Chapter 948 Not all Sichuan dishes are spicy
"Lao Liu, what the hell are you doing?" Hua Chong complained, "Didn't the boss say we were having Sichuan food today? How come this isn't spicy at all?"
After he finished speaking, everyone looked at Hua Chong as if he were a fool.
"Did I say something wrong?" Hua Chong asked in confusion.
Xiao Peng said, "Hua Chong, let me ask you a question. Chili peppers are native to South America and were introduced to Sichuan during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty, perhaps less than two hundred years ago. However, Sichuan cuisine features exquisite dining utensils from the Shang and Zhou dynasty bronze vessels unearthed from the Sanxingdui ruins in Guanghan, and various tableware from the Neolithic pottery discovered at the Daxi ruins in Wushan. Sichuan cuisine has evolved from that time to today. What did people eat when there were no chili peppers?"
Hua Chong was stunned by the question and stood there in a daze.
Chen Cheng said, "Is there any need to think about this? It must be food without chili peppers!"
Xiao Peng shook his head and said, "No, no, no. Actually, Sichuan people already liked spicy food before chili peppers were introduced here. Sichuan has a basin climate, so it's very humid. So they like spicy seasonings, but there were no chili peppers back then, so they used things like cornel, Sichuan peppercorn, and ginger. They focused on numbing, spicy, fresh, and fragrant flavors. The "Qimin Yaoshu" (Essential Techniques for the People) from the Northern Wei Dynasty, over 1,500 years ago, records that Sichuan people started using cornel as a seasoning. Even today, some Sichuan dishes still use cornel as a spice. Sichuan peppercorn is even more common. It's been on the table since the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and it's the soul of Sichuan cuisine. Now, about one-third of Sichuan dishes use peppercorn. But..."
Xiao Peng said this, taking a mouthful of 'chicken tofu pudding' with a spoon and savoring it with his eyes closed. "It's so damn delicious! Oh, but, but in Sichuan cuisine, only about a third of the dishes are spicy. The majority are neither spicy nor numbing. Authentic Sichuan cuisine is about each dish having its own unique flavor. Sichuan cuisine has a total of 24 flavor types, and spicy is two of them. Just like this chicken tofu pudding, it's soft and tender, and the texture is like tofu pudding, but the flavor is chicken. It's about 'eating chicken without feeling the chicken, eating meat without feeling the meat.' Old Liu, am I right?"
Old Liu smiled and said, "Boss, you are indeed knowledgeable. What you said is absolutely right. At first I wanted to make Huaiyang cuisine for everyone, but then I thought everyone has been eating Huaiyang cuisine lately, so I made some Sichuan cuisine. I wonder if it suits everyone's taste?"
Hua Chong shook his head and said, "It won't taste good if it's not spicy!"
Chen Cheng said, "What do you know? Dishes that are heavily oily, spicy, and numbing don't demonstrate the chef's skills. Our Lao Liu's cooking skills would be wasted on those dishes. Being able to cook non-spicy Sichuan cuisine to this level is something not everyone can do!"
Xiao Peng nodded and said, "It's true. My cooking skills are nothing compared to Lao Liu's. I'm so used to Lao Liu's cooking that I don't even want to cook for myself anymore. Hua Chong, how can you have so many complaints about such delicious food? I'm not praising Lao Liu, but Lao Liu's cooking skills are so good that you might not even be able to get it in a five-star hotel!"
Old Liu smiled and said, "Boss, you're too kind. You guys can eat first. I'll be leaving now."
After Lao Liu left, Xiao Peng said to the maids in the room, "We don't need your services here right now. You can go eat first! Valisa, just put the wine on our table."
After everyone in the room had left, Xiao Peng coughed twice and said, "After today's meal, it's time for us to say goodbye!"
"Ah?" Everyone at the table was startled and looked at Xiao Peng together.
Hua Chong was even more exaggerated. He was just about to try the chicken tofu pudding that Xiao Peng praised so much, but when he heard this, his hand shook and the spoon fell into the soup bowl.
"Boss, what do you mean by the day we part?"
"Are you really going to retire?"
Everyone started talking about it.
Xiao Peng covered his head. "Quiet, quiet! What the hell are you guys arguing about? I just said we were going to catch illegal fishing boats, so why are you retiring? Don't you have a memory?"
Hua Chong muttered, "Isn't that because you just keep thinking about whatever you want?"
Xiao Peng drummed his fingers on the table. "Alright, that's my fault for not explaining it clearly. What I meant was that the Calypso and Luna will each have different tasks."
After hearing Xiao Peng's words, everyone felt relieved.
"So that's how it is!"
"Boss, you almost scared us to death!"
"Boss, please arrange the tasks!"
"Aren't we going to the South Atlantic Anomaly? Why are we arranging work now?"
Looking at the chattering of the crowd, Xiao Peng knocked on the table: "Can you wait until I finish speaking before you speak? Please don't interrupt my train of thought!"
"Oh oh oh, boss, you say!"
Xiao Peng handed a note to Ma Xiao: "Ma Xiao, this is your job this time."
Ma Xiao looked at the note and frowned: "Boss, these coordinates...are they a shipwreck?"
Xiao Peng nodded. "That's right. There are ten coordinates in total. The mission of the 'Calypso' is to find these ten shipwrecks. I can guarantee that these ten coordinates are accurate, but I can't be sure what kind of ships are inside. You need to determine which of these ten ships are worth salvaging and pull up the ones that are worth salvaging! Well, if there are any Portuguese ships, be sure to keep an eye out."
Ma Xiao really wanted to ask Xiao Peng where he found the coordinates of the ten shipwrecks, but he didn't ask because it was not part of his job.
"Boss, leave this to me!" Ma Xiao said, "I'll get it done as quickly as possible. I'll try to complete all the work within six months!"
Duan Bo hurriedly asked, "Boss, the Luna won't be participating in the salvage operation?"
Xiao Peng nodded: "Luna has other things to do."
"Then I'll apply to go to the 'Calypso'. I'm an ROV operator. I can work more efficiently there with Xiao Zhou!" Duan Bo said.
Xiao Peng nodded: "Okay, approved!"
Ma Xiao suddenly said, "Boss, of course I welcome Duan Bo to our side. We're just about to start the salvage work, and he can be a big help to us. But you also need people on your ship, so I'll transfer someone from the Calypso to work for you. Let's have that Johnny come over."
"Johnny?" Xiao Peng was stunned after hearing this, then shook his head and said, "No, don't let him come over. The Luna will be in danger soon. I'm even planning to give the maids on vacation!"
"Dangerous?" Everyone was stunned after hearing this.
Xiao Peng nodded. "Luna's next mission is to capture the pirate ship. Chen Cheng, Hua Chong, I know the crew are all experts, but let's be frank. You don't have the combat experience of Walter and Khedira, so let them take charge of capturing the pirate ship. Oh, I almost regret letting Kasin pick up girls! But it doesn't matter. Just catch a few more and gain enough experience!"
"Boss, why don't you just lead the team?"
"Me? You guys are the ones doing this job! I have other things to do!"
"ah?"
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