Chef Hua
Chapter 435: Episode 239: Boiled Fish on a Hot Day_2

Chapter 435: Episode 239: Boiled Fish on a Hot Day_2

Hua Xiaomai was immediately delighted, nodding repeatedly, "No problem at all, I just knew Mom is the most reasonable!"

Her thoughts shifted to another matter, and with a playful grin, she said, "How about... I negotiate another deal with Mom?"

"You’re pushing your luck!" Meng’s mother placed her hands on her hips, her eyebrows shooting up, "What is it now?"

"About that chili..." Hua Xiaomai pursed her lips, "Mom, you don’t let me into the kitchen every day, and I know you do it for my own good, but ever since we got that chili, I haven’t had the chance to properly use it in a dish, and my hands are just itching to do so. Mom, you’re always so understanding, could you indulge me this once? Our yard is overflowing with chilis, more than anyone else’s. If others have already used it to cook, and you still don’t know what it tastes like, wouldn’t that be a bit funny?"

Upon hearing this, Meng’s mother’s expression darkened, and she was about to speak when Hua Xiaomai hurriedly continued, "You don’t want me handling knives, I remember that. But this isn’t such a difficult task. Yun’er comes to our home every day to learn cooking, doesn’t she? Her knife skills have become quite decent now, so I’ll let her do all the chopping, and I’ll just do the cooking—that is, if Mom doesn’t step in."

"That chili has a rich taste, and it would be good for you to try it," added Meng Yuhuai at just the right moment.

Looking at his face, Meng’s mother felt a bit reluctant to refuse. She thought it over for a moment and, somewhat grudgingly, said, "You’ve put it so well, what more can I do? But let’s get this straight, this is just this once. No matter what you say in the future, I won’t agree to it again!"

"Deal!" Hua Xiaomai smiled so wide her mouth barely closed, nodding vigorously before turning to Meng Yuhuai and giving him a playful wink.

Therefore, just before dinner time the next day, the kitchen of the Meng Family’s courtyard was filled with the sizzling sounds of frying, searing, and sautéing. Accompanying these sounds was a potent, spicy aroma that made its way around the yard, then drifted out to the small dirt road outside, slipping into the nearby farmhouses and prompting the neighbors to sneeze while they craned their necks curiously in its direction.

A three-jin heavy, plump, live fish was carefully sliced into fillets by Zhou Yunyun, who came to learn cooking every afternoon. The slices were mixed with cornstarch, egg whites, pepper, and Shao Wine, marinated thoroughly and set aside for use. Soybean sprouts were blanched with boiling water and placed at the bottom of a large dish. On the stove, what attracted the most attention was a large bowl of dried chilis, glowing red. To those who had never tasted it, it was merely intriguing, but for those who had, a mere glimpse was enough to bring a hint of spiciness to the tip of their tongue.

Zhenwei Garden’s bean paste had only recently been placed in jars, yet now it had to be fried with the chilis, which was barely passable. Sichuan peppercorns and chopped scallions, ginger, and garlic turned golden and lustrous upon frying in hot oil, and as soon as two heavy spoonfuls of the bean paste mixed with chilis were added, a delicious fragrance immediately filled the air, and the kitchen was quickly enveloped in thick smoke.

Meng’s mother stood at the doorway of the kitchen, coughing a few times from the fumes, and said with concern, "Hurry up with what you’re doing. That smoke is making people’s eyes water. What good does it do you to stand there?"

"I know," replied Hua Xiaomai with a smile as she turned back to the simmering pot and then skillfully poured a large bowl of stock into it. Once it boiled, she began to add the fish fillets one by one.

The fresh fish, slightly reddened at first, turned white as soon as it was boiled in the soup. Tumbling in the fiery red broth, it was a feast for the eyes. In just a moment, the cooked fish could be taken out of the pot and poured into a large basin filled with bean sprouts. Generous handfuls of chopped chili and ground chili pepper were scattered on top, followed by some vegetable oil heated in the pot until it was fairly hot—

As the hot oil hit the chili, it made a crisp "sizzle," and a thick layer of red oil instantly covered the surface. The pungent aroma became assertively overwhelming, making Hua Xiaomai dodge to the side. She found a couple of pot holders and carefully carried the large basin of fish slices to the table, flashing Meng’s mother a grin, "Mother, what do you think?"

Meng’s mother always had a fondness for rich flavors, and while she had never tried this boiled fish before, she was captivated by its vivid red color and the strong fragrant smell, already unconsciously swallowing her saliva. Even so, she didn’t forget to be stubborn, quickly serving the other dishes while muttering, "In such hot weather, all you could think about is to make this dish, and you’ll be covered in sweat afterwards!"

However, after the first bite of fish entered her mouth, she could no longer utter such words.

The spiciness and fragrance of the chili were unmatched by any other ingredient. Combined with the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns and the freshness of the fish, the mixture danced on the tip of the tongue. Lips were numb from the spice, but still irresistibly delicious.

A layer of dense sweat formed on Meng’s mother’s forehead, her chopsticks repeatedly diving into the big basin, occasionally sipping some wine, and she kept saying, "No wonder everyone wants to grow chili, it really is excellent. It’s not just you satisfying your craving to make this dish—I’ve also got to satisfy my craving to eat it, delightful!"

"You’ll sweat a little more, take a bath later, and I guarantee you’ll sleep more soundly and comfortably tonight than ever," laughed Hua Xiaomai.

Meng’s mother glanced at her, noting she was only eating other dishes. She frowned slightly and asked, "You... you didn’t put something in that fish, did you? Why aren’t you having any yourself?"

Hua Xiaomai chuckled, "Chili is heaty; it’s fine for you to eat it, but with my condition right now, it wouldn’t be good to eat too much..."

"Who’s asking you to eat a lot? What’s the big deal in trying just a bite?" Meng’s mother refused to let her off the hook and quickly had Meng Yuhuai pick a tender piece of fish for her. "We’re enjoying this and you only get to look—later you’ll say behind my back that I’m skimping on you. Even with a mouthful of explanations, I won’t be able to clear my name!"

Her words may have sounded harsh, but Hua Xiaomai surely understood the care behind them. She truly took a bite of fish and said with a big smile, "Wow, my cooking skills are really unmatched. Mother, you are so lucky!"

"Get lost!" Meng’s mother shot her a look and kept on eating mouthful after mouthful without a break, not having any time to talk anymore.

While the family was merrily dining in the courtyard, a sudden flurry of urgent horse hooves could be heard on the dirt road outside. They stopped right at the front door, and then someone flew in.—(To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)