The Gourmet Customizer

’What’s that supposed to mean, "Isn’t this how you did it when you learned from Master Cui?"’

’It’s as if he’s saying our way is wrong. Does that mean your way is right?’

The Nine-Turned Pork Intestines that Zhang Heping learned to make required trimming the lean meat and keeping the fat. It was then Blasted in a generous amount of oil until reddish-brown. Only after that would you move on to the step Su Chen was performing now.

Pork intestines are very greasy. Without Blasting them like that, the average person would find them inedible. Besides, there was also the most crucial step for Nine-Turned Pork Intestines.

You had to case the intestines!

After casing them several times and then slicing them open, the pork intestines would have a full, layered appearance. Drizzled with sauce, they would look vibrant and appetizing. But what Su Chen was doing now was completely subverting Zhang Heping’s understanding of the dish.

’You’re not even casing the intestines. How can you still call this Nine-Turned Pork Intestines? Where are the "turns"?’

But what subverted Zhang Heping’s understanding the most wasn’t the lack of casing, but Su Chen’s choice of cut!

Normally, for Nine-Turned Pork Intestines, you’d use the head of the intestine. After casing, it would be cooked, skewered with a toothpick, and then prepared. But it was obvious that Su Chen’s sections of pork intestine had the head and the narrow tail removed. He had selected the middle portion.

’Even the cut of the ingredient is different. Is this really Nine-Turned Pork Intestines?’

As for Su Chen, after dropping that line, he paid Zhang Heping no more mind. He needed to focus his entire being on this final step.

Traditional Nine-Turned Pork Intestines are boiled with various seasonings to impart a base flavor and remove as much of the offal taste as possible. Su Chen’s method was different. He boiled the intestines in plain water, adding almost no seasoning whatsoever.

Not even salt!

As the broth in the pot was about to simmer dry over a low flame, Su Chen quickly added a bit of lard, along with many seasonings.

Zhang Heping had a sharp eye. Just from a glance, he could identify amomum powder, cinnamon powder, minced garlic, cooking wine, and Sichuan pepper oil. Finally, a handful of minced Cilantro was added. Once Su Chen had mixed it all evenly with a ladle, the entire pot of intestines was served onto two plates.

"What do you think, Mr. Zhang?"

Zhang Heping looked at the two plates of so-called Nine-Turned Pork Intestines, unsure for a moment how to evaluate the preparation method.

From the choice of ingredients to the cooking technique, it was completely different from the Nine-Turned Pork Intestines he knew. It didn’t even have the signature casing.

’This is practically a completely different dish!’

Seeing Zhang Heping speechless for a long moment, Su Chen said softly, "Why don’t you have a taste first?"

Zhang Heping nodded. As he picked up his chopsticks and was about to take a piece, he suddenly remembered something. "Boss Su, my fellow apprentices and I have certainly been a disturbance today. I can’t speak for the others, but I can speak for myself. I would like to apologize."

This apology from the Second Senior Brother was sincere.

He was someone who didn’t care for fame or fortune and simply loved good food. The only reason he’d come to Jingzhou was because Liu Fu had tricked him into it. Liu Fu claimed there was a hidden master here whose cooking was unparalleled, which was why Zhang Heping had snuck over with him a day early to do some reconnaissance.

If he had known his fellow apprentices were just coming to cause trouble, his personality was such that he never would have joined them in this nonsense.

Su Chen smiled. "It’s nothing. Please, have a taste."

Zhang Heping placed the piece of intestine he had picked up back on the plate. He had another reason for apologizing. "Boss Su, you wouldn’t... as revenge against us... deliberately leave some of the intestine’s original flavor in, would you?"

Pfft!

Su Chen knew this internet meme. It was supposedly the best "open conspiracy" of the year.

’If you don’t eat it, you can’t eliminate me. If you do eat it, I’m feeding you shit. Simply terrifying!’

"I’m not that kind of person. Don’t worry, you can eat it."

Hearing Su Chen’s assurance, Zhang Heping finally nodded. "I believe you!"

He then picked up the same piece of intestine he had just put down and studied it seriously for a long moment.

From the sensation transmitted through his chopsticks, he could tell the piece of intestine was incredibly soft and tender. He even had the illusion that if he were to use a little more Dali, he would crush the piece of intestine completely!

After examining it for a while longer, Zhang Heping brought the piece of intestine, which had been cooked to an extreme softness, to his lips.

’Eh?’

He carefully savored the taste in his mouth.

Sour, sweet, spicy, salty—all the requisite flavors were there. But it seemed like one was missing.

Zhang Heping gave Su Chen a strange look and focused his concentration, continuing to taste.

The intestine was soft, but not mushy. It was tender!

Although he could see little specks of grease on the surface, he couldn’t taste any of it when he ate it. The key was...

’This dish isn’t fragrant enough.’

After finishing the bite of intestine, Zhang Heping smacked his lips, somewhat unwilling to believe it. "Boss Su, if I may be frank, if you consider this dish of Nine-Turned Pork Intestines complete, then I personally cannot approve of it."

"Oh?"

Zhang Heping’s expression was very serious as he spoke, like a teacher lecturing his student. "First of all..."

Su Chen raised a hand, cutting him off. "Don’t be so quick to speak. Why don’t you have another bite?"

Interrupted, Zhang Heping was a bit confused.

’Wasn’t one bite enough? Why do I need another?’

But since Su Chen had suggested it, Zhang Heping nodded, picked up another piece of intestine, and put it in his mouth.

’Hmm... it’s the same as before.’

The intestine was soft and tender, with an excellent texture, but it was quite different from the texture Nine-Turned Pork Intestines was supposed to have.

The flavor was sour, sweet, spicy, and salty, but it was missing something compared to the traditional version. Most importantly, it wasn’t fragrant enough.

Zhang Heping was still puzzling over it. ’Boss Su managed to make Braised Pork Knuckle in Wok, Cattail in Milky Stock, and Bird’s Nest in Clear Broth to such a high standard. Logically, his Nine-Turned Pork Intestines shouldn’t turn out like this!’