Chapter 578: The Secret to Deliciousness
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
With Old Madam Jin’s assurance, Li Xiaoran already knew what to do.
Li Xiaoran remembered why she had come, so she took out the pickled bamboo shoots she had brought as she said with a smile, “Granny Jin, let’s not talk about those unhappy things! Didn’t you want to eat a bowl of snail noodles? I brought a lot of fermented pickled bamboo shoots over today! Let’s go. While it’s not that hot yet, let’s eat a bowl of noodles to ward off the heat. After a shower, you’ll feel more comfortable!”
As soon as the lid was removed, an indescribable stench wafted over.
However, this suited Old Madam Jin’s taste.
Old Madam Jin said with a smile, “Sigh, this is the taste. Let’s go! I’ve been craving snail noodles for a long time. I have to eat to my heart’s content today!” As long as there were snail noodles, Old Madam Jin would have no worries.
Li Xiaoran smiled as she closed the lid again and went to the kitchen with Old Madam Jin.
The maid in charge of the kitchen was called Fang Fang. When she saw Li Xiaoran, she smiled.
“Miss Li, you’re finally here! I’ve made snail noodles many times, but Madam kept saying that the taste isn’t right. Today, I want to learn from Miss Li so that I can cook it for Madam in the future!”
Li Xiaoran smiled at Fang Fang.
“Sure! I’ll do it later! Actuallv. the method is reallv simole!”
With that, Li Xiaoran began.
Because she liked to eat snail noodles, Old Madam Jin kept snail noodles at home at all times.
Li Xiaoran began to stir-fry.
Old Madam Jin didn’t leave. She sat outside the kitchen and watched Li Xiaoran with a smile.
Fang Fang watched the entire time. They were clearly the same ingredients, the same condiments, and the same cooking method, but why couldn’t she make snail noodles to Madam’s liking?
Li Xiaoran ignored Fang Fang’s doubts and focused on making snail noodles.
After the snail noodles were ready and two large bowls were filled, there was still some left in the pot.
Old Madam Jin wasn’t stingy. In order not to waste food, Old Madam Jin rewarded these snail noodles to the servants who were helping in the kitchen.
After that, Old Madam Jin and Li Xiaoran left with the snail noodles.
After Madam left, Fang Fang filled a bowl with snail noodles eagerly and started eating.
After her first bite, Fang Fang realized the difference.
“How can this be? They’re clearly made of the same things, but why do they taste different?!”
Old Madam Jin praised the snail noodles as she ate and asked what she had been wondering about for a long time.
“Girl, how do you make snail noodles taste so delicious?”
When Li Xiaoran heard Old Madam Jin’s words, she laughed.
“Granny Jin, cooking seems simple, but there’s actually a lot of knowledge involved. Why is it that once a chef is gone, it’s very difficult for others to replicate dishes of the same taste? There’s a reason! The difference in the quality of the ingredients and the difference in the condiments are the easiest to discover. But the chef’s cooking skills and control of the fire are different!”
As Li Xiaoran spoke, she took another bite of the noodles and said in satisfaction, “I scooped this bowl first. I like food with a chewy texture. If it’s too soft, it’ll lose its original taste! Your bowl of snail noodles was scooped later. Because it was cooked for a while longer, it seems softer, but it still tastes good! If I had continued to cook the snail noodles, the snail noodles would have broken into small parts. Then, the taste would have been compromised!”
Old Madam Jin had eaten delicious food all her life, so she naturally Imew that what Li Xiaoran said made sense.
Li Xiaoran asked, “Actually, what I just said is very easy to master, but why do many dishes no longer have the same taste when the chef is different?”
Old Madam Jin asked curiously, “That’s right. Why is that? The heat control and ingredients can be imitated, right?”
When Li Xiaoran heard Old Madam Jin’s words, she laughed.
“Because chefs are different and their moods are different, the taste is different! Every chef’s dish is filled with their blood, sweat, and emotions, so the taste can’t be replicated. It’s just like how all of us like to eat our mom’s cooking. It’s not that our mother’s cooking is delicious, but that Mom’s dishes are filled with a mother’s love for her child!”
When Old Madam Jin heard this, she nodded. “No wonder the snail noodles made by Fang Fang weren’t as tasty as yours. So that’s the case!” Li Xiaoran smiled and focused on eating the noodles.
It had to be said that noodles really put people in a good mood.
The delicious yet stinky snail noodles gave them a comforting and satisfying feeling!
After the two of them finished eating the snail noodles, they dried their sweat before taking a shower.
Old Madam Jin had long prepared new clothes for Li Xiaoran, so Li Xiaoran put on new clothes after taking a shower.
Li Xiaoran looked much more vivacious than usual in the new clothes.
Old Madam Jin sized up Li Xiaoran and nodded in satisfaction. “Yes, you young people should dress like this! Look at what you usually wear. Your identity is different now, so you have to pay attention to how you dress! I know you don’t care, but outsiders are very snobby. You have to keep up appearances!”
Li Xiaoran knew that Old Madam Jin was saying this for her own good, so she agreed with a smile.
“Got it. Grandma, you’re right. In the future, I’ll buy more colorful clothes to blind others!”
When Old Madam Jin heard Li Xiaoran’s words, she was overjoyed.
“Yes, that’s how things should be! At your young age, you should be more energetic. Don’t learn from those overly mature people!”
At this point, Granny Jin thought of something.
“By the way, I made a very special stinky tofu myself. Try it! The taste has improved, and it’s not that same old charred stinky tofu anymore!” At this point, Old Madam Jin actually revealed a look of disdain.
“Although the stinky tofu in the past was delicious, I didn’t like that it looked charred. The new stinky tofu I made is golden. Try it!”
Li Xiaoran naturally agreed.
After the first pot of stinky tofu was out, Li Xiaoran tasted it. It tasted delicious, but she felt that something was missing.
At this moment, Li Xiaoran noticed a plant growing outside the window and her eyes lit up..