Chapter 6, Tofu and Pan-fried Wings

Quickly let Fang Yi hold the pot of yellow fish, tofu, and scallop, peanut, and pig's trotter stew and take it out, as the outside has just slightly calmed down

A spoonful of something made him pause... His stomach began to rumble.

"Young lady!" When the fellow came running back, his clothes were all torn, and with a mournful face he shouted, "Is there any left? It's so delicious! The guests are not satisfied; they say they want another bucket of rice!"

Are you doing it alone? Shen Yong asked

Shen Yong shrugged and said, "Who knows? I've found that kid unpleasant for a long time. If he dares to trouble you, I will give him a good beating."

First, chop the shiitake mushrooms, meat, green onions, and ginger together, then add seasonings to make the filling. Next, scoop out the flesh of the eggplant, chop it finely, and mix it into the filling. After that, stuff the filling into the eggplant halves and steam them. While preparing the yellow croaker tofu, Fang Yi is explaining to Shen Yong how to make stuffed eggplant. Once steamed, take them out and prepare a batter by mixing eggs with flour. Roll the steamed eggplants in the batter, then fry them in hot oil, turning them until they turn golden brown. They will be fragrant and crispy, with a crunchy exterior and tender interior, naturally infused with the aroma of meat, the fragrance of eggs, and the soft scent of eggplant.

A spoonful of silence

Fang held a spoon in his hand, making sweet potato balls, while explaining to Shen Yong, saying, "Look at how many sweet potatoes I have prepared here"

With a smile, Fang took a spoonful, removed the pan-fried wings from the pot, and set them aside. A few workers at the door had already started fighting over an extra eggplant box.

Fang Yi said, "No rush, save some room to eat other things." While speaking, he handed over the pan-fried wings.

With a smile, Fang said, "Gather all these more than one hundred types of peppers, dry them in the sun, grind them into powder, and mix them together; this is called 'Heavenly Pepper.'"

Shen Yong took the eggplant, sniffed it, and asked, "Why does this eggplant have a smell of meat and eggs?"

Fang Yi, taken aback, asked, "What does he want to do?"

Fang shook her head with a smile and said, "My lord, please sit down. You can taste the dishes in a little while."

"Heavenly Pepper?" Shen Yong was somewhat puzzled. He had heard of Sichuan pepper, black pepper, and chili pepper, but this was the first time he had heard of Heavenly Pepper. He couldn't help but ask, "What kind of pepper is this? Does it grow in the sky?"

Fang Yi glared at him and said, "A spoon is what the elders call it; you should call me 'wife'!"

"Well, these peppers are all grown on the ground, so they are called ground peppers," Fang Yishao said leisurely.

It is quite simple. First, make numerous incisions on the chicken wings and tenderloin with a knife. After kneading them with cornstarch, the meat will become tender. Then, mash the steamed sweet potatoes until they are soft and sticky, and mix the chicken wings and tenderloin into the mash, continuously grinding with a pestle. This way, the connective tissues of the meat are crushed, making it easy to chew and preventing it from getting stuck in the teeth. Additionally, the sweet potato is pressed into the gaps of the meat. Finally, coat the surface with a layer of sweet potato and roll it in peanut powder... Steam-fry in a pot, and it will be cooked in no time.

How is it made?" Shen Yong leaned over and asked, "It looks just like ordinary sweet and sour pork tenderloin and pan-fried chicken wings.

Hmm. Fang Yishao nodded.

Shen Yong let out a dry laugh, reached out to touch the back of his neck, and said, "Let's forget about doing great things; I am just a good-for-nothing."

Fang Yi was stunned for a long time before saying, "My lord, this is the first time I have seen you smile like this"

After finishing his words, Shen Yong noticed Fang Yishao was staring at him and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Shen Yong was also amused by her and laughed, "Then wouldn't I be turned into a fat person?"

Upon entering the kitchen, Fang Yi asked, "Shopkeeper, what ingredients have you prepared?"

Fang Yi smiled, her eyes curving with joy, while Shen Yong shook his head...! ... Why does his wife have such drastic mood swings!

Shen Yong looked at her with admiration

What is a "egg box"? Shen Yong was puzzled

"Is it true that the pepper grows in the sky?" Shen Yong asked with wide eyes

Fang Yishao glanced at Jia Dahua and noticed his displeasure. He understood that Jia was filled with resentment because he had just bowed to Shen Yong, revealing his petty nature. Fang Yishao had always held a strong disdain for men who were stingy and held grudges. He let out a cold laugh and said, "My husband was born into a wealthy family and has never washed a dish in his life. Who knows, he might break one if he tries to wash it. Shopkeeper, if you think it's worth it, let him wash it."

Fang Yi took a satisfied smile and asked the shopkeeper for some fresh sweet potatoes and tomatoes, preparing to take them back to eat

Jia Dahua appeared to be pondering something, occasionally glancing up at Fang Yishao, his expression shifting as if he were engaged in some calculations

Sigh. While eating, Shen Yong said to the other person with a spoon, "That Jia Dahua seems to be up to something bad."

Shen Yong quickly nodded and lowered his head to eat the clay pot rice. With the first bite, it was indeed extraordinary. The grains of rice in the clay pot were separated, seemingly wrapped in a layer of delicious broth. The sausage was fragrant and crispy, with a special spicy flavor, along with mushrooms, small shrimp, and crab meat. There were so many seasonings. The most wonderful part was the tomato sauce, which removed all the greasiness from the clay pot rice. Additionally, the little bit of powder that was just sprinkled on top was incredibly spicy, making Shen Yong unable to stop eating, feeling as if his heart was rolling on the ground.

Jia Dahua curled his lips and said, "Hmph, this is the order of the governor."

"Well done!" The shopkeeper's eyebrows were all but gone from smiling, leaving only wrinkles on his face as he continuously praised, "Young lady, what a talent you are! You truly are a talent!"

Shen Yong furrowed his brow slightly, wondering what this big fat man was scheming

On the road, Fang Yishao found a vacant spot and roasted two sweet potatoes to eat. Shen Yong, smelling the aroma, wondered why the sweet potatoes roasted by Fang Yishao were particularly fragrant

Fang picked up a small basket of sweet potatoes and ran over, saying, "My lord, it's gone!"

So many?" Shen Yong was astonished

"Taste the dish?" Shen Yong blinked and asked, "Is it just for me to eat?"

Shen Yong finished two plates of braised eggplant, smacked his lips, and said, "Is there more? I haven't had enough."

Fang waved his hand and said, "Alright, I can cook, but my husband cannot wash the dishes"

Shen Yong shook his head and said, "Isn't it quite a few?"

Fang Yi smiled and said, "If my lord wishes to eat, I have thousands of dishes I can prepare, and I will cook them for you slowly, ensuring that for several years, you will not have the same dish twice!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Yong held an empty bowl, tugged at her sleeve, and said, "I want another bucket too"

At the door, several fellows shouted, "Young lady, is there any food left? The front hall has started fighting again!"

Fang Yishao and Shen Yong arrived at the restaurant, where they found the manager and Jia Dahua already waiting at the entrance, of course, there were also a number of diners inside the establishment

Shen Yong watched from the side, chuckling to himself, "This silly girl, all she knows is cooking, and she hasn't even eaten yet." As he thought this, Shen Yong glanced around and caught sight of Jia Dahua in the corner. He saw him huddled in the corner, holding a sweet potato ball and slowly eating it.

Shen Yong felt helpless; this talented woman actually wanted to join him in beating someone up. Seeing her still smiling at him, Shen Yong shook his head—so silly, yet quite amusing.

Shen Yong was so astonished that his eyes widened, and after a long while, he said, "Wow, I haven't heard of many of these!"

Fang Yi almost burst out laughing and said, "Have you all turned into rice buckets?"

Hmm. Fang Yishao replied with a smile, sending him a portion of sweet and sour pork, "Try this."

Indeed, we heard that you came to cook today, even skipping last night's dinner

Shen Yong looked up at the sky and said, "Uh... I will do my best"

Ah, young lady, we have everything here: chicken, duck, fish, meat, melons, fruits, vegetables, shrimp, shellfish, crabs, abalone, sea cucumbers, shark fins, and various staples like rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea, and noodles! The shopkeeper chuckled with delight, saying, "Feel free to prepare whatever you like; we are just waiting to broaden our horizons and enjoy a feast!"

Shen Yong was taken aback, and the shopkeeper quickly smiled and said, "Of course, how could I dare let the young master wash the dishes"

With a smile, Fang said, "This dish is actually eggplant boxes."

Shen Yong originally wanted to laugh at him a couple of times, seeing the large pile of empty plates in front of him, it seemed he had eaten quite a lot... However, upon closer inspection of Jia Dahua's expression, Shen Yong suddenly felt that something was amiss

How clever the shopkeeper is, he understood immediately, tugged at Jia Dahua's sleeve and said, "Ah, Chef Jia, let’s go outside and wait for the food!" After saying this, he forcibly pulled him away, leaving a few assistants waiting outside, ready to serve the dishes

"Young lady, do you have anything new and interesting?" a diner asked, "Something we have never eaten before."

Of course there is

Fang Yishao looked at him and smiled, "Braised pig's trotter with dried scallops and peanuts, black fish with red dates and pumpkin soup, stir-fried vegetable hearts with oyster sauce and mushrooms, braised eggplant with vinegar and pork tenderloin, mackerel liver, pan-fried wings, yellow fish with tofu and stir-fried kidney, mung bean pastry, sweet potato balls, and clay pot rice with sausage in tomato sauce"

Shen Yong took a bite and was stunned; the flavor of the chicken wing was exceptionally unique. The meat was so tender that it melted in his mouth, and the chicken was very fragrant, yet it seemed somewhat different from ordinary chicken. With each bite, he first experienced a crispy texture, followed by a soft and glutinous sensation, and finally a hint of spiciness. By the time he finished eating, he was left with a lingering and delightful aroma in his mouth.

Fang Yi chuckled and said, "I will prepare it right away. Would everyone like to order?"

Shen Yong was quite surprised and asked, "Where did you find so many peppers?"

Fang Yishao thought for a moment and said, "Then just assist me!"

After hearing this, Fang Yi's lips curled up again, her eyebrows arched, and she nodded, saying, "Hmm, let's beat him together"

"So Shen Yong is not going to accept the penalty?" Jia Dahua still refused to give up.

The shopkeeper, having navigated the streets for a long time, naturally understands that the young mistress is concerned for her husband, which is why she is reluctant to let him wash the dishes. Moreover, given Shen Yong's status, it is impossible for them to truly ask him to do so, so they quickly replied, "Of course, of course, young mistress, rest assured, we have someone to do the washing."

Shen Yong took it, peeled the skin, took a bite, and gasped from the heat, but...! ... it is truly fragrant!

Is it true? Everyone was delighted, "Then hurry up, we can't wait!"

Oh... Shen Yong finally understands, no wonder it is so tender... Truly impressive

Fang nodded slightly and said, "There are more than one hundred types of peppers in total"

Shen Yong touched his nose and followed Fang Yishao into the kitchen to prepare the meal

Shen Yong took a bite and his eyes widened. Originally, Shen Yong was not particularly fond of sweet and sour flavors, but Fang Yishao's culinary skills were exceptional. Moreover, the sweet and sour pork tenderloin and the pan-fried wings shared a similar charm; the exterior was incredibly crispy while the inside melted in the mouth, leaving a lingering taste that made one unable to resist eating one after another

Soon, Fang Yishao began to stir-fry... As the pot heated up, the aroma wafted out, and Shen Yong felt his stomach rumbling. Before long, the first dish was ready, and Fang Yishao instructed the assistants to serve it on plates, reserving a small portion for Shen Yong, which he handed to him, saying, "Try this, braised eggplant."

Finally, Fang Yishao saw that this group of gluttons was still not satisfied, so he simply combined all the ingredients together and prepared a grand mixed stew, which he called "A Bounty of Gold and Jade." He also made several meat patties for them to wrap with colorful vegetable shreds, and they indulged in the mixed stew... After the meal, those guests ate until they could hardly stand, leaning back in their chairs to catch their breath, praising—"A lifetime is enough!"

Fang Yishao smiled, turned his face, and saw that Jia Dahua had also come in. Knowing that he was there to keep an eye on Shen Yong, he said, "Well... the shopkeeper, when I cook, I pay attention to my mood. If there are people I don't like in the kitchen, I won't be able to cook well"

After finishing several dishes, Fang Yi spooned out the last dish, a clay pot rice with Chinese sausage, made with fresh tomatoes to create a sauce. As he poured it over, a clamoring sound erupted from the crowd.

Shen Yong felt a bit embarrassed, glared at Fang Yishao, and said, "You shameless girl, praising how handsome men are!"

Shen Yong felt embarrassed, just as Fang Yishao exclaimed, "My lord is truly handsome"

Fang Yi smiled and said, "You try it first!"

Shen Yong saw Fang holding a spoon with ingredients, smelling and pinching them with a focused expression, and then asked, "Hey, how can I assist you? Washing vegetables? I'm not very good at that."

Seeing Shen Yong constantly staring at him, Fang Yishao handed over a sweet potato and asked, "Would you like to eat?"

Shen Yong nodded

Fang Yi blushed, turned back to wash the vegetables, and muttered, "It doesn't matter, are you my husband?"

Shen Yong was taken aback and felt a bit embarrassed, but he still called out, "Wife."

Shen Yong nodded foolishly, blew on it, and put it into his mouth... With one bite, the crispy outer shell cracked open. The first layer was a fragrant and crispy egg, the second layer was soft and smooth eggplant, and the third layer was a rich meat filling, infused with the flavors of mushrooms, meat, and eggplant, all wrapped in that layer of egg... Shen Yong chewed happily, continuously humming, "Mmm, this is wonderful."

Shen Yong took a look and raised his eyes to Fang Yishao, "Alas, isn't this just a regular fried chicken wing?"

A spoonful of mystery, "the powder of heavenly pepper."

Hmm. Fang Yishao continued to nod and said, "My husband is someone who undertakes significant matters; let me handle the cooking."

Fang Yishao entered the restaurant and saw the manager waiting with a smile, so he said, "Manager, I have come to accept my punishment"

Fang nodded slightly and said, "Alright, then I will just make something casually, everyone wait to eat!"

Fang Yi smiled as he handed a bowl to Shen Yong, then opened a small pouch at his waist, carefully taking out a small bottle. He removed the cork, gently tapped it, and sprinkled some powder onto the rice before quickly putting it away.

Shen Yong stared at the two golden yellow eggplant boxes in the bowl, reached out to pick one up, and as he took a spoonful, he said, "Be careful, it's hot."

Fang Yishao examined the ingredients and found that most of them were of high quality, especially the sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and sausages

Sigh... Young lady, your words are too formal; how can this be called accepting punishment? Hehe, it is our good fortune to be able to taste the young madam's culinary skills.

Sigh. Shen Yong saw Fang Yishao picking out some ingredients to wash, feeling a mix of curiosity and hunger, he asked, "What are you making?"

When Fang Yi scooped up a full basin of earnings, he smiled and approached the shopkeeper, saying, "Shopkeeper, the profits are quite good, aren't they?"

The diners erupted in applause, and Fang extended a spoon to poke the dazed Shen Yong beside him, saying, "My dear husband, let's go!"

Shen Yong couldn't help but chuckle, as the so-called desire for food is indeed irresistible. Even though the people here scoff at his little bully's bravado, they all beam with smiles for the delicious dishes made by his wife. It seems that people are truly those who forget righteousness in the face of profit.

Shen Yong reached out to take the box of sweet potatoes and asked her, "Hey, are you hungry?"

Jia Dahua frowned and wanted to argue, but the diners had already grown impatient, urging, "Alas, Mrs. Shen, is it ready yet? We're starving!"

What is this? Shen Yong asked curiously

Fang turned his head back, squinted his eyes at him, and asked fiercely, "What!"

Shen Yongmei happily ate two chicken wings and asked, "How did you make it with just one spoon?"

Fang Yi spooned some soup and noticed Shen Yong's mouth corner had some broth. Looking up with a bewildered expression, he couldn't help but chuckle softly and asked, "My husband, do you know how many types of pepper there are in this world?"

Shen Yong curled the corner of his mouth slightly, sitting somewhat bored behind her, with a straw in his mouth, watching Fang Yishao busy at work

Fang Yi squatted down and saw Shen Yong sitting on a small stool eating vegetables. He smiled and said, "My father spent several years perfecting this. There is only this small bottle, and this powder is worth much more than gold. This is something even the emperor cannot taste. You must try it soon."