Chapter 91: Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs

’What a little jealous thing!’

Nan Zhi shook her head helplessly, but her eyes were filled with a subtle, sparkling smile.

She posted the first—and currently, only—order on the wall, then grabbed the pork ribs that had been chopped into small pieces.

The ribs had already been soaked in cold water to draw out the blood and ensure there was no gamey taste.

She heated oil in a wok, added rock sugar, and stir-fried it until melted. Then, she added the pork ribs and seared them until they were golden brown all over.

She added hot water, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, cooking wine, and vinegar, then braised it over high heat until the sauce reduced.

While waiting, Nan Zhi didn’t stay idle. She continued to teach Xie Yu the basics of cutting vegetables.

Xie Yu asked,

"I get the feeling your sweet and sour pork ribs are different from the usual kind."

Nan Zhi explained as she chopped,

"Sweet and sour pork ribs are a widespread dish, and the preparation methods vary among Sichuan, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Huaiyang cuisines. For example, in Shanghai-style cuisine, the characteristic is adding ketchup. In Zhejiang-style cuisine, the method is more refined, and the flavor is heavier. But while those two are at least hot dishes, in Sichuan cuisine, sweet and sour pork ribs are actually a cold dish."

"A cold dish? Sweet and sour pork ribs can be a cold dish?"

Xie Yu found it incredible.

"Mhm, it’s made by deep-frying and then finishing, and Sichuan peppercorns are added halfway through to give it a numbing spiciness. It’s usually served as an appetizer."

Xie Yu listened humbly.

Behind the kitchen island, Nan Yi and Xie An’an also stopped peeling garlic to listen intently.

Xie Yu: "So the way you’re making it is the Huaiyang style?"

"Correct. The Huaiyang version of sweet and sour pork ribs combines the best of all styles. Most importantly, its flavor profile suits most people, giving it a more universal appeal."

[See that? The way Xie Yu is looking at Nan Zhi has totally changed. He’s full of admiration!]

[My admiration is flowing like a torrential river! I totally get how Xie Yu feels! Who would have thought that just half a month ago, I was cussing out Nan Zhi for her trash acting?]

[I used to think the menu was a bit small and just full of home-style dishes, but now I see... I completely underestimated a master!]

[Nan Zhi has really changed so much. Now she thinks three steps ahead, and she’s so meticulous. Where did the old, empty-headed Nan Zhi go?]

[Maybe Nan Zhi just likes cooking more than acting! So, Chef Nan, when are you going to switch careers?! If you become a full-time chef, I’ll never flame you again for the rest of my life!]

[Am I the only one curious about how many cuisines Nan Zhi has actually mastered? She talks about all the details so knowledgeably.]

[Knowing doesn’t mean doing. For a professional chef, mastering even one cuisine in their lifetime is already incredible!]

...

In fact, Xie Yu was curious too.

But because of the cameras, he didn’t rashly ask such personal questions.

"Am I cutting it right, like this?"

The conversation returned to where it started.

When the pork ribs were almost done, Nan Zhi, timing it perfectly, took the shredded potatoes and stir-fried them over high heat with green peppers as a garnish.

Just as the Hot and Sour Shredded Potatoes came off the heat, the Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs were also perfectly done.

Xie Yu carried the dishes to the pass-through window and rang the bell.

Qi Pei’er quickly appeared at the window.

Seeing the two plates of food, she first swallowed hard, mentally chanting to herself, ’This is for the customers, this is for the customers...’

Then, with the excellent professionalism of a seasoned waitress, she balanced the plates on one hand, smiled, and announced in a loud voice,

"Order up!"

Her clear voice arrived along with a rich, fragrant aroma.

At this time, there was only one table of customers in the restaurant, occupied by a grandma with curly hair and her grandson.

The grandma looked to be in her sixties and was dressed casually, likely a resident from the neighborhood.

Her grandson, about five or six years old, was rather mischievous. He was constantly climbing up and down his chair, occasionally glancing curiously at Qing Xi and Qi Zhang playing, looking like he wanted to join them.

But the curly-haired grandma wasn’t the type to spoil her grandson, and she nagged him nonstop,

"When it’s time to eat, you eat properly! Stop thinking about running all over the place! You were the one who said you wanted to eat out, so Grandma picked this new restaurant. You dare try not finishing your food? I’ll have your dad give you a ’bamboo shoots stir-fried with pork’ when you get home!"

The little grandson turned his head in pleasant surprise.

"Is ’bamboo shoots stir-fried with pork’ tasty?"

The curly-haired grandma: ...

Fu Chao: ...

The grandma decided to just ignore her foolish grandson and continued her verbal barrage against Fu Chao.

"Young man, just tell me if you can give a 20% discount or not! Other new restaurants have grand openings with 50% off! You can’t do business like this! You’ll go bankrupt sooner or later!"

Fu Chao laughed dryly, his legs aching from standing so long.

But he still shook his head with unwavering resolve.

"We can’t offer a discount."

’They already felt like they were selling Nan Zhi’s culinary skills at a loss for this price.’

’In a restaurant with a better ambiance, a stir-fried dish with that kind of flavor could easily sell for 98 yuan!’

’What? A discount?’

’That’s practically an insult to Nan Zhi!’

—While Fu Chao wore a polite and courteous smile on the surface, his inner thoughts were exceptionally stubborn!

Meanwhile, the live stream comments had a completely different vibe:

[This grandma is so difficult. If you think it’s expensive, then just don’t eat here. She ordered, had the kitchen start making it, and is still insisting on a discount! I can’t even!]

[Don’t be so quick to judge the customer. The grandma might be tired from walking and doesn’t want to move! Besides, these local Yanjing grandmas probably aren’t short on cash. They just enjoy haggling for the sake of it. Saving even a little bit is a win.]

[If you ask me, their prices really are a bit steep. For this kind of small eatery, 30-40 yuan per person is the absolute max. Their average price per person is nearly double that!]

[This is Yanjing, thank you very much. Don’t compare the cost of living in a top-tier megacity with other cities.]

[They use good ingredients, so the cost is high, which naturally means higher prices. The prices are posted on the wall. If you don’t like them, you don’t have to buy anything. You’re free to come and go!]

[Say what you will, but I think Nan Zhi’s cooking is worth this price!]

[Have you even tasted it? How would you know it’s worth it?]

[Are there seriously still people who think Nan Zhi’s cooking is just part of a script for the show? Wake up.]

...

Amidst the curly-haired grandma’s relentless haggling, Qi Pei’er delivered the food.

She set down the tray.

"Your Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs and Hot and Sour Shredded Potatoes are ready."

The aroma was overwhelming.

The curly-haired grandma’s words caught in her throat.

Even her grandson stopped moving, his eyes glued to the two dishes on the table.

That’s right.

They were indeed the very home-style dishes of sweet and sour pork ribs and hot and sour shredded potatoes.

But their appearance was anything but home-style—

The knifework on the hot and sour shredded potatoes alone was outstanding. Not only was every shred consistent in thickness, but they were also nearly identical in length. Each strand glistened with oil, forming a golden pile interspersed with vibrant green slivers of bell pepper, as beautiful as a painting.

As steam wafted up, the aroma of rice vinegar from the dish continuously evaporated and spread, whetting the appetite with just a sniff.

Of course, the most stunning dish was the sweet and sour pork ribs. Each piece was as translucent and glossy as amber, glistening with a rich sheen. They were stacked like a small mountain, with no excess sauce pooling at the bottom of the plate; instead, it coated every rib evenly and consistently.

The complex, interwoven aroma of sweet and savory was powerful and intense, making one’s mouth water uncontrollably and stirring up a powerful appetite.

GULP.

Who was that swallowing?

It was the curly-haired grandma and her mischievous grandson.

And Fu Chao.

The grandma snapped back to reality and stared warily at Fu Chao.

Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought Fu Chao was about to snatch her food...

Hmm.

’Then again, it didn’t seem entirely impossible.’