Chapter 124 - 111: See, There’s No Such Thing as a Free Meal
Chapter 124: Chapter 111: See, There’s No Such Thing as a Free Meal
"Come on, let me get a picture of just you. Uncle will mail it to you next time, how about that?" He Zhiyuan took out his camera again. He rarely offered to take pictures of people, but this little one was just so well-behaved.
"Okay! Okay!" Zhou Momo nodded eagerly and sat on a small stool by the restaurant entrance to have her picture taken.
"Time to eat!"
Zhou Yan and Zhao Hong came out with the dishes and called down to Master Zhang’s trio upstairs to join them for the meal.
All ten of them packed tightly around a single table.
Zhou Yan had stir-fried Twice-Cooked Pork and pork liver, prepared two crucian carp for his Huo Xiang Carp, made a dish of beef with dried bamboo shoots, sliced a plate of braised pig’s head, and also stir-fried some greens.
The "props" from the morning photoshoot were reheated as well. The texture of the beef and tripe wasn’t quite as good as when freshly blanched, but it could still pass for a soup.
"Wow, what a lavish spread. The boss is treating, and we’re lucky to get in on it." Master Zhang looked at the table laden with fish and meat and smiled a little sheepishly.
He Zhiyuan, with his glasses and Zhongshan suit, had the air of a city intellectual. For Zhou Yan to prepare such a feast clearly showed how highly he regarded his guests.
The apprentice and the laborer also sat stiffly. After a busy morning, their clothes were splattered with plaster; only their hands were clean.
"We’re the ones tagging along with you. You’re here renovating the boss’s restaurant, while we’re just here for fun." He Zhiyuan chuckled and picked up his chopsticks. "Well then, I won’t stand on ceremony. Just looking at all this food is making me hungry."
"Go on, dig in. What’s all the ceremony for?" Zhou Yan said with a laugh, placing a piece of Twice-Cooked Pork in Zhou Momo’s bowl first.
Everyone else then picked up their chopsticks as well.
There was actually a strategy behind the dishes Zhou Yan had prepared for lunch. Aside from the Twice-Cooked Pork, which was Zhou Momo’s favorite, everything else was something He Zhiyuan and his group hadn’t tried the day before.
It was nothing personal—just a pure display of skill.
He wanted them to have a fantastic meal before they left, one they would keep thinking about every day after they returned to Rongcheng.
Whether his Kneeling Beef made the magazine cover still depended on He Zhiyuan’s help, after all.
Besides, Zhou Yan genuinely liked them.
They were basically the food bloggers of this era, which gave him a natural sense of kinship.
When he was a food blogger himself, he had also loved running into the back of kitchens to film the cooking process. And while most chefs were friendly, he’d had his fair share of being chased out while being cursed at.
The only reason he was never beaten up was because the rule of law saved his skin.
He Zhiyuan tasted every single dish, nodding his head so much he looked like one of those lucky waving cats.
There were too many strangers at the table for him to fully express his delight, but inwardly, he was stunned.
The Huo Xiang Carp was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Amid the numbing, spicy, and savory notes, the unique flavor of the Huo Xiang itself stood out, making the dish incredibly delicious.
The beef with dried bamboo shoots was a masterpiece! The bamboo shoots had soaked up all the rich beef broth, yet they retained a satisfying, crisp texture. It was absolutely divine!
The Flash-Fried Pork Liver was the last dish to hit the table and had to be eaten hot. The first thing that hit you was the *wok hei*—the unique essence imparted by a wok heated to blistering temperatures, like a burst of flame in your mouth.
The slightly curled pieces of liver were incredibly smooth and tender, while the outside had been kissed by the hot oil, giving it a subtle, fragrant char.
A dish like Flash-Fried Pork Liver is all about texture, and even a veteran chef can easily mess it up with a moment’s inattention.
But this version was executed perfectly. A light cornstarch coating sealed in the moisture while also clinging to the sauce, making it a perfect companion for rice.
He Zhiyuan ate piece after piece, unable to stop himself. Finally, he looked at Zhou Yan and said, "The Fire Control on this Flash-Fried Pork Liver is just perfect. Honestly, I’m not sure I could find a meal this superb even at the Rongcheng Restaurant. With your level of skill, if you went to Rongcheng, it’d only be a matter of time before you made it big!"
"I second that!" Li chimed in, nodding in strong agreement.
The Rongcheng Restaurant was, of course, one of the finest dining establishments in Rongcheng, employing countless master chefs.
But when you ordered, there was no guarantee your dish would be cooked by one of the masters. The skills of their apprentices and protégés were inconsistent; much of the time, their cooking couldn’t compare to what Zhou Yan had just made.
If Zhou Yan could consistently maintain this level of quality, he would quickly establish a renowned restaurant, even in a competitive city like Rongcheng.
Zhou Yan laughed. "You’re the one who said it. So if I open a restaurant in Rongcheng and have no customers, you’ll have to write an article to promote it for me."
"As long as you maintain this standard, if you open a restaurant in Rongcheng and can’t attract customers? Forget one article—I’ll write one a month for you. I’ll write about every single dish until your place is packed to the rafters!" He Zhiyuan thumped his chest. "And I mean it."
"I’ll toast you with soup instead of wine, Director He. To you." Zhou Yan raised his soup bowl. "I’ll finish mine first." He then drained the bowl in one go.
’See? There’s no such thing as a free lunch.’
’This was his new connection in Rongcheng.’
After tasting the braised pig’s head, Master Zhang froze for a second. He savored the flavor carefully for a moment before looking at Zhou Yan, his voice filled with excitement. "Boss Zhou, this braised pig’s head... it’s exactly like your grandmother used to make! It tastes just like I remember from when I was young. This is the flavor!"
Delicious memories from more than twenty years ago came rushing back, and Master Zhang could hardly contain his excitement.
Hearing this, He Zhiyuan’s interest was piqued as well. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard the name Zhang’s Braised Shop. So, the owner of Feiyan Restaurant wasn’t the only one who still longed for the taste of that braised meat.
"You flatter me, Master Zhang," Zhou Yan said modestly. "I’m still a far cry from my grandmother."
"Well, I can’t tell the difference. The taste is just perfect," Master Zhang said. He looked at Zhou Yan expectantly. "Have you braised any beef offal? My old man still talks about the braised beef intestines your grandmother used to make."
Zhou Yan shook his head. "For now, I’m only braising the pig’s head. I don’t feel confident enough with the beef and offal yet. I need more practice."
Master Zhang nodded. "In that case, could you set aside some of the pig’s head meat and a pig’s ear for me tonight? I’ll pick it up after work and take it back for my old man to try."