Chapter 18 Scallion and Tofu Salad
Chapter 018 Scallion and Tofu Salad
Wang Sumo never expected that the first dish Old Master He wanted to eat would be this scallion tofu!
Wang Sumo still remembers that when she was in the hanging basket, she had just finished speaking when Chief Escort Yang watched her and Lao Qu eating this dish, and suddenly she couldn't move.
Master He was in a great mood—"Then let's make tofu with scallions!"
Wang Sumo: "..."
However, Wang Sumo really didn't want to spoil the mood of Master He.
It's much easier for someone who has been anorexic for a long time to suddenly want to eat something than for others to rack their brains to get them to eat something.
Seeing that the opportunity was too good to pass up, Wang Sumo had no choice but to agree.
So tonight I'm making scallion tofu in the small kitchen at Nanshan Garden.
Master He specifically requested a dish of tofu with scallions...
Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest.
Other dishes can be prepared in elaborate ways, but scallion and tofu salad is made with only simple ingredients: scallions and tofu. People who like it will love it, while those who don't will probably not even touch it.
Wang Sumo could actually guess that Master He just wanted to know why Chief Escort Yang had suddenly lost his appetite because of this dish.
People are naturally curious.
Sometimes, this curiosity can even surpass one's own liking for a dish.
Instead, they wanted to know why others liked it.
That's how Master He of the Manor is...
So, while chopping tofu and scallions in the small kitchen of Nanshan Garden, Wang Sumo even thought that perhaps one day this dish of tofu with scallions would become the signature dish of Bazhenlou Restaurant.
Because both Master He of Qingyun Manor and Chief Escort Yang of Jinwei Escort Agency specifically requested to try this dish!
Moreover, it was this dish of scallion tofu that cured both Master He and Chief Escort Yang of their loss of appetite. Oh wow, whenever I encountered Bazhenlou while traveling the martial arts world, I would always want to order the same scallion tofu that Master He and Chief Escort Yang had.
That would truly become the signature dish of Bazhenlou...
Wang Sumo felt inexplicably overwhelmed.
Although sometimes the simplest things are indeed the tastiest.
But she still hopes that Bazhenlou doesn't have any signature dishes.
She hopes that every dish prepared at Bazhenlou will be a special "signature dish" for different people...
People's tastes are not static; they change with the season of the ingredients, the location, the environment and age, as well as the influence of those around them and their own mood.
A dish can taste completely different when eaten at different times.
And some dishes, suddenly, become the taste of someone's memory...
Therefore, every meal is unique.
The scallion and tofu dish that Old Man He was about to try was also one of them.
The main ingredient in scallion and tofu salad is tofu, and different types of tofu will result in completely different flavors.
The tofu sold at the market can be roughly divided into two types.
The most common type is white tofu.
White tofu is made by curdling and pressing, resulting in a firm texture and relatively low moisture content; this type of tofu makes a firm yet smooth texture when served with scallions.
The tofu served in the main kitchen of Qingyun Mountain Villa is this type of white tofu.
Another type is soft tofu.
Scallion-mixed tofu made with soft tofu has an exquisitely smooth and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Both ways of mixing scallions with tofu have different flavors, depending on personal preference.
However, there are very few workshops that can make soft tofu.
Because there are very few workshops that can make soft tofu, there are relatively few people who are used to eating soft tofu. White tofu has always been the mainstream, and Qingyun Mountain Villa makes its own white tofu.
The tofu with scallions is made by dicing the tofu into cubes, rather than slicing it like you would with soft tofu.
Finely chop the scallions and set aside.
Light a fire on the stove, boil water in an iron pot, and add an appropriate amount of salt after the water has heated up.
Once the water boils, add the diced tofu. Do not cook it for too long, or the tofu will become too firm.
The ideal time is around ten breaths (PS: one breath is about 4-6 seconds, so ten breaths is about one minute).
Tofu that has been properly brined will absorb more flavor, and more importantly, it will make the originally firm white tofu slightly more tender.
It's a little bit.
But it is this slight difference that makes the texture of scallion-stuffed tofu fundamentally different.
However, tofu taken out of boiling water should not be added to the dish immediately. Instead, it should be rinsed with cooled boiled water to enhance the freshness and coolness of the dish.
Once the tofu has cooled down, place it on a plate and garnish with chopped scallions.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a separate pan.
Once the oil is hot, add a few peppercorns to fry until fragrant and flavorful.
After sifting the hot oil until fragrant, strain it through a sieve and pour it over the tofu and chopped green onions. Instantly, a burst of aroma brings out the natural freshness of the green onions and tofu.
The aroma of scallions, especially when drizzled with hot oil, suddenly gives this dish of tofu with scallions a profound soul!
Add a spoonful of fermented soybean paste and a large spoonful of salt, along with a small spoonful of chicken broth that was just simmered in the kitchen. Mix well.
And just like that, a plate of tofu with scallions, a blend of firm and tender tofu, the aroma of scallions drizzled with Sichuan peppercorns, and a light chicken broth, is ready.
When this simple dish of scallion and tofu was served, and it was the only dish on the table, it must be said that Old Master He, who was used to seeing the small kitchen racking its brains to make delicacies every day, suddenly had an appetite and thought of eating it.
Old Master He picked up the chopsticks beside him, and Wang Sumo said softly, "Grandpa, a spoon."
spoon?
Master He looked at her in surprise.
Wang Sumo sat opposite him, arms crossed, and nodded at him.
He paused for a moment, then readily agreed.
With a small spoonful, I scooped up both tofu and chopped green onions.
The tofu was gently shaken in the small spoon, and the chopped scallions on top fell to both sides. The aroma of scallions, with its Sichuan peppercorn fragrance, so simply yet so enticingly entered the nostrils first, and then touched the lips.
"Joke," Old Master He couldn't help but sigh softly.
Wang Sumo didn't rush to ask him if it was delicious or how it was, but just from the way Master He closed his eyes, chewed slowly, and looked so content, Wang Sumo could guess what was going on without asking any more questions.
Some people like to gulp down the first bite and savor the second; others prefer to savor the first bite carefully and then enjoy the second.
Clearly, Master He belongs to the second type.
Wang Sumo patiently waited for him to finish the first bite, then slowly opened her eyes, her gaze filled with a gentle smile, "Delicious."
Wang Sumo then spoke up, "Master He, have you never eaten scallion-mixed tofu with a spoon before?"
The old man nodded in approval, "Yes, a bite full of tofu and scallions is much tastier than picking it up piece by piece with chopsticks. This dish should be eaten this way."
The old man scooped up another spoonful, and this time, unlike before when he chewed slowly, he ate it in large mouthfuls.
Having grown accustomed to delicacies from land and sea, especially seeing a constant stream of chicken, duck, fish, mutton, and beef placed in front of him, none of them were as satisfying as today's dish of candied ginkgo nuts and tofu with scallions.
This kind of enjoyment isn't about wolfing down food in a messy or sloppy way, but rather about being enthusiastic and just right.
After the second bite, although he wanted to finish the whole plate of scallion and tofu in one go, Old Master He, having lived to such an old age, had no shortage of self-control.
If you take the second bite and then devour the rest in a flurry, the appetite you've finally managed to arouse might just be overdone.
This is just right for now.
The old man put down his spoon.
It was putting down the spoon, rather than asking someone to take it away, that Wang Sumo thought the old man still wanted to eat, but he was suppressing this sudden burst of appetite.
"This dish is delicious, but Yang Wei was born into a镖局 (bodyguard) and is used to traveling and sleeping in the open, carrying dry food and dried meat with him. He may not be able to get used to it."
The old man had been in the business for many years and knew many things better than Wang Sumo.
This dish, though delicious, is not enough to cure Yang Wei's anorexia...
Old Master He also crossed his arms and placed them on the table, then looked at Wang Sumo questioningly, "Has he encountered any trouble?"
Old ginger is indeed spicier.
Wang Sumo nodded, then asked, "Are the old master and Chief Escort Yang familiar with each other?"
Speaking of these old names in the martial arts world, Master He sighed softly, his eyes filled with a sense of distance and reluctance. "They are familiar to the younger generation. He once sought my advice and we talked all night. But the friendship between gentlemen is based on mutual respect. Familiarity is not so much about each other."
When you're traveling the world, it's not necessary to be in the same place all the time to truly appreciate each other.
In this vast world, more often than not, hearing news of someone can bring a knowing smile, or a smile can erase all enmity.
The world of martial arts resides in people's hearts.
The farther your heart can reach, the farther your world can extend.
Wang Sumo understood. Since they cherished each other and talked all night, they could be considered close elders.
Moreover, if it were Master He, Chief Escort Yang probably wouldn't mind.
Wang Sumo took a deep breath and said softly, "It's been over a year since Chief Escort Yang's wife passed away."
Old Master He was slightly taken aback; his expression revealed that he was unaware of the situation.
Wang Sumo continued, "Chief Escort Yang and his wife were childhood sweethearts. Before the Jinwei Escort Agency even existed, Madam Jin had been by Chief Escort Yang's side for over thirty years."
"Back then, Chief Escort Yang was just a hired guard who lived a life of hardship and occasionally traveled with caravans."
"The two of them started from scratch, accumulating silver bit by bit and working hard to build up the Jinwei Escort Agency from just four or five people. They gradually grew it into a well-known brand in the martial arts world."
"We were separated most of the time, but we had something to look forward to, which made us feel very at ease. Thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye."
"But last year, Madam Jin caught a cold. The lung disease she had contracted in her youth due to poverty had not been completely cured, and it suddenly relapsed after the cold. The doctor prescribed strong medicine, but Chief Escort Yang still didn't make it back from escorting a heavy shipment before Madam Jin passed away..."
"The youngest son in the family cried incessantly in front of the mourning hall, then rushed to him calling him 'Father'; everyone around was mourning, telling him to take care of himself; everyone in the escort agency and the mansion cast sympathetic and sorrowful glances at him..."
"Everyone was telling him that his wife was gone; but he was the only one who hadn't yet come to his senses, or rather, dared not come to his senses, that the most significant chapter of his life would suddenly and silently disappear from every familiar corner."
"Some people grieve by crying out in anguish when a loved one passes away; but others grieve by suppressing it in their hearts, unable to find an outlet, or rather, unwilling to find one."
"In the world that followed, he never stopped for a moment, because once he stopped, it was as if something was being slowly hollowed out, creating a terrifying void."
"That's why he would visit his home three times without going in, without stopping for even a day; as long as he didn't stop, things wouldn't be too different from before; as long as he didn't go home, there would always be someone waiting for him there..."
"Until that day, we suddenly passed by Bazhenlou on our way to escort the goods. It was a fine day, and the old man said he wanted to eat tofu with scallions, so we set up Bazhenlou, but we didn't put up a 'Open for Business' sign. The tofu with scallions that we had made was placed in the open-air garden. Chief Escort Yang was passing by when he suddenly stopped."
“When I told him that Bazhenlou was closed, his eyes suddenly reddened, which startled my grandfather and me. He bowed to my grandfather and me. After that, he only ate that plate of tofu with scallions, finishing every last bite, and then he burst into tears in Bazhenlou…”
"Later, my grandfather and I learned that before Chief Escort Yang and his wife started from scratch, they lived a very poor life. Sometimes they would be away from home for months at a time, and what they missed most was the scallion tofu that his wife made. It was a simple dish, but it accompanied him throughout his youth..."
"He tried many methods to keep himself busy, to make sure he didn't have any time in his life to feel and experience change, which only increased his sadness, but nothing changed."
"Until that day, he ate the entire plate of scallion tofu while crying, oblivious to everyone around him. He sat in the Bazhenlou restaurant all night, from sunset to dawn..."
Master He stood there, motionless for a long time, unable to react.
Wang Sumo said softly, "So, Master He, what cured Chief Escort Yang was never Bazhenlou, but Madam Jin's words—'Eat well and take good care of yourself.'"
Eat well and take good care of yourself, no matter where I am or where you are. Only then can I wait for you at home with peace of mind.
Under the dim light, the slender figure yawned wearily before slowly putting down the shoe soles she had just finished sewing.
Day after day, year after year, time passes slowly yet steadily.
The sewn soles were worn out, one pair after another.
Time flies, another Spring Festival has arrived. Three meals a day, two figures, tender to the core...
[Author's Note]
Eat well and take good care of yourself.
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