Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 99
Translated by Serena Love
Edited by Azure
Chapter 99: Teriyaki Chicken Drumstick on Rice
For five thousand years, in the heart of China, the call for marriage has remained ever-present, a timeless tradition.
As the Queen gently persuaded the crown prince to consider marriage, Jiang Shuyao found herself quietly pulled aside by Concubine Lin, who whispered with a knowing glance.
"Niang Niang?" Jiang Shuyao was puzzled.
Concubine Lin asked the court ladies to retreat and asked her after no one was around, "What other unique thing can you do?"
Jiang Shuyao was confused, "What?"
"Food," Concubine Lin said, "Something equally delicious as the fried snails last time."
"This is not a unique thing, right."
How could Concubine Lin have the time to trade words with her. She said directly, "Now the Emperor is here, and your chance to show your face has also come, okay? Do you know all kinds of rumors outside the palace today? Saying that you don't understand the rules, or you're covered with copper? People's eyes are staring at you and ready to grab our business, waiting for the Lin family to do something wrong at any time. As long as you can make the Emperor speak, these concerns will disappear, understand?"
Jiang Shuyao didn't know what to say for a while.
Concubine Lin took out a thick book from her cuffs and turned it over to show her carefully, "These are the opponents that I have heard about. These are the long-tongued women who spread gossip and chew their tongues. This one is my... well, from back then. It's the business plan I wrote a few years ago." She gave Jiang Shuyao, "I don't know much about the food and beverages industry. I can barely write some superficial opinions because I have taken care of the Lin family's business. It is not much. I just casually wrote. See if it can help you a little bit."
Jiang Shuyao took the booklet and looked at Concubine Lin in surprise.
It was said that after entering the palace, Concubine Lin never took care of business matters anymore. She said that she would never interfere in the Lin family's business matters no matter what they encountered.
Concubine Lin was a little uncomfortable with Jiang Shuyao's eyes.
She said, "I just think you have a talent, and I barely show some of my strengths. Maybe you can do well in this business, so I want to help you casually. Besides, I had my people ask around, and you are really talented in this line. Of course, it's not about making money, but about eating." She stuffed the booklet into Jiang Shuyao's hands, "I'm an aunt, I have to do anything for you."
Jiang Shuyao took the booklet and said, "Thank you, auntie."
Concubine Lin poked her forehead, "You are not calling me Niang Niang now?"
Jiang Shuyao laughed and was about to say something, but Concubine Lin pushed her towards the dining room by, "Go ahead, show them something and let them take a look. If the emperor values you, don't sayanything about the capital. From now on, anywhere you go, there will be gold signs everywhere. You can walk sideways in the whole country."
After a long while, Jiang Shuyao thought about it. As she walked, she opened the booklet given by Concubine Lin. The handwriting was inconsistent, some neat and messy, some paragraphs were suddenly squeezed in between lines, which looked like it was added later.
She took a lot of thought about something she wrote "casually."
She stuffed the booklet into her sleeve and followed a eunuch to the dining room.
When the Emperor travels to hunt, he will not eat game meat all the time. All sorts of fresh ingredients are available in the dining room.
Jiang Shuyao looked around and pointed to a pot of chicken drumsticks and said, "I'll use this to make a meal."
The eunuch was Concubine Lin's confidant. Knowing Concubine Lin's arrangement, he thought Jiang Shuyao would use all sorts of treasures from mountains and sea, but he did not expect that she would choose chicken in the end.
And this chicken drumstick was also leftovers after she took the chicken wings. It was too casual.
The eunuch was about to persuade her against it, but Jiang Shuyao had already picked up the pot and muttered, "I have used all the chicken wings and legs, and the remaining parts can't be wasted. Then, let's deep-fry some chicken, rice, and chicken chops."
The eunuch sighed, listening to her tone of cleaning the ingredients and not wasting food, she probably chose chicken legs because she took so many chicken wings and didn't want to waste the remainder.
Jiang Shuyao cleaned her hands with practiced ease, tying her cuffs neatly before pulling out a pair of scissors. Her movements were fluid and swift, expertly deboning the chicken and placing the tender meat into a bowl. Concubine Lin had already sent someone to fetch her box of seasonings, ensuring that she wouldn't have to worry about missing ingredients for the marinade.
Today, she was preparing teriyaki chicken drumsticks with rice. Though there was no mirin on hand, and the teriyaki sauce wouldn't be quite as authentic, the salty-sweet flavor would still come close to perfection.
The chicken legs were marinated for a while, and she started steaming the rice. The people in the kitchen rushed to help do this job.
After marinating the chicken drumsticks, she heated oil in the pot and placed the drumsticks skin-side down.
A soft sizzle filled the air, and the sweet-salty aroma immediately began to rise. As the oil bubbled, the chicken gradually turned golden on both sides, its surface kissed by the marinade's honey, which added a crisp, reddish-brown hue in places.
The drumsticks were thick and substantial, and as the meat inside fully cooked, the skin transformed into a shiny, golden, and crispy shell. Finally, she poured in the sauce, lowering the heat until it slowly absorbed into the chicken. The sauce thickened into a glossy, salty-sweet coating, leaving the drumsticks glistening with a rich, flavorful film.
She carefully sliced the chicken drumsticks into strips, the crispy outer skin sealing in all the juices, which flowed out with each cut. Without broccoli and carrots at hand, Jiang Shuyao simply blanched two green vegetables, adding a splash of color to the teriyaki chicken drumstick rice.
Once everything was ready, she neatly arranged four bowls and sent them out.
While she worked diligently in the kitchen, the crown prince continued his attempts to evade marriage, chatting endlessly with the Queen. The Queen, exasperated, could only express her helplessness, while the Emperor remarked that he might just kick the crown prince into submission.
Between the three people's stalemates, Concubine Lin walked in, followed by the little eunuchs holding the tray.
"It's time to have dinner, so we cook some simple meals. If the emperor doesn't dislike it, will he give us some face and taste it?"
The Emperor, of course, had no real objections, and neither did the crown prince. He would rather continue his playful banter with the Queen than miss out on this meal.
The rice-stuffed chicken wings from earlier had already whetted their appetites, leaving both the crown prince and the Emperor hungry. So, when the teriyaki chicken drumsticks were brought to the table, their eyes instantly lit up, captivated by the rich, savory aroma and the golden sheen of the crispy skin.
On top of the fluffy, snow-white rice lay slices of chicken drumsticks, their surfaces a rich, glossy blend of burnt yellow and reddish-brown, glistening with a savory sheen. Sprinkled with white sesame seeds, the sauce appeared even thicker and more vibrant. Inside, the chicken was tender and pale, a striking contrast to the crispy, golden skin on the outside.
The rice, freshly scooped from the pot, released a cloud of steam, carrying with it the irresistible aroma of sweet, salty teriyaki-glazed chicken. The warm, fragrant scent was enough to make anyone's mouth water.
The sauce clinging to the chicken was thick, creamy, and gleaming, slowly seeping into the rice below. It coated the plump, white grains with a glossy brown glaze.
Though it was just a simple bowl of rice topped with side dishes, it looked far more enticing than an entire table laden with a lavish banquet.
The Emperor's meal times, of course, differed from those of ordinary people. A eunuch stepped forward to taste the dish, ensuring it was free of poison.
Meanwhile, the crown prince could hardly contain himself. His eyes were fixed on the teriyaki chicken drumstick rice, his mouth watering as his Adam's apple bobbed. A soft, involuntary "gurgling" sound escaped from his stomach, betraying his eagerness to dig in.
The queen frowned suspiciously. What is that sound?
After the eunuch had inspected a bowl, he began to inspect the chicken.
The aroma of the teriyaki sauce became stronger, and the crown prince swallowed again.
"Gurgle gurgle."
The queen turned her head around. How could she hear voices?
When she was suspicious of herself, she faintly heard a "gruu-gruu-gruu" belly sound.
Just as she looked up, she suddenly heard the Emperor say, "The crown prince must be starving."
Prince: ? ? ? No, I didn't. Was it your stomach that rang just now?
The crown prince could not let the Emperor lose face, but he didn't want to carry this gluttonous black pot as it would affect his personable image.
So he said to the young eunuch who was testing poison, "Chungui must be starving."
What a wonderful pass. The little eunuch who received the blame looked blank.
After the poison test, the crown prince couldn't wait to move his chopsticks.
The Emperor looked at him disgustedly. As a prince, he acted so embarrassingly. But while thinking about it, he also held down his eager arm to prevent him from moving in sync with his son.
For the Emperor, this sweet and salty taste was very novel, and the method of directly placing the side dish on top of rice was even more special.
But he knew the beauty of this approach very quickly.
With a bite of chicken drumstick meat, the rich sauce immediately swept the lips and cheeks. Although salty, it did not make people feel awkward. On the contrary, it was a kind of extreme fragrance—the sweetness, freshness, and sauce blend together, instantly awakening the taste buds.
The chicken skin was crispy and soaked in the sauce, which retained the crispy feel and had the flexibility of filling up the sauce. When he bit the chicken skin, the steaming chicken juice splashed out, and the rich gravy immediately concealed the taste of the sauce, which was fresh and crispy.
At this time, he took a bite of the soft and fluffy rice and chewed it with the chicken. He was immediately full of satisfaction.
Then, he grabbed his chopsticks and scooped up a large portion of rice along with a strip of chicken. His mouth opened wide as he took the first bite. The warm, fluffy rice was sweet and springy, while the chicken drumstick, no longer overly salty, was now rich with a deep, savory sweetness. He chewed slowly and carefully, savoring the flavors, a sense of contentment washing over him.
The father and son were strikingly similar, both devouring the rice in hearty mouthfuls.
The chicken juice and teriyaki sauce had seeped into the rice, infusing it with flavor. After finishing the chicken, they used their chopsticks to mix the remaining rice with the sauce. The grains, now sticky and glossy from the juices, were slightly moist but still retained their elasticity. The combination was extraordinary—the saltiness of the teriyaki sauce balanced by the fresh, rich essence of the chicken.
The crown prince shaved off the last grain of rice in his bowl, smacked his lips, and sighed comfortably.
The Emperor reluctantly stayed calm a little bit, pretending to be reserved. He looked at Concubine Lin and suddenly remembered that Jiang Shuyao made the dinner. He quickly complimented her.
He lavishly said, "This meal seems simple but delicious. It must have taken a lot of work and deserves a reward!"
Concubine Lin waited for these words and quickly asked for a reward for Jiang Shuyao.
The Emperor was in a good mood.
"After she figured out such a rare recipe, she deliberately came over to cook for this concubine. She is really filial."
The crown prince ate and drank enough, touched his belly, and sat beside him. Hearing the words, he immediately spoke in support of Jiang Shuyao's East Palace's support group, "Father, you can't underestimate my cousin. She created far more than this recipe."
He thought about the happy time of sneaking to the street food market and sighed, "Just talk about the street food market... Oh, father, you don't know. Anyway, it's a street full of food. And wow, the food there is diverse enough to eat for seven days."
The Emperor felt that he had missed something after being inside the palace for a long time. He turned his head and looked at the crown prince who was showing off, "Have you been there to eat?"
"Of course." The crown prince said, becoming more and more proud. "Not only that, when Boyuan eats the lunch made by his wife, we can also share a bit of taste. It is really good to get a wife like her."
The Emperor did not answer, so the crown prince braced his stomach, stood up leisurely, and kept showing off, "There is also the breakfast stall. Last time, Lin Cheng lined up to grab a dozen copies in the morning and brought them to the East Palace. We ate together. There is tofu pudding, fried bean curd, rice noodles, pancakes, spicy soup..."
After devouring three rice-stuffed chicken wings and a bowl of teriyaki chicken drumstick rice, the crown prince leaned back, holding his waist and rubbing his belly, looking every bit like a pregnant woman.
The Emperor had eaten enough, but when he said that, his stomach started to pump again.
He looked at the proud prince and felt that he didn't understand why he was so proud. He smirked and said, "No wonder I see that you have become a lot better these days. You are blessed at your young age."
Prince: Ha.
He touched his belly, supported his waist, and walked away.
The queen's eyebrows jumped. She was strangely familiar with the crown prince's expression. How could he look like a concubine who was domineering in the palace because her maiden family was favored?
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