Miao Chu

Chapter 46 Guess
Cheng Zijian was unaware that his portion of taro and braised pork was still sleeping soundly in the food box when someone had already set their sights on it.

But as he smelled the aroma of the braised pork all the way, swallowing countless times, another thought arose in his mind.

Food is certainly important, but my own writing, the upcoming civil service exam, and my future prospects are even more important.

We should try again.

Seeing that the school was just ahead, he suddenly called out to Wang Chang and the other man, saying, "Wait for me, I need to deliver a bowl of taro and braised pork to someone."

When he returned from the school to retrieve the food box, he first brought out a bowl of taro with braised pork, and then put some perilla, peaches and ginger in a small bowl. He then said to Wang Chang, "You guys eat first, don't wait for me."

Wang Chang was naturally aware that his friend had recently borrowed articles from the upper dormitory and frequently sought advice from others, so he readily agreed.

The three split into two groups. Leaving aside Cheng Zijian's group for now, Wang Chang and the messenger ran wildly and finally arrived at the kitchen.

He had assumed that the table was full of people and that they must have finished eating by now, after all that time they had gone back and forth. However, when he carried the food box and bowl back to the table, the food was barely touched.

"Why aren't you eating? It's getting cold!"

Wang Chang was extremely surprised.

"What are you talking about? Do you think all we have left for you two is scraps?"

"We've been waiting for you! We agreed to eat together, how could we start eating before everyone is here!"

"that is!"

"Let's eat after everyone's here!"

Another person asked, "Where is Zijian?"

Wang Chang then said, "He went to deliver food and won't be back for a while—should we wait for him?"

The crowd, who had just said "we'll eat when everyone's here," immediately changed their tune: "Why is it him again who's holding us back!"

"He was the one who made the braised pork trotter rice last time too!"

"Just like last time, leave some for him!"

"What good stuff did Vendor Song bring this time? Don't let it get cold, or it'll lose its flavor!"

Even the script was almost identical to the last time.

This table was mostly filled with pots and pans that had been delivered to Song Miao the night before. Only two people were missing. The group asked the classmates who had finished eating to go back and call them. If they didn't come, it wouldn't matter; they could just leave an extra portion.

Once everything was ready and space was cleared, as soon as the food box was opened, someone excitedly rubbed their hands together and exclaimed, "What is this this time? It smells even better than the braised pork trotter rice from last time!"

He leaned closer to take another look.

"They say it's taro with braised pork." Wang Chang repeated what he had just heard from Song Miao, "The food on Guangnan West Road has fermented bean curd in it—Miss Song was worried we wouldn't be used to it."

"Miss Song underestimates us too much!"

"I can eat anything that stall owner Song makes!"

The crowd chanted in unison, and then each person went to look at the opened food box.

Wang Chang slapped their heads aside one by one and said, "Don't block the way. Miss Song said that this braised pork needs to be turned over first."

Then he asked, "Where's the bowl?"

As the messenger had reminded them earlier, the group had already gathered eight or nine open bowls, and one was quickly handed over.

Wang Chang reached out and took it, then turned it upside down on the bowl that originally contained taro and braised pork, quickly flipping the bowl over.

The taro and braised pork belly dish was immediately turned upside down and transferred to a new bowl.

However, it was Wang Chang's first time doing this, and he wasn't very skilled, so he still spilled some soup.

After being turned over, the bottom of the taro and braised pork, which was originally against the deep bowl, became the outside. The original outside, which was the flat rim of the bowl, also became a flat base.

So the flat taro and braised pork belly dish was transformed into a round, arched little mountain shape, both plump and beautiful.

The taro slices and pork belly slices were layered on top of each other. Originally at the bottom of the bowl, they were naturally soaked in the sauce. Now they were turned over and became shiny on the outside, releasing the aroma of the sauce. No matter how far away you were, you would be caught by the smell.

The pork belly slices were boiled and then fried to remove the grease. After being fried, they were soaked in cold water. The pork skin, which was originally crispy and hard with large golden bubbles, contracted when it was cold, forming a beautiful golden tiger-skin pattern.

At this moment, the tiger-skin pattern on the surface is deeply crisscrossed, having absorbed an unknown amount of sauce. It is now glossy and shiny, with a reddish-brown hue that makes one's mouth water at first glance.

The most important ingredient in the sauce is fermented bean curd.

Guizhou fermented bean curd has a unique aroma and mellow taste. Both its fragrance and flavor are very distinctive, and anyone who has smelled or tasted it will never forget it.

Those who have never tasted it, once they smell it, are like fish caught by a long fishing line and hook; no matter how far away they are, they have no choice but to obediently swim back.

So the table was surrounded by onlookers, who stood on tiptoe to try and see inside.

They were all classmates, and Wang Chang and the others' previous smugness had already aroused public anger. At this moment, they didn't care about politeness at all and all wanted to glare at each other.

Moreover, everyone agrees that even if they can't eat the food made by Miss Song, the aroma is shared by everyone in the Imperial Academy, so there's no awkwardness of watching others eat.

At the far end of the table, Wang Chang had just turned over a bowl of braised pork. As soon as the bowl was placed on the table, seven or eight pairs of chopsticks reached inside.

He hurriedly called out, "Miss Song said that you should eat two pieces at a time—one piece of taro and one piece of braised pork belly together. It's best not to eat just one thing! Especially don't just grab the taro!"

While calling out, he didn't bother to turn over the other bowls and hurriedly grabbed chopsticks to pick up food.

Someone laughed as they grabbed the meat, saying, "With such good meat, who would only grab the taro? You're probably just deliberately breaking it off to save the meat for yourself!"

As he spoke, whether intentionally or by chance, when he picked up the pork belly, the whole piece came together, but the taro was broken in half by the chopsticks—so he ended up with half a slice of taro and a slice of pork belly.

He didn't care at all, his stomach rumbling as he waited for the meat to be eaten. He put the taro and braised pork into his mouth, but after only one bite, his hand trembled. He hurriedly pushed his chopsticks back into the forest of chopsticks to grab a spot, and then lowered his head, almost touching the table—so that he could see a little—and asked loudly, "I accidentally broke off half a piece of taro earlier. Where did my taro go? Who took my taro by mistake?"

However, nobody paid any attention to him.

Everyone was either busy eating or busy grabbing things.

Wang Chang managed to snatch a pair of taro and braised pork belly, but the taro in the pair was only half a slice.

There was no way around it; the bowl was full of chopsticks, and for some reason, the taro was too soft. If you applied the wrong force, it would fall off.

Wang Chang craves meat.

What student doesn't crave meat?

Although he had heard Song Miao say it herself, and she had repeatedly said that the taro in the taro braised pork was better than the pork, he didn't quite believe it. He just thought to himself: Song Miao has probably eaten too many good things, and she is a young woman with a small stomach. She can't eat more than a few bites of meat, so she would say such strange things.

How could taro possibly taste better than meat?!
You have no idea how much meat we people, who have been eating bland food for so long, have to eat to fill our stomachs!
Therefore, as soon as the taro and braised pork was put into the bowl, he immediately took a big bite of the meat. The pork belly was boiled in boiling water, then boiled in hot oil, and then soaked in cold water for half a day in a carefully prepared sauce. After that, it was steamed for a long time. The fat in the pork belly was gradually broken down by the steam and melted into the lean meat below, leaving only an exceptionally soft and tender texture.

Lean meat is not dry to begin with—pork belly, especially the top-grade lower five-layered pork belly with eight layers, has no chance of becoming dry. If it were even a little bit dry, it would be a disservice to that fat pig. Now, with so much fat incorporated, it only has the aroma of meat and sauce and a bit of flavor.

Only the small amount of lean meat kept the slices from falling apart, but they were already limp and hung on the chopsticks, drooping like a "冂" shape, with oily sauce slowly dripping down from them.

The sauce is made primarily with Guizhou white fermented bean curd, complemented by various sauces and seasonings, resulting in an extremely rich and mellow aroma that is both unique and authentic.

What's remarkable is that it's unlike any other seasoning, possessing a unique, rich, fermented aroma that is exceptionally delicious. This aroma comes from the food that people commonly eat, giving it a distinctive flavor that is not strange at all. Its freshness and beauty linger on people's palates.

First marinate, then steam, so the flavor of the sauce has permeated every strand and every part of the meat.

The flavor is salty with a hint of sweetness. The sweetness is present but not overpowering, just right. There's also a savory umami flavor. It's universally appealing – anyone with a normal tongue would find it hard not to like it.

Pure meat, eight layers of pork belly, you hardly need to use your teeth when chewing it. It enters your mouth in a few bites and is filled with the aroma of oil, meat, fermented bean curd, and soy sauce, with a final hint of wine aftertaste. Because it was just taken out of the charcoal-insulated food box, it is no different from when it was just steamed, piping hot—fighting in your mouth.

As Wang Chang ate, he exhaled hot air, savoring the delicious taste. He couldn't help but let out indescribable gurgling sounds from his nose, so engrossed in the meal that he almost wanted to curse on the spot.

You people from Guangnan are really being unfair!
With something this delicious, why didn't you bring it to the capital and spread the word about it sooner!
It made me, a native of Beijing, look so ignorant!

But I've actually eaten good food before!
Wang Chang was so engrossed in eating that his ears seemed to fly away. It took him a while to hear the person next to him looking for the taro that "someone had mistakenly taken." When he looked down again and saw the taro in his own bowl, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

—The meat was already so fragrant, yet Miss Song repeatedly told herself not to just eat taro…

Could it be?

He quickly swallowed the meat in his mouth and tasted a piece of taro.

Taro was indeed difficult to pick up with chopsticks; in the end, I only managed to pick up a small piece.

The taro was fried and then steamed for a long time, so the originally crispy outer layer became incredibly soft and chewy. Because it was thoroughly soaked in the sauce and the fat from the pork belly, it changed from a light yellow color when fried to a darker brownish-yellow color.

Once you put it in your mouth, the outermost layer, having been repeatedly steamed and absorbed moisture and aroma, has surrendered and is no longer what it used to be. Instead, it has been steamed into what looks like a thick, evenly moist powder, with a texture that is actually gritty, or rather, somewhere between gritty and soft. It truly melts in your mouth.

The taro itself has a very mild flavor, serving only as a carrier for the aroma of meat and fermented bean curd, with a perfect balance of salty and sweet, and is extremely fragrant.

But once you bite into it, the taro in the middle is soft and fluffy, steamed thoroughly, and soaked in the fermented bean curd sauce and oil. However, because it is sandwiched in the middle, it is not as thoroughly soaked as the outer layer, which preserves the taro's own texture and aroma.

Unlike other taro varieties, Lipu taro has an extremely delicate texture and a natural sweetness. Its sweetness is pleasant and its fragrance is long-lasting, rivaling even the aromas of fermented bean curd and meat.

As you chew, the taro carries the rich aroma of pork belly and oil, along with the fragrance of fermented bean curd and its own unique taro flavor, creating a wonderfully layered taste. Towards the end, its own sweetness returns, making it both sandy and smooth, fresh and fragrant.

—It really does taste even better than meat!

Wang Chang realized what was happening after just one bite, and the others, who weren't blind, naturally understood. So they all rushed to grab the taro, like they were fighting.

But a bowl of braised pork belly is only so big. There are eight or nine people at the table, and if each person takes a pair, it's almost empty.

Soon the chopsticks were fighting in the empty bowl.

Everyone kept urging Wang Chang on.

"I'm done eating! Quick, another bowl!"

"Old Wang, stop eating. How many bowls did Miss Song make? Is it enough for us?"

"No number of bowls would be enough—I think I could eat ten bowls by myself!"—This is someone who boasts without thinking.

"You think you can finish this all at once? You idiot! You need to save some for dinner, otherwise what will you eat tonight?"

"Exactly! If you ate this braised pork belly for lunch, how can you possibly eat anything in the kitchen tonight?!"

"Aside from what we left for Zijian and the others, let's quickly see how much is left and take it all out!"

Wang Chang was so pressured that his scalp tingled.

Those who had been watching the commotion saw that there seemed to be an opportunity here, and they all gathered around.

"How many bowls did Miss Song make? Name your price, and give us one!"

"What is this smell? It smells so incredibly strong! Stop eating and tell me what it tastes like!"

"Yesterday, only you got to eat that braised pork trotter rice, and today, why are you the only ones getting to eat this braised pork belly? All you've got is to copy a book and beat up a thug, do you think you're so special?!"

The onlookers swallowed hard and laughed, even though they couldn't eat any themselves, they still urged Wang Chang on.

Wang Chang was so rushed that he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet. He turned his head and cried out, "Don't rush me, don't rush me! My hands are shaking! Don't make me spill the soup."

He's a very outgoing person with a wide circle of friends. Five or six out of ten people present know him, and they don't stand on ceremony. Some are scolding him, while others are joking with him.

"Hurry up! You're only taking a few bites of food, why are you dawdling like that!"

A familiar face standing behind couldn't help but spit out, "Your hands are shaking when you're just grabbing a dish. If you had asked me, I would have eaten it all for you right now. Let's see if you have any soup left to pour out!"

The people at the table urged Wang Chang on while protecting him, fearing that his hands might tremble and spill the soup. Their shouts rose and fell.

"Don't worry!"

"Be careful not to spill the sauce!"

"Move aside, don't block Wang Chang's elbow!"

"I've got it! Wang Chang can't, so he called me. I've seen it done! I'll flip this taro and braised pork bowl over!"

However, as soon as he finished speaking, seeing a new bowl already placed on the table, he forgot his words "call me here," grabbed his chopsticks, and immediately started to snatch it.

Meanwhile, the kitchen was in chaos. Many people stopped eating their own meals to watch Wang Chang and the others grab taro and braised pork at their table.

Meanwhile, Xiao You, who had just brought Masters Cao and Wei to the teaching building, arranged for someone to serve tea and then went into the inner room to invite Master Chen.

As soon as he entered, he saw that besides the Master, there was another person inside. He wasn't surprised, so he simply bowed and said, "Master Deng."

As Deng Jijiu was drinking tea and talking with Master Chen, he saw Xiao You enter, nodded with a smile, and asked, "Old Cao and the others have arrived?"

Having received a positive reply, he stood up, stepped aside, and said to Master Chen, "Senior Brother, please go first."

Master Chen was about to agree, but when he looked up, he saw Xiao You winking at him. He immediately sat back down, waved his hand, and said, "You go and greet them first. I'll tidy up and come back later."

As people get older, their three urges become more frequent than others, and Chief Minister Deng was not surprised. Sure enough, he agreed and left first.

Xiao You wasn't in a hurry to follow, but quickly moved closer to the table and whispered to Master Chen, "Sir, this morning, Miss Song didn't set up her stall, so we didn't get to eat anything good. But just now—guess who I ran into at the door?"

Thank you to the bookstore and my cat, Egg, for the three little gifts! ^_^
Thank you so much, Sky-like Freedom, for sending me this peace charm! =3=
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(End of this chapter)