Chef Hua
Chapter 482: Episode 263: Exquisite Tea Leaves Vegetables

Chapter 482: Episode 263: Exquisite Tea Leaves Vegetables

The sky gradually darkened.

The charcoal pieces in the wood stove glowed red. Occasionally, a gust of wind would blow, carrying a few sparks into the air, twinkling for an instant before vanishing without a trace.

The tung oil lamp that was usually on the counter of the small restaurant was now placed on the large table at the entrance, casting a warm yellow halo. Unknowing bugs blindly rushed towards it, hitting the lamp’s surface and falling onto the table with a snap.

Meng Yuhuai brought out several chairs, settling his wife and mother beside the table. Chun Xi and La Mei also seated themselves beside the two, assuming the air of judges with an unmistakable look of pride on their faces.

Hua Xiaomai turned her face away, her gaze sweeping over the various vegetables and ingredients that Little Mouse had brought. She chuckled to herself.

Alright, she was finally willing to admit that Sister-in-law Chun Xi, who usually loved to gossip and chat about others, was actually a decent person.

Since they were going to assess Wang Zhanrui’s skills, the test should, of course, be as tricky as possible. After all, this man couldn’t be compared to Master Tan. Using tea as an ingredient in cooking—how sophisticated! Just a steamed meat pie or stir-fried beef couldn’t possibly showcase his exquisite culinary skills.

She had really hoped that Chun Xi would bring some difficult ingredients to properly challenge this peculiar Mr. Wang, but who knew that Sister-in-law would be so soft-hearted!

Chicken breast, pork belly, small ribs, shrimp... look, each one was the most common item on the dining table. For someone who’d been rolling around the kitchen since the age of fourteen, there was absolutely no challenge at all, right?

She shot a half-smiling glance toward Chun Xi, who understood the meaning behind that look and hurriedly waved her hands, saying, "I really didn’t mean to go easy on him! The kitchen at Zhenwei Garden only makes home-style dishes; these are already the best we have. I had no choice..."

"I haven’t said a word, Sister-in-law, why are you so nervous?" Hua Xiaomai burst out laughing.

It didn’t matter if the ingredients were simple; being able to turn ordinary food into an extraordinary taste would showcase one’s mastery even more.

Meanwhile, Wang Zhanrui had already started to get busy.

After boiling Zhengshan Xiaozhong black tea, he poured out the tea water and fried it with sea salt to make Salt and Pepper, which he rubbed on thinly sliced chicken breasts to marinate;

He brewed Lu’an Melon Seed tea with hot water that had been left to sit for a moment after boiling, soaked the sliced pork belly in the tea for the duration of an incense stick, and mixed it with fennel powder, soy sauce, pepper, and Salt and Pepper;

The shrimp, with their intestinal tracts removed, were marinated in Shao Wine, while bean sprouts, fried tofu, shiitake mushrooms, and dried tofu were all prepared. Wang Zhanrui’s movements were crisp and precise, showcasing flawless knife skills and temperature control. His face lit up red by the stove fire, was still devoid of expression, yet that confidence seemed to be shooting out from the top of his head.

Hua Xiaomai’s interest grew even stronger as she intently watched his busy hands without blinking.

Who says things that come willingly are never of good quality? Although the food had yet to reach her mouth, she already felt she had probably lucked out!

The sizzling sound in the oil pan started, and the smoke rose into the air, mingled with the scent of tea leaves. The aroma of the food gradually drifted over, circling around the people before lingering persistently in their nostrils.

Chun Xi and La Mei sniffed eagerly, whispering, "Putting everything else aside, his movements are indeed clean and agile. If only we’d known, we should’ve called Yun’er over as well, to open her eyes!"

Hua Xiaomai opened her mouth to speak, but Meng Yuhuai beside her chuckled softly.

"It’s alright, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future," he said.

"Eh?" Hua Xiaomai turned her head towards him in surprise, "How do you know..."

"I just know." Meng Yuhuai didn’t look at her, his lips curving into a secretive smile as he nodded knowingly.

As they were talking, Wang Zhanrui brought over the first dish. His voice was low, devoid of any emotion, "Salt and Pepper Tea Chicken Breast, give it a try."

The sea salt and black tea, fried together, turned brown and clung tightly to the surface of the chicken breast. It was slowly roasted over low heat, releasing a smoky scent. When picked apart with chopsticks, the meat was still tender inside. The savory taste of sea salt, the resinous aroma of the tea, and the delicate flavor of the chicken overlapped in the mouth. It melted without much effort, leaving a rich sensation lingering in the mouth after swallowing.

Chun Xi and La Mei couldn’t wait to taste it and immediately began praising it effusively. Old Lady Meng also tried a bite, but her reaction was indifferent. As for Hua Xiaomai, she just picked up a small piece, tasted it, and smiled with pursed lips.