Chapter 54: Chapter 48: Comrade Zhou is Highly Skilled
Wang Hongliang was a gourmand and a chef, so his standards had always been high.
The Stir-fried Minced Beef with Double Peppers had just been served, and in terms of appearance, it was flawless.
The beef was finely minced but not mushy, each grain distinct. Green and red peppers constituted nearly half the dish, a collision of vibrant, bright colors. It glistened with a light sheen of oil, and the intermingled aroma of meat and spice that wafted up was enough to make one’s mouth water.
"It smells amazing!"
Even the children playing off to the side were captivated. Sniffing the air, they scrambled back onto their stools.
"My Brother made this. It’s super yummy!" Zhou Momo declared, her face beaming with pride.
"Let me be the first to try," Wang Hongliang said. He ladled half a spoonful of the minced beef into his bowl, then took a bite and savored it carefully.
The beef was crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, with a pleasant, springy texture. The heat of the red peppers, the freshness of the green peppers, a subtle numbness, and an exquisite aroma collided on his tongue, melding together in perfect harmony.
The more Wang Hongliang chewed, the brighter his eyes grew. He couldn’t hide the look of sheer amazement on his face.
Suji was home to Slaughter Ox Zhou Village, so beef was by no means a rare ingredient. Wang Hongliang knew countless ways to prepare it, and stir-fried minced beef was one of the dishes he frequently made himself.
But he had to admit, he could never achieve such perfection.
Stir-fried minced beef was all about Fire Control. The beef was minced into pieces slightly larger than rice grains; with insufficient heat, the beef wouldn’t be fragrant, but with just a little too much, it would become tough and dry.
It looked simple, but it was actually incredibly difficult to master.
The green and red peppers were flash-fried to remove their excess moisture, their fresh and spicy flavors infused into the beef. The dish looked crisp and clean, and it tasted numbing, spicy, fresh, and savory.
"Truly excellent. This is even better than the stir-fried minced beef at Rongyuan Garden."
Wang Hongliang put down his spoon, unable to hold back his praise.
Rongyuan Garden was founded in 1911 and was widely acknowledged in the industry as the "Huangpu Military Academy of Sichuan Cuisine." It was a gathering place for Special Level and First-level Chefs, and their dishes were second to none.
Every time Wang Hongliang ate there, he went with a student’s mindset. He’d even befriended several of the old master chefs.
This was the highest praise he could give.
"It’s rare to hear you praise a dish this much," Li Meilin said, a little surprised. She knew her husband all too well; whenever he encountered a chef less skilled than himself, he loved to play the part of the wise master offering pointers.
"Just try it. I certainly can’t cook to this standard," Wang Hongliang said with a smile, scooping a spoonful into her bowl. "Use your spoon. You have to eat the peppers and beef together to get the full flavor."
Li Meilin took a bite and nodded. "It really is good. Crisp on the outside, tender on the inside. It has a spicy kick, but it’s not overpowering. The fragrance is what really stands out. It would be perfect with rice. But the way you make it has its own special charm. I don’t think yours is any worse."
"We have to be objective and acknowledge the difference in skill," Wang Hongliang chuckled. Still, he was happy to hear his wife’s words.
Lin Zhiqiang and Meng Anhe exchanged a glance, the corners of their lips curving up slightly. Since the director and his wife both approved, this meal was a definite success.
Lin Zhiqiang opened the bottle of Wuliangye he had brought, pouring a glass for Wang Hongliang first before pouring one for himself.
As they spoke, the Braised Beef with Dried Bamboo Shoots and Braised Pork Ribs were served.
"Here, this isn’t spicy. Haohao, you have the first bite," Li Meilin said, placing a piece of braised pork rib in Wang Hao’s bowl.
Wang Hao picked up his chopsticks and, with some effort, managed to grab the rib. He leaned in, took a bite, and his face instantly lit up.
’These ribs are so good!’
They were so soft and succulent that the meat fell right off the bone with the slightest bite. It was no effort to eat at all.
In no time, he had gnawed the rib clean and even slurped enthusiastically at the bone a few times. He then turned to Zhou Momo, his expression a mixture of shock and envy. "Your... your Brother made this?"
"Of course," Zhou Momo nodded.
"Your Brother is incredible! These ribs are so delicious!" Wang Hao exclaimed, his face full of admiration. "They’re even better than my grandpa’s!"
"Let me try."
"Me too."
Hearing this, Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen couldn’t resist any longer. They each grabbed a rib and started eating.
"Whoa! It smells so good and tastes even better!"
"Dad, are you secretly coming here to eat all by yourself?"
The two boys ate with gusto, and Lin Jingxing was already starting to get suspicious of his father.
"Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous," Lin Zhiqiang flatly denied hoarding the good food for himself.
"Momo, why don’t you come sit and eat with us?" Meng Anhe said, smiling warmly at Zhou Momo.
"That’s right, come join us. Look how much the boys are enjoying their food," Li Meilin added. ’This little girl is just too precious.’
"Auntie, Grandma, you eat first. I’m not hungry," Zhou Momo said sweetly. She stopped watching from the side, turning and running back to the kitchen to keep an eye on the stove.
"What a well-behaved little girl," Li Meilin remarked with a smile.
"Yes, she’s absolutely adorable," Meng Anhe agreed wholeheartedly.
While the braised pork ribs became the children’s new favorite, Wang Hongliang picked up a piece of the dried bamboo shoot and popped it in his mouth.
The dried bamboo shoot had soaked up the rich, meaty broth. It had a slightly crisp texture that became more fragrant with every chew, making him nod in approval again and again.
Dried bamboo shoots absorbed flavor better than fresh ones. The broth was incredibly savory—rich but not greasy, and the seasoning was perfectly balanced.
He then tried a piece of beef. It was brisket, marbled with connective tissue, which has the best texture when braised.
The mellow broth had permeated the beef. The lean meat was tender but not falling apart, and the connective tissue was soft and gelatinous. With one bite, savory juices burst in his mouth. It was all about that rich, umami flavor!
"This Braised Beef with Dried Bamboo Shoots is spot on. The beef is stewed to perfection, the bamboo shoots are even more fragrant than the meat, and the seasoning shows a high level of skill." Wang Hongliang raised his glass, clinked it against Lin Zhiqiang’s, and took a sip of liquor. "With these two signature dishes alone, this restaurant is sure to survive."
"We still have three more dishes to try," Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile.
"Be careful now, little ones. The Kneeling Beef is coming through." Zhao Tieying carried over two bowls, warning the children to watch out. She carefully set down the hot soup and said with a smile, "If you need more broth or dipping sauce, just let us know. We can add more."
"Will do," Wang Hongliang nodded, taking a small bowl and ladling it half-full with broth.
The hot pot from Zhou Village had always been somewhat famous in Suji.
Wang Hongliang had tried it a few times, but his impressions were never good.
Clear broth is harder to make than a spicy one. Furthermore, they used beef offal, which has a strong, gamey taste. If you can’t suppress that gaminess, the whole pot of broth is ruined.
The Cow Slaughterers who sold this hot pot from their street stalls had very crude skills. Only the manual laborers down by the docks ate it frequently, and that was just because it was cheap.
But this broth was crystal clear. The rich aroma of long-simmered beef bones wafted up with the steam, and there was almost no trace of gaminess.
He scooped up some of the broth and took a sip.
Wang Hongliang’s eyebrows shot up.
’So savory!’
The broth, ladled straight from the roiling pot, was scalding hot and incredibly fresh-tasting.
There wasn’t a hint of any off-flavor. The scent of the spices was subtle, perfectly accentuating the aroma of the meat and enhancing its natural savoriness.
As he savored the aftertaste, he could discern the subtle notes of Chinese herbs. This, too, was a very light flavor, weaving together with the spices to make the savory taste truly stand out!
Wang Hongliang blew on the broth to cool it, then finished the bowl in two quick gulps. He let out a long, satisfied breath and exclaimed:
"Delicious! It’s so savory my eyebrows are about to fall off!"
With that, he ladled half a bowl of broth for Li Meilin. "You have to try this."
"Is it really that good?" Li Meilin picked up her spoon, blew on it, and took a sip. Her eyes lit up as well. "Wow, it really is delicious! This hot pot is completely different from the ones we’ve had from Zhou Village before."
"That’s why it’s called Kneeling Beef, not just ’hot pot’," Wang Hongliang chuckled. He then proceeded to taste the beef slices, tripe, tendon, and intestines from his bowl.
"The beef slices are large, thin, and incredibly tender. The tripe is crisp and springy, the tendon is soft and gelatinous, and the intestines are perfectly tender. Paired with this dry dip, the flavor is simply out of this world." Wang Hongliang pointed to the small dish of dry spices. "This dip is masterfully made—numbing, spicy, salty, and fragrant, it has it all. It’s the masterstroke that completes the Kneeling Beef."
"Comrade Zhou’s skill is truly remarkable. This Kneeling Beef, with its savory and delicious broth, is perfect for all ages. It might just become one of Suji’s signature dishes in the future."
"Mm, it’s very possible," Lin Zhiqiang nodded in agreement.
The three children had their heads bowed over their bowls, slurping the broth. It was clear they absolutely loved it.
Many other customers had been watching their table. Upon hearing the praise, someone immediately ordered a portion of Kneeling Beef for themselves, eager to taste the dish that had earned the factory director’s high praise.
Mrs. Zhao had been eavesdropping the whole time, a wide smile never leaving her face. ’That Zhou Yan is such a credit to us all,’ she thought, feeling a vicarious sense of pride that warmed her heart.
"Here we are, the Huo Xiang Carp for everyone." Zhou Yan emerged carrying the final, show-stopping dish. Zhao Hong quickly rearranged the other dishes on the table to make room for it in the center.
The eyes of many other customers were drawn to it. So far, only the factory director’s table had ordered this dish.
At two yuan per serving, everyone was curious to see whether it was truly worth the price.
The people of Sichuan love fish and are masters at preparing it. Steamed, braised, water-boiled, dry-fried, served cold in sauce... the cooking methods are endless.
But to make a truly delicious fish dish requires considerable skill from the Chef.
And the Huo Xiang Carp that Zhou Yan had prepared was certainly a sight to behold.
A thick sauce was generously ladled over the golden-fried carp, which was garnished with pickled chili, pickled long beans, pickled ginger, and Huo Xiang. The ingredients alone looked impressive, and as a faint, sour-and-spicy aroma wafted through the air, many found themselves swallowing hard.
But as for the taste... they would have to wait for the old factory director’s verdict.
The old factory director was worldly and had a discerning palate. If even he gave it his approval, then it was guaranteed to be excellent.
"Young Zhou, each dish you make is more surprising than the last," Wang Hongliang said, smiling at Zhou Yan. "Now let me try your Huo Xiang Carp. You know, I’ve had this very dish made by a First-level Chef at the Rongcheng Restaurant."
"Please, be my guest," Zhou Yan replied with a confident smile.
Whether or not he could sell the twenty carp he had prepared for the day all depended on the director’s review.
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P.S. There will be an extra Chapter tonight!
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