Rice was cooking in a small pot, and the fish was marinating. Zhou Yan first took out the braised beef shank, beef tongue, and beef intestines that the old lady had prepared.
[A well-prepared braised beef shank]
[A well-prepared braised beef tongue]
[A perfectly braised beef intestine]
Zhou Yan looked at the evaluations that popped up below his eyes. The good reviews from the system meant the beef shank and beef tongue were well-prepared.
And the perfectly rated braised beef intestines were undoubtedly the old lady's specialty.
They were a bright red color when freshly scooped out, looking quite tempting.
"Slice the beef shank and beef tongue thinly. After slicing the intestines, add a spoonful of braising liquid and heat them up; they taste even better when hot." the old lady instructed from the side, afraid that Zhou Yan would mess up her old braising liquid.
"Okay." Zhou Yan replied, and began slicing the beef shank.
The cleaver tapped lightly against the cutting board, and with a single slice, the cross section revealed a fine marbled pattern of tendon and lean meat, the veins like jade embellishments.
The braised beef shank wasn't about being extremely thin; a slight thickness was better for the texture. The braising sauce had perfectly soaked into the beef, giving it a bright, appealing color.
The beef tongue was different. Zhou Yan's movements slowed, and the tongue slices fell one by one, paper thin, each slice almost uniform in thickness.
They were arranged on a plate, accompanied by a dry dipping sauce and a small dish of thinly sliced garlic—the standard accompaniment for beef and beef tongue.
The old lady watched, nodding slightly, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.
This young man's knife skills have improved quite a bit since the New Year.
The beef intestines were sliced diagonally into sections, arranged on a plate, and the old lady ladled a spoonful of braising sauce over them.
Zhou Yan started making crucian carp with perilla leaves. He made it once yesterday, and today he was making it even more skillfully.
The old woman didn't say anything, just stood there watching.
She loved eating fish and was also very skilled at cooking it.
Whether it was braised, boiled, or stir-fried, she could make it perfectly.
Although Zhou Yan had studied cooking for two and a half years, he could only act as her assistant in the kitchen before, and she was always the one in charge of cooking during holidays and festivals.
But today, Zhou Yan's demeanor impressed her quite a bit.
His knife skills had improved significantly; it was obvious he had put in a lot of effort.
The beef tongue was sliced perfectly, even thinner than she could slice it, and the slices were basically uniform in length and thickness.
Don't underestimate this point; the presentation on the plate is crucial to its appeal. Whether a dish can command a high price depends heavily on its appearance.
He fried the fish calmly and steadily, flipping it over, taking it out of the pan, and plating it without even breaking the skin.
He even brought his own pickled chili peppers, long beans, and perilla leaves. He stir-fried the ingredients in the wok for a moment, and the aroma instantly filled the air.
"Hmm, your stir fried sauce is fragrant, sour and spicy, with a unique flavor." the old woman commented.
After the water boiled, Zhou Yan gently placed the fish into the wok, simmering it over low heat, and said with a smile, "I haven't put this dish on the menu yet; I wanted you to give it a try first."
"With this flavor, it can't be bad." the old woman said approvingly.
The fish was taken out of the wok first, then the perilla leaves were added, the sauce in the wok was reduced, and then poured over the fish. The bright red, agate-like sauce contained chopped pickled chili peppers, ginger, long beans, and perilla leaves—a collision of multiple colors.
"Wow, this sauce looks so beautiful, and it smells so good! The crucian carp with perilla leaves looks perfectly cooked." the old lady exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight.
"The ribs are ready too. You can put the two plates of braised dishes on the table first, and call Uncle and Momo to come and eat. I'll bring the fish in a moment. I'll just heat up the beef intestines, and then we can start eating." Zhou Yan said with a smile.
"Alright." the old lady said, carrying the two plates out of the kitchen.
Zhou Yan uncovered another wok. The sauce for the braised ribs had thickened nicely. He scooped out a piece with a spatula; the meat, coated in amber-colored sauce, trembled slightly, and the aroma wafted out with the steam, making one feel dizzy with its deliciousness.
He washed the wok, added the beef intestines and the braising liquid, and as soon as the sauce boiled, he took it off the heat. That was the hot braised beef intestines.
"Come on, let me serve the dishes." Zhou Weiguo walked in, picked up the plate of crucian carp with perilla leaves from the stove, and turned to leave.
He used only one hand, and his leg was still slightly limping, but the plate didn't wobble at all, and not a single drop of sauce spilled.
Zhou Yan carried out the braised pork intestines and a pot of rice. The old lady had already poured herself some wine, the bottle he had brought that morning, and looked at him, smiling, and asked, "Do you want some?"
"Grandma, I don't drink." Zhou Yan shook his head; he wasn't fond of alcohol.
"Grandma, is the wine delicious?" Zhou Momo looked at the old lady expectantly, asking curiously.
"It's spicy, little one, you can't drink it." the old lady shook her head.
Zhou Momo immediately lost interest after hearing this and turned her attention to the plate of beef, swallowing hard.
"Can you reach the beef? If you can't, I'll move it closer for you." the old lady asked with a smile.
"I can reach it..." Zhou Momo grabbed her chopsticks, but could only reach the edge of the plate.
"Let me move it closer for you. You like braised beef, and it's not spicy." the old lady said, moving the plate of braised beef closer to Zhou Momo.
"Thank you, Grandma." Zhou Momo said, immediately picking up a piece of braised beef from the plate and putting it in her mouth. She happily swung her little legs, then picked up another piece, eating with great relish.
"Zhou Yan cooked the fish with perilla leaves and braised pork ribs today, they look so delicious." Zhou Weiguo said, looking at the two dishes in the middle, and picked up his chopsticks to take a piece of pork rib first.
The ribs were coated in an amber-red sauce; the meat trembled slightly when picked up, and the rich aroma of meat wafted to his nose. He couldn't help but take a bite.
No, it wasn't really a bite; with just a gentle touch, the meat fell off the bone.
The lean meat was tender and not tough, with a delicate texture that unfolded in the mouth. The cartilage was stewed until it was soft and chewy, with a slightly springy texture that was absolutely wonderful. That one bite went straight to the heart.
Delicious! This pork rib is truly fragrant!
Zhou Weiguo quickly shoveled down two mouthfuls of rice and then slurped up the remaining half of the rib.
The old lady first took a small sip of wine, her eyebrows slightly raised, and then picked up her chopsticks and took a piece of fish.
The fish with the skin on was coated in the sauce. Upon entering the mouth, the spicy, savory, and fragrant flavors all burst forth, with the taste of perilla standing out, harmonizing the many flavors into such a refreshing taste.
The fish skin was fried until crispy, but the fish meat remained tender. Coated in the thick sauce, it created the most delicious flavor in the mouth.
Perilla leaves isn't uncommon; the old lady occasionally uses it when cooking fish.
However, Zhou Yan's perilla-flavored crucian carp today was far better than hers.
The cooking time and seasoning were both excellent.
Putting down her chopsticks and taking another sip of wine, the old lady finally said, "This fish is well-cooked; it's good enough to serve to guests in a restaurant."
"That's great! With your approval, I'll put this dish on the menu tomorrow." Zhou Yan said with a smile, picking up a piece of beef, dipping it in the dry sauce, and putting it in his mouth.
The lean meat was tender and not dry, the tendons were soft and flavorful, and the meat was soaked in the old braising sauce. It had a delicate chewiness, and the aroma slowly unfolded as he chewed.
Delicious!
The braising time was just right; if it was too soft and mushy, it would lose its texture, but if it wasn't cooked long enough, the connective tissue would be too tough to chew.
He then tasted a piece of beef tongue.
The thinly sliced beef tongue was tender and soft, with a slight chewiness. It was soft but not mushy, thoroughly infused with the braising sauce, and full of flavor. Adding a slice of garlic and coating it with dried chili sauce elevated the taste even further.
This old braising sauce was incredibly flavorful; the spiciness wasn't overpowering, but the savory aroma was intense, and there was a slight sweetness after swallowing, making it suitable for all ages.
The system's requirements were indeed very high; even this level of braised beef and beef tongue only received a "well-prepared" rating.
Zhou Yan's gaze fell on the beef intestines, which the system had rated as perfect.
After reheating it, the braised beef intestines were still steaming.
He picked up a piece, which trembled slightly, the folds soaked with braising sauce, its reddish-brown color gleaming with an oily sheen. Only an aged braising sauce could produce such tempting beef intestines.
Braised pork intestines were Zhou Yan's favorite, but he rarely got to eat beef intestines; most braised food shops didn't sell them.
Taking a bite, the soft and tender beef intestines were cut by his teeth, the warm braising sauce splashing in his mouth, giving a dense and smooth feeling—the texture was absolutely exquisite!
The spicy and savory flavors exploded on his tongue, the aroma of the braising sauce lingering between his teeth, a truly unforgettable taste.
Addictive!
He couldn't help but pick up another piece; he simply couldn't stop.
These beef intestines had to be eaten while hot. Once they cooled down, the fat would solidify, and the skin would dry out, making them completely different.
Zhou Yan ate several pieces in a row, finishing half a bowl of rice, and couldn't help but exclaim, "These hot braised beef intestines are really delicious!"
It truly lives up to the system's evaluation of being perfectly braised beef intestines.
If I could learn this braising technique, business would definitely be booming!
Zhou Yan looked at the old lady with even more respect; she was a true master of braised dishes!
The old lady was very satisfied with the perilla-flavored crucian carp. She ate almost the entire fish, drank two ounces of wine, and finished two bowls of rice.
"Zhou Ming is getting married next week. I wonder if all the arrangements for the village banquet have been made." the old lady said, putting down her chopsticks.
"Third brother said everything is arranged. They're hiring the same banquet chef who catered for Zhou Laoqi's son's wedding, with the same specifications." Zhou Weiguo replied.
Zhou Yan thought for a moment and remembered this matter. Zhou Ming was his third uncle's second son, four years older than him. He had sent out invitations last month, and judging by the time, the wedding banquet would be held next Sunday.
As a relative, he would definitely have to help with picking up the bride, and he could also eat at the village banquet, which made him somewhat look forward to it.
Zhou Yan cleared the dishes, but the old lady wouldn't let him wash them, chasing him out to chat with his uncle.
Zhou Weiguo sat under the persimmon tree, staring into the distance.
Zhou Momo finished her meal and had already gone next door to play with a little girl same as her age.
Zhou Yan sat down beside him.
"How's the restaurant business lately?" Zhou Weiguo turned to look at him, a slight smile on his face.
Zhou Yan was a little lost in thought, some images from his memory gradually becoming clearer. That eighteen years old boy, once so full of youthful vigor, when he joined the army wearing a big red flower, how many girls on Suji Street cried their eyes out.
In his memory, he was even more handsome than himself.
"What are you thinking about?" Zhou Weiguo chuckled.
"Business is alright. We're selling noodles and soup pot now, and we plan to start selling stir-fried and braised dishes next. We're starting to make some money now." Zhou Yan replied with a smile.
"That's good." Zhou Weiguo nodded, somewhat relieved, saying, "That little kid from back then can finally stand on his own two feet."
"Uncle, what about you? What are your plans next?" Zhou Yan asked.
"I'm doing fine now. I can grow some vegetables myself, so I have no problem with my life." Zhou Weiguo said with a carefree smile.
After returning from the army, his uncle refused the job placement offered by the organization and chose to return to the village to farm.
He said he didn't want to be a burden to the country, but Zhou Yan didn't think so. This was the country he had risked his life to protect; simply arranging a decent job for him so he could utilize his abilities wouldn't be a burden at all.
"I heard my father say that your job placement eligibility is still reserved." Zhou Yan looked at him, his expression serious, "Are you really not considering joining a state-owned enterprise or the township government?"
"In my condition, going in would only cause trouble for others. What could I possibly do?" Zhou Weiguo shook his head self-deprecatingly.
The wind blew through his empty sleeve, and there was a hint of bewilderment on his face.
"No! Are those people sitting in offices really more capable and competent than you?" Zhou Yan shook his head, saying seriously, "You're a combat hero who's been on the battlefield, killed enemies, and earned a first-class merit!"
"Your courage, ability, and willpower are far superior to theirs."
"Moreover, in those places, there's absolutely no job more difficult than weeding and farming with one hand. You can do it very well."
"Your new battlefield can be serving the people in the town government, or serving the workers in the factory. You shouldn't spend your whole life toiling away in that small vegetable patch."
Zhou Weiguo stared blankly at Zhou Yan, a light gradually dawning in his eyes, as if a corner of an eggshell had been cracked open. He murmured to himself, "That's right, serving the people..."
Inside the house, the old woman lowered her head and smiled, but her eyes were red with tears.
...