When it was Chen Lan's turn to order, she took out the money and tickets she had prepared in advance to thank Sister Zhao for her help. She ordered a portion of braised beef and a portion of guo bao rou, followed by a portion of sauerkraut and pork dumplings and a portion of chives and egg dumplings. Finally, she also bought two bottles of Nan Kan soda with tangerine flavor, which was very popular in Harbin at that time.
The Nan Kan soda produced by the Harbin Beverage Factory was a very famous product in Harbin during the 1970s! Its popularity was comparable to the red sausage produced by the Harbin Meat Processing Plant, the Da Lieba produced by the Qiu Lin Company, and the beer produced by the Harbin Brewery.
In the 1970s, when materials were scarce and people's wages were generally low, even though Nan Kan soda cost only fifteen cents a bottle, it was still a luxury that children from ordinary families could not afford to drink.
Most children's parents would only buy one or two bottles of Nan Kan soda for their children when the school organized spring outings or sports days.
The braised beef and guo bao rou from the restaurant were the first to be ready. When Chen Lan brought the two dishes to the table, Sister Zhao saw that both pork and beef were served, and she even bought two bottles of Nan Kan soda.
She said with a slight reproach, "Xiao Chen, you are too polite and too extravagant! Both soda and beef, and dumplings later. You shouldn't have ordered this guo bao rou. Why are you spending so much money? It's just the two of us women, how can we finish so much food!"
Chen Lan smiled and replied, "Sister Zhao, I bought the soda because I walked such a long way and I was thirsty! As for the dumplings and dishes, just eat to your heart's content. If you can't finish them, don't worry, I have a lunchbox. We can pack them up and take them home to eat later."
After saying this, Chen Lan picked up the chopsticks, pried open the caps of the two bottles of soda, handed one bottle to Sister Zhao, and took a bottle herself. She drank several large gulps. The tangerine-flavored soda, as it went down her throat, spread a cool sensation throughout her stomach. Watching the bubbles slowly rising in the soda bottle and bursting, the refreshing feeling was indescribable.
Chen Lan put down the soda bottle, picked up her chopsticks, and beckoned, "Sister Zhao, please don't be so formal with me. Hurry up and pick up your chopsticks and eat. The waiter told me that their braised beef and guo bao rou are very good, so I specifically ordered these two dishes. Let's both try them today and see how they compare to the ones at the state-run Gengxin Restaurant!"
Before Sister Zhao could reply, the waiter at the serving window called out, "Table number six, one portion of sauerkraut and pork dumplings and one portion of chives and egg dumplings are ready! Someone come and pick them up."
Chen Lan saw that her table number was six and hurried to the window to pick them up. Sister Zhao also got up and followed her to the window.
Two large plates full of dumplings were placed on the counter. Chen Lan couldn't help but marvel at how generous the state-run restaurants were in this era. Not only were the prices reasonable, but the portions were also large. Chen Lan couldn't possibly finish such a large plate of dumplings, let alone the other dishes to come.
So, Chen Lan asked the waiter for two empty bowls and two bowls of dumpling soup. The reason for asking for dumpling soup was the saying in the Northeast: "original soup melts original food," meaning that drinking the soup from which the dumplings were boiled can aid digestion.
Then, Chen Lan picked up her chopsticks, urged Sister Zhao to eat the dishes and dumplings, and also picked up a sauerkraut dumpling. She dipped it in the sauce and put it in her mouth. Chen Lan savored the delicious taste with a look of intoxication!
You wouldn't believe it, but sauerkraut, this versatile ingredient, is always delicious no matter how it's prepared. The sauerkraut and pork dumplings whet the appetite and become more delicious with every bite. Each dumpling has thin skin and a generous filling, and the dumpling skin is very chewy. The sauerkraut and pork filling is particularly tender and juicy, with a burst of broth when bitten. It's wonderfully sour and very appetizing.
The chives and egg dumplings are also fresh, fragrant, and very delicious, with a great texture that is not much inferior to the sauerkraut dumplings.
The braised beef here is also made with great care. It is not only tender but also very chewy, with a refreshing taste and very fresh meat. It's not dry or tough when eaten.
The waiter was indeed right; the guo bao rou from this restaurant is excellent. It is golden in color, sweet and sour in taste, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, delicious and fragrant.
Chen Lan and Sister Zhao are not big eaters. Moreover, each of them had drunk a large bottle of soda, so they were full without eating much. Soon, they were stuffed, and the dumplings and dishes were not finished, with a lot left.
Since guo bao rou is best eaten hot, it loses its appeal when cold. Therefore, Chen Lan and Sister Zhao managed to finish the guo bao rou. They were so full that they couldn't eat anything else. As a result, a considerable amount of dumplings and braised beef were left.
Then, as if by magic, Chen Lan took out five aluminum lunchboxes and two dark purple cloth bags from the cloth bag she was carrying. She then took two lunchboxes and a cloth bag and handed them to the somewhat bewildered Sister Zhao.
Seeing Sister Zhao's dazed expression as she took the lunchboxes and cloth bags, Chen Lan said, "Sister Zhao, you can be in charge of packing up the braised beef and dumplings left on the table! Anyway, neither of us touched them with our chopsticks. You can take them home for your little grandson to try!"
Seeing Sister Zhao nod, Chen Lan added, "The sauerkraut and pork dumplings here are very good and quite appetizing. I'll go buy two more portions. Sister Zhao, would you like one too?"
Sister Zhao repeatedly refused, "Xiao Chen, no need. I'm already burping from the soda. We haven't eaten much of these two portions of dumplings and beef. This is enough for my mother-in-law and grandson. The weather is too hot, and if we buy too much and don't finish it, it will be a waste!"
Seeing Sister Zhao say this, and seeing that there was indeed quite a lot left, Chen Lan did not persuade her further!
Then she continued, "Sister Zhao, since you don't want them, I'll go buy two more portions. I'll take them to my nephew who is recuperating from his injuries in the hospital later to change his taste."
Sister Zhao immediately urged, "Xiao Chen, then hurry up and go queue up! Don't worry! Leave this to me!"
As soon as Chen Lan finished speaking and heard Sister Zhao say this, she didn't hesitate any longer. She quickly stood up, picked up the remaining three aluminum lunchboxes and a cloth bag from the table, and turned to queue up at the ticket window again.