Chapter 115 Jianghu Cuisine
Chapter 115 Jianghu Cuisine
The people at Bazhenlou were excited from the very beginning of the barbecue preparation process.
After wandering around the town of Bewitching Souls and waiting for the people from Qingyun Manor to arrive, they had indeed stayed in that place for quite some time before finally being able to enjoy their first proper meal.
"Old Zhao, isn't this Qingfeng Mingyue Blade very useful?" Bai Cen chatted with everyone while skewering food.
Zhao Tong used to dislike talking to people, especially when he was butchering chickens and ducks, but now the kitchen of Bazhenlou was full of four people: washing vegetables, chopping vegetables, cutting meat, and skewering meat, making it look like a lively kitchen!
No one understands this joy better than Zhao Tong.
Zhao Tong suddenly exclaimed, "It works extremely well!"
Just that one sentence, "It works really well," and everyone stopped, turned around, stopped washing vegetables, stopped chopping vegetables, and even forgot about making skewers. They all looked at him like that.
"What's wrong?" He was slightly taken aback.
"No, it's nothing, as long as it works well~ as long as it works well!" Bai Cen continued to laugh and joke.
Wang Sumo and Jiang Yutang both lowered their heads and smiled as they did their work.
Anyway, he doesn't look like the great villain Zhao Tong at all now!
Zhao Tong, the sous chef at Bazhenlou!
Zhao Tong paused for a moment, then laughed and continued chopping his chicken wings!
He really liked this kitchen.
I also enjoyed the things I did at Bazhenlou.
This includes accidentally entering the grain storage route and encountering the fat man and the Cauldron-Carrying Sect.
He had always harbored resentment towards the old man for bringing him to the Rakshasa Alliance, using the pretext of repaying a debt of gratitude to cleanse his marrow, and ultimately making him the nominal leader of the Rakshasa Alliance.
But as he spent more and more time at the Eight Treasures Pavilion, he encountered more and more different kinds of people and things, and witnessed the helpless struggles of small sects like the Carrying Cauldron Sect in the martial arts world...
The Kangdingmen sect is actually no different from the master chefs who used to lead a group of people to make a living.
It was the master chef who held up the sky for them!
It is also the warmest cluster in the depths of his memory.
During this trip with the fat man, it seemed that he reconciled with himself and his past.
This world of martial arts was originally a makeshift operation, and the sects within it were more or less makeshift operations as well, each with its own way of surviving. Wherever there are people, there is a martial arts world; there's no need to reject it.
But he was also grateful that there was such a place in the martial arts world where he could slaughter chickens and ducks and skewer meat with iron skewers!
Behind them, Bai Cen whispered to Wang Sumo, "Hey, don't you think Brother Zhao's mood has improved a lot since he came back? He looks like he's been gilded, shining brightly!"
Wang Sumo glanced at him and said in a low voice, "This is called a change in mindset. Everything changes, and everything looks pleasing to the eye."
Wang Sumo continued chopping vegetables.
"You grill vegetables too?" Bai Cen feigned surprise.
"What, you only eat meat?" Wang Sumo was also "stunned". "A big tail has grown out?"
Bai Cen: "..."
Every day, she'll lead you astray in just a few words.
Only wolves have big tails...
Wang Sumo added: "Dogs are included too."
Bai Cen: "..."
Bai Cen was speechless. He didn't know how Bai Cen had guessed what Bai Cen was thinking again. It was simply...
Wang Sumo: "This is absolutely amazing!"
Bai Cen admits defeat.
"The lights are all hung up!" Duan Wuheng poked his head out of the window, startling Jiang Yutang.
Previously, the errand runners at Bazhenlou were the old master and Bai Cen. At least the old master and Bai Cen used the normal stairs and appeared at the normal door, but Duan Wuheng did it casually.
Sometimes it slides down from the second floor, sometimes it appears upside down at the window: "Everything's packed!" "What else?"
Or, half of their body could be seen climbing in through the kitchen window: "It's closer here!"
In all the time that Bazhenlou has been around, no one has ever explored every possible route in and out of Bazhenlou like Duan Wuheng, and he even enjoyed it.
"Take the dishes out," Wang Sumo instructed.
"Alright!" Duan Wuheng climbed in through the window.
Only Duan Wuheng had the means to climb over the wall, which wouldn't interfere with Jiang Yutang washing vegetables, but Jiang Yutang still reminded him: "Next time, use the door."
Duan Wuheng went out laughing and joking while carrying the vegetable basin.
Wang Sumo told him to take the vegetable basin to the fire.
Today's barbecue can't be done upstairs at Bazhenlou. The old man has already set it up by the fire pit. Duan Wuheng knows this, but he doesn't go there directly. Instead, he carries the vegetable basin and takes three steps at a time to go up to the second floor. Then, he sits on the handrail of the stairs on the side of the second floor and jumps directly to the fire pit, splashing the old man with ash.
"Floating on the grass!!" the old man said angrily.
The old man is the only person at Bazhenlou who insists on calling him Grass-Floating.
There's no other reason than that he simply doesn't like being called Duan Wuheng.
Wang Sumo and the others could hear it through the window.
Duan Wuheng chased after the old man for a while, laughing and joking, and then went to help the old man with his things.
Not only Wang Sumo, but everyone had the same feeling: ever since Duan Wuheng came to Bazhenlou, it was as if three thousand ducks had moved in!
They're still incredibly fast, love to hop around, cause trouble everywhere, and are as noisy as can be!
But these three thousand ducks are so energetic that it seems like he would need at least eight or ten tables to manage when Bazhenlou opens for business.
In short, thick iron skewers filled with meat are placed on the fire, brushed with oil, and sizzle, releasing the irresistible aroma of roasted meat.
"Wow~" Three thousand ducks were the first to quack.
Wang Sumo tried rotating the iron skewer so that the meat skewers could be grilled evenly all around.
The method works!
Moreover, just one iron skewer full of meat is enough for several large bowls, packed full, grilled over the fire until it sizzles and oozes oil, sprinkled with a little salt, and under the firelight you can even see the glistening granules melting on the oil, the juices soaked in the salt flavor, making you want to take a bite!
"This metal skewer is pretty good!" Bai Cen couldn't help but exclaim. "How come there's only one?"
If it's specifically for grilling meat, Wang Sumo definitely wouldn't only make one. Could it be a sample?
Wang Sumo said leisurely, "Does it look familiar to you?"
Bai Cen blinked.
I looked at it carefully for a couple of seconds, but I still couldn't figure it out.
Wang Sumo asked, "Do you still recognize that iron spike that you used to drive stones into the ground to prevent the carriage from slipping away?"
Bai Cen: "..."
Bai Cen was speechless: "You're going to use it to grill meat?"
Wang Sumo blinked: "Let's give it a try. It seems to actually work. Next time I pass by a blacksmith shop, I'll make a few more. One day, I can set up a barbecue area, not cook any dishes, just barbecue. I'll build a huge fire and grill the meat, then deliver it directly to each table. What do you think?"
Bai Cen found it both amusing and exasperating that his wildly imaginative ideas were starting to take off again, but they did sound quite interesting.
"How should we order the dishes?" He took it seriously.
Wang Sumo described: "The menu is by the skewer, grilled one skewer at a time, then plated and served, so you can see it right away, and it's still hot."
Hmm, the smoky aroma from barbecue, as she described it, seems to really permeate my imagination and longing.
Bai Cen couldn't help but laugh.
Standing nearby, Duan Wuheng asked curiously, "Brother Zhao, what is this?"
The large iron skewers on the other side were no longer there; they were wooden skewers.
Wooden skewers are easy to find. Zhao Tong quickly produced a bunch by using his knife skills after finding a tree trunk. Wooden skewers can also be grilled; just be careful with the heat.
"Honey," Zhao Tong said calmly. "I saw some honey in the kitchen. Honey is sweet, I wonder if brushing a layer on it would give the chicken wings an extra layer of caramelized flavor?"
Both he and Duan Wuheng were quite looking forward to it.
Zhao Tong took out his knife and made a few slits in the chicken wings so that the oil, salt, and honey would penetrate better.
The old man's bonfire and frame were set up wonderfully.
Wang Sumo described the initial design, and the old man then elaborated on it himself.
In short, Wang Sumo and Bai Cen's side can now grill meat, grill an endless amount of meat.
Zhao Tong and Duan Wuheng were grilling chicken wings, grilled vegetables, and steamed buns.
Jiang Yutang and Grandpa Weng sat on one side.
Jiang Yutang has a rice stomach. No matter how delicious the barbecue is, she won't feel comfortable without eating rice to settle her stomach. Since it's not easy to cook rice around the fire, she simply cooked a pot of porridge. This was the first time she had ever cooked porridge this way, so it was quite novel.
Jiang Yutang herself was enjoying it.
When Grandpa Weng asked, Jiang Yutang truthfully told him about his stomach problems with rice. Grandpa Weng sighed and said that he felt the same way; his stomach would feel uncomfortable if he didn't eat rice as a staple food for a meal.
Jiang Yutang stared at him intently.
She had been at Bazhenlou for some time now, and the longer she stayed, the more she felt that the person her grandmother described didn't seem to resemble the old man Qu, but rather the old man Weng.
Moreover, she and Mr. Weng seem to have many things in common or share similar interests.
For example, right now, Grandpa Weng is helping her cook porridge.
She also kept Mr. Weng company while he warmed the wine.
How can good food and meat be complete without good wine?
Just think, this big jar of wine is the wine that accompanied Bazhenlou through the Enchanted Town; it's aged wine...
Jiang Yutang helped warm the wine.
The old man sat down by himself to the side.
In a daze, it seemed as if the Eight Treasures Restaurant had suddenly become lively. Before, it was just him and his maid, and even a meal was cold and quiet. Now, there was a bustling fire, with everyone talking at once, some grilling meat, some cooking porridge, and some warming wine. It seemed as if the Eight Treasures Restaurant had become warmer and more welcoming...
It's not the kind of warmth you feel when the store is open for business, but rather the kind of warmth that comes from the everyday noise, but from the warmth of the whole family at mealtimes.
"Hmm~"
Such an exaggerated voice could only come from Bai Cen or Duan Wuheng!
But it was Duan Wuheng who exclaimed excitedly, "These are the best chicken wings I've ever eaten!"
The best chicken wings, but there are only two on a skewer, one per person isn't enough!
Duan Wuheng: "..."
That was a mistake; I should have eaten it secretly!
But it was too late; Bai Cen had already come and snatched it.
It's him again!!
"Bullying a child!!" Duan Wuheng was annoyed.
Bai Cen smiled and said, "How can this be called bullying? This is called telling you how treacherous people can be."
It made the old man both angry and amused.
Duan Wuheng chased Bai Cen around the fire, demanding his chicken wings back. Bai Cen ran while wolfing them down, oh dear, he finished them before he could even taste anything!
Duan Wuheng got angry: "Hmph!"
Following the old man, another sullen general has joined Bazhenlou!
Wang Sumo handed the roasted meat to Bai Cen: "Here, go and coax him. Can't you see the little brat is angry?"
Bai Cen took the skewer and whispered, "Since he's already angry, let him stay angry for a while. I'll eat this one first~ Mmm, it's so delicious!!"
Bai Cen almost cried from how delicious it was.
Wang Sumo was both amused and annoyed. "Don't you even look who baked it? Take it!"
Bai Cen took it again. "Hmm, someone with a sweet tongue will never lack food."
The Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner, and the bright moon will hang high in the night sky, making it one of the days with the best moonlight of the year.
"Girl, shouldn't we open for business in a couple of days?" Old Master Weng had just finished two drinks and was savoring the flavor.
Wang Sumo was also full, so he sat on a withered tree trunk to digest his food and said leisurely, "How about we give each table a plate of mooncakes when we open for business during the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
Weng He was about to talk to her about this: "I think it's a good idea. Now that Bazhenlou has more staff, wouldn't it be inappropriate to only serve two or three tables?"
Wang Sumo looked at him.
Grandpa Weng continued, "Right now we have a head chef, a sous chef, an accountant, a kitchen helper, two helpers who also serve as waiters, and one full-time waiter. This staff size is enough for at least eight or nine tables."
Wang Sumo smiled and said, resting her chin on her hand, "Then shall we try it next time?"
Grandpa Weng suggested, "How about we start with six or seven tables?"
Wang Sumo nodded: "We need to buy tables first. The tables at Bazhenlou are not enough, and we also need to add some chairs. We may not be able to buy them right away..."
Grandpa Weng laughed and said, "We're all wandering heroes and heroines, why don't we try using what's right here? There's a way to eat Jianghu cuisine, sitting on the ground with swords and knives by our side. Maybe that'll give us a unique taste of the Jianghu chivalrous spirit?"
Wang Sumo readily agreed: "Let's try it this way!"
After drinking a cup, Wang Sumo felt a warm feeling in her stomach. When she looked up at the bright moon, it seemed as if the moon itself held a smile.
It's starting to look more and more like the Eight Treasures Pavilion...
[Author's Note]
Added a finishing touch, then went to sleep.
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