Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 13
Tled by Serena Love
Edited by Ruby, Frizzy-Spring-Onion, and unsaltedfish
Chapter 13: Fried noodles, Grilled wings, Sizzling tofu
Xie Xun sat at the table in silence for what felt like a long time.
It was all because the color of the grilled wings was too alluring. The skin was a rich brown-red, with slight caramelization on the edges. He marveled at how she achieved that bright yet not overly oily sheen. He took a bite and savored it; brushed with honey, it had a delicate sweetness—subtle but refreshing.
The cumin marinade was delicious, and the grilled chicken wings had a unique flavor. The cumin powder sprinkled on the surface made the taste even richer. When he bit down, the tip of his tongue touched the fresh and juicy chicken inside. The heat was superbly controlled. The chicken was as soft and tender as tofu, without being too slippery and losing the point of grilling.
As Xie Xun gazed at the fried noodles, he found their preparation somewhat unconventional. Instead of broth, the noodles were coated in a rich, dark sauce. Surprisingly, this did not dampen his appetite; rather, it sparked his curiosity about the flavors of this thick and sticky concoction.
He picked up a set of chopsticks. The noodles, coated in sauce, proved difficult to separate. As he spun the chopsticks, they tangled further, ensnaring some noodles in the bowl.
He felt a tinge of frustration. Just moments ago, it had been a struggle to bite into the chicken wings. Jiang Shuyao hadn’t bothered to remove the bones, and as he tried to maneuver the wings glazed with caramelized honey sauce, he nearly dirtied the corners of his mouth several times, only for the wings to keep slipping back into the bowl.
However, he had to admit that he was somewhat captivated by the experience of savoring the chicken clean from the bones, and the three wings he had earlier were far from sufficient.
Xie Xun glanced at the fried noodles tangled in his chopsticks. Impatience had gotten the better of him after his earlier struggle, and he decided to take matters into his own hands, opening his mouth wide to shove a generous mouthful inside. The robust aroma of the sauce flooded his palate, engulfing him.
He chewed through the mouthful, savoring the firm yet tender noodles as they made a soft, sticky sound against the brown sauce. With each bite, the flavor of the sauce intensified, revealing subtle notes of sweetness that lingered delightfully on his palate. Once he experienced this rich taste, all other flavors would seem insipid in comparison.
He rolled another generous portion of noodles onto his chopsticks, feeling the bean paste sauce stick to the corners of his mouth, but he paid it no mind as he indulged in three more hearty bites of the fried bean paste noodles. After finishing, he was left slightly puzzled; though it was only a small bowl, it certainly didn’t vanish in just a few bites.
He picked up the soup that Jiang Shuyao put on the corner of the plate, which was sprinkled with chopped green onion and a few drops of vinegar, to relieve the saltiness. The soup slid down his throat into his stomach, which felt heavy and warm.
Half of the soup was drunk, washing away the taste of fried noodle sauce in his mouth.
Xie Xun moved his chopsticks to pick out the sizzling tofu. The tofu had a crispy skin and a tender inside. The surface was covered with condiments and chopped green onions. It was gone in a few bites. The taste was spicy and slightly numbing, but it retained the original fresh bean aroma of tofu.
After eating, he drank the remaining half-bowl of soup, still recalling the satisfaction he felt when his tongue touched the crispy tofu skin covered with condiments.
But this time, the satisfaction dulled a little. Perhaps it is the same as the imperial kitchen which pursued quality over quantity.
It's a pity that he didn't know that these were leftovers from Jiang Shuyao's dinner. On a whim, she gave Xie Xun this supper... The rest had likely been finished.
Xie Xun walked to the door and summoned a servant, the maid who was waiting outside came and took away the dishes.
After he finished this supper, he vaguely remembered that Jiang Shuyao had asked him something just now. She seemed to ask him to have dinner with her tomorrow.
He had actually agreed!
Good grief...
Xie Xun’s features betrayed bitterness, as he vainly thought of himself as disciplined.
He gazed up at the bright crescent moon and sighed as if he were going to a banquet.
I wonder what she will cook for tomorrow. The mapo tofu last time was delicious.
......
The next morning, while Jiang Shuyao was washing up, Bai Zhi reported that Xie Xun had finished his plate clean last night, with not even a drop of soup left, which surprised her.
She didn't ask Bai Zhi where she had heard this and rushed to the main kitchen in a hurry.
Now that she had already cast aside her pride to find Xie Xun, flattering the Old Madam was a small matter in comparison.
It was breakfast, so the main kitchen was lively and full of steam.
As soon as Jiang Shuyao stepped in, everyone turned their heads. Some were confused, some were disdainful, and others watched with curiosity.
The four maids behind Jiang Shuyao were all from the Xiangyang Mansion. Their arrogant and calm demeanor made it clear they were brought up in wealthy and noble houses. Even the materials of their clothes were incomparable to those worn by ordinary people.
Jiang Shuyao carried herself with supreme elegance; though she wore only a single paired-floral gold hairpin, it seemed as if she were clad in regal attire, her head adorned with jewels, like a blooming peony in full splendor.
This group entered without much pomp, yet they carried more vigor than the masters and mistresses themselves.
Despite their contempt for the ill-reputed third lady, whom even the Old Madam disliked, everyone could not help but bow their heads and await her instructions.
"What have you prepared for breakfast today?" Jiang Shuyao asked.
A cook came forward and reported the name of the dish.
At this time, meals were rather simple; only the highly ranked households used the wok invented by the “infrastructure-obsessed” founding emperor. Daily meals mostly consisted of stir-fried dishes. Even then, they favored plain stir-fries—for example: breakfast today consisted of stir-fried choy sum, stir-fried chicken slices, and stir-fried shrimp-tofu.
The main kitchen was closest to the hall, so Jiang Shuyao had plans to prepare breakfast for the Old Madam here.
She beckoned the little maid following her, and the maid stepped forward with a wooden keg.
"This is the breakfast I prepared. It could be regarded as a staple food. You just need to take it to the fire, warm it up, wait for Bai Zhi to add ingredients, and then you will send it to the hall together."
"This..." They had seen daughter-in-laws wanting to please their mother-in-laws, but most of them just made soup. There really is no such thing as bringing breakfast to the main kitchen.
"I will just put the food in the main kitchen to warm it up. It's closer here so the food won't get cold. Don't be afraid of the Old Madam blaming you, I'll explain it all to her."
The cook didn't even dare to say anything.
Bai Zhi stayed in the big kitchen with a few little maids, while Jiang Shuyao took the rest to the hall.
Xu-shi and Zhou-shi had just arrived at the hall when they ran into Jiang Shuyao. Only Xu-shi nodded and greeted her, while Zhou-shi did not even spare her a glance.
After a while, the maid drew back the curtain, and the three entered to greet the Old Madam. Zhou-shi left after greeting her. Only Xu-shi stayed to serve her mother-in-law, which she had done diligently for ten consecutive years, and of course, Jiang Shuyao also stayed behind.
Jiang Shuyao looked anxious, but since the Old Madam couldn’t lose her composure and shoo Jiang Shuyao out in order not to ruin her appetite, she remained silent.
After Xu-shi helped the Old Madam sit down, she ordered people to set up the meal. However, today she saw the servants who served the food effortlessly form an additional line, like a canal opening up from a gurgling stream. Upon closer inspection, weren't they Jiang Shuyao's maids?
Xu-shi thought that they looked like the people around Jiang Shuyao. These maids were so obviously out of place, yet they wore an air of complete ease, it was maddening.
She turned her gaze to Jiang Shuyao, and wondered, "Sister-in-law, what's going on?"
The Old Madam also realized the abnormality and frowned at her.
Jiang Shuyao turned a blind eye to their dissatisfaction, and grinned, "Daughter-in-law has a clumsy mouth and wanted to serve her mother-in-law with her filial piety, but she behaved poorly and humiliated herself..."
The Old Madam and Xu-shi were aligned in thought: As long as you’re aware.
Unfortunately, her shamelessness knew no bounds—she even managed to sound as if she was the one being wronged.
"...So daughter-in-law was thinking, since I usually like cooking food, I might as well add some dishes to mother-in-law’s breakfast. Even if it doesn't suit her taste, enjoying fresh and new meals every day can make you feel better."
When Xu-shi heard "new meals every day," she felt her heart fill with panic. Everyone said that the people of Xiangyang Mansion were wealthy, but she didn't expect them to be so extravagant. Could it be that when Jiang-shi had yet to marry, she didn't even eat the same breakfast every day?
The Old Madam didn't appreciate her justification, "There are several set dishes for breakfast, all of which have been a staple at Duke Xie's Mansion for decades. Adding one more would be wasteful."
Jiang Shuyao beckoned Bai Zhi to step forward and said to the Old Madam, "No, the tofu pudding prepared today is made from soybeans. It’s creative, being both inexpensive and delicious."
The tofu pudding that had been invented during the Han Dynasty could not be found here. The primary difference between tofu and tofu pudding lies in the "brining" step, as the preparation of the brine determines whether the finished product will be tender or not.
Although there was a distinction between tofu pudding and tofu, it wasn’t a significant one. In any case, the fact that both had a place in the rich breakfast category naturally illustrated their charm.
Bai Zhi paid her respects to the Old Madam with utmost propriety. Compared to Jiang Shuyao, her rituals and movements in presenting the dishes were thoroughly pleasing.
She took out the tofu pudding from the tray and placed it on the table. The tofu pudding looked white, tender, and smooth, and she scooped a spoonful of it into a bowl, unbroken. It was slightly more tender than tofu and firmer than milk.
"One bowl is savory and the other is sweet. Mother-in-law, which one would you like?"
The Old Madam didn't want to even try it. Bringing it here won’t make me eat it. Am I that easy to flatter? Why should I eat everything you give me?
But as Jiang Shuyao stood on the side, her smile as bright and beautiful as a spring day in March, the Old Madam really couldn't bring herself to throw a childish tantrum.
She wondered why this daughter-in-law was born so beautiful, yet she had never heard of anything good about her before. People had said that she was vulgar and ridiculous, with an ugly disposition.
As she thought about it, she responded in a neutral tone, "Mm." Ignoring the two bowls of tofu pudding, she took congee and pickles for herself.
Meeting resistance left Jiang Shuyao disheartened, which in turn reminded her of Xie Xun’s merits. For all his aloof temperament and frosty demeanor, he at least had the redeeming quality of a hearty appetite.
Now she had offered breakfast with diligence, but her mother-in-law had looked at it coldly. She hadn't eaten breakfast yet, and her tofu pudding would turn cold if she didn't eat soon.
She bowed and said, "Sister-in-law is still here to serve, so this daughter-in-law should take her leave and not cause any trouble. However, I do hope that Mother-in-law will taste the meals prepared by your daughter-in-law. My mother enjoyed them greatly at home, so I thought perhaps they might suit your taste as well..." The words flowed effortlessly from her lips, a feigned sincerity designed to persuade, tinged with a touch of desperation.
The Old Madam was accustomed to seeing obedient fronts and manipulative designs, but she had never seen such a scheme that relied on thick skin to sustain it.
Jiang Shuyao sprinted away and happily rolled off to eat her breakfast while it was still hot, leaving the Old Madam to reflect on whether she was too harsh.
Even Xie Pei, a charming girl raised under her mother's care and spoiled in every way, found it difficult to discuss the bonds of mother and daughter. It was likely that Jiang-shi had done her utmost to please her. What distinguished her from those wicked women who took pleasure in making life difficult for Jiang-shi? Observing Jiang-shi's hurried, faltering steps as she sought to leave, it was clear that discomfort weighed heavily on her heart.
—
Food:
stir-fried shrimp-tofu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvmH2cB-lm0
If you enjoyed Serena’s work, buy her a ko-fi! 