Li Huan was secretly delighted to see that Xiao Qiao was willing to spend twenty taels of gold to buy a boxed lunch.
We're one step closer to our goal of "winning over Zhou Yu"!
Sun Shangxiang said politely, "You've gone to so much trouble, sister."
Xiao Qiao laughed and said, "A mere twenty taels of gold is nothing to worry about."
It is obvious that Zhou Yu came from a very wealthy family and was a genuine nouveau riche.
Soon, the servants brought the gold and handed it to Li Huan.
Immediately afterwards, Li Huan quickly served two boxed meals, with generous portions of food.
He placed the boxed lunches, beer, and chilled Sprite in front of Xiao Qiao and Sun Shangxiang.
"Madam Zhou, please enjoy your meal."
Xiao Qiao picked up her chopsticks and first grabbed a piece of "steamed pork with lotus leaf".
She wasn't in a hurry to eat; she brought her nose close to the slice of meat and smelled it.
"Hmm, it has the refreshing fragrance of lotus leaves, which makes one's appetite very strong."
Xiao Qiao put the "steamed pork with rice flour" into her mouth, chewed slowly, and savored it carefully.
"The steamed pork slices not only absorb the fragrance of the lotus leaves, but also retain the original aroma of the meat. They are lean but not dry, fatty but not greasy, and the heat is just right!"
Xiao Qiao ate and commented, her eyes sparkling.
"Look at these lotus leaves, they're so green, they must have been picked recently. But it's already late autumn, where did you get these fresh lotus leaves, Mr. Li?"
Li Huan said, "Actually, the lotus leaves were picked back in July and have been stored in cold storage ever since."
"Cold storage?" Xiao Qiao didn't understand.
Li Huan explained: "Cold storage, also known as ice cellar."
Xiao Qiao nodded, understanding.
"Next summer, I will also order people to pick more lotus leaves and store them deep in the ice cellar. In the autumn and winter, we can use lotus leaves to steam meat for Zhou Lang to enjoy."
Li Huan smiled and said, "Madam Zhou's love for Governor Zhou is truly profound."
Sun Shangxiang swallowed the pig's trotter in her mouth: "Sister Xiao Qiao dotes on Governor Zhou and takes care of him in every possible way."
Xiao Qiao said, "Zhou Lang bears heavy responsibilities and works hard all day long. I often cook some delicious food for him to nourish his body."
Li Huan said, "If I'm not mistaken, Madam Zhou's cooking skills are also extremely superb."
Xiao Qiao said modestly, "Compared to you, I am far inferior!"
After taking a bite of the steamed pork, Sun Shangxiang suddenly asked, "Besides steaming pork, can lotus leaves be used to steam chicken or duck?"
Li Huan smiled and said, "Of course! I can make a famous dish called Lotus Leaf Sticky Rice Chicken!"
"Put chicken, salted duck egg yolk, shiitake mushrooms, etc. into glutinous rice, wrap it in lotus leaves, and steam it in a steamer until cooked!"
Sun Shangxiang listened with a longing expression.
"Wow, that sounds incredibly delicious! Li Huan, could you steam lotus leaf sticky rice chicken tomorrow? I'd like to buy some and try it!"
Li Huan readily agreed: "No problem! I'll meet your request!"
Xiao Qiao used her chopsticks to pry open the "braised pork trotters," revealing the fat, lean meat, and tendons inside, and carefully observed them.
Li Huan knew that Xiao Qiao spent gold to buy boxed lunches not only to taste them, but also to learn how they were cooked, which is why she examined each dish in detail.
After taking a few bites of the pig's trotters, Xiao Qiao praised them repeatedly.
“Zhou Lang doesn’t like to eat pig’s trotters, finding them too fishy. If he were to taste this braised pig’s trotters, he would surely praise it highly.”
"Pig trotters are an ordinary food, but Mr. Li has cooked them so deliciously that he must have used a lot of seasonings."
Li Huan said, "In addition to rigorous cooking procedures, a large amount of seasonings must be used."
Xiao Qiao hurriedly asked, "May I ask for your guidance?"
Li Huan had already acquired the "Advanced Culinary Skills" from the "God-Level Lunch Box System," and was thoroughly familiar with the cooking methods and various seasonings for all kinds of dishes!
He said, "Fresh pig's trotters, split in half, put in a pot of cold water, blanch to remove blood foam, and then take them out."
"Pour peanut oil into the pot, add rock sugar, bay leaves, ginger slices, and cinnamon, and stir-fry repeatedly."
"Here's the key: you must add the family's secret sauce and continue stir-frying."
"Finally, pour in hot water, add scallion segments, dried tangerine peel, hawthorn slices, and rice wine, and simmer over low heat for one hour."
Li Huan spoke slowly but explained things very clearly.
"Peanut oil?" Xiao Qiao's eyes widened. "What kind of flower produces oil?"
Li Huan smiled and explained, "Peanuts are the name of a fruit that also comes from South America. After roasting peanuts, they are ground into powder, steamed into cakes, and then pressed to extract fragrant oil."
Xiao Qiao nodded: "I see. Peanut oil must be precious, and peanuts must be hard to come by."
Li Huanxin said, "Of course you can't buy them. Peanuts were only introduced to China during the Ming Dynasty."
Xiao Qiao then asked, "Where are the fragrant leaves?"
Li Huan replied, "Basil leaves are a specialty of South Africa, and are not found in the Central Plains region."
Xiao Qiao exclaimed, "The cooking process for braised pork trotters requires so many seasonings, and even a secret family recipe sauce..."
Li Huan took the opportunity to say, "To be honest, in addition to braised pork trotters, we also use our family's secret sauce or various precious seasonings in dishes such as lotus leaf steamed pork, braised lion's head meatballs, stir-fried eel with shrimp, braised eggplant, and many other delicacies."
Xiao Qiao's eyes were filled with admiration, and a hint of longing.
Sun Shangxiang poured a glass of beer: "Sister, drink your beer quickly, don't sip it slowly, just take a few big gulps."
Xiao Qiao looked at the uniquely shaped paper cup, first staring at the beer foam, then covered her face with her sleeve and took a few sips.
Her brow furrowed: "This wine is bitter; it's not as delicious as chilled Sprite."
After finishing her beer, Sun Shangxiang burped and said with a smile, "This beer has a unique flavor. You'll like it after a few more drinks."
Xiao Qiao continued to savor the dishes, eating "braised lion's head meatballs" and "stir-fried eel with shrimp," and sincerely praised Li Huan's culinary skills.
After tasting the four vegetarian dishes—garlic cucumber, stir-fried green beans, braised eggplant, and stir-fried tofu with green peppers—Xiao Qiao not only reveled in the delicious food but also admired Li Huan's culinary skills immensely!
Afterwards, Xiao Qiao and Sun Shangxiang tasted "Yangzhou Fried Rice with Egg" and "Seaweed and Egg Drop Soup".
Xiao Qiao exclaimed in amazement: "What looks like ordinary rice becomes incredibly delicious when you add eggs, diced meat, shrimp, green peas, and other ingredients!"
Li Huan explained, "The carrots and corn kernels in the fried rice are also specialties from overseas countries."
Sun Shangxiang swallowed the soup in her mouth and chewed on the dried shrimp.
"The soup has dried shrimp in it, and it tastes incredibly delicious!"
Li Huan said in a serious tone, "Although the broth is unlimited, it must still be cooked with care and not just to fool the diners."
Xiao Qiao wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, her expression one of reverence.
"I knew there were always people more skilled than me, but I never expected Mr. Li Huan's culinary skills to reach such a pinnacle!"
Xiao Qiao no longer addresses Li Huan as "stall owner," but respectfully calls him "Mr."
This shows that the boxed lunch completely won over Xiao Qiao's taste buds.
Li Huan deliberately asked, "Madam Zhou, would you like to buy a few more boxed meals for Governor Zhou?"
Xiao Qiao shook her head: "Unfortunately, my Zhou Lang is busy in the military camp and will not return for several days."
Sun Shangxiang hurriedly said, "Why not invite Li Huan to the manor to cook delicious dishes for my sister and Governor Zhou? I can come and satisfy my cravings often!"
Xiao Qiao smiled radiantly: "That's exactly what I was thinking. I wonder if Mr. Li Huan would be willing?"
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