"If anyone cos to the store looking for Chef Chen, just say she’s busy in the kitchen and notify right away. But definitely don’t tell them we don’t have a head chef position, okay?"
Shu Yun, who was greeting custors in the store, was sowhat surprised when she saw this ssage. Didn’t Chef Chen go to the Boss Lady’s house for the Mid-Autumn Festival reunion dinner? Why does it sound like she’s been boasting to outsiders and now needs soone to play along?
She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and replied, "Got it. I’ll rember that."
Although I’m no Commander Chu of the 358th Brigade, since Chef Chen needs help, I have to step in. After all, she’s Lin Ji’s Food’s VIP custor #00001 and a big spender.
Chen Yan was overjoyed when she saw the ssage. "You’re a true sis! May your cup size never shrink!"
A few days ago, while making mooncakes, she had secretly sworn by Shu Yun’s cup size. Now that she needed Shu Yun, she had suddenly beco a "may your cup size never shrink" kind of good sister again.
Chef Chen replied with a sly expression, then returned to the kitchen to continue performing her duties as the executive chef. However, her duties as head chef were quite simple...
"Brother-in-law, can this be served now?"
"Brother-in-law, are the orange stead eggs in the stear about done?"
"Brother-in-law, should I stir-fry all of this beef later or just half of it?"
"..."
Shen Baobao, who was tenderizing a beef tenderloin with the back of a knife, couldn’t help but curl her lips. "PFFT, and you call yourself a head chef? Even a leashed Dundun would be more competent than you; at least he knows not to bark out orders indiscriminately."
Dundun, who was being held in Grandma Han’s arms in the living room, suddenly opened his eyes. That blasted woman! Talking bad about behind my back again, huh? The one to take care of Great Aunt has been dispatched. I won’t have to be bullied by that dimwit great aunt anymore. But this stepmother... sigh, this cat is also at his wit’s end!
For a mont, the little cat’s eyes were filled with a world-weary look.
"What are you doing here, Yueyue?" Chen Yan asked, approaching curiously when she saw her cousin pounding beef tenderloin with the back of a kitchen knife. No way, has she learned a new dish?
"I saw Lin Xu pounding chicken breasts, and it looked quite fun, so I spontaneously took this piece of beef to practice. Do you want to try it? It’s quite stress-relieving."
Just as Chen Yan was about to take the knife and give it a try, Lin Xu walked over, took the beef tenderloin, and put it into the fridge. "Stop playing, it’s ti to eat!"
Hearing that it was ti to eat, the two sisters straightened their chef’s uniforms and hats and went out to tell everyone to take their seats. anwhile, Lin Xu manned the wok, stir-frying the prepared ingredients one by one. Today’s nu mainly featured stir-fries, stead dishes, and stews; not many in variety, but quite generous in quantity.
Once everyone was seated, Chen Yan and Shen Baobao brought out portions of freshly made orange stead eggs. This type of dessert should logically be eaten after the al. But Chef Shen and Chef Chen, too eager to hear praise, couldn’t wait that long, so they adjusted the serving order.
Old Mrs. Shen said with a smile, "My granddaughters made this together; I must eat more."
Back in the day, she only ever cooked for these two girls, never imagining that one day she’d taste their cooking. No matter the flavor of this stead egg, I’ll have to heap praises on it later. And throw in so extra comndation too.
The orange stead eggs were presented on a plate, each thoughtfully covered with a little lid made from orange peel. Removing the lid, the scent of orange mingled with egg wafted out. Just from the aroma, it was already quite impressive. Especially since no one had held out much hope and had rely thought Shen Baobao and Chen Yan were just fooling around in the kitchen.
Using a small spoon to scoop out a piece of the stead egg from inside the orange, its tender yellow color and jiggly texture indicated its high quality. Many people can make stead eggs. But to steam eggs to the consistency of pudding, that truly takes so skill.
The relatives beca intrigued; this presentation alone surpassed the orange stead eggs found in ordinary restaurants. It wasn’t that the cooking skill was exceptionally advanced; it was mainly that typical restaurants making this dessert would try to save on ingredients as much as possible—for example, by reducing the number of eggs, adding starch water, or replacing fresh orange juice with concentrate. By cutting costs, the flavor was also compromised.
So, slling this authentic, high-quality orange stead egg, the relatives unanimously picked up their spoons and began to taste. The pudding-like stead egg exuded a rich egg fragrance and the unique sweet-tartness of orange juice. Scooping a spoonful into their mouths, the tender and smooth texture was surprisingly delightful.
"Oh my, this tastes wonderful!"
"Indeed, the texture is so delicate, and there are no air pockets. It’s fragrant and silky smooth, truly a great mouthfeel."
"That’s right, the sweetness isn’t overpowering; instead, the egg and orange fragrances are both beautifully enhanced. Our Yueyue has really beco so capable, to make such a perfect dessert!"
"Yan Bao is great too! I thought she was just ssing around in the kitchen, but her skills are amazing."
"Next ti we have guests for afternoon tea, we can just ask Yan Bao and Yueyue to make sothing."
"..."
Listening to everyone’s complints, a proud smile spread across Shen Baobao’s face. HEE HEE, I finally won everyone’s praise with my cooking skills. But it wasn’t just my effort alone; Yan Bao also contributed one percent. Mhm, even as an assistant, she deserves to be on the list of contributors!
Just as she was reveling in her triumph, Aunt Shen Guofang asked, "Yueyue, why is the texture of this stead egg so smooth and tender? And how co there are no air pockets? When I occasionally make stead egg custard at ho, it’s never this delicious."
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