The chefs of the Kong Sect were all feeling the same way.
They were utterly shocked and incredulous.
While they were still excited and anxious about how to position themselves in a group photo and whether their names would appear in an interview.
Zhou Yan was already on the magazine cover?!
And he was even interviewed in this issue?! An interview with just one person!
Even…
Editor-in-Chief He was still trying to schedule another interview with him?
Everyone's mind was buzzing, besides shock, there was utter bewilderment.
No, how could this be?
They admitted that Zhou Yan was exceptionally talented, and his stir-fried Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver was superb.
But he had only been a culinary apprentice for two and a half years, hadn't he?
They, the seasoned veterans who had been in the kitchen for two or three decades, all felt they weren't qualified enough and needed to continue working their way up.
Zheng Qiang's eyebrows were all furrowed together. They were clearly dreaming of getting a group photo when they arrived, but Zhou Yan secretly went and got on the cover by himself?
They were all grand-apprentices, and he'd just flown off on his own?!
Zhou Yan was a little embarrassed and carefully explained, "Editor-in-Chief He ate at my restaurant last time and was quite interested in the Cross-legged Beef that has been passed down in Zhou Village, so he did an interview. It was my first time, so I didn't know much about it. Of course, it can't compare to a big topic like the inheritance of the Kong Sect."
Hearing this, everyone nodded thoughtfully. Zhou Yan's explanation made them feel much better.
It seemed Zhou Yan had indeed just happened to be chosen.
Otherwise, it would seem like they'd wasted their lives.
"Comrade Zhou Yan, you're too modest!" He Zhiyuan shook his head repeatedly, raising his voice slightly, "You've successfully replicated the Cross-legged Beef from the recipe, the soup is delicious and flavorful, and it even has medicinal properties!
Beyond its delicious taste, you've imbued this dish with a sense of historical weight and mission. I believe it has the potential to become a renowned dish of Jiazhou, and even exert a far-reaching influence."
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces showed surprise.
Even Kong Qingfeng stood up from the Grandmaster armchair.
The fact that a dish can be replicated from a recipe and received high praise from a gourmet like He Zhiyuan speaks volumes about its quality!
What does this signify?
Zhou Yan's magazine cover appearance and interview are well-deserved, according to the editorial department of "Sichuan Cuisine" magazine, and are expected to have a profound impact.
While everyone was shocked, they were mostly delighted!
The Kong Sect has produced such a talented young man. It's a blessing for the Kong Sect. Everyone understands this immediately.
Li Liangcai and Qin Kun stood aside watching the spectacle, their expressions slightly complicated, their eyes filled with envy.
Who wouldn't envy such a disciple? He's brought so much honor to the sect!
Thinking about their own rebellious disciples, who had never brought them any honor but were certainly adept at making them lose face, they became increasingly angry and wished they could go home right now and give them a beating.
"Truly a genius disciple of our Kong Sect!" Kong Qingfeng said with a gratified smile, "Come, Zhou Yan, you sit in the middle!"
Zhou Yan glanced at the Grandmaster's armchair and was dumbfounded.
No! Grandmaster Uncle, don't flatter me to death!
"No, no, Master Uncle, how can Zhou Yan sit in this seat?" Xiao Lei quickly said.
"I can sit, and Zhou Yan can sit too!" Kong Qingfeng waved his hand, saying seriously, "In our Kong Sect, ability speaks volumes. Zhou Yan is on the cover of 'Sichuan Cuisine' magazine, which is an honor for our Kong Sect. He should sit here. I'll stand beside him."
Xiao Lei, hearing this, looked at Zhou Yan somewhat helplessly: "Master Zhou, what do you say?"
"Grandmaster Uncle, please spare me! How about this, I'll stand next to you." Zhou Yan quickly came over and helped Kong Qingfeng sit back down.
"Alright." Kong Qingfeng nodded and said to Xiao Lei beside him, "Shitou, you stand next to Zhou Yan."
Xiao Lei glanced at Zhou Yan, a slight smile playing on his lips, and nodded, "Alright."
The positions were immediately arranged. Kong Guodong stood on the other side of Kong Qingfeng, and the other disciples were arranged according to their order of entry into the sect.
Three long benches were placed in the second row, where all the grand-disciples stood.
Kong Liwei kept the fish in the fish tank and even found a towel to wipe his face. When he came out, he saw Zhou Yan and a group of senior master uncles and master uncles standing in the first row. Zhou Yan was standing next to Kong Liwei's Grandmaster, and next to him was his Master, Master Uncle Xiao Lei. His eyes widened immediately.
Is this some kind of new position arrangement?
Kong Liwei scratched his head, looking hesitantly at Kong Guodong standing on the other side of his Grandmaster and asked, "Master, should I stand between Grandmaster and you too?"
"Get lost! You stand in the back row, I've saved your spot." Kong Guodong rolled his eyes at him.
A lowly errand boy from a sect wants to be treated like a genius?
Now that Zhou Yan is standing here, it makes them seem more valuable.
Kong Liwei, looking hurt, ran to the back corner and whispered to Zheng Qiang beside him, "Senior Brother Zheng, does being handsome give him the right to stand in the front row?"
"That's right, that's how it is." Zheng Qiang nodded with a smile, slightly raising his chin to show off his round face, feeling incredibly proud.
This is their Huaifeng's genius grand-disciple!
"Come on, look at me, smiling, one, two, three!"
As the shutter clicked, the smiles on everyone's faces were captured instantly.
"Okay, I'll print them out and send them to the training base. You can pick them up from Second Master Kong yourselves later." He Zhiyuan said, putting away his camera.
"Little He, thank you for your hard work." Kong Qingfeng said, shaking hands with He Zhiyuan.
"Master Kong, we've known each other for over twenty years, no need to be so polite." He Zhiyuan said with a smile.
Meanwhile, a group of second-generation disciples of the Kong Sect had surrounded Zhou Yan, exclaiming in amazement.
"Wow! This cover photo is so beautiful! Zhou Yan, is this the beef soup you made?"
"What beef soup? Editor-in-Chief He said it's 'Cross-legged Beef'!"
"The interview even includes a solo photo! You look incredibly handsome!"
"Two whole pages! That's incredibly prestigious!"
"It won't be on sale until tomorrow, I'll definitely go to the newspaper office and buy a few copies. You can sign them for me then, I'll brag about it when I get back to the restaurant."
Zhou Yan first put the photos, which were already in an envelope, away separately. He was a little overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of his senior master uncles and master uncles, so he could only smile and nod in agreement.
"What cover? What interview? What did I miss?" Kong Liwei looked bewildered at Zhou Yan, who was surrounded by people and had become the group's darling, and had no idea what was going on.
"Junior Brother Zhou Yan was featured in the latest issue of Sichuan Cuisine magazine, and the cover of this issue features a dish he made." Zheng Qiang explained to him. "Our Kong Sect has gained a genius."
Kong Liwei's eyes nearly popped out of his head. It took him a while to process this explosive information. He exclaimed in shock, "Wow! He learned cooking for two and a half years and got on the cover of 'Sichuan Cuisine' magazine!"
"This isn't just a genius, this is a God!"
He Zhiyuan put his camera away and waited patiently to the side.
Look at the enthusiasm of these disciples of the Kong Sect, the Jiazhou Newspaper Store's "Sichuan Cuisine" magazine will probably be sold out tomorrow.
This was all contributing to their magazine's sales.
After everyone finished chatting, He Zhiyuan and Zhou Yan went into the courtyard and found a quiet corner to discuss the interview they would be doing tomorrow.
"I'm sorry, Editor-in-Chief He, I really can't disclose the recipe for this braising liquid, because it's a recipe passed down from my grandmother." Zhou Yan shook his head firmly.
"I see..." Although He Zhiyuan had expected it, but he was still somewhat disappointed.
He had assumed that Zhou Yan, after hearing the story of his Grandmaster's generous sharing of his skills, would be inspired and reveal his secret recipe for braised food.
If that were the case, then this interview about braised food wouldn't be very in-depth.
Zhou Yan hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Moreover, I don't think I'm qualified to be interviewed about braised food. In comparison, my grandmother, Zhang Shufen, is the true inheritor of Zhang Ji Braised Food.
She started selling braised meat during the Republic of China era, and Zhang Ji Braised Food became a taste memory of Suji and even Jiazhou. She single-handedly raised five sons with just one braised food stall.
This enabled my grandfather to fight against the Japanese and Americans on the front lines, ultimately sacrificing his life for his country.
Her braised food bear witness to China's journey through turmoil and to that era, her story is far more profound than mine.
Why don't you give it a try? I've even come up with a title for you: Shocking! This woman actually made a living with a pot of braised meat!"
He Zhiyuan's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he clapped his hands, exclaiming, "The heritage of braised food! Women holding up half the sky! The spirit of sacrifice of the Sichuan Army! Excellent! It has all the essential elements!"
As a deputy editor-in-chief, he had a very keen sense for content.
After hearing Zhou Yan's words, he already had a general outline of the article in his mind.
"Comrade Zhou Yan, you're truly a genius!" He Zhiyuan looked at Zhou Yan with eyes full of admiration. "If it weren't for your exceptionally good cooking skills and overflowing talent, I would definitely invite you to work in the magazine's editorial department! Your articles must be excellent too, and brilliantly written!"
"Editor-in-Chief He, you flatter me. I can't write articles." Zhou Yan waved his hand with a smile.
Seriously speaking, he wrote all the video scripts himself. The "shocking" stuff is outdated, but it does have the advantage of being catchy and simple.
He Zhiyuan said, "Then I'll trouble you to go back and speak with the old lady first, to see if she'd be willing to accept an interview with our magazine. And I can't guarantee it will be published right now, as this is a rather last minute addition, the editorial department needs to discuss it before making a decision."
"I understand. Anyway, the old lady won't mind." Zhou Yan nodded.
The old lady might not care, but he did.
He just wanted everyone to know about Zhang Ji Braised Food and Comrade Zhang Shufen!
Let's just say it was his selfish motive.
Perhaps many years later, someone will flip through an old magazine, read about Old Lady Zhang Shufen's story, and even recognize her name.
How wonderful that would be.
Dinner was even more lavish than lunch.
Zhou Yan, the newly crowned Kong Sect saint, was forced to cook a dish of crucian carp with perilla leaves and double peppers minced beef, which received unanimous praise.
After the other senior brothers finished eating, their gazes towards him became clear.
"Senior Brother Zheng, did Junior Brother Zhou really only learn cooking for two and a half years? Or did he start learning at two and a half years old?" Kong Liwei mixed a bowl of rice with minced beef and asked, leaning closer to Zheng Qiang.
Besides envy, all that remained was admiration.
Zhou Yan was engrossed in slurping braised yellow catfish.
[An extremely good Braised Yellow Catfish]
Kong Qingfeng personally cooked the yellow catfish, the taste was simply amazing!
Zhou Yan thought that although the evaluation was extremely good, but it should be infinitely close to perfect.
The spicy and numbing flavor, combined with the tangy aroma of pickled peppers and sauerkraut, created a complex taste that perfectly permeated the tender yellow catfish.
The wild yellow catfish, about one and a half fingers in size, had almost only one main bone. The flesh was smooth and tender, melting in the mouth with a single slurp, incredibly delicious.
Zhou Yan glanced at He Zhiyuan, who was also diligently slurping the yellow catfish beside him, and couldn't help but give him a mental thumbs up.
Editor-in-Chief He knew how to eat, he knew exactly what to order.
After dinner, before it got dark, Zhou Yan, Xiao Lei, and Zheng Qiang said goodbye to everyone and rode their bicycles back to Suji.
"Master Zhou, are you having an interview tomorrow?" Xiao Lei asked Zhou Yan, who was riding alongside him, on the way back.
Upon hearing this, Zheng Qiang pedaled his bicycle a few times and followed from the side. He and Xiao Lei flanked Zhou Yan on either side, and said with some worry, "Master Zhou, we have a banquet to prepare for tomorrow. Could you postpone that interview for two days?"
Zhou Yan saw the determination on their faces to be featured in the magazine, and said with a hint of helplessness, "Editor-in-Chief He just discussed it with me and felt I couldn't handle a second interview, so it's canceled."
"Canceled?"
"What a pity!"
Xiao Lei and Zheng Qiang both looked regretful upon hearing this.
Being featured in "Sichuan Cuisine" magazine is such a prestigious thing. If someone could be featured twice in a row, they would be famous throughout the culinary world.
Zhou Yan explained, "Editor-in-Chief He wants to do an interview on the inheritance of braised food. I recommended my grandmother to him, he might interview her, but it's not certain the article will be published."
Xiao Lei nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this, saying, "If it's a special interview about braised food, Zhang Ji Braised Food would indeed be more representative. It's a true memory of Jiazhou flavors, and Grandma Zhang is definitely worth writing about."
At this point, Xiao Lei and Zheng Qiang didn't mention the magazine again.
The inheritance of Zhang Ji Braised Food may ultimately be inseparable from Zhou Yan, but that is a family skill, and their interference makes them seem ignorant.
"Master, teach me how to make braised yellow catfish later. How well did you master the braised yellow catfish that my Grandmaster Uncle made today?" Zhou Yan changed the subject, looking at Xiao Lei with expectant eyes.
"It's about 80-90% good, but compared to your Grandmaster Uncle, there's bound to be a slight gap. To be honest, your Grandmaster's braised yellow catfish tastes even better." Xiao Lei said confidently, "If you want to learn, I'll teach you later. If you master this dish, your restaurant will have a truly signature dish."
"Learn! I'll learn braised yellow catfish!" Zhou Yan nodded immediately.
Master is wonderful, Master is amazing! Having the support of the sect is truly top notch!
Upon reaching Suji Bridge, the three parted ways and went home.
When Zhou Yan rode his 28-inch bicycle back to the restaurant, it was already getting dark.
A lamp was lit at the restaurant entrance. Aunt Zhao was reclining in a chair telling a story, and Zhou Momo sat on her lap, listening intently.
Comrade Old Zhou had moved a small stool and was sitting to the side watching, a smile on his face.
Hearing the noise, the little one turned around, saw that it was Zhou Yan returning, and her eyes lit up immediately. She grabbed Aunt Zhao's leg and slid down, then hopped and skipped towards Zhou Yan, calling out in her childish voice, "Guo Guo! Guo Guo! You're back! I'm starving!"
Zhou Yan squeezed the brakes to stop the bicycle, looked down at Zhou Momo who was pouting and looking aggrieved, and smiled, "Would Mom let you go hungry?"
"Don't complain, I've made sure you're well-fed for all three meals." Zhao Tieying said, sitting up with a slightly annoyed smile.
Zhou Momo bit her lip, then moved closer to Zhou Yan and whispered, "Mom's cooking isn't very good. I only ate one bowl of rice, so I'm hungry three times a day."
Zhou Yan smiled upon hearing this, got off the bicycle, and pushed it inside. "How about I make you an egg pancake?"
"Okay!" Zhou Momo followed him in eagerly. "Guo Guo is the best!"
"You just spoil her." Zhao Tieying shook her head with a hint of helplessness.
"Mom, do you want some?" Zhou Yan asked.
"No, I'm full." Aunt Zhao shook her head.
"Dad, what about you?" Zhou Yan looked at Comrade Old Zhou sitting to the side.
Comrade Old Zhou hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Give me one too."
"What? You're starving like Momo is, following me around today?" Aunt Zhao glanced at him sideways.
"How could that be! Today was the most comfortable and satisfying three meals I've had in a long time!" Comrade Zhou quickly sat up straight, practically wearing the words "loyalty" and "honesty" on his face.
"I just wanted to criticize Zhou Yan's egg pancakes. After all, he's never made them before, so I think there must be flaws in his technique."
Aunt Zhao couldn't help but laugh: "Eat if you want, I won't stop you."
"Okay, I'll fry one for you too." Zhou Yan replied with a smile. After parking the bicycle, he changed the leather shoes, went into the kitchen to wash his hands, and then mixed a spoonful of flour, three spoonfuls of water, and three eggs in one direction to make a batter.
After searching the shelf, only two large scallions remained. He finely chopped the white parts, added them to the batter, along with a pinch of salt, stirred well, and set aside.
Aunt Zhao had already followed him into the kitchen, watching with her hands behind her back. She couldn't help but ask, "You're adding three eggs to your pancakes? How much water is in the ratio?"
"One level spoonful of flour to three level spoonfuls of water, then three eggs. If you have scallions, add some in, and a pinch of salt. That'll give the pancakes flavor." Zhou Yan explained with a smile. Instead of using the large stove, he lit a small stove nearby and took a long-unused iron pan from the pan rack.
"Why not use a large pan?" Aunt Zhao asked again.
"A smaller pan is more flexible and controllable, allowing you to spread the pancakes evenly and flip them more easily." Zhou Yan explained with a smile, first using lard to re-season the iron pan that hadn't been used for a long time.
There was only one piece of firewood under the stove, and the fire gradually became stable.
No extra oil is needed in the pan, a layer of oil already forms on the surface after the pan has been heated. A spoonful of batter is poured into the pan, and using a towel wrapped around the handle in the left hand, it's moved slowly up and down, allowing the batter to spread evenly and quickly solidify.
Once the batter has solidified, Zhou Yan gently shakes the pan, causing the pancake to sway slightly, releasing a delicate aroma of eggs and wheat.
"Hmm? How come it's not sticking at all!" Aunt Zhao exclaimed, instinctively taking a step forward.
"If the pan is heated properly, it won't stick." Zhou Yan explained with a smile. With a gentle shake of the handle, the egg pancake flipped in an arc before falling back into the pan, successfully flipped over on one side.
The bottom side is golden brown, sizzling slightly with oil, and dotted with scallions—it looks delicious.
"Wow! You're so amazing, Guo Guo!" Zhou Momo clapped her hands excitedly as the egg pancake flew up and landed back in the pan, exclaiming, "The pancake flew!"
The best supporter, providing plenty of emotional value.
"Wait a moment, the first egg pancake is for you." Zhou Yan said with a smile, gently shaking the iron pan in his hand. After a while, the iron pan was flipped, the egg pancake flew up, and a plate was handed in just in time to catch the egg pancake steadily.
A golden-brown egg pancake was ready!
"Gulp."
The three people in the kitchen swallowed simultaneously.
"Thank you, Guo Guo!" Zhou Momo took the plate with both hands and said reverently, "I love you forever!"
Adding some oil to the pan, Zhou Yan made three more, placing them on two plates.
He handed two to Comrade Old Zhou and one to Aunt Zhao, smiling, "Mom, you should also give your critique, so my Dad's critique isn't unfair."
"Alright, I'll give my critique too." Zhao Tieying smiled, taking the plate and pulling two pairs of chopsticks from the side. She looked at him and asked, "Have you had dinner? You should have one too, your Dad doesn't need two."
"I'm very full. My Grandmaster Uncle personally cooked yellow catfish, it tasted absolutely delicious." Zhou Yan smiled and shook his head.
"The egg pancake is so delicious!" Zhou Momo, who was engrossed in eating the pancake, looked up at Comrade Old Zhou with shining eyes: "Daddy, I can have two!!"