Chapter 103

Chapter 103: Going to Work at a New Address Again

Nine-turn intestines is one of the more famous dishes in Shandong cuisine.

However, this fame is not because of a good reputation, but due to a comedic joke.

When this joke was mentioned, Wu Chaomei was quite upset.

"Nonsense! What do you mean it needs to be left a little dirty to keep the flavor? Ridiculous! Nine-turn intestines is originally a dish with an extremely rich flavor, so rich that it could even be described as quirky... If someone gave the judges that, if I were the judge, I would have slapped that kid right then and there!"

Wu Chaomei had already picked out a batch of pig intestines, and while praising them, she added, "You chose these well. It’s rare to find pigs this big nowadays."

The one being praised was Zhu Nan, who was certainly not missing out on the commotion. How could he not join in?

"Hehe, not only do we have intestines, we also have elbows! They’re all from the same big pig, Chef Chen, you get what I mean, right?"

While speaking, Zhu Nan also handed over a new apron: "Chef Chen, I brought you a new apron. Change into this one when you go back to Qingshi An later, so you don’t smell of meat."

The cameraman, who was never far from him, was helping the old lady pick out pig intestines. He asked Chen Ran, "Chef Chen, can we get some shots of you cooking this time? We can use it in the new video. The oil-exploded double-crisp just went too fast, we didn’t get enough shots."

Zhu Nan and the cameraman had followed Chen Ran for several dishes now, and they had filmed plenty of shots during the past "Martial Arts Dish Stealing Conference." The two were discussing whether they should make a special video about Chen Ran.

They decided they should shoot more cooking videos, as they would come in handy later.

Chen Ran had yet to speak when Wu Chaomei sneered, "It’s too late to record a video now. Nine-turn intestines is not something you can learn in a day. Just wait."

Among all the chefs she had seen, Chen Ran could be considered solid in her basic skills and understanding. But to learn Nine-turn intestines in one go? That would still be a bit difficult.

Even she had taken more than a month to get the dish right.

Wu Chaomei selected a few pieces of intestine heads and instructed Chen Ran to take them to wash.

"First, use alkali to rub them, then add a bit of vinegar, and clean out the water and oil inside the intestines. Wash them a few times."

Chen Ran nodded and squatted down to vigorously scrub the pig intestines.

These intestines were already relatively clean, but with the foam generated by the alkaline and acidic reaction, a lot of dirt still came out.

She turned the inner layer of the intestines inside out and continued scrubbing, carefully using scissors to trim off excess water and oil.

"This is good. Don’t clean the oil too thoroughly, or else it won’t have the fragrance."

Wash, blanch, cook, stir-fry, stew—clean the intestine heads first, then blanch and cook them. After blanching, wash them again. Only after boiling them can you start adding seasoning.

"Some people on the market make Nine-turn intestines, and we won’t even talk about the taste. But the ingredients are also badly handled."

"When the pig is not big enough or they can’t find big intestine heads, they’ll just layer the intestines on top of each other a few times to make them look better."

Wu Chaomei pointed at the intestine heads Chen Ran had washed and blanched, then sat down on a chair the cameraman had brought over, slightly panting.

"But this method definitely doesn’t work. Nine-turn intestines is a seasoning dish, and the texture needs to be crispy. How can you make it crispy when it’s all layered up? Will it even absorb the flavors?"

Following Wu Chaomei’s instructions, Chen Ran carefully wrapped the intestine heads around a spring onion and placed the prepared spices inside, then began cooking the intestines.

At this step, the fragrance of the intestines and the spices slowly started to waft.

Thanks to the repeated cleaning and blanching earlier, the broth used to cook the intestines was even a clear soup.

By the time the intestines were finally cooked, Wu Chaomei took over and began to cook herself."Is your health okay? If not, why don't you give the orders and I’ll cook according to your instructions?"

"No, you can't do it well."

Wu Chaomei took a deep breath, stood up from the chair, picked up Chen Ran's black iron kitchen knife from the counter, and even took the time to compliment it.

"This knife of yours is really good."

Although it looked simple, it was sharp and quick with every cut!

"Watch closely, the intestine head is finally cut into this long segment, we call it 'ban-zhi' segment, similar to the 'ban-zhi' that ancient people used to wear on their thumbs."

Chen Ran nodded, watching Wu Chaomei start a new pot and begin caramelizing sugar.

Next came a crucial moment where every glance had to be perfect!

When the sugar color turned to reddish-brown, the cut intestine segments were added to the pot along with onions, ginger, and garlic.

"Remember this sugar color."

Chen Ran nodded, watching as the originally white intestine segments quickly turned red-brown after entering the pot.

The stir-frying step was complete, and now came the braising.

"Watch how I add the seasonings."

First, cooking wine, vinegar, pepper powder, and cinnamon powder were added. The reddish-brown broth in the pot gradually thickened with each simmer. This was the braising step.

When the second round of vinegar was added, it was referred to as "stewing," and the heat was turned low.

As the broth slowly seeped into the intestines, Wu Chaomei added Sichuan pepper oil for the final touch.

The fragrance of the dish, which had started as a simple aroma, now became something indescribable.

Just smelling the fragrance, one could not even imagine the taste of Nine-turn intestines.

"Come on, try the dish. You go first."

Wu Chaomei wiped the sweat from her forehead, speaking less, and after catching her breath, she sat down on a chair nearby.

She handed the chopsticks to Zhu Nan, who was waiting nearby, while other diners looked on eagerly but dared not rush to grab the dish.

Everyone had drawn lots earlier, and the ones standing here were the lucky winners.

Moreover, some people had already searched for Wu Chaomei’s identity. This seemingly unremarkable old lady was actually a culinary legend!

She had won more awards than most people had ever heard of.

Zhu Nan, looking at the chopsticks in front of him, was even a little excited. He took a deep breath and picked up a small piece of Nine-turn intestines.

He immediately placed the entire piece in his mouth!

The smell was extremely complex and varied, but the first taste he experienced on his tongue was sweetness.

Sweetness and pig intestines might seem like an odd combination, but within this sweetness, a hint of sourness slowly emerged.

The sweetness wasn’t overpowering, and the sourness wasn’t too sharp, but then a slight bitterness came through.

This slight bitterness came from the sugar being cooked just a bit longer than usual. It didn’t make the dish unpleasant but instead deepened the already rich sour-sweet taste!Zhu Nan's expression became a little serious, and with some hesitation, he slowly took a bite.

The texture of the intestines was crunchy, but completely different from the crispiness of "oil-exploded double-crisp" dishes. This crunch had a certain hesitation to it, and during this pause, a spicy kick from the pepper powder distinctly burst forth.

Another bite!

As the Nine-turn intestines were chewed, the meat juices inside gushed out, accompanied by a salty umami…

As soon as the salty umami emerged, all the complex flavors previously tasted instantly became vivid and alive!

Zhu Nan chewed the piece of Nine-turn intestines eagerly, feeling as though different flavors were swirling around in his mouth.

"Give me another piece!"

He couldn't even think of commenting, as every cell in his body was screaming for another bite!

Over the years, Zhu Nan had tasted many delicacies, but this "strange flavor" being so delicious was a first for him!

"Go away, there are only nine pieces!"

President Xu had been waiting for a long time. At a height of 155 cm, her forceful grab for the dish made her appear like she was 205 cm tall. She swiftly snatched a piece and placed it into her mouth.

Zhu Nan, still savoring the lingering taste in his mouth, kept an eye on President Xu, hoping to hear her opinion.

"How is it? Strange, but so delicious, right?"

Even as a food streamer, he found it hard to describe the taste of this dish with straightforward words. "Indeed..."

As she chewed, President Xu quickly patted Mi Chengzhi beside her. "How about you give me that piece? I'll treat you to a whole meal later!"

Mi Chengzhi immediately popped his piece of Nine-turn intestines into his mouth, rejecting President Xu's temptation with his actions.

She glanced around, and every single person had already shoved their piece into their mouths!

Wang Zhaoshan had eaten Nine-turn intestines before, but this version made by Wu Chaomei, the renowned Shandong chef, was his first time!

In the past, his impression of this dish was that the hype outweighed the actual taste. With so many flavors circulating, it sounded impressive conceptually, but it didn't always deliver when tasted.

Until… he had this piece.

First, a bit of sweetness lingered on his taste buds, followed by a strong vinegary kick. When the sweet and sour flavors merged, the slight bitterness of the caramelized sugar rose up.

Then came layers of spiciness and saltiness, each flavor progressively building up until the meat juices of the intestines exploded in the mouth!

He exchanged a look with Bai Qing, who had the same look of astonishment, and both of them said in unison.

"Truly worthy of being Nine-turn intestines…"

The flavor progression, with each bite introducing a new layer of taste, was like nothing else. If they had to compare it to anything, they could only say:

"This is the taste of life."

It was delicious, but not just delicious!

Some dishes are tasty in the moment but leave no lingering aftertaste.

But this dish? Not only did it leave a lingering aftertaste, it could make a person freeze in awe!

Those who had never tasted it could never imagine that a dish with a hint of sourness and slight bitterness could be even more tempting than one with purely aromatic flavors!It was like reading a novel. A sweet, light story is always pleasant, but if it has just a hint of bitterness mixed in, it will always linger in one's mind.

"I'll have another piece!"

There was only one piece left on the plate. Bai Qing, feeling like she was the first to discover Chen Ran, reached for it with her chopsticks, but was stopped by Wu Chaomei.

Wu Chaomei stopped Bai Qing and took a new pair of chopsticks, handing them to Chen Ran.

"Ran Ran, you try."

"I try?"

Chen Ran was a bit surprised. She hesitated and pointed at herself, saying, "Grandma Wu, I can't taste the flavors."

"You need to focus and try."

Chen Ran took the chopsticks from Wu Chaomei and lowered her head to gaze at the last piece of Nine-turn intestines on the plate.

The system was still running, and she saw a small line of text appear above the dish:

【A Nine-turn Intestine that encapsulates Wu Chaomei's life experiences.】

It wasn't a perfect dish in terms of color, aroma, or taste, but it spoke of life experiences.

Chen Ran picked up the last piece and placed it in her mouth.

She couldn't taste the sweetness, but she could feel a slight stickiness of the sauce resting on her tongue.

She couldn't taste the sourness, but as the intestines entered her mouth, she could detect a faint, pungent flavor.

She also couldn't taste bitterness or saltiness, but she could barely sense a hint of spiciness. As she chewed, she could feel the crunch and tenderness of the intestine, and the burst of meat juice that erupted in her mouth.

Chen Ran looked down at Wu Chaomei, sitting there.

She didn't care much about her appearance, her hair was graying, and her face was full of wrinkles. Her hands, resting on her knees, were covered in age spots and many scars.

One burn scar even stretched across the back of her hand.

The entire market was noisy, especially now, as many people were stopping the customers who had just tasted the Nine-turn intestines, asking about the flavors.

But in that moment, Wu Chaomei's strong voice even surpassed the noise of the whole market.

She spoke slowly, every word aimed at Chen Ran, her eyes fixed on her.

"If you can't taste the flavors, remember this feeling! Remember this world, unclouded by taste!"

"You've reached this level, so now try to make every experience serve the dish in your hands!"

"When your sense of taste comes back..."

Wu Chaomei's voice weakened again. Mrs. Wang came over, gently rubbing her back, and slowly fed her some water.

But the old lady's eyes were still fixed on Chen Ran, unwavering.

"When your sense of taste comes back, this experience will make your seasoning rise to a whole new level!"

Chen Ran finally finished chewing the small piece of intestines in her mouth.

Even until it was broken down, the intestine remained crispy. She couldn't taste as many layers of flavor, but she could feel the change in texture.Cherish this world without flavor...

She looked up at Wu Chaomei: "Grandma Wu, why do you think I will definitely regain my sense of taste?"

She had visited many hospitals, but the doctors all regretfully told her that she might be one of the very few people who would never regain her sense of taste.

It had been almost two years since she lost her taste.

Wu Chaomei drank some water from Mrs. Wang's hand, and then spoke her next sentence.

"If heaven has eyes, and wants to see so many skills passed down, it wouldn't let you lose your sense of taste."

She slapped the armrest of the chair, her hand trembling, but this aura made the last bit of fear in Chen Ran's heart dissipate!

—Yes, even with the system, she couldn't help but often have nightmares, dreaming that her taste would never return. She even dreamed that without the system, she wouldn't be able to make even the simplest cold dishes properly.

"Besides, even if you still can't taste anything in the end, the imagined taste of Dinghu Shangsu would be better than any real meat flavor. The flavor you imagine will certainly be better than the real one!"

Wang Qing'an leaned over and supported Wu Chaomei's back, then turned to look at Chen Ran: "Ran Ran, if you still think you can't make good dishes because you can't taste, then you really don't take us seriously. The fact that so many people are chasing you, do you think they're just fooling around?"

"Yeah, Chef Chen, I think the oil-braised crispy dishes you make are better than any of the ones I've tasted in all my years of food critiques!"

"Ran Ran, don't underestimate the ten extra pounds I gained in kindergarten, okay!"

"That's right! Chef Chen, don't forget, just making potatoes and eggplant caused the pyramid scheme spots to be devoured in no time!"

The last piece of Nine-turn intestines was swallowed, and Chen Ran focused hard on her senses, but she still couldn't taste anything.

However, she could clearly sense something lingering in her mouth. She made a conscious effort to remember this feeling and walked over to help Wang Qing'an support Wu Chaomei.

"Thank you, everyone, I will continue working hard!"

The sun had already tilted to the west, and she needed to help Grandma Wu back to rest.

As they walked ahead, she suddenly felt that everyone behind her hadn't dispersed. Chen Ran turned around and saw that everyone was still waiting in place. When they saw her look back, they all started speaking.

"Chef Chen, don't worry, we'll clean everything up!"

"Yes, we won't let the nuns at Qingshi Temple be upset! We'll clean everything up!"

"Chef Chen, are you about to leave again? Can you tell us where you're going next time?"

Chen Ran looked at the system's notification and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Everyone had gotten so used to chasing after her that they could even predict the system's tasks!

She looked at the words "Hope Primary School" on the system panel and said loudly: "This time, I can't tell you all..."

But, it wouldn't be long before she opened her shop!