Chapter 313 Wedding (Part 2)
Today's kitchen can be called the "Olympic Arena" of the Chinese cuisine world. It not only brings together Chinese chefs from home and abroad, but also collects delicious ingredients from all over the world. The Congjiang fragrant pig from Guizhou is roasted with crispy skin and tender meat. The shiny fat slowly slides down the golden skin of the suckling pig. The rich aroma mixed with the burnt aroma of fruit wood smoke, interweaving into an invisible net in the air, arousing the guests' appetite.
"The roast suckling pig for this dish is from Congjiang Xiang pigs, which have a strictly controlled growth period of six months," Zhou Xuanxiong explained to the mainland leaders sitting next to him. He pointed at the bright red suckling pig on the plate, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were gathered together because of a smile. "The pig skin is marinated with secret ingredients and then roasted over a litchi wood fire. Look, the skin is as crisp as glass, and the meat is tender and juicy."
Song Ziqiang, who was standing beside him, had been promoted to deputy mayor of Yuecheng. He was now picking up a knife and fork, carefully cutting off a piece of suckling pig skin. "Mr. Zhou, when it comes to food, you have to be the one to pay attention. In the past few years, if it weren't for my elder brother showing me the way, and if it weren't for Ningning helping our Second Commercial Bureau train chefs and service staff, Yuecheng's service industry would never have become the top brand in the country."
As we were talking, the waiter had already served the last soup. In the pure white bone china bowl, the golden soup was thick, and a complete golden hook wing was quietly lying in it. The wing needle was wrapped in a layer of translucent skin and flesh, and it showed a bright luster after being processed.
"You don't mind my nitpicking. You listen to everything I say. Otherwise, I'm just a nagging, annoying old man." Zhou Xuanxiong gently poked the shark fin with a spoon, "Come, try this century-old craft of the Lu family. The key is this pot of yellow soup, made with old chicken, ham, and scallops, and paired with the golden hook shark fin produced in the Philippines. The fin needles are full and the gelatin is thick. After one bite, there is no need to say anything."
Yue Ning and Qiao Junxian were walking among the guests to toast. She had just changed out of her dragon and phoenix gown and was wearing a light golden cheongsam with a precious flower pattern. A golden hairpin was swaying gently at her temples. Around her neck was a three-layer Japanese Akoya pearl necklace. Each pearl was round and as bright as a mirror, with a warm halo flowing under the light.
"Grandpa Zhou, you can't call yourself an old man anymore. You are a fat old man." Yue Ning lightly touched the rim of Zhou Xuanxiong's glass with his wine glass.
Zhou Xuanxiong laughed loudly, and the smile lines at the corners of his eyes deepened: "The old man is still so fat, and the fat girl is not fat anymore, she got married."
"Mr. Zhou, don't worry. In two years, Ningning will give birth to a big fat girl, and you will have a big fat girl again." Song Ziqiang said.
These words caused everyone to laugh. Yue Ning's cheeks turned slightly red. Qiao Junxian raised his glass and said, "Thank you for your good words."
Every dish at the dinner carries a profound cultural heritage.
The belly of the yellow croaker in soup is filled with seasonal crab meat. The soup in the belly is golden and thick. Take a spoonful and the sweetness of the crab meat and the delicateness of the fish meat interweave on the tip of your tongue; the plump Sebu eel balls are in the bowl, and the mutton is below. The eel meat is so tender that it almost melts in your mouth. The freshness of fish and mutton can be said to be a perfect match; the scallion-fried black sea cucumber uses the black sea cucumber produced in Beihai and is cooked with Zhangqiu scallions. The sauce is thick and sticky, and the sea cucumber is full of scallion fragrance, soft and chewy. The most amazing thing is the Wellington steak with layers of puff pastry, wrapped with tender fillet steak and foie gras. When cut, the aroma overflows. The crispy puff pastry, the richness of foie gras and the tenderness of beef form a wonderful taste layer.
Australian lobster and king crab were served one after another, and the finale was a Qiankun roast goose. How many gourmets has this dish conquered?
These chefs brought their signature dishes together for Yue Ning's wedding banquet. They once worked together in the kitchen of Baohua Building, integrating the flavors of the north and south, and the techniques of China and the West, and then brought their experience back to various places to pass on to more apprentices.
After the dinner, Yue Ning changed into a brocade dress with a tit and pipa pattern. The Australian white pearl necklace around her neck emitted a cold blue light. Each pearl was the size of a longan. She and her family saw the guests off together.
After seeing off the guests, the family went home together. Cui Huiyi pinched Yue Ning's face and whispered in her ear, "There are still two days to go. Don't let him torment you tonight. It's not worth it to tire yourself to death."
Yue Ning didn't nod, so Qiao Junshen pulled his wife and said, "Do you think Ningning is like you? Why are you worried about her? Let me tell you, tomorrow morning, they will both get up and run."
Qiao Junxian didn't hear clearly and looked at him questioningly. Qiao Junshen took his son from Ye Yingyi and said, "A night of spring is worth a thousand gold. You guys go and have a rest. We will go back too."
Ye Yingyi said to Yue Baohua, "Uncle Hua, come over with the kids to have breakfast tomorrow morning. Come whenever you wake up. Everyone in our family has different breakfast times, so it doesn't matter when."
Although Qiao Qiming always told Yue Baohua that he was now retired, the two of them could sit together and play chess and drink tea, leaving the children to their own business.
Yue Baohua thought, how could he marry his granddaughter and bring himself along? He thought he should live in his own home. As soon as he said this to Yue Ning, Yue Ning said, why don't she buy another villa as the wedding house for her and Qiao Junxian.
How could that be possible? How much effort did Ning Ning put into this house? Besides, the Qiao family was so reasonable, and this would hurt their feelings.
His granddaughter was reluctant to let him live alone, and he had gotten used to having his granddaughter around over the years, so he could just live with her shamelessly!
But if I live there, I still have to go to my in-laws’ house for dinner, this…
"Baohua, the children like the kueh soup sold outside. I can't make it well. When you have free time, please teach me." said Mrs. Qiao.
When he heard that he had something to do, Yue Baohua immediately smiled and said, "I'll do it, I'll do it."
Qiao Qiming patted Yue Baohua on the shoulder: "You! Come and have tea with me tomorrow morning."
Yue Baohua was embarrassed when Qiao Qiming exposed his thoughts and said, "Okay."
"We're through."
The family went to the next door. Yue Baohua patted Dahei's head and said to his granddaughter and grandson-in-law, "You should go to bed early too."
"Good night, Grandpa!"
"Dahei, let's go and go to bed." As soon as Yue Baohua said this, Dahei wagged his tail and went to his own room.
Yue Ning and Qiao Junxian walked up the stairs side by side. The curtains of the wedding room had been drawn, and the red dates, peanuts and other wedding supplies on the bed had been put away, leaving only the warm light.
Qiao Junxian closed the door, turned around and looked at Yue Ning, his eyes full of tenderness: "What did your sister-in-law say to you just now? It was so mysterious."
Yue Ning raised an eyebrow and teased him deliberately: "Sister-in-law told me not to torment you tonight."
"Nonsense," Qiao Junxian's cheeks flushed instantly. He reached out and took Yue Ning into his arms, the fragrance of her hair lingering on his nose, "It's obviously you who always likes to do bad things."
Yue Ning looked up into his deep eyes, put her arms around his neck, and said with a hint of cunning: "It's different now, we have certificates to work."
This sentence evoked the common memories of the two, from their first meeting in the northwest countryside, to their journey out of the mountains, to the promise made by Qiao Junxian to his uncle-in-law after they established their relationship: "It starts with love and ends with courtesy." Over the years, they have adhered to the bottom line and restrained themselves even when they were emotional. Yue Ning once deliberately bit Qiao Junxian to make him feel distracted, but he just went to take a shower helplessly and never crossed the line.
"You looked so beautiful when you took off your braids in the department store," Qiao Junxian lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his voice low and sincere, "I think I fell in love with you at that moment."
"No, that's not the case," Yue Ning retorted, her fingertips lightly brushing across the front of his shirt, "You obviously liked the time when I beat someone down in the northwest and said I was 'the most vibrant life in that land'."
Qiao Junxian smiled when he heard this. He held her hand and placed it on his chest, letting her feel the strong heartbeat: "What about you? When did you start to like me?"
"See you trying so hard to eat that bowl of salty and dry potato cakes. Come and try the rice noodles I made."
Hearing this, Qiao Junxian paused, and Yue Ning said: "Every day from now on, bit by bit, I will like it more and more."
He liked to hear it, and she really liked it, so why should she be stingy and say it out loud?
Qiao Junxian's kiss fell on her lips, gentle and lingering. The hairpin was gently removed, and her long hair like a waterfall fell on her shoulders. He thought of countless nights of restraint, and now he could finally hold her in his arms and feel her real warmth.
"Ningning," he whispered in her ear, his voice a little hoarse, "How can you be so nice?"
Yue Ning didn't answer, but kissed him back, her fingertips clumsily unbuttoning his shirt, like opening a gift that had been treasured for many years. Qiao Junxian chuckled and reached out to help her unbutton her shirt, revealing his smooth chest. Her eyes fell on his heart, where there was a small mole, faintly visible in the warm light.
"You're drooling." Qiao Junxian teased, brushing his fingertips across her slightly hot cheek.
Yue Ning actually swallowed his saliva, which made both of them laugh. The laughter gradually died down, leaving only the sound of each other's breathing interweaving in the quiet room.
After an unknown amount of time, Yue Ning woke up in the morning light, with a warm arm around her. She turned around and pinched Qiao Junxian's face. He opened his eyes drowsily, still with sleepiness in his eyes, but subconsciously hugged her tighter.
"Qiao Junxian, get up and go for a run," Yue Ning rubbed against his arms, her voice soft and tender as if she had just woken up.
"Stay a little longer," Qiao Junxian buried his face in her hair and said sullenly, "Spring nights are too short."
"Nonsense," Yue Ning pushed him away and lifted the quilt, "We agreed to run every day, you can't be lazy."
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