Chapter 273 - 164: A Deity Has Appeared

Chapter 273: Chapter 164: A Deity Has Appeared

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qiang hurried his steps to catch up. He and Xiao Lei flanked Zhou Yan, and Zheng Qiang asked with some concern, "Master Zhou, we have to prepare for an outdoor banquet tomorrow. Could we possibly postpone for two days?"

Zhou Yan saw the determination on their faces to get into the magazine. "Chief Editor He just spoke with me," he said with a helpless sigh. "He felt I wasn’t enough to carry a second feature interview, so it’s been canceled."

"Canceled?"

"What a shame!"

Xiao Lei and Zheng Qiang both looked disappointed.

Getting featured in *Sichuan Cuisine* magazine was a huge honor. To be featured twice in a row would make a chef famous in the culinary world.

Zhou Yan explained, "Chief Editor He wants to do a feature on the legacy of braised dishes. I recommended my grandmother to him. He might go and interview her, but there’s no guarantee it will end up being published."

Xiao Lei grew thoughtful and nodded. "If it’s a feature on braised dishes, then Zhang’s Braised Shop is definitely more representative. It’s a true taste of Jiazhou’s history, and Mrs. Zhang is certainly a worthy subject."

With that, Xiao Lei and Zheng Qiang dropped the subject of the magazine.

The legacy of the Zhang Family’s braised dishes might be something Zhou Yan would have to face eventually, but it was a family craft. For them to get involved would be improper.

"Master, you should teach me how to make Braised Yellow Perch sometime," Zhou Yan said, changing the subject and looking at Xiao Lei with anticipation. "How much of Grand-Uncle’s technique for the perch he made today do you think you’ve grasped?"

"I can get about eighty or ninety percent of the way there, but a small gap is inevitable when compared to your Grand-Uncle. And to be honest, the Braised Yellow Perch your Grandmaster makes tastes even better," Xiao Lei said with full confidence. "If you want to learn, I’ll teach you. Once you’ve mastered this dish, your restaurant will have a real showstopper."

"I’ll learn it! Braised Yellow Perch it is!" Zhou Yan nodded at once.

’My master is good, my master is great, having a powerful school backing you up is the absolute best!’

The three of them parted ways at the Suji Bridgehead and headed home.

By the time Zhou Yan rode his old-fashioned roadster back to the restaurant, the sky had grown dark.

A single lamp lit the restaurant’s entrance. Mrs. Zhao was leaning back in a lounge chair, telling a story to Zhou Momo, who sat on her lap, completely engrossed.

Comrade Zhou had pulled up a small stool and sat nearby, watching them with a smile.

Hearing the sound, the little girl turned her head. When she saw Zhou Yan, her eyes lit up instantly. She slid down Mrs. Zhao’s legs and bounded toward Zhou Yan, shouting in her high-pitched, childish voice, "Brother! Brother! You’re back! I’m starving!"

Zhou Yan squeezed the brakes, stopping his bike. He looked down at Zhou Momo, who had run right up to him, her little mouth pouted in an aggrieved expression. He chuckled, "Would Mom ever let you go hungry?"

"Don’t you be telling tales, now. I made sure you ate your fill for all three meals," Zhao Tieying said, sitting up with an exasperated laugh.

Zhou Momo bit her lip and edged closer to Zhou Yan, whispering her complaint, "Mommy’s food wasn’t very tasty. I only ate one bowl of rice. It’s like being hungry three times a day."

Zhou Yan laughed, dismounted, and pushed his bicycle inside. "How about I make you an egg pancake, then?"

"Yay!" Zhou Momo chirped, happily trotting in after him. "Brother is the best!"

"You just go on and spoil her," Zhao Tieying said, shaking her head with a sigh.

"Mom, do you want one?" Zhou Yan asked.

"I’m not eating. I’m quite full," Mrs. Zhao said, shaking her head.

"Dad, how about you?" Zhou Yan asked, turning to Comrade Zhou.

Comrade Zhou hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Go on, make one for me, too."

"What’s this? You mean to tell me you’ve been starving for three meals a day, too?" Mrs. Zhao shot him a sidelong glance.

"Of course not! Today’s three meals were the most satisfying and delicious I’ve had in ages!" Comrade Zhou immediately sat up straight. He all but had the words "Loyal and Devoted" written across his face.

"I just want to offer a critique of Zhou Yan’s egg pancakes. After all, he’s never made them before, has he? I’m sure his technique must have some flaws."

Mrs. Zhao couldn’t help but laugh. "If you want one, just say so. I’m not stopping you."

"Alright then, I’ll make one for you too," Zhou Yan said with a smile. He parked his bike, swapped his leather shoes for slippers, and went into the kitchen. After washing his hands, he took one scoop of flour, three scoops of water, and cracked in three eggs, whisking it all in one direction to form a smooth batter.

He checked the shelf and found only two scallions left. He finely minced the white parts, added them to the batter with a pinch of salt, stirred it all together, and set the mixture aside.

Mrs. Zhao had followed him into the kitchen. Hands clasped behind her back, she watched and couldn’t resist asking, "You’re using three eggs for a pancake? What’s the water ratio?"

"One level scoop of flour, three level scoops of water, and three eggs. If you have some scallions, add them in, plus a little salt. That gives the pancake its own flavor," Zhou Yan explained with a smile. Instead of lighting the main stove, he fired up the small one and took down an iron pan that hadn’t been used in a long time.

"Why not use the big wok to cook it?" Mrs. Zhao asked.

"A smaller pan is more agile and gives you more control. It helps spread the batter to an even thickness and makes it easier to flip," Zhou Yan explained, smiling. He then used a piece of lard to re-season the long-unused iron pan.

A single piece of firewood burned beneath the stove, the flame gradually steadying.

There was no need to add more oil; a thin layer already coated the pan from the seasoning. He ladled a scoop of batter into the center. Gripping the handle with a towel in his left hand, he slowly swirled the pan, causing the batter to spread out into a thin, even circle. It began to set almost immediately.

Once the batter had solidified, Zhou Yan gave the iron pan a gentle shake. The pancake slid freely, and the rich aromas of egg and wheat began to fill the air.

"Huh? How is it not sticking at all!" Mrs. Zhao took an involuntary step forward in surprise.

"It won’t stick if you heat the pan properly," Zhou Yan explained with a smile. With a deft flick of his wrist, the pancake flew up in an arc and landed perfectly back in the pan, flipped to the other side.

The side that had been facing down was a beautiful golden brown, glistening with a hint of sizzling oil and speckled with bits of scallion. It looked absolutely delicious.

"Whoa! Brother is so cool!" Zhou Momo exclaimed, clapping her little hands as she watched the pancake fly up and land back in the pan. "The pancake is flying!"

His number one cheerleader, providing all the emotional validation he could ask for.

"Just a moment, the first one’s for you," Zhou Yan said with a smile, gently shaking the pan. A moment later, he tilted the pan, and the pancake flew out as a plate was slid forward to catch it perfectly.

A perfectly golden egg pancake was ready!

*GULP.*

The three people in the kitchen all swallowed hard at the same time.

"Thank you, Brother!" Zhou Momo took the plate with both hands and declared reverently, "I’ll love you forever!"

Zhou Yan added a little more oil to the pan and repeated the process, making three more pancakes which he placed on two plates.

He handed the plate with two pancakes to Comrade Zhou and the plate with one to Mrs. Zhao. "Mom, you be a critic, too," he said with a grin. "Just in case Dad’s critique isn’t objective enough."

"Alright, I’ll offer my critique as well," Zhao Tieying said, laughing as she took the plate. She grabbed two pairs of chopsticks from the side, then looked at him. "Have you had dinner? You should have one, too. Your dad doesn’t need two."

"I’m stuffed. Grand-Uncle cooked Braised Yellow Perch himself, and it was absolutely perfect," Zhou Yan said, shaking his head with a smile.

"The egg pancake is so delicious!" Zhou Momo, who had been devouring her pancake, lifted her head. Her eyes shone as she looked at Comrade Zhou and announced, "Daddy, I can eat two!"