Food gives me an entry, I will be invincible if I stay alive

Chapter 152 The Essence of the Five Flavors, Truly Wonderful!

Early in the morning, the rising sun had not yet fully pierced through the clouds.

The Gaosheng Inn was already bustling with activity. Familiar hawking cries echoed through the streets in the morning light, rising and falling in a continuous stream.

Although Chen Xu was in the inn, he seemed to be able to see through the walls and the crowds, and see the various steaming fumes rising from the breakfast stalls on the long street.

"Buy steamed buns! Vegetarian buns are 3 coins for two, meat buns are 2 coins each. Freshly baked, come and buy!"

"Three-delicacy wonton noodles, the broth is sweet in every sip, it's so delicious, one bite and your tongue will melt..."

Some people in the inn also went out to buy breakfast instead of choosing the food served at the inn.

A kitchen helper spat indignantly, saying, "That stall owner is getting more and more arrogant, talking the talk. Does he think everyone's been to his wontons before? They're awful..."

"Xiao Gao!" Master Hong yawned as he walked into the kitchen, calling to his assistant, "You, go to that wonton stall and buy me a bowl... no, buy two bowls of wontons."

He turned his head and saw Chen Xu, and immediately chuckled and said, "Master Chen, you have the most discerning palate, why don't you help me try it and see if the wontons at that stall are really as delicious as they claim?"

The young helper was stunned and asked Master Hong dumbfoundedly, "Master, they're stealing our business, why are you still buying their wontons?"

Master Hong's face hardened: "Just go when I tell you to. You talk too much nonsense. Your brain is so thick you can't even turn over properly. Even if you study for a hundred years, you'll still be a stoker!"

Xiao Gao's face turned red from the scolding, and he dared not say another word. He then ran out to buy wontons.

After scolding his apprentice, Master Hong turned to Chen Xu and changed his expression again, chuckling, "A bunch of blockheads, if I don't scold them a few times, their bones will be stiff."

Chen Xu had already witnessed his skill in scolding apprentices, so he didn't comment on it, but simply responded with a slight smile.

He brought MSG with him, hoping that Chef Hong would use it to cook a few dishes and see if he could get some praise in this indirect way.

There's no rush now; we can eat wontons first.

Before long, Xiao Duan brought over two bowls of wontons. He hurriedly placed the wontons on a table in the back kitchen.

As soon as the two rough porcelain bowls were placed on the table, he clutched his hands and blew on them, apparently because he had been burned.

Master Hong scolded again, "You're so delicate! You even burned yourself with two bowls of wontons. Alright, alright, go soak your hands in cold water, or you'll get blisters."

He invited Chen Xu to eat wontons. After taking a bite, he squinted his eyes, closed them, and savored the taste, saying, "Hey, it's really exceptionally delicious. This soup... Mr. Chen, can you tell what's in this soup?"

Chen Xu scooped up a small spoonful of wonton soup, blew on it a few times to cool it down, and then ate a wonton.

The wontons were still piping hot. One bite, and the scalding hot juices, bursting with a rich, savory aroma, enveloped my entire taste buds.

It's certainly delicious, but it seems to lack something in terms of being truly amazing.

What's missing?

Master Hong asked Chen Xu what was in the soup. If Chen Xu relied solely on his sense of taste, he would find it difficult to fully discern the ingredients.

But since he could see the food entries, he ate two more wontons and laughed, "There's a small spoonful of lard, a pinch of mushroom and shrimp powder, and a few drops of soy sauce in the soup. No wonder it's so delicious, it really is!"

Master Hong then laughed heartily, and after he finished laughing, he sighed and said:

"It's quite remarkable that a street vendor would think of adding mushrooms and shrimp powder to wonton soup. No wonder it's been getting such great reviews these past few days. Countless people on the streets and alleys love eating their wontons."

Chen Xu immediately understood the implication in Master Hong's words. He put down his porcelain spoon and said, "According to Master Hong, do you perhaps have another, even more outstanding, secret recipe for enhancing flavor?"

Master Hong chuckled, his expression profound, and said, "Of course, otherwise, what right would I, Old Hong, have to be this master chef?" He paused slightly, then lowered his voice and asked, "Master Chen, would you like to learn my secret recipe?"

Wait, what kind of master chef would willingly reveal their secret recipe?
Chen Xu immediately understood Master Hong's intention, and he couldn't help but laugh and say, "Master Hong, are you still thinking about my Drunken Spirit Wine?"

"Hehe." Master Hong just kept laughing, rubbing his hands together as he laughed.

Chen Xu took out a small paper packet from his sleeve pocket, gently pushed it in front of Master Hong, and smiled without saying a word.

Master Hong didn't understand what he meant at first, so he carefully moved the paper package in front of him.

The two men looked at each other, and Chen Xu finally spoke up: "Master Hong, why don't you use this to cook one of your signature dishes... no, it doesn't have to be a signature dish, just an ordinary soup will do."

The tone of voice seemed to subtly reveal something.

Master Hong has recently become acquainted with Chen Xu and knows that every action he takes is not in vain.

At that moment, even though I was only holding a small paper packet in my hand, I inexplicably felt as if I had obtained something extremely extraordinary.

His heart began to race slightly. Without saying a word, he got up and went straight to a small pot. Without calling for his apprentice, he scooped up a ladle of water and quickly rinsed the pot.

He washed the pot and called out, "Xiao Gao, start the fire!"

Xiao Gao obediently ran over, but couldn't help but wonder: Could it be that Master was so angry with that wonton vendor outside that he took charge of the small pot himself so early in the morning?
He thought his master was going to cook something amazing, but Master Hong simply ladled out some lard and cooked a pot of ordinary water shield soup.

Master Hong kept a straight face and quickly cooked the soup, while constantly giving Chen Xu signals with his eyes.

This is asking Chen Xu at which step he should put the contents of that paper package.

Chen Xu didn't say until Master Hong was about to put the water shield soup into a bowl. "Master Hong, put in a small pinch the size of a soybean, absolutely no more."

Master Hong did as instructed and sprinkled a pinch of powder from the paper packet.

At first, Master Hong said to Chen Xu: "Master Chen, let me tell you, our method of making fresh broth is not like this."

It's absolutely unacceptable for a wonton stall to try to cheat customers by using mushrooms and shrimp powder.

The skills required for cooking must not be taken lightly.

Or, you could fry fish in plenty of oil, simmer lamb in fish soup, and then add a variety of secret ingredients and simmer for two or three days to make a truly delicious soup.

Hehe, what's in this paper package of yours... Let me tell you, I actually guessed it a long time ago. You must have used a trick that's almost identical to the one used for the wonton soup.

Since it's a clever trick, there will inevitably be some shortcomings... Sigh!

Suddenly, Master Hong took a sip of the water shield soup he had made, and his tone changed abruptly.

He took another bite of water shield and blurted out, "Damn it, this isn't right! Heavens, are you kidding me?"

Mr. Chen, tell me the truth, is there anything suspicious in this paper package?

It's almost nine-tenths as good as my master chef's broth... Heh!

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(End of this chapter)