He was in command, his aura full of energy:
"Soak the bacon in warm water to remove the saltiness, then slice it as thin as a cicada. Then help me chop the wild rabbit into small pieces and marinate it according to the method I taught you yesterday. Hongxia, take Xiaohua and wash the blueberries carefully, picking out the plumpest ones. Miss Chenmo, bring me my jar of premium wild honey."
Mr. Chen's movements were smooth and flowing, fast but not chaotic.
He personally handled the bacon, and in the flash of his knife, the paper-thin slices of meat, alternating between fat and lean, were neatly arranged.
Heat the pan with cold oil, add a few slices of ginger and stir-fry until fragrant, then slide the meat slices into the pan. With a "sizzle", the rich meat aroma mixed with the light pickled aroma suddenly bursts out!
"Look! The meat slices are fried until they are shiny!" Liu Gou Wa leaned against the doorway, watching intently.
On the other side, the hare meat pieces were wrapped in sauce and rolling in the pot, the color became brighter and more tempting.
Mr. Chen washed Liu Dong and tore up the mushrooms and hazel mushrooms, poured them into another small casserole, added the mushroom broth and a few slices of ham to enhance the flavor, and began to simmer over low heat.
The most unexpected thing is blueberries.
Mr. Chen poured some washed blueberries into a small copper pot, added honey, and simmered it slowly over the lowest heat.
Dark purple berries tumble and melt in amber honey.
"Wow! Blueberries are being cooked into sauce? They smell so nice and sweet!" Liu Xiaohua looked at the purple liquid boiling in the pot in surprise.
"This is called blueberry honey sauce," Mr. Chen explained proudly, "I'll pour it over the basil right out of the pot later... Hey, I'll keep you in suspense for now!"
Soon, several delicious dishes were placed on the makeshift table:
The fat is crystal clear, the lean meat is tender, and after being steamed, it is rolled into small flowers, drizzled with a secret sauce made of mashed garlic, soy sauce, chili oil and balsamic vinegar, and garnished with coriander.
It is salty and fresh in the right amount, fat but not greasy, and has a strong garlic aroma.
The braised wild rabbit is cooked in a rich red sauce, the rabbit meat is tender and tasty, and the rich sauce has a unique gamey aroma that makes you salivate.
The wild mushroom soup is clear and slightly yellow, with shiitake mushrooms, hazel mushrooms and small yellow mushrooms floating in it. A few slices of ham add salty freshness. When you take a bite, the ultimate wild flavor explodes in your mouth, which is elegant and long-lasting.
The blueberry honey sauce yam dumplings were made by Mr. Chen improvised.
Steam the yam and cut it into cubes. Drizzle it with the freshly cooked, warm dark purple blueberry honey sauce.
The pure white yam dumplings are served with a crystal clear and thick purple sauce. When you take a bite, the yam is light and slightly sweet, and is instantly wrapped by the sour and sweet blueberry and mellow honey. The taste is rich and refreshing.
"It's time to eat!" Old Master Chen gave the order, and everyone, already hungry from the aroma, took their seats.
Liu Dong and Ma Hongxia looked at the exquisite and tempting dishes on the table made with the things they brought from home and couldn't believe their eyes.
Especially the yam dumpling with blueberry honey sauce, which completely exceeded their imagination of food.
Liu Xiaohua and Liu Gou Wa couldn't wait to stretch out their chopsticks.
Lu Qingyang tasted a few bites of the dish and found that Chef Chen's cooking skills were as good as usual, and even better than his own petty tricks.
In just a few minutes, the plate of blueberry yam was ready.
He took a bite.
Ma Hongxia praised repeatedly: "This is the first time I've eaten something so delicious. It's so sweet. Isn't yam tasteless? It's really delicious with blueberry jam."
Liu Dong couldn't help but exclaim: "Why does the bacon taste better when it's cut like this?"
Chef Chen laughed heartily: "What a taste!"
…
After a hearty and surprising "opening meal", everyone was satisfied and looked forward to the future of the new hotel.
After the dishes were cleared away, everyone's eyes naturally turned to the small courtyard behind the restaurant that Lu Qingyang mentioned.
Pushing open an inconspicuous small door next to the kitchen, the view suddenly opens up.
A small courtyard that is more spacious and more regular than imagined appears before my eyes.
The ground of the yard was paved with blue bricks. Although there were some places where tenacious grass had grown in the cracks between the bricks, it was kept very clean.
Opposite the door are three main rooms facing north and south, with a slightly smaller wing room on each side of the east and west.
In the corner of the yard there is an old locust tree with lush branches and leaves, casting a cool shade. There is also a pressurized well under the tree.
There was even a small vegetable patch in the corner, which was empty now, but the quality looked good.
"Wow! This yard is really nice!" Ma Hongxia exclaimed in surprise. "It's even neater than the yard back home! This house, these trees, this well... it's wonderful!"
Liu Dong also smiled innocently and nodded repeatedly: "Qingyang, this place is great, this... is this really for us to stay?"
Lu Qingyang said affirmatively, "Of course, of these three main rooms, Dongzi and his wife will live in one. When Xiaohua and Gou Wa grow up, they can each live in a wing room. The yard is also big enough for the children to play, and you can grow whatever you want in the vegetable garden."
He pointed to the main room and said, "Inside, I had it simply painted the walls and laid the floor tiles. It has basically everything, including a bed, a table, and cabinets. Although it's a bit old, it's all good."
We have all the new bedding ready and will have it delivered soon. Please take a look and see if you need anything else. We will get it done slowly."
"This... this is already very good, very good." Liu Dong rubbed his hands, so excited that he didn't know what to say.
Having such a spacious and independent yard to settle down in the city was something he had never dared to imagine before.
Ma Hongxia happily took Liu Xiaohua and Gou Wa to see their respective rooms.
"We are one family, so we should keep our different opinions." Lu Qingyang smiled and waved his hand, motioning Liu Dong to sit down. He also pulled a stool and sat down, his expression becoming serious.
"After settling down at home, we have to focus on the restaurant. The opening date is set for the eighth day of next month, which means there are only about ten days left. Time is tight and the task is heavy. We have to work hard during this period."
Liu Dong immediately straightened his back, his expression becoming serious and focused. "Qingyang, tell me, what are we going to do? We promise to hit wherever we point you, no ambiguity!"
Lu Qingyang nodded and began to explain.
"Starting tomorrow, your and sister-in-law's first task will be to assist Old Man Chen in taking a thorough inventory of our existing ingredients and sorting them into categories."
"Of course that's no problem. Your sister-in-law and I have a few years of education and can both read and write."
Lu Qingyang looked at Liu Xiaohua. When he went to the countryside before, Xiaohua had been at her grandmother's house. This was the first time they met.
"Xiaohua, are you still going to study?"
"Hey, it's been delayed for so long. How can I pick it up again? I asked her, but she can't continue. So, bringing her here will help as a labor force? She can also help look after the children."
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