Chapter 86: Starting with Braised Meat

Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Starting with Braised Meat

In the show’s recording booth, Director Xu waved his hand.

"Switch to our new camera."

The staff who didn’t know the inside story were a little surprised.

They asked in hushed tones:

"Isn’t this a macro lens? When did we switch?"

"What’s so strange? Don’t all food shows use these?"

"What? We’re a food show?"

"Aren’t we?"

"Ah, stop talking nonsense. My mouth is watering... GULP."

"Aren’t they opening a shop? Should we go be Nan Zhi’s first customers?"

"Wouldn’t that be cheating? It doesn’t seem right. What if the audience finds out..."

"Then I’ll have my mom drive over to buy some!"

"Hmm, no need. Director Xu just sent someone to ask. And yes, it’s the new intern from the station, Hu. The guests don’t know him."

"..."

Under the ultra-HD macro lens, the kind used for professional food documentaries, the camera closed in on the food.

And so, every single detail of the braised meat Nan Zhi had made herself was on full display—

A piece of braised meat was lifted out and landed on the cutting board with a soft THUD, wobbling like Jell-O.

Broth splattered, juices overflowed, and piping hot steam billowed up.

The meat was already stewed to fall-apart tenderness. As a knife sliced through it, the cross-section revealed a ruddy, succulent color, and even the fatty parts had a crystalline texture.

Every fiber of the meat was saturated with the braising spices. When a piece was picked up and placed in the mouth, each chew released an explosion of flavor that rolled and danced on the tongue.

No one could resist it.

For a moment, everyone in the back kitchen who had tasted the braised meat, except for Nan Zhi, wore a dazed, euphoric expression as if they were on a high.

[This braised meat must be amazing! I’m practically drooling behind my screen!]

[Is it really that exaggerated? It’s just braised meat, isn’t it?]

[Huh? That sounds familiar. Didn’t someone say ’it’s just egg-fried rice’ last episode?]

[Hehehe, Nan Zhi is dedicated to proving every single person who doubts her skills wrong!]

[Heh, fools are just sitting here drooling. Smart people, like me, have already bought train tickets to Yanjing to eat this braised meat.]

[Whoa, I never thought of that! Girl, wait for me!]

[Let’s team up! Everyone, let’s go to Yanjing for braised meat!]

...

Nan Yi, probably because he was used to Nan Zhi’s cooking, was the first to come to his senses.

With his cheeks puffed out and his little mouth glistening with oil, he was determined to be the first to praise his mother.

He gave her a big thumbs-up.

"Mommy! It’s super yummy!"

Nan Zhi beamed.

Just then, Qing Xi piped up too.

"Mommy, it’s so, so yummy! So can I have another piece?"

Nan Zhi froze for a second, then burst out laughing.

Nan Yi’s face, however, instantly darkened.

He glared fiercely at Qing Xi without a word.

Unfortunately, Qing Xi was still lost in the aroma of the braised meat and didn’t notice at all.

But Qing Xi’s cry was like flipping a switch.

Qi Zhang: "Mommy—oh, no, Auntie, your cooking is amazing! It’s ten times... a hundred times better than my aunt’s!"

Qi Pei’er: "Why are you blurting out such blatant truths! Nan Zhi, oh, Zhizhi, tell me, are you looking for a sister from another mother? How about you take a look at me? I can clean and do laundry for you, give you shoulder and leg massages, I can be your sweet... no, your big, warm fuzzy blanket!"

Xie An’an: "Auntie, I’ve never had such delicious braised meat before. Thank you!"

With her head of small curls and big eyes, her expression was especially sincere and sweet.

She was like a soft, fluffy cloud-baby, and even her voice was gentle and sweet.

No wonder tons of people online were clamoring to make her their "internet daughter."

Even Nan Zhi was charmed, reaching out to pat Xie An’an’s head.

Nan Yi, who was in the middle of glaring daggers at Qing Xi: !!!

He immediately darted over, discreetly nudged Xie An’an aside, and wedged himself between her and Nan Zhi.

Then, like a little sloth, he hugged his mother’s leg tightly, glaring warily at any potential threat that might get close to his mom and steal her away.

Nan Zhi found this hilarious and scooped Nan Yi up for a good snuggle.

Nan Yi’s little face turned bright red, but he was loving every second of it.

The others watched with envy.

They could only curse the fact that they didn’t have such a goddess for a mother!

Fu Chao asked in a small voice,

"Can we really not have any more?"

"This is for the shop to sell. If we eat it all, what will the customers buy?"

Xie Yu was the most clear-headed and calm of the group.

However, he paused for a moment before adding,

"Unless it doesn’t sell out. Then we can eat the leftovers."

...Alright, so Xie Yu wasn’t that clear-headed either.

Otherwise, how could he possibly think that such a transcendentally delicious braised meat would ever be in danger of not selling out?

Just as Fu Chao muttered,

"Then we’re screwed. No chance."

Everyone looked crestfallen.

It was as if opening the shop didn’t even matter anymore. Their minds were filled with nothing but braised meat, braised meat, braised meat!

Nan Zhi smiled and said,

"Beef is quite expensive, and our funds are limited since we’re just starting out, so we can’t eat too much. It’ll be fine after a little while."

She was very confident about this.

So was everyone else!

To be honest, getting scammed while buying ingredients earlier had been a huge blow to their morale, making them lose confidence in opening the shop.

Now, after eating this braised meat, their minds were filled with just four words: Who else but us!

We’ll crush the competition! Conquer the braised goods market, open a chain, and become a nationwide sensation...

It was all just around the corner!

’Um. Wait. Weren’t we supposed to be filming a childcare reality show? Eh, whatever...’

Fu Chao’s face was full of anticipation.

"It won’t even take two days! As soon as we’re not short on cash, we can buy meat to braise every day! We’ll eat braised meat every single day!"

What a magnificent dream!

The others immediately got expressions of pure longing!

Only the audience was unhappy.

[What’s going on? What kind of owners compete with their customers for food?]

[Unacceptable! This is totally unacceptable! I’m going to file a complaint against you all!]

[Where... where do we file it?]

[Umm... I’m going to expose you all online! Hurry up and sell more braised meat!]

[LMAO, every single one of them has lost their minds! A case study in modern-day madness!]

...

However, Nan Zhi didn’t plan on making the others wait that long.

There are many kinds of braised dishes, ranging from poultry and livestock meat to heads, trotters, and offal, to eggs, soy products, and bamboo shoots and mushrooms. Even the cold and hot versions have different flavors!

So this pot of braising liquid wasn’t just limited to meat—it could be used to braise anything!

Seeing Nan Zhi pick out some suitable vegetables, wash and chop them, and get ready to toss them into the pot,

everyone gulped.

Then, they all said in unison:

"We’ll help!"

Everyone got busy.

Even the little ones weren’t idle, doing whatever they could to help.

If you looked closely, you’d see their eyes constantly darting toward the pot, the words "braised meat" clearly written in them.

...Well, it seemed they’d found their motivation to work hard.

Just as the shop was bustling with activity, a voice came from the entrance:

"Is the owner here? When do you open?"

Everyone exchanged a knowing glance.

And Nan Zhi walked right out.

"We’re open now!"