Zhangye people's preference for Zhangye noodles with minced meat has reached a very common and almost fanatical level. Streets and alleys are full of minced meat noodles, which are slightly distinctive and crowded, so lively. Office workers should eat a bowl of minced meat noodles before going to work, and then go to work contentedly. Old people should eat a bowl of minced meat noodles after exercising and walking birds, and then go home leisurely. After eating minced meat noodles, everyone's stomach is as comfortable as their heart.
When I first arrived in Jiuquan, I found many noodle restaurants with Zhangye flavor in the streets and alleys. I am both surprised and gratified. I thought I could eat snacks from my hometown in a foreign land, at least to relieve my hunger and feel less homesick. I have eaten several times, but I am confused. I feel that noodles are different from noodles. There are many noodles and the soup is small and thick. Some people eat it not only in the morning, but also at noon and at night, which seems to be similar to the way of eating slag river noodles. You know, in Zhangye, minced meat noodles are an out-and-out breakfast. They pay attention to wide soup and little noodles, and generally don't eat at noon. Furthermore, it is found that the writing of the word "shame" is also very different. Authentic noodle restaurants opened by Zhangye people all say "shame face", and some say "shame face". Moreover, this name is somewhat common. I don't understand. My colleague thought that the word "Sao" was wrong, so they argued for a long time. As a result, no one accepted the other's point of view. But I firmly believe that "Shao Mian" must be homophonic, which has something to do with the local pronunciation, but I am not sure whether "Shao Mian" is correct, so I have the psychology of inquiry.
Looking through a lot of information, I didn't find the origin of Zhangye noodles, but I found the origin of Qishan noodles. According to legend, Zhou Wenwang's parents died early when he was young, and he was always raised by his brother and sister-in-law. On one occasion, Zhou Wenwang led an army to meet with pouring rain in the war, and the wind was biting. After taking hundreds of medicines, it didn't get better, and I stayed in bed for a few days. Sister-in-law herself went down to the cupboard and made a bowl of hot noodles for King Wen, who was sweating profusely and refreshed. Later, in order to commemorate her sister-in-law, she named it "Sister-in-law Noodles". It is also said that a long time ago, a family in Qishan married a beautiful, intelligent, diligent and clever daughter-in-law. The second day after the new daughter-in-law arrived at her husband's house, she cooked noodles for the whole family. After eating, the whole family praised the noodles for being smooth and delicious. Later, my brother-in-law was admitted to the official position, and invited classmates and friends to be guests at home, so that my sister-in-law could cook the best noodles for everyone to entertain guests. After eating, everyone was full of praise. Since then, "Sister-in-law's face" has become famous. There may be other versions of this beautiful legend, which can arouse people's infinite reverie, but what is certain is that minced meat noodles have a long history and are by no means the invention of modern people. "Saozi Noodles" comes from "Sister-in-law Noodles", which is a local dialect, and "Shaomian" and "Shaomian" are homophonic.
Zhang Ye's minced meat noodles are separated from soup. Traditional noodles should be mixed with alkaline water, kneaded repeatedly after mixing, carefully cut by hand after sobering up for a period of time, shaped like leek leaves, and boiled in boiling water. Authentic soup uses chicken soup, which is mixed with various condiments and gouache to make the soup sticky. Fish noodles, soup with sliced meat, chopped green onion, coriander and dried bean curd. The practice of shampooing is still the same, but the preparation of soup has changed a lot, including chicken soup, pork and mutton soup. Vegetarian dishes can be cooked without meat, which is different from the noodle restaurant at home, but in any case, its basic practice has not changed.
I carefully compared the methods of "Qi Shan Sao Noodles" and "Zhang Ye Sao Noodles". Although there are some differences in the use of scalding and condiments, the production procedures and finished products are very similar, which means that they have a historical origin, but there are some changes in the circulation process because of different regions and conditions. Then the question comes out, whether Zhang Ye's face spread to Qishan, or Qishan's face spread to Zhang Ye, or similar faces spread in other places, which has not been verified. I think, when it comes to geographical distribution, the noodles with minced meat in Shaanxi are very popular, especially in Qishan. In Gansu, only Zhang Ye is popular and proud of this way of eating, caring for him like a child and defending the disrespect of people from different regions like defending his own life. Historically and culturally, the land of Sanqin has been the birthplace of the Yellow River Valley culture since ancient times, and the ancient capital of the 13th Dynasty was built in Xi 'an. In ancient times, Zhangye was mostly occupied by nomadic people. Such exquisite pasta is not made by ethnic minorities and is used to eating it. There may be only one answer. With the opening of the Silk Road and the blending of many nationalities, a large number of caravans spread food culture here while transporting silk to the Western Regions and West Asia. According to the above inference, can it be said that Zhang Ye's face originated from Sanqin, and it has the same root as Sanqin's face? Zhangye's face was spread to Zhangye after the opening of the Silk Road! I don't know if my judgment is correct, but at least, this inference is reasonable.
Gossiping about Zhang Ye's noodles with minced meat is not to get an authentic position narrowly, but to increase readers' understanding of Zhang Ye's noodles with minced meat. Besides, who spread the noodles with minced meat to Zhangye, and why not spread them to Wuwei, Jiuquan or other cities, these questions remain to be explored by people like me. I only hope that Zhangye's noodles with minced meat can be spread for a long time, widely spread and carried forward!