I'm the Culinary God

It’s estimated that you can only find it in Yangzhou or Huai’an.

Lin Xu said:

"I was just thinking of asking Chef Qiu for some pointers... By the way, when is the apprenticeship banquet happening? I thought it would start these days, but there’s been no news."

It’s his first time being an introducer, so Lin Xu was somewhat excited.

But after waiting through Tongtong’s birthday and the sister-in-law’s engagement, Qi Siming’s apprenticeship banquet still hadn’t been mentioned.

Xie Baomin and Dai Jianli didn’t stand on ceremony and went upstairs to eat.

With Qiu Zhenhua around, even if Lin Xu can’t make Vinegar Fried Crucian Carp, at least he won’t mess it up.

After the two left, Qiu Zhenhua said:

"Qi Zhentao’s senior master He Jiajun wants to use this opportunity to reorganize the school, and by the way, formally kick out Old Meng and the others. So, the preparation time is a bit longer. It’s probably on La Yue 12th, which is January 3rd. By then, He Jiajun might invite you as a witness."

Witness?

As Lin Xu rolled the dough, he asked:

"Why me then?"

There are so many respectable people, yet they choose me, a young kid. It always feels like Old He has ulterior motives.

Qiu Zhenhua, after washing the used chopsticks under the faucet and drying them with kitchen paper, held a shumai skin while saying:

"Isn’t it that he wants to curry favor with your master? Being a witness is a good thing, you don’t have to overthink. If there were any harm, or if it would damage your reputation, we wouldn’t agree."

With that said, Lin Xu was relieved.

While rolling the dough, he secretly watched Qiu Zhenhua make shumai, planning to learn a bit.

He didn’t know the technique for making shumai and originally planned to fumble through it, but now with Qiu Zhenhua, he naturally had to learn a bit.

Previously, when he completed the task of making Clear Soup Noodles for Shen Jiayue, the system rewarded him with a Cooking Learning Card.

It has to be used, otherwise, it can’t be turned into cash.

Qiu Zhenhua held the shumai skin in his left hand, scooping a spoonful of filling with his right hand, gently placing it in the center of the dough, and then flipping the edges upward so that the dough formed a pouch shape to wrap the filling.

Next, the palm of the left hand continued to hold the bottom of the shumai while the right hand gathered the dough upwards.

At the creased part of the dough, he tightened it to form a vase shape, with the filling pressed to the opening.

Pinch a bit of ham mince at the opening, and a beautiful Jade Shumai was ready.

The moment he finished, Lin Xu silently invoked in his mind:

"Use Cooking Learning Card!"

Soon, a system prompt sounded in his mind:

"Study target: Qiu Zhenhua. Current skill: General Technique for Shumai Making. Would you like to study it?"

Wow, is there such a good thing?

"Learn!"

Lin Xu immediately gave the command to study.

"A Perfect Level Cooking Learning Card has been consumed, and you have acquired the Perfect Level General Technique for Shumai Making. Congratulations to the host."

Ha!

Now I can make all types of shumai.

But compared to other shumai, Lin Xu is most interested in Jade Shumai.

Because this is a typical vegetarian shumai made like a meat dish.

It looks vegetarian, the ingredients used are relatively simple, but the taste gives the rich feel of meat.

This unique texture and taste are truly captivating.

Even a Republican-era figure like Zhu Ziqing constantly thought of Jade Shumai, and even wrote about it in articles.

With the technique in hand, Lin Xu sped up his dough rolling.

All the shumai skins were ready, and he began to wrap them as well.

Qiu Zhenhua watched Lin Xu’s technique of wrapping shumai and couldn’t help but praise in his heart, truly a person blessed by the heavens with such skill, this technique is as proficient as an experienced pastry chef.

Once all the shumai were wrapped, they were placed into small bamboo steamers lined with silicone steamer cloth, and each was sent to the steaming cabinet.

The reason for using a steamer instead of a steaming plate is because once steamed, they can be directly served as a dish.

Jade Shumai should be eaten right after steaming; if left to cool, the lard inside will become greasy.

With all the shumai in the steamer, Lin Xu began to make Vinegar Fried Crucian Carp.

This dish demands fresh Gu fish, killed and cooked on the spot to best ensure the fish’s tenderness.

If a less fresh Gu fish is used, the dish will become a disaster.

Clean scales, remove gills, guts, and fins from ten two-pound Gu fish to prevent the fins from burning during multiple frying.

While preparing, the five-minute timer on the steamer ended.

Lin Xu called to Ma Zhiqiang:

"Master Ma, please take out the shumai from the steamer, send ten trays upstairs, and for the rest, check if any relatives want them. If not, we’ll keep them for ourselves."

"Alright!"

Ma Zhiqiang opened the steamer and immediately smelled the aroma of lard mixed with greens.

There was also a faint scent of ham.

The Jinhua Ham, cut into small pieces, released a subtle and elegant aroma.

"The boss’s skills are impeccable, just the smell makes one’s mouth water."

Wei Qian laughed and said:

"Of course, even Chef Qiu praises his skills, it must be extraordinary..."

The two of them brought out the steaming trays of Jade Shumai, covering them with matching lids to retain the steam’s heat and ensure hygiene during serving.

Once the trays of shumai were sent upstairs, Lin Xu had already finished prepping the Gu fish and started cutting.