SC1 12.3 – Soy Sauce Oyster Noodles
After having steamed sweet potato as our lunch, I took Yunno and Yui to resume our work in the kitchen.
“This is portable electric stove. We can use it without firewood,” I said as I put the electric stove I made a few days ago to the stone table. “Right now, you can’t use Shadow Hand to control the heat from stone stove yet. This portable stove will solve that problem.”
“”Hai!”” Yunno and Yui replied eagerly.
After explaining to Yunno and Yui how to use the portable stove, I immediately prepared the equipment and started the work. First, I put a four-liter iron pot on the stove, filled with 3 liter of water, and then bringing it into boil using high heat.
“When cooking egg noodle, make sure the water is vigorously boiling like this,” I said before putting a portion of egg noodle into the boiling water.
“”Hai!””
“Wait for two minutes,” I added. “Or, once the noodle starts to float, you can take a strain and taste it. When it reached the state you want, use strainer to take the noodle out, dip it in the ice water to stop the cooking process, and dip it again in the boiling water to warm it.
After that, drain it by yanking it downward a few times, and then put it to the bamboo strainer, and it’s ready for further process.”
““Hai.””
Wasting no time, I cooked the noodles into soy sauce oyster noodles, and then plated it into a serving bowl. Last but not least, I added a table spoon of chopped kimchi, two table spoons of stir fry oyster, and a pinch of finely chopped green onions as topping.
“Here it is, the final form of soy sauce oyster noodles.” I happily said. Then, I turned my gaze to Yunno and Yui. “Question?”
“Do we add kimchi, stir fry oyster, and chopped green onions to the instant noodle we sell to Sotora?” Yui curiously asked.
“Yeah,” I calmly replied. “The topping won’t affect the noodle’s net price, as we use the cost of firewood to cover it.”
“Uncle Deitoro, will you teach us how to make the topping?” Yunno eagerly asked.
“Of course I will,” I happily replied. “The kimchi, you drain its water after you chop it, and store the water properly because we can use it to make delicious soup later.
The green onion, you finely chop it after properly wash it using ice water.
As for the oyster stir fry, you mix one part finely chopped fresh oyster and one part oyster dreg from the making process of oyster sauce. Season it with minced garlic, minced ginger, soy sauce, and sake. Then, stir fry it using high heat for 20 seconds.
You have to make it by yourself later, but for now just used the one I have prepared.”
““Hai!””
“If you have no other question, let’s starts the work.”
““Hai!!””
Without delay I took out the equipment we needed from my spatial storage, and handed it over to Yunno and Yui. As usual, the two immediately carved their name on their new equipment. After that they carried out the work in high spirit.
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Even though Sotora ordered only 200 bowls of instant noodle, I decided to triple that number. Spatial storage enabled me to store the surplus as long as I wanted, so it would be a waste if I didn’t use it to support mass production and lower the production cost.
In total it took five days of hard work to produce 600 bowls of instant noodle, but after that I would have some spare times to explore other menu that I could offer to Sotora. So, I guessed it worth the time.
I could also see that completing our first project had given Yunno and Yui a small measure of self-confidence and achievement, which was very important for them because for quite a while Kazuyori had suppressed their self-value.
“As we have completed our first project, now you can erase it from the blackboard,” I calmly said.
“”Hai!”” Yunno and Yui replied simultaneously before erasing our first project.
Then, Yui turned her gaze to me and expectantly asked, “Uncle Deitoro, will we have another project?”
After a smile I turned my gaze to Yunno and asked, “Yunno, what do you think?”
“We will definitely have another project,” Yunno firmly replied. “Our soy sauce oyster noodle is very delicious. Sotora will likely make a repeat order.”
“Yeah,” I happily expressed my agreement.
Actually, I believed Sotora would put a bigger order sooner or later, but I didn’t want Yunno and Yui became over confidence so I just expressed a simple agreement.
“Well, let’s deliver the noodle to Sotora.”
““Hai!!”” Yunno and Yui happily replied.
Then, after Kato gave them a kiss on each check, we immediately went to Sotora.
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Even before we entered Sotora’s front door, Minami already walked over to us with swift steps.
“Warrior Deitoro, Yunno, Yui,” Minami cheerfully said as soon as she arrived in front of us, “Welcome.”
“Yeah,” I calmly replied while Yunno and Yui happily nodded. “We come to deliver the noodle.”
“Ah, finally. I thought you have some difficulties, but it seems everything is fine.” After a smile Minami added, “Please follow me.”
Wasting no time Minami led us to Sotora’s backyard. Then, we walked a long corridor before arrived at a wide backyard, just next to a bustling kitchen. Judging from the direction and distance we had walked, I concluded we were around 50 meters to the left of Sotora. It was definitely not Fragrant Flavor’s backyard, but I said or asked nothing.
After leading us to a long table next to a terrace of a big pantry Minami said, “Warrior Deitoro, I hope you don’t mind if I make a final check before accepting the noodles.”
“On the contrary, it will please me if we do the handover properly,” I calmly said.
After a big smile Minami said, “In that case, please put the noodles on this table.”
Without delay I took out 201 bowls of instant noodle from my spatial storage, and neatly arranged it on the table. Then, Minami checked the first bowl and her eyes instantly widened.
“Warrior Deitoro, you put some topping on the noodles?” Minami asked while making a thorough assessment.
“Yeah.”
“The topping looks very tasty. Are you sure it won’t cause you some loss?”
“Not at all,” I firmly replied. “The topping is already covered by the net price.”
“I see.”
Minami slightly nodded her head while having a smile in her face, but I could tell she tried to recalculate the noodle’s production cost. Minami’s act didn’t surprise me. On the contrary that was what I expected from someone who had a seasoned businessman as her teacher.
At the same time, I took out another bowl of instant noodle and handed it over to Minami. “Here, please try the version with topping.”
“Thank you.”
Minami accepted the bowl without hesitation and immediately mixed everything before tasting it, and in instant her eyes widened.
“This is superb.” Minami enjoyed another mouthful of instant noodle before adding. “I never thought that some simple topping can elevate the flavor so much. Moreover, it uses pickled-napa cabbage we sell as one of its component.”
“Glad you like it,” I happily said.
After eagerly wolfing down the noodles, Minami called some female servants to move the instant noodles to a spatial storage. Then, she turned her gaze to me.
“Waiter Deitoro,” Minami happily said. “Have you put some thought on your noodle’s name? I believe this is not the only instant noodle you can make.”
After a smile I said, “Let’s call it soy sauce oyster noodles.”
“Understood.”
After making a note on a small book, Minami asked us to wait while she went into a room in the corner of backyard. A moment later, she came back with a small money bag in her hand.
“Warrior Deitoro, this is the payment for the noodle,” Minami said as she handed over the small money bag. “Please check the amount.”
“Thanks,” I said as I accepted the money bag.
And Minami waited until I finished checking the money before asking, “Warrior Deitoro, would you mind to taste our new signature dish for low tier-menu, and then share us your opinion?”
“I’m glad if I can become some help for you,” I calmly said.
After a big smile Minami said, “Please follow me.”
Without delay, I walked with Minami to a small dining quarter next to the kitchen, along with Yunno and Yui who followed me closely.
*****