Chen Xueliang, Weicheng District, has begun to "apply for heritage" in order to inherit authentic practices
Speaking of Weifang, I have to mention Weifang cuisine, according to the "Weicheng Literature and History Materials", Laowei County's bar head fire, slash fire, dustpan fire can be described as famous. Chen Xueliang, a native of Lao Wei County, has not only passed down this craft, but is now ready to apply for intangible cultural heritage and carry it forward. On August 13, the reporter listened to Chen Xueliang tell about his indissoluble relationship with the fire in Lao Wei County.
Nearly ten processes are fired in one furnace
At about 8:00 a.m. on the 13th, the reporter saw in the Market of Xiyuan Street in Weicheng District that a small door house business with "Lao Wei County Cut fire" was very hot. Chen Xueliang was busy with his apprentice in the store, putting noodles into the mold, covering the pattern, and "cutting" the fire with a knife... The two men worked together methodically.
There are three different forms of fire in this store. Chen Xueliang introduced that the surrounding wings are the bar head fire in Laowei County, the "incense" word, the twill is the slashing fire, and the dustpan is similar to the dustpan fire.
Chen Xueliang told reporters that to make a furnace of authentic Lao Wei County fire, you have to go through nearly ten processes such as dough, kneading dough, weighing, getting agents, pressing flat, cutting wings (or cutting), baking, and baking. Chen Xueliang began to be busy at 4 a.m. every day and could not rest until 8 p.m.
In the past 20 years, the location has changed, and old customers have always followed
Chen Xueliang is 66 years old and is an authentic Lao Wei County native. Engaged in the production of Lao Wei County fire, he is also a "halfway out of the house". Chen Xueliang used to be a chef, and later came into contact with pasta by chance.
Chen Xueliang recalled that in 1987, he went to Yantai to learn cooking and saw a teacher make Lao Wei County cut fire, but the production method was very unorthodox. At that time, Chen Xueliang moved the idea of passing on the fire in Lao Wei County. When he was a child, he had eaten the authentic Lao Wei County fire, but later fewer and fewer people would make this kind of fire. "After all, it is our traditional cuisine, and it cannot be passed down." Chen Xueliang said.
In 1998, Chen Xueliang carved molds and seals from memory and slowly experimented with the small earth stove at home. After a period of time, he finally made an authentic Lao Wei County bar head fire, slash fire, dustpan fire. Many people feel that the taste is exactly the same as what they ate when they were children.
Over the past 20 years, Chen Xueliang's shop has moved from Caojia Lane to Xiyuan Street, but no matter where he goes, there is always a group of loyal "followers".
I hope that young people will come to learn and are willing to pass on the craft for free
Nowadays, Chen Xueliang has to make 8 bags of noodles a day, a bag of noodles 50 pounds, a pound of noodles to make 3 fires, a day can sell 1200 fires. Although it is a small business, this sales volume is very impressive.
The reporter saw that the bar head fire made by Chen Xueliang was plum-shaped, which was different from the common round bar head fire on the market. Chen Xueliang introduced that according to the "Weixian Historical Materials", the most authentic bar head fire is this kind of fire, which is now common and should actually be called "township fire".
Chen Xueliang has recently been busy applying for intangible cultural heritage for the Weifang bar head fire. He said that the first generation of the bar head fire was pioneered by the Hu Zhang clan in Weixian County in the Qing Dynasty, the second generation was hu Zhi, the son of the Hu Zhang clan, and the third generation was Pei Kaijiang, which passed to him exactly the fourth generation. The reason why I want to apply for intangible cultural heritage is to carry forward and pass on the fire-burning production skills, including Weifang bar head.
In addition, Chen Xueliang also hopes that more young people will learn this craft, "if someone wants to learn, I can teach it for free."
Reporter Li Nan