1984: Starting from a bankrupt Sichuan restaurant

Chapter 87 The feast begins!

Zhou Yan couldn't help but marvel at Master Zheng's bizarre circumstances. It was one thing to be pulled into being a village chef after attending a banquet, but his competitor turned out to be his own uncle.
Moreover, this uncle is a bit cheeky. Even though he clearly recognizes you, he won't say so, and keeps calling you Master Zheng to coax you into becoming his disciple.

Finally finding an opportunity, I decided to showcase my best dishes and broaden the horizons of this country cook.

Little did they know that his specialty was something others had already mastered twenty years ago.

What is this?
Zhou Yan felt pretty miserable.

Chef Zheng was busy making braised fish, Zhou Yan was about to start slicing pig ears and pork head meat, and the most idle person in the room was Chef Xiao, who was waiting to start cooking at 11 o'clock, to steam the dishes in the pot for another hour, and then serve the dishes and start the banquet.

Zhou Yan looked at Xiao Lei with a smile: "Master, the pig's head meat needs to be sliced ​​evenly to make it taste better. The aunties in the village aren't very good at knife skills, but you were the top knife skill in the factory canteen back then, such an important task..."

"You dare to wash your master's head?" Xiao Lei stared at him and laughed.

"I really mean it." Zhou Yan looked innocent, picked up the kitchen knife, grabbed an ear, and sighed, "Garlic bird, garlic bird, I'll chop it myself, it's only a few dozen plates anyway."

Zhou Yan's cleaver fell swiftly, and thin slices of ear-shaped shavings immediately piled up on the cutting board; you could pick up any one of them and it would be translucent.

The ear pieces were soaked in the braising liquid, giving them a bright red color, and were inlaid with white cartilage, resembling patterns, making them very beautiful.

The ear pieces need to be sliced ​​very thinly, which requires a high level of knife skill.

Especially for cold-dressed pig ear slices, the thinner the slices, the more flavorful they are, and the more exquisite the taste.

Pig's head meat is a little different; it needs to be a bit thick so that you can taste the rich, savory flavor of the meat that has been infused with the braising sauce. It needs to be sliced ​​thinly and evenly.

There are still many good teachers in the world.

Xiao Lei watched Zhou Yan cut the pig's head for a while, nodded, went back to get his own cleaver, and started helping to cut the pig's head meat.

“It’s so good to have a master.” Zhou Yan turned to look at him, deeply moved.

"Cut yours carefully, watch your fingers." Xiao Lei rolled his eyes at him, then quickly sliced ​​the pig's head meat. Thin, even slices of pig's head meat landed on the cutting board, the thickness that drinkers love most. He was even faster than Zhou Yan.

Aunt Zhao, who had picked up a kitchen knife to help, quietly put it away again.

The old lady stood to the side with her hands behind her back, watching, and couldn't help but nod in approval of Xiao Lei's knife skills.

No wonder Zhou Yan's knife skills are so solid; his master's knife skills are truly remarkable. He is indeed worthy of being Master Kong's apprentice.

The master and apprentice were in charge of cutting, while the aunties were in charge of plating.

There wasn't enough pig snout to serve on its own, so it was combined with pig head meat on a platter. Each platter only contained a dozen or so slices, and soon the entire table was filled.

Scoop a spoonful of the prepared chili powder from one corner of the plate; those who like spicy food can dip it in themselves.

After cutting the pig's head, Xiao Lei took the knife back to direct the helpers to start the fire and prepare for the meal. Zhou Yan also cut the beef shank.

Zheng Qiang had just finished frying thirty fish and was chopping ingredients. The golden-brown carp were arranged in a wooden bucket, their skin intact and unbroken.

His basic skills are indeed solid; no wonder his master would tease him.

Zhou Yan craned his neck to look carefully, memorizing all the side dishes.

Pickled cabbage, cowpeas, pickled peppers, roasted ginger, broad bean paste... It looks a bit like the crucian carp with mint flavor he makes, so it should be sour and spicy.

I was embarrassed to watch just now because stealing someone's skills is despicable.

Things are different now. This is his senior brother, so it's only right that he looks after him.

Suddenly, the faint sounds of gongs, drums, and suonas came from outside, and then someone exclaimed with delight, "They're here! The bride has been brought back!"

A long procession appeared on the village road. Zhou Hao, dressed in military uniform, led the way, pushing his bicycle. The bride, dressed in red clothes and a red hair ornament, sat on the bicycle, smiling radiantly, looking quite festive.

Behind them came a long procession of wedding party members carrying dressing tables, wooden boxes, and wedding quilts, along with the bride's relatives and friends who came to eat at the banquet.

People chatting in the courtyard, helping out on the dam, and other villagers all rushed to the road to watch the spectacle.

The procession to pick up the bride is the most spectacular event of our time.

The village children ran towards the wedding procession, each one running with more joy than the last.

Such a good life, where you can get candy just by saying a few auspicious words, doesn't come every day.

Crackling!

The 800-firecracker cannon at the entrance was lit, and everyone covered their ears, with smiles on their faces.

As soon as the firecrackers stopped, a group of little boys rushed up and searched for the few that hadn't gone off.

"The Chen family is quite particular! They have so much dowry."

“The Chen family is wealthy. Their son works at the supply and marketing cooperative, and their bride is a teacher at the town’s primary school. Zhou Hao is lucky to have married such a good wife.”

"Zhou Hao isn't bad either. I heard he's a platoon leader now, he's an officer!"

The villagers were talking about it, some with envy, others with a hint of sourness.

Zhou Yan watched with great interest. This was the first time he had ever seen a wedding in this era. The bride was short and slightly plump with a round face. She had a very friendly smile, and her red dress made her look very energetic and vibrant.

It's clear that the Chen family is powerful; these days, it's not easy to raise a person to be fleshy. They are a good match for the Zhou family.

The suona player played "A Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix," and the old master was quite skilled; he played it really well.

"Stop looking, hurry up and make the cold chicken salad. Cold dishes should be served first." The old lady coughed, pulling Zhou Yan back to reality.

"Get it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan didn't dare to delay any longer. He took a chicken out of the basket and looked at the old lady, asking, "How should I cut it?"

"Watch this." The old lady took the knife from his hand, first severing the neck with one stroke, then splitting the chicken's head in two with a swift cut and a tap, and chopping it into pieces along with the neck in a few quick movements.

With a turn of the cleaver, the chicken legs and wings were cut off, cut into strips, and then chopped into coin-sized pieces, each piece still attached to the skin.

In no time, the plump rooster was transformed into a bowl of chicken pieces in an enamel basin.

"There are many people eating at the 'baba banquet,' so if the chicken is cut into smaller pieces, everyone can take a few more pieces, taste the flavor, and have a couple more drinks." The old lady took out the seasoning packet she had prepared at the restaurant and started to mix the sauce.

Salt, MSG, Sichuan peppercorn powder, and sugar are dissolved in ginger and garlic water. A spoonful of vinegar is added, and a quarter of the mixture is poured over the chicken pieces, then tossed evenly with a spoon. "To make cold chicken flavorful, season it first, and add the Sichuan peppercorn oil and chili oil last. Otherwise, the oil will seal the meat in, and the flavor won't penetrate. It will just float on the surface, like a dipping sauce, and it won't taste good." As the old lady spoke, she opened the jar of chili oil. After sitting for an hour, the chili oil had become clear. She scooped a spoonful and poured it over the chicken. The bright red color looked quite appetizing.

Add four spoonfuls to a pot of chicken.

The old lady held an enamel basin in one hand and a spoon in the other, tossing and stirring the chicken along the edge of the basin to coat each piece with chili oil and sesame seeds, making it look incredibly appetizing!

After mixing thoroughly, start plating directly. One pot of chicken is served on eight plates. On the white plates, the chicken pieces are coated with red oil and sprinkled with sesame seeds, making them look vibrant and fragrant.

Pour all the chili oil and broth from the bowl, then use a spoon to pour it over the cold chicken. Sprinkle a small handful of chopped green onions on top, and the cold chicken is ready.

The set of movements was so fluid and graceful that Zhou Yan was dumbfounded.

A pretty good cold chicken salad

A note flashed in Zhou Yan's eyes.

His grandmother is still as sharp as ever!

Seventy-five years old is the perfect age to take risks!
"Come on, just do as I say." The old lady took a step to the side and looked at Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan didn't dawdle. He took another chicken out of the basket and started chopping it into pieces, just like the old lady had done before.

A whole chicken was quickly chopped into a bowl of chicken pieces. The old lady had already prepared the sauce. Zhou Yan poured one-third of it into the bowl and, learning from her stirring technique, tossed the bowl while mixing it.

At first, I wasn't used to it, but after mastering the rhythm and technique, I found that this way of stirring the chicken didn't fall apart easily, and the sauce could be mixed more thoroughly.

Add the chili oil, and the color immediately becomes bright and vibrant.

Zhou Yan's eyes lit up; it really was true!

The old lady was a truly good teacher. What she taught was always simple and direct, without many rules or restrictions, and full of everyday wisdom.

A decent cold chicken salad

Zhou Yan arranged the platter, and the panel also gave a sharp review.

Zhou Yan: ?
"Quite"?

The chicken was cooked in the same pot, with the same chili oil and seasonings, and even the stirring method was the same, so why were there two different reviews?

Zhou Yan was furious, but there was nothing he could do.

"Yes, that's how you mix it." The old lady nodded with a smile, quite satisfied with Zhou Yan's technique.

"Grandma! Grandma! The newlyweds are serving tea, please take the seat of honor!" Zhou Jie rushed out anxiously, and when he saw the cold chicken salad, braised pig ears, and braised pig head meat on the table, he couldn't help but swallow his saliva and exclaimed, "Zhou Yan, did you make this?"

“No mistake, it’s me.” Zhou Yan nodded.

"Amazing!" Zhou Jie exclaimed.

"Let's go." The old lady straightened her clothes, put her hands behind her back, and walked towards the courtyard gate.

Zhou Jie quickly followed.

Zhou Yan followed the same method, chopping up the remaining two chickens, mixing them, and plating them.

Cold chicken salad needs to be well-seasoned to taste good. It's mixed now, and the flavor will be at its best when the meal is served.

With that, Zhou Yan had finished preparing all four cold dishes, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Aunt Zhao stood to the side, looking at the more than one hundred cold dishes piled up on the table, and breathed a sigh of relief.

She was even more nervous than Zhou Yan when he cooked; if she messed up in this kind of situation, it would be hard to explain. Fortunately, Zhou Yan was reliable; the cold chicken and braised dishes looked very appetizing, and everyone who passed by couldn't help but take a second look.

At 11:30, the guests arrived one after another. After registering their red envelopes at the door, the host arranged for them to sit down.

A plate of melon seeds was placed on each table, and people would start by cracking the seeds and chatting, instantly enlivening the open space.

Xiao Lei stood guard over the stacks of steamers, where steam rose and the aroma of meat filled the air.

Zheng Qiang had already ordered three pots to be heated up and started preparing to cook the fish.

Today's guests are mainly relatives and friends from both sides, but a separate table was set up in the courtyard to entertain leaders from the county and town.

The Zhou family has two plaques recognizing them as first-class meritorious individuals. Leaders often come to visit and offer their condolences, and they have become quite familiar with each other over time.

Now that Zhou Weiguo is a member of the town's Party committee and Zhou Hao is a platoon leader, whether they stay in the army or are discharged, with this family background, their future is very bright.

So, after the invitations were sent out, all the leaders made time to come to the banquet today.

The old lady sat in the main seat, with Zhou Weiguo accompanying her. Then came Sun Yan, deputy director of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Huang Chen, deputy mayor, and four other town officials.

After everyone took their seats, they first greeted the old lady.

The old woman became the widow of a martyr in her youth and raised five sons single-handedly. Her youngest son, Zhou Weiguo, was seriously wounded on the battlefield and retired from the army. She also had two grandsons who joined the army.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they were a family of loyal martyrs.

People respect and admire her for raising such children and grandchildren.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

“I see there are three chefs at this banquet today, quite a grand affair,” Sun Yan said with a smile.

“Yes, he looks quite professional, not like a country cook,” Huang Chen nodded in agreement.

The old lady explained with a smile, "Originally there was only one village cook, but he suddenly had something to do yesterday and couldn't do it, so we temporarily invited two more chefs. The one who makes the cold dishes is my grandson Zhou Yan, who was also brought in to help out."

"It's time to serve!"

As they were talking, the kitchen helper came in with a tray and served four cold dishes.

Everyone looked closely, and their eyes lit up!
　Asking for a monthly ticket! ! !

　　
　
(End of this chapter)