Ch6 – Potato and Beef Belly Noodles

Within a few short minutes, the number of online viewers in the live broadcast actually exceeded four digits with still more coming in.

Ruan Tang was a little surprised and couldn’t help but be happy. This rising momentum was much better than when he was just starting out in his previous life. Of course, the number of people in the interstellar world was now tens of billions more than in the Earth era. This number of viewers was only a drop in the ocean.

When the live broadcast was opened, the audience immediately began to open conversation with enthusiasm, and the live chat was completely filled.

[ID72648: Thank you, anchor! The egg cake was super delicious! Should one desire to sing, one would amaze the world with his first song. This crystal flower is my deep love for you! ]

[Seven treasures: Hu hu hu! When I had just got ahold of the egg cake it was taken away by my brother. I only ate half! Anchor, please send some love my way again! Should one desire to sing, one would amaze the world with his first song. This crystal flower is my deep love for you!]

[Barely Passing:… I didn’t get eat any of it at all. ]

[Barely Passing: Can the anchor use a military packaging box next time? It’s a little stronger, I will send it to you. ]

Aside from the three people who were expressing their thanks for the prizes yesterday, all the others were expressing their anticipation for this evening’s recipe. Most of them have gone to the anchor’s personal channel and watched the replay of the previous two broadcasts. After having seen the anchor take on the newly released potato and the universally recognized as unpalatable fish, the audience’s confidence in his skills might even exceed Ruan Tang’s own.

[The comfort of being angered by a Miao: I’m all caught up! Potato and beef belly noodles! It sounds delicious! ]

[Miao Miao loves to eat fish: I saw the anchor had started a live broadcast and rushed over! If the anchor opens a shop, that would be amazing…]

[Can’t stop hugging trees: That’s right! Requesting the anchor to open a shop! Daily request!]

[Honey Summer: If the anchor opens the store, I will patronize it.]

One after another, crystal flowers bloomed, so that Ruan Tang was completely distracted by them.

“Sorry, I don’t have a chef’s certificate so I can’t open a shop.” But even if he did have a chef’s card, he wouldn’t open a store. Otherwise, in his previous life, he could have gone to a hotel to be a chef, instead of choosing to be a food vlogger.

To put it bluntly, the reason he started cooking was all in order to satisfy his appetite. He didn’t intend to turn around a stove from morning ’til night like his parents did. He was very satisfied with his current work as a food anchor. He was lazy, and he especially didn’t like being constrained. He also didn’t like getting up early. Like how it is now, he could get up when he wants to get up, he could open a broadcast when he wants to open a broadcast. Making money while me made food for himself, is there a more perfect job?

However, speaking of a chef’s certificate, he still wanted one. After all, preparedness prevents peril.

“Okay, let us first knead the dough.” Ruan Tang didn’t want to continue that topic. After washing his hands, he started moving.

Even the cleverest housewife can’t cook a meal without rice. This interstellar era had no noodles, therefore he also needed to broadcast the noodle making process. Although this might have made the video overly long, if he didn’t do so, the viewers might only know how delicious noodles were but have no idea how to make it.

Fortunately, noodles used unleavened dough and there was no need to let it ferment, rather, noodle dough couldn’t be made to stay out for too long.

He first poured half a bag of flour into the bowl, then cracked an egg into it and stirred it together.

Then he took another bowl of water and added a spoonful of salt to it. After the salt was completely dissolved, he slowly poured it into the flour. On one hand, adding water, on the other, starting to knead.

He explained, “The salt brine can make the noodles become stronger, pay attention to how fast you add the water. You must do so slowly, and at the same time keep kneading. If the water isn’t enough, the noodles will be very hard, but if there is too much, the noodles will be very sticky. Therefore, controlling this is very important.”

[Can’t free myself from indulging in food broadcasts: Isn’t it unhygienic to directly use your hands?]

[Can’t stop hugging trees: Aiya! Didn’t the anchor wash his hands when he started? If you think it’s too dirty then don’t eat it!]

[Can’t free myself from indulging in food broadcasts: Just casually asking…]

Ruan Tang had already kneaded the flour with brine into a dough nonstop for about 10 minutes. Judging it to be ok, he stopped, “Once the dough is smooth and no longer sticks to your hands, it’s more or less done. All those who are interested can come and have a feel of the dough.”

[Miao Miao loves to eat fish: Wow! It feels sticky, soft, and flexible.]

[Nine Moons: Yes, yes, it feels like you’re touching your face. Will this thing be made into a noodle in a while? ]

“Ok, now we’re going to let the dough rest for a while. This is to make the noodles chewier.” Ruan Tang waiting for everyone to finish getting a feel of the dough before putting the dough in the preservation box and setting it aside. In the absence of cling film, this was the only option. Fortunately the box could be sealed tight and would achieve the same effect.

Ruan Tang took out the potatoes, carrots and onions, peeled them one by one and cut them into chunks.

Although the present viewers have all seen Ruan Tang’s potato cake video before, they still couldn’t help but exclaim when they saw Ruan Tang’s magical knife skills once again.

[Everyday eating the dirt of a thousand mistakes: The anchor is too awesome! QAQ When I watched the previous video I also wanted to try it, the result was that I cut my finger…]

[Seven treasures: Same 〒▽〒]

Ruan Tang couldn’t help but laugh and comforted them: “While you’re still not used to using a knife, you mustn’t go too fast. Start slowly, and then speed up after you become more used to it.”

Just then, he was handling the onions. The onion’s smell was very strong and pungent. However, after peeling away the outer skin, it actually looked quite pretty, thus there were some people who gathered close, wanting to see his movements better.

After cutting it open, will it look as pretty as blooming flowers? Thinking of this, they couldn’t help but feel a little excited and their eyes opened round — and then they were struck by the onion’s stinging smell.

[Can’t stop hugging trees: ah – my eyes! ]

[Miao Miao loves to eat fish: Ah, what is going on! My eyes hurt so much, tears are coming out! qaq…]

“Onions contain irritants so everyone should pay attention to keep their distance. Don’t get too close when watching.” Ruan Tang helplessly said, and could not help but want to laugh.

These two spectators have been supporting him since his first live broadcast. They were very familiar to him, and he knew that these two people were a bit of a clown and were greedy for good food. They were also rash and careless, always teasing and cracking jokes.

“You two, why haven’t you learned your lesson?”

His mouth was slightly raised and he gently shook his head. Even if they couldn’t see his expression, everyone was stunned by this magnetic and doting tone of voice.

[A galaxy far far away: It seems that my heart just stopped?]

[The unique scenery of my hometown: I have to marry the anchor.]

[Can’t stop hugging trees: Security! Fork this guy out, the anchor is obviously mine! (#‵’)]

[Miao Miao does not eat fish: I think my ears just got pregnant (> <) ]

Comment after comment, the live chat started to derail from the original topic. One by one, they all started teasing Ruan Tang. He pretended not to see them and started heating up a pan. He quickly stir fried the onion, carrot and potatoes and the smell quickly gushed out.

[Seven treasures: (╯▽╰) smells so good~~]

[Small transparent: (ˉ﹃ˉ) My mouth’s already watering.]

Ruan Tang turned down the heat and start processing the beef.

He cut the beef into pieces and put it into the stockpot, added water and boiled it at a high temperature. He waited until the scum from the blood in the beef was completely expelled, before fishing out the beef chunks.

After the beef pieces had dripped dry for a bit, he added them to the pan and stir fried them, letting the smell become even richer.

After all the ingredients were stir fried, Ruan Tang added in a lot of water, just until the water surface didn’t go over the ingredients.

“Now, we can add the tomato sauce as a flavor base.” The food ingredients in the future were all reconstructed using high tech means. Compared to the ingredients on Earth before, it had less contaminants and additives, it made their flavor purer and richer. This was also the reason why Ruan Tang dared to only use tomato sauce in the absence of other seasonings.

After the water started to boil, he removed the scum floating on the surface and then turned down the heat to let it cook slowly.

After finishing this step, the dough was also about ready.

He opened the preservation box and took out the dough that had been left to rest for almost 20 minutes. He cut it in half and formed them into long strips. He then began to pull them into noodles.

He had always preferred the texture of pulled noodles, that’s why he was going to make them this time. He held the ends of the dough in each hand and then pulled until they were of a sufficient length before folding in half and then stretching it again. After repeating several times, he now had a lot of slender noodles.

[Miao Miao loves to eat fish: My God, the anchor is like magic!]

[Small transparent: amazing!]

Ruan Tang took the pot used to boil the beef and clean it a bit before filling it with water and putting it back on the stove. He then threw the pulled noodles into it.

“Noodles cook very fast. Those who want theirs’ to be firm can take out the noodles a little after the water has started to boil. Those who want it softer can wait for it to boil longer.”

While the noodles were cooking, Ruan Tang took this time to create a simple soup base — just water with salt. In any case the flavor of this dish would rely on the potato and beef belly stew as its main seasoning. He didn’t make use of a rich soup base, one reason was that there was not enough time. Another was that the rich soup base might end up usurping the main actors of the show.

When the noodles were almost done, he scooped them out and placed them in a large bowl with the simple broth.

“Let’s see how the potato and beef belly stew is doing.” Ruan Tang opened the lid of the pot with the beef which was stewing over a low heat. He used his chopsticks to poke the beef, making sure that it was soft and tender. He then raised the heat to extract the juices.

When the lid of the stew came off, a rich aroma spread like a conquering tyrant towards the viewers’ noses. The hooked viewers’ fingers twitched violently, they couldn’t wait to pounce on the food.

Ruan Tang took a brimming ladleful of the potato and beef stew and spread it over the noodles. “Okay, now everyone can have a taste.”

The audience in the live room immediately rushed to the bowl of beautiful and enticing noodles.

[Can’t stop hugging trees: delicious! ! How could it be so delicious?]

[Miao Miao loves to eat fish: Mom asked me why I was crying…]

[Barely Passing: It’s so delicious! ! ! ! ]

[Nine Moons: Oh oh oh, I have never eaten such a delicious thing! qwq]

[Wind, flower, snow and moon: I whispered, will the anchor have a lottery today…? ]

This potato and beef belly noodle dish really did smell, look and taste great. Not to mention the rich aroma of the beef, one sniff was enough to make people drool. The golden potatoes were stewed until soft and beef was cooked into plump juice-filled fine bites. The dark red tomato sauce had turned into a rich reddish brown. When poured over the noodles along with the potatoes and beef, this dish gave off a captivating shine against the strong lights.

With one mouthful, the first thing you taste is an even richer beef flavor. It didn’t contain the slightest foulness, instead, it was clear, bright and fresh. The teeth would then come in contact with the soft potatoes and equally as tender carrots, carrying a sweet and tangy flavor as well as the inherent sweetness of the ingredients. One mouthful quickly melted into their mouths. Finally, there was the noodles — so firm and al dente, giving it a good bite.

The price for these ingredients was only a few hundred GMs online and it didn’t take a lot of time to make it and yet the dish was better than any they’ve had from the star-rated restaurants. It made the viewers want to the prostate themselves before the anchor in admiration.

[Honey Summer: Delicious! Embed a colorful firework to blow up the anchor! ]

This local tyrant, “Honey Summer”, directly smashed a colorful firework. She seemed to have been very satisfied with this noodle dish.

As soon as the colorful firework came out, the platform homepage suddenly issued an announcement: “User Honey Summer has given the anchor a colorful firework, click here to enter the live room and collect the crystals!”

However, as soon as the viewers attracted by the channel announcement entered the live broadcast room, they were immediately shocked by the smell that reached their nose. They couldn’t even be bothered to collect the crystals on the ground as they rushed to the bowl giving off that rich aroma.

[Drinking plain boiled water in the middle of the night: Wow, what is this? How is it this so good?]

[Heart: Delicious! ! ! ! ! ]

[The ever lazy Mr. Lazy: What happened? Is there finally, a star chef who was willing to open a live broadcast to benefit us netizens? ! ]

The newcomers were quickly captured by the food and they all started talking at once.

“Today, we will also be selecting three lucky viewers who will be gifted a piece of potato and beef belly noodles. But everyone, please remember to eat it immediately after receiving the package. Otherwise, the noodles will stick together and it won’t taste good anymore.” He was very taken with these cute and funny viewers.

[Miao Miao loves to eat fish: Offering five crystal flowers, asking the god of luck to please bless me! ! ]

[Can’t stop hugging trees: offering this month’s bonus, begging for a prize! ! ! ! ]

[Working the night shift everyday: Look at how pitiful I am, having to work overtime everyday! begging for the prize! ]

Amongst the dense live chat and the hail of crystal flowers, Ruan Tang opened the lottery function and extracted three lucky viewers.

“Congratulations to Honey Summer, Working the night shift everyday and Barely Passing, please make sure to check and receive your package.”

The author has something to say:

Li Kai: After my long years of isolation, the bad times have come to an end and the good times are here!!!

He Yun Chen [faint smile]: How innocent.

(Your wingman [Li Kai] is online. Please be kind to the single dog √）