Chapter 161 - 128: A One-in-a-Million Culinary Genius
He had overheard the siblings’ conversation, so he didn’t slice the braised pig trotter. He just heated it up and placed the whole thing in front of Huang Ying.
The steaming hot braised pig trotter jiggled precariously when the plate was set on the table. The fragrant aroma that wafted out was even more enticing than when it had been on display by the entrance.
Huang Bing couldn’t help but follow it with his eyes. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, but reason made him look away.
One-twenty yuan a piece, and he’d have to pay for it himself.
’No way!’
His daily allowance was only ten yuan. He had to pay for his motorcycle’s gas, buy his girlfriend small gifts, and treat his buddies to drinks...
’Where’s the budget for gnawing on this big pig trotter?’
"This braised pig trotter is amazing! I’m gonna wash my hands and just hug it while I eat!" Huang Ying said gleefully as she got up to wash her hands.
Huang Bing, on the other hand, turned his gaze to the Kneeling Beef.
The earthenware bowl was filled to the brim with meat. Six slices of pinkish, tender beef floated on the surface. Beside them, a corner of tripe peeked out, the translucent tendons looked pillowy soft, and there were beef intestines too. The aroma was rich and savory just from the smell.
He picked up a spoon and first ladled half a bowl of broth for himself.
He lifted the bowl, blew on it, and took a sip.
HISS!
Hot!
The broth, ladled straight from the boiling pot, was truly scalding.
But... so savory!
After the initial tingle of being scalded, the taste buds on the tip of his tongue were quickly captivated by the savory flavor.
The exquisite flavor of the beef bone broth was just so prominent.
This pot contained offal, tendon, and beef—a rather jumbled concoction—yet there wasn’t a hint of gaminess, only a rich, fresh fragrance!
Huang Bing blew on the hot liquid, drinking one mouthful after another.
’So good!’
Half a bowl of broth later, a pleasant warmth spread through his body, and a thin sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead.
PHEW—
Huang Bing let out a breath. ’So satisfying!’
This was so much better than the century-old Bone-Strengthening Soup from his family’s restaurant.
He was now seriously starting to suspect that either his dad hadn’t learned their grandfather’s true skills, or that their family’s Bone-Strengthening Soup still needed a lot of work.
"Is it really that good? You can chug it even when it’s that hot?" Huang Ying asked doubtfully, sitting back down and rolling up her sleeves as she looked at Huang Bing.
She had just seen Huang Bing wince and grimace from the heat, yet he was still unwilling to put down the bowl.
Huang Bing nodded. "No joke, it’s unbelievably savory. So much better than the Bone-Strengthening Soup at our restaurant."
"Really? A lot of customers come every week just to drink our Bone-Strengthening Soup. It’s a century-old recipe. Back in the day, our ancestors started Feiyan Restaurant with just a pot of that soup." Huang Ying was a little skeptical. Forgetting the pig trotter for a moment, she grabbed a spoon and ladled half a bowl of broth for herself.
She, however, was smarter. Instead of rushing to lift the bowl, she scooped some up with her spoon, blew on it gently, and then brought it to her lips. Her eyes immediately lit up.
Savory! Fragrant!
’How on earth do you brew beef bone broth to be this savory and aromatic?!’
The broth looked incredibly clear, yet its flavor shot straight to the crown of her head. ’It feels like my eyebrows are about to fly off.’
Huang Ying had been a foodie since she was a child, and she knew how to charm her way into things. Her father always took her along when he visited famous restaurants or paid respects to renowned chefs. Even though she was only eighteen, her palate had sampled more delicacies than many old gourmands.
She could tell if something was good or not with a single taste.
This beef broth was indeed more savory and refreshing than the Bone-Strengthening Soup at their Feiyan Restaurant. Besides the fresh fragrance of beef bone and meat, she also tasted a special aroma, like a mixture of Chinese medicinal herbs and spices. It wasn’t out of place in the broth; instead, it enhanced the savoriness and fragrance.
Of course, their family’s Bone-Strengthening Soup had its own unique merits. With its century-long heritage, its popularity wasn’t just due to its good taste; its main draw was its deeply ingrained reputation for strengthening muscles and bones, making it a favorite among many middle-aged and elderly patrons.
But she had also heard what Mrs. Zhao said earlier. This Kneeling Beef, which was nourishing and dispelled dampness, was a medicinal dish too!
’Zhou Yan is incredible!’
Not only was he good at stir-frying and braising, but he could even make a broth this exquisite.
Spoonful after spoonful, she quickly finished her half-bowl of broth.
Huang Bing said nothing, merely picking up his pace, eating piece after piece of the beef and offal in the bowl.
"SMACK!"
Huang Ying’s chopsticks clamped down on his. "These last three slices of beef are mine!" she said coldly. "I counted. There were six slices in total, and you already ate three!"
Huang Bing chuckled placatingly. "I’m your big brother. Why are you keeping such a careful count? You still have a whole pig trotter you haven’t even touched."
"Not the beef. You can have a couple more pieces of something else." Huang Ying swiftly plucked the beef slices into her own dipping dish, coated one in chili flakes, and took a bite.
The beef was sliced large, thin, and soft. It was incredibly smooth and tender in her mouth, even more so than the sirloin tip they cooked in hot pot at home!
’His Fire Control is just perfect.’
’And these chili flakes, they’re so fragrant!’
They had a spicy fragrance with a faint numbing sensation—a perfectly savory and palatable finishing touch that added another layer of flavor to the exquisite beef.
This style of eating was similar to "Mom’s Trotter Soup." The broth had to be light and savory, but it must be paired with a flavorful dipping sauce. This was the authentic Sichuan way.
She then tried the crisp tripe, the soft and chewy tendon, and the tender beef intestine, each with its own distinct flavor.
"How is Zhou Yan so amazing? How can he make everything taste so good?" Huang Bing leaned over and whispered.
Huang Ying thought for a moment and said, "He’s probably a one-in-a-million genius among Chefs."
This assessment was made without a trace of infatuation.
She had followed her dad and eaten dishes from many famous chefs. But in terms of sheer inspiration, the few dishes Zhou Yan had made were absolutely in a league of their own.
His Fire Control and seasoning were controlled to perfection.
’He’s truly skilled.’
"No wonder the Old Man values him so much," Huang Bing said thoughtfully. ’So, should I call him Zhou or Yan from now on? There must be two or three hundred people named Zhou in Suji Town. I’ll just call him Yan. It sounds closer.’