2: The value of the secret recipe

Mo Li looked up at the boss.

“I’m just casually looking…”

With that, Mo Li, with a look of utter boredom, put 《Postpartum Care for Sows》 back into the pile of books.

The boss looked at Mo Li with some disappointment.

“Alright, then you can browse. If you see anything you like, just say so, and I’ll give you a good price.”

Mo Li nodded, then picked up another book, 《Tractor Repair Techniques》.

After his previous actions, this time the used book stall owner didn't eagerly rush over, but just quietly watched Mo Li from the side.

Mo Li continued to look at several books, specifically picking up selected home recipes in between to confirm it really contained a tea egg recipe.

Finally, he picked up 《My Adventures Repairing Pyramids in Egypt》.

“Boss, how much is this one?”

“30!”

“Boss, you’re not trying to rip me off because I’m young, are you? A brand new one on Pinduoduo is only 9.9 yuan, and it includes shipping!”

The used book stall owner, without changing his expression, said to Mo Li:

“Those are all pirated copies; mine is genuine!”

“Just because you say it’s genuine means it is? I say it’s second-hand, 5 yuan. Will you sell it or not?”

“No, my purchase price was more than 5 yuan. I can’t sell it for that.”

Mo Li decisively put 《My Adventures Repairing Pyramids in Egypt》 back into the pile of books.

Seeing Mo Li about to leave, the used book stall owner bent down, picked up 《My Adventures Repairing Pyramids in Egypt》 from the pile, and said to Mo Li:

“I really can’t sell it for 5 yuan. Add a bit more, how about 8 yuan?”

Mo Li seemingly casually picked up selected home recipes from the pile of books.

“I want two books, 10 yuan. How about it?”

“This…”

The used book stall owner seemed a bit hesitant.

Mo Li cleared his throat.

“These second-hand books, you buy them by the pound, so the cost is almost negligible. You were going to make 8 yuan from me, and now you’ll make an extra 2 yuan. That’s enough.”

The used book stall owner smiled somewhat helplessly.

“Young man, I didn’t expect you to know so much. Alright, 10 yuan it is. Consider it making a friend.”

After paying, Mo Li left the used book stall with the two books he had bought.

After walking a distance, confirming that the used book stall owner couldn't see him, he carefully opened selected home recipes to examine it closely.

The book recorded many home-cooked dishes, such as Mapo Tofu, Braised Pork, Hot and Sour Shredded Potatoes, and so on.

“‘Appropriate amount,’ ‘a little’… it’s too mystical. These dishes are definitely the epitome of 'easy to learn, impossible to make'!”

After complaining, Mo Li turned selected home recipes to page 127.

On this page, a handwritten “five-spice tea egg secret recipe” was tucked in.

This secret recipe formed a stark contrast with the dishes recorded in selected home recipes.

The production process for the “five-spice tea egg” recorded in the secret recipe was extremely detailed, with all the various spices and seasonings needed during the process precisely measured in grams.

Mo Li had a feeling that as long as he strictly followed the production process and ingredients recorded in the secret recipe to make the five-spice tea egg, there was almost no possibility of failure.

“Bay leaf, fennel, star anise, cinnamon, cloves. It only needs five spices. It really is five-spice as in five-spice…”

“All the ingredients can be bought at any large supermarket.”

…Mo Li purchased all the ingredients needed to make “five-spice tea egg” at a supermarket near his rental house, then returned to the rental house.

The rental house was located in the urban-rural fringe of Binggang City, a red brick bungalow with a yard.

It was wide enough, but also quite dilapidated.

The monthly rent for this house was 1600 yuan. Besides Mo Li, there was another tenant—Qi Manman. They each paid 800 yuan in rent.

Mo Li and Qi Manman became roommates by chance, and after more than half a year of living together, their relationship was quite good.

Click!

Passing through the small courtyard in front of the house, Mo Li quickly scanned the room after opening the living room door.

His “roommate” Qi Manman was wearing a loose, beige pajama, lazily lying on the sofa and playing with her phone.

Upon hearing the movement, Qi Manman looked up at Mo Li with some curiosity.

“You’re back so early today?”

Mo Li placed the eggs, seasonings, spices, and the braised duck gifted by the braised food stall owner all on the living room table.

Then he spread his hands to Qi Manman.

“My boss ran off with his sister-in-law, so I don’t have to work like an ox for him anymore. Of course, I came back early.”

Qi Manman couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.

“Really? Isn’t your company a logistics company? When did it become a leather factory?”

“I can only say it’s purely a coincidence…”

“Don’t worry too much. If you lose one job, you can find another. In today’s society, as long as you’re willing to work, you won’t starve.”

Mo Li pouted and rolled his eyes at Qi Manman.

“Is that how you comfort people?”

Qi Manman put down her phone and looked at Mo Li with a serious expression.

“As long as the heart is there, the dream is there. Life is grand; it’s just starting over!”

“Thank you so much!”

Qi Manman’s lips curved upwards, and she waved her hand at Mo Li.

“You’re welcome. Have you eaten? I was about to make stir-fried noodles. Want me to make you a bowl?”

Hearing Qi Manman’s words, Mo Li’s eyes lit up.

The stir-fried noodles Qi Manman made were absolutely delicious.

Mo Li had also tried to learn, and Qi Manman wasn't stingy, teaching Mo Li hand-in-hand.

However, making delicious food requires a wealth of experience to control every step, it’s not something you can just learn instantly.

After several attempts, Mo Li always felt like it was missing a certain essence, and eventually chose to eat ready-made food.

“Then I won’t be polite. I just happen to have a braised duck here…”

“A bowl of noodles for a meal of braised food, I’ve hit the jackpot…”

Soon, two bowls of stir-fried noodles and a plate of chopped braised duck were placed on the dining table.

Qi Manman picked up a duck leg and looked at it.

“This color, this aroma, you bought it from Zhang Lao Er Braised Food Shop, didn’t you?”

Mo Li looked at Qi Manman with some surprise.

“You can tell that too?”

“It depends on the timing. Sometimes I can tell, sometimes I can’t.”

Mo Li looked at Qi Manman with some confusion.

Not only did she make delicious stir-fried noodles, but she could also tell at a glance which shop the braised food came from. She was truly an expert!

For a moment, Mo Li even had the idea of asking Qi Manman for guidance after his “five-spice tea egg” was ready.

Just as Mo Li was lost in thought, Qi Manman pointed to the bag containing the braised duck.

“When the bag says ‘Zhang Lao Er Braised Food Shop’, I can tell…”

“?????”

…After dinner, Mo Li quickly tidied up the kitchen and began to strictly follow the recipe, proportioning the spice packets, boiling eggs, and simmering the braising liquid.

Every step of making the five-spice tea egg was simple enough, and Mo Li proceeded smoothly with each step.

After more than ten minutes, as the braising liquid simmered and released its flavor, the entire kitchen was filled with an enticing aroma.

Qi Manman was quickly lured out of the kitchen by the aroma, peeking in curiously.

“tea eggs? How are they more fragrant than my stir-fried noodles? That’s my family’s heirloom recipe!”

“You only put one star anise in your stir-fried noodles. I put five kinds of spices in mine, four more than yours. How could it not be more fragrant?”

Mo Li casually retorted.

Qi Manman rolled her eyes at Mo Li in annoyance.

“Then why don’t you just put thirteen-spice powder? That’s eight more spices. Wouldn’t that be even more fragrant?”

“I’m making five-spice tea egg, not thirteen-spice tea egg. Alright, I’ll call you when it’s ready to eat.”

Qi Manman looked at the tea eggs simmering in the pot.

“Don’t tea eggs taste best after soaking overnight to absorb the flavor?”

“You little glutton are almost crying from craving, I have to let you satisfy your craving first, right? Alright, quickly wipe your drool and wait outside for a bit.”

Seeing Qi Manman’s greedy expression, Mo Li was already ninety percent confident.

Skill, most of the time, requires diligent practice.

But this secret recipe only required strict adherence to the production process and proportions to make a pot of absolutely delicious “five-spice tea egg.”

This was the true value of the secret recipe!