Food Intelligence King

Chapter 42 Saying Goodbye to the Past
What is the significance of a bowl of porridge to steamed buns?

When you take a bite of the bun and put it in your mouth, the juicy meat filling will be the first to release its juices and oils as you chew it.

Then, the salty and savory taste will make your mouth water.

This chewing process is almost the most fulfilling moment in the mouth.

But don't forget, besides the minced meat...
He even took a bite out of the bun skin.

The fluffy, porous structure inside the dough acts like a sponge, absorbing all the liquid.

Especially when eating the pleated parts of the bun, although the swirling grooves provide a rich tactile experience, it can make your mouth feel a little dry.

Therefore, at this time, you need a sip of warm liquid to moisten your mouth.

Porridge would be perfect.

However, thick porridge made entirely of rice grains is ineffective.

If the rice water is too thin, the taste will be too bland.

Simmering over a low flame allows the starch in the rice grains to fully separate into white porridge, making it the best choice.

Just a small bite is enough to swallow all the lingering taste of the bun in your mouth, accompanied by the subtle aroma of rice.

Eating steamed buns this way makes it hard to have any regrets.

Having thoroughly enjoyed her breakfast, Zhao Yilin was completely absorbed in the experience.

"Junior Sister, hello!"

Chen Zhou called out to her, "Are you still half asleep? Did you come to work overtime on the weekend?"

“No,” Zhao Yilin shook her head in confusion, “I think I’m a little drunk.”

"Never heard of it."

After breakfast,
The junior sister helped Chen Zhou with all the necessary procedures for the day.

Certificate of termination of employment, certificate of termination of labor contract, confidentiality, settlement of wages, and transfer of social security.
Actually, these are tasks that are managed by multiple people.

But since she's the only one working in the office right now, Zhao Yilin has to be a jack-of-all-trades. She just needs to contact the other women who aren't at work for a few things.

Zhao Yilin flipped through the documents and rummaged through her bag, looking for something she didn't recognize.

"Xiao Ai?!"

The artificial intelligence responded with a emotionless "Sigh."

"Where are you?"

"I'm here!" Xiao Ai rang the bell.

Zhao Yilin then started searching in circles.

As Chen Zhou watched her actions, he suddenly felt an itch on his scalp.

"Don't ask it anymore. Xiao Ai must be tired following you around. Why don't you take a look at what you're holding?"

“Oh,” Zhao Yilin took out her phone and smiled naturally at Chen Zhou.

"I was wondering why I hadn't seen it; it was right here."

The junior sister's personality is a bit complicated; she's got a mix of awkwardness, silliness, and cuteness.

However, once she gets into work mode, she is very efficient.

He took Chen Zhou to the dean's office twice, and all the formalities were completed that same morning. There was no delay whatsoever.

Although Chen Zhou didn't work much last month, he used his annual leave at Zhao Yilin's suggestion, so the full amount of 2500 yuan was credited to his account.

Chen Zhou counted the cash in his hand, thinking to himself that he really needed to thank her properly this time.

So he said to Zhao Yilin:

"Last time we chatted, I said I'd treat you to dinner, but your sister-in-law invited you to her house for dinner. When are you free?"

“I’m free anytime!” Zhao Yilin replied happily.

But Chen Zhou couldn't help but recall that she had never come when he had asked her to try the steamed buns.

"Hey, why didn't you come when I called you before?" The junior sister scratched her head.

"Look, senior, my rented apartment is in the opposite direction from yours, and I don't have a small electric scooter, so I have to take the subway home. You sell steamed buns during rush hour, so I have to get squeezed every time I go there and back. Your steamed buns are so delicious, if I eat two, I'll definitely want to take two more home. ..."

Chen Zhou quickly booked a time for her:
I'll come pick you up this weekend!

"That would be so embarrassing. Hehe." Zhao Yilin laughed.

After leaving the design institute, I got back on my electric scooter.

Chen Zhou had a feeling he couldn't quite put his finger on. After all, he had worked here for several years, and today he was finally drawing a clear line between himself and the place.

Although Lao Song was a greasy senior colleague, representing many colleagues' lack of confidence in his entrepreneurial endeavors, he still briefly said goodbye today.

The dean, who used to constantly talk about reducing costs and increasing efficiency, and who used monitoring and attendance tracking, now looks like an ordinary old man.

Sad? Definitely not; he'd wanted to quit for a long time. Happy? Not really.

Actually, I'm quite happy.

Chen Zhou suddenly thought of something.
It's like finishing a TV series or reading a novel. Good or bad, it all comes to an end.

A new chapter in my life is about to begin. From now on, I'll dedicate myself wholeheartedly to my restaurant business.

When he set up his stall again in the evening, the familiar faces of his customers eased Chen Zhou's slight sadness.

"Still two steamed buns!"

"Meaty."

Practice makes perfect. Although many people come and go every day, Chen Zhou got the hang of it after a few visits.

Some people, however, are just too familiar to me.

For example, your neighbor across the hall, the auntie.

We see each other all the time. The two families have even exchanged food and drinks once or twice recently.

However, Chen Zhou still doesn't know the name of the aunt who lives across the street.

The other party seems to have come with a question today:

"Young man, I thought you sold porridge here too. Or do you only sell steamed buns?"

Chen Zhou replied with a smile, "No, I just made something at home this morning."

"It smells really good. I smelled it as soon as I opened the door this morning." Auntie seemed to still be savoring the aroma.

Chen Zhou became polite: "Then I'll cook some porridge for you to try next time."

"No need, no need," the aunt waved her hands repeatedly, "You're doing business, I should definitely buy it."

"Actually, cooking porridge isn't difficult at all. Let me explain it to you simply, and you can make it yourself at home."

This auntie retired not long ago, and her children are not married yet, so she has a lot of free time every day. She dances in the square with the help of the neighborhood committee, and she grows flowers downstairs at her own expense. She can often be seen in the community's residents' group.

Chen Zhou thought she should have plenty of energy to cook a good pot of porridge.

So I told her about a few things that needed to be noted.

Specifically, it includes how to choose rice, how many times to rinse it, the water-to-rice ratio, and the cooking time. But it doesn't even mention the methods that are "completely unnecessary at home."

My aunt could only put on a cooperative expression halfway through the conversation, having lost her initial interest.

Chen Zhou tactfully concluded, "If you do it this way, the porridge will definitely be good."

The aunt said that professional matters should be handled by professionals.

That makes a lot of sense. If everyone had good cooking skills, time, and energy, there wouldn't be many restaurants left in the world.

That's gone.

Chen Zhou smiled and started promising her: "Wait for me to open the shop in a while, and I'll arrange breakfast for you then."

Auntie laughed when she heard that: "Auntie will definitely be there to support you on that day!"

(End of this chapter)