Chef Hua
Chapter 67: Episode 57 Selling Sauces Too_2

Chapter 67: Episode 57 Selling Sauces Too_2

"That can work!" Pan Ping’an said without a second thought, flourishing his hand grandly, "I don’t even need to taste it to know that every dish you make, Hua Xiaomai, is nothing less than excellent! Oh right, also prepare some of that shredded chicken you made for Big Tiger and Little Tiger last time. If someone in the restaurant prefers something light, it’s the perfect accompaniment for porridge!"

Since he was so sure, Hua Xiaomai saw no need to hesitate and promptly agreed to the request.

Afterward, Pan Ping’an took the big silver carp, waved it around, and said with a beaming smile, "My dad mentioned that your culinary skills, Hua Xiaomai, even surpass your candy-making abilities. He can’t stop thinking about the spicy rabbit with liquor you made a few months ago. Today, I’m shamelessly coming over to freeload a meal at your place. How about you take care of this fish?"

Hua Xiaomai instinctively glanced at the several large jars in a shady corner of the courtyard.

Cooking was, of course, no problem for her. Even for the sake of Pan Family’s elders, she had to do her best to prepare this fish. However... The condiments in those jars had been prepared almost a month ago and were ready for eating. Since Pan Ping’an presented the opportunity, she couldn’t be blamed for going along with the flow!

"Why so formal, Uncle Ping’an? You and Grandma and Grandpa should stay and have a meal with us today to enjoy my little sister’s cooking skills!" Hua Erniang had already eagerly jumped in, wearing a cheerful smile, "Our Taihe, even when he occasionally feels like drinking a few cups, has no one to join him!"

"Sure, sure, sure," answered Pan Ping’an cheerfully. Hua Xiaomai then took the silver carp to the kitchen to get busy.

The fish was huge, likely weighing four or five pounds. After pondering for a moment, Hua Xiaomai quickly cleaned and gutted it, chopped off its head to make fish head soup with tofu in a clay pot, and cut the remaining body and tail into several large pieces. She seasoned them with a mix of soy sauce, vinegar, and ginger slices to make a thick and tangy sweet and sour fish.

There was no need for pretentious plating like at formal dinners for her neighbors who came over for a casual meal. The food was served in large pots and bowls, which made eating more enjoyable and intimate. Hua Xiaomai saw a handful of fresh pea shoots, still dripping with water, inside the vegetable basket. She took them out, picked and washed them, and lightly blanched them in boiling water before tossing them with sesame paste. Just before serving, she drizzled a dollop of Plum Sauce on top.

The pea shoots were fresh and tender. As Hua Xiaomai busied herself, she thought that when the time came for sowing, she would have Hua Erniang plant some behind their house as well—whether stir-fried or used as a side dish, they were a great choice.

Hua Erniang had set up the dining table in the courtyard. Since it was a homely meal, Hua Xiaomai cooked with exceptional efficiency. The food was ready in less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, and Jing Taihe and Pan Ping’an had already broken the seal on the jar of wine and started toasting each other.

"Truly skilled cooking!"

Pan Ping’an, always talkative, became even more so after a few drinks, his words flowing like a burst dam, unable to contain his praises. As he picked up a sesame paste-dressed pea shoot with his chopsticks, he exclaimed loudly, "This fish soup is fresh and the fish tart, and these pea shoots are so tasty! Hua Xiaomai, besides sesame paste, you’ve added something else, haven’t you? I can detect a faint, fragrant aroma... No, no, it’s not the pea shoots themselves; they taste somewhat like young peach leaves, very refreshing indeed!"

Pan Grandpa nodded in agreement, "Hm, Mai is indeed improving in her culinary skills. These dishes seem to have more flavor than the spicy rabbit with liquor from before, delicious!"

Hua Xiaomai smiled with her eyes squinted, "Uncle Ping’an, and Grandpa, your palates are quite perceptive. Last time for that spicy rabbit with liquor, I used just a little bit of dried fermented black beans sauce—borrowed from Grandpa’s house, in fact. Recently, with some spare time, I’ve made a few condiments myself. They are now almost ready to eat, and I’ve added some to each dish. The flavors are okay, right?"

"Condiments?" Pan Ping’an’s eyes immediately sparkled, "You can make condiments too? Ah, I really am..."

I’ve struck gold!

"Come on, tell me what condiments you’ve made?" He asked eagerly.

Hua Xiaomai gestured towards the large jars in the corner and explained, "I added a mix of soy sauce in that sweet and sour fish, and a bit of sesame paste and Plum Sauce in the pea shoots. In addition, there’s dried fermented black beans, fermented paste, and soy sauce. When the hottest days of summer arrive, you can make sweet bean paste and Plum Sauce, Plum Syrup, and in the wintertime, I can use the snow on the branches to make pickling brine... In short, as long as my sister doesn’t find me annoying, there’s plenty more I can do."

Pan Ping’an listened, his eyes gleaming as if two shiny gold coins were about to pop out, his mouth grinning so wide he could barely close it.

Business opportunities, silver, it’s all laid out in front of me! Only a fool would not pick up!

"Hua Xiaomai," he swallowed a mouthful of saliva, his eyes full of anticipation as he stared directly into Hua Xiaomai’s, "Would you consider selling your condiments?"

No sooner had he spoken than Pan Grandpa gave him a smack on the head, "Just eat properly; all you think about is doing business!"

Hua Xiaomai seemed a bit surprised, blinking and then smiling as she said, "If someone wants to buy them, my condiments are naturally available for sale. But Uncle Ping’an, making condiments is not like making candy or cakes. Even that Plum Sauce, which takes the shortest time, needs at least a half month to prepare..."

"It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter!" Pan Ping’an, ignoring the pain in his head, hastily pulled out his purse and grabbed three or four strings of coins, slapping them boldly onto the table, "Just focus on making those condiments, and next month, at this time, I will bring people to take them away!" (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you 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.)