Who gave this heretical practitioner permission to cook?

Chapter 102 The Golden Yellow Croaker in Soup! What on earth did you do?! (Second Update, 5K)
"The kitchen of Sichuan-Chongqing Dazhu, Spicy Coriander Restaurant"

It was past lunchtime, and many chefs were eating their staff meals in a special room next to the kitchen. Hearing that a young man had rented their stove, he curiously brought his bowl over to take a look.

Xia Ming simply marked a line on the ground to indicate that it was okay to look, but not to go beyond that point.

Then he turned back to the stove, took out a large yellow croaker, skillfully stunned the fish, and quickly removed the scales and gills. He then took two chopsticks and poked them into the fish's mouth.

The apprentice serving food watched his actions curiously and turned to ask the head chef.

"Master Ye, what is he doing?"

The master glanced at the fish in Xia Ming's hand and smiled slightly.

"He was using chopsticks to remove the fish's internal organs, that is, finding the right spot and stirring out the fish's internal organs with chopsticks."

"However, this kid is too inexperienced. Without making a small hole in the fish's belly, such brute force could easily rupture the gallbladder, and then the fish will be ruined."

As they were talking, Xia Ming pulled out the chopsticks from his hand, and saw that the fish's internal organs were completely churned up and pulled out with the chopsticks.

The fish gallbladder was perfectly intact, nestled on top of the discarded internal organs.
"How can it be???"

Chef Ye was stunned. He had seen people on Douyin (TikTok) using chopsticks to gut fish.

There are two types: those without openings and those with openings, but the open type is more common because it is easier to make.
But the young man in front of me is only in his early twenties. How could he possibly be as skilled as the master craftsman with just a few words?
Just as he was bewildered, Xia Ming quickly stroked the body of the large yellow croaker with his hand.

Generally speaking, to ensure the fish remains completely intact, it's impossible to remove the blood. The bloody taste is usually removed through subsequent marinating with scallions and ginger, or other processing methods.

But for Xia Ming, removing the smell of blood was the simplest step.

Furthermore, he can determine whether there are any unremoved internal organs by the amount of residual blood essence.

"Just a little bit left."

As he spoke, he used his chopsticks to pull out a piece of the unprocessed portion.

Seeing this, Chef Ye felt his head buzzing. As a distinguished "Hua Level 3" chef, this was the first time he had ever seen someone dare to put their chopsticks down a second time while handling the internal organs of a large yellow croaker.

"Is he crazy? Isn't he afraid of accidentally puncturing the fish skin?"

That's right, he had already figured it out. What Xia Ming was making was a famous dish from the Manchu Han Imperial Feast: "Yellow Croaker in Soup".

This dish requires selecting fresh large yellow croakers, cleaning out all the internal organs from their mouths, and then deboning the whole fish.

The skin of the large yellow croaker is very fragile, and if handled carelessly, it can be punctured.

More importantly, whether farmed or wild, large yellow croaker is not cheap, so even if many chefs want to practice, they must first be able to afford the cost of practice.

But none of this was a problem for Xia Ming.

You should know that when he was in the kitchen of the Blood Blade Sect, he practiced with Soul River Fish almost every day. Those fish were smelly, fishy, ​​had complicated bones, and tough flesh.

It possesses almost all the characteristics of being inedible. However, it has a large quantity of these characteristics, and its spiritual power is also quite decent, so the Blood Blade Sect still classifies it as ordinary food.

He would appear before his disciples four or five times out of every ten days.

Therefore, Xia Ming needs to overcome all of his shortcomings.

"Removing the internal organs from the large yellow croaker is nothing. The Soul River Fish, if you puncture its skin from the inside while it's still raw, will cause the meat to taste bad. It's not tasty to begin with, and if you puncture it, it's definitely poisonous. That's the real hellish difficulty."

After confirming that he had absorbed all the blood and soul of the croaker, Xia Ming took a thick bamboo strip from the side and carefully processed it with a kitchen knife for a while, eventually turning it into a strangely shaped round-headed knife.

Afterward, he used polishing sandpaper to carefully sand the bamboo strips until there were no burrs around them.

Chef Ye, standing to the side, was also somewhat bewildered by the strange knife in Xia Ming's hand.

He had been a chef for over ten years and had never seen anything so strange.

"The head looks like a round piece with a row of serrations on the outer side and a smooth, sharpened inner side. There are also other small designs at the corners."

"Compared to knives used in Chinese cuisine, this thing looks more like the kind used in Western cuisine."

The apprentice standing nearby blinked.

"So, how do you use this knife?"

Chef Ye was momentarily speechless. He couldn't even tell the shape of the knife. Wasn't asking him how to use it just deliberately making things difficult for him?
He silently noted down the name of the apprentice and then stared intently at Xia Ming, who was working on the task.

He could finally see that the handsome young man in front of him was definitely a culinary genius who was no less skilled than him.

While he was watching Xia Ming's actions, Xia Ming had already quickly located the fishbone.

With two swift cuts, Xia Ming severed the bones inside the large yellow croaker, and then broke off the head and neck with a simple twist of the knife.

At this moment, Chef Ye finally understood why the bamboo knife had a strange little slit at the end; it was prepared to sever the connection point of the spine in one go.

"Damn, no, it's not severing, it's more like finding a crucial gap and shattering it directly!"

Chef Ye has used bamboo knives before, but they are usually not as hard as fresh fish bones.

The fact that the boy in front of them could achieve such an effect is enough to prove that he has mastered the structure of the fish's body to a very high degree.

"Where did this freak come from?!"

Just as he was surprised, Xia Ming had already pulled the complete fish bone out from the gills.

Looking at the bone in his hand, which had almost no meat attached to it, Chef Ye felt a chill run down his neck.

Just then, the boss also curiously came to the kitchen to take a look, and Chef Ye couldn't help but have all sorts of wild thoughts.

He strongly suspected that his boss had noticed his recent desire to change jobs and was now sending this genius to give him a warning.

"No, this looks like someone who's practiced since childhood! A 20-something with skills I'm almost 40 years old—this generation of young people is just too outrageous."

"Forget it, it's not easy to find a job these days. I'd better just work honestly for a while."

Xia Ming, who was processing the fish, had no idea that he was hindering a chef's dream of freely changing jobs.

Of course, even if he knew, he wouldn't care.
At this moment, his gaze was focused on the large yellow croaker in front of him. After being processed, the large yellow croaker had no wounds on its body except for the gills that had been removed from both sides and the scales that had been cleaned off. It was completely the same as when it was alive.

After a quick check, Xia Ming placed the fish next to the tap and poured tap water over it. He could clearly see that the fish's belly quickly swelled up, indicating that there were no other hidden injuries.

After finishing that, Xia Ming chopped the pork skin, bamboo shoots, ham, and soaked wood ear mushrooms into small pieces in the right proportions, then boiled water in a pot to make a broth.

As for the processed large yellow croaker, it was stuffed with a clean white cloth and then hung up to be dried by Xia Ming using a manual hair dryer.

"Sigh, it's still different from the Nine Provinces Continent. Over there, to achieve such a simple air-drying process, all you need to do is wave your hand. Here, you have to keep blowing with a hairdryer."

Thinking that he had only opened two Blood Gates and could only use some minor tricks, and that he was still ten Blood Gates away from formally cultivating the Blood Blade Sect's magic, he felt that the task ahead was arduous and the road was long.

"Hopefully, the Eight Treasures Pig will be able to work its magic. After all, it's my first time having blood drawn; hopefully, it can open a blood gate right away."

As time passed, Xia Ming finally finished processing all the raw materials.

The final step is to heat the fish in oil until it is slightly set, and then squeeze the filling, which has been prepared and frozen for a short time, into the fish's belly.

Finally, seal the opening with a mixture of shrimp, pork, and seasoned minced meat.

When performing this step, Xia Ming paid special attention to making sure the fish head was pressed tightly against the surface.

Finally, this large yellow croaker, which appeared completely untouched from the outside, was placed in the steamer.

As the steam rose little by little, a smile gradually appeared on Xia Ming's lips.

Ultimately, after being steamed, the large yellow croaker was almost identical to its living state, except that it lacked scales.

Xia Ming then used a small food carving knife to re-trim the head, belly, and fins of the large yellow croaker. In the end, the entire "Special Soup-Filled Yellow Croaker" was successfully completed.

After Xia Ming packed the fish into a box and took it away, Chef Ye turned around and instructed the apprentice to clear the table.

The young apprentice reluctantly stepped forward to begin processing the knives and containers. As he finished cleaning, he suddenly noticed two small white lumps on the cutting board, which felt somewhat hard to the touch.

"Hey, what's this?"

"At the entrance of Deng Xiaowen's courtyard"

Watching the sun gradually set, Deng Fangqing shook her head.

"Today is another day where no one passed. According to Grandpa, this type of test question is quite common in many competitions over the years. It seems like another group of mediocre people."

Qian Youdao and Qian Yourong, who were standing nearby, also spent the afternoon drinking tea there.

After Qian Youdao's failure, eight chefs were brought in, but only one passed Deng Fangqing's test, and none of them passed.
At first, Qian Youdao thought that Deng Xiaowen was targeting him, but after observing for a while, he understood.

"The old man really has a strong palate. The previous method of trying to increase the spiciness level was too hasty."

"Sis, let's go back. Let me think about it carefully tonight. I'm sure I can solve this problem tomorrow."

Qian Yourong glanced at the intersection twice.

"There's no rush, it's not dark yet, let's wait a little longer."

Qian Youdao glanced at the competitors around him, who had dwindled to only five or six, and raised an eyebrow.

"Sis, all these people have tried, and you're still waiting. Oh, I remember, that silly guy who counted steps hasn't come yet."

Recalling Xia Ming's previous steps, Qian Youdao couldn't help but laugh. "Hahaha, sis, he's just a good-looking idiot. You don't really expect him to cause any trouble, do you?"

Just as Qian Youdao was joking, Qian Yourong's eyes flickered.

Because she saw a somewhat familiar figure in the distance carrying a box and walking towards her, counting his steps as he went.

As Xia Ming approached, the competitors who hadn't yet left also realized what was happening.

"Hey, look, isn't that the idiot who was counting before?"

"Yes, I remember him. He counted for more than ten minutes!"

"Hilarious! I was wondering why he wasn't in line; turns out he was just waiting to be last!"

"Come on, don't be discouraged, come and see the joke!"

These competitors had no sense of failure whatsoever; all they wanted to do was get some amusement from Xia Ming to use as gossip.

Xia Ming completely ignored their gazes and walked step by step to Deng Fangqing, placing the box on the table.

Deng Fangqing glanced at Xia Ming, then asked with a smile.

So, what's inside?

Xia Ming smiled憨厚ly, and then slowly lifted the lid off the box.

The moment the box was slightly ajar, Deng Fangqing smelled a rich, fresh aroma of fish.

The aroma seemed to have captivated her, drawing her unconsciously to peer through the crack in the box.

As the box opened, the last rays of the setting sun shone down from behind Xia Ming, and the large yellow croaker in the white porcelain plate burst forth with a dazzling golden light. This light made the fish's back extremely translucent, as if fragments of gold had been carried by the summer breeze and fallen into the sunshade, into Deng Fangqing's eyes.

Just as she blinked, wondering if she had seen wrong, Xia Ming's voice reached her ears.

"Please enjoy our special soup-filled yellow croaker, Ms. Deng."

Looking at the whole yellow croaker gleaming in the setting sun, Deng Fangqing was stunned for a moment. Her throat moved slightly, and she subconsciously picked up the chopsticks on the table.

"it is good"

At that moment, the fragrance drifted on the summer breeze to the Qian siblings.

Qian Youdao blinked as he smelled the aroma.

"How is this possible? The aroma is so fresh! Is it a large yellow croaker?"

Sensing that something was wrong, Qian Youdao quickly got up to check, only to see that Qian Yourong had also stood up.

Let's go take a look together!

Qian Youdao also put away his contempt and nodded to Qian Yourong.

"it is good!"

So the two walked to the side. Several competitors on the other side were also attracted, but just as they were about to grab the best viewing spot, they were "politely" asked to move aside by several burly men.

Just as Qian Youdao and Qian Yourong took their seats to the side.

After hesitating for a long time, Deng Fangqing finally put her chopsticks down from the belly of the fish.

As soon as the chopsticks broke through the fish, a burst of hot, fresh aroma instantly filled the air!

The aroma was so strong that Qian Yourong's pupils contracted.

As the third young lady of the Qian family, she believed she had tasted far more dishes than her peers, but the rich and mellow aroma still made her lick her lips.

For a moment, she even felt a pang of jealousy towards Deng Fangqing.

Qian Youdao, standing to the side, also stared wide-eyed. Under the setting sun, the yellowish broth, coated with small pieces of ham, flowed out, reflecting a honey-like luster.

As the broth gradually spread in the plate, he even felt that the fish belly was alive, gently swaying in the plate.

"How is this possible? Such an exquisitely crafted soup-filled yellow croaker? Just who is this guy?!"

Just as Qian Youdao was surprised.

Deng Fangqing couldn't resist the temptation. She took out a spoon, scooped a mouthful of the broth from the fish's belly, and eagerly put it in her mouth.

The moment the broth entered her mouth, she felt a delicious aroma that penetrated to her very core.

The essence of the yellow croaker, combined with the slightly gelatinous and perfectly salty broth, along with the fresh sweetness of the seafood, creates a wonderful chemical reaction on her tongue.

For a moment, she felt as if she were on the sea surface where the waves were rolling under the setting sun.

As the sea spray surged, she floated in mid-air, enjoying the unique charm of the sunset and the ultimate impact of freshness.

Under this impact, a giant yellow croaker leaped from the seabed and swam freely and danced around her body.

A faint smile appeared on Deng Fangqing's lips, and she felt a blissful intoxication.

"Delicious, indescribably delicious!"

"I remember your name is Xia Ming, right? This 'Soup-filled Yellow Croaker' is absolutely amazing."

“If it weren’t for my grandfather to taste, I would have eaten it all right now.”

As she spoke, she bit her lip, then looked at the fish belly that had already been opened, and murmured to herself.

"Grandpa might not like such a sweet and savory taste, so it should be fine for me to eat another piece."

As she spoke, she reached out with her chopsticks and stuffed the fish meat, which was covered in broth, into her mouth.

The perfectly cooked fish, with its unique tenderness, exuded the distinctive freshness of the yellow croaker. There wasn't a trace of unpleasant fishy smell. With a gentle touch of her tongue, the fish melted instantly in her mouth, releasing a surge of sweet, fresh flavor. Her thoughts drifted back to the sea.
Surging, exhilarating, unrestrained, free.
It took Deng Fangqing several seconds to break free from this feeling.

Her gaze returned to the "Special Soup-Filled Yellow Croaker," and she couldn't help but admire it, thinking it was the best dish she had eaten since the exam began.

Unfortunately, she knew this dish would definitely not pass her grandfather's approval.

Although this fish is extremely sweet, it is not very flavorful, with little spiciness and not enough saltiness, so it certainly wouldn't meet Grandpa's approval.

But because the fish was so delicious, he felt a strange sense of regret as he looked at Xia Ming in front of him, and sighed softly to himself.

"Forget it, to have such skill at this age is already top-notch. If Grandpa really doesn't approve later, I'll think about whether I should put in a good word for him."

But at that moment, the image of Xia Ming counting steps suddenly appeared in her mind.

"Something's not right. There's definitely more to this fish than meets the eye!"

With a slight raise of her eyebrows, Deng Fangqing picked up her chopsticks and began to carefully examine the fish. Apart from the part she had just poked open, the fish was completely intact.

I tentatively poked a spot on the fish with chopsticks to taste it, and found that the saltiness was normal.

So, her eyes unconsciously turned to the fish head.

"It's probably hidden inside this!"

As she spoke, she suddenly thrust her chopsticks diagonally into the side of the fish head, only to find it empty.

"Could it be that I've misunderstood?"

Deng Fangqing, somewhat skeptical, began fiddling with the fish's body and head, but indeed, she couldn't see a single trace of chili pepper.

Looking up at Xia Ming's simple-minded expression, Deng Fangqing realized she might be overthinking things.

"Perhaps he really intends to win over Grandpa with the ultimate flavor."

After calming herself down, Deng Fangqing asked someone to bring her a plate, and then reached out to pick up the fish and transfer it to another plate.

However, the fish is quite large, and with the main bone removed, it could easily break apart if not handled properly.

So, after thinking for a moment, she had someone cover the plate that Xia Ming had brought with the plate, and then flipped the whole fish over and put it on her own plate.

Xia Ming watched her operate the entire time without making any unnecessary movements.

Still somewhat unwilling to give up, she poked at the fish a few more times with her chopsticks, but ultimately found nothing wrong, and then had it brought inside.

As the fish entered the courtyard, everyone outside turned their attention to the room.

They were particularly eager to know whether Xia Ming's "Special Soup-Filled Yellow Croaker," with its incredibly rich aroma, could successfully win over Old Master Deng's taste buds.

Just as everyone's attention was focused on the courtyard gate, a sly smile inadvertently flashed across Xia Ming's face.
A moment later, the person in charge of delivering the food excitedly ran out from inside.

"Miss Deng, your grandfather said he really likes this dish, so he invited this young man in!"

Deng Fangqing was slightly taken aback when she heard the message.

"How could that be! This fish is obviously incredibly fresh, and the flavor is rather bland. How could Grandpa possibly be used to eating it!"

Thinking of this, she turned around and looked at Xia Ming, who was backlit.

"What...what did you do in there?!"

(End of this chapter)