Chapter 181: He's so good at stealing credit!
Zhang Tou'er was worried about the monotony of the menu when he heard this. He paused for a moment, looked Su Xiaonuan up and down, and said, "Crispy pork belly? You can make that?"
"Hmm..." Su Xiaonuan nodded, twisting the hem of her apron with her fingers, "I learned a little bit from a master craftsman back in my hometown..."
A chef who was cooking nearby overheard this and chimed in, "Old Zhang, let her give it a try. There's plenty of meat anyway. If she can really make it well, it'll be good for the higher-ups to have something different to eat."
Aunt Li chimed in, "Yes, Xiao Su is quick and efficient; she seems like a reliable young man."
After thinking for a moment, Zhang Tou'er figured that the losses wouldn't be significant even if it failed, so he nodded and said, "Alright, then try making one using that little stove over there. Be careful with the ingredients!"
"Oh! Thank you, Master Zhang!" Su Xiaonuan's face immediately lit up with a delighted smile, as if she had received tremendous encouragement.
She immediately got to work. She selected a piece of pork belly with a perfect ratio of fat to lean meat and skillfully processed it—blanching, piercing, applying seasonings, massaging to infuse flavor… She performed each step meticulously, with a focused and dedicated radiance.
At first, the other people in the kitchen didn't pay much attention, just thinking it was a newcomer's attempt.
But things started to change after Su Xiaonuan put the marinated pork belly into the oven and set the temperature and time.
As the oven temperature rises, an indescribable, overwhelming aroma begins to waft out from the oven's gaps!
The aroma is first of all the caramel-sweet meaty fragrance, which comes out of the fat due to the high temperature. Then comes the complex aroma of various spices that blend and burst together under the heat. It is rich in layers and irresistible!
The aroma seemed almost tangible, quickly filling the entire kitchen space and even wafting through the ventilation ducts to the dining area outside!
Everyone busy in the kitchen unconsciously slowed down.
The burly man chopping bones stopped, took a deep breath through his nose, and his Adam's apple bobbed up and down.
The cook forgot to flip the pan and stared blankly toward the oven.
Aunt Li, who was picking vegetables, put down the vegetables in her hands, her eyes fixed on something.
Even the usually serious Zhang Tou'er couldn't help but twitch his nose, his face showing surprise and...longing.
"What...what is this smell? It smells amazing!"
"My God, this smells better than any braised pork I've ever smelled!"
"Xiao Su, what kind of divine meat did you make?"
The crowd couldn't help but gather around the oven, staring longingly at the small glass door, as if some rare treasure was being refined inside.
The rate of saliva secretion is completely uncontrollable.
Su Xiaonuan, observing everyone's reactions, knew perfectly well that the desired effect had been achieved.
But her face betrayed a moment of flattery and a touch of embarrassment. She rubbed her hands together and replied with a simple, honest smile, "It's...it's just a traditional dish from my hometown, crispy pork belly...I didn't expect it to smell so good. Please excuse the poor quality..."
"What are you laughing at! This taste is absolutely amazing!" Zhang Tou'er couldn't help but slap his thigh, and his gaze towards Su Xiaonuan completely changed, from a hint of pity and scrutiny to undisguised admiration and surprise. "Xiao Su, I didn't know you had this skill! You've been keeping it a secret!"
"No, no, I just did it casually..." Su Xiaonuan quickly waved her hand, her humility just right.
"Ding—" The oven timer went off.
Su Xiaonuan put on thick gloves and carefully opened the oven door.
In an instant, an even richer and more enticing aroma exploded and swept through the entire kitchen!
On the baking tray, the pork belly had been transformed. Its skin was a beautiful golden-red color, covered with even, crispy bubbles, and sizzling with oil, as if it were issuing a primal call to everyone's appetite!
Everyone swallowed hard, their eyes wide with disbelief.
The plate of golden-brown, intensely fragrant crispy pork belly, fresh from the oven, seemed to be under its own spotlight, captivating the attention of everyone in the kitchen.
The sounds of swallowing saliva rose and fell, and even the air seemed to thicken, filled with the most primal craving for food.
Just as everyone was gathered around the baking tray, watching eagerly, Zhang Tou'er couldn't help but rub his hands together, preparing to cut a small piece for everyone to try, when the curtain leading from the kitchen to the dining area was lifted.
Several men, dressed in uniforms distinctly different from the kitchen staff and exuding a more composed or even arrogant demeanor, walked in.
The man leading the group was around fifty years old, with slicked-back hair and a well-fitting suit. He had a slight frown on his brow, as if he had been drawn there by the unusual fragrance.
"What smells so good? Are there any new dishes on the menu today?" the slick-back-haired man asked, his voice carrying the scrutinizing tone typical of someone in a superior position.
The kitchen fell silent instantly.
The crowd, who had just been immersed in the fragrance, were suddenly jolted awake as if splashed with cold water. They immediately composed themselves, instinctively straightened their bodies, and their eyes revealed awe and tension.
Someone quietly nudged Zhang Tou'er with their elbow, who was still staring blankly at the pork belly.
Zhang Tou'er was jolted awake and instantly came to his senses.
The slight fascination with food on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an expression that mixed fear, ingratiation, and quick wit.
Almost reflexively, he took a sidestep and used his slightly overweight body to completely block Su Xiaonuan, who was about to speak, from behind.
"Oh my! Mr. Zhou! Why did you come to the kitchen yourself? It's so smoky here, I hope you won't be bothered by the smoke!" Boss Zhang's face was full of fawning smiles, and he bent down, his tone respectful to the point of being almost humble.
As he spoke, he almost snatched the sizzling crispy pork belly from Su Xiaonuan's face with remarkable ease, placing it steadily on the clean counter beside her. His movements were so fluid that it was as if he had made the dish himself from start to finish.
"Mr. Zhou, this is what you smelled!" Boss Zhang pointed to the plate of crispy pork belly, his face showing a boastful expression as if he had discovered a treasure. "This is a new dish I've been thinking about these past few days, trying to give the leaders a change of pace. It's made using an old method from my hometown. Why don't you try it and see if you like it?"
He spoke these words without batting an eye, directly taking credit for Su Xiaonuan's achievements and even implying that it was the result of his "painstaking research."
Caught off guard, Su Xiaonuan almost couldn't catch her breath.
Looking at Zhang Tou'er's broad back and the masterpiece that was so close yet attributed to someone else, a nameless anger suddenly welled up inside her, and her fingers unconsciously clenched the edge of her apron.
That old rascal, he's got a knack for stealing credit way too!
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