Gourmet: The Master Chef Just Wants to Leisurely Set Up a Stall - Chapter 80

Today’s menu featured spicy fried pork ribs, and the preorders were overwhelming.

Early in the morning, Zhao Xiaojing headed to the butcher’s stall to collect the forty-odd racks of ribs she had reserved in advance. Her system fridge was nearly overflowing.

Thankfully, the butcher had already prepped the ribs, cutting them into strips along the rib bones and chopping them into smaller pieces.

By midday, Zhao Xiaojing had several large stainless steel bowls soaking the ribs in water. She changed the water twice to remove the blood. By now, the ribs were thoroughly cleaned and ready for the next step.

Draining the ribs, she began preparing the soul of the spicy ribs: Sichuan pepper oil.

The type of Sichuan pepper used was crucial. Zhao Xiaojing had specifically chosen dark green qinghua jiao (Sichuan green pepper) that had been sun-dried in Chongqing.

She poured the green peppercorns into a bowl and soaked them in warm water for ten minutes to soften them.

Next, she placed them in a high-powered blender, grinding them into coarse fragments. Soaking the peppercorns helped release their oils, and grinding them broke open their oil glands, ensuring a full release of their flavor.

The resulting pepper paste was thick and sticky. She transferred it into a bowl, adding a dash of salt, sugar, her homemade onion powder, and some concentrated beef stock for umami. After mixing everything thoroughly, she poured the paste into a pot.

The pepper paste to oil ratio was roughly 1:2 or 1:3. Starting with cold oil, she began simmering the mixture.

The flame was kept low to prevent scorching, and she regularly stirred the pot to avoid sticking. The oil temperature had to stay under 120°C; otherwise, the heat would cause the pepper’s fragrance to dissipate.

After about thirty minutes, the water content evaporated, and the pepper fragments began to float. Lowering the heat further, she stirred the mixture until all the moisture had been cooked off, leaving behind rich, aromatic Sichuan pepper oil.

She carefully strained the oil and set it aside.

Next came marinating the drained ribs.

She mixed five-spice powder, thirteen-spice powder, ginger powder, sugar, and a pinch of salt before adding the freshly made Sichuan pepper oil and some homemade chili oil from earlier in the week. She thoroughly kneaded the marinade into the ribs.

Using oil-based ingredients like Sichuan pepper oil and chili oil was key. This method not only gave the ribs a glossy, vibrant appearance but also ensured that, when fried, they would have a dazzling, red-hot sheen.

If she had used only powdered spices, the fried ribs would’ve turned out dark and slightly bitter—a mistake she was determined to avoid.

After marinating the ribs, she packed them into sealed bags and stored them in her system fridge to chill.

Later, after work, she switched to her vending cart mode, fired up the oil, and used the preheating time to prepare a non-Newtonian batter with cornstarch and water.

Taking the chilled ribs out, she coated each one in batter and submerged them into oil heated to 180°C. She fried them over medium heat until the insides were fully cooked and the outsides crisped to a golden perfection. After cooling, she portioned them into individual servings.

By the end, there were a few portions leftover, which she set aside as a gift for Li Donglai.

Thanks to him, the milk ice debacle had been resolved perfectly. After three days of her giving it out for free, customers had stopped pestering her to sell it. Though their craving was evident, no one dared to ask again.

Finally, Zhao Xiaojing had posted a poll in the group to see if they wanted milk ice added to the regular menu like the skewers. The overwhelmingly enthusiastic response sealed the deal.

With that issue settled, she could finally breathe easy.

Today, the cafeteria closed earlier than usual, and by 8:00 PM, she had finished frying all the ribs. Leisurely pedaling her vending cart, she arrived at the supermarket twenty minutes ahead of schedule.

To her surprise, most of the customers were already there.

Usually, she arrived around 8:30 PM, and customers would show up right on time, making pick-ups quick and efficient. She had assumed they were all timing their visits perfectly.

Seeing them here early made her realize this wasn’t the case—they had been arriving much earlier all along.

“Good evening, Boss!”
“Boss, you’re here!”
“Boss, you’re early today!” customers greeted her cheerfully.

“And you’re all here so early?” Zhao Xiaojing asked in surprise.

“Nothing else to do! There are so many of us buying skewers every day that we’ve all become friends. Now we come early to chat and hang out—it’s lively!” one customer replied.

“Yeah, Boss, we’ve even formed little groups. It’s like a daily hangout. See? We even brought chairs to sit and cool off together!” another added, grinning.

“It’s like those old courtyard days. Back then, folks didn’t have electronics, so after dinner, they’d sit outside to chat and enjoy the breeze. We’re basically the same now.”

“Honestly, we’re living like we’re twenty years ahead of our peers—mentally we’ve already retired!” someone joked, prompting a round of laughter.

Hearing their chatter, Zhao Xiaojing couldn’t help but smile. She felt a warmth spread in her chest. Her humble stall had become more than just a business—it had created a community.

And wasn’t that the true significance of her work?

“Who gave you permission to set up here? Do you have a business license?!”

A sharp voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

The customers turned in confusion, some immediately frowning and stepping forward to confront whoever it was that had come to stir up trouble again.

Zhao Xiaojing also turned, ready to respond—but her composed expression gave way to shock as her face cycled through a series of emotions.

“It’s you! How did you find me? Why are you back? Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” Zhao Xiaojing exclaimed, staring at the figure standing with a mischievous grin, a large backpack slung over her shoulder.

“I asked Guo Gaoang for your location. Smart, right? Of course, I came back to see you. What’s the point of staying at some lousy job?” Su Yuchen replied with a cheeky smile.

Without thinking, Zhao Xiaojing rushed forward and pulled Su Yuchen into a tight hug.

Seeing Su Yuchen again stirred a mix of emotions in Zhao Xiaojing. It wasn’t just nostalgia—it was like seeing a ghost from another life. In her past life, she hadn’t seen Su Yuchen for seven or eight years before her death.

Though they had kept in touch online after her rebirth, digital conversations always felt distant. Seeing Su Yuchen in the flesh brought all those pent-up feelings rushing to the surface.

“Wow, Zhao, your strength’s something else now. I can’t even fight back! You really missed me, huh? You’re so happy you’ve stopped selling skewers!” Su Yuchen teased, squirming slightly but finding herself unable to break free from the hug.

Realizing she was still in the middle of her shift, Zhao Xiaojing snapped out of it and quickly let go.

“Oh no, I forgot I’m still working! Sorry for holding everyone up,” Zhao Xiaojing apologized, flustered.

“Hahaha, no worries! I thought someone was causing trouble again for a second—I was ready to throw punches! Take your time, Boss. Honestly, seeing you this excited is priceless!” one customer joked.

“Yeah, Boss, is this your sister? You two look so alike—both so gorgeous!” another chimed in.

“Thanks to you, little sister, we’ve finally seen the Boss this cheerful!”