"Wait a minute!" Han Baichuan finally couldn’t help but laugh, "You, girl, are quite interesting, commendable courage. Alright then, I’ll give it a try."
Yang Ruxin slightly arched an eyebrow.
"I’ll take a risk and try it." Han Baichuan spread his hands.
Yang Ruxin finally smiled, "I won’t disappoint you." She hurriedly placed the basket on the table and took out three jars, "I’ve made a sauce, but it’s not made with bean paste. This can be used for stir-frying, steaming eggs, or even just dipping with spring onions to eat with rice, and it can also be used as a seasoning..."
The ancestors of the Han Family had once been Imperial Chefs, but that was in the previous dynasty. After the fall of the former dynasty and the establishment of the Great Xuan Dynasty, his great-grandfather took his grandfather and his newborn father back to Lianhua Town. However, after his great-grandfather passed away, there was a great drought in Lotus County at the time, so his grandfather took his father to Beijing to make a living. With their excellent cooking skills, they managed to get by. Han Baichuan started chopping vegetables and flipping woks when he was six, and he had even worked as a Head Chef in a big restaurant in Beijing. But later, to take care of his elderly mother, he returned to his hometown and opened this hotel with his savings. However, he didn’t have the resources of the Shen Family, so he couldn’t compete with Shen Family’s Baiwei Restaurant. Nevertheless, he managed to hold his ground next to Baiwei Restaurant with some unique and affordable specialties.
To say he didn’t want to surpass Baiwei Restaurant would be false. The Shen Family was willing to spend the money, hiring renowned chefs and some retired Imperial Chefs, which naturally attracted customers, whereas his own standard and variety couldn’t compare.
But now, hearing about a unique and novel food, that competitive spirit rose in him again, and he couldn’t wait to open one of the jars.
Instantly, a fresh and fragrant aroma spread through the air, though some might consider it a stinky smell.
"Is this made with... shrimp?" Han Baichuan was serious as he looked closer, then sniffed.
"Shopkeeper Han really does have the nose of a chef," Yang Ruxin extended her thumb, "This indeed is made with river shrimp that I ground and then marinated..." she paused, "you can steam it with eggs, stir-fry doujiao with toon and various greens, or even make shrimp paste noodles... and it can also be added to other dishes to enhance the flavor... Of course, this can also be eaten just with spring onions and cucumbers. If the shopkeeper is willing, feel free to try it."
Han Baichuan then really had someone bring over a plate of spring onions and a plate of steamed buns.
"The flavor would be even better with pancakes," Yang Ruxin suggested.
"Pancakes?" Han Baichuan slightly raised an eyebrow, "Are those also a kind of snack?"
Yang Ruxin touched her nose, "It’s a kind of wheat-based food." Couldn’t there be pancakes at this time? That shouldn’t be the case, considering her observations these days, Baihua County where she lived was very similar in location and living habits to her hometown in Shandong in her previous life. Shandong pancakes rolled with spring onions are famous throughout the country, so how could they not exist here? Could she try making them?
"I’ve never had them," Han Baichuan shook his head, "I’ve only had meat pies."
A twitch appeared at the corner of Yang Ruxin’s mouth, and she quickly changed the subject, "Steamed buns will do." Saying so, she picked up some shrimp paste with her chopsticks, spread it on a steamed bun, and took a big bite. This was also a way of taste testing, to spare others from being hesitant to try.
Han Baichuan smiled, then also picked up a steamed bun. As a result, he successfully ate half a steamed bun after already having had breakfast, and then even belched satisfyingly.