Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 13
Tled by Serena Love
Edited by Ruby
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 so alluring. The skin was a rich brown-red, with a 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 makes the taste richer. When he bites down, the tip of his tongue touches the fresh and juicy chicken inside. The heat is superbly controlled. The chicken is 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. Lacking a broth, they were instead 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 twinge of frustration. Just moments ago, it had been a struggle to bite into the chicken wings. Jiang Shuyao hadn’t even 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 ensnared in his chopsticks. Impatience had gotten the better of him after his earlier struggles, 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 entirely.
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 onion. 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 was a little bit less. 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... It is likely that the rest had been finished.
Xie Xun walked to the door and called out, and the maid who was waiting outside 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 face was bitter, and he pretended to be in self-denial.
He looked up at the bright crescent moon and sighed as if he was going to a banquet.
I wonder what she will cook for tomorrow. The mapo tofu last time was delicious.
......
The next morning, when Jiang Shuyao was washing up, Bai Zhi reported that Xie Xun had left his plate clean last night, there wasn’t even a drop of soup left, which surprised her.
She didn't ask Bai Zhi where she heard this and rushed to the main kitchen in a hurry.
Now that she has laid down dignity to bother Xie Xun, it's not a big deal to fawn over the Old Madam.
It was breakfast, and the main kitchen was lively and full of steam.
As soon as Jiang Shuyao came in, everyone turned their gazes. Some were confused, some were disdainful, and some kept looking curiously.
The four maids behind Jiang Shuyao were all from the Xiangyang Mansion. Arrogant and calm, their upbringing in the rich and noble houses was obvious. Even the materials on their clothes were incomparable to those worn by ordinary people.
Jiang Shuyao was even more graceful. She only wore a simple hairpin on her head, but with her upper body in an elegant dress and a head full of pearl hairpins, she looked like a rich peony flower.
This group of people walked in without much pomp, but they were more vigorous than the masters and the mistresses.
Even if they were disdainful of the third lady who was not well-known and disliked by her mother-in-law, everyone had subconsciously bowed their heads and greeted them.
"What have you prepared for breakfast today?" Jiang Shuyao asked.
Then there was a cook who came forward and reported the name of the dish.
Today the food would be relatively simple, as only the Marquis Gaomen would use the iron pot invented by Emperor Taizu. The majority of people only rely on normal cooking for their three daily meals. Even so, stir-fry is still stir-fry. On the menu today were such meals, stir-fried vegetables, stir-fried chicken slices, and stir-fried tofu with shrimp and rice.
The main kitchen was closest to the hall, and Jiang Shuyao had plans to prepare breakfast for the Old Madam here.
She beckoned the little maid who followed her and she carried a wooden keg forward.
"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 and the food won't get cold. Don't be afraid that the old lady will blame you. I will 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, and Jiang Shuyao took the rest to the hall.
Xu-shi and Zhou-shi have just arrived at the hall and met Jiang Shuyao. Only Xu-shi nodded and greeted her, Zhou-shi did not even give her a look.
After a while, the maid drew back the curtain, and the three entered to greet the Old Madam. After greeting her, Zhou-shi left. Only Xu-shi stayed to serve her mother-in-law for ten years, and of course, there was also Jiang Shuyao.
Jiang Shuyao looked anxious, but since the Old Madam couldn’t lose her composure and tell her to get out and not ruin her appetite, she didn't say anything.
After Xu-shi helped the Old Madam to sit down, she ordered people to set up the meal. But today she saw that the servants who served the food came out with an extra line, like a canal opened up by the gurgling stream. After she took a closer look, weren't they Jiang Shuyao's maids?
Xu-shi thought that they looked like the people around Jiang Shuyao. These maids were clearly out of place, yet their faces were calm and relaxed, if out of breath.
She turned her gaze to Jiang Shuyao, and wondered, "Sister, what's the matter?"
The Old Madam also realized this and frowned at her.
Jiang Shuyao seemed oblivious 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 badly and it ended up in a disgusting way..."
The Old Madam and Xu-shi thought together: We know.
It's just that her skin was getting thicker, and she felt wronged by this.
"...So daughter-in-law thinks, I usually like cooking food, so 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 instead of repeating everyday can make you feel better."
When Xu-shi heard "instead of repeating everyday", she felt her heart fill with panic. Everyone said that the Xiangyang Mansion was rich and wealthy, but she didn't expect them to be so extravagant. Was it that when Jiang-shi was in her boudoir, 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 the Duke Xie's mansion has had for decades. If you add one more, it is a waste."
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 crafty, being both inexpensive and delicious."
The tofu pudding had been invented during the Han Dynasty, but there was none to be found here. The primary difference between tofu and tofu pudding lay in the "brining" step, as the preparation of the brine determined whether the finished product would 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 respectfully greeted the Old Madam. She had learned etiquette unlike Jiang Shuyao, and the whole process of saluting and arranging dishes was enough to be pleasing to the eye.
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. 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 doesn't want to even try it. Don’t expect her to eat everything she brought. ‘Is she so eager to please?’
But as Jiang Shuyao stood on the side, smiling like a flower, as bright as a spring in March, the Old Madam really couldn't hold back her face that could make a child cry.
She wondered why this daughter-in-law was born so beautiful, why she has never heard of anything good from 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 puddings, she took congee and pickles for herself.
Jiang Shuyao had hit a wall and felt a little frustrated. This attitude reminded her of Xie Xun's goodness. Although his temperament was indifferent and cold, it had the big advantage of his strong appetite.
Now she had offered breakfast with diligence, but her mother-in-law had looked at it coldly. She hasn't eaten breakfast yet, and her tofu pudding will be cold if she doesn'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 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 secret calculations, but she had never seen such a scheme that relied on thick skin to support.
Jiang Shuyao sprinted away and happily rolled off to eat her breakfast while it was 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.
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