Aunt Liu felt both warm and anxious. "Oh, that's the logic, but... but where can we find such a good chef? Those people in the state-owned restaurants are just muddling through the big pot meals. If they really want to keep up appearances, I'm afraid they'll have a hard time. Qingyang, Xiaomo, we can't be careless about this!"
Lu Qingyang's mind was racing, and a bold and clear plan gradually took shape.
"Auntie, don't worry. To run a good restaurant, it's not enough to just have good food. We also need reliable people to manage it. My idea is to have Brother Dongzi and Sister-in-law come over."
Seeing Aunt Liu's eyes suddenly light up, he continued, "Brother Dongzi is hardworking and quick-witted, and sister-in-law is efficient and meticulous. She can easily take care of the front office, greeting guests, and handling the accounts. We have no problem letting the two of you take over the management. As for the kitchen... I plan to hire a real master chef to take charge."
"Hire a master chef?" Aunt Liu exclaimed in surprise. "These days, any truly skilled master chef who can show off his skills is either working in a state-owned restaurant with a stable job, or has long been hired away by those... ahem, those with connections. How can we, a small, fledgling shop, possibly hire one?"
"Of course, the usual methods are difficult, but what if I can come up with something that will make your heart flutter?"
Aunt Liu was skeptical. "If we could really hire a good master, that would be great! But, this person..."
"I've already chosen the candidate." Lu Qingyang had obviously thought it over carefully. "The retired old shopkeeper of 'Guiweiju' in the south of the city, Mr. Chen Sanshao."
"Chen Sanshao?" Aunt Liu obviously didn't know.
Lu Qingyang explained, "He's a well-known figure in our village. His family's royal cooking skills are legendary. Tsk tsk, I heard that even the provincial leaders specifically requested his 'Chicken with Lotus Root'. But he's notoriously stubborn. He's been retired for several years now, and many people have tried to invite him out, but he's been unsuccessful. I heard he's just staying home to take care of his grandson. Even when his son wanted to learn his craft, he only taught him the basics."
"But the old man is not short of money, and he doesn't seek fame. If you want to impress him, you have to give him real things. I've heard that among the dishes that the old man is most proud of, 'Braised Lion's Head' and 'Squirrel Mandarin Fish' are his signature dishes.
In our store, we have secrets that can make these two dishes even better, and we even have a few new fusion recipes that you have never seen before and will make you shine. "
The decision is made and there is no time to lose.
The next morning, Lu Qingyang brought some carefully prepared top-quality ingredients produced in the space.
A neatly copied outline of the improvement idea of "Braised Lion's Head" which concealed the most critical heat and seasoning ratio was knocked on the mottled vermilion lacquer door of Mr. Chen's house deep in a quiet alley in the south of the city.
The person who opened the door was a teenager, who looked at us curiously.
After the announcement, a long while passed before a strong voice was heard: "Who is it? Which unit's lobbyist again? I won't see you! Talk too much, come back. I'm an old man, retired and enjoying my retirement. I won't get involved!"
"Mr. Chen, we are Lu Qingyang and Chen Mo, juniors. We are not from any unit, but we sincerely admire your cooking skills. We have some culinary questions and would like to ask you a few questions." Lu Qingyang's voice was clear and his attitude was respectful but not humble.
"Excuse me?" There was silence for a moment, then footsteps were heard and the door creaked open a crack.
An old man in a gray cloth coat, with a vigorous look and eyes as sharp as an eagle, stood behind the door, looking up and down at the young couple with outstanding temperament.
"What can I ask? How many young people these days know how to cook?"
Lu Qingyang calmly presented the "outline" and a small jar of broth jelly made from interstellar spring water. "I've been fascinated by your 'Braised Lion's Head' dish. I stumbled upon some fragments of an ancient book. The fragments contain some information on selecting ingredients, chopping meat, beating it to perfection, and preparing the broth and cooking it at the right time. They seem to be similar to your famous dish, yet they are slightly different. I'm puzzled and have come to seek your advice. This broth jelly is a trial recipe I made based on the fragments. I hope you will appreciate it."
Mr. Chen was a little impatient at first, but the words "fragments of ancient books" and "slightly different" aroused his curiosity.
He took the thin pages and glanced at them.
At first he was careless, but soon his shrewd eyes opened wide!
In just a few words on the paper, several key points are pointed out, such as the subtle adjustment of the fat-to-lean ratio of pork, the impact of the blade angle and force on fascia damage when chopping meat, and the timing of adding specific ingredient juice to tenderize and lock in freshness when beating the meat.
The precise transition between the "chrysanthemum fire" and "crab eye boiling" in the preparation of 뀪꼐 broth...
Every point points directly to the key to the perfection of this dish. Some of the ideas are even bold and novel, which I have never thought about but vaguely feel are feasible!
He looked at the jar of amber-like crystal-clear broth jelly again and took a closer sniff. An indescribable rich and fresh fragrance, with the original sweetness of the ingredients, rushed into his nose without any trace of foreign flavors or industrial seasonings.
The old man's face changed.
"Come in and talk!" He opened the door, his tone still hard, but the surprise and suspicion in his eyes could no longer be concealed.
Lu Qingyang was delighted, knowing that this first step was successful!
Lu Qingyang didn't throw out all his cards at once, but rather, like squeezing out cream, he only offered a key improvement idea or the prototype of a new recipe each time, just enough to scratch the itch that the old man had been pursuing for decades to reach the pinnacle of his craft.
Mr. Chen went from being reserved and scrutinizing at first to eager questioning and active discussion later.
Regardless of his status, he even dragged Lu Qingyang to his small kitchen to repeat the experiment and prove it.
When Lu Qingyang finally revealed the complete secret of improvement and demonstrated a dish of "Spring Water Tender Tofu" that combined traditional Shandong cuisine techniques with modern seasoning concepts, Mr. Chen couldn't sit still at all.
Looking at the seemingly plain plate of tofu, yet tender and smooth in taste, with incredibly rich layers, the old man sighed and stood up, slamming the table.
"Good boy! What treasures are in your head? I am impressed by this old man! These ideas, these thoughts... are brilliant! So brilliant! I have been thinking about them all my life, and I never thought it could be this good!"
After thinking carefully, he said, "That small restaurant you contracted... I, an old man, will go and book it. If for no other reason than to make these delicious dishes and let those who only know how to eat from the big pot see what real cooking skills are."
Lu Qingyang suppressed the ecstasy in his heart and said solemnly, "Mr. Chen, it is our blessing to have you at the helm. You have the final say in the hotel kitchen and I will never interfere with what you do on the stove. With your cooking skills and these things, let's work together to make this 'Former Workers, Peasants and Soldiers Restaurant' a new place!"
Old Master Chen stroked his beard, his eyes sparkling. "A new name? Hehe, when I, an old man, come out of seclusion, it must be a resounding golden signboard. Qingyang boy, I don't care how the contract is signed, but I have to slowly figure out these things and train a few apprentices who can truly inherit my mantle. You have to go to university and don't delay your studies, but you have to come to the kitchen whenever you have time. I think you are a good material!"
"no problem!"
The key to the kitchen is finally found!
Lu Qingyang immediately called Liu Dong and told him to hurry up and come to Beijing with his family. He said he didn't have to worry about where to stay, as everything was ready.
Liu Dong and his wife hadn't seen their mother for a long time. When they heard the news, they immediately packed up their things with their children and rushed over by train.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
