Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle
Chapter 417 - 236: The Meaning of Mixed Fruit Filling_3

Chapter 417: Chapter 236: The Meaning of Mixed Fruit Filling_3

"At that time, the roasted pork from various restaurant owners tasted bad, displeasing the nobles. Whenever Taifeng Building made a new flavor of roasted pork, Boss Lu would call me over to taste it. I always felt the flavors were almost indistinguishable, but it seemed Boss Lu could only be at ease if there was no difference."

Qin Huai insightfully commented, "It’s because having no difference is the safest. Previously, the noble was satisfied with this flavor, and if the flavor changed, it might cause trouble with the nobles."

In turbulent times, even a chef is not safe.

"So, Sister Hong, do you know why the chefs at Taifeng Building can make roasted pork of different ingredients taste the same?" Qin Huai asked.

Chen Huihong shook her head, "I can’t cook at all. I couldn’t even chop vegetables at home without cutting my heel. How would I know such a secret? But I suppose it’s all about bluffing. At that time, the major restaurants in Beiping were all trying to bluff the nobles above them."

"Actions should be clumsy, words full of flair. The taste of the dish can be the same, but the ingredients must be different, the presentation ostentatious, the name pleasant, and the meaning auspicious."

Bluffing.

Qin Huai paused with the floral tongs in hand.

Wait a minute, bluffing.

Qin Huai suddenly recalled the deep impression both Gong Liang and Zheng Da had about that time with the mixed fruit filling glutinous rice ball.

A very large amount of winter melon candy was used.

So much that Master Jing’s own preparations were not enough, and Zheng Da had to go home to scour for an additional 5 pounds of winter melon candy.

Since winter melon candy is originally one of the key main ingredients for mixed fruit filling, and in any version of the filling, winter melon candy is the absolute star, Qin Huai hadn’t paid much attention.

But what if Master Jing intentionally wanted to use such a large quantity of winter melon candy?

What if the true essence of the mixed fruit filling was bluffing?

In those days, the nobles in Beiping were competing in wealth, causing the owners of major restaurants to worry so much they lost their hair, making roasted pork in a bluffing way, lacking in flavor but making up with symbolism. Eight treasures, eight blessings, eight joys, blessings of wealth and longevity, dragon and phoenix presenting harmony, a hundred years of good union, longevity and prosperity, directly linking the rarity and variety of ingredients to auspicious meanings, the more the ingredients, the more precious, the more auspicious the meaning.

What if Master Jing thought so at the time?

Back when Chen Huihong was eating at Taifeng Building, the head chef was Jiang Chengde. Master Jing’s real name was Jiang Weijin, Jiang Chengde’s son. He probably wouldn’t have known the intricacies of the wealth competition at his age, but he must have deeply remembered those quirky roasted pork and the beautiful meanings they represented.

Whether it’s Four Happiness glutinous rice or Qianhua Gongdeng Bun, they both have auspicious meanings.

Perhaps at the time, Master Jing used such complex ingredients, so much winter melon candy, so many nuts, spent so much money, and finally made the mixed fruit filling glutinous rice ball in a bluffing way, perhaps he just wanted to give the younger generation a beautiful meaning and blessing.

Eight treasures, eight joys, eight blessings, blessings of wealth and longevity, a hundred years of good union, health, longevity and prosperity.

Qin Huai suddenly realized he had been thinking too simply and also too complexly.

That meal was Gong Liang’s birthday feast, also the feast marking his comeback from the bottom, rejuvenating and finding hope in life, about to start a brand-new life.

Master Jing hoped that Gong Liang’s future life could be as blessed as the blessings contained in the Four Happiness glutinous rice, smooth and free of obstacles.

Therefore, even if not necessary, he still made such a complicated mixed fruit filling glutinous rice ball.

Because this mixed fruit filling glutinous rice ball was very special, Master Jing rarely made it again afterward.

After so many years, even the one who made the glutinous rice ball back then has been gone for many years, Qin Huai felt like he understood the beautiful blessing of that master who made the glutinous rice ball in a nearby place, in different times and spaces.

Qin Huai quietly styled the Qianhua Gongdeng Bun.

Chen Huihong continued to gnaw on winter jujubes.

She was waiting for the rabbit buns.

After Qin Huai finished steaming the Qianhua Gongdeng Bun, during the steaming time, he could make several rabbit buns for Chen Huihong, so she could take the raw ones back to give to Huihui for breakfast the next morning.

The Qianhua Gongdeng Bun was ready.

Qin Huai felt his Finger Skill should be upgraded.

These two Qianhua Gongdeng Buns practically exhausted all his energy for the night.

Just then, Ouyang pushed the door open and entered, holding a hand-grab pancake in his left hand, a roasted cold noodle in his right, with half-eaten roasted sausage in his mouth, and from the side of the roasted cold noodle’s bag, two bags of sugar could faintly be seen.

"Qin Huai, want some roasted cold noodles and hand-grab pancake? It’s so delicious, I’m telling you, it’s immensely tasty!" Ouyang asked loudly, pushing the door into the kitchen, froze upon seeing the Qianhua Gongdeng Bun on the steamer.

"Whoa, this bun..."

"Is it a bit crooked?"

Qin Huai: "...Shut up, don’t you meddle with the Qianhua Gongdeng Bun."

"By the way, Ouyang, are you free tomorrow? If you are, go buy me 40 pounds of winter melon candy."

"I want to rigorously practice the mixed fruit filling glutinous rice ball."

With a thud, the roasted cold noodle Ouyang was holding fell to the ground.

pounds of winter melon candy, how many mixed fruit filling glutinous rice balls does that make!

Father, I’m wrong, this whatever flower whatever bun is really beautiful, not crooked at all, I just tilted my head and saw it crookedly just now.

Beautiful, really beautiful, simply a piece of art!

Let’s make fewer mixed fruit filling glutinous rice balls.

Eating them every day is truly unbearable!