It was indeed perfect for a bowl of hot and sour noodles in the heat of summer.
When the noodles in the pot were almost cooked, he lifted them out and quickly ran them under cold water. This cooled down the noodles to prevent burning the mouth when eating. Additionally, the sudden chill from the cold water caused the surface of the noodles to contract, giving them a more refreshing and smoother texture.
He then placed the chilled noodles into a bowl with the prepared sauce and sprinkled some roasted peanuts on top. An appetizing and delicious bowl of hot and sour noodles was ready.
"It’s ready, you can eat now."
Lin Xu didn’t have any specific Technique for making hot and sour noodles, but the dish was simple to make. Even without any particular Technique, Lin Xu felt that just by adding that little spoonful of lard, the dish had to be at least Excellent Level.
The others took their bowls of hot and sour noodles.
Chen Yan tried hers first and immediately exclaimed, "Ah, the flavor of these hot and sour noodles is really good—sour and spicy, but not overly so, which makes them very refreshing and satisfying to eat! Brother-in-law, I think even without this restaurant, you could make money just by operating a small shop that sells hot and sour noodles."
Lin Xu laughed. The hot and sour noodles tasted good because he was generous with the ingredients. Whether it was the vinegar, Chili Oil, or the lard, the quality of all was very high. Coupled with using premium handmade noodles, the flavor could hardly be anything less than superb.
But if he were to open a shop, the cost would be way too high. If he set the prices too low, he’d lose money; if he set them too high, nobody would buy. Better to just enjoy them as a treat for himself.
He stirred the bowl, picked up a chopstick full of noodles, blew on them, and then slurped them into his mouth.
Yep, the texture was indeed smooth.
The sour and spicy flavor was also very addictive.
A mouthful of noodles went down, and pores all over his body seemed to open up; the original languor of his appetite was instantly invigorated.
Truly a Divine Artifact for whetting the appetite!
After two more bites, he felt thoroughly refreshed. The irritability that came with the hot weather also settled down in that moment.
"Mr. Lin, your culinary skills are absolutely unmatched—much better than what you get at a typical restaurant! I’m really in awe of your talent in cooking," said Dou Wenjing. She had initially only intended to have a few bites and then find a place to eat after work. But upon tasting the hot and sour noodles made by Lin Xu, she immediately fell in love with their flavor and texture.
Lin Xu said with a smile, "Don’t praise me too much. It’s mainly because the recipe for hot and sour noodles is simple. If you wanted to eat Opening Water Chinese Cabbage, then I’d really be at a loss."
As they were talking, Wu Kexin, who was tasting the Pagoda Meat nearby, asked, "Lin, the steaming time for the Pagoda Meat is similar to that of the Pickled Pork, so why does it taste more tender than Pickled Pork? Did you improve your Technique?"
This question piqued the fans’ curiosity as well. They began to speculate, some even listing chemical formulas.
Lin Xu replied with a smile, "It has nothing to do with my skills; it’s just that metal conducts heat better than ceramic dishes. That’s also why we use metal plates for steaming chicken with fermented black bean sauce in the restaurant; it speeds up the meat cooking time."
So that’s why... Wu Kexin quietly made a note of it. In the future, if a similar situation arose, she could explain it methodically and show off a bit.
She took another two bites of the Pagoda Meat, then handed the rest over to her crew. "I’m not very hungry; you guys eat the rest. I’m going to eat my hot and sour noodles."
She hadn’t planned on doing such a long live broadcast today. It was only because Lin Xu suggested it that she extended it until now and made the much-anticipated Pagoda Meat.
But what’s the use of just making it? If I do it myself, I’ll still mess it up.
Without Lin Xu’s excellent Knife Skills, don’t even think about making something like Pagoda Meat.
"We’ve tasted the Pagoda Meat, now let’s begin tasting the hot and sour noodles made by Boss Lin. As usual, family members eat first."
Wu Kexin lifted a chopstick full of noodles toward the live stream camera. She waited for a stream of ’want to eat’ comments to float by, then picked up another chopstickful and tasted it.
Mmm, the texture is really smooth. Amidst the sour and spicy flavor, there’s a rich fragrance of lard and the numbing taste of Sichuan peppercorns, along with the flavors of cilantro, green onions, and minced garlic.
It’s so satisfying to eat!
No wonder both Boss Chen and Boss Dou praised it as delicious.
This tangy and spicy taste really is incredibly satisfying.
She ate with such gusto, Red Oil from the chili peppers smearing her lips, which had the viewers in the live stream practically drooling.
"It looks really delicious."
"Although Boss Lin likes to cross boundaries, his skills are truly impeccable."
"I’m so hungry watching this; too bad my takeout won’t arrive for another half an hour."
"I just ordered hot and sour noodles for takeout; I hope they’re as good as Boss Lin’s."
"Xinxin could totally be an endorser for hot and sour noodles! With the way she eats, even I, someone who doesn’t usually like hot and sour noodles, am drooling." Read complete version only at novel·fiɾe·net
"The person above, quickly retract your comment! If Panda Brother sees it, he might just arrange a sales live stream tonight."
While people in the store were slurping down their hot and sour noodles with gusto, the scene was quite different over at Madam Yu’s courtyard on South Third Ring.
Shen Guofu, his wife, and daughter were enjoying the crystal sugar pork knuckles that had been stewing all afternoon, praising Madam Yu’s culinary skills. Meanwhile, Madam Yu was intently looking at photos just sent by Shen Jiayue on her phone.
"Is this my grandson-in-law? He’s quite handsome, like a movie star... Guofu, when are you planning to arrange Yueyue’s and his engagement?"
Shen Guofu had just picked up a piece of pork knuckle skin when Shen Jiayue snatched it away. So, he simply picked up a slice of lean meat, put it in his mouth, and said, "We met his mother last time, but they didn’t bring up this matter, so we didn’t either. It seems they plan to buy a house before getting engaged."
Madam Yu set down her phone and said, "They didn’t mention it, so you just leave it unspoken? Engagement is a matter for both sides; you can’t always wait for the man’s family to initiate. They might even worry that you would refuse because they don’t have a house."
"Alright, after he visits our home, I’ll talk to his parents about the engagement."
Madam Yu, eating a mantou with some pickled tofu, said with a smile, "Last time, Yueyue brought me some Chicken Feet and other things, and they were delicious. My grandson-in-law’s culinary skills are truly excellent. I wonder if he can make crystal sugar pork knuckles..."
Nearby, Shen Jiayue jumped in right away, "He can, he can make anything! Next time, I’ll ask him to make you a crystal sugar pork knuckle dish, how about that? You’re always eating what you make; it’s time for you to try something from the younger generation!"
Madam Yu’s face was full of smiles. "Then I’ll look forward to it. My dear granddaughter really is such a filial child."
"Of course! I’m the most, most, most, most filial child in the whole world, right, Dad? Mom?"
The couple exchanged a look and simultaneously looked up at the sky.
"The weather’s nice today," Shen Guofu observed.
"Yes, yes, it’s quite suitable for drying quilts..." Han Shuzhen chimed in.