Chapter 189: Chapter 189 When Did the Summit Become So Lively?!
"Look over there, there’s a small shop!"
"Someone actually opened a shop on the mountaintop? Wow, who’s that capable?"
"Let’s go, let’s check it out!"
At this very moment, the sun had already risen. It was just on the other side of the mountain, a golden orb, seemingly gentle in its light but actually illuminating the entire Earth with ease.
Jiang Feng’s little shop was also brightly lit by the sunlight.
The time was about 6:40 AM.
The back of Mount Qingcheng opened to tourists at six in the morning, so the current visitors were among the earliest batch.
In a while, more and more people would arrive.
The tourists who climbed to the peak would definitely be hungry.
Jiang Feng began preparing fried dough sticks.
The dough had already risen perfectly, its surface covered with oil and tightly wrapped in plastic wrap.
Jiang Feng sprinkled flour on the cutting board and spread it evenly with his hands.
Then, he tore open the plastic wrap, placed a firm ball of dough on the board, gently stretched it out, and rolled it flat with a rolling pin.
He then cut it into long strips with a knife.
He also had to dip a chopstick in water and press down, stacking two strips on top of each other. Then, he pressed down hard in the middle with the chopstick, causing the strips to splay outwards.
With the basic shape done, once fried in the pot, the dough would puff up and become fried dough sticks.
The puffiness depended on controlling the oil’s temperature.
If the temperature was too high or too low, the results wouldn’t be good.
This was a test of the chef’s foundational skills.
As Jiang Feng was about to fry the dough sticks, a few hikers came over and stopped in front of the stall, watching.
"Holy cow? Soy milk and fried dough sticks?"
The hikers were a bit stunned.
One of them rubbed his eyes, confirming he wasn’t mistaken. Someone selling soy milk and fried dough sticks on the mountaintop? That’s unbelievable!
"Boss, are you really selling fried dough sticks here?" a customer asked.
"Yes, of course, fresh fried dough sticks," Jiang Feng said calmly, pointing to a sign nearby. "The sign is already up!"
The sign read:
Soy Milk 6 yuan a bowl
Fried Dough Sticks 5 yuan each
It was definitely pricier than usual places. But for the mountaintop, these were actually quite fair prices.
"Six yuan for a bowl of soy milk? That’s expensive?" the hiker remarked, looking at the sign. He paused, then added, "Boss, give me four bowls of soy milk and eight fried dough sticks."
Jiang Feng nodded. "Alright, that’s 64 yuan in total."
Jiang Feng controlled the oil temperature and began frying the prepared dough in the wok.
Sun Zhuangfei took out four bowls, each lined with a disposable plastic bag, and filled them with soy milk for the customers.
After all, this was the mountaintop, and any waste produced had to be taken down the mountain, so they used bowls lined with plastic bags for convenience in disposal.
The four hikers found a small table to sit around.
Bowl by bowl, the soy milk was served.
All four men’s gazes were instantly drawn to the soy milk.
The soy milk had a deep color with a slight grayish tinge. It appeared extremely rich and silky, like the texture of milk. The surface was free of any impurities and very clean.
"If you like it sweet, you can add sugar," Jiang Feng mentioned to them.
Soy milk tends to taste better on the sweet side, and there was a sugar bowl on the table. One of them scooped a spoonful of sugar and mixed it well.
During the stirring, the fragrance of the soy milk filled the air. With a hint of warmth, it entered the body through the nostrils, feeling extremely comfortable.
One of the hikers took a sip of the soy milk.
The soy milk was incredibly silky as he drank it, very rich, with a light fragrance that spread out, not at all cloying.
The peak was already somewhat cold, and it was deep autumn.
With a sip of the hot soy milk, heat began to spread out from his stomach, warming up his entire body.
"This is really delicious!" the hiker exclaimed.
He carefully held the bowl, blew on it, and took another sip of the soy milk.
The sensation of warmth spread throughout his body once again.
At this moment, more customers gathered around the small stall. It was a bit cold in the morning, and since many hadn’t eaten breakfast, business at Jiang Feng’s little stand was naturally good.
Someone recognized Jiang Feng at a glance.
"Oh my God, isn’t that Boss Jiang? The very popular stall owner!" one hiker blurted out.
"It’s really him! I know him too! He’s actually here!" another person said.
The noise from these people caught the attention of many others, drawing more people over.
Soon, around twenty to thirty people had crowded in front of the stall.
The hikers who were drinking soy milk looked a bit astonished. They turned their heads to look at Jiang Feng, and then they finally realized.
"So it’s him! No wonder the soy milk is so good!"
"I’ve heard that whatever he makes tastes great. He truly lives up to his reputation!"
"To think we would actually meet him here!"
All four were thrilled. This was even more exciting than seeing the sunrise!
At this moment, Zhuangfei brought the fried dough sticks over to them.
The fried dough sticks were fresh out of the fryer, still hot. Each stick was big and fluffy, with a somewhat crispy exterior.
Many hikers turned their eyes to the plate of fried dough sticks. Seeing such large fried dough sticks, their eyes widened with craving.
So, people began to queue up in front of Jiang Feng’s stall one after another.
"Boss, I’ll take two fried dough sticks and a bowl of soy milk."
"Boss, I want four fried dough sticks and a bowl of soy milk!"
"I’ll take two fried dough sticks!"
Business suddenly picked up.
Jiang Feng told the customers, "No rush, everyone, one at a time. They’re freshly fried, so it might be a bit slow. Everyone line up, please wait!"
The customers immediately formed a line.
Jiang Feng dropped the dough into the hot oil, and as soon as it went in, countless tiny bubbles emerged around it. The temperature of the oil began to make the dough expand, and soon it floated to the top.
Jiang Feng’s control of the heat was excellent, ensuring the oil temperature was just right. If the oil was too hot, the fried dough sticks wouldn’t be crispy at all; if it was too cool, they’d be particularly hard. To get a crispy surface and a soft interior, it was all about controlling the oil temperature.
Soon enough, plates of freshly fried dough sticks were ready.
Jiang Feng was responsible for frying the dough sticks, while Sun Zhuangfei took care of serving soy milk to the customers.
Fried dough sticks and soy milk—a match made for the perfect breakfast.
Some customers liked to soak their fried dough sticks in soy milk, allowing the inside to become saturated. Eating it that way, the fried dough sticks became soft, and when chewed, soy milk would burst out—a delightful sensation.
"Boss, how do you make this soy milk? It’s so rich and fragrant!"
"It’s even better than when I make it myself using the state banquet soy milk recipe!" a customer, face flushed with enjoyment after taking a sip, asked eagerly.
Jiang Feng looked at him and replied, "I have my own recipe. It’s just soybeans, rice, millet, and peanuts, but properly preparing and soaking the ingredients took some effort."
To make good soy milk, it’s essential to remove the beany taste as much as possible while making it as rich as possible. With Jiang Feng’s high culinary skill level, handling this was a piece of cake.
The customer nodded appreciatively and exclaimed, "You truly live up to being a great chef! This soy milk is beyond reproach, so delicious!"
"After climbing the mountain and coming to your stall for fried dough sticks and soy milk, I feel so great!"
Jiang Feng replied politely, "As long as you’re satisfied!"
A few young guys nearby also chimed in:
"Boss Jiang, we’re more than satisfied!"
"We’re so lucky to have encountered you!"
"Simply perfect!"
The customers were all very happy.
Climbing a mountain in the morning takes a lot of Staminia, so suddenly coming across a breakfast stall—and not just any stall, but one serving particularly delicious food—was a delightful surprise. It was perfect for replenishing their energy.
More and more hikers started to approach Jiang Feng’s stall.
"They sell breakfast here too?"
"Wow, it looks like an incredibly skilled chef runs it, what a catch!"
"Let’s go have a look!"
In the past, people who came to the back mountain did so to enjoy its landscapes and the tranquility of the trails. Who would have thought that not only does the mountaintop offer breathtaking views, but also top-notch breakfast?
The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement.
At that moment, a couple reached the summit, huffing and puffing, completely exhausted.
"I’m so hungry, let’s eat some bread!"
"Where’s the bread? We ate it all earlier."
"Ah? I’m about to pass out!"
As they were talking, they suddenly noticed two young men holding fried dough sticks, eating them while walking down the mountain.
The couple was startled.
Is that... fried dough sticks?
Am I seeing things?
Did these guys bring fried dough sticks up the mountain?
They not only saw them but also smelled the faint fragrance of the fried dough sticks. Because they were freshly made, they were hot and emitted a unique aroma of flour.
"Those fried dough sticks seem freshly made!" the girl exclaimed.
"How could that be? There can’t be fried dough sticks for sale on the mountaintop! I’ve been here before!" the boy scoffed, unconvinced.
Just then, several more people came down the mountain, each holding a fried dough stick.
As they walked, they commented:
"Tastes pretty good!"
"No wonder he’s so popular!"
"Our luck today is amazing!"
Hearing the conversation, the couple looked at each other and realized that there really was someone selling fried dough sticks on the summit.
"Wow, there really is!" the boy exclaimed, his face a picture of disbelief.
"Let’s go eat some fried dough sticks, I’m starving!" The girl pulled him along, heading further up.
A breakfast stall on the mountaintop is simply the perfect "rejuvenation point" for those who climb in the morning. It’s a blessing for the area!
When the couple climbed a bit further and reached Jiang Feng’s stall, they became even more excited upon seeing the scene before them.
Under the metal canopy, it was bustling with a crowd. Some sat at the small tables enjoying their breakfast, while others who couldn’t find a seat stood and drank soy milk. Others chose to hold their hot fried dough sticks, tossing them from hand to hand to cool them, and blowing on them before taking a bite.
When had such a scene ever existed at the mountaintop? It looked somewhat dreamy.
"It’s Boss Jiang, that Boss Jiang!" the girl exclaimed as she noticed Jiang Feng, her eyes lighting up.
The girl grew more excited. "Oh my gosh, I’ve heard about him setting up stalls in different locations! And now he’s on the mountaintop! This must be fate! We’re so lucky today!"
The two quickly joined the queue to buy fried dough sticks and soy milk.
Jiang Feng’s stall, on this brisk morning, had made an impact on many people, as always.