Chef Hua
Chapter 414: Episode 229: A Wake-up Call by a Single Sentence

Chapter 414: Episode 229: A Wake-up Call by a Single Sentence

In the summer time, the sky had not yet darkened, and there wasn’t a single patron inside the small inn’s main hall, but upstairs in the private room, a lamp was lit early, casting a warm yellow star of light.

The table was already set with dishes, but just four or five plates and bowls, and also a pot of warm wine. The ingredients used were nothing overly precious, common in both the market and in the wild, it’s just that thanks to the exquisite plating and appealing colors, they looked particularly unique.

Lady Yang, the wife of Magistrate Tao, was a woman around thirty, with a sweet and round peach-like face that made her seem a few years younger than her age, and a figure slightly plump, dressed tastefully and appropriately.

She had her manservant wait by the door and only brought two personal maids upstairs with her. As soon as she entered the private room, she greeted Hua Xiaomai with a beaming smile, "I really am imposing on you today, even causing your business to be disrupted. I truly feel a bit bad about it."

Though she said as much, her eyes clearly revealed an eagerness she couldn’t conceal. Without waiting for an invitation, she briskly walked to the tableside, looking around with great interest. Then, turning her head with a smile, she said, "What delicious food have you made for me today? You must not hide anything from me. My lord has been non-stop in his praise of your culinary skills, which made me all the more curious. I started to feel hungry on the way here, and even though the maids brought snacks, I resisted eating them, having my heart set on tasting your wonderful dishes. Don’t laugh at my gluttony now."

In Hua Xiaomai’s memory, ladies of officials usually carried themselves with mature grace, yet Lady Yang was unexpectedly vivacious. Smiling in response, Hua Xiaomai said, "Magistrate Tao flatters me too much. There isn’t much to speak of in the countryside, so I picked out a few seasonal dishes, though I am not sure if they will suit your taste."

Lady Yang waved her hand dismissively and took a seat at the table, "I’m not picky. With the hot weather, I just wanted to eat something light. The dishes you’ve arranged today look quite fitting to me."

While talking, she glanced at the table again, suddenly clapped her hands with a laugh, and pointed at a dish, "Oh, is this the ’Blessing Shrimp’? Last year at a banquet with my lord, I had the pleasure of tasting it and have been unable to forget it since. I didn’t expect to come across it here today – how wonderful."

’Blessing Shrimp’ is made by removing the heads of shrimp, deveining them, then placing them in small round bowls with a thick layer of chicken puree, leaving only the tail exposed. In the center on top, an indentation is made with a finger, and then a quail egg is cracked into it. After steaming on high heat, the top is sprinkled with finely chopped ham and decorated with coriander leaves, then drizzled with a thin sauce to finish.

On serving, the plate is lined with blanched greens at the bottom; the red tails of the shrimp, the golden quail eggs, and the glistening green plate all complement each other, exuding an exquisite and appetizing beauty.

Having the first dish coincidentally match her preference was truly a cause for joy for the cook. Hua Xiaomai pursed her lips, "You’re fond of it, and that’s wonderful. With the river rising, it’s the season when the shrimp are fattest and the meat is tenderer than usual, you..."

However, before she could finish speaking, Lady Yang’s attention had already shifted to another dish. With raised brows and widened eyes, she asked, "And what is this one?" Turning her head to look at a maid standing behind her, "It’s a sparrow, isn’t it? Am I right?"

The maid nodded uncertainly, and Hua Xiaomai, with a smile, said, "Exactly, this dish is called ’Braised Sauce Sparrow’."

"Braised sauce?" Lady Yang asked, looking intrigued. After observing for a moment, she looked up, "Back in my hometown, there is a way of eating where minced meat is stuffed into the belly of a sparrow and then stewed with sauce. It’s delicious. But this sparrow dish seems quite intact, without any knife cuts, and you haven’t added anything inside, have you?"

"Please try it," Hua Xiaomai replied, not answering her question but smiling as she nudged the plate toward her.

The dish involved using chopsticks to remove the innards of the sparrow, then cleansing it with Shao Wine. A piece of pork fat, tendons removed, is stuffed inside. The sparrows are neatly arranged in a small porcelain bowl, with hot oil and braising sauce repeatedly poured over them, then gently cooked a little bit longer in the pot. Although not deep-fried, the skin is crisp and the flesh tender, making it an excellent dish to accompany wine.

Lady Yang indeed picked up a sparrow, elegantly took a small bite, and after contemplating for a moment with her lips slightly turned up, she exclaimed, "Incredible, even though there’s clearly a piece of fat stuffed inside, it doesn’t feel greasy at all. Instead, it’s smooth and delicious, bursting with flavor in my mouth – so delicious! No wonder my lord praises you so much, today I truly believe it! How can you, at such a young age, come up with these dishes?"