Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 372: Fresh and Sweet Cabbage Stewed with Tofu

Use your hands to wave away the steam rising from the pot, and the food stewing in the pot will appear.

The soup in the pot has turned into a thick light sauce color, bubbling happily and exuding a fresh and fragrant aroma.

The cabbage has been cooked until it is translucent, and the tofu has also expanded a little, appearing soft, tender and golden.

Shen Yu looked around. Because there were many people eating, half a pot of food was stewed. He didn't know what kind of soup plate was suitable for this dish.

I was just about to ask 7-Up if they have any larger soup bowls.

Qixi, however, cheerfully found a small soup pot for eating from, brought it to the stove and said, "Girl, this is the most suitable for serving."

"Here, when we eat, the dishes are cooked and placed in the pot. When the yamen runners eat, each of them is served a large bowl and they eat separately."

"So the chef's room doesn't have any large soup bowls or other tableware."

"Chef Jiang bought this small soup pot for use in winter when there are few people around. I cleaned it and put it aside but never used it. It came in handy today."

Qi Xi said this and quickly put all the vegetables in the pot into the small soup pot, filling the whole pot.

Qixi put down the spatula and was about to cover the pot with the lid. He used a cloth towel to take the pot away, but Shen Yu hurriedly said, "Wait a minute, the chives and sesame oil haven't been added yet."

Sprinkle some chopped green onions on the dish and pour in some sesame oil. As the dish is steamed by the heat, a rich and fragrant aroma will waft around.

Qi Xi took a sniff and said in surprise, "Although this dish is a vegetarian dish, it smells fresh and fragrant. The one cooked by Chef Xu doesn't taste like this. It's all tofu and cabbage. Why is the taste so different?"

Shen Yu waved her hands hurriedly: "My dish is not completely vegetarian. The tofu is dipped in egg liquid and fried. It is made by Chef Xu. I think it is completely vegetarian. The stewed one tastes sweet and refreshing. Each has its own flavor."

Qi Xi said "Oh", holding the soup pot, Shen Yu followed behind with a large soup spoon, and the two went to the dining hall next door together.

This is where the yamen runners eat.

There were two rows of long tables with square stools, arranged very neatly and tidy, but they also looked empty.

This dining hall is not small. It is a large room with only tables and chairs, which makes it look cold and hard. It lacks the warmth of ordinary people's homes, nor the lively atmosphere of a restaurant.

Lu Lang and others were already sitting around a long table.

Lu Lang and Master Qian sat opposite each other, next to Master Qian sat Yutao, and next to him sat Dundun.

The seat next to Lu Lang was empty, and Yu Cheng was sitting across from him. The empty seat in the middle was probably reserved for Shen Yu.

In front of each person was a bowl of golden, steaming egg fried rice and an empty soup bowl, and a large bamboo mat in the middle of the long table.

Everyone smelled the steaming aroma of the egg fried rice, held back the saliva in their mouths, and waited eagerly for 7-Up to bring the soup and dishes.

Qi Xi put the small soup pot on the bamboo mat and asked Shen Yu for the soup spoon. Lu Lang then asked Shen Yu to sit in the empty seat next to him.

Shen Yu got up early this morning, listened to lectures and visited the temple fair. When he arrived at the county government office, he was busy in the kitchen. He was already hungry by now.

Seeing Qi Xi serving the food, she stopped being polite and sat down in the seat reserved for her.

Qixi put a bowl of cabbage and tofu stew in front of each person.

On weekdays, if there were only Lu Lang and Qi Xi, the master and servant would often eat at the same table.

But Master Qian was here today, so Qi Xi followed the rules, served the dishes to everyone, and then prepared to take his own portion to eat at the table next to him.

Master Qian hurriedly stopped him and said with a smile: "There are no outsiders today, and the master is not here either. Qixi, please sit down and eat together. It will be more lively with more people."

Lu Lang nodded. Seeing this, Qi Xi hurriedly thanked Master Qian with a smile and sat down at the end of the table.

Seeing Shen Yu and others busying around, Shen Yu was finally able to sit down and eat.

Lu Lang said a little embarrassedly: "I originally wanted you to come to the county government office for dinner, but now it has become the three of us waiting for you to cook and eat. As the host, I feel really sorry."

Shen Yu smiled and said, "Mr. Lu, don't take it to heart. It's just a coincidence today."

"Chef Jiang is not here, but we have the ingredients. It doesn't matter who makes it. Let's eat it quickly. This fried rice won't taste good if it gets cold."

Those sitting there were already hungry, but they had to wait until everyone else arrived before they could eat.

Hearing Shen Yu say this, he stopped talking, picked up the bamboo chopsticks and spoon at hand, and began to enjoy the food in front of him.

Shen Yu first tried the egg fried rice. The rice in it had a slightly hard and refreshing texture.

After stir-frying evenly in a large iron pan, it is not sticky at all, and is chewy and delicious.

The eggs are soft and tender, and the pickled radish shreds are salty and fragrant.

Use a spoon to scoop a spoonful and put it into your mouth. These common ingredients mixed together have a very special flavor, fresh, fragrant and smooth.

Occasionally you’ll taste the chives in it, which add a fragrant onion flavor.

It makes people eat one mouthful after another and can't stop.

Eat a few bites of egg fried rice, and then eat a piece of fried tofu that has been stewed until it is soft and tasty.

Because the tofu slices are dipped in egg liquid and fried until golden brown before being stewed in the pan, the taste is no longer monotonous.

Mixed with the fragrance of fried eggs and the smoothness of tofu, it becomes sweet and fragrant after being stewed with cabbage, and has a crispy texture when you bite into the golden fried edges.

The stewed cabbage is soft and sweet, and the soup is very rich. After taking a big sip, you will feel warm and comfortable.

Chef Xu’s bean paste must be dried in the summer.

When Shen Yu added it to the pot, he noticed that the bean paste was drier and tasted different from the one he bought in the store.

Shen Yu picked up a whole bean and tasted it carefully. It seemed to be more fresh, fragrant and soft.

Shen Yu kept it in mind, thinking that if he had the chance to meet Chef Xu again, he would ask him how the bean paste was made. Adding some to the soup would indeed help enhance the flavor.

Shen Yu looked at the people eating at the same table. None of them chewed slowly like she did, savoring the taste while eating.

Instead, everyone ate with relish, and from time to time, stood up to add more dishes and rice to the pot.

Seeing that everyone was eating with relish, the person who cooked is always the happiest. Shen Yu felt a little proud in his heart, then he buried his head in eating seriously.

Although she had told Yutao not to give her too much fried rice when serving the rice.

Maybe it was because the bowl was too big, so the food was not noticeable at all. When Shen Yu finished the food in the bowl, he was surprised to find that he had eaten too much without realizing it.

Looking at the others, they all looked very satisfied with their food and sat there not wanting to move.

Master Qian ate the savory and delicious meal and drank half a bowl of hot soup made from stewed cabbage. He now felt relaxed all over.

He looked at Yucheng and Dundun with a smile, their mouths glistening with oil, and sighed, "The little ones really enjoy eating everything."