Chapter 77: New Product: Youtiao

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: New Product: Youtiao

’Fried dough sticks? Another thing I’ve never heard of.’

"Did either of you notice this morning? Several customers were complaining about the same issue."

Hu Liang immediately remembered. "Was it those people who asked why we don’t sell steamed buns or flaky pastries?"

Ji Huan nodded.

It wasn’t just the food and beverage industry; many businesses were wary of having a single product. That was why, after a certain period, they would inevitably upgrade their existing offerings or launch new ones entirely.

Ji Huan had actually considered this issue. But they had only just gotten the hang of making the hot and spicy soup. For one, she hadn’t been sure how popular it would be, and for another, she worried they’d be too busy to cope. So, she had planned to take things one step at a time.

But after today, her doubts about the market had vanished completely.

Furthermore, when she had returned the herb roller to Doctor Xin, she had learned that something called alum already existed, and Yide Hall stocked it. It was said to have been brought from the south and wasn’t yet in common use. Aside from medicinal purposes, it was mainly used by a few fabric dyeing workshops.

Widow Xie suggested, "Why don’t we sell steamed buns, too?"

Hu Liang didn’t quite agree. "In our area alone, there are three or four stalls selling steamed buns."

"Liangzi has a good point." Ji Huan hadn’t expected him to be so observant of their surroundings while also serving customers.

"Even though the hot and spicy soup would help, our steamed buns wouldn’t sell poorly, but they wouldn’t have any unique appeal to draw people in. In other words, they would only sell because of the soup; they wouldn’t do anything to enhance the soup’s own popularity."

"So these fried dough sticks you’re talking about will work?"

"The fried dough sticks, like the hot and spicy soup, are something new. Customers have already accepted the soup. If the fried dough sticks can also succeed in the market, it’ll be a powerful combination. For us, it means two star attractions. For the customers, it means they’ll have something to eat and something to drink. They won’t wander off to other stalls because our selection is too small, and we won’t lose any more business."

Hu Liang’s interest was piqued. "Are these fried dough sticks really that amazing?"

"We’ll find out once we try them."

Ji Huan used a gourd ladle to scoop about a pound of flour into a basin. She mixed in the sourdough starter she had saved from before and began to knead.

Once it was a smooth ball of dough, she placed it in a sunny spot in the courtyard, covered it, and let it rise for an hour.

She mixed an alkaline solution, salt, and alum with warm water in specific proportions. Then, she kneaded the mixture into the risen dough, bit by bit. Once it was thoroughly combined, she let it rest for another hour.

This process, called proofing, allows the freshly kneaded dough to become softer and more elastic.

After the dough had finished proofing, she spread some oil on a kneading board. She placed the dough on it, kneaded it lightly until it was soft, then flattened it out into a long, wide sheet.

At the same time, the freshly cleaned iron wok was heating up. Ji Huan poured the contents of two jars of vegetable oil—one from Widow Xie’s house and one from her own—into it.

Widow Xie jumped in shock. "Wuan, what on earth are you doing!" ’Do fried dough sticks really use this much oil?’

Ji Huan laughed. "Don’t worry, Aunt Xie. I’m just letting them take a little bath. It won’t use up that much oil."

Widow Xie was still pained by the expense. "Not a lot? That’s a huge amount! How much will we have to sell just to make our money back? Just use my family’s oil, you should save yours."

Hu Liang also felt a little nervous. ’These fried dough sticks use fine flour and so much oil,’ he thought. ’Aren’t the costs a bit too high?’

Ji Huan pretended not to hear Widow Xie’s fretting. She turned and cut the proofed sheet of dough into strips about ten centimeters long and eight millimeters thick.

Then, she took two strips at a time, stacked them, and used a chopstick to press down lightly along the center, making them stick together.

When the oil in the wok began to smoke, she took a prepared strip and gently stretched it, giving it the basic shape of a fried dough stick. You could also twist it into a spiral before dropping it in the wok.

The oil was a bit too hot, and Ji Huan, afraid of getting burned by splatters, had Hu Liang find and clean two straight, evenly-sized branches to use as makeshift long chopsticks.

Once a strip of dough floated to the surface, she would wait five or six seconds before gently flipping it with the sticks to continue frying. Once the fried dough stick had mostly set, it was important to turn it frequently to ensure it cooked evenly, preventing one side from burning while the other was still raw.

Widow Xie, who had been muttering just a moment before, now stared wide-eyed alongside Hu Liang.

They watched clearly as two thick strips of dough were dropped in, and then, as if by magic, they puffed up, expanding more and more. In the blink of an eye, they transformed into long, thick, golden-brown batons.

Ji Huan scooped the finished ones into a basin to drain and began frying the next batch.

When she was finished, she placed the golden-brown fried dough sticks on the table in the main room. The sight alone was enough to make everyone’s mouth water!

Everyone except Ji Huan eagerly dug in.

After that, there was nothing but a chorus of praise for how delicious they were. Nearly half a basin of fried dough sticks was quickly devoured; even little Dabao ate three.

Hu Liang’s doubts completely vanished. "This will absolutely work! They’re brilliantly golden, so they look appealing, and they seem big and substantial. But the inside is actually fluffy, so they don’t use up too much flour or oil. They’re not just crispy, but also have a nice chewiness. We have to sell these!"

Widow Xie, naturally, had no objections either. She had just checked the remaining oil in the wok and could barely see a difference in the amount.

What she didn’t know was that while the drop in oil level wasn’t noticeable, repeated frying would cause the oil to darken, affecting the appearance and texture of the fried dough sticks. Although adding fresh oil from time to time could slow the process, harmful substances would eventually form, and the old oil would have to be discarded and replaced... Ji Huan decided she would wait until they had earned some money before telling Widow Xie this cruel truth.

They had eaten so many fried dough sticks that no one felt like having dinner. Considering that another tough battle awaited them tomorrow, everyone washed up and went to their respective beds.

They got up even earlier the next day. Upon arriving in town, they headed straight for yesterday’s spot, worried someone else might have taken it.

Strangely, the other stall spaces were already occupied by ones and twos, but their spot was still empty.

’Could there be something wrong with this spot?’ Ji Huan wondered.

She was about to ask Hu Liang to try a different spot, but he had already asked around and learned that the stalls in this area were more or less fixed. Since they were newcomers, it wouldn’t be good to start a conflict by trying to claim someone else’s spot.

"Did you find out anything about this particular spot, then?"

"They just said this spot has also been empty for a long time."

Hu Liang sighed. "Who cares. It’s an unclaimed spot. If no one else is using it, we will."

They had no choice but to leave it at that for now. The group split up and got busy.

Widow Xie and Hu Dacheng helped set up the tables and stools, while Hu Liang assembled their two simple stoves—one for the hot and spicy soup, and one for frying the dough sticks.

Ji Huan finished cooking the hot and spicy soup first. Seeing the sky begin to lighten, she started preparing the fried dough sticks.

The dough had already been kneaded and proofed at home. It had been wrapped in a quilt on the way over, giving it plenty of time to rest. So now, she simply flattened it on the board, cut it into strips, and waited for the oil to heat up before she started frying.

People from the neighboring stalls kept sneaking glances their way, both casually and purposefully. ’Yesterday it was that hot and spicy soup,’ they thought. ’What are they making today?’

As dawn broke, even before the academy students were out of their morning lessons, the few customers who had promised to return for more hot and spicy soup had already arrived.

Hu Liang led them to a table, and their hot and spicy soup was served moments later.

One of them took a few sips to savor the taste before tilting his head back and downing the rest of the bowl in one go.

"I’ve gotta say, this spicy soup of yours... it’s thick, aromatic, and surprisingly delicious."

Ji Huan chimed in from her spot by the stove, "Our hot and spicy soup doesn’t just taste good; it’s also great for your health and helps prevent illness. We add several medicinal herbs that are aromatic, aid circulation, and stimulate the appetite. Sir, if you drink this often, I guarantee you’ll feel great, have a hearty appetite, and find that everything you eat tastes wonderful."

The middle-aged man chuckled. "Is that right? Well, since you put it that way, I think I’ll have another bowl."

Hu Liang wasn’t sure if Ji Huan was telling the truth or just spinning a tale, but her words were undeniably effective. Upon hearing her explanation, the other customers began praising the soup endlessly, and those with heartier appetites finished their bowls and called for another.

’Of course it’s effective,’ Ji Huan thought. ’It’s cheap, filling, and has medicinal benefits. Where else could you find a deal like that?’

While they were talking, the first batch of fried dough sticks was ready.

Ji Huan cleared her throat.

Hu Liang instantly understood her cue and transformed into a salesman.