"Mr. Gong is the type of person who’s really good at using soft and hard tactics. Whenever he gets a chance, he wants to whip up something nice just for himself. Sometimes I think maybe he doesn’t want it that badly, but he just feels like it would be a waste not to say something when the opportunity arises."
"However, sometimes I really think Mr. Gong is amazing. Junior Master Zheng hasn’t really cooked in recent years, right? When Junior Master Zheng was making snacks at Huang Ji, eight out of ten times it was for Mr. Gong. During the New Year, it’s a given that Mr. Gong’s New Year’s Eve dinner would be a specially customized Three Heads Banquet, personally cooked by the master, year after year for over twenty years."
Qin Huai understood, there’s no meal a top salesman can’t get his hands on in this world.
"Does Mr. Gong have any favorite snacks? Breakfast foods are fine too, like buns, mantou, dumplings and such," Qin Huai asked. "I remember the Crab Dumplings here in Gusu are quite famous."
Dong Shi didn’t realize Qin Huai was forcibly steering the conversation towards Crab Dumplings, and nodded, "Yes, they’re quite famous. Many places sell them, I had some for breakfast not long ago, but I’m not really fond of dumplings."
"They taste too dry, I’d rather eat Crab Soup Dumplings. But Crab Soup Dumplings are too expensive, and many of them are expensive and not tasty. It’s better to just have a casual meal of buns, mantou, and soup noodles."
"Hey, Qin Huai, can you make Crab Dumplings? I remember you’ve made buns, mantou, dumplings, noodles, but not dumplings. Does your community cafeteria sell dumplings? Do people there eat more noodles in the morning, or more buns and mantou?"
"I can make dumplings, but not Crab Dumplings," Qin Huai admitted. He really couldn’t make Crab Dumplings. Last time Qin Luo wanted dumplings, it was lamb dumplings she craved.
All because of those palace drama series, they never featured Crab Dumplings.
However, Qin Huai thought dumplings should all be somewhat similar. He could make meat-filled dumplings and sticky rice-filled dumplings, so learning Crab Dumplings was just a matter of time.
But he couldn’t guarantee the quality.
Both Huang Shengli and Zheng Da were taught by Jinglixiang, and in Qin Huai’s eyes, these two already highly skilled apprentices had only learned about sixty to seventy percent of their master’s craft. He couldn’t even imagine the level of Master Jing’s skills.
The dumplings they made would at least be an A+ level.
Thinking this way, Gong Liang’s task was actually harder; Qin Huai couldn’t make A+ level dumplings no matter how he tried.
Qin Huai sighed sadly, and Dong Shi, who had been chattering about gossip, paused and glanced at him, wondering if he hadn’t mentioned any sad gossip.
"If you want to eat Crab Dumplings, I can learn how to make them during this time. Once I’ve learned, I’ll make some for you," Qin Huai said.
For a moment, Dong Shi felt a bit touched.
Qin Huai was actually willing to learn how to make Crab Dumplings because of his casual remark, and said he’d make some for him once he learned!
At that moment, Dong Shi didn’t want Dong Li to be his brother anymore.
He wanted to be Qin Huai’s brother.
Brother, your little brother has waited so long for you!
Meanwhile, at Shuanghai High School, Qin Luo, who had just finished lunch in the cafeteria, pulled out a calendar from her bag, given by Zhao Rong as a gift for buying insurance, and marked an X on today’s date.
Qin Luo counted the days; there were 27 days left.
Her brother said he’d be in Gusu for a month, and would return after a month.
These three days were tough, but after enduring 27 more days, she could finally eat her brother’s Five Fillings Bun, Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns, Crab Shell Cake, guo’er, sticky rice cake... a whole array of snacks!
Qin Luo tilted her head slightly, the only way to stop tears from falling. She felt like the sorrowful heroine from a drama; even though it wasn’t a festival, nor was there a moon to look at, she truly missed her family.
Brother, I miss you so much!
"Wuhu, off work, time to eat!"
Her brother, completely oblivious to his sister’s longing, happily clocked out after finishing the last six apple dough balls, feeling even a bit eager to squeeze into the kitchen to see what was for lunch today.
Qin Huai thought today’s employee meal was likely not made by Huang Jia.
The Braised Pig’s Head was entering the final thickening stage; after the bones were removed, the pig’s head was placed on a large platter, and a few spoonfuls of leftover braising liquid were poured over it to steam further. The remaining broth wouldn’t be wasted, it would be simmered into a thick sauce to be poured over the pig’s head when it was done, adding the finishing touch.
Huang Jia was simmering the final sauce.
The aroma of meat filled the air.
The pig’s head had been stewing in the sauce for four hours; not only had the sauce’s flavor seeped into the pig’s head, but the aroma of the meat had also infused into the sauce.
The combination was irresistible, so much so that Qin Huai considered going out to buy some braised pig’s head meat from a deli.
Couldn’t have the Braised Pig’s Head, but maybe some braised pig’s head meat would be allowed?
Qin Huai was getting a little tempted.
The cook in charge of the employee meal was stir-frying rice.
Yangzhou Fried Rice, it smelled great.
Qin Huai started considering how good pig’s head meat would taste with fried rice.
The fried rice was served.
The Braised Pig’s Head was also served.
Huang Jia took the steamed pig’s head out of the steamer, put it on a new platter, surrounded it with a ring of fresh greens, arranged mushrooms, and finally ladled a thick sauce over it.
That was the sound of Qin Huai drooling internally.
At that moment, Qin Huai understood why Gong Liang, despite having access to great dishes during festivals, still wanted to try his luck with soft and hard tactics whenever possible, to see if he could get some of the good stuff.
Who doesn’t love more delicious food?
Gong Liang wasn’t short on money either.
Man, why are all these spirits so well-off?
This bunch of rich spirits really makes Qu Jing seem very poorly off.
A dish of beautifully presented Braised Pig’s Head was created.
Huang Jia wasn’t done yet, he started stir-frying green vegetables.
Qin Huai noticed that there were no chefs around to serve the dishes.
"Hey, why isn’t anyone serving the dishes? Isn’t this for Gong Liang’s private room?" Qin Huai asked Zheng Siyuan.
"No," Zheng Siyuan said, holding a plate of freshly steamed Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns and placing it beside the Braised Pig’s Head, "this is our employee meal!"
Two minutes later, the stir-fried greens were served.
The meal was complete.
Huang Jia smiled and said, "The Braised Pig’s Head took some time, I reckon you two probably won’t have room for much else after eating it, so I just stir-fried a simple plate of greens. There aren’t a lot of dishes today, hope you don’t mind."
"My skills at making Braised Pig’s Head are still not up to my master’s level. Qin Huai, if you have time during the New Year, you should come to Gusu and try my master’s Braised Pig’s Head, it’s much better than mine."
"Mmm, mmm, mmm!" Qin Huai, already holding a rice bowl and chopsticks, with his mouth full of pig’s head meat, could only use some vague filler sounds to express his approval, praise, and determination to visit Gusu for the New Year.
Zheng Siyuan handed a bun to Qin Huai.
"It’s better with the bun," Zheng Siyuan said, "we eat it every New Year."
"If you don’t mind, you can dip the bun in the sauce, but I think it slightly ruins the flavor of the Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns. My dad likes to eat it this way."
Qin Huai: Like it, love it, love it no matter how it’s eaten! ヾ(≧O≦)
Loving Huang Ji’s employee meal so much!
He definitely needed to work hard at Huang Ji!