The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 93: Chapter 92: Special Circumstances, Special Treatment

Brothers should keep clear accounts even if they’re close.

Yao Shi wanted to learn Fu Yu’s cooking skills and certainly couldn’t take advantage of him for free.

He pondered for a moment and discussed with Fu Yu, ”Could you also transfer this eight dishes and eight bowls banquet?”

Fu Yu wasn’t too surprised.

He could understand Yao Shi’s thoughts and was willing to teach Yao Shi the method of this eight dishes and eight bowls banquet.

On one hand, because this eight dishes and eight bowls banquet isn’t actually difficult.

It looks fancy, but in reality, the dishes are ordinary, and there’s nothing special about the methods.

If he didn’t teach him now and demonstrated once on the spot, experienced chefs like Yao Shi and Zhang Zhen would get the hang of it after one look.

Moreover, from his interactions with Yao Shi a few times, Fu Yu could tell.

Yao Shi is genuinely a nice person, especially towards him.

Since this time he mentioned wanting him to transfer the cooking method of the eight dishes and eight bowls banquet, he wouldn’t ask for this skill for free.

Actually, even if Yao Shi asked him directly, Fu Yu thought it over and was willing to hand it over.

Fu Yu agreed readily, ”No problem, Chef Yao, if you want to learn, I’ll teach you in a while.”

Hearing his straightforward words, Yao Shi felt very comfortable inside.

He couldn’t help but joke with a smile, ”Aren’t you afraid I’m taking advantage of your skills for free?”

”Compared to what you’ve taught me, what kind of skill is this!”

Fu Yu spoke these words sincerely.

Not to mention the cooking techniques Yao Shi taught him hands-on, and the life and work experiences imparted.

Just the personal techniques and unique skills he gleaned from Yao Shi these couple of times have already greatly benefited him.

Yao Shi smiled, ”Rest assured, since this time it’s considered a transfer, we’ll calculate by the price we discussed before. When teaching the method for the eight dishes and eight bowls banquet, it’s charged hourly, 100 bucks an hour. Additionally, I’ll pay you a transfer fee of two thousand bucks.”

After saying this, before Fu Yu could decline, Yao Shi seriously said, ”You needn’t be polite; this is money you deserve. Although this eight dishes and eight bowls banquet isn’t commonly seen on the market, this event has made me see a business opportunity. Once I’ve learned it, I’ll research how to promote this banquet.”

Yao Shi has always been business-savvy.

Since this customer came specifically to place an order for the eight dishes and eight bowls banquet, it means the banquet has market value.

After all, just within Bei’an City, there should be quite a few families with the surname Guan, including potential customer groups from wealthy and influential families.

If he can seize this opportunity and manage it well, who knows, this eight dishes and eight bowls banquet might become a feature banquet of the music restaurant in the future.

Fu Yu listed out the specific dishes in the eight dishes and eight bowls banquet:

Eight big bowls: pickled cabbage stir-fried with small tofu, braised shrimp tofu egg, stewed pig’s trotter, fried meatballs, chicken with mushroom vermicelli, year-end pork stew, Imperial Court’s Spring Fish, Ah Ma’s Sacred Pork.

Eight plates: rice jelly, shredded cucumber and wood ear with wide noodles, bean sprout and shredded pork tenderloin, frozen pork knuckle, stir-fried soybean sprouts, red-braised fish, stir-fried pork intestines, stir-fried cabbage with wood ear.

Yao Shi took the list and looked it over, secretly amazed; indeed, there are a few rare dishes he hasn’t heard of, and he doesn’t know how they’ll turn out.

Fu Yu reported truthfully, ”This fried meatball dish was added by me. Originally, it was supposed to be water-boiled frog, but frog meat isn’t good this season, so we temporarily substituted it with fried meatballs.”

Yao Shi nodded.

Right now isn’t the season for eating frogs; they’re at their best in the twelfth lunar month.

With some missing ingredients, Fu Yu started cooking what he could.

Ah Ma’s Sacred Pork takes a long time to prepare.

Fu Yu selected it, year-end pork stew, chicken with mushroom vermicelli, and stewed pig’s trotter to start with.

For the music restaurant, the chickens are all sourced from the countryside, free-range chickens.

Because the meat is firm, it takes a long time to stew.

Zhang Zhen initially intended to assist Fu Yu and learn by observing, but unexpectedly, he was assigned the task of stewing chicken right from the start.

The music restaurant didn’t originally have the chicken with mushroom vermicelli dish, mainly because the vermicelli, when left too long, doesn’t have a suitable texture or presentation as a cold dish.

However, few chefs can’t make stew.

And stews are mostly centered around chicken and fish.

But just to be safe and to show respect for the other party, Zhang Zhen especially asked Fu Yu before cooking.

”Chef Fu, are there any special requirements when stewing this chicken with mushroom vermicelli?”

Fu Yu, busy preparing the Ah Ma’s Sacred Pork ingredients, responded casually, ”Just make sure the chicken is tender.”

Zhang Zhen: ”...”

Isn’t that stating the obvious!

He could see it now, the so-called eight dishes and eight bowls banquet is essentially just farmhouse dishes, renamed to become a Manchu specialty dish.

But grumbling aside, Zhang Zhen, being the head chef of the music restaurant, is still competent in his culinary skills.

He swiftly got the chicken stewing, then turned to watch Fu Yu prepare Ah Ma’s Sacred Pork.

Fu Yu picked up a pig heart:

[Pig Heart: Freshness: 92%]

[The heart of a two-year-old pig]

[Pig heart is the heart of a pig, a nourishing food. Commonly used for mental disturbances. When combined with tranquilizing and phlegm-relieving medicines, the effects are pronounced. Contraindications: Avoid for patients with hypercholesterolemia.]

Fu Yu: ”!”

Well, this is quite something!

It’s like the encyclopedia of food interactions is showing its power!

Although it doesn’t seem very useful, having such abundant knowledge suddenly is quite a nice feeling.

He has made this dish once before, so now he’s quite proficient.

Pig head meat, tail root, shoulder, ribs, heart, lung, 200 grams each.

First, clean them thoroughly, then soak in clear water.

Normally, they should be soaked for 24 hours.

But given the current situation, it’s special.

Also, the last time Fu Yu cooked for the Qin Family, he didn’t soak it for that long, and neither Qin Yue nor her relatives noticed any difference.

Special circumstances call for special treatment!

Peel the onion and ginger, wash them, and crush them.

Heat a pot and pour in clean water.

Add the meat, onion, ginger, and spice bag, and bring to a boil over high heat.

This spice bag is a secret treasure of the music restaurant.

It’s said to be developed by Yao Shi himself, exclusively used in the music restaurant, not even Qianlima has it.

Before putting it in the pot, Fu Yu took a special sniff.

It smelled nothing special, just a rich aroma of spices.

But with the food interaction encyclopedia and ingredient selection skills,:

So instantly a row of dialogue boxes pops up:

[Star anise: six grams]

[Star anise: naturally dried and processed, bright reddish-brown color, slightly poor aroma]

[Star anise: used medicinally, it has functions of dispelling wind and regulating qi, harmonizing stomach. Used for cold-induced vomiting, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, etc. Patients with yin deficiency and fiery eyes and those with dry syndrome, climacteric syndrome, active pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchial asthma, gout, diabetes, and heat excess should eat it less or even avoid it.]

[Cinnamon: eleven grams]

...

Fu Yu: ”!”

Feeling super capable all of a sudden!

****

Come, come, let me tell you a secret!!

Shh!

Last night I had a dream: I dreamt that each of you gave me recommendation votes, monthly votes, tips, left comments, and read all the way to the last Chapter! Then I woke up laughing, hahahaha...