Chapter 348: Let You Open a Gourmet Shop, You Open for Business at Three in the Morning

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Protagonist:

Lu Feng

In the teacup on the table, the tea the waiter had brewed earlier had just turned warm.

Qi Yunfeng lifted his teacup and drained the tea in one gulp.

The bitter tea gradually dispelled the lingering fragrance of Red Braised Pork on his lips and teeth.

This was his habit when tasting dishes, to prevent the aftertaste in his mouth from interfering with the flavor of the next dish.

Qi Yunfeng set down his teacup and looked at the Lion's Head in the other takeout box.

Those two meatballs were round and plump; from any angle, they were perfectly spherical, as if made with a mold.

Qi Yunfeng picked up his spoon, pushed aside the emerald green scallions sprinkled on the Lion's Head, and scooped out a piece.

The cross-section left by the spoon was fine and even, with not a trace of minced meat.

Lion's Head was a very common delicacy in Jingcheng.

When Qi Yunfeng learned cooking back then, the first meat dish he learned was this Red Braised Lion's Head.

He still clearly remembered that his master had said back then that the ingredients for Lion's Head required "four parts fat, six parts lean, three parts starch, seven parts meat."

Only Lion's Heads made this way would have a soft, glutinous, and springy texture.

Qi Yunfeng had later tasted Lion's Heads made by master chefs from various places.

Lion's Heads made by chefs in Nanfang were slightly sweet, while those in the north were salty.

Every chef had their own method; some pursued a crispy exterior texture for the Lion's Head, while others focused on tender and juicy meat inside.

After tasting many, Qi Yunfeng felt that although every chef's Lion's Head had its own distinctive flavor, he always felt something was missing in the taste.

After tasting Lu Feng's Red Braised Pork earlier, he couldn't help but secretly look forward to the taste of this Lion's Head.

Qi Yunfeng put the Lion's Head from his spoon into his mouth and, out of habit, closed his eyes to savor it slowly.

After the Lion's Head entered his mouth, his teeth first touched the slightly charred exterior skin, with a texture that was crisp yet soft.

With a slight chew, the meat granules spread in his mouth along the grain, and the meat wrapped inside burst instantly in his mouth.

The fat in the pork had completely melted into the meatball, turning into rich oil fragrance.

The lean meat retained just the right elasticity, and every chew allowed him to feel the firmness and freshness of the meat quality.

The heat control of this Lion's Head could be called perfect.

The exterior was crispy, while the inside remained tender and juicy.

The seasoning was also just right, with a moderate salty-fresh flavor.

One could taste the warm wine fragrance of fine Huadiao Wine in the Lion's Head, not strong or harsh, just right to suppress the greasiness of the pork.

There was also the freshness of Scallion Ginger Water, mixed among the meat granules, adding a layer of refreshing base flavor to the pork.

What made him unable to help but slap the table in praise was the fragrance of the pork itself.

That taste had no trace of the pork's own gaminess, but instead carried a faint fragrance of grass and trees.

Qi Yunfeng savored it carefully for nearly a minute before slowly swallowing the Lion's Head in his mouth.

As he swallowed, it was like a warm current sliding into his stomach, without the slightest greasy feeling, his mouth full of the lingering meat fragrance.

After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes, his tone filled with sincere praise: "The taste of this Lion's Head... is also perfect! Lu Feng's culinary skill is truly eye-opening!"

Another perfect evaluation.

Cheng Fan, sitting opposite, couldn't help but frown.

He and those senior brothers and sisters, when learning cooking from Qi Yunfeng, had never received such a high evaluation.

But now, these two dishes bought from Lu Feng's shop had actually received the master's highest evaluation in succession.

This made Cheng Fan's heart both shocked and somewhat disappointed.

Could the gap between himself and Lu Feng really be that far?

"Master, could it be that... you can't find a single flaw in these two dishes?"

Cheng Fan asked, somewhat disbelieving and somewhat unwilling.

Qi Yunfeng pondered for a while, then slowly shook his head: "What you said is correct, indeed no flaws can be found; it can be said that the taste of Red Braised Pork and Lion's Head being able to reach such a degree is already flawless."

Cheng Fan couldn't help but open his mouth wide, his face full of disbelief.

Damn!

Even the master couldn't find a flaw; was Cheng Fan's cooking skill so heaven-defying?

"Master, then..."

Cheng Fan couldn't help but swallow his saliva, his voice carrying a bit of caution: "Master, how do these two dishes compare to the ones you personally make?"

As soon as these words were spoken, he himself couldn't help but become nervous.

He was both afraid to hear the most unbelievable answer, yet couldn't help but want to confirm.

Whether the master's cooking skill or Lu Feng's, this chef who runs a small restaurant, whose level was superior?

Qi Yunfeng suddenly smiled, his gaze falling on Cheng Fan's somewhat tense face, his tone carrying the gentleness of an experienced person: "Hehe, Cheng Fan, although I have obtained the title of State Banquet Chef and won many honors, this does not mean that my cooking skill can be considered the number one under heaven."

Cheng Fan was shocked again, and surging waves inevitably rose in his heart.

Did the meaning in his master's words mean admitting that Lu Feng's cooking skill was better than his?

How was this possible?

His master, who was competitive in cooking all his life, just admitted so lightly that his skill was inferior to others?

Cheng Fan felt his mind was in a mess.

Qi Yunfeng looked at Cheng Fan's expression of disbelief on his face, his tone faint as he continued speaking, his tone becoming earnest: "Cheng Fan, you must remember, there will always be people in this world whose cooking skill surpasses yours, and I am no exception. Just like this Lion's Head and Red Braised Pork, I have made them for decades yet still could not bring the ingredients' own flavor to the extreme, but Lu Feng happened to achieve it, showing my cooking skill still has room for improvement. So, if you want to go further on the path of a chef, you must always maintain a humble mindset, and not be trapped by other things. Those so-called titles and medals, to a true chef, are nothing but empty fame. Do you understand?"

Cheng Fan sat opposite, his ears ringing.

Qi Yunfeng's words struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

From the day he followed his master to learn the craft, he had regarded his master as the idol he admired most.

He had seen countless times in his master's study at home the room full of honorary certificates and trophies.

He had also heard countless times his senior brothers and sisters excitedly recounting their master's three times serving as Head Chef for state banquets.

In Cheng Fan's eyes, those honors represented the highest glory of a chef.

Qi Yunfeng's dazzling résumé was also taken by him as his lifelong pursuit.

Cheng Fan had originally thought that one day after he completed his apprenticeship, he would also make a name for himself at major competitions.

In the future he would also stand under the dazzling spotlight, shining brightly amidst everyone's praise, just like his master.

But his master had just said those were nothing but empty fame.