Chương 48: Comrade Xiao Zhou's Skills Are High

Wang Hongliang is a gourmet and a chef, with always high standards. The newly served double-pepper minced beef was impeccable in terms of appearance. The beef was minced but not mushy, with distinct pieces, and half of it was green and red peppers. The bright and vibrant colors clashed, glistening with oil, and the aroma of meat and spiciness wafted over, making one unable to resist swallowing.

"It smells so good!" Even the children playing nearby were attracted, sniffing the aroma and climbing back onto their stools.

"This was made by my husband, it's super delicious!" Zhou Momo said proudly.

"Let me try it first." Wang Hongliang scooped half a spoonful of minced beef into a bowl, then used his own spoon to scoop some into his mouth, savoring it carefully. The beef was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a slightly chewy texture. The spiciness of the red peppers, the freshness of the green peppers, a slight numbing sensation, and an exquisite aroma collided on the tip of the tongue, blending together perfectly.

Wang Hongliang's eyes brightened with each bite, his face beaming with undisguised amazement. Suji had a village called Zhoucun where cattle were slaughtered, so beef wasn't a rare ingredient. Wang Hongliang knew all the different ways to cook beef, and minced beef was one of his go-to dishes. But he had to admit, he couldn't achieve that level of perfection. Minced beef was all about timing and heat.

If the beef pieces were too small (like grains of rice), undercooked, the beef wouldn't be fragrant; if overcooked, it would become tough and dry. It seemed simple, but it was incredibly difficult. The green and red peppers were sautéed until the moisture evaporated, infusing the beef with their spicy flavor. The dish looked clean and refreshing, and tasted spicy and fragrant.

"Really good, even better than Rongleyuan's minced beef," Wang Hongliang exclaimed, putting down his ladle. Rongleyuan, founded in 1911, was widely recognized as the "Whampoa Military Academy of Sichuan Cuisine," boasting a collection of top-tier chefs, all known for their exceptional skill. Wang Hongliang always went there with a learning mindset, and he even became friends with several of the master chefs. This evaluation represented his highest praise.

"It's rare to see you praise a dish like this," Li Meilin said, somewhat surprised. She knew her husband all too well; when faced with a chef whose skill level wasn't as good as his, he loved to offer expert advice.

"Try it and see. I certainly couldn't cook something like this," Wang Hongliang said with a smile, scooping a spoonful into her bowl.

"You have to eat it with a spoon, the chili and beef together, for the best flavor." Li Meilin took a bite and nodded, "It's good, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, spicy but not too overpowering, very fragrant. It'll definitely go well with rice. But yours is also quite flavorful; I think it's no worse."

"We have to be realistic and acknowledge the differences," Wang Hongliang said with a smile, but he was still pleased to hear his wife say that. Lin Zhiqiang and Meng Anhe exchanged a glance, their lips curving upwards slightly. If the factory director and his wife both liked it, then the meal was fine. Lin Zhiqiang opened the Wuliangye liquor he had brought, poured one for Wang Hongliang first, and then poured himself a glass as well.

As they were talking, the braised beef with bamboo shoots and the braised pork ribs arrived.

"Here, this isn't spicy, Hao Hao, try one first." Li Meilin placed a piece of braised pork rib on Wang Hao's plate. Wang Hao picked up his chopsticks, struggled a bit to pick up the rib, took a bite, and his expression immediately lit up. The rib was so delicious! It was soft and tender, easily falling off the bone with a gentle bite, and easy to eat. In no time, he had finished the rib, even sucking on the bone a couple of times, then turned to look at Zhou Momo, asking with a look of shock and envy, "This...

was made by your brother?"

"Of course." Zhou Momo nodded.

"Your brother is amazing! These ribs are so delicious!" Wang Hao exclaimed enviously, "Even better than my grandpa's!"

"I want to try some."

"Me too." Lin Jingxing and Lin Bingwen couldn't resist any longer and each picked up a rib to gnaw on.

"Wow! It smells so good, it tastes so good!"

"Dad, do you often eat alone?" The two were eating with great relish, while Lin Jingxing was starting to suspect his father.

"No way, don't talk nonsense." Lin Zhiqiang would never admit to eating alone.

"Momo, come and eat with us." Meng Anhe looked at Zhou Momo with a smile.

"Yes, come and eat with us, look how much the brothers are eating." Li Meilin also said, this little girl is so adorable.

"Auntie, Grandma, you eat first, I'm not hungry." Zhou Momo said obediently, no longer standing by watching, but turning around and running to the kitchen to watch the stove.

"This little girl is so well-behaved." Li Meilin said with a smile.

"Yes, so cute." Meng Anhe nodded in deep agreement. Braised pork ribs became the children's favorite, and Wang Hongliang picked up a piece of dried bamboo shoot and fed it to them. The dried bamboo shoots, soaked in the rich meat broth, had a slightly crisp texture and became more fragrant with each chew Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings., making him nod repeatedly in approval.

The dried bamboo shoots were more flavorful than fresh bamboo shoots; the broth was incredibly delicious, thick but not greasy, and the seasoning was just right. He then tried a piece of beef, brisket with some tendons, which was perfect for cooking. The rich broth permeated the beef, the lean meat was tender but not mushy, and the tendons were soft and chewy. With each bite, the juices burst in his mouth, the main feature being its freshness and aroma!

"This braised beef with dried bamboo shoots is perfect. The beef is stewed to perfection, and the dried bamboo shoots are even more fragrant than the meat. The seasoning is superb." Wang Hongliang raised his glass and clinked it with Lin Zhiqiang's, taking a sip of wine.

"With these two signature dishes, this restaurant can stay open."

"We still have three dishes to try," Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile.

"Be careful, little ones, the braised beef is here." Zhao Tieying brought up two bowls of braised beef, reminding the children to be careful as she carefully placed the soup down. She smiled and said, "If you need more soup or dipping sauce, just ask, we can add more."

"Okay." Wang Hongliang nodded, taking a small bowl and ladling half a bowl of soup. Zhoucun's hot pot has always been quite famous in Suji. Wang Hongliang had eaten there a few times, but his impressions weren't very good. Clear broth is harder to make than red broth, and with the strong-smelling offal added, if the flavor isn't masked, the soup is ruined. The butchers who sell hot pot at stalls are too rough; only the laborers at the docks eat it because it's affordable.

This soup was very clear, and the rich aroma of beef bones simmered for a long time wafted up with the steam, with almost no gamey smell. He took a sip of the soup with a ladle. Wang Hongliang raised an eyebrow. Delicious! The soup, freshly drawn from the bubbling pot, was piping hot and incredibly flavorful. There wasn't a hint of any strange taste; the spices were very subtle, perfectly complementing the meat's aroma and enhancing its freshness.

Upon closer tasting, one could even detect a slight aftertaste of Chinese herbs, also a very delicate flavor, intertwined with the spices to highlight its pure deliciousness! Wang Hongliang blew on it, then downed the soup in two gulps, letting out a long sigh and exclaiming, "Delicious! So delicious it'll make my eyebrows fall off!" As he spoke, he ladled half a bowl of soup for Li Meilin as well.

"Try it."

"Is it really that delicious?" Li Meilin picked up a ladle, blew on it, took a sip, and her eyes lit up.

"It's really delicious! This soup pot is completely different from the Zhoucun soup pot I've had before."

"That's why they call it 'Qiaojiao Beef,' not 'Soup Pot,'" Wang Hongliang laughed, then tasted all the beef, tripe, tendon, and intestines in the bowl.

"The beef slices are large, thin, and tender, cooked to a very fresh and tender consistency. The tripe is crisp and chewy, the tendon is soft and glutinous, and the intestines are tender and soft. Paired with this dry dipping sauce, the taste is simply amazing." Wang Hongliang pointed to the dry dipping sauce and said, "This dry dipping sauce is very well-made, with a perfect balance of numbing spiciness, saltiness, and aroma. It's the finishing touch to this Qiaojiao Beef."

"Comrade Zhou is very skilled. This Qiaojiao Beef soup is delicious and suitable for all ages. It might become a famous dish in Suzhou in the future."

"Yes, possibly." Lin Zhiqiang nodded in agreement. The three children were engrossed in their soup, clearly enjoying it immensely. Many customers were watching, and upon hearing this, someone immediately ordered an extra serving of "Qiaojiao Beef," eager to try what the factory manager, who had praised it so highly, tasted like. Aunt Zhao listened intently, her lips constantly curving into a smile. Zhou Yan was so promising; she felt a surge of pride and joy.

"Here, bring out the mint-flavored crucian carp," Zhou Yan said, bringing out the grand finale. Zhao Hong moved the dishes on the table, placing it in the center. Many customers' eyes turned to this dish; it was now the only one ordered by the factory manager's table. Whether it was worth two yuan a serving was something everyone was curious about. Sichuan people love fish and are skilled at cooking it—steaming, braising, boiling, dry-frying, cold-dressing… the methods are endless.

But to cook fish well requires considerable skill from the chef. Zhou Yan's braised crucian carp with mint looked quite appealing. A thick broth was poured over the golden-brown fried fish, garnished with pickled peppers, pickled cowpeas, roasted ginger, and mint… the ingredients looked sophisticated, and a subtle sour and spicy aroma wafted through the air, making many people's mouths water. But the taste… well, we'd have to wait for the old factory manager to taste it first.

The old manager was knowledgeable and discerning; if he said it was good, then it was definitely true.

"Little Zhou, each dish you make surprises me more than the last," Wang Hongliang said with a smile, looking at Zhou Yan.

"Let me try your braised crucian carp with mint; I've had this dish made by a top chef at a Rongcheng restaurant."

"Please, please," Zhou Yan said with a confident smile. Whether the twenty crucian carp prepared today would sell out depended on the factory manager's opinion. (End of this chapter)