The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Liu Yunong checked all the ingredients and seasonings prepared by the assistants and signaled Fu Yu to stand by her cooking station.

"At six-thirty, some top leaders will come to the restaurant for dinner. So now, I’ll first make a portion of the national banquet-style Dongpo Pork. Watch closely, and if there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask. Once the dish is served, you can take charge."

The sudden call from the leaders to reserve a table was somewhat unexpected for Liu Yunong.

Generally, the customers who come to dine here are usually after the private dishes, mostly small gatherings of friends.

Occasionally, they might reveal their identity while eating.

But to directly name top leaders in reservations like this, it’s extremely rare.

Fu Yu nodded, "Okay, Master."

Usually, when Liu Yunong teaches Fu Yu, it’s always hands-on guidance.

The two of them would be at the stove simultaneously, one cooking, the other learning.

In this case, Liu Yunong cooked while Fu Yu watched from the side, unintentionally resembling Fu Yu’s usual learning method in practical classes.

The master and apprentice duo set up, ready for the lesson.

Wang Yulong glanced over and then looked towards his own apprentice.

Liu Zhangpeng was still heartlessly chatting away with the assistants while working.

Wang Yulong felt like sighing heavily.

This apprentice usually seems smart, but at crucial moments, he falters.

What a great opportunity to learn by observation!

Why doesn’t he seize it?

Apprentice, why are you so foolish!?

You clearly are quite astute, aren’t you?

This foolishness probably runs in the family, sigh, how worrisome!

This matter actually can’t really be blamed on Liu Zhangpeng.

Who would have thought Liu Yunong’s so-called lesson on making Dongpo Pork was genuinely planning to share all the secret recipes!

This national banquet Dongpo Pork was a secret dish from the Liu Family, made by the patriarch for leaders when cooking for them.

From the seasoning ratios to the cooking techniques, it’s all family secrets.

In the restaurant’s back kitchen, the number of people who can make the whole set of dishes can be counted on one hand, all of whom are long-term employees of the restaurant.

They’ve worked for at least thirty years.

Practically like half of the family.

Liu Zhangpeng learned to cook this dish too back in the day.

But when it came to the critical point of adding seasonings, it was always a pre-mixed pack, and no one knew its contents. Once added to the pot, the taste emerged.

The other operational methods were worth learning, but he had already learned them back then.

So today, when he heard Liu Yunong was going to teach Fu Yu to cook, he didn’t think much of it.

After all, if there really was something secret, surely his own master would give a heads-up.

Meanwhile, Wang Yulong sighed to himself for a while before continuing his work.

In such matters, unless the boss spoke directly, he couldn’t privately pass on notes to his apprentice.

When it comes to the restaurant’s secret dishes, they’re family-taught skills.

If the boss doesn’t approve, who dares to openly learn by watching.

Missing such a rare opportunity only shows a lack of fortune.

Thinking of this, Wang Yulong couldn’t help but glance again at the master-apprentice pair busy with their lesson.

Look at their luck!

Really, it’s as if heaven gave them a meal bowl!

Fu Yu, holding a golden opportunity, intently watched Liu Yunong cook.

"This Dongpo Pork is a dish that my great grandfather made for leaders back then. After the leaders tasted it, they praised it repeatedly, and hence the dish was renamed to National Banquet Dongpo Pork."

"Because of this, over time it became a secret specialty of our family."

"Though this dish might sound mysterious, once you grasp the cooking method, it’s quite simple."

Liu Yunong placed the pork on the cutting board, with a hint of indescribable pride and pride in her voice, "After all, this dish was developed with nearly 40 years of effort by our ancestors."

Without the historical backing of family-taught skills, who would dedicate so many years to researching a single dish!

"The unique feature of this dish is that we neither caramelize sugar nor add spices."

"To deepen your understanding and prove that this really is our family’s secret dish."

Liu Yunong remembered something, wiped her hands with a napkin, and took out a previously prepared list, handing it to Fu Yu.

"Look, I even brought our family’s ancestral recipe notes for you."

"Today, we’ll make it in the most authentic way."

This national banquet Dongpo Pork has gone through many modifications over the years.

After all, it needed to adapt to local requirements to cater to the local customers’ taste preferences.

But today, Liu Yunong taught Fu Yu the most authentic cooking method for the national banquet Dongpo Pork.

"The most crucial part of making this dish is selecting the meat."

Liu Yunong picked up a large chunk of pork, showing it to Fu Yu.

"You only know this meat is good, but you don’t know about the knack of selecting meat."

"This pork belly, see, with its thin skin and thick meat, is the kind of meat you pick."

Liu Yunong explained the pork’s texture, fatness, and the choice of meat to Fu Yu in detail.

She spoke meticulously, and Fu Yu listened attentively.

Liu Yunong, while speaking, took a small blowtorch, placing the pork skin-side up on the board, and started the final cleaning work.

"See, even if the pigskin is meticulously cleaned, it’s not enough without using the torch. Especially for domesticated pigs like these, the bristles are quite tough."

Liu Yunong roasted carefully, muttering while working, "All these impurities must be thoroughly removed."

"Speaking of this dish, it reminds me of something. My grandfather participated in the first national chef competition back in the eighties."