Without Wen Mingtang’s reminder, Tangyuan and Ah Bing each had a pair of chopsticks in their hands. One hand held a rice bowl; the other reached for the bubbling Yúxiāng Qiézi Bāo.

They picked up a strip of eggplant from the rather “well-behaved” eggplant pieces. The eggplant’s purple skin was glistening with the red oil of the fish-fragrant broth, while the originally white flesh had been stained a deep brown by the sauce.

Although they were picking up eggplant strips, they were also picking up more than just eggplant strips; the flesh was covered with finely chopped pork and green and red pepper rings, making it look incredibly tempting.

Before even tasting it, the heat emanating from the eggplant strip reached their lips. This scalding heat reminded them that this eggplant strip, freshly picked from the bubbling casserole, couldn’t be eaten immediately. Yet, while preventing them from eating it right away, the scalding heat also accelerated the rush of salty, spicy aroma into their nostrils.

The two subconsciously swallowed, blew on the eggplant strip on their chopsticks, and waited for the heat to dissipate slightly before picking it up and putting it in their mouths. Then… they took a bite. The broth, soaked up inside the eggplant strip, overflowed and flooded their mouths. The unique aroma of red oil, slightly spicy, salty, and fragrant, mixed with the scent of eggplant and minced pork, instantly filled their entire mouths.

Tangyuan’s and Ah Bing’s eyes visibly lit up, but they didn’t have time to speak. Even though they blew on the eggplant strips before putting them in their mouths, they were still scalding hot. The two of them hissed and gasped for breath, their tongues struggling between the deliciousness and the heat. They raised their hands and gave Wen Mingtang a thumbs-up, then lowered their heads and eagerly put a mouthful of soft rice into their mouths. After chewing and swallowing for a while, the two of them finally spoke.

“So…delicious!” Ah Bing exclaimed, his tongue still slightly hot. “The flavor is so unique. At first bite, it seems salty and spicy, but it’s completely different from simple saltiness and spiciness. There seems to be a hint of sourness and sweetness, but it’s not very pronounced. The texture is so rich, it’s truly indescribable.”

It was as if all the flavors—salty, spicy, sour, and sweet—had been blended together, completely intertwined. One could feel and taste each flavor individually, yet one couldn’t extract any one of them separately. These flavors blended together to create a layered, unique taste that was irresistible.

This was probably the “Yúxiāng” flavor that Master Wen had mentioned. They had heard that it could be used not only to make Yúxiāng Qiézi but also Yúxiāng Ròusī, Yúxiāng Hōngdàn, and even Yúxiāng dishes using ingredients such as lettuce and radish.

Just as he was marveling at this, he heard a voice coming from behind me.

“I was wondering why the public kitchen’s chefs were cooking up a little private feast here!” Liú Yuán said as he poked his head out from behind Āh Bǐng, who was holding his rice bowl and sighing with satisfaction. Smiling at Wēn Míngtáng, he greeted her, “Master Wen, we haven’t seen you for just one day, and we’ve already missed you terribly!”

Having picked up another strip of eggplant into her bowl, Tāngyuán rolled her eyes and mercilessly exposed the implication behind Liú Yuán’s words. “What you all have in mind is Master Wen’s cooking, isn’t it?” Without waiting for Liú Yuán to reply, she looked up at him and asked, “Liú Sìchéng, did you think today’s Duòjiāo Yútóu Dòufu Bāo wasn’t good?”

Seeing the little girl’s sullen face and remembering the ladle she held in her hand, which held the power to “serve” the dishes every day, if her hand were to slip… Liu Yuan didn’t think twice and immediately raised his hand to apologize: “It’s delicious, of course.” He couldn’t offend Chef Tangyuan, and even less could he offend Chef Wen, so Liu Yuan’s eyes darted around, and after thinking for a moment, he said, “I just went back to the jail and interrogated a suspect, so I’m a little hungry.” As he spoke, he touched… He patted his stomach, his gaze flicking to the clay pot still bubbling leisurely behind Tangyuan and Ah Bing. He swallowed hard. “I smelled the aroma when I passed the kitchen, so I came to see if there was anything left to tide me over.”

This successfully appeased Tangyuan. Tangyuan shifted his toes to the side, pointing to the clay pot, and said, “Today, Zhao Daren unusually came for dinner. He had a very good appetite, eating two portions of Duòjiāo Yútóu Dòufu Bāo by himself, finishing off both Abing’s and my dinners. Chef Wen didn’t even…” After dinner, they used the remaining eggplants and some minced pork from the estate to make a Yúxiāng Qiézi Bāo.

The unique and exotic aroma had already made Liu Yuantong’s and Bai Zhu’s mouths water. Hearing Tangyuan’s words, Bai Zhu couldn’t help but exclaim, “Eh?” in surprise. “Can fish and eggplant make a delicious dish?”

The taste was something neither of them could immediately imagine, but it certainly smelled delicious, especially with Chef Wen standing beside it, making it seem even more appetizing.

If Wen Mingtang knew he had somehow acquired this “skill,” he probably wouldn’t be able to resist a slight twitch of his lips.

Tangyuan, who was taking a bite of eggplant strips, couldn’t help but squint upon hearing this: the flavor of this Yúxiāng Qiézi Bāo was unique and rich, with layers of texture. The eggplant skin was smooth, the flesh was tender, and the minced pork had a slightly grainy texture. With each sip and suck, the overflowing broth had a unique flavor that blended perfectly, making it truly delicious with rice.

After putting a mouthful of rice into her mouth, Tangyuan mentally praised it as “good” and then said to Liu Yuan and Bai Zhu, “There’s no fish in this Yúxiāng Qiézi Bāo.”

Upon hearing this explanation, Wen Mingtang subconsciously rubbed her forehead, knowing that the classic question was about to come.

Sure enough, as soon as these words were spoken, the impatient Liu Yuan immediately asked, “Why is it called Yúxiāng Qiézi Bāo if there’s no fish?”

This question was much like asking why there was no wife in Lǎopóbǐng. Most people encountering these dishes for the first time would ask the very same question.

However, this question was not unanswerable.

“Yúxiāng, like spicy, sour, and spicy pickled pepper and smoked, is a flavor profile, and it can be used to make many dishes,” Wen Mingtang said, glancing at Liu Yuan and Bai Zhu, who were talking while staring intently at the steaming casserole and swallowing their saliva. She smiled. “Would you two like to try this Yúxiāng Qiézi Bāo?”

Before Bai Zhu could speak, Liu Yuan immediately replied, “I’m actually quite hungry, so thank you very much, Chef Wen!”

His quick answer seemed to indicate he was afraid Wen Mingtang would change her mind if he hesitated.

Wen Mingtang glanced at Liu Yuan, smiled, and shook her head. This pot of Yúxiāng Qiézi Bāo was only enough for her, Tangyuan, and Ah Bing.

As a cook, she naturally had a good grasp of the appetites of those around her, so… Liu Yuan and Bai Zhu’s portions would naturally have to be made again.

Starting a new stove was always a bit of a hassle, but if she could make enough for two people, she could make enough for several more.

Wēn Míngtáng glanced at Zhào Yóu, who had just stepped into the public kitchen behind the two of them, and smiled. “Zhào Chāiyì, you’re here?”

Zhao, who walked in carrying a food box, nodded as he smelled the rich aroma of fish. Before anyone could ask when his leg had healed, he said, “Master Wen, Lin Shaoqing sent me to collect the evening meal!”

(End of Chapter)

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