Chef Hua
Chapter 34: Episode 27: Top-Grade Pot

Chapter 34: Episode 27: Top-Grade Pot

"Yo yo," what does that even mean? This famous chef from Chunfeng Restaurant, whether in tone, gesture, or expression, doesn’t match his intimidating appearance at all!

Hua Xiaomai paid him no mind, and continued to focus on the chopping board in front of her, slicing the ham as thin as paper and as fine as hair strands, placing it into an earthenware pot simmering with a whole chicken and pig’s feet. She then fished out a bighead carp flapping feebly, almost belly up, from a basin of water. She cleaned it after descaling and gill removal, slicing half of it into fillets along with the fish head, and added them to the pot as well.

The entire process was as swift as a shooting star, leaving Chef Wei with his mouth half open, staring with wide eyes and swallowing saliva uncontrollably. When Hua Xiaomai reached for a piece of tofu from the vegetable basket and soaked it in brine, he could no longer hold himself back, jabbing a thick finger onto her shoulder blade: "Hey, girl, I’m talking to you!"

Hua Xiaomai never liked it when people watched her cook, she had already tolerated him for a while. Seeing that he not only refused to leave, but also started poking and prodding, she felt increasingly irritated. She turned around to face him directly, her expression barely concealing her impatience: "What on earth do you want?"

"I said you can’t use that ham hanging from the beam, can’t you understand?" Chef Wei finally found his presence, arrogantly snorting through his large nostrils as a puff of cold air came out.

Hua Xiaomai felt utter disdain.

She had arrived at the Li Family early that day and had felt suffocated by how they treated their congratulatory guests differently. She was underutilized and had plenty of pent-up frustration. Alright, alright, she couldn’t control such a situation, but she could at least manage this so-called "second-class seating" and make it spotless, to stand up for herself and those neglected guests. Yet here was Chef Wei, muddling through unsolicited!

"You also said that the ham was hanging from the beam, not something from your vegetable basket, so why can’t I use it?" she asked, looking straight at the man before her, chubby and dark, chin slightly raised. "Chef Wei, mounting the beam is a big event for the common folk. If the banquet isn’t well made, the neighbors will gossip! You have several apprentices helping you while I’m alone with no time to waste. Wouldn’t it be better if we just focused on our own work without you purposely causing trouble?"

Before Chef Wei could reply, an apprentice jumped forward, pointing at Hua Xiaomai’s nose and shouting loudly: "Hey, how dare you speak like that? My master is the top chef in Fuzhe County, the reason why Chunfeng Restaurant is bustling with guests! Even the County Magistrate gives him some respect. You, a mere girl, dare to spout such nonsense? I think you’re asking for..."

"Quality, mind the quality!" Chef Wei raised his hand with authority, interrupting the apprentice mid-sentence, squinting his eyes grandly as he stared at Hua Xiaomai’s face, "Girl, I’ll let that ham business go. I see your knife skills aren’t bad, and I’m willing to guide you, but don’t be ungrateful! Second-class dishes are hardly worth your effort. If I sent a helper to handle it haphazardly it’d be done! Come, help me with chopping and watch the fire, easy money at hand, far better than you running a whole table alone, exhausting yourself for nothing. I’m just being kind!"

"Thank you for your kindness and consideration, but it’s not necessary," Hua Xiaomai declined, wanting no more verbal sparring with him, as she took the tofu soaked in brine and cut it into cubes.

Chef Wei was rebuffed gently, which made him seethe with anger, but he also felt that walking away in such defeat would be too embarrassing, so he pretended to glance into the pot and made a conversational attempt: "Alright, alright, I was just saying. If you don’t want to, forget it. Young people these days have such high spirits! But, what is that thing you’re making?"

"A top-grade pot," Hua Xiaomai replied without lifting her head, selecting a slightly tenderer bunch of young greens from the vegetable basket, removing the old leaves, and methodically washing the greens.

...

With her experience from preparing the New Year’s feast for Qiao’s Paper Shop, Hua Xiaomai was undoubtedly more efficient today. The soup in the earthenware pot needed slow simmering for an hour and a half. Using this interlude, she arranged the cold dishes and prepared all sorts of ingredients and seasonings for the hot dishes, waiting to cook them just before the banquet started.

The noise from the front yard gradually grew more raucous. It sounded as if the craftsmen had already lifted the beam onto the rooftop; adults were shouting encouragingly, and the children were busy playing and making merry, their voices as loud as if reaching the skies.

Li Sansao, all smiles, found a moment to come to the kitchen, pulling Hua Xiaomai, Chef Wei and the few apprentices to the front yard. She said they were about to "throw the beam" and wanted them to join in and share in the joy. Hua Xiaomai entered the courtyard and indeed saw the craftsmen on the roof, holding a bulging sack, as if ready to toss something down. People were squeezing together in anticipation, stretching out their hands and looking up expectantly.

"Throwing the beam to the east, dawn breaks in a household so bright; throwing the beam to the west, unicorns deliver twins in a double delight; throwing the beam to the south, generation after generation will be scholars in sight; throwing the beam to the north, granaries filled with rice invite!" the craftsmen shouted loudly while tossing down fortune packets wrapped with buns, Copper Coins, and melon seeds. The crowd surged forward scrambling for the packets, mixing laughter, banter, and a clamor that seemed almost enough to lift the newly constructed roof.

Although Hua Xiaomai felt some displeasure, she couldn’t help being influenced by the festive atmosphere, catching a fortune packet filled with Copper Coins. She went to the side intending to open it but was suddenly pulled by a hand. She quickly looked up and saw it was Qiao Xiong.

"Xiaomai, are you cooking for the Li family today as well? No wonder I was smelling delicious aromas from the kitchen just now... Ah, I’m in for a treat again!" Qiao Xiong said jovially, pulling Hua Xiaomai into the hall with a beaming smile.

"Yes, Uncle Qiao, are you also here to enjoy the banquet?" Hua Xiaomai smiled warmly at him, looking around playfully and sticking out her tongue with a touch of regret, "You’re seated at this table? Then the meals for your table aren’t made by me."

"What do you mean, there are two separate menus?" Qiao Xiong exclaimed in shock.

Hua Xiaomai quickly lifted her finger to her lips, "Shh, Uncle Qiao, keep your voice down! Brother Li and the others also invited Weida, the chef from Chunfeng Restaurant, to take charge of the cooking. If you sit inside the main hall, you’ll be eating the dishes he made."

"How can it be like this? It’s just a meal, why divide people into different classes!" Qiao Xiong was very dissatisfied and lowered his voice, then said with a smile, "Hey, Xiaomai, can we make a deal? I smell soup being stewed in the kitchen—is that your doing? Save me a taste later, will you? Just from the smell alone, my mouth is watering!"

"Sure!" Hua Xiaomai laughed, amused by him, "But Uncle Qiao, if you want to drink soup, you might have to humble yourself and come to the kitchen. I can’t just carry it out blatantly."

"No problem at all!" Qiao Xiong agreed without hesitation, and after exchanging a few more pleasantries with Hua Xiaomai, she turned and went back to the kitchen.

When noon arrived, the banquet began, and the guests, craftsmen, and neighbors who came to help all took their seats.

Smoke filled the air in the kitchen, and the sizzling sounds of frying and cooking were incessant. With two stoves and two cooks, the kitchen was a scene of frantic activity.

It had to be admitted that Weida’s position as the head chef of Chunfeng Restaurant did require some real talent. His plates were delicate, and the dishes were vibrantly colored. The first-class table in the main hall was embellished with reds and greens, so vibrant that even a single glance would inspire admiration.

As for the "second-class seating" that Hua Xiaomai was responsible for, the main course was a one-pot dish.

After an hour and a half of stewing, the soup became a rich, light brown color. The shreds of ham and fish were dissolved, and only the skeleton of the fish head remained. The pork hocks and whole chicken were stewed tender while soft white tofu and crispy green vegetables were added just before serving. The intense and sweet flavors melded into one pot, delivering lush green and creamy flavors altogether—incredibly smooth and tender.

The best part was that the clay pot cooled slowly, so even after being taken off the fire and brought to the table, it continued to bubble and bring forth the rich flavors into the air, overwhelming the scents of all other dishes. Everyone passing by couldn’t help but sniff and take a longer look.

Hua Xiaomai, steamed by the heat of the kitchen and sweating profusely, quickly finished the remaining dishes, then stir-fried the rest of the fish into fish rolls and handed them to the helpers to serve. She herself sat by the stove panting heavily.

Today, she had truly done her best. Considering the quality of the vegetables and meat provided by the Li Family, she had done everything she could to showcase her skills. How much she would be paid was no longer important; she just hoped that the guests at the table she took care of could be happy.

Weida had already settled himself ostentatiously at the kitchen doorway, asking an apprentice to brew tea for him as he rested leisurely, glancing occasionally in Hua Xiaomai’s direction with a sidelong look.

After the wine had been poured three times and faces were flushed, the sound of toasting and playing drinking games in the front yard became louder. Hua Xiaomai was idly whiling away the time by carving a radish when Sister Li ran in flustered.

"Xiaomai!" She grabbed Hua Xiaomai’s arm, "That pot of soup... the one in the clay pot with chicken and pork hocks, what’s it called? Do you have more?"

"The one-pot dish?" Hua Xiaomai stood up abruptly, scratching her head in confusion, "It’s all been served out, there’s none left. What happened?"

"Oh dear, this is bad!" Sister Li slapped her thigh and lamented, "The guests in the front yard got into a fight over that soup!"

Before she had finished speaking, Weida’s face turned cold as his gaze, sharp as a sword, suddenly pierced in their direction.

*********

Continuing to beg for subscriptions and recommendations like Xianglin’s wife, o(╯□╰)o