When the old clan chief heard her say that, his expression immediately became suspicious, but he still stubbornly insisted.
"Hmph! I'm going to try that old man and see if he's really that good! If he's not, your training will be doubled tomorrow!"
After saying that, Xiao Muyue, not to be outdone, raised her head and puffed out her chest.
"Okay, if it's delicious, then tomorrow's training is canceled! You go hunting!"
Seeing her like this, the old man got excited and the two of them confronted each other directly!
"Gold, Silver, and Bronze! The three of you go with them to catch fish. I want to see what delicious food we'll have for dinner."
Throughout the entire process… no one asked Qin Qing whether she wanted to do it, or when she planned to leave! Absolutely no one cared!
The place where we caught fish was a small stream. Besides fish, there were also some small crabs, the kind that don't have much meat, but they're crunchy when you eat them!
With the three big men, Jin, Yin, and Tong, Qin Qing and Xiao Muyue only had to catch crabs!
An hour later, the three of them caught three fish that weren't too big, while Qin Qing and her companion collected a basin of small crabs...
When Qin Qing got home, it was already around 5 p.m. She went straight to the kitchen…
First, prepare a fresh fish, and bean curd sheets are also essential. Other ingredients include lotus root, potatoes, onions, celery, shiitake mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms, as well as scallions, ginger, and garlic. For seasoning, besides oil, salt, Shaoxing wine, Sichuan peppercorn powder, and dried chili peppers, Qin Qing could only use chili oil for color because she didn't have fermented bean paste or dark and light soy sauce. She also needed some broth, preferably pork bone broth, but she was too lazy to prepare it and just used water.
Then, using a knife, make a cut close to the dorsal fin, cutting along the fish bone. Be careful not to cut into the belly area on the other side, as this will make it easier to unfold the whole fish for grilling later. After opening the fish, remove the internal organs and clean it thoroughly.
Make several diagonal cuts on the fish skin and flesh to help it absorb the flavor. Then, place the fish in a container, pour in cooking wine, sprinkle with salt, and rub it in evenly. Next, rub scallions in your hands to extract the juice, then drip it onto the fish. Place the rubbed scallions on the fish, and also cover it with ginger slices. Marinate for at least ten minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate and remove any fishy smell.
While the fish is marinating, prepare the other side dishes: cut the bean curd sheets into strips, slice the lotus root and potatoes, cut the celery into sections, dice the onions, cut the shiitake mushrooms into cross shapes, peel and wash the enoki mushrooms, and peel the garlic cloves.
Since there were no electrical appliances in ancient times, and using an iron pot to braise the fish would cause some of the fish to lose its tenderness, Qin Qing took advantage of the fact that no one was around and put the fish into his space, using the kitchen's oven to bake it.
She then started preparing the side dishes and stir-frying them to make red oil. To be honest, she didn't have all the seasonings in her space to begin with, but she did have quite a few chilies, so the overall color was acceptable!
Finally, various vegetables were placed at the bottom of the pot, and the grilled fish was taken out and placed on top. The previously stir-fried red oil and spices were then evenly sprinkled on top. The sizzling sound of the hot red oil hitting the fish was immediately heard...
A rich aroma of grilled fish instantly filled the entire kitchen; the fragrance could be smelled from a great distance!
Just as Qin Qing was about to cook a crucian carp soup, the four adults and one child standing at the door were already impatiently waiting! They were looking eagerly inside.
Making crucian carp soup is quite simple. First, clean the crucian carp and make diagonal cuts on it. Then, heat oil in a pot, add the crucian carp, and cook until both sides are golden brown, releasing the initial freshness of the fish. Next, use a spatula to crush the crucian carp into small pieces, then pour in water and bring it to a boil. Remember to use hot water. Add some side dishes. It's a pity she didn't include tofu; otherwise, crucian carp and tofu soup would be much more nutritious than crucian carp soup!
As time went by, the crucian carp soup became whiter and whiter. She sprinkled some salt into it, stirred it, and a steaming bowl of crucian carp soup was ready!
After she finished, she called out to the outside.
"Come in here and help me take the dishes out! Dinner will be served soon!"
She was quite helpless; a perfectly good doctor had ended up as a cook here…
Upon hearing this, the three people outside rushed in. Their eyes lit up the moment they saw the grilled fish, and they subconsciously swallowed, their eyes practically glued to the dish!
Seeing them remain motionless for a long time, Qin Qing could only remain speechless.
"If you don't hurry, the grilled fish won't taste good once it gets cold!"
The three of them then came to their senses, nodded hurriedly, and excitedly went to get the food. Because the grilled fish was quite large, Qin Qing used a large pot to hold it…
They were so excited holding the pot that Qin Qing suspected they wanted to steal it and eat it too!
Fortunately, the grilled fish was delivered safely in the end. Qin Qing then picked up the crucian carp soup and went outside. The old clan chief outside was watching anxiously, his eyes fixed on the grilled fish...
Once everything was ready, several more neighbors had already gathered outside the village chief's house...
"What kind of dish is this? Why is it in such a big pot? Can you finish it all? Maybe..."
The old clan chief was clearly prepared for his neighbor's shamelessness, and immediately gestured with his eyes to Jin...
Jin was very clever. He strode over, used his strong body to block the wooden door, then slammed the door shut behind him, grinning foolishly.
"Auntie... don't be fooled by the size of the pot, there's actually not much food in it, not enough for the three of us! Don't you know how much the three of us eat? You should be heading back soon, it's so late, your uncle should be back by now..."
Seeing this, the woman could only awkwardly retreat, but her eyes kept glancing inside, and she kept making sarcastic remarks.
"Oh, is that so! I thought you wouldn't be able to finish it. Don't waste food, prices are so high these days!"
Jin simply stepped aside, blocking the woman's view. He looked honest and kind, and innocently met her gaze, as if asking a question.
"Then why aren't you leaving?"
Qin Qing inside didn't care about any of that. She picked up her bowl and started eating. She was also exhausted after a long day!
Seeing this, the old clan chief also picked up his chopsticks, quickly grabbed a piece of fish, and put it directly into his mouth.
That one bite completely shattered his composure, which he had maintained for so long! He stared in shock at the huge pot of fish and numerous side dishes!
When it was first served, the tantalizing aroma immediately filled the room, making his mouth water. He managed to resist the urge to lose his composure, but the moment he tasted it, he found it smooth, tender, spicy, and crisp. He couldn't bear to put down his chopsticks after enjoying such a delicious dish.
When the aroma wafted out, it made my mouth water, especially the tenderness and smoothness of the fish as it melted in my mouth—a sensation I could never forget. I couldn't wait to pick up another piece of fish and put it in the pan, immediately experiencing the unexpected deliciousness that made me swoon. Savoring it carefully, the chewy fish, with its spicy and savory flavor, seemed to have blended all the flavors in the world—truly wonderful.
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