Episode 14: Eating Happily

It was still early morning, and Qiao's Paper Shop had not yet opened for business; only one of the door panels was down, allowing a bean-sized, warm, yellow candlelight to peek through from the inside.

The shop was in the midst of being cleaned, and the diligent and smart apprentice, having met Hua Xiaomai once before, recognized her right away. He eagerly greeted her with a smile and led her to the backyard.

Before closing each day, the apprentices would gather all the items displayed outside the door and place them in the backyard, creating an overwhelmingly full scene. Accidentally bumping into it could send a shiver down one's spine as one was suddenly surrounded by red and green paper figures and ghostly white lanterns.

On a cold winter morning, with the chill lingering in the air, Hua Xiaomai stood in the backyard, shivering violently. She kept her gaze firmly on her feet, daring not to take another glance at the smiling paper boys and girls, and rushed swiftly into the kitchen.

The entire shop was plunged in darkness, save for the brightly lit kitchen.

Qiao Xiong took the annual reunion feast very seriously, and as per Hua Xiaomai's request, every ingredient had been meticulously selected. A large basket in the corner was stuffed with fresh shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, yams, and various wild mushrooms; a bamboo basket soaked in well water contained tofu, gluten, and fresh bamboo shoots; live chickens and ducks to be slaughtered were under a large bamboo cage, chirping and quacking incessantly, causing a headache but also adding to the lively atmosphere. Instead of Old Zhao, two women in their thirties had come forth to greet her with beaming smiles.

"You must be the younger sister from the Hua Family, right? The boss said that we will assist you today. Just tell us whatever you need us to do," they said.

Hua Xiaomai was very pleased with the preparations Qiao Xiong had made. She looked around and nodded to the two women, "We'll be busy all day today. I want to thank you sisters in advance. A few days ago, when I was discussing the menu with Boss Qiao, I ordered braised fish with distiller's yeast. It should be ready to eat today. Could you please bring it out for me to check?"

The two women, saying there was no need to be so polite, brought forth a clay pot and set it before Hua Xiaomai.

They sliced the big fish into palm-sized thin slices, blended it with two taels of salt, four taels of distiller's yeast powder, a hundred premium Sichuan peppercorns, a handful of green onions, and two jin of wine. After mixing, they sealed it tightly and stored it for six or seven days to be ready for consumption. The fish, after being marinated with distiller's yeast and Sichuan peppercorns, had a cool, crisp, and numbing taste that was perfect as an appetizer.

Hua Xiaomai removed the leaves and red cloth from the jar, and used chopsticks to examine a piece of fish against the light. Seeing the meat's yellowish translucency, joy filled her heart, and she let out a long sigh of relief. She glanced outside through the window at the color of the sky, then turned back to the women, smiling, "Let's get to work."

Qiao's Paper Shop was only open for half a day today; business proceeded as usual in the front, while the kitchen was a hub of steamy activity, the sounds of frying, stir-frying, and deep-frying never ceasing. The apprentices, while busying themselves, were enticed by the aroma wafting from the backyard. Unable to resist, two of the younger ones would run back and forth to take a peek through the gates, and then return to the front to describe the vibrant scene in the kitchen to their colleagues in vivid detail.

Qiao Xiong's banquet was scheduled for noon. Apart from his own staff, he also invited a few familiar friends, but by the time it was going towards noon, the guests had already started to arrive in a steady stream.

A large round table was set up in the backyard, complete with bowls and utensils, with each seat accompanied by a small coarse ceramic bowl decorated with three or four tiny dried plum blossoms at the bottom. Four cold dishes were already on the table, namely the braised fish with distiller's yeast, sesame vegetable salad, Drunk Shrimp, and mustard tripe strips, along with a platter of assorted brined delicacies set off by a carved radish flower, making the entire table look refreshing and appealing.

In the countryside of this era, especially during winter, Hua Xiaomai couldn't choose precious ingredients for her dishes like she did during her internship at a five-star hotel; she had to make the most of every available ingredient. After all, for the people of Fire Knife Village, judging the quality of a feast boiled down to just two words: delicious and economical. Therefore, the dishes she prepared today might not be considered luxurious, but they were the result of painstaking thought and effort.

Qiao Xiong had arrived in the backyard early, and with each guest's arrival, he tirelessly added a spoonful of honey to the small coarse ceramic bowl and filled it with boiling water. He explained with a smile, not without pride, "The chef I've hired for today said that this bowl of soup is called 'Dark Fragrance Soup,' made from plums salted from the snowy branches. Look at this color, so tender and lovely! I've just tasted it, and it's really fragrant, even better than the best tea leaves sold for a tael of Silver a small pack!"

After closing the shop, the apprentices joined the guests in the backyard. They picked up their small bowls and tasted it, all singing its praises. Meng Yuhuai was there too, and after cautiously taking a sip, his eyes brightened as he involuntarily glanced towards the kitchen door.

At that moment, Hua Xiaomai was extremely busy.

"Sister Liu, Sister Zhang," she called out to the two women without stopping her work on the table, "It's about time to serve the dishes. Remember what I told you: serve the strong-flavored dishes first, followed by the mild ones. Dish out the non-soup dishes first, and leave the soupy ones for last. You got that?"

Laughing, the two women replied in unison, "You got it. Start with the flavorful dishes, then the mild ones, then the dishes without soup, and finally the ones with soup. No worries, we remember everything!" They picked up a plate of Braised Lamb and a plate of Stir-fried Three Nuts and headed out.

Think I'm being naggy? Hua Xiaomai smiled with pursed lips, but she had no time to say more. All her focus was on the dish in front of her, the Grass Mushroom Juice Rice Sparrow.

It's not just during the time Hua Xiaomai used to live, even today, Rice Sparrow—a rather inexpensive ingredient—hardly makes it to the grand banquet tables. And because of this, many have overlooked that Rice Sparrow is in fact a very plump and tender delicacy.

Find a clay pot, line the bottom with a thick slice of fatty pork. After the Rice Sparrow has been cleaned and marinated with ginger juice, rice wine, sugar, and soy sauce, stuff its belly with minced meat. Place it on the fatty pork along with steamed Grass Mushroom Juice. Cover it with another slice of fatty pork, steam it until done, and then it's ready to serve. It tastes extremely tender and not at all greasy.

Though it may sound simple, the small size and tender meat of Rice Sparrow mean it's easy to overcook, which would make it tough and negatively affect the taste. At the same time, preparing the Grass Mushroom Juice to the perfect level of delicious and fragrant aroma is a true test of a chef's skills. Hence, Hua Xiaomai didn't dare to take anything lightly and ensured that every detail was flawlessly executed.

As noon approached, all the dishes were served on the table, and the family reunion dinner finally started.

Golden brown and shiny tofu in shrimp oil, the delicately aromatic Duck Wearing Lotus, the rich and lustrous Braised Rice Sparrow... The last dish to be served was a colorful and delicately arranged bowl of Yellow Ginseng Goji Chicken Soup, with a texture so fine and an aroma that assaulted the senses.

Qiao Xiong raised his cup, stood up, and with a beaming face said, "This past year, thanks to the solid and earnest work of the helpers, and the support of all my friends, the year-end has come, and it's time for us to gather and celebrate. I've prepared a modest feast and I'm not much of a speaker, so I ask everyone not to hold back. Let's all drink this cup and then start eating."

Following his lead, everyone stood up, their cups clinking gently against one another. Subsequently, they began picking up their chopsticks one after another. And then...

What happened next was quite bizarre. A family reunion dinner should be bustling with noise, full of greetings and laughter, yet silence filled the courtyard. No one spoke except for the crisp sounds of chopsticks and bowls clashing—there was no other noise.

Hua Xiaomai hadn't left the kitchen. Though she had the help of two other kitchen women, she was still incredibly weary from preparing an entire banquet alone. Having stood in front of the stove for two or three hours, inevitably suffering from back and leg pains, she found a stool to sit and rest, all the while filled with unease.

They... why is there not a single word of praise? Was her cooking really that bad? What a disaster—if the Hua family's second mistress knew she had vanished for half a day and the meal she made wasn't appreciated, she may very well be scolded or worse, flayed alive!

"Sister Liu, that..." Though confident in her culinary skills, at this moment, even she started to feel restless. She called out to a woman who was heading out the door, bit her lip, but didn't know what to say and appeared somewhat hesitant and nervous.

The woman waited a moment, but when Hua Xiaomai didn't speak, she smiled, took a step, and walked out. Leaning on the dirty stove, Hua Xiaomai's mind was in turmoil. She didn't know if it was because she had woken up too early or worked too hard, but as her eyelids drooped, she actually fell asleep.

The family reunion meal lasted for more than an hour before coming to an end. The guests took their leave one after another, and the employees, having the afternoon off, went home as well. Hua Xiaomai was asleep on the stove, unaware of what was happening, until Sister Liu came in to clean up the dishes and woke her with a nudge.

"...Is it over?" Initially groggy, Hua Xiaomai quickly snapped to attention, jumped to her feet, and with wide eyes asked, "Did Uncle Qiao say anything?"

With a smile on her lips, Sister Liu gently pushed her outwards, "Little Hua Xiaomai, just go out and see for yourself."

Full of curiosity, Hua Xiaomai walked out of the kitchen. In just a few steps, she arrived at the table yet to be cleared. Her gaze landed on the table and she was taken aback.

All the plates were empty, the soup was drunk to the last drop, even the sauce in the dishes was wiped clean, and funnily enough, someone had even bitten into a piece of radish. The plates looked as though a whirlwind had passed through, leaving only a pile of picked-over bones on the table.

Almost involuntarily, a smile played at the corners of Hua Xiaomai's lips.

Could this be the best compliment a chef could hope for?

*****

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