blogombal Page 27
Page 27
Tan Zongming smiled slightly and said, "I think the taste of this dish can be improved a bit more, for example, by adding some more layers of flavor." His tone was gentle, but his eyes gleamed with professionalism.
At this moment, Lu Yuan walked over and humbly asked, "Does anyone have any specific suggestions?"
The first old man stroked his chin and said, "I think we can make some adjustments to the seasoning combination to make the flavor richer."
The second old man continued, "Yes, and we can try adding some new ingredients to create a unique flavor."
Tan Zongming nodded and added, "Also, the cooking time and heat are crucial; they can be refined further."
Lu Yuan and Xiao Cai listened attentively, nodding occasionally in agreement, their faces showing grateful smiles. Su Chang, however, didn't say much. Lu Yuan said, "Thank you very much for your suggestions. I will try my best to improve."
Chapter Fifty-Five: Secretary Li
Then the three old men looked serious, and one of them frowned and asked, "Su Chang, are you not going to be the head chef anymore?"
Su Chang smiled and nodded, saying firmly, "I will continue to take care of them for the time being, but once they are fully capable of supporting themselves, I will try to cook less. However, if acquaintances make reservations in advance, I can still come over and cook, so you don't need to worry."
Tan Zongming chimed in at this moment, a hint of anticipation in his eyes, and asked, "Su Chang, can you make a dish called 'Bamboo Shoot Wrapped Chicken'?"
Su Chang quickly searched his mind for the general recipe, then nodded and said, "It's possible to make it, but the preparation process is extremely troublesome and requires advance preparation time, at least a month."
Everyone looked surprised after hearing this, and Qiu Yingying couldn't help but ask, "Brother Su Chang, what kind of dish needs to be prepared for a month?"
"Haha! Many dishes need to be prepared in advance, and some even need to go through all four seasons. The profoundness of Chinese cuisine is unmatched by Western cuisine. However, many dishes have been lost now," Su Chang said with a touch of regret.
Tan Zongming's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "Su Chang, I have a favor to ask. My father's birthday is in two months, and he has been wanting to eat this dish. Su Chang, do you have time to go to Kyoto to cook a birthday banquet for me? Consider it a favor I owe you."
Su Chang listened and pondered to himself. He knew that Tan Zongming was no ordinary businessman; his background was unfathomable. This was a good opportunity to build connections with high-level people, and a favor from Tan Zongming was very valuable.
He glanced at Tan Zongming, then at Lu Yuan and Xiao Cai, thinking: Two months from now, Lu Yuan and Xiao Cai should be able to manage Pinzhentang. So, he nodded and agreed: "No problem, Lao Tan. Just tell me the time and the specific address first. You guys prepare the menu. I'll start making preparations in the meantime. I'll go to Kyoto to cook this birthday banquet for your father."
Just as everyone was chatting happily, suddenly, several people wearing peaked caps and several people in formal attire walked in. As soon as they entered, they shouted for the boss to come out immediately, their loud voices instantly silencing the previously lively scene.
Everyone frowned, their faces showing confusion, wondering what these people were doing here. Su Chang was also a little puzzled, but she suppressed her temper, walked up to the group, and politely asked them what they wanted.
The man in the middle of the three leaders, with a large belly, arrogantly declared himself a director of the Urban Management Bureau. The one on the left, a tall, thin man, with a hint of disdain, claimed to be the director of the Health Bureau. The one on the right, burly and with a booming voice, identified himself as a brigade leader in the fire department.
They claimed they had received a report that Pinzhentang's hygiene and fire safety were substandard, and that they were there for a joint inspection. They also asked Su Chang to ask the guests to leave first and cooperate with their investigation.
Su Chang, with his sharp eyes, noticed that one of the people behind them was holding a stamped rectification document. He immediately understood that these people were there to cause trouble.
Su Chang chuckled inwardly; he had a pretty good idea who had sent these people to cause him trouble. However, he had no intention of getting into a conflict with them right now. After all, he had been busy teaching Xiao Cai and Lu Yuan how to cook these past few days and had forgotten to contact Lao Yan to check on how his business was going. He hadn't expected trouble to find him first.
Just as Su Chang was about to have everyone leave so he could deal with the situation later, one of the old men suddenly stood up. His face was full of anger, his eyes fixed on the three leaders, and he asked grimly, "Who sent you?"
The other two old men, on the other hand, looked relaxed and showed no concern whatsoever, leisurely enjoying their food.
Seeing this, Su Chang understood that these three old men were probably not simple people either. He thought to himself that these people had probably run into a brick wall.
The three leaders were stunned when they saw the old man. Then, cold sweat began to bead on their foreheads, and their bodies began to tremble uncontrollably.
"You old geezer, you..."
"Smack..."
A junior clerk behind him, seeing this, tried to reprimand the old man, but before he could finish speaking, the director of the urban management bureau turned around and slapped him across the face. This sudden slap not only stunned the junior clerk but also left everyone behind him bewildered, not understanding what had happened.
However, some astute individuals immediately realized that this old man was no ordinary person. They began whispering among themselves, speculating about his identity, and dared not speak disrespectfully any further.
"I'm asking you who sent you here," the old man said coldly again when the three remained silent. His eyes were like two cold arrows, shooting straight at them. The three lowered their heads and looked at each other, their eyes revealing a hint of fear and unease.
Finally, the man who identified himself as the director of the Urban Management Bureau spoke up. His voice trembled slightly as he addressed the old man as Secretary Li: "Secretary Li, it's...it's because someone complained to us that the fire safety and hygiene at this shop are inadequate, so we came to inspect it." His eyes darted around, avoiding eye contact with Secretary Li.
Upon hearing this, Secretary Li frowned deeply, his face so dark it seemed as if water could drip from it. He strode forward to the junior staff member holding the rectification documents for violations, snatched the documents, glanced at them briefly, and coldly asked, "The inspection hasn't even been conducted yet, and the rectification documents are already stamped? Is this how you enforce the law? Well done, you really bring honor to the Shanghai government." His voice was filled with anger and authority.
The three men turned pale with fright, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. They hurriedly explained that they were helping a friend: "Secretary Li, the owner of this shop stole someone's girlfriend, and he's a gigolo, so we came to get revenge." The director of the health bureau stammered.
Secretary Li looked at Su Chang, hoping for an explanation. Before Su Chang could speak, Andy had already guessed who it was, and a flash of anger and disgust crossed her eyes.
Andy stood up, took a deep breath, and began to recount her experience in a firm tone.
“Secretary Li, this is what happened. I met a netizen named Qidian on a science and technology website, and we got along quite well online. Later, after I returned to China, he kept asking me to meet him. I couldn't refuse, so I asked Su Chang to accompany me to see him.” Andy’s eyes revealed a hint of excitement, but it was quickly replaced by anger and disgust.
“After meeting him, I found that he wasn’t what I had imagined. He turned out to be a scoundrel who kept bothering me, which made me feel very scared and uneasy.” Andy’s voice trembled slightly, and her hands clenched unconsciously.
·· ··Requesting flowers··· ········
Andy continued, "Just a few days ago, he actually followed me back to my doorstep and kept groping me. When I was at my most helpless, Su Chang appeared. He chased that scoundrel away without hesitation. I am truly grateful to him." Her gaze turned to Su Chang, her eyes filled with gratitude. Hearing this, many people in the shop began to indignantly curse Wei Wei as a scoundrel.
“But I didn’t expect that scoundrel wouldn’t give up. He actually came to cause trouble for Su Chang again today.” Andy’s expression turned serious, her eyes filled with resentment towards the scoundrel, while she glanced at Su Chang apologetically.
Andy paused for a moment, then continued, "I really didn't expect to encounter something like this. I just wanted to make some friends online, but I never expected to meet someone like this." Her voice carried a hint of helplessness and grievance.
..... ... ....
As Secretary Li listened to Andy's account, his expression gradually softened. He nodded and said, "I understand." Then, he immediately called the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and ordered someone to come and take these people back for investigation.
Upon hearing that they were to be taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission, the three men collapsed to the ground in terror. Their faces were ashen, and their eyes were filled with despair and fear. They didn't even dare to beg for mercy, because they knew Secretary Li's character well—he was a man who couldn't tolerate any wrongdoing—and knew that begging would be futile and might even make things worse.
Less than half an hour later, the disciplinary committee members arrived. Secretary Li greeted everyone and left with them, after which the others also took their leave.
Andy stayed behind, her eyes filled with gratitude and apology. She looked at Su Chang and said softly, "I'm sorry, Su Chang. I didn't expect Wei Wei to be this kind of person, to come and cause you trouble."
Su Chang smiled slightly, patted Andy on the shoulder, and said, "It's alright, everything's fine now, isn't it? Besides, I won't let him off easily. I just didn't expect him to make the first move, and with such a despicable trick." A hint of confidence and ruthlessness flashed in his eyes as he thought it was time to urge Lao Yan on.
After Su Chang repeatedly assured Andy that he would not act impulsively, Andy also left Pinzhentang.
After Andy left, a fierce glint flashed in Su Chang's eyes, followed by a slight upturn of his lips. He felt a sense of relief; who knew that one of his guests was someone with such a powerful background? He told Lu Yuan and Xiao Cai to pack their things, while he quickly walked aside and dialed Lao Yan's number.
"Hey, Lao Yan, you know what happened at noon, right? We can't miss such a good opportunity!" Su Chang's voice was tinged with urgency.
Old Yan chuckled on the other end of the phone, "Don't worry, Su Chang, Old Tan has already told me, and I'm already making arrangements. Within three days, I guarantee Wei Wei will be bankrupt and heavily in debt!"
A satisfied smile appeared on Su Chang's face. He nodded, as if he could already see Wei Wei's tragic end.
Sure enough, Jiang Lai called on the third day. As soon as Su Chang answered, she eagerly asked, "Jiang Lai, what's up?"
Chapter Fifty-Six: Harvesting Bamboo Shoots
Jiang Lai's tone carried a hint of excitement: "Haha! Wei Wei has been arrested for bribery and is even suspected of tax evasion. His company has been shut down and he'll probably be sentenced. Moreover, because the company's cash flow was already tight and he can't pay his debts, the company and his assets will probably be auctioned off by the court."
A surge of pleasure welled up in Su Chang's heart, and the corners of his mouth turned up again, revealing a smug smile. He thought to himself, "Wei Wei, Wei Wei, you've finally met your match! You were quick on the uptake."
"Brother Su Chang, do you want to participate in the auction?" Jiang Lai asked.
"Are there any high-value assets?" Su Chang asked after thinking for a moment.
Jiang Lai replied, "I went to take a look, and apart from a house, there's nothing of value left."
A hint of disappointment flashed in Su Chang's eyes. He waved his hand and said, "Then forget it. I'm not interested in any of this. I just need to know that Wei Wei will probably be heavily in debt when he comes out."
After hanging up the phone, Su Chang transferred the money to Lao Yan without hesitation. As he transferred the money, he thought to himself, "Finally, I've gotten rid of Wei Wei, this big trouble. The 'mistress incident' and Wei Guoqiang shouldn't happen again, right?"
After transferring the money, Su Chang called Lao Yan again to inform him that the payment had been transferred to "537".
Old Yan said gratefully on the other end of the phone, "Su Chang, you're so helpful! To be honest, I really couldn't help much this time. It was mainly Secretary Li who was personally overseeing things. But I'll keep an eye on this matter afterward. If you need anything later, you can contact me directly."
Su Chang smiled with satisfaction. He thought to himself, "Old Yan is quite direct. He performed well this time. We can continue to cooperate in the future."
After hanging up the phone, Su Chang turned around and went back to the kitchen to continue teaching Xiao Cai and Lu Yuan how to cook. He was in an exceptionally good mood today.
The next morning, Tan Zongming sent Su Chang a birthday banquet menu. The cold dishes were simple, including cold shredded vegetables and sliced beef and tripe in chili sauce. The hot dishes were more Suzhou style, with the first main dish being chicken wrapped in bamboo shoots and the second dish being Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. The rest included braised lion's head meatballs, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, Dongpo pork, roast duck, four-happiness meatballs, and a few side dishes. The soups were also casual. Only two main dishes and desserts were requested: longevity noodles and a longevity peach.
The other dishes were fine, but the ones that were more troublesome to prepare were probably the bamboo shoot-wrapped chicken and the roast duck. Buddha Jumps Over the Wall was much simpler, and the roast duck was fine too; Tan Zongming just needed to prepare the oven, which was a minor matter for the Tan family. The most troublesome part of making bamboo shoot-wrapped chicken was probably preparing the bamboo shoot paper. The choice of chicken was a minor matter. Su Chang recalled the process of making bamboo shoot paper in his mind, which could be roughly divided into ten steps:
The first step is to select bamboo shoots: be sure to choose fresh, tender bamboo shoots, preferably harvested in spring or summer. Peel off the outer skin of the bamboo shoots, leaving only the tender inner shoot.
The second step is to cook the bamboo shoots: put the collected bamboo shoots into a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil and continue cooking for 10-15 minutes until the bamboo shoots are soft.
The third step is to pound the bamboo shoots: take out the cooked bamboo shoots, put them into a stone mortar, and pound them into a fine paste with a stone pestle.
The fourth step is to filter the bamboo shoot paste: put the mashed bamboo shoot paste into a cloth bag, rinse it with clean water, and filter out impurities and fibers.
The fifth step is to allow the bamboo shoot puree to settle: Pour the filtered bamboo shoot puree water into a container and let it stand for a while to allow the puree to settle to the bottom.
The sixth step is to pour off the top layer of water: Pour off the top layer of water, leaving the bamboo shoot mud at the bottom.
The seventh step is to add paper medicine and papermaking: pour the bamboo shoot paste into the paper trough, and gently scoop it up with a papermaking screen to distribute the bamboo shoot paste evenly on the papermaking screen.
The eighth step is pressing the paper: Place the paper on a wooden board, press it flat with a heavy object, and squeeze out the excess water.
The ninth step is to dry the paper: Place the pressed paper in the sun to dry until it is completely dry.
The tenth step is to tidy up the paper: straighten the dried paper and remove any uneven edges.
Afterwards, Su Chang sent Tan Zongming the things she needed him to prepare.
Tan Zongming quickly replied, "No problem, I'll be ready."
Upon seeing the reply, Su Chang smiled with satisfaction. He thought to himself, "Alright, then I'll prepare the bamboo shoot paper next."
When Su Chang thought of picking bamboo shoots, the first place that came to mind was Tianmu Mountain in Lin'an, so he dialed Jiang Lai's number.
"Hey Jiang Lai, this is Su Chang. Are you free this weekend? I'd like to take you to Tianmu Mountain in Lin'an." Su Chang's voice carried a hint of anticipation.
Jiang Lai hesitated for a moment on the other end of the phone before replying, "Okay, sure, that'll be a good time to relax." A hint of joy appeared on her face as she thought to herself that this blockhead had finally decided to invite her out. She just wondered how he would react when he found out that Andy was coming along too.
Su Chang then dialed Andy's number again.
"Andy, let's go to Tianmu Mountain in Lin'an this weekend," Su Chang said excitedly.
Andy chuckled on the other end of the phone and replied, "Sure, no problem. I'll definitely make time for it." She didn't know why, but she didn't mind Su Chang asking her out; on the contrary, she especially wanted to be close to Su Chang.
After hanging up the phone, Su Chang was secretly pleased. He thought to himself, "Hehe! I can finally go out and have fun with them. I hope this trip will help these two get along better. It's really hard to start a harem."
When the weekend arrived, Su Chang made breakfast early in the morning and woke Jiang Lai up. While Jiang Lai was washing up, he went downstairs to call Andy to come up for breakfast.
After Jiang Lai finished washing up, she saw Andy sitting in the dining room and her mind went blank for a moment. She then asked Su Chang, "Why is Andy here?"
Su Chang replied with a smile, "Today, the three of us will go to Tianmu Mountain together."
"Hmph! You bastard..." Jiang Lai's face instantly darkened. She originally wanted to throw a tantrum and not go, but then she thought that if she didn't go and left the two of them alone together, she would be even more worried.
Although she had promised Su Chang that she wouldn't interfere with his plans to take in concubines, she just couldn't resist causing trouble! Su Chang didn't indulge Jiang Lai, after all, the two had made a promise before. He thought to himself, "If it really doesn't work out, then breaking up is the only option. After all, the grand plan to build a harem hasn't even started yet, and I don't want to end up like Zhuge Liang, writing a memorial to the emperor before achieving my goal."
Afterwards, Su Chang drove Jiang Haokun's Ford Raptor with the two women on the road. Jiang Lai didn't move closer to Su Chang, but pulled Andy into the back seat. The two whispered to each other the whole way, but Su Chang didn't care, as long as they didn't start arguing or fighting.
After a three-and-a-half-hour drive, the three finally arrived at Tianmu Mountain. The scenery here was simply breathtaking, like a fairyland. The mountains stretched endlessly, shrouded in mist, resembling a traditional Chinese ink painting. Streams babbled through the mountains, their water splashing onto the rocks with a clear, melodious sound. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow.
Jiang Lai and Andy were stunned by the beautiful scenery before them, their faces showing expressions of amazement. Jiang Lai thought to herself, "This place is so beautiful. I wish it were just Su Chang and me here."
Andy felt the same way: "Wow, this place is so beautiful!"
Seeing the joy on their faces, Su Chang's lips unconsciously curled into a smug smile. He slowly parked the car in a quiet farmhouse courtyard, the very place he had booked in advance.