The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 319: Chapter 318: Really Craving This Taste

On the twentieth day of the eighth lunar month, the croaker fish comes to celebrate birthdays.

This old saying is often mentioned at Qianlima.

Primarily because the croaker fish has tender, delicious meat.

Zhang Jinyu wanted to learn how to cook this dish, so Fu Yu would offer a few extra tips while cooking.

”The method of preparing the croaker fish is unique and quite particular, choosing a fish with few bones and thick flesh. After skinning and deboning, split the fish from its back into two halves, then cut into pieces about 5 cm square and 0.5 cm thick, dip in starch, and slowly pound it on the cutting board with a rolling pin until it’s as thin as a cicada’s wing.”

Fu Yu repeated the preparation method from the classic old recipe word for word.

Zhang Jinyu clicked his tongue in amazement.

He never got the hang of how to estimate pieces of fish that are about 5 cm square and 0.5 cm thick.

Fu Yu, thinking of himself, empathized with Zhang Jinyu’s difficulty.

Without the absolute feel in his hands, he used to be the same, troubled by terms like ”appropriate amount,” ”approximately,” or ”a little,” and clearly defined thickness was simply a nuisance, impossible to grasp.

So, Fu Yu specifically let Zhang Jinyu feel the thickness of the fish slices with his hand: ”Remember this feeling, for dishes like this in the future, just rely on your sense of touch.”

Zhang Jinyu nodded; although he felt the thinness of the fish slice in his hand, he still couldn’t master the exact touch, but he learned diligently.

Fu Yu cut the croaker fish into slices 1 cm thick.

He put starch on the cutting board, placed the fish slices on it, sprinkled another layer of starch over the fish meat, and pounded it with a mallet or rolling pin until thin.

As Fu Yu pounded, he advised, ”When pounding the fish slices, add starch gradually while pounding, don’t use too much or it will affect the texture.”

Zhang Jinyu noted it carefully.

Fu Yu put the pounded fish slices into boiling water at about 80 or 90 degrees and cooked them on high heat for about 40 seconds, then fished them out and cut them into strips.

”When cooking the fish slices, never put them in cold water, otherwise the fish soup won’t be clear.”

Zhang Jinyu nodded, ”Got it.”

Fu Yu took another pot, added chicken breast, and put it in cold water, brought it to a boil on high heat, blanched it for 3 minutes, and retrieved it.

He sliced the cooked ham, mushroom, and cooked chicken breast for later use.

Fu Yu also said, ”When slicing, be careful not to make it too thin, but not too thick either, as both taste and presentation affect the outcome.”

Then, he blanched the mustard greens in boiling water for later use.

Finally, he added clear soup to the pot.

Added the fish slices, mustard greens, salt, and cooking wine.

Brought it to a boil, then added the sliced mushrooms, cooked chicken breast strips, cooked ham strips, MSG, and a little white pepper, drizzled with cooked chicken oil.

When packing, there was just enough left to cover the bottom of a bowl.

Fu Yu served it up and tasted a spoonful himself.

Indeed, as described in the classic old recipe, the soup was clear and rich, fresh and tender.

After Fu Yu had a taste, Zhang Jinyu held the bowl and drank the remaining soup base.

Then he smacked his lips, ”So fresh!”

Fu Yu then made braised cuttlefish and fish ball soup.

The fish cake was available in the shop; once Fu Yu finished cooking, the fish cake from the pastry section was also out of the pot.

Successfully completing a package of four dishes, one soup, and a staple, Fu Yu continued to take orders, cooking the next series of dishes.

The delivery personnel quickly delivered the packaged dishes to the front hall.

Qianlima’s takeaway food boxes were very beautiful, thin wooden boxes that did not worry about breaking when carrying, and the food boxes inside were made of glass, heavy but not worrying about odors from steaming dishes.

Even without seeing the dishes inside, just looking at the takeaway box, Li Weijia felt very satisfied.

He eagerly carried the takeaway box back to the hospital.

In the maternity ward, six pregnant women lived together, and each of their beds was surrounded by many family members, bustling about.

Even behind screen curtains, the place seemed chaotic, but no one felt annoyed.

Since everyone was there awaiting births, they were all cheerful, with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

Li Weijia’s wife was on the third bed, with both sides of the family present, including his parents, his elder sister, and his wife’s close friend.

A large group huddled around the bed, showering his wife with care and concern.

His wife was expecting a natural birth, with her due date today.

But it was already evening, and she hadn’t started feeling contractions.

The whole family dared not leave a step, fearing no one would be there at the crucial moment.

Seeing his wife lying on the bed with her big belly, surrounded by her family, Li Weijia felt an indescribable surge of emotion.

He quickly walked over with a smile and greeted, ”I’m back!”

Instantly, everyone’s attention shifted to him.

Li Weijia handed over the takeaway box in his hand as if it was a treasure. His mother reached out to take it, quickly calling for others to prepare a table.

His wife smiled and asked, ”Where did you buy this from? The takeaway box looks so nice!”

Li Weijia proudly said, ”Didn’t you say you wanted to eat some hometown dishes? I specially ordered it from Qianlima for you. Take a look, is it like what you’d usually eat back home?”

His wife was instantly delighted, ”Seafood? Wonderful, I’ve been craving it so much!”

His mother-in-law was touched yet helpless, saying, ”Weijia, you spoil her. There’s nothing special about hometown meals, just some seafood, cook it, and it’s done, but you went all the way there, it’s really...”

Li Weijia quickly said, ”My wife cravings show that the child inside wants to eat too, buying one serves both, it’s not trouble, I’m happy!”

His mom also smiled and said, ”Exactly, try it, if it’s good, have him buy more tomorrow!”

The son-in-law knowing how to cherish his wife made the mother-in-law joyful.

Seeing the in-laws treat his daughter like their own made her smile broadly and join in unpacking the takeaway box.

The outer wooden lid was lifted open, revealing nothing at first, but as soon as the sealed lid of the packed meal box inside was open, a rich aroma of seafood filled the air.

The meal boxes opened one after another, filling the table.

Since Qianlima uses high-quality insulated packaging, and Li Weijia had hurriedly driven all the way back, the dishes still looked steaming hot.

His wife sat in the center like the moon surrounded by stars, her family watching her eagerly examine each dish one by one with joy, and then picked up utensils, unable to resist starting with the nearest dish to taste.

First, she had the dishes, then drank the soup, and finally ate a fragrant fish cake.

Li Weijia eagerly asked, ”How is it? Does it taste good?”

His wife, gobbling up her food, mumbled, ”Delicious! Tastes just like back home! Especially this prawn dish, it tastes just like how my mom makes it!”

His mother-in-law, seeing her daughter enjoy the food, beamed, ”Even if it’s good, don’t eat too much, it won’t do during the birthing later if you’re too full!”