Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 67
Translated by Serena Love
Edited by Azure
Chapter 67: Fried skewers
Midsummer was here.
Jiang Shuyao thought that when the weather was hot, ordinary people's appetites would decrease. So Xie Xun's lunch box was getting smaller and smaller, which led to Lin Cheng and the group of people salivating, unable to freeload any meal.
They are very eager for the Lin family's restaurant to open in the inner city so that they don't have to stare at Xie Xun's lunch all day.
It's a pity that Xie Xun has said that the Lin family would not open a shop in the inner city, so they calmed their minds and went out looking for a cook.
However, they couldn't guess Jiang Shuyao's plan. Her purpose of selling food was to keep people full while ensuring the taste so that the lower working-class people could eat happily, not the pure pursuit of the delicious food.
So she wrote to Lin-shi about her idea of a street food market.
After Lin-shi opened a few shops, she visited from time to time and saw that everyone was happy and eager to eat. She felt a lot more comfortable.
The depression in her heart dissipated a little bit, and she was no longer trapped in the chaos in the backyard but devoted herself to the food business.
When Jiang Shuyao told her about the street food market's idea, she immediately became full of energy. She held her pregnant belly and went out to choose the street food market's address in person.
The Lin family was generous, and when they chose a place, they bought the whole street. The road was renovated and closed for decoration. Everything was ready; they were only waiting for Jiang Shuyao to contribute some recipes.
Compared with the shops dedicated to dock-working men who didn’t make much fuss, the recipes for the street food market required more time to choose.
Fortunately, this time Jiang Shuyao had an extra helper, Zhou-shi. The two of them cooked together and tried recipes together. The list of recipes was set a lot earlier than planned.
The street food market could not be opened too large initially, so they didn’t need too much food. According to Jiang Shuyao, this was called a "trial operation." First, open a few shops and observe the attitude and preferences of the diners. If it was suitable, slowly expanded the scale.
Today, she and Zhou-shi tried one of the common food of a modern street food market, fried skewers.
The deep-fried skewers had a strong flavor, bursts of oily aroma, and strong-flavored seasoning powder and sauce. It was full of guilty pleasure in one bite.
The hotter the summer, the more people sought out this indulgent and bold flavor. The moment the tip of the tongue met the spicy, salty sauce and the rich, oily aroma, all the weariness and frustration of the day seemed to vanish. It was the kind of pleasure that only came from surrendering to indulgence after a long stretch of restraint. With a cold beer in one hand and a skewer in the other, each bite was a luxurious comfort. Tomorrow was a mystery, but in that moment, only the sinful satisfaction of those skewers mattered.
The sauce itself was a masterpiece of precision. Jiang Shuyao and Zhou-shi had spent three days experimenting with various recipes before finally crafting a blend that perfectly suited the tastes of the era. At a time when seasonings were considered precious, most people leaned towards a lighter flavor. The sauce had to walk a fine line—it couldn’t be overly salty, yet it needed to be rich enough to stand out.
The sauce for the deep-fried skewers was a complex affair, but for Jiang Shuyao, sourcing the ingredients was never a problem. After all, her kitchen was stocked with an abundance of sauces—sweet hoisin sauce, soy sauce, garlic chili sauce, and more. But the one that was truly indispensable was the oyster sauce she had carefully crafted herself. The production process was pure and natural, free from additives, which gave the sauce a depth of umami unlike any other. The saltiness that defined the flavor of the fried skewers came from this carefully prepared oyster sauce.
To elevate the flavor further, she created a seasoning blend from raw spices—pepper, star anise, grass fruit, bay leaves, angelica, cloves, and more. These were ground into a fine powder and then combined with chili powder, garlic crisp, cumin, and peanut powder, creating a rich, fragrant seasoning that would coat each skewer perfectly.
The mixed ingredients shimmered with an inviting glow as Jiang Shuyao set the water to boil. She added the spice powder, oyster sauce, garlic, and chili sauce, stirring them together until the mixture was perfectly blended. As the ingredients simmered in the pot, she added starch to thicken the sauce, watching it bubble into a rich, red concoction. When the sauce reached the right consistency, she turned off the heat.
The spicy sauce was bold and intense, with the heat melding perfectly with the salty aroma. The blend of spices created a layered complexity, each note playing off the others. Even just the smell of it was enough to make one's mouth water in anticipation.
Next, she moved on to the sweet and salty sauce, which was simpler and quicker to make. The process was straightforward: she mixed oyster sauce, sweet hoisin sauce, sugar, and sesame seeds into boiling water, stirring as it simmered. Once it reached the right consistency, she added starch, resulting in a glossy, golden sauce topped with a delicate layer of white sesame seeds.
Zhou-shi took a spoon, dipped it with a little sauce, and put it in her mouth to taste. The complex and salty taste instantly captured her taste buds. She stared in surprise, "Third sister-in-law, this is really strange."
Because of the hot weather, Jiang Shuyao didn't want to get cooped up in her small kitchen to fry the skewers, so she took out the barbecue stove used before and fried the skewers in a shallow pan in the courtyard.
This was a pain for the people working in the courtyard. When the skewers were fried into a pot, the sizzling sound was accompanied by the bursts of oily fragrance, which aroused people's spirits and immediately started their appetite.
Zhou-shi had a nearly blind worship in Jiang Shuyao's craftsmanship, and she started to swallow when she fries the skewers.
Because Today, they would taste-test the fried skewers, Jiang Shuyao prepared a wide variety of skewers. There was a large plate of various colors. She looked at the big plate and said to Zhou-shi with a little embarrassment, "Second sister, trouble you. Today, it is up to you to try the taste."
After smelling the tempting oily aroma of fried skewers on the tip of her nose and looking at the fragrant and rich sauce for two nights, Zhou-shi quickly replied, "Of course, it's not troublesome." Isn't this a blessing?
Zhou-shi was about to burst into bubbles with happiness. With Jiang Shuyao, you could have the joy and sense of accomplishment of cooking, and you could enjoy all kinds of novelty foods happily. She really couldn’t wait to kick the relationship's obstacle between them and immediately moved to the third branch's residence.
The deep-fried skewers floated in the frying pan, and small bubbles were sizzling around, making people feel comfortable watching it.
Zhou-shi's mind was full of fragrant fried skewers, her brain cannot think quickly, and she only realized it later. Hey, what's the obstacle between them?
Xie Xun, who was worrying about politics in the East Palace, suddenly sneezed.
He looked up at the sky, he was about to finish work, and he had to hurry back to the mansion. For some reason, he feels a little uneasy.
At this time, the deep-fried skewers came out of the pot, and Zhou-shi also came up with the answer to the question she was pondering just now—no doubt, the obstacle is, of course... Xu-shi.
Speak of the devil and he shall arrive.
Xu-shi led the two little guys and walked in from the courtyard gate.
Xie Zhao caught the delicious scent in the air and, unable to resist, wrenched himself free from Xu-shi's grasp. He tiptoed to the table, eyes wide with curiosity, and asked, "What is this? Is it for eating?"
Xu-shi hurried over to grab him.
Jiang Shuyao chuckled, seeing the familiar eagerness in his eyes. "Fried skewers, but you can't eat too much. They're too oily." After the last time’s lesson, she was more cautious about how much she let these little ones indulge.
Xie Zhao gave an innocent nod, his mouth already watering as he licked his lips. "I'll just have a little bit, just to taste it. I definitely won't trouble third aunt."
Jiang Shuyao's cuffs were tied to her back with cloth strips, making it easier to do things. She used long chopsticks to pick out the fried skewers and put them on a generous plate. Then she dipped a brush in the sauce, brushed the front part of the fried skewers twice, turned them over, and brushed the back part twice.
The golden fried skewers were brushed with bright and brown-red rich sauce. After sprinkling some sesame seeds, the sauce drips down the fried skewers. It looked delicious and attractive.
"Second sister-in-law, please taste it." After brushing the sauce, Jiang Shuyao pushed the plate to Zhou-shi's side.
Zhou-shi glanced at Xu-shi lightly, with a feeling of exultation. See? Even if you bring your two children, third sister-in-law will still pass it to me first.
The skin of the tenderloin skewer was fried golden, and delicious. The surface of the tender meat skewers was covered with rich sauce. The color was bright. A little bit of sesame was attached to it. After taking a bite, the rich salty and oily aroma immediately penetrated her nose, like an electric current rushed to the forehead. The base of her tongue secreted saliva subconsciously.
Zhou-shi leaned forward slightly, taking a generous bite of the tenderloin skewer. As soon as she sank her teeth into it, the spicy sauce erupted across her lips and cheeks. The heat was unlike any dry spiciness she had ever encountered. It wasn’t harsh or overwhelming, but rather a well-balanced, subtle burn that awakened her senses, amplifying the freshness, saltiness, numbing heat, and sweetness of the sauce all at once. The flavor was a perfect harmony of sweet and salty, rich and complex, swirling together in a dizzying fragrance that made her head spin.
The outside of the tenderloin skewer had been deep-fried to a crisp, with edges and corners that gave a satisfying crunch. When she bit into the outer skin, a rush of heat escaped, only to reveal the tenderloin within. The meat was so tender and smooth, retaining its natural flavor, while the hot oil had sealed in the moisture, eliminating any trace of fishiness. It was a perfect bite, each chew more satisfying than the last. She couldn’t wait to devour it all in one go, savoring every last morsel.
"How is it? Is it tough?"
Zhou-shi's mouth was immersed in tenderloin, and she was reluctant to swallow it, so she could only nod frantically and give a thumbs up.
"That's good. Please also ask sister-in-law to taste all the remaining fried skewers." Jiang Shuyao turned around and said to Xu-shi.
Xu-shi looked at the corners of Zhou-shi's mouth, smeared with sauce and her gobbling mouth. Then she swallowed silently.
"No need." She smiled, "Today, my eldest and my second sons will come home from college on their vacation. I was busy welcoming them and ignored the two little guys. They happened to be pestering me to come to you for a long time already. I just wanted to send them over for dinner, lest they always make trouble in front of me."
Xu-shi gently touched Xie Yao's head. "The last time he overindulged, it caused you trouble, and he didn’t dare to come over. But Ah Zhao has been making a fuss. It’s quite a headache. I really have to let them visit. Look, Ah Zhao insists he’ll be obedient; if not, third sister-in-law will send them back to the first branch."
Xie Zhao tugged on Jiang Shuyao's sleeve, looking aggrieved. Jiang Shuyao smiled and replied, "I just happened to cook rice porridge and some cold side dishes for dinner. It should be easy on the stomach. Sister-in-law, please don’t worry."
"Thank you," Xu-shi said gratefully, preparing to return to the first branch to oversee the maids as they set up a banquet to welcome Xie Ye and Xie Hao.
Zhou-shi ate happily next to her, and she was relieved when she saw that Xu-shi was about to leave. Fortunately, she didn't have to split the skewers with her.
Who knows that Jiang Shuyao enthusiastically said, "Sister-in-law, do you want to take two bunches?"
Zhou-shi was taken aback and looked at Xu-shi alertly.
Xu-shi wasn't typically fond of savory foods, but the aroma of oil and sauce wafting from the fried skewers was too enticing to resist. Distracted by the sight of the glistening soy-red meat, she murmured a grateful "thank you" to Jiang Shuyao.
Reaching out, she randomly selected a skewer, its soft white rice cake cut into uniform squares and adorned with a few sesame seeds. The crispy edges and two layers of vibrant sauce gave the snack an irresistible appeal.
Xu-shi rolled up her sleeve and took a bite. The explosion of flavors was immediate and overwhelming.
The rice cake had a delightfully crunchy exterior, which gave way easily to a soft and glutinous interior. It was remarkably chewy, almost resistant to being finished off in just a few bites. The frying process enhanced the rich rice aroma, making it even more mellow and indulgent. The sauce—spicy with a hint of sweetness—left a delectable taste on her lips and cheeks. With each chew, its addictive quality grew stronger.
"How is it?" Jiang Shuyao asked.
Just moments ago, Xu-shi had disapproved of Zhou-shi's lack of manners, chewing on her fried skewers without swallowing and mumbling through her bites. Now, she found herself empathizing with Zhou-shi's enthusiasm. Covering her lips with one hand, she nodded vigorously in approval. Unable to contain her excitement, she finally gave a thumbs up, just like Zhou-shi had.
...
Xie Ye and Xie Hao, as the young masters of Duke Xie's Mansion, had been raised with high expectations from a young age. They were sent to the academy for their studies early on, returning to the mansion only during day offs.
Today, however, they had rushed back and arrived before dusk, earlier than usual.
Their first stop was Shouning Hall, where they went to greet the old madam. Noticing her weary demeanor and ill health, they quickly exchanged pleasantries, refraining from staying too long out of concern for her well-being.
When they exited Shouning Hall, they inquired about the old madam's health, but the nanny hesitated to respond. Turning to a young maid for more information, they discovered that the old madam’s condition seemed to be connected to the third lady.
As witnesses to Jiang Shuyao chasing after a handsome young man only to tumble into the water, Xie Ye and Xie Hao held a rather poor opinion of their third aunt. However, they maintained a distance—as “well water did not offend the river”—they had no intention of seeking her out to stir up trouble.
[T/N: "Well water did not offend the river" means they have different paths and have nothing to do with each other.]
However, there were times when thoughts of their third aunt crossed their minds, especially when they overheard their college classmates mock their third uncle's marriage. Such remarks only fueled their disdain for her.
Now that they had learned of the trouble, they were unaware of the specifics. Rather than speculate, they decided to return to the first branch's courtyard to inquire with their mother.
Upon arriving at the first branch, they found not only Xu-shi absent but also their two younger brothers. When they asked a maid about their whereabouts, they discovered that Xu-shi had taken the boys to the third branch.
“Big brother, what do you think Mother is doing at the third branch?” Xie Hao asked, puzzled. “She even brought Ah Zhao and Ah Yao with her.”
Having been away from home for two or three months, they were completely out of the loop regarding any recent developments. Their memories still lingered on the time when Jiang Shuyao had just gotten married. Xie Ye frowned and replied, “I recall that Mother didn’t like our third aunt.”
"Yes, indeed."
Feeling a bit concerned, they waited in the courtyard for a while, but Xu-shi remained busy indulging in fried skewers and did not return.
Seeing that the setting sun was about to set and Xu-shi hadn't returned yet, Xie Hao couldn't help being curious, "Shall we go and take a look?"
The two of them walked all the way to the third branch. They are about to arrive at the third branch's courtyard entrance, but they had not yet met Xu-shi and their two younger brothers.
"What do you think mother is doing?" Xie Ye looked at the sky and wondered, "It's around this time, if she doesn't come back, is it possible... Is it possible to have dinner in the third branch?"
"Hahahahaha." Xie Hao laughed, "Brother, you are so funny."
Xie Ye's own humor also amused him. The two laughed so much that they were about to hurt their waist.
After reluctantly suppressing their smiles, they came to the gate of the courtyard. Before they even stepped in, an oily scent mixed with spicy and delicious flavor penetrated into their noses.
The smile on their faces suddenly froze.
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