Chapter 255 - 160: Junior Brother Zhou, Also a Master of Playing Dumb

Chapter 255: Chapter 160: Junior Brother Zhou, Also a Master of Playing Dumb

Hearing this, everyone grabbed their chopsticks and crowded around.

To have earned such unanimous, glowing praise from the three grandmasters, this Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver had to be something special. All the Chefs were genuinely curious just how good it was.

Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver has an optimal window for enjoyment. Once the heat from the wok faded, the liver’s texture would steadily decline as it cooled.

They had to eat it fast.

"Mmm! It’s so tender! And there’s not a hint of gaminess!"

"The cornstarch coating is so thin, how did he get it so tender? The steps didn’t seem that different from ours."

"The seasoning is perfect too! It’s numbing, spicy, fresh, and savory—all the right notes are there. His skill is just on another level!"

After the senior masters and his peers had a taste, their gazes toward Zhou Yan were filled with a newfound clarity and respect.

The Kong Sect didn’t go in for factional politics or suppressing talent. They praised what was good and criticized what was bad.

But...

’But this... wasn’t it a little *too* good?’

It was the same dish: Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver.

And Zhou Yan had even used the piece of liver that everyone else had passed over.

He’d only brought his own cleaver, yet he used the same wok, the same utensils, and the same ingredients. How could his Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver turn out so incredibly delicious?

’If this is Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver, then what have we been making?’

’When we get our hands on pork liver, the pig might as well have died for nothing.’

"He’s twenty years old and can make a Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver like this... I feel like I’ve wasted the last twenty-odd years of my career," Kong Guodong said, full of emotion.

"Master, no need to be so pessimistic," his apprentice consoled him. "You weren’t a great cook when you were young, but after working hard for twenty-odd years... well, at least now you’re not young anymore."

"You little..." Kong Guodong reached for his belt.

The apprentice took one look and bolted.

"Of all the luck, I had to get a little rascal like you!" Kong Guodong shook his head in frustration, then looked at Xiao Lei with eyes full of envy. "Xiao Lei, is your apprentice up for a trade?"

"Xiao, I’ll give you two for him," another junior brother chimed in, sidling up to them.

Xiao Lei had taken on such a genius apprentice. It was enough to make them sick with envy.

His Knife Skills were excellent, his Fire Control and seasoning were masterful. A single plate of Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver had put all his fundamentals on full display.

The senior apprentices of his generation couldn’t even hold their heads high in his presence.

Forget the junior apprentices—even the three grandmasters would have to concede defeat when faced with his Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver.

Xiao Lei hadn’t done a thing, but thanks to his apprentice, he was basking in all the glory.

Who wouldn’t be envious?

Xiao Lei beamed. "My dear brothers, your own apprentices are all top-tier talents. With a little polishing, they’re sure to become great successes. Don’t be anxious, don’t be impatient."

Kong Guodong looked at him. "Xiao Lei, since Zhou Yan’s Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver is this good, does that mean you can cook at this level too? You’ve been practicing in secret behind our backs, haven’t you?"

"That’s right! As his master, you must be even more skilled, right?" The others all turned to look at Xiao Lei.

"My dear seniors, you’re missing the point." Xiao Lei laughed and shook his head. "My own master often told me when he was alive: a student is not necessarily inferior to their teacher, nor must a teacher be more skilled than their student. Even if I were to make this Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver today, it certainly wouldn’t be as good as Zhou Yan’s."

"Look at you, being all modest," Kong Qingfeng chuckled. "Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver was always your specialty. Among all your brothers, your version was the most like your master’s. And now you’ve taught an apprentice who’s even more skilled. It seems all your hard work has finally paid off."

"You flatter me, Master," Xiao Lei said with a smile, his back ramrod straight.

With everyone taking a bite or two, Zhou Yan’s plate of Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver was finished in no time.

"Alright, everyone’s had a taste. Now let’s break down why Zhou Yan’s Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver is so good." Kong Qingfeng gathered everyone and began. "First, the preparation of the liver. After slicing it, he rinsed it to wash away most of the blood. This step reduces the liver’s gaminess and any metallic taste.

The key detail is that after rinsing, you have to pat the liver completely dry. You can’t just marinate it or coat it in starch while it’s still wet. If you seal in that excess moisture, the second it hits the hot wok, you’ll just have a soupy, watery mess.

He also used a blend of oils—rapeseed oil and lard—for a more fragrant flavor. His Fire Control was powerful enough to get the oil temperature sufficiently high. Because the starch coating was so thin, the liver cooked faster when it hit the wok. That thin coating formed a delicate, crisp crust, while the liver inside remained perfectly smooth and tender.

He tossed in the prepared aromatics, stir-fried them until fragrant, and immediately removed everything from the wok to be plated. The timing for taking it off the heat is crucial. A thin starch coating is extremely susceptible to overcooking. The slightest hesitation and the liver will become tough and burnt. This is something you all must pay close attention to when you practice."

Everyone listened intently, some even taking out small notebooks to jot down notes.

"For those of you who really struggle with Fire Control, you can add a little more starch than he did. Focus on ensuring a successful outcome first, then gradually improve your skills. Use this dish as your benchmark, and your goal will be crystal clear," Qin Kun added. "You’re all lucky today. Zhou Yan has essentially given you a live Grandmaster-level lesson."

"I’m not worthy of such praise. We’re all just here to exchange ideas and learn from each other," Zhou Yan said quickly.

’This exchange really is quite interesting,’ Zhou Yan thought. ’Nothing else aside, if the Chefs here today go back and practice diligently, their skill with Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver is bound to improve.’

’No wonder sect disciples improve faster than Loose Cultivators. It’s a completely different world when you have sect elders guiding you and passing down top-tier recipes.’

’Of course, that doesn’t include the kind of Evil Cultivators who can whip up ten dishes from a single wok.’

Zheng Qiang sidled up to Zhou Yan and silently gave him a thumbs-up. "Junior Brother Zhou, you’re really something else," he sighed. "If I had your skills, my master would be laughing in his sleep. I’ve spent all these years working my tail off with nothing to show for it."

Zhou Yan offered some words of comfort. "Don’t worry, Zheng. Suffer a lot while you’re young, and you’ll get used to it by the time you’re old."

Zheng Qiang: "Huh?"