Chef Hua
Chapter 209: Episode 128 Da Zhen and Two Treasures Sashimi_2

Chapter 209: Episode 128 Da Zhen and Two Treasures Sashimi_2

"Enough, enough," Qing He said, somewhat impatiently, as she pulled Hua Xiaomai and turned to leave. Hua Xiaomai took a few steps forward but then remembered something important, and looked back, saying, "Oh, Uncle, on the sixth, could you also bring me a Guilin fish that weighs about two kilograms? The fatter and more beautiful, the better."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, this girl, always picking the finest fish to buy," Uncle Liang exclaimed repeatedly before raising his hand, very assuredly gesturing downward, "Just set your mind at ease; if you’re not satisfied with the fish I deliver, I’ll gladly refuse to take any payment!"

Hua Xiaomai smiled and thanked him, then turned and walked away with Qing He.

Once they had left the fish stall, Qing He immediately tugged at Hua Xiaomai’s sleeve, eager to ask, "Miss, could it be that you’ve already decided what dish to prepare for the Eight Treasures Conference?"

"Hmm... I do have some ideas, but I haven’t made a final decision yet," Hua Xiaomai pondered for a moment, shaking her head, "However, no matter what, it’s always right to buy the ingredients first. The Rouge Fish are rare; wouldn’t it be troublesome if we couldn’t find them when needed?"

Qing He nodded vigorously, empathetically, and laughed, saying, "Exactly, that’s why I told Uncle Liang to sell us all his Rouge Fish, even at the cost of paying a bit more money. Regardless of whether we end up using it, or how much we might need, the most important thing is not to let other families buy these premium ingredients, don’t you think?"

Hua Xiaomai pursed her lips noncommittally and looked around casually before heading back to Taoyuan House with her.

...

In the following days, Hua Xiaomai seldom went out, spending each day holed up in the inner halls of Taoyuan House, chewing on her pen cap and deeply engrossed in thought.

Two meat dishes, while not needing too much effort, had to be flawless for participation in the Eight Treasures Conference. Every detail must be thoroughly considered. Hua Xiaomai focused on the main ingredients, condiments, soup bases... and after several discussions with Song Jingxi, though her head ached with all the thinking, eventually sorted things out. She awaited the day of July 7th with all her heart and soul.

Song Jingxi, in preparation for the conference, spared no expense. Any ingredient that was needed, no matter how expensive, she would buy without batting an eye. Hua Xiaomai, hearing Song Jingxi’s repeated instructions to shopkeeper Tao, and the never-ending list of expensive items, couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her expenses; yet, when it came to her own needs, she was just as uncompromising.

"Venison Tenderloin, suckling pig, roe deer, deer and beef and mutton, five kilograms each," she counted off on her fingers to shopkeeper Tao. "Two jars of the best Shao Wine, and ten kilograms of top-quality tofu... Ah, and also, please buy me a knife, the sharper, the better. If it can slice through iron as though it were mud, then all the better."

Shopkeeper Tao initially was diligently noting down everything, but by the end, he felt a bit alarmed.

A sharp knife, and even capable of slicing through iron? Was this young lady intending to commit murder?

"Hehe, Miss Hua of the Hua Family, all the knives used in the kitchen of Taoyuan House are top-notch, the best in all of Tong’an City. If you still want something sharper, I’m afraid you’d have to have one custom-made," he said.

"I’ve tried all the knives in the kitchen; they’re not suitable," Hua Xiaomai replied without a moment’s hesitation, her head still lowered. "Is there still time to have one custom-made?"

"Well... so long as enough silver is provided, there’s nothing that can’t be done in time. Though..." shopkeeper Tao said, smiling sheepishly, and was about to add something but was interrupted by Song Jingxi.

"If Miss Hua insists, there must be a reason. Old Tao, just do as she says. No matter the cost, get the best knife made. Do you understand?" Her words held a stern and authoritative tone, and shopkeeper Tao didn’t dare say more, agreeing quickly before retreating from the inner hall.

In recent days, Song Jingxi maintained a laissez-faire attitude toward Hua Xiaomai, in an effort to keep her from feeling pressured. As the date of the Eight Treasures Conference drew nearer, even she couldn’t sit still. Seeing shopkeeper Tao leave, and with no third person in the room, she sat down next to Hua Xiaomai, smiling broadly, "I wanted to leave it as a surprise, to witness your culinary skills on the day of the conference, but now I can hardly wait. Xiaomai, these two dishes, one common and one refined, what exactly are you planning to make? I heard from Qing He that you even asked that fishmonger, Uncle Liang, to deliver some fine fresh fish on the sixth... "

Hua Xiaomai, who was technically working for her, saw no need to hide things from her. She looked up with a narrow smile, confidently saying, "Rouge Fish and Guilin fish; I plan to make a dish called ’Two Treasures Sashimi.’ As for the Venison Tenderloin, suckling pig, beef, mutton, and various game... Miss Song, do you know what ’Dao Zhen’ is?"

Song Jingxi slightly startled, a trace of surprise in her gaze, "Dao Zhen? How, at such a young age, have you already heard of that? Not just nowadays, but even over the past few centuries, I doubt more than a couple of people have thought of making it. How did you..."

Hua Xiaomai did not directly answer her question, her lips curling slightly, "Isn’t it just perfect that no one remembers it? That way, we don’t have to worry about clashing with anyone else’s dish, and it’s guaranteed to be unique. Perhaps it could even surprise the gourmets present. With this ’surprising’ and ’ingenious’ element, we’ve already gained the upper hand."

Song Jingxi nodded in agreement but could not hide her concern. "You asked Old Tao to buy a knife for the Two Treasures Sashimi, right? I’m not too worried about that dish, but as for Dao Zhen... the older and more famous the dish, the more it invites scrutiny, and though you are supremely skilled, you are still young. How confident are you?"

Hua Xiaomai turned her head to look at her, her lips pursed in a smile, calm and collected, she uttered three words: "Rest assured."

(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote at Qidian (qidian.com) with your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

This chapter is updated by freew(e)bnovel.(c)om