Chapter 142 Pine Nut and Pork Belly [Second Update]

How was it done?

Wen Fan explained that the meatballs were made first, using pork belly, pine nuts, and water chestnuts. The finished meatballs, eaten separately, should be called "Pine Nut and Water Chestnut Lion's Head," as they are tender and flavorful. The lion's head meatballs were placed at the bottom, and then topped with braised pork skin.

There is a famous dish called Crispy Pork Belly with Pine Nuts. It involves taking pork belly, leaving the skin on, making cuts without removing the skin, turning it upside down with the skin facing up, placing meatballs underneath, steaming the whole thing, and then simmering it. The resulting pork belly has a flavor that combines elements of both northern and southern Chinese cuisine.

Wen Fan's pine nut meatballs only use pork skin. The key is that the pork skin should be thin. If it's a little thicker, the meatballs' own fat combined with the pork skin will make them too greasy.

One advantage of thin pork skin, besides its appearance, is its slightly chewy texture, which adds a lot of appeal to the dish.

Everyone was initially focused on the Eight Treasure Gourd Duck, but after being reminded, they realized that the Pine Nut Pork Belly also had a hidden surprise.

They ate with great satisfaction, their chopsticks falling like a torrential rain.

Qin He and Han Lulu each occupied one side. After finishing the farmhouse tofu stew, Qin He also regretted it a little.

"If I had known, I wouldn't have left so early last year."

She also went back to her hometown with her parents during the winter vacation, and by doing so, she missed out on so much.

The physics class representative, his mouth covered in oil from eating, was still asking Wen Fan if there would be any new dishes after school started while he was fighting with others for food.

Wen Fan: "Isn't there one? Flatbread rolled with tofu."

Physics class representative: "...Nothing else?"

Wen Fan: "Let's wait and see if any new dishes come down."

What's most abundant in spring?

Wild vegetables, of course!

Wen Fan isn't currently pushing the store's output to its maximum; he's freeing up time for these wild vegetables.

Besides, flatbread rolls with tofu are delicious too, right?

People have started lining up these past few days!

Yao Qingqin was so energetic that Wen Fan's preparations were never enough to meet demand.

It's only been a few days, and Yao Qingqin is already urging us to prepare more.

Many customers initially thought this dish was not worth eating; how delicious could it be without meat?

But the hype online is ridiculous. Many people say they felt stuffed during the Lunar New Year and should eat some tofu to lighten things up.

[No Man's Land: Who says tofu isn't fragrant enough? It's incredibly fragrant! The sesame paste, peanuts, and braising sauce inside... I ate two without stopping!]

Alice: Yeah, it's super delicious! I bought three, and they were all gone as soon as I got home. My mom said it's good for weight loss.

[Tangdou: ...What are you trying to lose weight with? It's sesame paste and peanuts, you won't lose weight with that. Besides, even if it's a weight-loss meal, you can't eat two of those.]

[Little Fish: Honestly, it feels like the temperature has risen a little bit lately. If I don't lose weight soon, I'm really doomed. March ends in April, April ends in May. If I don't lose weight in February, I'll regret it in May!]

[Sugar Bean: Ughhhh I hate you, don't remind me!]

...

This is true even online, let alone in real life.

When Wen Fan suggested waiting to see what dishes were available, the boys all looked distressed, while the girls all expressed their support.

"It would be good to cook some vegetarian dishes. I've gained almost ten pounds this year."

"I've also gained five pounds."

"Waaah, who isn't?"

Chinese New Year is always a time when I gain weight, especially when I go back to my hometown, there's always some kind of dinner party or gathering.

Especially in villages, there is an abundance of food.

Han Lulu couldn't help but complain: "Do you know how much stuff my grandma made me bring back? Six chickens! Two ducks! A whole sack of peanuts and sesame seeds! And all sorts of fried food!"

Before the Lunar New Year, my parents brought a car full of gifts home, and after the Lunar New Year, they brought back another car full of New Year's goods.

"My grandma insisted that live chickens and ducks taste better, so she didn't slaughter them in our hometown. She was afraid they would suffocate if she put them in the car on the way. So she used several bags to stick the heads out of the chickens and ducks, and put the bags in the trunk. That's how we came back."

On the highways after the New Year, there are many such cases. At a highway service area, a family saw a child accidentally open the trunk, and chickens and ducks immediately splashed out. The family then started catching the ducks at the service area.

The scene was absolutely beautiful.

With so many New Year's goods, Han Lulu expressed her lingering fear that she might have to eat them until March or April.

It's all meat and fish; not only her, but her family can't stand it. Her mother is already eating salads for dinner now, saying that she's determined to lose weight and start a new year.

Wen Fan had some understanding of modern girls' pursuit of beauty, and she kept his words in mind.

The temperature is rising...

How about we sell some steamed dishes?

Or should we put the cold dishes on the shelves earlier?

The students were all leaning back on their chairs, shouting that they were full.

Wen Fan's eyelids twitched; she wasn't full. Usually, customers who didn't take away leftovers of this portion size were practically never customers.

Today, every table is spotless.

These teenagers, who are still growing up, can eat as much as anyone else.

Han Lulu, who was just talking about losing weight, is now so full that she has completely forgotten about it.

After seeing everyone off and cleaning up the dishes, Wen Fan suddenly remembered something and asked her mother if Aunt Feng Huijuan had come recently.

Wen's mother: "Their radishes are all gone too; they haven't come recently."

Before the Lunar New Year, they went to the village to buy pigs. Feng Huijuan's family was still worried about the village's planning. They decided to sell all four pigs they had taken for the New Year.

As a result, the village's proposed plan fell through again after the New Year.

When Feng Huijuan called Wen's mother, she was still lamenting: "Many families in the village were arguing over this planning map during the Spring Festival. Now they say it's fake."

The story was fabricated, but the relationship between relatives after the argument was never the same again.

Feng Huijuan is determined to make money this year, planning to pay back all the money she owes to her relatives, including interest, within a year.

Wen Fan: "Then Mom, you should ask her. I want some wild vegetables, so please have her keep an eye out for them beforehand."

What kind of wild vegetables do you want?

Wen Fan counted on his fingers and realized that Chinese toon was definitely the number one choice.

She already really liked the dried toon leaves that Feng Huijuan brought last year, and this year she's definitely going to prepare more while the toon leaves are still around, whether it's toon chili sauce or dried toon leaves, she wants to store enough for at least a year.

Others include shepherd's purse, lamb's quarters, shepherd's purse, dandelion...

Wen Fan had already thought of a hundred ways to eat wild vegetables.

As instructed, Wen's mother called Feng Huijuan, who immediately agreed.

"We don't have any other kinds of wild vegetables here!"

Most villagers eat a little each year, and leave the rest unpicked, letting these wild vegetables grow on the branches and in the ground until they are old.

Feng Huijuan suddenly remembered something and asked Wen's mother if she wanted it.

"There are a few locust trees growing behind my house. Would you like some of their blossoms?"

Wen Fan definitely wants it!

Feng Huijuan readily agreed that it was no problem, and that she would pick all the locust flowers and send them to Wenji when they bloomed.

With the wild vegetables settled, Wen Fan felt much more relaxed.

The old man next door arrived in the city before the Lantern Festival. After cleaning up the pharmacy next door, he immediately started practicing medicine again.

However, when Wen Fan asked him again if he could order food, he refused.

"My teacher said that the second semester of my junior year is crucial, so I need to study."

Last semester she had classmates to help her with tutoring, but this semester she has to rely entirely on herself. As her self-study time increases, Wen Fan's schedule becomes increasingly tight.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have chosen to hire someone with basic skills to work in the kitchen.

After being mentored by Wen Fan for a period of time, Xiao Ge noticed rapid progress. Even his master could see that his condition had improved significantly.

Master Jin's hopes now rest on his apprentice. Even when the young master abandoned Jin Yu Lou and ultimately sold the entire Jin Yu Lou trademark and signboard to him, he didn't seem so disappointed.

The only thing troubling Master Jin right now is the difficulty in finding a shop location.

Xiao Ge secretly watched him, and only after being pressed by Master Jin did she reveal her true feelings.

“Master, I think… why don’t you quit your shop and we all go work for Wen’s instead?”

Master Jin frowned, but didn't say he disagreed.

Xiao Ge mustered his courage and said, "Master, look, the young boss is about to enter her senior year of high school. She'll definitely be very busy then. Think about it, if she's busy, won't she need to hire someone? I can't manage this kitchen all by myself right now..."

Xiao Ge thought to himself, "Master is now trapped by the name Jin Yu Lou. To be honest, even the rightful heir, the young master, doesn't care about that name. Why should Master bother?"

Look at the young boss, he's studying and working at the same time, and he's doing quite well. He even only registered the trademark after being reminded to do so before the new year. During his time at Wenji, Xiao Ge increasingly felt that his mentor was overthinking things.

As long as Wenji is open, the master and apprentice will work there. If Wenji closes down, they can just go out and open their own small shop.

Restoring the signboard, opening a restaurant...

What's the point?

If you do well in this life, will the next generation surpass you?

I don't think so.

There are plenty of young masters like this who casually give away everything their fathers have worked so hard for.

—We still haven't found Master Sanjin. The young master went to file a lawsuit after selling Jinyulou.

What's the point?

Master Jin neither said it was good nor bad; he simply waved his hand, telling Xiao Ge to go about his business.

Master Jin was saddened when his apprentice left.

This was his biggest worry.

He poured his heart and soul into the Jin Yu Lou brand, which is why he remembers these things.

But Xiao Ge is a new generation.

Would this child really value this brand that much?

Master Jin felt as if he were split in two: one half said he had already done right by his master, and the other half said he hadn't done enough...

Back to Xiao Ge's side, Wen Fan refused to provide meals to the neighbors anymore, but Xiao Ge suddenly had an idea and took the initiative to promote himself.

Although the old man was unwilling, he pinned his hopes on Wen Fan's three private meals a week, so he did not say he wanted to leave because of this.

Since I still have to see patients, what difference does it make what I eat?

After taking on the task, Xiao Ge immediately asked Wen's mother if the old man next door was a good doctor.

Wen's mother: "What? Who do you want to show this to?"

Xiao Ge smiled innocently: "My master has been coughing a lot lately, and I wanted him to come and take a look."

If the master comes often, maybe he'll agree to work at Wenji soon?

Wen's mother was unaware that Xiao Ge had this idea, and only enthusiastically said that she would ask Qu's father if they could have an extra number.

"Just have your master come then!"

Although Xiao Ge's cooking skills weren't as good as Wen Fan's, they were still acceptable, so after eating there a few times, Grandpa Duan next door also found them passable.

The old man naturally agreed to Xiao Ge's request for a medical consultation. His words were exactly the same as those of Wen's mother.

"Have him come later, I'll add him to my contacts."