Chương 39: Rice

was cooking in a small pot, the fish was marinating, and Zhou Yan first took out the braised beef shank, beef tongue, and beef intestines that the old lady had prepared. [A well-prepared piece of braised beef shank] [A well-prepared piece of braised beef tongue] [A perfectly braised beef intestine] Zhou Yan looked at the evaluations that popped up in his eyes. The good reviews from the system meant the beef shank and beef tongue were well-prepared.

The perfectly rated beef intestines must be the old lady's specialty. Freshly taken out, they were a bright red color, looking quite tempting.

"Slice the beef shank and beef tongue thinly. After you slice the intestines, add a spoonful of braising liquid and heat it up; it tastes even better when it's hot," the old lady instructed from the side, afraid that Zhou Yan might mess up her old braising liquid.

"Okay," Zhou Yan replied, and began slicing the beef shank. The cleaver made a soft tapping sound as it lightly touched the cutting board. With a single slice, the beef tendon and lean meat intertwined in a fine marble pattern, the veins like jade embellishments. The braised beef shank wasn't about being extremely thin; a slight thickness was better for the texture. The braising sauce perfectly soaked into the beef, giving it a bright and appealing color. The beef tongue was different.

Zhou Yan's movements slowed down, slicing the tongue into paper-thin pieces, each slice almost uniform in thickness. He arranged them on a plate, accompanied by a dry dish and a small dish of thinly sliced garlic—the standard accompaniment for beef and beef tongue. The old lady watched, nodding slightly, a smile playing on her lips. This young man's knife skills had improved considerably since the New Year. The beef intestines were sliced diagonally and placed on a plate.

The old lady ladled a ladle of braising sauce over them. Zhou Yan began preparing the braised crucian carp with mint. He had made it once yesterday, and today he was even more adept at it. The old lady remained silent, simply watching. She loves eating fish and is quite skilled at cooking it. Whether braised, boiled, or dry-fried, she can do it all with impressive skill.

Although Zhou Yan has been learning to cook for two and a half years, he used to be her assistant in the kitchen, with Zhou Yan taking charge during holidays. But today, Zhou Yan's performance really impressed her. His knife skills had improved significantly, showing he had put in a lot of hard work. The beef tongue he sliced was perfect, even thinner than hers, and the length and thickness were almost uniform.

Don't underestimate this; it determines the presentation on the plate, and the appearance of a dish is crucial to its price. He pan-fried the fish calmly, flipping it, removing it from the pan, and plating it without breaking the skin. He also brought his own pickled peppers, cowpeas, and perilla leaves, which he stir-fried in the pan, releasing a wonderful aroma.

"Hmm, your seasoning is very fragrant, sour and spicy, with a unique flavor," the old lady commented. The water boiled, and Zhou Yan gently slipped the fish into the pot, simmering it over low heat. He smiled and said, "This dish isn't on the menu yet; I wanted you to give it your feedback."

"This flavor is perfect," the old lady agreed. The fish was taken out of the pot first, then mint was added. The broth was reduced slightly and poured over the fish. The broth, a vibrant red like agate, contained chopped pickled peppers, ginger, cowpeas, and mint—a vibrant blend of colors.

"Oh my, this sauce is so beautiful! It smells so good! Mint-flavored crucian carp, it seems I've got it right for you!" The old lady's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but exclaim.

"The ribs are ready too. Please put two plates of braised dishes on the table first, and call Uncle and Momo to eat. I'll bring the fish later. I'll heat up the beef intestines, and then we can start eating," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Okay," the old lady said, carrying two plates out of the kitchen. Zhou Yan uncovered another pot; the broth from the braised pork ribs had almost reduced. He scooped some up with a spatula, and the meat, coated in an amber sauce, trembled slightly, its aroma wafting through the air, intoxicatingly fragrant. He washed the pot, poured in beef intestines and braising liquid, and as soon as the broth boiled, it was ready to serve – hot braised beef intestines.

"Come on, let me serve the dishes." Zhou Weiguo walked in, picked up the plate of crucian carp with mint from the stove, and turned to leave. He used only one hand, and his leg was slightly lame, but the plate didn't wobble, and not a drop of broth spilled. Zhou Yan carried out the braised pork intestines and a pot of rice. The old lady had already poured herself a bottle of wine – the same one he'd gotten that morning – and looked at him with a smile, asking, "Would you like some?"

"Grandma, I don't drink." Zhou Yan shook his head; he didn't like it.

"Grandma, is the wine good?" Zhou Momo looked at the old lady expectantly, asking curiously.

"It's spicy; little ones shouldn't drink it." The old lady shook her head. Zhou Momo immediately lost interest after hearing this and instead focused on the plate of beef, swallowing hard.

"Can you reach the beef? If you can't, I'll get it for you," the old lady asked with a smile." I can reach it..." Zhou Momo picked up her chopsticks, but could only reach the edge of the plate.

"I'll get it for you. You like braised beef, and it's not spicy." The old lady reached out and moved the plate of braised beef to Zhou Momo's side.

"Thank you, Grandma," Zhou Momo said, immediately picking up a piece of braised beef from the plate and putting it in her mouth. She happily swung her little legs, picking up another piece after a while, eating with great relish.

"Zhou Yan cooked crucian carp with mint and braised pork ribs today. They look so delicious," Zhou Weiguo said, looking at the two dishes in the middle. He picked up his chopsticks and first picked up a piece of pork rib. The rib was covered in amber-red sauce, and the meat trembled slightly when picked up. The rich aroma of meat wafted up, and he couldn't help but take a bite. No, it wasn't a bite, just a gentle squeeze, and the meat slipped right off the bone.

The lean meat was tender yet firm, its fine texture bursting between the teeth, while the cartilage was stewed until it was soft and chewy, with a wonderfully slight springiness. This bite was a revelation. Delicious! These ribs are truly fragrant! Zhou Weiguo shoveled down two mouthfuls of rice and slurped up the remaining half of the rib. The old lady first took a small sip of wine, her eyebrows slightly raised, then picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of fish. The fish, skin and all, was coated in broth.

Upon tasting it, a burst of spicy, numbing, and savory flavors unfolded, with the aroma of patchouli standing out, harmonizing the various tastes into a refreshing and delightful experience. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. The fish skin was crispy and fragrant, but the flesh remained tender, coated in the thick broth, creating a delightful interplay of flavors on the palate.

Patchouli wasn't unusual; the old lady occasionally added it when cooking fish. But Zhou Yan's patchouli-flavored crucian carp today was far superior to hers. The cooking time and seasoning were both superb. Putting down her chopsticks and taking another sip of wine, the old lady finally spoke, "This fish is cooked so well, it's presentable enough for any restaurant."

"Yes, with that in mind, I'll put this dish on the menu tomorrow," Zhou Yan said with a smile, picking up a piece of beef, dipping it in the dry dipping sauce, and putting it in his mouth. The lean meat was tender but not dry, the tendons were soft and flavorful, and the meat had absorbed all the old braising liquid, offering a delicate chewiness, with the aroma slowly unfolding with each bite. Delicious!

The braising time was just right; too soft and it would lose its texture, too short and the tendons would be too tough. He then tried a piece of beef tongue. Thinly sliced beef tongue, tender and slightly chewy, soft yet not mushy, soaked in the braising sauce, incredibly fragrant. Add a clove of garlic and a sprinkle of dried chili powder, and the flavor is elevated to another level.

This old braising sauce is incredibly potent; the spiciness isn't overpowering, but rather incredibly savory, with a slightly sweet aftertaste—suitable for all ages. The system's standards are indeed extremely high; even this level of braised beef and beef tongue only received a "good" rating. Zhou Yan's gaze fell on the beef intestines, which the system had rated as perfect. After reheating, the braised beef intestines were still steaming hot.

Picking up a piece, it trembled slightly, its folds soaked in the braising sauce, its reddish-brown color gleaming with an oily sheen. Only old braising sauce could produce such tempting beef intestines. Braised pork intestines were Zhou Yan's favorite, but he rarely got to eat beef intestines; most braised food shops didn't sell them. One bite, and the soft, chewy beef intestines melted in his mouth, releasing a burst of warm braising liquid—a smooth, silky texture that was absolutely exquisite!

The spicy and savory flavors exploded on his tongue, the aroma of the braising sauce lingering between his teeth—a truly divine experience. It was addictive! He couldn't resist taking another piece; he simply couldn't stop. These beef intestines had to be eaten hot; once they cooled down, the fat solidified, and the skin dried out—it was a completely different experience.

Zhou Yan ate several pieces in a row, ate half a bowl of rice, and couldn't help but exclaim, "These hot braised beef intestines are so fragrant!" No wonder the system rated them as perfect. If he could master this braising technique, his business would definitely boom! Zhou Yan looked at the old lady with even more respect; she was a master braised food chef!

The old lady was very satisfied with the crucian carp with agastache; she ate almost the whole fish, drank two ounces of wine, and even finished two bowls of rice.

"Zhou Ming is getting married next week. I wonder if the banquet arrangements are all set?" she asked, putting down her chopsticks.

"My third brother said everything's arranged. He's just asked the same banquet chef Zhou Laoqi's son hired, and it'll be the same standard," Zhou Weiguo replied. Zhou Yan thought for a moment and remembered this. Zhou Ming was his third uncle's second son, four years older than him. The invitations had been sent out last month, and judging by the time, the banquet was next Sunday.

As his brother, he would definitely help with the wedding procession, and he'd also get to eat at the banquet—he was quite looking forward to it. Zhou Yan cleaned up the dishes, but the old lady wouldn't let him wash them, shooing him out to chat with his uncle. Zhou Weiguo sat under the persimmon tree, gazing into the distance, lost in thought. Zhou Momo had finished eating and gone next door to play house with other girls her age. Zhou Yan sat down next to him.

"How's business at the restaurant lately?" Zhou Weiguo turned to look at him, a smile on his face. Zhou Yan was a little dazed, some scenes from his memory gradually becoming clearer. That eighteen-year-old boy, once so spirited, had joined the army wearing a big red flower, causing countless girls on Suji Street to cry their eyes out. In his memory, he was even more handsome than him.

"What are you thinking about?" Zhou Weiguo asked with a smile.

"Business is alright. Right now we're selling noodles and hot pot, and next we plan to sell stir-fries and braised dishes. We're starting to make money." Zhou Yan replied with a smile.

"That's good." Zhou Weiguo nodded, somewhat gratified.

"That little brat can now stand on his own."

"Uncle, what about you? What are your plans?" Zhou Yan asked.

"I'm doing fine now. I can grow some vegetables, and I'm doing okay." Zhou Weiguo smiled freely. After returning from the army, his uncle refused the organization's offer of resettlement and chose to return to the village to farm. He said he didn't want to be a burden on the country, but Zhou Yan didn't think so. This was the country he had risked his life to protect. Simply arranging a decent job for him, allowing him to use his abilities, how could that be a burden?

"I heard from my father that my uncle's resettlement eligibility is still valid." Zhou Yan looked at him seriously.

"Aren't you really considering working for a state-owned enterprise or a township government?"

"Looking like me, I'd just be a burden. What could I do?" Zhou Weiguo shook his head self-deprecatingly. The wind blew his empty sleeves, and his face showed a hint of bewilderment.

"No! Are those people sitting in offices really more capable than you?" Zhou Yan shook his head, his face serious.

"You're a combat hero who has fought on the battlefield, killed the enemy, and earned a first-class merit!"

"Your courage, ability, and willpower are far superior to theirs."

"Besides, in those places, there's absolutely no work harder than weeding or farming with one hand. You can do it very well."

"Your new battlefield could be serving the people in the township government or serving the workers in the factory. You shouldn't waste your life in that small vegetable patch." Zhou Weiguo stared blankly at Zhou Yan, his eyes gradually brightening, as if a corner of an eggshell had been cracked. He murmured to himself, "Yes, serving the people…" Inside the door, the old lady smiled, but her eyes reddened.