indianbanksassociation Chapter 8: Start
Chapter 8: Start
The range hood in the kitchen was humming.
Chen Feng stood half a step behind Li Xiuzhen.
He casually picked up a grass carp that had just died from the water basin and quickly removed its scales.
With a gentle stroke of my fingertip across the fish's body, I found a lateral line on its back.
"Auntie, this fish looks honest and has thick flesh."
"Why don't you try slicing the fish at a greater angle? The result after scalding should be quite good."
As Chen Feng spoke, he wiped the slime off the fish thoroughly before handing it to Li Xiuzhen.
Following his instructions, Li Xiuzhen placed the fish on the cutting board and made a cut along the side.
The blade tilted, and the falling fish slices, translucent and pinkish, piled up like flower petals.
"Fengzi, your eye for detail is absolutely amazing."
As Li Xiuzhen sliced the fish, she exclaimed in amazement, "I've been making sauerkraut fish for half my life, and this is the first time I've ever sliced fish into such shiny pieces."
Chen Feng smiled but didn't say anything.
He turned around and started picking through the bottles and jars next to the stove.
He grabbed a handful of coarse salt, rubbed it in his palm a couple of times, and once the salt had dispersed, he sprinkled it evenly over the sliced fish.
Next, he poured some aged Shaoxing wine, took a few slices of ginger from the cutting board next to him, and squeezed the ginger juice into the wine with a little force.
Chen Feng added a little more starch, then reached out to grab the fish slices.
I didn't stop until the fish slices were slightly sticky to my hands, as slippery as freshly made tofu.
He was completely relaxed at that moment.
There's no pressure of being a head chef, and no Michelin star assessment.
Only the rising steam from the stove and the elders' kind nagging reminded me of the days when I used to help Li Xiuzhen.
He handed out plates and condiments without any sense of pressure.
The fire in the stove was burning brightly, making Li Xiuzhen's face glow red.
She poured her family's pickled sauerkraut, which had been fermenting for a year, into the hot oil pan.
"Sizzle."
A unique, rich, sour aroma instantly exploded in the kitchen, and the sour smell immediately traveled through the kitchen doorway and out into the outside.
In the courtyard, Zhang Dahai, who was squatting under the pomegranate tree teaching Mengmeng to identify various woodworking tools, suddenly twitched his nose.
His hand, which was holding a small Luban lock to show Mengmeng, suddenly froze.
The tangy aroma mixed with the savory scent of meat was like a hook, piercing straight into his nostrils.
Mengmeng reacts even faster.
She had been intently examining the exquisite wooden block, but suddenly looked up, her big eyes filled with surprise.
She sniffed the air like a little hound, her little mouth unconsciously pursing.
"Grandpa Zhang...it smells so good." Mengmeng's voice was small, but it carried an irrepressible longing.
Zhang Dahai coughed, trying to maintain the dignity of an elder:
"Yes, that's your Grandma Li showing off her skills. Come on, let's go take a look."
Two figures, one tall and one short, were drawn by the enticing aroma and unknowingly crept to the kitchen doorway.
They didn't dare go in and cause trouble, so they just stood side by side on the door frame.
Zhang Dahai bent over, his hands behind his back, and craned his neck to look inside.
Mengmeng huddled behind Zhang Dahai's thighs, her little hands gripping the door frame, only her big, round eyes showing.
Inside the kitchen, the second dish was already being cooked.
Chen Feng handed over a small dish of chopped garlic and dried chili peppers.
With a flick of her spoon, Li Xiuzhen coated the spicy ingredients in scalding hot lard, releasing an enticing aroma of spicy garlic.
"Auntie, try adding this bunch of chives now, and turn the heat up a bit," Chen Feng suggested.
The aroma of the tender chives is fully released the moment they come into contact with the hot lard.
The leaves, which were originally somewhat wilted, instantly turned lush and vibrant green under the heat of the oil, as if they had been revitalized.
Mengmeng, standing at the door, clearly heard a "gulp" sound as she swallowed.
She saw the chives in the pot glistening enticingly in the firelight, each leaf looking like a piece of jade coated with varnish.
Zhang Dahai wasn't much better off.
He was already hungry, and the aroma of pork cracklings mixed with the fresh scent of chives made him feel as if a tiny hand was scratching at his stomach.
His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and his hand unconsciously rubbed against his work pants.
"Fengzi, what's the story behind this water?
Why is the color so bright?
"Li Xiuzhen looked at the food in the pot and asked in surprise.
"It's just ordinary well water, Auntie."
The heat was just right, which locked in the color.
Chen Feng smiled and picked out a spoonful of sauce from the jar beside him.
"It's time to reduce the sauce on this piece of pork belly."
The moment the lid was lifted, a rich aroma of soy sauce, accompanied by steam, rushed out.
That's the aroma of caramelized rock sugar, mixed with the rich, deep flavor of meat fat.
Each piece of pork belly trembled slightly, its color a bright red, so bright it seemed to reflect a person's image.
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!"
I could smell our house from the entrance of the alley. It smells amazing today!
Before he even entered the room, Zhang Qiang's loud voice could already be heard.
He strode into the courtyard in a hurry.
He casually hung his coat on the pomegranate tree and rushed to the kitchen door, drawn by the fragrance.
I saw my biological father and goddaughter standing like two stone statues by the door.
Zhang Qiang was amused, but he was immediately stunned by the aroma of the last dish wafting from the kitchen—oil-splashed fish slices.
"Holy crap... Fengzi, I knew you were in there!"
Zhang Qiang swallowed hard, his eyes glued to the freshly cooked sauerkraut fish on the cutting board, unable to look away.
"This flavor...this flavor is too overpowering!"
I've been busy all afternoon, and I was so tired that I didn't have much of an appetite.
But smelling this now, I feel like I could eat three bowls of white rice!
No, four bowls!
Li Xiuzhen turned to look at Zhang Qiang, a gentle smile in her eyes: "Qiangzi, go wash your hands, they're just ready."
Zhang Qiang didn't move. He sniffed, a look of extreme ecstasy on his face:
"Mom, tell me honestly, did Fengzi use acupressure on you?"
The edges of these fish fillets are curled so beautifully, like white lotus flowers.
Having eaten sauerkraut fish so many times, this was the first time he had seen Li Xiuzhen roll up such beautiful fish slices.
Li Xiuzhen smiled but didn't say anything. Just as she was about to take the large bowl of braised pork out, Chen Feng took it from her.
"Auntie, let me take this. It's piping hot right out of the box."
Li Xiuzhen didn't stand on ceremony. She picked up the plate of bright green chives, her face flushed with pride and excitement.
"Come on, Mengmeng, quickly lead the way for Grandpa, let's serve the food!"
Zhang Dahai felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He quickly took Mengmeng's little hand and walked towards the main room, his steps much lighter than usual.
Mengmeng kept turning back to look at the two steaming, fragrant dishes.
Fish slices, as white as mutton fat, float in the golden, clear sauerkraut fish soup;
The bright red braised pork belly swayed gently in the porcelain plate, emitting an enticing aroma of caramel.
And there was a plate of wild chives, so green they were refreshing, topped with a few pieces of golden-brown fried pork fat, glistening and translucent.
Several dishes were placed one after another on the octagonal table in the main room.
Warm yellow light shines on each dish, and the rising steam intertwines and swirls in the air, finally converging into a comforting atmosphere.
Zhang Qiang hurriedly brought over five sets of bowls and chopsticks, and quickly served rice for five people.
Chen Feng first helped Mengmeng raise her little stool before sitting down himself.
Soon, everyone sat down around the table, but no one was in a hurry to pick up their chopsticks.
Everyone looked at Zhang Dahai with anticipation at that moment.
Waiting for the head of the family to speak.
"Let's eat!" After Zhang Dahai excitedly gave the order, everyone rushed out to eat.