Chapter 414 - 206: Zhou, You’ve Been Reported

Not only was his cooking excellent, his observational skills were also remarkably sharp.

Moreover, his pointers were sharp and to the point, with no unnecessary fluff.

Many chefs get more and more frustrated the more they teach their apprentices.

Sometimes, it wasn't just that the apprentice was too slow. If the master was a poor communicator, the apprentice might not understand, and situations like that were common.

"The dishes are all ready, let's go eat!" Xiao Lei laughed, picking up the Spicy Stir-fried Chicken Blood and Spicy Stir-fried Chicken Gizzards and heading out.

"Chow time! Chow time!" Zheng Qiang declared, hoisting the generous basin of taro chicken stew.

Luo, for his part, brought out the Snowflake Chicken Porridge he had made.

Zhou Yan portioned out some braised pork ribs and brought them out. Most of the dishes today were numbing and spicy, which he knew Zhou Momo couldn't handle well.

The little one was already sitting primly on her stool. Staring at the bright red dishes on the table, her chubby little face was a picture of conflict.

"It smells so good! But it looks sooo spicy~~" the little one fretted, staring at the taro chicken stew, and couldn't help but gulp.

"Oh, I completely forgot the little miss can't handle spicy food," Zheng Qiang said, feeling guilty. "I should have set a few pieces aside for her before adding the final blast of chilies. My bad."

"It's no problem. I'll just get her a bowl of rice water to rinse the food in," Mrs. Zhao said with a smile, walking over and placing a bowl of it in front of Zhou Momo.

The little one nodded, beaming. "Yep, it's okay! If I rinse it, it's still yummy~"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh at the sight. The little girl was just too endearing.

"If it's too spicy, just eat more of the ribs." Zhou Yan placed the pork ribs in front of her and sat down beside her with a smile.

"Okay~~ Brother, you're so nice to me!" Zhou Momo tilted her face up to smile at him, asking in her sweet, childlike voice, "But… can I try a piece of taro first?"

"Of course you can." Zhou Yan picked up a piece of taro for her, first rinsing it in the rice water. A layer of red oil immediately floated to the surface of the thick, white liquid. Only then did he place it in her bowl.

She blew on it gently, leaned in to take a small bite, and her big eyes immediately lit up.

'It's so soft and fragrant, with just a tiny bit of spice. So delicious!'

The little one swung her short legs joyfully, then shoveled in a big mouthful of rice.

The fluffy, fragrant rice was sweet as she chewed, immediately taming the hint of spice. Another bite of taro, another mouthful of rice—she was eating with great gusto.

"Wow, this little girl is so well-behaved, eating so well by herself. My second kid is a year older than her, and my mom still has to chase him around with a bowl to feed him every day. It's a real headache!" Zheng Qiang said, looking at Zhou Momo with a doting smile.

Zhou Yan first picked up a piece of chicken. It looked like a piece of drumstick. The skin had shrunk after being stir-fried, making the bone poke out. It was coated in a bright red oil and looked incredibly appetizing.

He took a bite, and the juices burst in his mouth. A numbing aroma and gentle spice blossomed across his taste buds. The chicken skin had a glutinous, sticky texture that clung pleasantly to his lips. The meat was succulent and had absorbed all the flavor, growing more fragrant with every chew.

Taro chicken has to be made with a young chicken. An old hen, even if stewed until tender, will have a fibrous, crumbly texture that just can't compare.

Next, he picked up a piece of taro.

'What's the true essence of taro chicken? It's not the chicken. It's the taro, which is even more delicious.'

At any rate, whenever Zhou Yan went out for taro chicken with friends, the chicken was always the last thing left in the pot. Not a single piece of taro ever escaped the mouths of those gourmands.

The surface of the taro had a velvety texture, coated in a thick sauce that gave it the appearance of glazed porcelain. It had been deep-fried before being simmered over low heat until utterly tender. His chopsticks sank into a piece with the slightest pressure. Once in his bowl, it broke in half with a gentle nudge, it was that soft.

He popped one half into his mouth. It dissolved at the slightest pressure from his tongue, as soft and creamy as bean paste, with a texture that was exquisitely fine and smooth.

The flavor of the broth had perfectly permeated it. Though the pot was a fiery red, the flavor was actually fragrance-forward, with the spiciness playing a supporting role. Its soft, creamy texture provided a delicious experience completely different from that of the tender chicken.

Absolutely divine!

Zhou Yan shoveled in a mouthful of rice, reveling in the profound satisfaction of the carb-on-carb collision.

'This taro chicken is incredible!'

"This taro chicken is just fantastic! Especially this taro—it's so soft and creamy. The flavor is simply out of this world!" Mrs. Zhao praised effusively, making no effort to hide her astonishment.

"It really is good." Xiao Lei sucked on a chicken bone before spitting it out, nodding with a smile. "Master Zheng really has a knack for this stewed chicken. If we had some pork intestines, adding them in would make it even better."

Luo nodded in agreement. "Well, Master Zheng is Yunliang's star pupil, after all. His skills are undeniable. If he were in the Rongcheng Restaurant's kitchen, with his familiar stove and seasonings, the flavor would be on another level."

"Don't pull my leg, Uncle," Zheng Qiang said with a helpless expression. He was being praised, but it felt like a backhanded compliment.

Zhou Yan's gaze shifted to the Spicy Stir-fried Chicken Gizzards. The vibrant red pickled peppers, tender white scallion segments, and glossy green garlic sprouts set off the offal, making it look all the more vivid.

Fresh offal is a world apart from the frozen stuff; the colors are far more vivid. It was a perfect "single-line oil" stir-fry, with no excess sauce pooling on the plate.

[An exceptionally good plate of Spicy Stir-fried Chicken Gizzards]

'So the "Spicy Stir-fry" series really is my master's signature,' Zhou Yan thought, raising an eyebrow. 'That's no empty boast.'

Braised Pork Kidney, Spicy Stir-fried Pork Liver, Spicy Stir-fried Chicken Gizzards… The more an ingredient demands precise Fire Control, the greater the display of a chef's skill.

He placed a helping of the spicy stir-fried offal into his bowl. The gizzard was sliced paper-thin; the intestines, cut into small pieces, had curled up in the intense heat; and the slightly thicker slices of liver were stained by red oil, resembling pieces of agate.

He took a bite. The gizzard was crisp and springy, letting out a satisfying CRUNCH between his teeth. The intestines were smooth yet resiliently chewy, and the liver was tender and creamy. The numbing, spicy, and savory flavor was so intense it felt like a jolt straight to his brain!