Jiang Xiaoman and Jiang Yu are both going to film videos for their respective fans today, so the responsibility of bulk purchasing falls on Shan Yan.
Jiang Xiaoman had complete confidence in having Shan Yan do this!
As a "price-sensitive customer," Shan Yan has a very accurate grasp of the price fluctuations of various items in the market. Even during the Chinese New Year, he can still bargain down to a price that the stall owners are willing to pay even if they have to grit their teeth.
However, Jiang Xiaoman still felt that they could save a little more money—
"Brother Yan, how about this: green and red peppers, lettuce, cucumbers, and frozen fish and shrimp, you can just take them by the box. Let's buy a whole box and give me a larger share. That way, if we don't buy them by the box, we can get a better price."
"Why are you buying so many?" Jiang Yu asked curiously.
"Hey! Haven't you noticed? Yingzi hasn't come to any of these past few days because she's been busy with events! I reckon she's trying to save money. Besides, she just got divorced this year and is raising her child alone, so she doesn't have to treat Jiang's relatives and friends to meals like she did in previous years. She's probably trying to save money by not buying anything."
“I’ll buy more and send some to her family later, and also to Can Can’s family. I heard that Can Can is going to participate in the J Province Spring Festival Gala and Lantern Festival Gala this year, so she won’t be able to come back for the New Year. I have to buy some New Year’s goods for Can Can’s grandma and send them over.”
Hearing his words, others were fine, but Jiang Cancan's fans were moved to tears!
Even they had forgotten that Jiang Cancan had a grandmother with poor eyesight and a very young sister back in her hometown, but Jiang Xiaoman always remembered them, even when shopping for New Year's goods...
"I'm speechless. Just for this, I'll buy whatever Brother Xiaoman sells from now on!"
"Xiaoman is so kind! Thank you! Thank you for taking such good care of Grandma and my little sister for Cancan!"
"I suddenly feel like crying. Our CanCan must miss home a lot, right? But there's nothing she can do. She has to work hard to earn money to support her grandma and younger sister o(╥﹏╥)o"
"Can Can can't come home for the New Year. Grandma and Yueyue must miss her terribly. This family is having such a hard time! Thank you, Xiaoman, for taking care of Grandma and Yueyue!"
"So, during the Lunar New Year, while other merchants are desperately trying to fleece their customers, Xiaoman, can't you just put something on the shelves? You're not doing any live streams or PK battles to get us to tip you! You're not selling anything! If this continues, how will you make money to take care of Grandma and Yueyue for Cancan?"
"That's right! Please, Xiaoman! Just hang something in that little yellow car, okay? I'll buy whatever you hang! I swear! I don't mean anything by it, I just want to ask you to help me buy more good food for Grandma and Yueyue for the New Year."
...
Jiang Xiaoman did not take any of the fans' opinions into account.
He was just casually buying some New Year's goods for the two families, and of course he wouldn't ask Jiang Cancan's fans to pay for such a small amount of money.
And it doesn't cost much money.
The economic conditions in Langshan are what they are. Even if expensive items are brought in, no one will buy them. So, even before the Lunar New Year, when everyone has the most money, most of the items on the street are affordable and practical.
Jiang Xiaoman connected her phone, took the second-hand handheld gimbal, and walked and filmed. Because there were so many people on the street, she was almost pushed onto a stall!
"Haha~ Now you all know why we parked the car outside, right? During the Chinese New Year, this street was so crowded that if you arrived late, you couldn't even squeeze in, let alone have a car!"
"Now I'll show you what people in Langshan usually buy before the Lunar New Year."
"This place is full of vegetable vendors, yes! Even though we usually don't spend money on vegetables, during the Lunar New Year, we buy greenhouse vegetables like peppers, cucumbers, and green beans to take home and serve to guests."
"This is where they sell beef and mutton. You wouldn't believe it, would you? Although much of this area is mountainous, quite a few families still raise cattle and sheep."
"The main problem is that agricultural machinery can't usually get up to the mountainous areas. If you have cattle, farming will be much easier. However, cattle eat a lot and are difficult to raise, but if you raise them well, you can make money. For example, these days, a pound of freshly slaughtered beef is selling for forty yuan. It makes me want to raise two cattle myself next year."
"The lamb sold here is from our local black goats. Our lamb is relatively cheap, probably because there are many sheep farmers. This year, the lamb was 28 yuan per jin during the Spring Festival. The only downside is that you can't choose which lamb to buy here. Usually, a whole sheep is cut into four pieces, and the price is the same whether it has skin or bones. If you want to buy it, you have to buy a whole piece."
The lamb is really fresh today; it was probably slaughtered just this morning, and it's still steaming hot.
Jiang Youliang likes to eat mutton, but he would never buy it for himself normally. Jiang Xiaoman simply bought a whole lamb and asked the owner to cut it into four pieces.
Two pieces of the fattier hind leg of mutton were given to Jiang Cancan's family and Lang Ying's family, one for each of them. The rest were taken home to be used for the New Year's Eve dinner and to entertain guests after the New Year.
He also bought 20 jin of fresh beef. He kept 10 jin for himself and divided the rest into 5-jin pieces, asking the shop owner to pack them separately in plastic bags.
After buying the meat, we went to a place that sells all kinds of local farm products.
Of course, these are just "local specialties" in the eyes of netizens. In fact, most of these things are essential for the Spring Festival in Langshan.
Rice cakes of various colors are bought in small quantities for the New Year. They are then piled up in a pagoda shape on a plate and used to worship ancestors on New Year's Eve. After New Year's Eve, they can be taken down to serve guests.
Jiang Xiaoman always thought this kind of rice cake was a bit greasy when she was a child, but she missed it a lot after not eating it for a long time, so she bought a serving this time as everyone else did.
There are also local homemade maltose, sesame candy, and winter melon candy, which are hard to find in the city now. Maltose is a bit more expensive, at ten yuan per jin, while everything else is eight yuan per jin, and you can mix and match as you like.
Jiang Xiaoman grabbed a little of everything, and also took a 20-pound bag of sunflower seeds. When she finally calculated the bill, it was less than 200 yuan!
"Don't laugh at me for being stingy, haha. Actually, some people here go to the county town to buy those big-brand, high-quality candies during the Spring Festival, but I don't think it's necessary. I just don't like to compare myself with others."
"Besides, you can buy chocolates and milk candies anytime in the city, but here, many families only eat homemade sesame candies and maltose once a year, so it's quite a rare treat. I'll livestream myself eating candy tonight, haha~"
As Jiang Xiaoman explained to the camera, she moved with the crowd to the area selling local mountain products.
The items here are even more diverse.
There were cured pheasants, rabbits, quails, and other wild game made by the old hunters in the mountains, as well as dried wild mushrooms and various dried or pickled wild vegetables, and homemade dried potatoes, dried eggplants, dried green beans, and so on. It was dazzling to look at them all.
Since returning home, Jiang Xiaoman has been busy with infrastructure construction and earning money to support her family. She really hasn't had time to go hunting in the mountains. It's a good opportunity to take advantage of the New Year when the market is well-stocked and she can restock any items she doesn't have at home.
He bought two cured pheasants and two wild rabbits, and five dried quails per string; he took four strings.
She also bought some pickled bamboo shoots, pickled cowpeas, pickled peppers, and other things. Her dad had also made these before, but they weren't as good as what she got here. Jiang Xiaoman asked about the price and felt quite pained, so she decided to pickle them herself next year.
However, the potato slices and dried eggplants that the locals dried themselves were not expensive at all. This was probably because the raw materials were all leftovers from their own consumption, so there was little cost involved, and therefore the price was not high. Jiang Xiaoman spent a few dozen yuan to buy almost a whole woven bag of various dried vegetables...
When he arrived at the only rice noodle shop in town with his bags full, it was already packed with people.
This shop is usually very busy. During the Lunar New Year, many people who have been working away from home for a year miss the "taste of home" and will come here specifically to slurp a bowl of local sour soup rice noodles during the market day.
People in the mountains aren't so particular. If there's not enough room in the shop, they'll just grab their rice noodles, find a spot by the wall near the shop entrance, squat down, chat, and slurp their noodles—it's even more lively than sitting inside the shop.
Jiang Xiaoman quickly placed her basket and woven bag against the wall to reserve a spot. When she went in to get a number to buy rice noodles, she actually saw Jiang Yu in the crowd!
"Brother Xiaoyu!" Jiang Xiaoman, covered in sweat, squeezed through the crowd to reach Jiang Yu's side.
"I just sent you a WeChat message. Hurry up and go find a spot. I'm queuing here to buy rice noodles," Jiang Yu urged.
"My phone was recording a video the whole time, so I didn't see it. I'll go outside and find a spot." Jiang Xiaoman squeezed out of the crowd again and waited for Jiang Yu by the wall.
Before we even got to eat rice noodles, Shan Yan arrived.
Jiang Xiaoman was speechless when she saw the sesame seed cakes he was carrying.
Jiang Xiaoyu is such a foodie! She queued up to buy rice noodles herself, and then sent Shanyan to buy sesame cakes!
However, the broth from the sour soup rice noodles is indeed delicious when used to soak sesame flatbread.
Jiang Xiaoman quickly waved to Shan Yan.
Shanyan squeezed through the crowd, handed him the bag of sesame cakes he was carrying, and went inside to help Jiangyu queue up for rice noodles.
...
After much fuss, the three of them finally got to eat hot and sour rice noodles.
The sour soup rice noodles in Langshan are different from those in a famous tourist city in China. The soup base is not made with tomatoes, but with the sour juice from local pickled bamboo shoots.
There are many toppings, such as stir-fried shredded pork with pickled bamboo shoots, minced pork with pickled cowpeas, and pork cracklings with pickled cabbage. In addition, you can add other dishes at the restaurant, such as poached eggs, pork rolls in bean curd sheets, fried crispy rolls, pickled pepper pork skin, and various braised dishes. To put it simply, just the toppings at this restaurant alone could be combined in any way to eat for half a month without repeating a single dish.
It's a rare treat to celebrate the New Year, and this year they've made money again. Jiang Yu doesn't hesitate to spend money on side dishes, adding a large piece of braised pig's trotter, a few slices of blood sausage, and a braised duck leg to each of their bowls. The three large bowls are piled high.
Fortunately, Shan Yan and Jiang Yu, who run in the mountains year-round, have very stable chassis, which allowed them to navigate through the crowded streets and bring over their huge bowls of sour soup rice noodles.
The three of them, holding large bowls, squatted under the eaves with the others, ready to start eating, when Jiang Xiaoman shouted, "Wait! I need to film a video first!"
"I want to take pictures too!" Jiang Yu quickly pulled out the handheld tripod that Jiang Xiaoman had given him from his pocket.
Shan Yan looked speechlessly at the two people who were so engrossed in filming the video. He sighed and resignedly blocked the countless legs walking back and forth in front of them to prevent anyone from stepping on and ruining the large bowl of rice noodles in front of them.
When Jiang Xiaoman and Jiang Yu's fans saw this, they almost died laughing.
What kind of ridiculous food bloggers are these?
When people go to explore restaurants and eat snacks, even the worst ones should at least have a plastic stool to sit on, right?
You two are squatting under someone's wall eating, with pairs of legs walking back and forth right in front of you. Aren't you afraid of being stepped on?
However, seeing the large bowl of sour soup rice noodles with extra toppings in the video, netizens couldn't help but swallow hard.
Damn it~ Although the dining environment is the worst on the internet, this rice noodle dish looks really delicious... Should I go check it out during the holidays?
Chapter 135
Jiang Xiaoman had no idea that her unintentional mukbang video would make her rice noodle shop in town a local sensation.
After finishing their spicy and sour rice noodles, the three of them carried their market purchases towards the town entrance. Reaching the temporary parking lot, they found the borrowed tractor. Just as they got on, Jiang Xiaoman glanced around, then slapped his forehead in frustration—
"Oh dear! I was so busy filming that I forgot to buy fireworks!"
This is an absolute necessity for celebrating the Lunar New Year locally!
Even the poorest families, who are reluctant to spend money, will always buy two strings of firecrackers for the New Year, and set them off on New Year's Eve and the Lantern Festival.
According to the traditions of the mountain people's ancestors, the bigger the firecrackers set off during the New Year, the more prosperous the coming year will be. Moreover, the loud noise of setting off firecrackers can also let the wild animals in the mountains know that there are people living in this area, so fewer wild animals will run to this area in the coming year.
However, since fireworks are now banned in the city, Jiang Xiaoman was worried that if she filmed the scene of buying firecrackers, she would be criticized by netizens. So she simply didn't film it at all. Later, she was in a hurry to queue up at the rice noodle shop and actually forgot about the important matter of buying firecrackers!
So, leaving Shan Yan to watch the things, Jiang Xiaoman and Jiang Yu went back and bought several strings of firecrackers, large fireworks, and small fireworks. Jiang Xiaoman also specially bought several boxes of sparklers for Jiang Yueyue and Yingzi's two daughters.
This stuff is actually more expensive than mutton!
Jiang Xiaoman felt that she hadn't bought much, but when the shopkeeper finally did the math, he realized that such a small amount of fireworks and firecrackers had cost him over five hundred yuan!
Jiang Yu bought even more than he did, spending over 700 yuan. There was nothing he could do; he has three daughters!
Everyone must be treated equally; all sparklers must be the same type, and the quantity should ideally be exactly the same.
Jiang Yu herself is also a playful person, and she bought a lot of novel and interesting little fireworks, which left Jiang Xiaoman speechless.
However, these fireworks are really fun. After complaining about Jiang Yu, Jiang Xiaoman went and bought some firecrackers and various small fireworks, spending over a hundred yuan!
It was already noon when we got back to the village.
However, after finishing that big bowl of sour soup rice noodles around 10 o'clock, the three of them are not hungry at all now.
As soon as Jiang Yu got out of the car, he rushed to open the door. When he got to the main room, he saw that Shan Cha had already heated up the food that had been left for him in the morning and was eating with her two younger sisters. The floor was swept clean and the chickens had been fed.
People in the mountains are not used to praising children to their faces, but Jiang Yu naturally has unique skills in spoiling children.
He bought Camellia a bright red down jacket, a fluffy hair clip that's all the rage in town this year, a pair of stylish snow boots, and, at the shopkeeper's strong recommendation, a pair of fleece-lined leggings.
Camellia blushed as she accepted Jiang Yu's New Year's gift. Actually, she had already seen many of her classmates in the village wearing these clothes, but how could she ask Jiang Yu for such expensive clothes?
The reason why other female classmates can wear nice clothes is because their parents earn money by working outside!
Jiang Yu's father had already struggled enough to support the three sisters, so how could she possibly ask him to buy her clothes as well?