered around.
After just one bite, they all widened their eyes.
"Miss, your clams are so spicy! But it's really refreshing! Delicious!"
"My wife has bought small octopuses and cooked them before. They were so fishy! But this sauce - stewed one is really fresh. Miss, please give me another serving. I have to let my wife taste it!"
"Is there some special spice in these dishes? It has a flavor I've never tasted before. Miss, you're really good at cooking!"
Watching the coolies sweating while eating, Granny Sun was so busy cleaning up the bowls and chopsticks that she hardly had time to catch her breath. A satisfied smile appeared on Li Ying's face.
The first battle was a success!