Chapter 348 - 188: What Is a Perfect Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork?

Chapter 348: Chapter 188: What Is a Perfect Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork?

With so many people helping out, the dishes from the three tables were washed in no time.

The men weren’t idle either. They swept the floor and wiped the tables, tidying up the main hall until it was spotless.

Even the children helped move stools and take out the trash.

Zhou Yan finished writing the recipes and walked into the kitchen.

Boss Zhou’s home-style cooking class was now in session.

"A very important point for Twice-Cooked Pork is choosing the right cut of meat. Don’t use pork belly; you have to use the hind leg butt. That’s how you get the best texture..."

"Fish-fragrant shredded pork also uses hind leg butt. You should pick a leaner cut, a three-parts-fat to seven-parts-lean ratio is best. Cut the meat into thick shreds, about this big. The key to the fish-fragrant flavor is pickled Erjingtiao peppers. The pickled pepper flavor has to be just right—that’s where the sour fragrance and heat come from. The proportion of starch slurry used to thicken the sauce determines the flavor profile. I’ve already written down the recipe and a simplified method..."

The women listened very attentively.

The men stood at the kitchen doorway, each of them craning their necks and perking up their ears to listen carefully.

Quite a few men from Sichuan and Chongqing know how to cook. And when it comes to Twice-Cooked Pork and fish-fragrant shredded pork, their competitive spirit immediately flared up.

Zhou Yan’s instructions were very detailed and practical: how many minutes to boil the meat, what state it should be in, how thick to slice it, and how to manage the Fire Control while stir-frying.

Anyone with basic cooking skills could get the gist of it.

As for whether they could replicate it after going home, and how close they could get, that would depend on their individual abilities.

After listening, Zhou Jie said, full of confidence, "I’ve learned it! Tomorrow, I’m going to buy a catty of hind leg butt. I’ll use half for Twice-Cooked Pork and half for fish-fragrant shredded pork!"

"If you can make it taste even half as good as Zhou Yan’s, I’ll pay for the meat," Zhou Ze said.

"Old Man, you said it! Give me the money first," Zhou Jie said with a laugh.

Zhou Ze shook his head. "That’s not how it works. You cook it first. If the taste is right, I’ll pay. If not, you’re paying for it yourself."

Everyone laughed at that.

It was still early, and there wasn’t much entertainment back home, so everyone stayed at the restaurant, drinking tea and starting a Dragon Gate Formation, which was a good way to sober up.

"This building is way more comfortable than the earthen houses in the countryside. It’s sealed up tight, and you don’t have to worry about the rain washing it away."

"The whitewash does look a lot cleaner than mud walls, that’s for sure. And there’s so much space. With such a big living room, if you get a big sofa and then a TV for the New Year, that would be perfect. Everyone could come over to watch the New Year’s Gala."

"TVs are super expensive! I heard a 14-inch black-and-white TV costs over four hundred yuan, and you can’t even get one."

"A black-and-white TV is considered cheap. The last time I went to the department store, I saw an import from Little Japan—an 18-inch color TV cost 1,200 yuan!"

Everyone had already toured the second floor at noon, and they couldn’t stop praising the new home.

Originally, everyone had been worried for them since their house collapsed and they had to move to town temporarily. But after the tour today, they were actually a little envious.

The children, who had been playing all day, started to get sleepy. Only then did the adults reluctantly get up to say their goodbyes.

"Zhou Yan, I’ll come to your shop for a bowl of noodles tomorrow morning before I catch the bus. I want to see how your noodles taste," Zhang Zhengping said to Zhou Yan as he got on the back of a bicycle.

"Sure, Granduncle. I’ll save a portion of noodles for you. You can come early or late, either is fine," Zhou Yan said with a smile and a nod.

The old lady looked at him, her eyes full of gratification, and said, "You handled today perfectly. You do know what you’re doing."

"It was just a simple meal. For the New Year, I’ll make the reunion dinner for everyone. We’ll do something grander then," Zhou Yan said with a laugh.

The old lady nodded. "Alright. Then you’ll be in charge of this year’s reunion dinner."

"No problem!" Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. As the only professional Chef in the family, he couldn’t back down.

"Grandma, Granduncle, Uncles, Aunts, Little Uncle, Brothers, Sisters-in-law, Nephews, bye-bye!" Zhou Momo stood at the door, waving at everyone.

For someone so young, she was surprisingly thorough, managing to name everyone.

"Bye-bye, Momo," the crowd said with a laugh before getting on their bikes and leaving.

Beams from their flashlights lit up the road.

"Brother, what’s a television? And what’s a New Year’s Gala?" Zhou Momo asked, looking up at Zhou Yan with eyes full of curiosity.

"A television is a box about this big. It has a screen, and when you turn it on, little people who can sing, dance, and act appear inside," Zhou Yan explained with a gentle smile. "And the New Year’s Gala is when a group of people on TV perform songs, dances, and skits for everyone on New Year’s Eve."

The little one’s eyes lit up after hearing this. Her mouth fell open as she looked at him with great anticipation. "Brother, when can we buy a television? I want to keep little people in a box too."

"Buy a television? It’s too expensive, over four hundred yuan," Mrs. Zhao said, shaking her head.

Comrade Zhou’s mouth moved, but he managed to hold back.

The little one’s lip trembled, and she lowered her eyes. "Oh, okay."

"We’ll buy one! When the New Year comes, Brother will buy one for you," Zhou Yan said with a smile.

"Really?!" The little one’s eyes instantly brightened again, and she jumped for joy.

"If I’m lying, I’m a puppy," Zhou Yan nodded.

"Brother, you’re the best! I’ll love you forever!" The little one threw herself at him for a hug.

Zhou Yan smiled and patted her head.

’The little one has never seen a television before. If they had one for the New Year, the house would definitely be livelier.’

’Everyone eating reunion dinner while watching the Gala... it would create a whole different feeling.’

’Four hundred yuan for a TV wasn’t cheap, but it wasn’t too expensive for him either. The restaurant was currently making around three hundred yuan in net profit per day. A day and a half’s earnings could cover it.’

’There were still two months until the New Year. He’d save up enough for the house payment, and by the end of the year, he’d still have a good sum saved up. Buying a TV for Zhou Momo to watch the Gala would be no problem at all.’