The only difficult part is controlling the amount of water to ensure the right consistency when adding it. The specific amount of sesame and sugar depends on the chef’s required sweetness, as different snacks require different sweetness levels for the sesame sugar filling.
From last night’s video tutorial, Qin Huai learned that the difficulty of the sesame sugar filling is not only in the amount of water, but also in the force and speed during stirring.
The former ensures that the sesame sugar filling doesn’t fail, while the latter elevates the quality of the filling.
Soon, Qin Huai reached the stirring step.
Previously, when making sesame sugar filling, to prevent temperature drop from affecting the stickiness, Qin Huai would stir vigorously and as fast as possible.
Now, having learned truly useful new techniques, Qin Huai began trying to control the stirring speed. As long as the water amount is controlled well, adding a small amount of warm water multiple times can effectively control the temperature.
Guli, who had initially returned to the cooking station to make Ruyi Rolls, noticed Qin Huai’s slow stirring speed and intent on controlling the speed while observing the state of the sesame sugar filling, as if testing something. He couldn’t help but stop his actions and watched Qin Huai make the sesame sugar filling.
Attempting the new method for the first time, Qin Huai adopted a small-batch and multi-step production model.
When Qin Huai reached the second attempt, Tan Wei’an and a few other Zhiwei Restaurant chefs arrived for work.
Tan Wei’an didn’t think much of Qin Huai’s early arrival to make sesame sugar filling, assuming Qin Huai’s home stock had run out, prompting him to make more early—
Tan Wei’an was aware that Qin Huai had been making Four Happiness glutinous rice at home after work lately, though he wasn’t clear on the specific flavors.
When Qin Huai was about to start the third batch, Zheng Siyuan arrived.
Zheng Siyuan found it odd seeing Qin Huai making sesame sugar filling again and asked, "Didn’t you still have a lot left from last time? Why make more?"
"Are you thinking of exploring sesame sugar filling snacks lately?"
"No, the Four Happiness glutinous rice isn’t fully done yet. Right now, I’m definitely going to seize the opportunity to continue researching the Four Happiness glutinous rice. I don’t have time for other snacks. I’ve been thinking about the Four Happiness glutinous rice these past few days and realized I can’t just focus on the mixed fruit filling. The Four Happiness has four flavors, and I can’t neglect the red bean filling, sesame sugar filling, and meat filling."
"The sesame sugar filling from before was somewhat unsuited for the Four Happiness glutinous rice, and today I plan to make a batch that fits well." Qin Huai said.
Hearing this, Zheng Siyuan was very pleased and immediately came forward to inspect Qin Huai’s first and second batches.
"It seems a bit finer than before." Zheng Siyuan acknowledged the sesame sugar filling, "This way, the glutinous rice dumplings will have a better texture when cooked. I was careless, focusing only on the mixed fruit filling, forgetting that Four Happiness glutinous rice isn’t just one kind of filling."
"Want to make them together?" Zheng Siyuan suggested.
Qin Huai waved him off, indicating it wasn’t necessary: "I can handle it now, why don’t you make the wontons? Luoluo is coming over for breakfast today. If she comes and finds there’s no chicken soup noodles or Zhou Sha wontons and Paopao Dumpling, she might just cry and go back to her lessons."
Hearing this, Zheng Siyuan instantly realized the importance of wontons and headed to the cooking station to knead the dough.
Just when he finished pouring the flour, Zheng Siyuan seemed to remember something and looked at Qin Huai, as if wanting to say something.
Although Zheng Siyuan didn’t say a word, Qin Huai knew what he wanted to say.
Zheng Siyuan wanted Longevity Noodles.
Qin Huai felt that people’s tastes were truly unique; in terms of snack ratings, guo’er’s rating is certainly higher than Longevity Noodles, as guo’er is an A-level snack.
But as a normal-tasting pastry chef better than most, if you asked Zheng Siyuan to choose, he’d definitely pick Longevity Noodles.
Loved it to the point where Qin Huai couldn’t figure out if Zheng Siyuan loved the noodles or the broth in Longevity Noodles more.
"I’ve got fillings to make this morning, not enough time for chicken soup noodles; how about I make two bowls of gruel?"
"No, three bowls, Luoluo has to eat two."
Zheng Siyuan nodded and contentedly continued kneading.
At 9 am, Qin Luo successfully enjoyed a sumptuous Huang Ji breakfast, and the people at Huang Ji finally met Qin Luo, the legendary sister, and witnessed her appetite.
Two bowls of chicken soup noodles, two bowls of wontons, a steamer of buns, a serving of Ruyi Roll, and a portion of rice cake.
Qin Luo’s appetite grew even larger after starting her lessons.
It’s normal for growing kids to eat a lot.
Dong Shi was amazed, whispering to an unknown Zhiwei Restaurant chef, no wonder Qin Huai always said he made snacks for his sister; seeing her appetite, it’s clear she’s a great candidate for taste testing.
Of course, Qin Luo’s appetite was just small talk for the Huang Ji crew during work breaks. That day, everyone continued to work as usual, and Qin Huai used spare moments to finish making the red bean filling and sesame sugar filling for the next day’s Four Happiness glutinous rice.
This normal preparation didn’t attract much attention, except for Huang Shengli who praised Qin Huai’s significant progress during the afternoon’s fire control lesson, noting fewer mistakes despite the lack of breakthroughs.
In practice of basic skills, making fewer mistakes is a big improvement.
No one can soar into the sky, and no apprentice can gain ten years of skills in a day. Progress is a slow accumulation process, and making fewer mistakes best signifies learning ability.
No one knew that Qin Huai was planning to wow everyone the next day.
Early the next morning, just like the day before, Qin Huai arrived in the kitchen bright and early.
Guli noticed Qin Huai’s early arrival for the second day in a row and was a bit surprised. Keeping a straight face, he put down his work and brewed tea, then assisted Qin Huai.
Today, Guli’s helper task was to help Qin Huai mince meat.
For the fresh meat-filled glutinous rice dumplings, good meat filling is crucial.
The meat filling must be firm, as it’s pure meat; it can’t be just lean or too fatty. A little starch can be added to the meat, and the minced meat must be fine for good texture.
When preparing the filling, one should adhere to the principle of not adding too many seasonings, even though pork is an excellent base and pairs well with any seasoning, adding a lot makes it seem like the pork isn’t fresh enough, covering its taste with extra flavors.
As the only savory dumplings in this version of the Four Happiness glutinous rice, the fresh meat dumplings must play a role in balancing the flavors, acting as a neutral referee among a bowl of Four Happiness glutinous rice. This ensures diners won’t feel overwhelmed by three sweet dumplings or disappointed by an ordinary savory one after three delightful sweet dumplings.
While Guli minced the meat filling, Qin Huai worked on the mixed fruit filling.
In the video tutorial’s six mixed fruit fillings, Qin Huai had tried four and planned to make these four today, leaving the rest for another time.
With each birth of a mixed fruit filling, chefs from Zhiwei Restaurant, led by Tan Wei’an, arrived for work one after another.
Seeing Qin Huai making Four Happiness glutinous rice, Tan Wei’an wasn’t surprised, glancing casually and seeing Qin Huai didn’t seem to need help before he went to make snacks.
Zheng Siyuan arrived as Qin Huai was working on the glutinous rice skin.
Seeing Qin Huai arriving early again made Zheng Siyuan very pleased; he didn’t ask much, just glanced and headed to the station to knead dough for wontons.
Qin Huai started wrapping the glutinous rice dumplings.
They weren’t the surprise variety but standard ones, in four different shapes.
One after another, batches of glutinous rice dumplings emerged from Qin Huai’s hands.
"Is Zheng Siyuan free? Can you cook these glutinous rice dumplings for me, the four fillings should be cooked separately?" Seeing it was nearly mealtime, Qin Huai asked for Zheng Siyuan’s help.
To maximize pursuit of quality and taste in glutinous rice dumplings, the four fillings should be cooked separately.
Before Zheng Siyuan could respond, Dong Shi volunteered, "I’ll do it!"
With Dong Shi’s skills, cooking dumplings was no problem. Qin Huai confidently handed the dumplings over to Dong Shi and continued wrapping the remaining dumplings.
At 9 am, Chen Huihong, Chen Huixi, and Qin Luo arrived at the kitchen door on time.
"Brother! Are the noodles ready? I want three bowls today after my math lesson!" Qin Luo stood at the kitchen door, eagerly calling her brother.
Qin Huai glanced at the pot of dumplings.
The dumplings in the pot were actually ready; Dong Shi had turned off the heat and was looking for a bowl to scoop them out.
"There’s no chicken soup noodles today, but we have freshly made Four Happiness glutinous rice. Just have two bowls; too much won’t digest well."
"Freshly made? Yay!" Qin Luo cheered.
Qin Huai felt today’s Four Happiness glutinous rice deserved Qin Luo’s enthusiastic cheer.
[Four Happiness glutinous rice B+ Level]
Three Meat Buns, I apologize. Previously, you were my strongest self-made pastry point, but not anymore.
I, Master Qin, have a new favorite now.
Four Happiness glutinous rice.
Though not everyone had tasted it yet.
But those who have will surely praise it!