Overall Resumption of Work in Zhengzhou Starts with a Bowl of Hulatang

Overall Resumption of Work in Zhengzhou Starts with a Bowl of Hulatang

郑州全面“解封”，从一碗胡辣汤开始

 

Zhengzhou natives often start a day with a bowl of hulatang (a traditional pepper hot soup eaten for breakfast in Henan province).

郑州人的一天，时常要从喝碗胡辣汤开始。

Overall resumption of work in Zhengzhou starts with a bowl of Hulatang. [Photo/Dahe Daily]

On August 29, Zhengzhou, capital of Henan, cleared all its medium and high-risk areas for COVID-19 with closed-management measures in affected areas lifted. At 4 am, a hulatang restaurant near the intersection of Yingcai Street and Yintong Road in Huiji district was already open.

8月29日，郑州全面“解封”后的第一天。凌晨4时，位于惠济区英才街、银通路附近的一家胡辣汤店已是灯火通明。

 

"We'll go back to work tomorrow!" Informed by Liu Jianmei, the boss of the restaurant, an assistant surnamed Li started making preparations for the next day's work resumption immediately with his partners.

“开工啦！”店员老李和伙计们头天便收到老板刘建梅的微信通知，准备好的食材等着他们去加工。

 

It felt a bit cool in Zhengzhou in early autumn with a drizzle. The busy figures at the restaurant demonstrated that everything had returned to normal. "Only the freshly cooked food tastes good," said the staff with their intense but orderly work.

初秋的郑州，小雨微凉。师傅们切菜的切菜，盘馅的盘馅，熬汤的熬汤，一切又回到了曾经熟悉的场景。“都得现包现做，这样才新鲜可口。”店员们分工明确，忙而不乱。

 

Around 6 am, the smell of hulatang, baozi (steamed buns normally stuffed with vegetables or meat and wrapped in a soft flour shell) and rouhe (fried flat bread stuffed with vegetables and meat) was already wafting down the street.

早上6时多，胡辣汤，牛肉包子、肉盒的香气就已经飘到大街上，钻进行人的口鼻里了，那久违的烟火气让人激动不已。

 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant, suspended for more than 20 days, resumed normal operation. Chen Wei, a local resident, ordered two bowls of hulatang for himself after having his QR coder checked and temperature taken. "I miss it so much!"

受疫情影响，歇业20多天的胡辣汤店又开张了。家住在附近的居民陈伟和妻子在早市上买完菜，进店扫码、测体温、点餐、落座，“太想念这个味儿啦！”

 

As his wife is not a Zhengzhou native, Chen bought her a bowl of porridge. Along with a meat baozi and a vegetable baozi, they enjoyed their breakfast very much.

陈伟先后喝了两碗胡辣汤，他的妻子不是河南本地人，一个肉包，一个素包、一碗粥，夫妻俩吃得津津有味。

 

"A bowl of hulatang makes me fresh and energetic." Prior to the pandemic, Chen usually got up early and had a bowl of hulatang before a day's work.

“喝上热腾腾的胡辣汤，提气，感觉一天都有劲儿。”疫情前，陈伟隔三差五就来这里喝上一碗胡辣汤，之后才去上班。

 

"A new takeout order, please check it." The takeout signal was also ringing.

“您有新的外卖订单，请注意查收。”店里的外卖提示音也在响个不停。

 

From time to time, the take-away deliverymen came here to pick up the packaged hulatang and baozi and delivered them to those who miss such a taste but do not want to get up early.

不时见戴着口罩的外卖小哥飞奔而来，提走打包好的胡辣汤和包子等，骑上电动车赶去送给那些想念这个味道而又不想早起出门的人们。（中文来源/河南日报 翻译/赵汉青 海报/实习生王君艺 审校/丁岚）