Er’kuai rice cake, a taste of joy in Yunnan
As the Covid-19 is on the wane, Yunnan’s provincial capital of Kunming is gradually brought back to life by people in all walks of life. In a tiny alley, 53-year-old Zhong Zhaoxian reopened her Er’kuai/rice cake shop that has warmed up countless locals in the morning.
Waiting at the stove
The Er’kuai rice cake is a snack particular to Yunnan province and it can be cooked, steamed, or fried. However, Kunming folks like the grilled Er’kuai most. Rice cake eaters in Yunnan have their own choice of shop, because each rice cake shop has its unique flavor.
Zhong gets up at 6 a.m. to open her rice cake shop, with potatoes, eggs and soybean milk prepared in advance.
The key in grilling a rice cake is the fire. If the fire is too strong, the rice cake will burn. If the fire is too weak, the customers cannot wait for it. During the toasting, the rice cake is turned over at times for even heat.
Varieties of the rice cake
The rice cake can have differed flavors, depending on the ingredients. And different shops develop their own seasoning for customers. Zhong said customers can choose their own favorite flavor, and she did not expect everyone to eat at her shop.
Either sweet or salty, Zhong’s seasonings are homemade. And customers can choose their favorite for the rice cakes.
Zhong said that in general Kunming people favor the sweet flavor, while diners from other Yunnan localities like the salty. Although her shop is not located in the city center, many come to taste her rice cakes as a routine.
Free lifestyle in concrete jungle
Zhong Zhaoxian first worked in a factory in Kunming when her son was in junior high school, but she did not like it at all. So she tried to start her own business.
Over the years, Zhaong opened several shops, selling vegetables, soybean milk and milky tea in succession. In 2012, she decided to turn to rice cakes.
"Owning a shop means more free time. And I can close it any time,” said Zhong, adding she does not want much money so long as the basic needs are met. She noted that her son and daughter-in-law followed her step and opened two milky tea shops in the spring city.
Targeting the morning commuters, Zhong runs the Er'kuai business from 6 to 12 a.m. daily. And she spends her time with her family after work.
Stick to it for better future
During the Covid-19 lockdown, Zhong was restless at home. And missing her rice cakes, many customers asked her when to open the shop.
After a two-month close, Zhong reopened the Er’kuai shop in March. She can only make her ends meet at the time being, but Zhong is still optimistic, taking the business as a way for morn exercise.
Zhong believes the business will be better in the future, as long as she sticks to making the special cake with care.
Source: Xinhua; trans-editing by Li Yushuangyue and Wang Shixue