Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 61
Translated by Serena Love
Edited by Azure
Chapter 61: Bone Soup Malatang
Jiang Shuyao looked at the big pot of sliced vegetables in front of her and said nothing.
"How is it?" Zhou-shi took a piece of winter melon and showed it to Jiang Shuyao, looking at her eagerly.
"It's amazing." Jiang Shuyao looked at the pots full of vegetables. No matter what kind of vegetables, they were cut into slices with the same width and similar shape, "Second sister-in-law, you don't need to practice knife skills anymore. This is good enough."
Zhou-shi sighed in relief, then raised her eyebrows and smiled triumphantly, "I really have a talent with knives."
Jiang Shuyao nodded, and the conversation changed, "But so many vegetables... what should I do?"
Zhou-shi was stunned, and she felt awakened, "Ah, that's right." She looked at the various vegetables in the pot with annoyance, "It's okay, send them to the main kitchen. Give it to the servants to eat."
Then she threw a question to the master she had just worshipped yesterday, "What kind of dishes can we make with these miscellaneous vegetables?"
Jiang Shuyao didn't feel embarrassed and thought for a while, "Malatang, hot pot, stew, spicy stir-fry... Many things can be done. I will explain it to you as we make it."
"Let's make Malatang today. The first step is to stir-fry the hotpot base. Here, let me show you the aniseed spices first."
Jiang Shuyao patiently explained to Zhou-shi, and she listened attentively. Sometimes she would make a note if she knew that she could not remember.
After showing the aniseed to her, Jiang Shuyao taught her the ingredients, processing methods, the effects, different combinations, and so on.
Although Zhou-shi was a little confused, she kept up with her rhythm throughout the whole process. She sighed that cooking was really interesting and magical.
After finishing the basic knowledge, Jiang Shuyao started to fry the spicy hotpot base.
There were many variants of Malatang, Chuan Chuan Malatang, Bone Soup Malatang, Clay Pot Malatang, etc. There were slight differences in each region. Sichuan and Chongqing's Malatang were spicy and hot, with a layer of red oil on the surface. The smell was full of spicy and savory aroma.
The Northern Malatang pays more attention to the word "fresh." The oil was not so heavy, and they made the soup base with rich bone broth, usually with a spoonful of thick sesame sauce, which was delicious and rich.
Zhou-shi took notes frantically and exclaimed, "You have so many ideas, third sister-in-law."
Anyway, there was plenty of time, and Jiang Shuyao was very patient, so she explained step by step in detail and asked Zhou-shi to try it when she finally start cooking.
"It doesn't matter if it is done badly. Practice makes perfect in cooking, especially the seasoning, which relies on a keen sense of taste and accumulated experience."
Zhou-shi nodded.
After Jiang Shuyao stir-fried a little bit of the base ingredients, Zhou-shi dipped her chopsticks to taste.
Strictly speaking, this was the first time she had tasted "spicy."
A strong spiciness on the tip of her tongue ignited like fire. She was stunned and hissed, "What kind of spice is this spicy?"
Jiang Shuyao shows her the dried chili, "Here, this thing, it is called chili. It can be used whole, chopped, or ground. We only have a small amount. My mother asked someone to find it from overseas, and I recently planted it in Zhuangzi. It is estimated that we can harvest in late autumn."
Zhou-shi nodded and sighed, "I like the taste. It's as refreshing as drinking."
She chose some base ingredients to taste, they were salty and spicy, and the taste was very heavy and addictive.
Zhou-shi then started to stir-fry the base ingredients and fry them step by step according to the ratio and heating steps she memorized.
Compared with the average culinary rookie, Zhou-shi was extremely talented. She is neither messy nor lost. After she finished cooking, Jiang Shuyao was a little surprised at her progress.
Zhou-shi smelled the spicy flavor and said anxiously, "I don't know how it tastes."
"Just try, and you will find out."
Jiang Shuyao took a chopstick and tasted a little. Zhou-shi looked at her nervously.
Jiang Shuyao frowned.
Zhou-shi became even more nervous and tightly clasped the little book in her hand.
"Second sister-in-law." Jiang Shuyao put down her chopsticks and said solemnly, "I think you may have some talent in cooking." The taste is different from that of Jiang Shuyao, but it is still delicious and very successful.
Zhou said "Ah," then jumped down excitedly and took chopsticks to try.
She herself was surprised, "It was a success." She said happily, "Do I really have a talent for cooking?"
Jiang Shuyao laughed with her, coaxing her, and said, "Yes, yes."
Zhou-shi's confidence doubled. She geared up and wished to stir up all the spices in the kitchen immediately, but Jiang Shuyao stopped her.
By the time they finished making Malatang, it was nearly dinner time.
The large pot was full, far more than they could eat. Jiang Shuyao decided to send some to the first branch and save enough for Xie Xun, knowing he'd almost clean the rest himself.
Before they managed to send it, Xu-shi came over first.
Xu-shi came to Zhou-shi to share the account, but seeing that Jiang Shuyao was also there, she was surprised, "Third sister-in-law, why are you here? Don't you come over for lunch every day?"
Jiang Shuyao explained, "Yesterday, second sister-in-law said that she would learn cooking from me, so I came here to teach her all day long."
"Learning to cook?" Xu-shi looked at Zhou-shi.
Zhou-shi was in a moment of excitement. She put aside her unhappiness with Xu-shi and said, "Yes, my third sister praised my talent."
Xu-shi looked at Jiang Shuyao for confirmation, and Jiang Shuyao nodded.
Zhou-shi immediately saw that Xu-shi did not believe her words and said, "The Malatang I made just came out of the pot. Third sister-in-law said it tastes good."
Originally she didn't want Xu-shi to disturb the two of them, but in order to fight her, she had to say, "How about you try it?"
It has been a long time since Xu-shi saw Zhou-shi 's energetic appearance, and she hesitantly nodded when she heard the words.
The three of them sat down at the dinner table, and the maid served the bowl.
When Xu-shi looked at the Malatang in the bowl, she was instantly silly, "This..." She thought Zhou-shi had really learned how to cook, but she brought a bowl of soup.
Jiang Shuyao introduced, "This is hot and spicy soup. Bone broth was used as the base material, and it was boiled with various ingredients, including meat and vegetables. It looks rough, but it is delicious."
Xu-shi looked into the bowl hesitantly, wondering if Jiang Shuyao was only making Zhou-shi happy.
Zhou-shi smelled the rich and savory scent of Malatang and couldn't wait to say, "Okay, move your chopsticks."
The bone broth was milky white, and the base was only to enhance the flavor. The bone broth flavor was more dominant, so there was only light and shallow oil on the surface.
The soup was rich in colors, white lotus root slices, black fungus, green chrysanthemum, purple eggplant... colorfully mixed together. The shapes were quite different, round mushrooms, long green vegetables, fish of various sizes, and many types of crab sticks.
A large spoonful of thick sesame sauce was poured in the center, sprinkled with chopped green onion, coriander, and diced chili. It looks rich and casual, which made people curious about its taste.
She stirred the Malatang with chopsticks, and the sesame paste melted into the soup. Heat diffused from the soup, and a strong fragrance overflowed. The freshness of bone soup and the slightly spicy salty hemp were rich in layers and aroused the appetite.
She picked up a piece of fungus. The soup base with sesame paste was slightly thick, and the black fungus absorbed the brown and white soup. Each mouthful was full of fresh fragrance.
The fungus was crispy, and the base material was not heavy. It did not cover up the aroma of the vegetables themselves but used the rich freshness, lightness, and spiciness to bring out the taste of the ingredients.
She picked up a tender fish ball and bit into the delicate fish meat. The heat inside rushed out, making the tip of her tongue slightly numb. The freshness of the bone broth blended beautifully with the delicate flavor of the fish.
As she savored her bowl, vegetables, meat dishes, bone soup, and noodles mingled together. Each ingredient retained its original aroma while absorbing the tastes of the others. The aromas of various colors were scattered in the thick white soup, merging and penetrating each other, creating a rich and harmonious flavor that made every bite a delight.
Obviously, there were many ingredients, but there was no strange sensation of taste. The pure bone broth carried a delightful balance—slightly numbing and spicy, yet also refreshing and warming her stomach. When she added sesame paste, it introduced a rich, mellow flavor that deepened the experience.
With each passing moment, the ingredients melded together even more, their flavors intensifying and becoming more delicious. Each bite was a revelation, enticing her to keep going, making it impossible to stop. The harmony of tastes wrapped around her senses, inviting her to savor every last drop.
Xu-shi's skepticism at the beginning turned to a wholehearted tasting attitude, eating one bite after another, making her stomach warm and sweat on her forehead.
After eating the vegetables and meat clean, she noticed a few noodles left in the bowl. At that moment, the noodles were the most delicious part. Soaked in the soup long enough, they became slightly soggy on the outside while still holding a chewy texture inside.
The soup base had thickened, and as she stirred the noodles, they were covered with the fresh, mellow broth. When she took a bite, the aroma of sesame paste mingled perfectly with the flavor of the noodles, making it impossible to resist.
The freshness of vegetables, the meaty flavor of meat, and the spicy and salty flavor of the base material were all melted into the plain and light noodles. They were soft and smooth, rich and delicious, with rich flavors. After swallowing, there was a long aftertaste in the mouth.
Xu-shi didn't care to be reserved and dignified. She took a spoon and drank all the soup base. At this time, the soup base is no longer a simple soup but the essence of Malatang. All the ingredients contributed to the flavor. It looked fresh, mellow, and complex.
After Xu-shi finished eating, she realized that her little gaffe and quickly patted the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief to restore her dignified appearance.
As soon as she looked up, she found that Zhou-shi was looking at her questioningly.
Xu-shi didn't change her expression, and she said softly, "It tastes very good, as expected from third sister-in-law."
Zhou-shi raised her eyebrows, "I made the one you ate."
"That was also taught by third sister-in-law." Xu-shi continued.
"Oh, yes. Yao Yao taught me everything." Zhou-shi agreed immediately.
Xu-shi's smile suddenly stiffened, "Second sister-in-law is just an apprentice. You are not close. There is no need to call third sister-in-law's name."
Zhou-shi said, "It's sister-in-law who doesn't understand. We are really close."
"Oh, isn't it? Why don't I know... Third sister-in-law, have you been together for long?" Xu-shi is still gentle, turned her head to look at Jiang Shuyao as if she was sincerely asking for advice.
Jiang Shuyao slipped a drop of cold sweat silently and said weakly, "Uh... what."
At that moment, a maid suddenly approached, breaking the awkward and tense atmosphere. She bowed and announced, "Madam, the third master is here, saying that he is looking for the third lady."
What great timing!
Jiang Shuyao let out a sigh of relief, glancing toward the courtyard gate.
Xie Xun returned to the courtyard and heard the maid mention that Jiang Shuyao hadn't come back. Suddenly, he felt a twinge of concern. Normally, she would only have lunch in the second branch but always returned for dinner with him. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to head to the second branch. When he arrived, he learned from the maid that Xu-shi was also there, a development he had anticipated.
After the maid replied, he stepped into the yard and was relieved to see the three people sitting at the table.
If the children are not there, it's okay. It is not a big family dinner- Eh? Something is wrong.
"Third brother." Xu-shi and Zhou-shi got up to greet, interrupting Xie Xun's thoughts.
Xie Xun bowed his hand in return.
Jiang Shuyao stood up decisively and said to Zhou-shi and Xu-shi, "Since my husband is here, I'll go first." The atmosphere is not right, so I withdraw first.
Seeing that she just ran towards him with a simple sentence, the big rock in Xie Xun's heart finally fell to the ground.
He suddenly felt that his worries were unnecessary, and his gaze at Xu-shi and Zhou-shi became much milder.
Jiang Shuyao ran too fast. Zhou-shi said, "Oh," but without stopping, she had already ran to Xie Xun's side.
"She is so anxious to see him," she muttered.
Xu-shi subconsciously agreed, "Yes."
"As if she hasn't seen him for several days. What is that for? Does she like third brother so much?" Zhou-shi grumbled.
Xu-shi's expression was dignified and gentle, but the tone was also resentful, "No."
After speaking, the two were dumbfounded. They turned their heads and, a second later, simultaneously hummed in acknowledgment, avoiding a confrontation.
As Jiang Shuyao and Xie Xun stepped out of the yard, her first question was, "Did you buy alcohol?" Yesterday he bought too little, and she barely had her fill.
Xie Xun frowned, looking down at her. "Is that really the first thing you ask me?" His tone was subtly hurt.
Jiang Shuyao couldn't figure it out, "...otherwise?"
"You and your sisters-in-law are very happy." So happy at their home and didn't eat with him anymore. She really seemed to wish to move to the second room.
"Yes." Jiang Shuyao did not hear his resentment and nodded frankly.
Xie Xun choked and almost spit out a mouthful of old blood.
Then he heard Jiang Shuyao say, "I just made dinner, and it's still hot. I will ask the maid to take a bowl back for you to eat. It's a big bowl, and you will be absolutely full." There is a lot left in the kitchen, and it can't be wasted.
The flowers bloom, the birds sing, everything awakens. Xie Xun's world regains its beauty.
"Okay." The corners of his mouth curled uncontrollably.
He thought too much, she obviously remembered him, look how considerate she was.
[T/N: The word "mala" is a combination of the Chinese characters ma (麻), meaning "to numb," and la (辣), meaning "spicy." It is a very specific kind of hot pot. Mala soup base is made by adding Sichuan pepper to chili oil. It has a spicy aroma and a fiery taste.]
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