Chapter 30 Garlic Ribs
As the family went out, they ran into Aunt Wu. Lin pretended not to see Aunt Wu raise her hand.
Aunt Wu wanted to say hello, but ended up feeling awkward. She went home with a dark face, angrily saying, "We've been neighbors for over ten years, and she turns on me like that. Even if I was confused this time, shouldn't she have calmed down by now?"
Wu Ermao had just finished breakfast and didn't respond to that, packing his things to leave.
"Did you hear me?" Aunt Wu ran to her son.
“If you don’t want to associate with someone, then don’t. It’s your own decision, and no one has said anything behind your back. They just don’t want to talk to you,” Wu Ermao said expressionlessly.
Hearing this made Aunt Wu even angrier, and just then Xu Mingxuan came to deliver an invitation, saying that his family was going to hold a banquet.
Aunt Wu forced a smile, "Oh, that's wonderful! I've really made something of myself, getting to eat at a scholar's banquet. Don't worry, we'll definitely be there. By the way, who did you hire as your chef for the banquet at home?"
"We invited Miss Qiao. My mother said her family cooks well and is good at handling things," Xu Mingxuan said.
"Qiao Mianmian? Wasn't she afraid to accept banquets?" Aunt Wu's eyes widened. She had just refused her a few days ago, but she turned around and accepted the Xu family's invitation?
Xu Mingxuan rarely interacted with women and didn't understand why Aunt Wu's expression had changed. However, he was going to deliver invitations to other households, so he said yes and took his leave.
Aunt Wu couldn't hold back any longer. She slapped her thigh, her face flushed with anger, and said, "That family has gone too far! Is it really necessary?"
Wu Ermao glanced at his mother, felt a lump in his throat, and turned to leave.
At this time, Qiao Mianmian and her two siblings arrived at the Wang family.
The Wang family's residence was a three-courtyard house, much larger than the Qiao family's. Just as Madam Wang said, the Wang family had many children, and as soon as they entered the courtyard, seven or eight children were chasing each other and playing.
The Wang family runs a grain and oil business, and it is said that they also own dozens of acres of fertile land outside the city. They are quite wealthy, which is why they were able to support Wang Chuang's education.
The person who came to greet Qiao Mianmian and her two siblings was Zhou, Wang Chuang's sister-in-law. She had a square face and looked to be in her early thirties. "My mother started talking about it early this morning, asking if the Qiao family's chef had arrived yet. When I saw you, I thought your parents were behind you. Miss Qiao is so young. It's really enviable that she has such skills at such a young age."
She spoke sweet words and led the Qiao family into the main room where her mother-in-law lived. Her brother-in-law was the first person in their Wang family to pass the imperial examination at the county level, and they, as the elder brother and sister-in-law, were very happy. Not only did he gain fame, but he would also be exempt from land taxes in the future, which was a real benefit.
Madam Wang had been waiting since early morning. When she saw Qiao Mianmian and her two siblings, she told them to sit down and have some snacks. "I know time is tight and there are many things to prepare, so I won't ramble on. You can eat while I talk. In Lin'an, people pay attention to the numbers five, six, and eight. My son's success in passing the imperial examination is a blessing from our ancestors. For the main banquet, I want to have the most elaborate eight-bowl feast."
Speaking of her youngest son, Madam Wang couldn't help but smile. She had sent all four of her sons to school, but the first three sons had no talent for studying, and only her youngest son had succeeded in his studies.
Since the host family wanted to hold a grand celebration, Qiao Mianmian naturally had no objections. "Your family is celebrating a great occasion, so it's certainly worth a proper celebration. Let's talk about the dishes. Fish is a must, as it symbolizes your son's success in achieving great things. It can be braised, sweet and sour, or fried."
"The rest are chicken, duck, beef, lamb, and pork. I'll tell you in detail what I know how to cook. If you'd like to try them first, I can also pick a few dishes from your home for you to try at noon today."
Qiao Mianmian described various ways to cook pork belly, her mouth getting dry from talking so much that she had to take a sip of tea halfway through. "You can braise pork belly, and if you want it to be more substantial, you can add eggs to stew it. Stew the pork belly until it's tender and flavorful, the fat is full of sauce flavor, and it melts in your mouth. The pork skin is also tender, but it has a unique gelatinous texture, which is also very delicious."
"Miss Qiao, what you've been saying has me drooling." Madam Wang laughed heartily.
A group of children gathered at the door, listening intently to Qiao Mianmian's description of the food, their eyes fixed on her.
The eldest one couldn't help but say, "Grandma, I want to eat the braised pork that this older sister mentioned!"
"I want to eat sweet and sour fish!" Once one person said it, others followed suit.
"I want fried pork ribs and eight-treasure rice!"
"I want some too! I want some too!"
...
The children were making a ruckus. Zhou Shi came over and pinched her son's cheek. "No manners! The guests are still here. What are you shouting for? There's time for you to eat. What's the rush?"
As soon as Zhou spoke, the children immediately fell silent.
Madam Wang said with heartache, "Don't talk about them. Since Miss Qiao said she could show off her skills, let's ask her to cook a few dishes at noon so we can try them out. After all, there are quite a few dishes she mentioned that I've never tried before."
She herself was craving it; having lived most of her life, she had eaten braised pork and sweet and sour fish before. But hearing the dishes described by Qiao Mianmian made them sound even more tempting.
Qiao Mianmian had no problem with it. She took her fourth sister and eldest brother to the kitchen. The Wang family had a lot of people, so they bought a lot of groceries.
Zhou introduced Qiao Mianmian and her two siblings, saying, "Today we only have mutton and fish at home. I've had someone buy the pork belly and ribs. Miss Qiao, if you need any help, feel free to call me anytime."
She knew that chefs were afraid of having their techniques stolen, and she couldn't stay in the kitchen unless the Qiao family brought it up.
Qiao Mianmian calculated the time, "With my older brother and sister here, they can help me out."
Hearing Qiao Mianmian say that, Zhou Shi closed the door behind her when she left. They had hired her to be the head chef; it would be disrespectful for her to steal his skills. Her family had their own business to run and wouldn't stoop to such a thing.
Qiao Mianmian didn't think too much about it and started preparing the dishes with her older brother and fourth sister, while teaching them how to cook.
"The mutton needs to be soaked in water to remove the blood first, then blanched with scallions, ginger, and garlic." Qiao Mianmian took the blanched mutton out, "After draining the water, stir-fry the sugar over low heat until it caramelizes, then add the mutton back in and stir-fry. Pour soy sauce and cooking wine along the edge of the wok at the same time. Look, doesn't it smell delicious?"
The sauce in the pot sizzled and bubbled, and its aroma soon filled the entire kitchen.
After adding hot water, Qiao Mianmian added star anise and dried chili peppers to stew together. "Once it boils, you can transfer it to the stove to simmer for a while. This way, the mutton will be more flavorful. Did you all understand?"
Qiao Jiawang shook his head with difficulty. Lin Xiahe wrote down the steps, but still lacked confidence. "Mianmian, I can understand it from watching, but I'm afraid it will be different when I actually do it."
"It's okay, practice makes perfect. You'll get better and better if you cook it at home a few more times. Sometimes I just want to be lazy, so you guys can cook." She cooks every day, and there are times when she gets tired. Qiao Mianmian loves cooking, but there are also days when she just wants to lie down and not move.
After the mutton was stewed, the Wang family bought other vegetables. Qiao Mianmian cut the pork belly into chunks, braised it, and then stewed it on the stove.
The beef is sliced thinly across the grain; half is marinated for boiled beef, and the other half is used for stir-fried beef.
After preparing the side dishes, Qiao Mianmian started frying the fish. The Wang family has many children, so they must love sweet and sour flavors.
Fry the fish until golden brown and crispy, then roll the skin into pretty rings before preparing the sweet and sour sauce.
"You must use low heat when making the sauce, otherwise it will burn and won't taste good. This is a time that requires patience. The seasonings don't have a specific order; just use these." Qiao Mianmian patiently explained to her older brother and sister. After she prepared the sauce, she poured it down the back of the fish, and the sauce flowed down the fish meat until it reached the bottom of the plate.
The Wang family is large, so they eat at two separate tables. Qiao Mianmian asked her eldest brother and fourth sister to serve the dishes. "The mutton and braised pork are almost ready. Tell the Wang family that it's time to eat."
She kept some for herself and put the rest in a bowl.
The amber sauce flowed over the meat chunks, and after stewing for a long time, the fat became translucent like solidified fat. The moment the lid was opened, a burst of steam rushed out, first with the sweetness of caramel, followed by the rich aroma of cinnamon and other spices after stewing.
Qiao Mianmian tasted it; the soup was rich, sweet, and perfectly seasoned.
At this moment, Lin Xiahe carried the dishes to the main courtyard. As soon as she appeared, the Wang family children rushed over, "Sister, what is this? It smells so good!"
"Sister, can we eat now?"
...
Lin Xiahe blushed as she was repeatedly called "sister." She said softly, "Yes, dinner is ready. Go wash your hands first." After entering the house, she greeted Zhou Shi and the others, "Sister-in-law Wang, Second Sister-in-law... dinner is ready."
She placed the braised fish on the table, and seeing that her older brother hadn't placed it in the center enough, she helped to arrange it further.
Mrs. Zhou smiled and said, "You speak so softly, but you have to be a little stricter with those naughty kids, otherwise they won't listen to you."
Lin Xiahe thought to herself that she was certainly not that gentle at home, but this was a guest's home, and her sister had said that they had to show good service.
“They’re quite well-behaved,” Lin Xiahe said. “Please sit down, I’ll go get the dishes.”
After Lin Xiahe and her brother left, Zhou went to call her mother-in-law for dinner, and at the same time praised, "I didn't expect that the children raised by a small family like the Qiao family would be so tactful in their words and deeds. Miss Qiao the Fifth speaks clearly and eloquently. Miss Qiao the Fourth is diligent; I've observed her, and she's a very capable person."
“So what if we’re from a small family? We’re not a wealthy family either.” Madam Wang wasn’t a snob. “I’ve met her family. They’re a large family, but they’re harmonious and everyone is family-oriented. A family like that can’t be bad off, and with her skills, things will only get better.”
"Yes, Mother is right." When Zhou and her mother-in-law arrived at the front hall, they saw a mischievous boy reaching for a fish. They hurriedly ran over and said, "You greedy cat, didn't I tell you not to grab food with your hands?"
The Qiao family is here today; we can't let them make a fool of themselves.
But the Wang family children were already getting hungry and their stomachs were rumbling.
"Mom, I'm hungry."
"Auntie, I'm so hungry too. This fish and braised pork smell so good."
When do we eat?
"Endure your hunger, it's not like we're not letting you eat. You can only sit down after all the elders are seated, understand?" Zhou was strict with the children in her family. Her father-in-law had passed away early, and her husband was the head of the family, so after she, as the eldest sister-in-law, entered the family, she sometimes had to teach and discipline her younger brothers-in-law. Now, she was even more strict with the younger generation.
Just then, the Wang brothers returned from the shop. As soon as Wang Chuang entered, he smelled a wonderful aroma. "What a delicious fish! Which sister-in-law cooked today? It smells so good!"
“It’s Miss Qiao Wu who’s here to taste the dishes,” Zhou said.
"So it's Miss Qiao Wu! I'll go see her!" Wang Chuang said and ran to the kitchen, but the pungent smell of smoke made him cough, so he retreated to the doorway.
Lin Xiahe came out just then, carrying a plate of stir-fried beef. "I just stir-fried the beef, and the kitchen smells of smoke. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"I've come to see what dishes are available today. It's alright, you go ahead, I'll be right back in a bit," Wang Chuang said, craning his neck to look into the kitchen.
Qiao Mianmian was making boiled beef. The beef was only boiled in water until it changed color, and then immediately taken out.
The broth had been prepared long ago, with side dishes at the bottom. After adding the beef, hot oil was poured over it to release the aroma of chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns. She thought there was no Sichuan peppercorn in Lin'an, but she found some in the Wang family's kitchen, which was perfect timing.
The last meat dish was fried garlic ribs. The ribs had already been marinated with starch, and then they were fried one by one in the hot oil.
Soon, the ribs, coated in a crispy crust, leaped out of the hot oil, golden bubbles still sizzling.
The aroma of garlic wafted from the hot oil, and after being flipped, it turned a beautiful caramel color. After all the ribs were taken out, they were placed on a slotted spoon to drain the oil. In the meantime, Qiao Mianmian started stir-frying the vegetables.
The Wang family was going to hold a banquet, so they had to pay attention to the plating. Qiao Mianmian used a gourd to carve flowers and decorated it with small pink and white flowers, and then neatly arranged the garlic ribs on the plate.
"Fourth Sister, serve the dishes." Qiao Mianmian had already stir-fried the vegetables, and another pot was simmering a hot and sour yam soup. The Wang family valued practicality and enough to eat, so the preparation wasn't overly complicated. The focus was on deliciousness and quantity, complemented by attractive plating, which was enough to satisfy the Wang family.
Qiao Mianmian then carried over the last bowl of hot and sour soup.
At this moment, only the sounds of chopsticks clattering against bowls and children chewing their food filled the front hall.
"Madam Wang, the dishes are all ready. Is there anything you're not satisfied with, or any suggestions you'd like to make?" Qiao Mianmian asked.
Madam Wang had just picked up a piece of garlic-flavored pork rib, but before she could even take a bite, she hurriedly waved her hand, "Go eat first, we'll talk later. My son is right, your cooking is really good, especially delicious!"
Qiao Mianmian was pleased to hear this, knowing that the Wang family had eaten to their heart's content. She then took her fourth sister and eldest brother to eat as well.
In the kitchen, Qiao Mianmian quickly finished eating. "Fourth Sister, Eldest Brother, do you still remember the steps for cooking today?"
After Qiao Jiawang finished his work, he forgot everything.
Lin Xiahe could still remember some of it. "Mianmian, you are really amazing. You can even remember what Aunt Zhou taught you."
"It wasn't entirely Aunt Zhou who taught me. I used to chat with the chefs when we went to banquets. You know, I used to dislike doing things and loved to slack off." Qiao Mianmian chuckled, offering some explanation for her abilities.
Hearing this, Lin Jiawang pursed his lips. "It's because your older brother isn't capable enough that you have to work so hard." The family was busy preparing for his new home after his marriage, and even his fifth sister, who usually didn't wash the dishes, was busy.
"Then I believe that my brother will definitely be very successful in the future. You are honest and down-to-earth, which is your greatest strength." Qiao Mianmian sincerely praised him. Her brother was indeed not a clever person, which made him even more reassuring.
After the Wang family had finished eating, Qiao Mianmian went over to discuss the menu with Madam Wang and the others.
"Time is running out. We need to start buying and preparing groceries today. Some dishes need to be cooked tomorrow," Qiao Mianmian said, while Wang Chuang took notes. "Fourth Brother Wang, have you remembered everything I said?"
Wang Chuang said he had noted it down, "I'll go with my brothers to prepare now, and I'll leave the rest to you." As he spoke, he didn't forget to seek praise from his family, "Mother, I always said that Miss Qiao's cooking is quite good, even better than the ones in big restaurants, right?"
"Yes, thanks to you, our family is in for a treat. Look at your nephews and nieces, they're all stuffed. That braised pork was really delicious today, fatty but not greasy, and the broth was perfect for mixing with rice!" Madam Wang herself was about nine-tenths full. If her eldest daughter-in-law hadn't reminded her, she probably would have eaten another piece of rib.
"I'm glad you like it." Qiao Mianmian saw that it was getting late and that she would come over at dawn the next day, so she said goodbye to Madam Wang.
Zhou asked Qiao Mianmian to wait, and then came over carrying a bamboo basket. "These are the tangerines that the farmers sent this year, and there are also two packages of pastries from Songhelou. I'll have to ask your family for help with the rest."
The snacks were bought when we went grocery shopping. The Zhou family valued etiquette and wouldn't let anyone go home empty-handed.
Qiao Mianmian said thank you and handed the bamboo basket to her eldest brother. As the three siblings walked out of the Wang family's house, the evening breeze stirred the strands of hair at their temples, bringing a touch of warmth, which was very comfortable.
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