Chapter 191 Three-Pot Dish, Fermented Fish, Sizzling Chicken...
Wen Fan had been informed by Director Hao that the program crew would be coming today, so she arrived at the foot of Qingtang Mountain early.
Although it was sweltering outside, a refreshing breeze blew through the mountains.
Wen Fan got out of the car, and Ji Boyi and Wen's father carried things behind him.
Each jar was heavier than the last, yet Ji Baiyi carried them with ease, making Wen's father stagger in comparison.
"Uncle, let me do it."
Ji Baiyi took the jar, went into the kitchen, and asked Wen Fan, "Where should I put it?"
Wen Fan pointed to the table: "Here."
When Wen's father entered the kitchen, he saw Wen Fan and Ji Boyi standing very close together.
Father Wen:...
"Baiyi, come with me on another trip, there are still things we haven't finished moving."
Ji Baiyi readily agreed, and after walking a short distance from the kitchen, he turned back and handed Wen Fan a handheld electric fan.
Wen Fan turned on the small fan, which looked much like a toy, and found it amusing.
Ji Baiyi would sometimes tease her with these little gadgets, but how could she possibly like something that only a child would like?
He placed the pink pig-shaped electric fan aside, and after a short while, Wen Fan found a stand, put it on, and turned it on.
I must say, this little gadget, though it doesn't blow much air, is quite interesting.
In the gentle breeze blew by the pink pig, Wen Fan opened the jar.
The smell of the fermented grains wasn't unpleasant; it had a mellow aroma. Wen Fan checked everything to make sure nothing was damaged before opening the other bag of fish with peace of mind.
Grass carp chunks are first sun-dried until semi-dry, then deep-fried until golden and crispy. They are then stir-fried with fermented rice wine, and plenty of fermented black beans, red chili oil, and other seasonings are added to make a fragrant and spicy fermented fish dish.
The fermented fish is delicious even when it's cold.
So when the tourists outside were still sleepy and queuing up to wait for the door to open, Wen Fan had someone bring out the fermented fish.
"Let's divide it using disposable bowls."
Although grass carp has more bones, its flesh is tender. The fermented fish was gone shortly after it was served.
Crispy and spicy fermented fish is the perfect way to kill time, especially since Wen Fan fries the fish to an exceptionally crispy texture. The fish pieces are air-dried before frying, making them incredibly chewy and fragrant. The sweet and mellow fermented rice, the crispy fish, and the spicy aroma of chili create a mouthwatering and irresistibly spicy flavor.
Shi Xiaolei also received a portion, and with the grease residue on her hands, it had a unique flavor.
"This fish is so spicy, but it's also quite delicious."
"This is the perfect snack for binge-watching TV shows!"
"You have to be careful when eating it, there are quite a few bones."
...
After eating the fish pieces, it was time for Wen Ji to open, and the first group of people flooded into the store.
"Hey, we have a new dish today!"
"...How did you know it was a new dish?"
The boy who had just spoken gave him a disdainful look: "Dude, I've been living at the foot of the mountain for five days already!"
Because of his stutter, he kept postponing his stay at the guesthouse for one day.
To be honest, in the past, when I traveled, I would always leave in a hurry, as if I had just checked off a list. This time, I stayed in Qingtang Mountain for five days. Every morning when I woke up, I saw the clouds and mist swirling in the mountains and the sun breaking through the dawn. I would leisurely wash my face and brush my teeth, then buy some soy milk and milk on the street for breakfast, and then go to Wenji to wait for a table.
Wenji usually distributes food several times in the morning, and sometimes tourism staff will come over to give out samples of local specialties. Before you know it, it's noon.
Have a nice meal at Wenji, then go fishing in the afternoon. You can rent fishing rods from nearby ponds for just a few dozen dollars. You can even have the owner cook your catch.
The local area boasts beautiful mountains and clear waters, and the fish are delicious.
After eating the fish, it was evening. We enjoyed the night view of the mountains and fell asleep in the cool breeze before 10 p.m., without even needing to turn on the air conditioner.
He stayed for five days, but it still wasn't enough.
There are many people like him, and the hostels at the foot of the mountain have been fully booked recently.
Everyone tried all the dishes at Wenji and exchanged their experiences.
Now, when people see Wen Ji's new dishes, they order them without hesitation.
"I'd like a serving of Sanxia Guo!"
The so-called "Three-Ingredient Pot" doesn't have a fixed recipe. Common ingredients include pork belly, pork intestines, and cartilage, while others include spare ribs, cured pork, and pig's trotters. Wen Fan chose pork intestines, spare ribs, and pig's head meat. The three ingredients are stir-fried and then stewed. Finally, the broth is reduced and made into a dry pot. Side dishes include potatoes, tofu, radishes, and lettuce. It's spicy, flavorful, and delicious. Served with rice, one serving of Three-Ingredient Pot is enough for three people.
Wenji's pop-up store has a canopy set up outside, with a few tables under the canopy.
However, there's a "No Entry" sign hanging there today.
The director's crew was under the cleared-out canopy, and the staff were eating their meals while watching the monitor.
"Hey, I knew Su Tiantian would come this way."
The director also had a Sanxia Guo (a type of stew) on his side. He didn't like rice, so he asked someone to buy some sesame flatbread from the front. The flatbread was split open, filled with some pork intestines and pig's head meat, and a few slices of golden-fried and stewed potatoes that were very flavorful. After squeezing it closed, a little soup seeped out, making it spicy, numbing, salty and fragrant.
"...Hmm, send a prompt to the owner of Wenji."
...
A gentle breeze blew through the mountains. Su Tiantian, holding a flyer folded into a small fan, sat imposingly outside Wenji Restaurant, waiting for a table.
The area around me was full of people waiting for seats; the lines were incredibly long, and everyone was either standing or sitting.
Su Tiantian... no, Su Tiantian, disguised as an old woman, felt a subtle sense of satisfaction.
For so many years, she has never appeared in front of the public so unconcerned about her image.
With a hidden camera hanging around her neck and a photographer disguised as a customer following her, Su Tiantian remembered the theme of today's shoot.
Presumably to promote Qingtang Mountain, the background chosen for this program is also a legend about Qingtang Mountain.
"Legend has it that there was a pond on Qingtang Mountain in ancient times. A hunter who went up the mountain to hunt washed his face with the pond and felt sleepy. He fell asleep by the pond and when he woke up, he found that a hundred years had passed down the mountain..."
The production team held up a megaphone: "So our theme this time is...rejuvenation."
All eight guests donned old-age makeup and had to find the hidden NPC among the tourists at the foot of the mountain, obtain the Rejuvenation Pill, and then climb to the top of the mountain.
After receiving the program information, Su Tiantian waited until everyone dispersed, wandered around the foot of the mountain, and then headed straight for Wenji.
No one recognized her while she was queuing, which emboldened her.
Not only did they queue up enthusiastically, but they also took advantage of their age to get two portions of food from Ji Baiyi, who was delivering things!
The fermented fish was spicy, and Su Tiantian ate it with great relish.
Then she heard the production crew giving her a prompt through her earpiece.
Please note that money cannot be used during the mission.
Su Tiantian: ...
I'd like to use it, but my wallet was taken away as soon as the show started!
Su Tiantian only then realized the show's sinister intentions. Her money had been taken away, and she couldn't eat. She wanted to mooch a meal from fans, but she had put on old-age makeup and couldn't let anyone see through it; once they did, her plan would fail.
Both ends are blocked.
Seeing that it was almost her turn in line, Su Tiantian had a sudden inspiration and grabbed Ji Baiyi in front of her, asking if she could exchange her belongings for money.
Program team: ...
Here we go again, the classic auction segment.
Ji Baiyi was still unaware that the person who had grabbed him was Su Tiantian. Somewhat bewildered, he looked at the woman in her fifties who took out an action camera (the version produced by the TV program) and enthusiastically asked him if he could exchange it for two hundred yuan.
Ji Baiyi glanced at the action camera in the other person's hand, and his mind was filled with all sorts of guesses.
This camera costs over three thousand.
"Auntie, have you been scammed? Should I call the police for you?"
Is this thing a model?
Fortunately, Su Tiantian covered the camera with her hand and shushed everyone.
Ji Baiyi: ...Understood, filming is underway.
"Ask the boss later."
As soon as Su Tiantian entered the store, Ji Baiyi led her to the kitchen.
Wen Fan had just received the director's script, and the moment he saw Su Tiantian, he knew which celebrity she was probably.
then--
"Sorry, we don't accept action cameras. If you want to eat, you can wash the dishes in the kitchen."
This isn't her fault; it was the production team's arrangement.
Su Tiantian had no choice but to wash the dishes, smelling the delicious aromas from the kitchen as she did so.
But Wen Fan is still working on something new.
Spread the marinated chicken evenly in a clay pot, cover the pot and simmer over medium-low heat until the pot makes a sizzling sound. Then pour cooking wine along the edge of the pot. Once the aroma is fully released, open the lid and stir-fry. Finally, let the chicken simmer in the residual heat of the evenly heated clay pot.
The kitchen was still filled with the aroma of roasted chicken.
Su Tiantian's mouth was watering, but luckily Wen Fan was a good boss who always tasted the new dishes first.
When the sizzling chicken is served, the sizzling sound emanating from the clay pot lid is enough to make one's mouth water. The oil bubbles and swirls inside the pot, releasing a rich and intense aroma. Lifting the lid releases even more fragrance and steam, making the sizzling sound even clearer.
Upon closer inspection, the pot contained a deep brown sauce, the chicken pieces, coated in the dark brown hue, trembling slightly in the bubbling sauce. The deliciousness of the high-temperature baking was piping hot. The first bite of chicken revealed the springy and succulent skin, followed by the tender and juicy meat. The thick sauce flowed slowly, clinging to the chicken and adding a rich, savory-sweet aroma. This flavorful sauce was even more delicious when mixed with rice.
As Su Tiantian ate her "employee meal," she suddenly felt that staying here wasn't so bad.
While she was eating, Su Tiantian caught a glimpse of someone out of the corner of her eye.
The other person was clearly avoiding her, crouching down and quietly walking past her on a side path.
Who knew that Su Tiantian would take a quick step forward and catch up, and by the time the other person reacted, it was already too late.
Su Tiantian stood with her hands on her hips, watching the production crew in a hidden spot. A group of people were eating even more happily than she was, with all sorts of delicious food laid out on the table.
Thinking about how I was huffing and puffing while washing the dishes, I realized that these people were doing it on purpose!
Su Tiantian rushed up and snatched the three-cooked pot that the production team hadn't even touched yet, and ran away.
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