Chapter 139 The ice cream shop in Sijiu City
On the No. 3 bus, Pan Ye was introducing cold drink shops in the capital to Lin Sanqi:
"Almond tofu from Dehezhai, sour plum soup from Luyuzhai, watermelon juice from Jiulongzhai, big ice bowl from Xinyuanzhai, cheese from Fengshenggong, etc.
Speaking of what is the best way to relieve the heat in summer, all the men, women and children in our 49 cities can name a few of their favorite cold drink shops. More sophisticated restaurants will provide pre-dinner desserts and cold drinks in the summer.
Later, cold drinks began to be gradually promoted, and cold drink shops appeared on the streets. Each shop had different products and its own characteristics, and was very popular among the public. Especially the ice cream is the most delicious. I loved this the most when I was a kid. ”
"Wait,"
Lin Sanqi was surprised when she heard this: "Classmate Pan Ye, are you saying there is ice cream in Sijiu City?"
Lin Sanqi couldn't help but be surprised. In his impression, ice cream was an imported product. It was only available in foreign countries in the past. How could it be found in such a backward country?
Pan Ye knew that Lin Sanqi was from the south, but thought he was a foreigner with little knowledge, so he explained:
"Yes, there are many businesses selling ice cream in Sijiu City. I saw them doing this when I was a kid.
Merchants usually prepare a large wooden barrel, put ice and salt in the barrel, and place a tinplate barrel in the middle of the ice. A shaft passes through the bottom, and there is a vertical gear on the crank handle.
As soon as you shake the handle, the shaft drives the blades to rotate. At this time, put starch slurry, eggs, milk, sugar, spices and juice into the iron bucket and rotate it for about 30 minutes. The mixture in the bucket is ice cream. ”
Lin Sanqi was stunned after hearing this. After thinking about it carefully, it was true that this method was the same as the handmade ice cream introduced by later merchants.
"Then what is the Big Ice Bowl?"
A middle-aged man on the bus couldn't help but interject after hearing this:
"Little comrade, don't you know the big ice bowl is so delicious?
Generally, first put fresh lotus root slices, fresh lotus seeds, fresh water chestnut meat, peeled fresh chicken head rice, stripped fresh walnut meat, fresh sweet almonds, etc. in a small porcelain bowl, add some sugar and then put a small amount on top. The ice cube tastes fragrant, crispy and cold, so delicious. ”
Everyone else on the bus nodded, and many were already wiping their saliva.
An old man sitting a little ahead added at this time:
"Later, some merchants would cut some fruits into small pieces and put them in. This was the assorted ice bowl. The taste was sweeter and cooler, but the price was also expensive. In the past, every household in the tea shed in Shichahai sold it. I often Go eat, but unfortunately now, alas..."
For a time, there was a sound of regret on the No. 3 bus.
Lin Sanqi didn't know what these people were regretting, so he stopped talking even half a sentence, feeling choked to death.
Curious baby Lin Sanqi asked again: "What is almond tofu? Do you put a few almonds on the tofu? And put some ice cubes on it?"
At this time, a middle-aged woman with short hair answered directly. She looked like a people’s teacher:
"Young man, almond tofu, almond tofu, just as the name suggests, if you think about it, it should be tofu-like made from ground sweet almonds. You don't have the ability to understand it."
Lin Sanqi's face was a little red, she quickly lowered her head and smiled and said:
"Sister, you are right. Now I remember that almond tofu is made of sweet almonds. I won't make such a fool of myself in the future."
The middle-aged woman nodded, obviously very satisfied with Lin Sanqi's confession attitude, and then taught:
"Actually, the production process of almond tofu is similar to that of soybean tofu. Both are made as white as jade. However, almond tofu needs to be chilled first, then mixed with chilled osmanthus sugar juice, and finally garnished with red and green cherries and Raisins and other red and green fruits
This kind of almond tofu is light and elegant in color, and has a sweet and intoxicating taste. It melts in your mouth. The cold feeling is simply refreshing, and it is much more delicious than that cheese. ”
Lin Sanqi finally saw how domineering the people in the capital were. They were so enthusiastic and loved educating people.
At this time, there was another old lady wearing glasses and she looked like an intellectual at first glance and said with a smile:
"In addition to the ones you mentioned, in the summer in Sijiu City, we also have dried fruits, fried red fruits, lotus seed porridge, glass powder, grilled cakes, jelly, pea yellow, etc. They are all traditional iced foods, but today's children They all seem to only like to drink Arctic Ocean.”
The old lady’s words instantly resonated with everyone in the carriage:
"Who says it's not the case? Children like to drink soda."
"What's so good about soda? The smell stings your nose, and your stomach hurts after drinking too much."
"What else can you drink if you don't drink soda? How many time-honored brands are still open now? All of them are fucking closed."
As soon as these words came out, the carriage became quiet. Even the people of Sijiu City who were usually fearless shut up. There must be no more conversation that day.
At this time the bus also arrived at Shichahai Station.
In the summer of 1959, Shichahai did not become a tourist attraction like it would in later generations. It was very lively with people coming and going.
The scenery is quite beautiful, but it is surrounded by large courtyards, and almost all the people walking on the street are local residents.
Of course, next to Shichahai are courtyards with independent courtyards. Lin Sanqi also saw that many courtyards had people standing guard in front of them. It was obvious that the people living there were not ordinary people.
Lin Sanqi was visiting like a tourist.
Pan Ye led a few people around, but couldn't find Dehezhai's shop. "Hey, that's weird. I clearly remember that Dehezhai is right next to Haizi. I crossed the Yinding Bridge and walked 30 meters north. Why is it missing?"
Lin Sanqi looked around. The bar street in the future was deserted at this time, with few shops open.
"Don't worry, find someone to ask."
Lin Sanqi grabbed an old man and asked, "Uncle, is Dehezhai here?"
"Dehezhai? Isn't it right here?"
The old man pointed to a shop not far ahead and said casually: "But Dehezhai has been closed. You are late."
Pan Ren and Pan Cen were dumbfounded when they heard this. He came with high hopes but found that the store was gone. This feeling of loss was indescribable.
The old man saw the young man's disappointed expression and shook his head:
"You young people really don't know how expensive firewood and rice are. I wonder what time it is now? If you can't even eat enough, who the hell is going to eat iced food? Let alone Dehezhai. In this part of Xicheng, all iced food is available." All restaurants are closed.”
Pan Ye quickly apologized and said: "Uncle, you are right to criticize."
The old man walked away with his hands behind his back and humming.
Lin Sanqi burst out laughing when she saw Pan Ren and Pan Cen, who looked like eggplants beaten by frost, and had her own idea in her mind:
"What? Are you unhappy that you can't eat ice cream?"
Pan Ren pretended to smile: "Brother-in-law, no, we will be very happy if you can take us out to play."
Lin Sanqi patted Pan Ren on the head and thought the child was quite sensible:
"Okay, don't be disappointed. It's just a cold drink. Come on, follow me home. I'll find a way to get it for you."
"Really? Brother-in-law, you are so awesome."
Pan Ye covered his face with his hands. He was too embarrassed to face Lin Sanqi. All his face was lost to this stupid brother.
"You call me brother-in-law, can I still let you two, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, have all you can eat with cold drinks? Come on, this is not far from my house, go there now."
Pan Ye was frightened when he heard this. It was already rude to call Lin Sanqi brother-in-law in front of the street. How could a big girl run directly to a boy's house now? That's too unreserved.
"No, no, no, how can I go to your house? I'm so sorry. Let's just walk on the street."
A daughter from a serious family is not allowed to go to her husband's house before marriage. The Pan family comes from a family of old intellectuals, so they still have concerns about this.
Lin Sanqi thought to herself, what can be found by strolling on the street? At a glance, except for the grain store supply and marketing cooperative, almost all the small shops on the street were closed and looked very depressed.
"It's okay. I don't live with my parents now. I live alone in the back garden of Gege Mansion. I asked someone to open a door in the backyard. I don't have to go through the main courtyard when entering and exiting. No one will see it."
The back garden of Gege Mansion and Kuanjie Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital are back-to-back with a passage in the middle.
When Kuanjie Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital was also the palace of the prince, in order to avoid disputes, the houses of wealthy families in ancient times generally did not share a wall, but had a passage in the middle, which could also be called an alley.
The back doors of wealthy families often open here, making it easy for servants to come in and out, and also convenient for the owner to have an affair without having to climb over the wall.
Later, the prince's mansion was turned into a hospital, and the back door was blocked.
The Gege Mansion became a large courtyard, and the back door was blocked with bricks to facilitate management. The small alley became a dead end.
When Lin Sanqi moved into the back garden, she found it troublesome. Every time she entered, she had to walk through the front yard, passing through the courtyards that she entered again and again. Not only was it a long way, but she was also looked at like a monkey by her neighbors. There is no privacy at all.
So Lin Sanqi asked the General Affairs Department to open another small door in the back garden.
The key is only owned by Lin Sanqi, so you can enter freely. You can walk a few steps along the small alley to reach the street. It is also just a few steps away from the traditional Chinese medicine hospital where you work, which is very convenient.
Half an hour later, the three sisters Pan Ye, Pan Ren, and Pan Cen passed through the back door and quietly appeared in Lin Sanqi's waterside pavilion.
Pan Ren began to envy the house when he saw it: "Wow, brother-in-law, you live alone, you are so free."
Pan Cen disagreed a little: "This house is alone in the back garden. How scary it is at night."
Pan Ye was also taking a closer look at Lin Sanqi’s cabin. The more he looked at it, the more unusual it became:
"Lin Sanqi, your furniture is all old stuff, and your walls have been re-thickened, and you have such a small yard to grow vegetables. It's great, but why is the outside of your house so shabby? Clean it up?”
Lin Sanqi said with some pride:
"It was my intention to look dilapidated outside the house, otherwise other people would live in a small house for generations, and I would occupy such a big yard by myself, with a private courtyard, how much more hate would that make people hate me?
Now I live alone, and the courtyard door is closed so that no one can disturb me. With the door behind closed doors, I can eat and drink as much as I want, and no one else can care about me. Haha, you guys sit down for a while and I'll get you some cold drinks. ”
Pan Ye blinked, very curious about what tricks Lin Sanqi could perform.
(End of chapter)