Chapter 264

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

The black char siu, fatty char siu, fresh out of the blazing hot oven, was brought straight to the table — even if one covered mouth and nose tightly with a hand, that aroma of maltose caramelizing at the edges and fat roasting to explosion could find a gap, drilling willfully into the nose.

This fragrance is all-encompassing.

The eyes see it as fragrant — black char siu, as the name implies, has a deep, somber black skin.

Hung roasting in the oven, the sauce brushed on evenly, the temperature also evenly hot, the caramel color naturally formed evenly; the pitch-black, heavy sauce clung to the meat, about to drip yet not dripping, extremely viscous.

That black is not the black of the sauce itself, but the caramelization of sugar and sauce together; at this moment steaming hot — the sauce was Song Miao's special blend, proportions just right, with secret technique, tightly wrapping the skin together with maltose syrup, the forced-out scorching fat and the oven fire striking from inside and out, bringing an obvious thick, glossy sheen, seemingly glowing, even bubbling oil beads continuously as it was brought to the table.

The ears hear it as fragrant too — not a sizzle, but a pop and crackle; this moment in the oven was just right; if the oven temperature were not high enough, it could not quickly force out the fat, caramelize the syrup, roast the sauce fragrant; but if the temperature were too high, maltose is extremely prone to burning, and once overdone, it would turn bitter.

Only the just-right temperature and time could make this plate of fatty char siu's sauce fragrance and caramel fragrance be stimulated to just the right degree.

Even before entering the mouth, the mouth is shouting fragrant — it does not speak, but keeps secreting saliva.

Lao Cao Fuzi was right there swallowing saliva nonstop, smoked in the face by the heat the meat had gained from the roasting oven, his hands even trembling slightly; just as he was about to ask something, he heard Song Miao laugh and point at the few pieces placed facing her: "If Mister Lao Cao likes the fatty-rich mouthfeel, take these; these pieces have more fat — only they're a bit hot, best to let them cool a bit before eating."

After introducing the black char siu to the other masters at the table once more, Song Miao finally said: "Although it has been long-stewed and then oven-roasted, in the end it is sweet and salty; eat too much and it becomes cloying, and it easily loosens the bowels; the various masters had best all eat a little less — it's not hard, you can bite with confidence."

Her words had not yet fallen when pairs of chopsticks had already headed for the meat in the plate with clear targets.

The char siu had already been cut into blocks, size uniform, large pieces of meat, each piece about a finger's thickness.

Lao Cao Fuzi picked up the piece nearest him, the so-called "fatty char siu," very patiently placed it in his bowl to cool slightly, then very impatiently blew several big breaths at the meat, looked up, saw the people beside him had already started eating, could no longer hold back, and hurriedly sent it into his own mouth.

Before eating he could already imagine it would be delicious; once it entered his mouth, it made him unable to control a laugh from his throat — his mouth was busy chewing, so the laugh could not all come out the mouth, half went to the nose, and so nostrils and mouth sounded together, emitting a sound like "ang," rather ungraceful.

But a table full of people, no one cared about his ungracefulness.

The sauce is thick; one careless moment and it clings to the lips; the caramelized outer shell from high-heat roasting is extremely thin, extremely thin, making the crispness closer to a flaky texture; even without biting, warmed by the mouth's temperature it melts on its own; after melting, the crumbled shell still has thousands of silken threads binding each other, the sticky glutinous feel brought by the melted caramel sauce.

At this moment, what is also melting is the meat.

No exaggeration, that piece of black char siu "dissolved" in Lao Cao Fuzi's mouth.

This piece, more fat than lean, first pan-fried then boiled, boiled then roasted; the fat's oil had already melted into the lean meat; the lean meat long steeped in sauce, thoroughly infused with flavor.

It is originally middle five-layer pork, naturally firm; after such long boiling, although the inside is already soft beyond measure, the shape still remains, not fallen apart at all.

Pressed by the oral cavity, receiving the final blow, it instantly released the meat juice it had held tightly.

The fat not greasy, the lean meat thoroughly soft, smooth, and moist, still with a stubbornly resisting elasticity; one bite down, rich meat juice and lush oil sensation rush a thousand miles in the mouth; inside, hot and juicy as if injected with juice, all a satisfaction not to be told to outsiders.

Hot wok reducing sauce, high-temperature roasting; the mellow sweet taste from maltose and yellow slab sugar fusing together, like honey; within seems bitter yet absolutely not bitter, only giving you a trace of bitterness illusion, cannot be tasted out, all imagination; using non-existent bitterness to set off the fragrant sweetness, making that sweetness no longer direct, but instead more flavorful.

The sauce base is specially blended Xiao sauce; the flavor penetrates deeply, extremely thorough; added fish sauce, fermented bean curd, making the seafood flavor and fermented bean curd's salty freshness blend into the Xiao sauce, layer upon layer, like continuous mountain peaks, one mountain higher than the next.

But all this exquisite seasoning is entirely to set off the meat flavor.

Freshly slaughtered pig, specially selected middle five-layer pork belly; returned to the room and marinated immediately; relying on repeated kneading and pressing rather than long marination to infuse flavor; fresh beyond measure; the meat fragrance and meat freshness concentrated again and again during pan-frying, boiling, and roasting, then sealed dead inside the meat by the outer shell; one bite, and in an instant it is all released.

Thus charred fragrance and sweet fragrance intertwine, salty and fresh equally weighted; also rose essence fragrance, faint licorice and aged tangerine peel fragrance, slight pepper fragrance; they all support the meat fragrance and freshness, rich, soft, tender, letting one wander and wander in that full flavor.

Even more wonderful: all these flavors are clean and decisive; after eating, the aftertaste lingers for half a day, yet it does not paste the mouth.

Eating black char siu is addictive.

Paired with white rice, Lao Cao Fuzi ate piece after piece.

The rice soaked through with sauce in a small area, sent into the mouth together with the black char siu; the oral cavity pressed, oil and meat juice burst forth...

Eating and eating, he suddenly felt something was not right.

— He has always loved fatty meat; before, with other cooking methods, as long as it was delicious he could eat a few more bites; but now, having eaten this black char siu, he simply cannot recall those meat flavors of the past...

What to do in the future!!

Besides the black char siu, there are naturally other dishes.

Dogwood pan-fried simmered minced pork stuffed water tofu, perilla cucumber, red-braised fish, clear stir-fried mustard greens, etc., and also a stewed soup.

The tofu fragrant outside, tender inside, tofu flavor extremely rich, carrying spiciness; perilla cucumber also an extremely rice-accompanying dish; red-braised fish few bones, meat not thick, but meat quality extremely fine and tender; braised out with no fishy smell at all, salty fresh with fragrance...

Also that olive stewed soup sweet, moist, returning sweet, extremely cuts greasiness; drinking it made one break out in a light sweat, instantly much more comfortable.

A table of dishes, swept clean as always.

On the plate that held the black char siu there was still sauce surplus; Lao Cao Fuzi used a white flour baked cake to dip it clean.

A group of masters still unsatisfied, said to Song Miao: "Xiao Song, is there any more of that black char siu left in the back? Can we have another plate?"

"Exactly! Another plate; that plate just now looked like a lot, but divided up, each person didn't even get a few pieces!"

Song Miao explained: "It's five-layer pork made into char siu, too fatty, too oily; the portion just now was just right; if more, first it would be cloying..."

Her words not yet finished, she was interrupted by a table of old masters for the first time in a long while.

"Where is it fatty??"

"What?? Oil?? What oil?? Is there oil on my face??"

"Young Lady Song is talking nonsense! May I ask where it's cloying?? I didn't taste any cloying at all, only felt soft and moist! Don't feel it's fatty at all!"

"Lean and fat both delicious; this time the meat doesn't stick in the teeth at all! If it did, I could still eat another plate!"

Everyone scrambled to express opinions.

"Do you understand propriety?? A disgrace to teachers! Xiao Song hasn't finished speaking yet, what are you interrupting for — Xiao Song, you continue, just don't say that black char siu is fatty and cloying; it's crying injustice in my belly right now!"

— This final sentence was Chen Fuzi's decisive word.

The small dining table has been open this long; Song Ji and the masters are long not an ordinary host-guest relationship, especially Chen Fuzi, because the other party treats him truly well, truly like looking after a younger relative, not ordinary conduct; thus Song Miao returns the favor, and at this moment dares to say one more sentence.

She said gently: "Even if eating it doesn't feel that fatty, in the end fat is abundant and oil thick; not suitable to eat much, otherwise it blocks the stomach and causes heartburn — if the masters truly like it, I'll make it often in the future, but still must watch the quantity; if only indulging momentary appetite, and afterwards the intestines and stomach suffer, then I'll be even more embarrassed, and even more afraid to make it!"

The masters only shouted happily; in reality, where would they not know that black char siu is actually very fatty, cannot eat much; all relying on greedy old men's boldness, howling dryly here.

At this moment, persuaded by Song Miao, they also knew they couldn't wheedle any more benefit; had to each listlessly agree.

Lao Cao Fuzi couldn't help but ask: "Can't eat it today, but surely tomorrow will do? Can you make another batch tomorrow?"

Song Miao hesitated a moment before saying: "It can be done, but the small stove was just finished, and I was planning to make various things these few days to test the stove—originally intending to roast pigeons, but since you want char siu, let's switch to char siu? If one meal has too much meat, the spleen and stomach won't digest it well."

A group of people not young anymore, eating too much during the day, at night they'd have to lie in bed chewing large hawthorn pills.

As soon as these words were spoken, someone at the table immediately grew anxious: "Hey! Hey! I want to eat pigeon too!"

"Lao Lao Cao, Lao Lao Cao! Let's try the pigeon first, and eat char siu next time, how about that?"

"The pigeon roasted by Xiao Song, just hearing about it sounds delicious!"

"Do you all want to try the pigeon? I still want to eat this char siu! What should I do?"

A whole table of people talking all at once.

Even Lao Cao Fuzi, who was determined to eat char siu, was made indecisive by the three words "roasted pigeon."

He said: "I really want to eat both……"

Song Miao smiled: "How about this—lunch will still be roasted pigeon, I'll make some char siu tomorrow afternoon and have someone deliver it to Taixue, whoever wants it can take a portion home?"

"I'll prepare some sauce; though not as good as fresh out of the stove, without that crisp shell, after reheating in the pot it's soft, glutinous, fatty and rich, still worth eating!"

She said to this point, specially adding: "Pork belly is ultimately too fatty; tomorrow I'll use pork neck meat, it's more tender."

Who could refuse to take home such delicious char siu?

Thus the whole table raised their hands, immediately wanting to report numbers.

This one said: "My family has many people, one portion isn't enough, at least two or three portions!"

That one said: "I also want several more portions—can the roasted pigeon be taken?"

Because Song Miao said the pigeon's taste changes too much after cooling, not suitable for reheating, not recommended to take, many people immediately let out disappointed sighs.

Just this one table, almost everyone wanted several portions of char siu, and some even had paper and brush on hand, making a tally on the spot, recording them one by one and giving them to Song Miao.

"You're buying so much! Be careful you can't finish it!"

While listening to everyone report numbers, Song Miao felt something was off; upon seeing the order list now, she was even more startled.

According to this quantity, the small stove probably can't roast them; they'd have to use the big stove!

A group of old men had their explanations; after speaking, they all held their full bellies, some with hands clasped, some with hands behind their backs, all running to the back courtyard to look at the two already-formed stoves, pointing and commenting.

"Wow, such a big stove!"

"There should be such a big stove; otherwise when Xiao Song's food shop opens, how much can that small stove on the side hold? Can't roast fast enough, are we to make guests wait dry?!"

"Will there be roasted pigeon again in the future? And other roasted things?"

Hearing someone ask, Song Miao said: "Many things prepared for testing, just right to try the stove—roast duck, goose, chicken, sheep, pig, one by one in turn; I'll try to make them all soft."

"Then isn't the Song Ji Menu I wrote going to have several more dishes added?"

"What, the Song Ji Food Shop menu written by you? I clearly wrote it too; in the end, whether Xiao Song uses whose writing is still unclear!"

A heap of old men, tearing each other down, got on the carriage, and bade farewell to Song Miao without further mention.

Seeing off the group of teachers, Song Miao returned to the back courtyard, and studied the stoves again.

Large and small two; the large one was especially large, originally prepared for after the food shop opened, but unexpectedly now, with only two guest tables in the front hall, it already had to be used.

Since it's going to be used, might as well make more.

After reheating, char siu still retains seventy or eighty percent of its original flavor, very suitable for people to take home as a side dish.

She currently had quite a few customers ordering breakfast, Meat gan, pastries, etc., quantities quite large; might as well make them and bring some when delivering to everyone, perhaps could win back a few more customers—Suanzao Alley is deep, all relying on regular customers spreading word of mouth!

But this way, things to do became even more; originally only two new Aunties had been added, all busy packing the steamed buns Taixue needed, and also helping make everyone's Meat gan, dried cuttlefish, plus washing vegetables, preparing vegetables, sweeping; for now it's fine, but once the food shop opens, it seems people will again not be enough.

Just thinking about the food shop's manpower, Song Miao looked up and saw Zhang Siniang from across the way walking over, saying: "Young Lady, that Cheng Shifu from the Xu Family Wuguan outside has come!"

She hurried forward; indeed, Cheng Shifu chose a stool and sat to one side; seeing Song Miao come out, he stood up to greet her, politely calling "Song Xiaoniangzi," and said: "Last time I bought your steamed buns and glutinous rice; after eating back home, everyone said they were good, all want to order again; just today I need to go out of the city, happened to pass by, so I came to ask how to buy?"

Song Miao smiled and thanked him, then said: "We deliver meals to the door every day; Cheng Shifu just needs to tell the delivery person clearly what to order for the next day, and agree on the time."

She took out a price list and handed it to the other party, saying: "Here, other things are fine to discuss, it's just the price……"

Cheng Shifu laughed heartily and said: "I know, said last time, Song Xiaoniangzi doesn't haggle!"

He also said: "No matter, everyone has eaten the big stuff; they know your goods are good, genuine materials!"

He folded the price list and put it away, saying: "I'll go back and ask; once we've discussed it, I'll send someone to report the numbers and pay the deposit!"

Sometimes, once business heats up at the dock and reputation is built, no need to rack one's brains for methods; customers themselves will introduce one another, generating new customers.

Song Miao's food shop hadn't truly reopened yet, but the orders increased day by day, momentum booming, naturally causing many people to watch with envy.

At Nanlu Academy, Lin Yiwen was quite listless.

It was noon rest time now; since no one paid attention to him, even a few previously familiar ones recently made excuses to avoid him; he was eating lunch alone.

While eating, he heard the neighboring table discussing, learning that Song Ji's steamed buns had already been sold into Taixue, and further learning that Chen Fuzi, Lao Cao Fuzi, and other old gentlemen went to Song Ji every day to cook separately and eat lunch.

His heart itched.

That was Tingqing Xiansheng!

If he hadn't severed ties with the Song family, he could surely find a way to follow Song Miao's line, get close to the other party, and have them give some guidance.

Now neither wife nor concubine; on his mother's side, she still hadn't persuaded his father, making it inconvenient for him to act……

He was very anxious.

While thinking, Lin Yiwen walked toward the toilet.

The time was already late; usually everyone either returned to the study hall or the dormitory, but for some reason, today this row of sheds had someone inside every one in front, doors closed; he had to go further back, eyes watching the doors, his heart already like a hundred claws scratching—he must restore contact with the Song family as soon as possible.

First, to clear his tarnished reputation; second, to win back a beauty who was originally his, and that beauty was especially capable, able to earn money; third, Song Miao's business was recently booming; besides Lao Fushi, there might be other connections to use; fourth……

Fourth……

Lin Yiwen looked up; before his eyes went black, not knowing what thing was dropped over his head.

He panicked in his heart, only managing to let out a miserable cry of "Ah."