Chapter 539: Subtle heat

Yu Ruoqiu said: "Xinghui, you seem to have a lot of research on gourmet food. Can you taste how this dish is made?"

Su Xinghui said: "This dish should be steamed. Steamed with the single-clove garlic should be ham, dried scallops, winter mushrooms, chicken breast, and there should be several other ingredients, but I can't taste them anymore."

Yu Ruoqiu gave a thumbs up in admiration: "You really are a gourmet. The way this dish is made is to place the single-clove garlic in a steamer, place ham, dried scallops, winter mushrooms, chicken breast, shrimp, and Termitomyces mushrooms on top, and then steam it over low heat for several hours until the garlic is steamed soft. After steaming, the garlic naturally loses its spicy taste and is only delicious. Then you remove those ingredients, and that’s it."

Lu Xiaoya said: "So troublesome? No wonder it’s so expensive to eat here!"

Yu Ruizhi raised his glass: "Come, let’s all have a drink. With such good food, it would be a pity not to have wine."

Yu Ruoqiu and Lu Xiaoya drank yellow wine, while Yu Ruizhi and Su Xinghui drank Pengwan Daqu. The group drank a glass together; good food really should be paired with good wine.

Yu Ruizhi said: "It’s a pity that you don't have thirty-year-aged Pengwan Daqu here, otherwise it would be even better."

Yu Ruoqiu said: "It’s not sold on the market. This twenty-year-aged one is actually quite good."

Yu Ruizhi said: "A few days ago, I asked Xinghui to help me buy five cases and had them sent to Grandpa, my uncle-in-law, my father, and my second uncle, one case each. I kept one case for myself, and I’ve already drunk two bottles these days. I don't really want to drink it too fast."

Su Xinghui laughed: "It’s mainly because the thirty-year-aged one is too rare—only one or two tons in total, and there are many people who want it. Next time you go, I’ll buy you a few more cases."

Yu Ruizhi nodded: "That would be great."

At this moment, Manager Wang brought up another dish. This dish looked red and white, incredibly tempting. Su Xinghui recognized one of the ingredients: chicken gizzard. As for the other ingredient, Su Xinghui didn't know what it was; it looked like tripe, but not quite.

Yu Ruoqiu said: "This dish can't be left for too long; it will get tough if left too long. Everyone, hurry and eat."

Su Xinghui took a bite. As soon as it entered his mouth, it was crisp and delicious, forming a sharp contrast with the tenderness of the single-clove garlic. The change in texture made it feel wonderful, and he couldn't help but have a great appetite.

The portion of this dish wasn't large. The group took a few bites and finished the plate while it was hot, which went very well with the wine.

After finishing this dish, Yu Ruoqiu introduced it: "This dish is called 'Exploded Double Crisp' and is a famous dish in Jingcheng. You can order it in every restaurant, but one that reaches this level of heat—you might not find one in a thousand restaurants."

The ingredients for 'Exploded Double Crisp' are chicken gizzard and sheep tripe. For the tripe, you can only use the tripe core; other parts won't work. Slice both ingredients, make knife marks on them, heat the oil in a wok over high heat, pour in the chicken gizzard first, and after a few seconds, pour in the tripe and various seasonings and sauces. You can't use a spatula or spoon to stir it—it’s too late for that. You must use your left hand to toss the wok three to five times, and then take it off the heat immediately.

The method can be said to be very simple, and anyone can do it, but those few tosses of the wok are a great test of skill. The subtle heat depends entirely on the chef’s mind. If you take it off the heat one second early, it’s raw; one second late, it’s tough, and there’s no remedy. Even the plate needs to be preheated, and the person serving the dish must be fast. If they are slow, it will get tough, and there won't be such a beautiful presentation and crisp texture.

Yu Ruoqiu’s restaurant had made this 'Exploded Double Crisp' countless times. Thanks to the superb skills and tacit cooperation of the chefs and servers, it had never failed. It was basically a must-order dish for diners who came here to eat.

The next dish was Braised Large Sea Cucumber. The sea cucumber was black and large, each one about half a catty. Two large sea cucumbers were placed on the plate, crowded together, with a few winter bamboo shoots placed on the side.

This dish should be eaten with a soup spoon. Scoop a spoonful of sea cucumber into your mouth; not only is the taste delicious, but it is also smooth, soft, and delicate, with a crisp texture within the tenderness. This is the best level of heat. If the heat is too much, it won't have that crisp texture; if the heat is less, it won't be tender enough.

In Chinese cuisine, only masters can master this subtle heat.

The dishes were served one by one, and each dish was a wonderful delicacy. This made Su Xinghui and Lu Xiaoya understand why the business here was so good. Who wouldn't want to taste such human delicacies?

Just as they were drinking and eating, they suddenly heard a noise from the front courtyard. Yu Ruoqiu’s brow couldn't help but wrinkle. It had always been quiet here, and guests wouldn't make loud noises. Who was being so impolite today?

However, Yu Ruoqiu didn't go out. She always let Manager Wang handle such matters herself. Although Manager Wang was young, she was shrewd and capable, and with the Hou family’s background behind this private kitchen restaurant, she could often settle such matters very easily.

Yu Ruizhi laughed: "There really are people who don't know they’re going to die who dare to come here to make trouble."

Yu Ruoqiu said: "It’s fine, let Xiao Wang handle it. Don't ruin our mood for drinking. Come, Xinghui, Xiaoya, drink."

The group drank another glass and ate a few bites of food, but the noise in the front courtyard grew louder and louder. Yu Ruizhi said: "Better go out and take a look."

Yu Ruoqiu frowned: "What’s wrong with Xiao Wang today?"

After saying this, she stood up and walked toward the front courtyard. Yu Ruizhi, Su Xinghui, and Lu Xiaoya also stood up and followed her toward the front courtyard.

Walking to the front courtyard, they saw several young people arguing with Manager Wang. Manager Wang said: "I’m really sorry, the seats for the afternoon have all been booked, and there are no extra seats. If you really want to book, you can book for a week later."

A young man shouted loudly: "I want to treat guests today! What’s the use of you telling me to book for a week later?"

Manager Wang said: "Young Master Shen, you are also a person of status, please speak with some respect. This is not a place for you to act wildly."

That so-called Young Master Shen laughed heartily, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world: "When did I ever need to book a meal? Anyway, you must arrange a table for me this afternoon. Money is no problem; I’m willing to pay double!"

Manager Wang said: "This isn't a matter of money. We have to keep our word. Those four tables have already been booked; we can't just cancel someone else’s booking, right?"

Young Master Shen said: "I don't care how you do it. Anyway, I’m coming to eat this afternoon. If there are no seats, I’ll smash this place."

Yu Ruizhi roared: "Shen Zhongtian, try smashing it and see!"

Shen Zhongtian turned around slowly and said to Yu Ruizhi with a smile: "So it’s the second son of the Yu family. If I didn't say that, would you have come out? Ruoqiu, your Brother Shen misses you to death!"

This Young Master Shen Zhongtian had handsome features and a tall stature, but his face had the pale, blue-lipped look of someone who had indulged too much in wine and sex, and his eyes were a bit crooked, looking lustfully at the two beauties, Yu Ruoqiu and Lu Xiaoya.

Su Xinghui glanced at him and saw an acquaintance behind him—it was Tian Xiaotao, the son of the Provincial Governor who was so arrogant in Jiangcheng, now following behind Shen Zhongtian like a little brother.

Su Xinghui looked at the other people and found a young man in his thirties whose features were very similar to Tian Xiaotao’s, and his stature was also similar. However, there was no gloomy air on his face like Tian Xiaotao’s, and he always had a smile on his face, looking much more pleasing to the eye than Tian Xiaotao.

He had heard that Tian Xiaotao had an older brother named Tian Xiaopeng who worked in Jingcheng; it must be him.

Yu Ruoqiu looked at Shen Zhongtian with disgust and said: "Shen Zhongtian, please have some self-respect. You are not my Brother Shen. Have you forgotten that kick from back then?"

As soon as Shen Zhongtian heard Yu Ruoqiu’s words, his face froze, but he laughed again: "Ruoqiu, you are getting more and more beautiful. This long hair looks good, much more comfortable than the short hair you had before. When you had short hair, although you were still beautiful, you looked like a block of ice, making people afraid to talk to you."

Yu Ruoqiu said: "What hair I have has nothing to do with you. Please leave here."

Yu Ruizhi roared: "Shen Zhongtian, didn't you hear what my sister said? If you don't leave, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Shen Zhongtian said with a smile: "Second Brother Yu, don't be so irritable. In any case, we grew up in the same compound when we were young; it shouldn't be enough to make you hate me like this. By the way, we are old acquaintances. Ruoqiu, arrange a table for me this afternoon; I really have important guests to treat."

Yu Ruoqiu didn't waste words with him. She turned and walked toward the backyard, saying as she walked: "Xiao Wang, in the future, if you see these people coming to book, don't accept it. If they still make trouble, call the police directly. Don't be polite with them."

Yu Ruizhi stared fiercely at Shen Zhongtian and also turned toward the backyard.

Su Xinghui looked at Tian Xiaotao, whose eyes were a bit red, laughed freely, took Lu Xiaoya’s hand, and walked toward the backyard.

Shen Zhongtian’s face turned blue and white, but here, he really didn't dare to act wildly. He stood there for a moment, then waved his hand at the people behind him: "Let’s go!"

Returning to the backyard, Yu Ruoqiu said: "Xinghui, Xiaoya, let you see a joke. Ruined your mood for drinking!"

Su Xinghui said: "It’s nothing. Let’s continue drinking."

Yu Ruizhi raised his glass: "Come, Xinghui, let’s have a drink."

Su Xinghui raised his glass and drank with Yu Ruizhi. He didn't ask who this Shen Zhongtian was. He could see that Shen Zhongtian definitely had a grudge against the Yu siblings.