The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 365 Gathered Fragments

"Are the cooking requirements very high...?"

Upon hearing Qin Lang's words, Zheng Chuan couldn't help but scoop up a spoonful of the remaining vinegar sauce from the West Lake Vinegar Fish on his plate and put it in his mouth.

After discarding the fish's natural flavor and tasting the vinegar sauce, his expression gradually changed. "Indeed."

"This vinegar sauce may seem simple, but it is by no means easy to make it taste sweet, sour and refreshing."

He couldn't help but wonder how he would make a similar vinegar sauce if it were him, but after thinking for a while, he shook his head in frustration.

I'm afraid I can't get the recipe for this vinegar sauce by myself.

"Wow, this osmanthus-scented glutinous rice lotus root is really delicious!"

Ren Xi, who was standing to the side, suddenly exclaimed in surprise, with half a piece of osmanthus-flavored glutinous rice lotus root still on her chopsticks.

Lotus root stewed with rock sugar and red dates has lost its crispness, making it easy for even elderly people with weak teeth to bite into. Its sweet but not cloying taste instantly lifts one's spirits.

The glutinous rice stuffed into the lotus root holes adds a unique texture and flavor to the lotus root, further enhanced by the osmanthus honey drizzled on top…

No girl could resist such beautiful and delicious food.

"Right?" Cao Dongdong chuckled, a hint of pride on his face. "I earned the Snow Lotus Root Certificate with this dish!"

The Snow Lotus Root Certificate is a token of recognition for those who recommend lotus root in Yuehu City.

Hearing this, Ren Xi couldn't help but give Cao Dongdong a thumbs up. Zhao Qian, who was standing next to her, picked up a fried shrimp and put it in Ren Xi's bowl, saying, "Come and try my fried shrimp!"

"Okay!" Ren Xi chuckled, picked up a fried shrimp, took a small bite, and a look of surprise appeared on her face.

The stir-fried shrimp uses fresh lake shrimp. The soul of this dish lies in the word "stir-fry". Under the action of hot oil, the shrimp meat, which has been opened in advance, easily separates from the shell. You only need to bite gently to shed the shell.

The shrimp meat has a slightly crispy surface, while the inside is full of the bouncy texture of fresh shrimp. It is very meaty, savory and refreshing, and you can't stop eating it.

She quickly gave Zhao Qian a thumbs up, and then curiously reached for the other dishes in front of her with her chopsticks.

The others gradually remembered that besides West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce, there were other dishes at the banquet, so they didn't hesitate to order more.

“This Longjing shrimp…” Zhang Qian picked up a piece of tender white shrimp and put it in his mouth. The next moment, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

The bouncy and fresh small lake shrimp paired with the rich aroma of tea create a mouthwatering flavor with every chew, and the salty, fresh and light taste is simply intoxicating.

He couldn't resist picking up another piece with his chopsticks, a smile spreading across his face.

Beside him, Zhang Yi picked up a lychee shrimp ball that looked very similar to a lychee in both size and shape, and curiously took a bite.

“Crack—”

A crisp sound rang out, and the surface of the lychee shrimp balls burst with a rich, crispy aroma from the uneven red particles. Inside, there was clearly visible shrimp meat and a small amount of shrimp paste made with flour, fish, and other ingredients.

The satisfying texture and crispy fried aroma made him exclaim with delight. After finishing it in a few bites, he glanced around furtively and quickly picked up a second one.

Hehe, I made a profit!
At that moment, Ren Qiu suddenly exclaimed.

"Oh!" He hurriedly pulled out a tissue to wipe the soup from the corner of his mouth, his face showing a look of heartache and regret.

"I didn't expect this crab roe xiaolongbao to have soup inside."

As a "crab connoisseur," he was naturally very interested in this crab roe xiaolongbao. After all, the dish Qin Lang tested his cooking skills with was called crab roe lion's head, and both of them had the words "crab roe" in them, so they must be extraordinary.

However, because she ate too quickly, Ren Qiu was caught off guard and immediately fell victim to the broth. The moment she bit into the chewy outer skin of the xiaolongbao, the juicy soup inside sprayed out.

After chewing and swallowing the chewy dough along with the crab roe and pork inside the xiaolongbao, Ren Qiu breathed a sigh of relief and then picked up the second one.

Having learned from her previous experience, Ren Qiu was much gentler this time. She gently bit open a small hole, sucked in the incredibly delicious broth inside, and then dipped it in a little sour rice vinegar before chewing it.

The wonderful taste made his expression instantly pleasant.

"This Song Sao fish soup is just as good." On the other side, Mr. Xu Chen gently scooped up a spoonful of fish soup and put it in his mouth, unable to help but exclaim in amazement.

The slightly viscous soup is full of rich and delicious flavor. The thin strips of fish are even more delicate than silken tofu, and they melt in your mouth with just a gentle touch.

This experience was quite an eye-opener for Xu Chen, who had eaten fish all his life.

"It's a pity that young friend Qin Lang is so promising and shouldn't be confined to this corner of the world." After swallowing the fish soup in his mouth, Mr. Xu Chen sighed softly, "Otherwise, even if I had to risk my reputation, I would still ask you to stay at 'Fish Flavor' restaurant as the head chef."

"Mr. Xu, you flatter me." Qin Lang chuckled. "Although I can't stay, if 'Fish Flavor' restaurant is interested in the recipe for Song Sao's Fish Soup, I can have a chat with your new head chef."

"Are you serious?!" Xu Zhe couldn't help but show his excitement. "That's wonderful!"

Following the previous culinary showdown, "Fish Flavor" restaurant has hired a new head chef at a high salary. After a short period of adjustment, the chef is already able to cook "Fish Flavor's" signature dishes.

It would be even better if there was another dish, Song Sao Fish Soup, on the menu!
"You kid."

Xu Chen looked at the excited Xu Zhe, shook his head helplessly, then took out a box from his pocket and placed it on the dining table. His expression became slightly serious as he opened the box, revealing a fragment of a jade pendant.

"In that case, I thank you."

"A jade pendant?!" Zhang Qian's eyes widened, and he suddenly stood up. "You actually have a fragment of such a jade pendant?"

The jade pendant fragments belonging to the Zhang family were tightly clutched in the hand of Zhang Qian's father, Zhang Yong, before his death. Although Zhang Qian was unaware of the details of the jade pendant, he had been secretly investigating it, trying to find other fragments to make up for his father's regret.

A few days ago, after Zhang Yi returned home from the Fish Boat Festival, Zhang Qian learned that Ren Xi also had a similar fragment. However, the two families had always been at odds, so he did not ask the Ren family about it and left it at that.

Thinking of this, Zhang Qian couldn't help but take out the jade pendant fragment belonging to the Zhang family from his pocket.

Ren Qiu also looked surprised. He glanced at Zhang Qian, then at Ren Xi beside him, "This is the same piece your grandma gave you..."

“They should be from the same jade pendant,” Ren Xi said, taking off the jade pendant she was wearing around her neck.

The three pieces come together to form a complete "C" shape.

Zheng Chuan took out the last fragment and pieced it together to form the final piece.

The complete jade pendant appeared before everyone's eyes.

(End of this chapter)