Courtyard House: Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) Traded for an Aircraft Carrier, the Whole Count

The air in the kitchen seemed to thicken at that moment.

Jiang Chen didn't rush to use the knife. Instead, he waved his hand, dismissing the two kitchen helpers who were still standing there in a daze, leaving only Sha Zhu's apprentice, Ma Hua. Ma Hua was on pins and needles. With his master in solitary confinement, his position as apprentice in the kitchen was awkward. Now, seeing that this "living devil" who had tormented his master was about to cook himself, he was even more terrified and didn't dare to breathe, shrinking into the corner like a frightened quail.

"Ma Hua, come and start the fire." Jiang Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable sense of command.

"Hey! Hey!" Ma Hua felt like he'd been granted a pardon and quickly ran to the stove, squatting down and frantically stuffing firewood into the firebox, while his eyes couldn't help but sneak glances at the cutting board. He was genuinely curious—could this tough guy from the security department really cook?

Jiang Chen ignored Ma Hua's prying eyes. He stood in front of the cutting board, his fingertips lightly gliding over the piece of mutated wild boar tenderloin that gleamed with an unusual luster. This piece of meat came from a highly radioactive mutated creature in the wasteland dimension. Although it had been purified by the system, the density of the meat was still more than ten times that of ordinary pork. It was as tough as iron, and an ordinary kitchen knife would probably only dull its blade if it were to be cut into it.

"when!"

Jiang Chen casually picked up a thick-backed machete and flicked his wrist slightly.

The effects of the gene-enhancing drug in his body were instantly activated, and a warm current rushed up his spine and into his arm. In that instant, Ma Hua only felt a blur before his eyes, as if he saw Jiang Chen's arm for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, a barrage of chopping sounds exploded like a storm.

"Do do do do do do do—"

The sounds flowed seamlessly, without the slightest interruption. Ma Hua stared in horror as he saw the heavy cleaver in Jiang Chen's hands transform into a lithe butterfly, the blade even leaving afterimages in the air. The mutated beast meat, which even an axe might struggle to cleave, was smoothed away like tofu under such skillful knife work.

In the blink of an eye, the entire piece of tenderloin was transformed into a pile of paper-thin slices. Each slice was of uniform thickness, and when viewed against the sunlight streaming through the window, the outlines of objects behind them were even visible. The texture of the slices was as exquisite as marble.

"This...is this knife skill that a human can learn?" Ma Hua swallowed hard, almost dropping the fire tongs into the stove. He had been learning from Sha Zhu for three years and considered himself to have a basic level of knife skill, but compared to this incredible scene, it was like a kindergarten child playing in the mud.

Jiang Chen didn't have time to appreciate Ma Hua's shock. While Ma Hua was looking down at the fire, he subtly flicked the pile of meat slices with his finger.

A barely perceptible amount of silver powder drifted from between his fingers—it was a [molecular gastronomy seasoning packet] from 2077. The moment these powders came into contact with the moisture in the food, a miraculous chemical reaction occurred, penetrating into every cell and transforming the domineering, wild power of the mutated beast meat into the purest and most exquisite umami.

"You're getting too angry," Jiang Chen said calmly.

Ma Hua was startled and quickly removed a piece of firewood.

The large iron wok on the stove was already hot. Jiang Chen scooped out a spoonful of lard, and with a "sizzle," the aroma of the oil instantly filled the air. But he didn't rush to stir-fry the meat; instead, he first dealt with the "sweet potato kings" he had brought back from the rocky slope.

Even if it's just scraps, the quality of this mutated sweet potato is enough to make it stand out from all other crops of this era.

Jiang Chen's knife flashed again, slicing the sweet potato into diamond-shaped chunks. He was going to make two dishes: one was a test of the cooking time and temperature of the [Candied Mutant Sweet Potato], and the other was a dish that enhanced the flavor of [Steamed Sea King Meat].

Heat the oil to 70% of its maximum temperature, then add the sweet potato chunks to the pan.

The golden-brown crust puffs up rapidly in the hot oil, emitting a delightful crackling sound. That unique, sweet, caramelized aroma, mixed with the rich, oily flavor, seems to come alive, forcefully filling one's nostrils.

Ma Hua sniffed, feeling his stomach rumbling with hunger. He swore he had never smelled such a fragrant sweet potato in his life, not even the one cooked by Sha Zhu.

"plate."

At Jiang Chen's command, Ma Hua quickly handed over a clean white porcelain plate.

Remove from the pot and start simmering the sugar. This step is where the skill truly shines. The white sugar melts into an amber-colored syrup at the bottom of the pot. Jiang Chen flips his wrist, pours in the fried sweet potatoes, and stir-fries them quickly. Every movement is fluid and graceful, as if he's not cooking, but performing a precise art form.

"rise!"

With a flick of Jiang Chen's wrist, strands of golden sugar stretched out in the air, each over a meter long and unbroken, shimmering with a crystal-like luster in the sunlight, breathtakingly beautiful.

Next up was the steamed pork with rice flour. Jiang Chen coated the marinated mutated beast meat with rice flour, placed it on sliced ​​sweet potatoes, and put it in a steamer.

The fire raged for ten minutes.

The moment the steam lifted the lid of the steamer, an indescribable aroma exploded like a miniature nuclear bomb in the cramped kitchen space.

It wasn't just the aroma of meat; it was a blend of the sweetness of sweet potatoes, the fragrance of rice noodles, and a mysterious, indescribable scent that seemed to awaken a deep-seated hunger within the soul.

The aroma wafted out forcefully through the cracks in the doors and windows.

Outside the canteen, the two guards who were standing guard were staring straight ahead when suddenly, they both twitched their noses at the same time.

"Old Li, can you smell that?" The young guard's Adam's apple bobbed violently as he asked in a low voice, "What... what is that smell? It smells amazing!"

"Don't talk! Stand still!" The older guard was scolding him, but a glistening drop of saliva at the corner of his mouth betrayed him. The sound of him swallowing was particularly loud in the quiet corridor.

Inside the private room, the atmosphere remained somewhat tense. The senior leader sat in the main seat with a somber face, his fingers lightly tapping the table, revealing his impatience. Factory Director Yang and Deputy Factory Director Li stood beside him with forced smiles, their foreheads still damp with cold sweat.

"Big boss, why hasn't the food arrived yet..." Deputy Factory Director Li was just about to find an excuse to urge them again when suddenly, his nose twitched.

The next second, the leader's fingers, which were tapping the table, stopped.

That domineering aroma was like an invisible hand that pushed open the door to the private room, and like a gentle spring breeze, it instantly filled the entire room.

The leader's tightly furrowed brows unconsciously relaxed under the influence of the aroma. He turned his head, his gaze fixed on the doorway, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his previously cloudy eyes.

"This taste..." The top leader took a deep breath, his tone tinged with disbelief, "It's interesting."

The curtain was lifted, and Jiang Chen walked in carrying two large porcelain plates.

There was no fancy plating, no unnecessary decorations.

A plate of golden, glistening sweet potatoes with sugar strands dancing in the air.

A plate of steaming hot, reddish-brown steamed pork.

The simplest home-style dishes exude a regal aura that can dominate the entire scene.

"Boss, please have a taste." Jiang Chen put down the dish and stepped aside with neither servility nor arrogance.

The high-ranking leader, seeing the still slightly trembling slices of meat, didn't stand on ceremony, picked up his chopsticks, and took a piece of steamed pork with rice flour. Originally, he only intended to give them face and have a small taste, after all, the terrible braised pork he had just eaten had completely ruined his appetite.

However, the moment his chopsticks touched the slices of meat, the bouncy texture made him pause slightly.

Put it in your mouth.

"boom!"

It was as if an electric current had instantly pierced through the top of the leader's head.

It wasn't greasy at all, as I had expected. The seemingly thick slices of meat miraculously melted in my mouth the moment they touched my tongue. The rich meat juices mixed with the sweetness of the sweet potato, creating a storm of flavors in my mouth. Even more wonderful was the subtle numbing spiciness and savory aroma, the soul of Sichuan cuisine, yet more sophisticated and pure than any Sichuan dish I had ever tasted.

The high-ranking leader's previously calm gaze instantly turned to astonishment, followed by an indescribable sense of enjoyment. He closed his eyes, savoring the moment as if relishing a golden age.

As the food slid into his stomach, the high-energy warmth from the mutated beast meat instantly enveloped his stomach, which had been damaged by years of marching and fighting. The warm, comforting feeling, like soaking in a hot spring, made him let out a contented sigh.

"call--"

The top leader put down his chopsticks and let out a long sigh of relief.

At that moment, he even forgot to maintain his authority as a leader, and in front of everyone, he reached out and unbuttoned the top button of his Zhongshan suit.

"That felt great! So satisfying!"

The high-ranking leader, beaming, pointed at the dishes on the table, then at Jiang Chen, his voice booming as if he had just won a battle:

"Comrade Xiao Jiang, your cooking skills... are amazing! If this were ancient times, you'd be a royal chef! One bite and my chronic stomachache is gone, I feel so comfortable all over!"

Factory Director Yang and Deputy Factory Director Li watched in stunned silence. Having served their leader for so many years, they had never seen him speak so highly of a meal or a young man.

The high-ranking leader, disregarding the stares of others, appeared extremely enthusiastic. He even shifted slightly, patted the empty seat next to him, and waved to Jiang Chen, who was still standing to the side.

"Come on, Xiao Jiang, don't stand. Sit down, let's talk."