Chapter 123

Chapter 123: People regard food as heaven

Looking at the slightly trembling fish head, the entire studio fell completely silent.

Whether it was chefs with years of experience in the industry, judges with extensive theoretical knowledge, or even staff who didn’t understand culinary arts, everyone could see the beauty in this skillful technique!

After all the bones were removed from this fish head, it still maintained its complete shape, which was truly unheard of.

Such an exquisite skill was brought to life by Chen Ran’s hands!

The silent studio suddenly erupted in applause.

The first to clap was Master Ma, a fellow chef from the Huaiyang cuisine school. Having just finished his demonstration of Wensi Tofu, he naturally understood the essence of bone-removal technique.

Then came Jiang Ting, and after that, everyone else joined in.

There weren’t many people in the studio, but the applause was fervent. Chen Ran nodded to thank everyone, carefully lifting the fish head—now boneless and tender—into the pot.

Inside the pot was a broth that had been simmering for nearly an hour. The fish head’s own fat wasn’t enough to make the broth rich, so pork bones had been added to the soup. The fat melted in the boiling water, turning the broth a faint milky white.

After the fish head was added, and the soup boiled for another ten minutes, the color of the broth became more opaque, and the tempting aroma began to waft through the air.

The fish head of the flower carp was traditionally cooked on its own. Its flavor was fresh and savory, with the meat’s natural gelatinous texture. The sensation of it being sucked into the mouth was the peak of both texture and flavor.

Aside from being somewhat troublesome to eat due to the numerous bones, the fish head had almost no drawbacks.

But this flaw had been completely eliminated by the chef’s deft hands!

As the broth thickened and the color turned creamy white, the scent became more intoxicating. When the Stewed Fish Head was finally served, no one could take their eyes off of it.

The waiter, trained in etiquette, used a white towel to carefully place the clay pot on the table, so quietly that no sound could be heard.

Yet, as the fish head was gently placed down, and with no ripple disturbing the soup, the fish head, half submerged, trembled just three times in response to the delicate movement.

—Without any bones to support it, the fish head, with only skin and flesh, was incredibly soft and tender.

Just looking at it made one want to imagine the feeling of eagerly sucking the fish meat into their mouth!

Zhao Yu immediately picked up a spoon and murmured, “If only I could just suck this fish head straight into my mouth...”

The gelatinous, tender taste of the fish head, along with its slight tremble, had already been fully imagined in her mind.

She had smelled the rich aroma when the fish head was still simmering, and now that the fish head was right before her eyes, the fragrance seemed almost tangible, making her mouth water.

“How do we eat this? Do we just scoop it up like this?”

Zhao Yu had already stood up, but as she reached for the spoon, she hesitated, unsure how to begin. She turned to Zheng Xu for help.

Zheng Xu paused for a moment, then looked up at Chen Ran and asked, “Is there a specific way to eat this?”

Although this dish was based on the Huaiyang cuisine’s Stewed Fish Head with Bones Removed, the improvements made to it were such that Chen Ran’s name would undoubtedly be engraved deeply in this recipe.

That was precisely why Zheng Xu asked Chen Ran.

“No need, just scoop it up,” Chen Ran replied, wiping the sweat from her brow, one hand resting on the countertop. She looked a little tired, yet her energy remained vibrant. “The core of this dish is to make it easy for the diners. As long as it’s convenient to eat, that’s all that matters.”

Zheng Xu, one of the few people here who had heard the teachings of Chef Chen’s ancestors, couldn’t help but look at her again after hearing this.

This young girl... she was simply too young.But among all the chefs cultivated by the Chen family, it was actually this young girl, who had been kicked out of the house, that truly inherited the essence of the legendary Chen Chef.

By the time he came to his senses, Zhao Yu had already started!

She was quite skillful, and her first scoop aimed straight for the fish head's chin.

With a single scoop, the entire fish head was instantly disassembled!

This moment, when it was later edited in the program, was turned into slow motion and shown twice.

Du Zhaohu couldn’t help but slap the table, exclaiming, “Good!”

He turned to his master, “Master! Look at the fish head my little junior has made!”

The fish head, which disintegrated as soon as the spoon touched it, was first bone-removed and then stewed in the pot to absorb the flavors. During the stewing process, the fish head had been turned at least twice.

Du Zhaohu excitedly reached out to tap Xu Zhuoxing, saying, “Master, you have to see this!”

Xu Zhuoxing, who had been keeping his head lowered, slowly raised it. In the dim room, the tear stains on his face were now more noticeable.

“It’s been passed down...” he murmured.

It wasn’t just him who felt this way. Every judge tasting the Stewed Fish Head with Bones Removed was deeply moved.

Such skill, demonstrated in the program, by the youngest chef in the competition...

Zheng Xu slowly brought the spoon closer to his mouth, unable to resist taking a small sip. The gelatinous fish meat was immediately sucked into his mouth.

There was no need to chew; just gently pressing it with his tongue, the tender fish meat practically dissolved into the soup, filling his entire mouth.

And this mouthful of soup... was called freshness! No other word could describe this taste so perfectly...

Though the dish appeared simple, merely removing the bones from the fish head, the improvement in its flavor was immediate.

The bone-free fish head was like having countless flower cuts on the inside, allowing the broth to penetrate every corner, not slowly soaking from the outside in, but directly infused into each part of the fish.

The fish meat was so tender that it could be sucked into the soup, and the broth was thick enough to be like the fish meat itself... The already delicious fish head now tasted even more exquisite, with the texture reaching the highest level.

And despite the advanced technique, it was perfectly applied to enhance the dish’s quality.

After three dishes—one simple and rustic hand-torn cabbage, another profound in flavor with Nine Turns of Pig Intestines, and this almost philosophical Stewed Fish Head with Bones Removed.

Had he not witnessed Chen Ran making them right there, he would never have believed that these three dishes came from the hands of such a young chef!

There was no exaggeration or ostentation... even when improvements were made, it was entirely to serve the dish itself, not to show off skill.

Zheng Xu had once heard his teacher say, "Culinary arts are a reflection of one's character. A person's personality will ultimately be embodied in each dish they make."

At the time, he thought it was just an exaggeration meant to teach his students. But after tasting that spoonful of freshness today...

He carefully placed his small bowl and spoon down and said, “Chef Chen Ran’s Stewed Fish Head with Bones Removed... I can only give it a perfect ten.”

And he only wanted to give it a perfect ten!

When this episode aired in full, it was the second day of the Lunar New Year.

The Chen family’s old house, which should have been lively, felt somewhat desolate.

Strangely, several media outlets suddenly reported on various Chen family restaurants using pre-made dishes. Not only that, but condiments like Yidixiang (a flavor enhancer) and Chicken Bone Essence Paste, which had always been sold quietly at wholesale markets, were suddenly pushed to the forefront by multiple video bloggers.The numerous videos exposing the "cutthroat techniques" made it hard not to suspect that there were forces behind the scenes.

What made Chen Boduan even more nervous was the unexpected emergence of several finance bloggers, who started analyzing the "food economy" that the Chen family had been promoting over the years.

Whether it was through competitions that shaped celebrity chefs and food bloggers or several franchise brands that used additives to maintain flavors, they even dug into the collaboration with Michelin...

It should have been a joyful New Year, but for the entire Chen family, it felt as though an account was being settled after the fact.

At this moment, the Chen Ran who had been kicked out of the family home, was receiving the championship of the Liangjing Culinary Competition amidst applause!

Looking at Chen Yuncong, who was sitting on the sofa with a blank expression, Chen Boduan couldn't help but speak.

"Grandfather, how about... we cancel this competition?"

It was indeed a time of turbulence, and stepping into the spotlight now would only make it harder for the online critics to subside.

The best way to handle it now was to remain quiet, avoid angering the public, and wait until the storm passed before continuing with business as usual.

Chen Yuncong didn’t say anything. Though older, he had taken good care of his health.

He reached over and turned up the volume of the television.

"…Let's congratulate Chef Chen Ran for winning the Liangjing Culinary Competition championship!"

"Chef Chen, is there anything you would like to say?"

Chen Ran on the screen looked even younger—so much so that it was almost unreal. Chen Yuncong squinted and couldn't help but sit up straighter.

"Thank you, everyone... Thank you to Mr. Xu Zhuoxing, Ms. Chang Nian, and Ms. Wu Chao for their invaluable teachings. Thank you to everyone who has always encouraged me and supported me..."

After expressing her gratitude, Chen Ran fixed her gaze on the camera.

She knew someone was watching her.

She paused for a moment.

"I’ve been practicing culinary arts since I was little, holding a knife even before I was tall enough to reach the chopping board, but it wasn’t until six months ago that I truly began practicing."

"Since then, I’ve learned that no matter how grand the words may sound, culinary arts is nothing more than making food seriously."

Her eyes were locked on the camera, but her focus gradually shifted to the distance behind it.

"Making food seriously, using good ingredients, and employing the right skills to respect each diner."

Throughout her journey working in kitchens, she had simply focused on honing her craft and making food with care. But the rewards she had received far exceeded her expectations.

To truly succeed, one must put in their heart.

Running a restaurant is business, but this business must be done with a clear conscience.

After all, the people’s top priority is food!

Chen Yuncong’s hand had already gripped the armrest of the sofa tightly, staring at the young girl on the television who was now staring back at him across time and space.

No, she had grown up. She was now an adult who dared to challenge him directly on television.

"I heard the final competition can be about betting on the outcome?"

"I have a plaque with the words 'Food is Heaven' written on it. If you want it, Grandpa, take the spatula from the ancestral hall and compete with me."