Chapter 133 Selected for Buddha Jumps Over the Wall
Lin Yao observed the expression on the emperor's face and, seeing that he seemed quite interested, continued, "As for the name 'Fish Playing Among Lotus Leaves,' it is firstly inspired by the poetic imagery of 'Lotus leaves so lush and green, fish playing among the lotus leaves,' capturing its fresh and natural meaning. Secondly, the lotus flower, emerging from the mud unsullied, symbolizes integrity and uprightness, while the fish carrying pearls signifies the people living in peace and prosperity, sharing in the emperor's grace. This dish does not rely on rare ingredients; it is intended to present His Majesty's compassion for the common people with its elegant flavor."
After he finished speaking, the judges' panel fell silent.
A look of surprise flashed across Lord Li's eyes, which quickly turned into deep approval.
Without saying anything more, he first tasted a bite of yam, lily, and lotus flower. The first bite was a combination of the creamy texture of the yam and the freshness of the lily, with just the right amount of sweetness from the honey, without any greasiness. Then he tasted a bite of yellow croaker. The outer skin was crispy, the inside was tender, and the sweet and sour sauce was just right, perfectly relieving the greasiness of the deep-frying.
Lord Li stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "What a wonderful 'Fish Playing with Lotus Leaves'! This dish is both aesthetically pleasing and delicious, and I am very satisfied!"
After the Imperial Food Bureau staff had tasted all the dishes, the chefs waited on the sidelines for the selection results.
At this point, Lin Yao's mood finally calmed down. It felt like after handing in the college entrance exam paper, her whole body relaxed and her mind went blank.
When the selection results were announced, unsurprisingly, all the chefs who used rare ingredients were eliminated.
Some people regret this outcome, while others understand it.
Royal banquets are never short of rare dishes, and this selection was not about who had the most expensive ingredients.
To put it another way, such expensive dishes could be prepared by the imperial kitchen, and they would certainly be better than those prepared by chefs from outside the palace. So why go through the trouble of selecting chefs from the common people?
Those chefs who were rejected didn't lose because of the taste, but because they lacked foresight and only knew how to show off their skills and ingredients.
As Lin Yao walked out of the catering bureau, she still had a surreal feeling. She felt like she had just been one of the top eight students in the country, which was incredibly exciting.
Suddenly I understand why Fan Jin acted that way after passing the imperial examination.
Back home, the excitement of Lin's father and two brothers upon learning the result was even greater, with them dancing and gesturing as if they had reverted to their ancestral ways.
After discussing it, the family decided to go out for a big meal to celebrate.
Lin Song asked excitedly, "Sister, sister! Are we going to Fanlou?"
Before he came to the capital, his classmates at school told him that Fanlou was the most magnificent restaurant in the capital!
It is said that the building is decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, and at night, glass lanterns are lit, reflecting the moat below, making it look like a fairyland!
Another classmate said that Fanlou's roasted camel hump and lotus duck are absolutely delicious, and even princes and nobles often patronize the restaurant!
Lin Yao couldn't help but reach out and tap his forehead. "In a place like Fanlou, we probably can't even afford two dishes with our travel expenses."
Lin Song was surprised by how high the prices of the dishes at Fanlou were, and his eyes widened in disbelief. Lin Yao couldn't help but rub his face again.
Lin's father watched the children playing around without interrupting.
“I’ve picked a good place,” Lin Yao said after squeezing her younger brother’s chubby face. “Let’s go to Juzhenlou and eat Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.”
She had heard that Juzhenlou had been passed down through three generations and had been operating in the capital for over a hundred years, with an excellent reputation. When she visited Juzhenlou to check out the menu before, she didn't order Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, but instead chose other dishes.
Today, the head chef of Juzhenlou Restaurant just brought out his Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup, and she knew it would be delicious just from the aroma. Not to mention, she had secretly observed the judges' reactions; the soup must taste extraordinary.
"Buddha Jumps Over the Wall?" Lin Song was attracted by the new dish. "Is it the legendary Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, where 'the aroma of meat wafts through the neighborhood when the jar is opened, and even Buddha abandons his meditation to jump over the wall'?"
"Exactly." Lin Yao patted his shoulder. "Come on, let's go now, or they might sell out!"
As soon as the family stepped across the threshold, they were greeted by a cacophony of voices. It was only lunchtime, but nearly half the seats in the lobby were already occupied by diners.
"Please come in, sirs!" A sharp-eyed waiter with a white towel draped over his shoulder immediately greeted them with a smile, quickly leading them to an empty table by the window. After setting out the bowls and chopsticks, he began to announce the menu, "Our Juzhenlou has quite a few signature dishes. Braised sea cucumber with scallions, stir-fried chicken with soy sauce, and four-happiness meatballs are must-orders at every table. What would you like to eat?"
Lin Yao looked up and asked with a smile, "Excuse me, do you have Buddha Jumps Over the Wall here?"
The waiter explained apologetically, "I'm truly sorry, young lady, but Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is our head chef Chef Wang's signature dish. It's made with incredibly precious ingredients like sea cucumber, abalone, and shark fin, and the broth needs to be prepared three days in advance. It's traditionally only made for distinguished guests who have made reservations in advance; it's not available to the public at other times. How about we try something else? Our braised sea cucumber with scallions is also absolutely delicious, almost as good as Buddha Jumps Over the Wall!"
Lin Yao wasn't surprised to hear this, after all, it was Chef Wang's specialty. She waved her hand and smiled, "No problem, then bring one of each of the signature dishes you just mentioned, and another one of the sea bass with vegetables."
"Alright!" the waiter replied.
Back in the kitchen, he chatted with the cook tending the fire: "Today we met an interesting young lady. She wasn't dressed in a flashy way, but she came up and asked if we had Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. I wonder how she found out we sell this dish."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Chef Wang, who had been focused on chopping vegetables at his workbench, suddenly stopped: "What does this young lady you're talking about look like?"
The waiter paused for a moment, then quickly replied, "He looks about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a round face. He seems very energetic, and he's accompanied by two young men and an older man. They look like a family."
Chef Wang put down his cleaver, wiped his hands, and instructed the waiter, "Go tell that young lady that Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is ready. Tell them to wait a moment, and I'll make it for them myself."
The waiter looked puzzled: "Master Wang, this isn't the rule. Isn't Buddha Jumps Over the Wall not made for ordinary customers?"
"Stop talking nonsense, just do as I say." Chef Wang waved his hand.
Lin Yao was playing with the candy she bought on the way with her younger brother when she suddenly felt the light in front of her dim. She thought it was the food she had ordered.
She looked up and saw Chef Wang standing by the table with a black lacquered wooden tray, on which a rough earthenware jar was still steaming.
Chef Wang deftly lifted the lid of the jar, and a rich, fresh aroma wafted out, the fragrance of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall rushing into her lungs.
Chef Wang ladled the soup into bowls and handed them to the people at the table.
Lin Yao quickly reached out to take it, saying, "Master Wang, you're too kind. We can do it ourselves."
“Madam Lin, there’s no need for such formalities.” Chef Wang’s hands didn’t stop moving. “I heard that Madam Lin ordered this dish today, so I thought I’d make a serving and send it over.”
Chef Wang said modestly, "To be honest, this Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish is the culmination of my life's work. I think it tastes pretty good, but I don't know why it was not selected. I would appreciate it if Madam Lin could taste it and give me some pointers."
Lin Yao couldn't help but be somewhat surprised.
When Xiao Er came back earlier, she guessed that Chef Wang probably didn't know the reason for his failure to be selected.
She never expected that such a skilled chef would so readily ask her, a girl more than ten years younger than him, for advice.
He's truly a complete culinary fanatic.
Lin Yao stopped refusing and scooped up a spoonful of soup and put it in her mouth.
The rich flavor spreads across the tongue, bringing out the original taste of the ingredients to their fullest. The sea cucumber is springy but not tough, the abalone is tender but not mushy, and even the soup base is simmered until it is rich but not greasy. It is indeed an impeccable masterpiece.
She put down her spoon and saw Chef Wang staring intently at her, his eyes filled with anticipation and trepidation. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "Chef Wang's skills are naturally top-notch. This Buddha Jumps Over the Wall dish is rich in flavor and the ingredients are perfectly matched."
Chef Wang frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.
"Let me tell you a story," Lin Yao said with a slight smile. "I have a cousin who was well-versed in literature from a young age. He could write beautiful essays with ease, and the neighbors all called him a literary genius. When he took the imperial examination, he confidently submitted his paper, thinking he would surely pass with flying colors, but he failed. After returning home, he secluded himself for three days, and when he came out again, he suddenly realized the truth. It turned out that although his essay was ornate, it had deviated from the original meaning of the exam question. No matter how good the essay was, if it was irrelevant to the topic, it would naturally not catch the examiner's eye."
At first, Chef Wang was completely confused, but when he heard the ending of the story, all the confusion on his face disappeared, replaced by an excited realization.
He bowed deeply to Lin Yao: "Madam Lin, your words have truly awakened me from my dream! I must treat you to this meal today, as a token of my gratitude for your guidance!"
Lin Yao quickly stood up to return the greeting, but then tried to decline.
Chef Wang hurriedly said, "If Madam Lin refuses, it means she thinks I'm not sincere." After saying that, he instructed the waiter to waive the bill for Lin Yao's table.
Lin Song held the soup bowl. He had already drunk one bowl while Lin Yao was talking to Chef Wang, and this was his second bowl.
He drank with relish, watching Chef Wang's retreating figure, and said admiringly, "Sister, you're amazing! Even such a skilled chef has to learn from you!"
Lin Yao shook her head. "They just each have their own strengths."
This Chef Wang's culinary skills are certainly superior to hers; he's just too naive and didn't realize that a culinary competition requires understanding the intentions of those in power.
After the family had eaten and drunk their fill, they strolled leisurely home, stopping occasionally.
The night in the capital city lived up to its reputation; various lanterns hung along the streets, their red glow illuminating the darkness.
Most of the shops on both sides of the street were still open, and the streets were just as crowded as during the day, making it several times more lively than the prefectural capital.
Lin Yao felt that calling it a city that never sleeps was not an exaggeration.
The family wandered around the market for an hour, and when they returned to their lodgings, they saw a familiar figure standing at the door from afar.
After returning to the capital, Xu Zhiheng stopped wearing his usual dark and drab outfits and started wearing all sorts of colorful clothes every day, like a peacock spreading its tail feathers, practically writing "Look at me!" on his face.
Today he was wearing a moon-white long robe, his figure as upright as a pine tree, and under the glow of the lanterns, he looked much gentler.
Xu Zhiheng didn't dare to look at Lin Yao for long. He looked at Lin's father ingratiatingly, with a compliant smile on his face.
Before he could speak, Lin's father gave a soft hum and only instructed, "Don't go too far, come back soon." After saying that, he led Lin Cheng and Lin Song into the house.
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