bullyxtreme Chapter 105 Superb Bibimbap, Li 2 is here to freeload again.
Chapter 105 Superb Bibimbap, Li 2 is here to freeload again.
Chapter 105 The Ultimate Bibimbap: Li Er is Here to Freeload Again
Shangshi Bureau.
Liu Fengyu was holding a teacup, humming a little tune with a contented smile.
Today's crab feast is beautifully prepared. The eunuchs below are gnawing on the few remaining steamed crabs, their mouths greasy with oil.
"Eunuch Liu, the crabs from Jiangnan are truly exceptional—so fresh!"
"That's right, don't you even look at who's in charge of cooking?"
Liu Fengyu took a sip of tea. "Steaming is all about controlling the heat. Too much heat and the meat will be tough, too little and it'll be overcooked—"
Before he could finish speaking, Liu Fengyu's nose twitched twice.
What does it taste like?
An intensely strong aroma, almost unreasonable, forced its way into the room filled with the smell of vinegar.
The flavor was too complicated.
It has the aroma of sizzling oil, the mellow fragrance of Shaoxing wine, and most importantly, that irresistible freshness.
That's not the smell of just one or two crabs; it's the smell of dozens of crabs tied together and simmered until their very soul is cooked out!
The eunuchs, who had just been thinking that the steamed crab in their hands was incredibly delicious, stopped what they were doing.
Then look at the white crab meat in your hand, dipped in that dark vinegar.
Suddenly it doesn't smell good anymore.
"This—which way is this?" A young eunuch pointed to the back wall.
Liu Fengyu's face darkened.
It's that woodshed again!
It's that Su Mu again!
Doesn't he know how to leave a way out for his competitors? We were just thinking that steaming was the ultimate way to cook crabs, and then he comes up with this mess?
Glug!
Someone swallowed loudly in the quiet kitchen.
Liu Fengyu suddenly stood up and slammed the teacup in his hand onto the table.
"Close the windows!"
He shouted angrily.
"Close it tightly! Don't let that eerie smell get in!"
The stove fire hadn't completely died down yet; the residual heat pressed against the bottom of the pot, making a slight popping sound.
Su Mu lifted the wooden lid of the large iron pot next to him.
call--!
A pure aroma of rice mingled with the heat wave and rose up in the courtyard.
This is newly harvested rice, freshly presented as tribute. Each grain is plump, translucent, and glistening with an oily sheen, giving one a sense of reassurance.
Su Mu took three large white porcelain bowls, flicked his wrist, and filled the three bowls with white rice.
The rice must be piping hot; this is crucial.
Only this scalding heat can truly bring out that spoonful of the ultimate flavor.
He turned around and scooped up a large spoonful of golden-red crab roe from the bubbling oil pot next to him.
The spoon is tilted.
Thick crab oil, carrying chunks of crab roe and crab paste, slid down the edge of the spoon and covered the top of the snow-white rice.
Sizzle!
When oil comes into contact with hot food, it melts instantly.
The golden crab oil seeped down through the gaps in the rice grains, instantly turning the top layer of white rice amber.
He then sprinkled a small handful of finely chopped tender ginger on top, and finally picked up the vinegar bottle and dripped a few drops of aged vinegar onto the golden hue.
This stimulation instantly added a refreshing sourness to the originally domineering aroma of oils, making one's cheeks tingle.
"mix."
Su Mu succinctly pushed the bowl towards Xiao Sizi.
Little Sizi had been waiting impatiently by the table, her little hands gripping the spoon, stirring the food in the bowl no matter how hot it was.
With each stir of the spoon, an even richer aroma rose from the bottom of the bowl.
The once white rice was now completely coated in gold, each grain soaked in crab oil, shining brightly.
"Awoo!"
The little girl didn't even bother to blow air into it; she stuffed a big spoonful into her mouth.
Instantly, she stopped moving.
Its two big eyes were wide open, its cheeks were puffed out, and it wanted to chew, but found that it couldn't open its mouth wide enough.
That crab roe oil was so thick and sticky!
The unique creamy texture of crab roe felt like it was glued to my lips.
"Ugh—Ugh—"
The little ox hummed incoherently, a trace of golden oil spilling from the corner of its mouth.
She swallowed the mouthful of rice with difficulty, opened her mouth to inhale a breath of cool air, licked her lips with her little tongue, and smacked her lips twice with lingering satisfaction.
"Honey! This rice is so sticky!"
Little Sizi held up her spoon, her eyes sparkling. "My mouth is full of fragrant oil! It smells even better than meat!"
Li Lizhi was still standing there, putting on airs.
She was the eldest princess, and she was particular about eating slowly and carefully. Besides, her hands hurt from dismantling the crab earlier, and she was still a little resentful.
But looking at the bowl of golden bibimbap and smelling that irresistible aroma, she found it hard to hold her chopsticks.
"Is it really that delicious?" Li Lizhi asked suspiciously, picking up a small piece with her chopsticks and putting it in her mouth.
It didn't have the fishy smell I expected.
The first taste is the slight sourness of aged vinegar and the spiciness of ginger. Then, the umami flavor, which is concentrated from the essence of twenty large crabs, explodes in your mouth like a flash flood!
There were no random side dishes, just crab roe and crab paste.
This pure and extreme sense of luxury left Li Lizhi's mind blank for a moment.
She subconsciously sped up her chewing.
The granular texture of the crab roe bursts between your teeth, mixing with the soft, sweet rice. The oil lubricates your throat, and with each swallow, warmth spreads from your stomach to your heart.
Li Lizhi looked down at the bowl.
She picked up a spoon and, imitating Xiao Sizi, shoveled large mouthfuls of rice into her mouth.
Although she was trying her best to maintain elegance, the frequency of her movements clearly betrayed the wildness in her heart at that moment.
Su Mu looked at the two foodies, one big and one small, and picked up his bowl with satisfaction, just about to pick up his chopsticks.
Two dry coughs suddenly came from the courtyard gate.
"Ahem!"
The voice wasn't loud, but it had a deliberate quality to it.
Su Mu turned around.
Li Shimin stood at the door with his hands behind his back, followed by Wang Dequan, who looked rather timid.
Old Li was dressed casually today and didn't bring many attendants. He looked like a wealthy old man taking a stroll to digest his food.
But his eyes were fixed on the bowl in Su Mu's hand, and his Adam's apple bobbed almost imperceptibly.
"I—I was just passing by."
Li Shimin walked into the courtyard with his hands behind his back, his eyes wandering in the air. "The moon is nice tonight, so I came out for a walk. I didn't expect to end up in the backyard of the imperial kitchen."
Su Mu looked up at the sky.
It's cloudy today, so where's the moon?
He was too lazy to call him out on it. He took a bite of rice from his bowl, his cheeks puffed out, and asked, "Have you eaten? If not, get yourself a bowl."
Wang Dequan was so frightened that his legs went weak.
In this whole world, the only person who would dare to let His Majesty hold his own bowl is probably this gentleman.
Li Shimin was not angry. Instead, his eyes lit up, and he walked a few steps to the table. Without any ceremony, he sat down on the small bamboo stool that Li Lizhi had just sat on.
"Lizhi, make room for Father."
Li Shimin nudged his daughter.
Li Lizhi was enjoying her meal, her mouth stuffed full. She mumbled "Father!" but turned her body to the side to protect the bowl, as if afraid someone would snatch her food.
Su Mu sighed, got up and took a large bowl, filled it with rice, drizzled oil, sprinkled ginger, and added vinegar.
The movements were fluid and graceful.
Before the bowl was even placed on the table, Li Shimin had already reached out his hand.
"This taste—"