Quan Yuxun, while slandering inwardly, picked up a bun with an unchanged smile, taking a small, reserved bite.
The steamed meat buns he had eaten before always had a slightly thicker skin to support their large size.
So, with his first bite, he didn't expect to taste the meat filling inside.
Unexpectedly, with just this small bite, he tasted the layer of skin in contact with the meat filling.
The soft Plain Girl Flour, with its natural, fresh fragrance, seemed to transform suddenly from a youthful maiden into a voluptuous noblewoman. The meaty aroma, filtered through the flour, suddenly assaulted his taste buds, causing the gustatory desires he had neglected for years to burst forth like a dam breaking, completely unstoppable.
Next, Quan Yuxun completely immersed himself in the flavor of the meat bun, savoring it carefully.
Eating the bun skin alone was one flavor, eating the meat filling and bun skin together was another, and taking a bite of the rich meat filling alone even allowed him to taste the Black Truffle and Morel Mushroom inside.
When he swallowed the last bite, he didn't feel full, but rather even hungrier.
Although Zong Ruoan had already eaten once, he was still immersed in the overwhelming deliciousness of the Wild Rhinoceros Pig meat bun.
Quan Yuxun glanced at him and began to really look forward to the dinner Xia Yuanfang was preparing.
...
Xia Yuanfang made four main dishes for dinner.
One was Si Xi Meatballs made with Wild Rhinoceros Pig meat, in a clear soup. She had noticed that Zong Ruoan preferred this clear soup flavor, and Chief Quan should be similar.
Another was Red Braised Pork made with Wild Rhinoceros Pig meat, because Xia Chujian especially loved it, and Xia Yuanfang thought that the little baby Wu Fu would also love this soft, glutinous, and tender flavor.
Another dish was tofu made with minced Unicorn Cattle beef, but unlike last time, she cut the tofu into threads finer than hair, then stewed them in a rich broth and arranged them in a soup bowl.
The last dish was Xia Yuanfang's first attempt at fish cake.
She used Ying Fish meat, pounded into a paste, then added Wild Rhinoceros Pig meat and Unicorn Cattle beef, also pounded into a paste, in a ratio of seven to two to one. Finally, she mixed it evenly with egg whites, shaped it into long strips, and used the gelatinous quality of the fish meat to steam it into a snow-white cake.
After taking it out and slicing it, it was ready to be plated.
For the pre-dinner appetizer, Xia Yuanfang used the remaining Ying Fish meat paste, combined with breadcrumbs, to fry a few golden fish balls, along with her own pickled radishes. Eating a bite of pickled radish while eating meat dishes was both refreshing and appetite-enhancing.
The after-dinner dessert was more ordinary: sweet osmanthus fermented glutinous rice balls.
Because Xia Chujian loved to eat this for breakfast every morning in winter.
Unfortunately, there was no Red Glutinous Rice left. Xia Chujian found the bag containing the Red Glutinous Rice and shook it hard for a long time, finally pouring out the last remaining Red Glutinous Rice residue inside, and cooked it with the fermented rice.
Thus, the crystal-clear, milky-white sweet osmanthus fermented rice wine contained scattered specks of red, floating and sinking with the soft, white glutinous rice balls in the sky-blue soup bowl, making one's appetite surge.
After all the dishes were plated and placed on the table, Quan Yuxun and Zong Ruoan, two well-informed people, were speechless for a moment.
Xia Chujian felt particularly proud.
She smiled and greeted them, "Today, I'm also fortunate enough to eat a new dish, thanks to Chief Quan Da."
"Oh? Which dish is it? Even you haven't eaten it before?" Quan Yuxun asked with a smile.
Xia Chujian shook her head and said regretfully, "No, I really haven't eaten it before. My Xia Gugu has rarely made new dishes in recent years. I thought I had eaten all of my Xia Gugu's dishes, but it turns out there are still some I haven't eaten!"
As she spoke, she took out the newly purchased child seat and placed it next to her seat.
Wu Fu and Si Xi had been circling the dining table since the plating began.
Unfortunately, both the person and the dog had short legs and couldn't reach the table even when they jumped.
Now, Xia Chujian finally picked up Wu Fu and placed her in the child seat.
Seeing that he was the only one alone under the table, Si Xi immediately became teary-eyed.
"Wu Er Fu, Wu Er Fu."
It called out softly, mixed with a few whimpers.
Xia Chujian said regretfully, "Si Xi, you can't come to the table. But it's okay, I'll pack you some delicious food, can you go to my room and eat? All the good things are yours, let's close the door, and no one can come and steal our Small Si Xi's food!"
The Small Dog tilted its head and looked at her for a while, not knowing if it understood.
But when Xia Chujian picked up the food bowl that was bigger than its head, it understood.
It wagged its tail all the way to Xia Chujian's room, happily going to eat "alone."
Then Xia Chujian thoughtfully closed her door and came out to eat with everyone.
Xia Yuanfang took out the bottle of red wine that Ye Shijie had given her, and said with a smile, "Would the two gentlemen like some wine?"
Zong Ruoan and Quan Yuxun both picked up their glasses, "Thank you, Xia Gugu."
Although this wine wasn't quite the top-tier red wine they drank at home, it was still very good wine for ordinary people.
Even in the homes of ordinary Nobles, it was a brand they could proudly present.
Xia Yuanfang poured a glass for Zong Ruoan and Quan Yuxun each.
Xia Chujian quietly extended her glass: "...Gugu, I'm an adult now."
Xia Yuanfang had always forbidden her from drinking, previously saying she was a minor.
However, Xia Yuanfang still refused, "No, you're not twenty-one yet, you can't drink."
Xia Chujian: "..."
She could understand not being allowed to drink before eighteen.
But not being allowed to drink before twenty-one, where did that rule come from?! Of course, she didn't have the guts to argue with Xia Yuanfang, so she had to pour herself a glass of Golden Fruit juice in disappointment.
Quan Yuxun noticed this and was a little surprised by Xia Yuanfang's strict upbringing.
To smooth things over, he raised his glass and said, "It was indeed presumptuous of us today, but Ruoan speaks so highly of Xia Gugu's cooking, I couldn't resist my curiosity, so I took the liberty. When you two go to Cangge Star in the future, I will definitely host you and treat you well. - I'll drink to that first, and wish everyone a happy new year!"
"Happy New Year!"
Everyone raised their glasses together.
It was just past four o'clock, and it was already completely dark outside.
And it was snowing lightly.
On such a cold day, large snowflakes swirled outside the window, and you could almost hear the sound of the snow falling.
The dishes on the table were still steaming.
Looking through the window, this was the warmth of human life.
Xia Chujian first scooped a small bowl of tofu and Unicorn Cattle soup for Wu Fu, then picked up two pieces of Red Braised Pork and a piece of fish cake for him.
Although he was young, he already knew how to use chopsticks and a spoon.
Xia Chujian then scooped a bowl of tofu and Unicorn Cattle soup for Zong Ruoan and Quan Yuxun each.
Then it was Xia Yuanfang, and finally herself.
"Alright, let's dig in!" Xia Chujian couldn't wait to eat the fish cake.
But Xia Yuanfang said, "Chujian, use the serving chopsticks to try each dish."
Xia Chujian: "..."
She didn't understand why, but she did as Xia Yuanfang said.
Quan Yuxun raised his eyebrows slightly.
This Gugu of Xia Chujian's knew quite a bit.
People of their status generally wouldn't eat food made by unfamiliar people.
But today was an exception. Firstly, he trusted Zong Ruoan, and secondly, he trusted Xia Chujian, so he didn't bring bodyguards to "test for poison" in advance.
But Xia Yuanfang took the initiative to have Xia Chujian try each dish, dispelling possible doubts, which was also her etiquette as a host.
Xia Chujian hurriedly used the serving chopsticks to try each dish, then aimed for the fish cake.
Although Xia Yuanfang taught her to drink soup first when eating, especially meat or egg soup with a high protein content, she still wanted to try the fish cake first.
Each piece of fish cake was the size of a palm, white and tender, with thin golden egg skin decorations on the sides.
She was conquered by the moist and smooth taste after just one bite!
Everyone has their own taste preferences, but this fish cake could almost cater to everyone's taste! Those who like light flavors would find this fish cake fragrant and pleasant.
Those who like strong flavors, the more they chewed this fish cake, the more layers of umami they would taste, and there were no regrettable dregs.
After the fish, pork, and beef were mixed, it seemed like a mysterious chemical reaction occurred, giving the taste buds an all-round bombardment.
It could be swallowed in one gulp, but without the feeling of bolting it down; the sensation of it sliding down the throat was endlessly satisfying.
Or it could be savored slowly, fully enjoying all the flavors before devouring it all.
Moreover, its texture was delicate and moist, suitable for both young and old.
The plate of sliced fish cake had a total of twenty pieces.
Little Wu Fu, with a chopstick in one hand and a spoon in the other, coordinated meticulously, occasionally licking his chopsticks and spoon, not wanting to waste a single bit of food.
He actually ate two pieces of fish cake in a row, Xia Chujian ate three pieces, and Xia Yuanfang only ate one piece.
The remaining fourteen pieces were divided equally between Zong Ruoan and Quan Yuxun.
And Quan Yuxun also really liked the shredded meat and tofu soup made with Unicorn Cattle.
He almost monopolized the entire stew pot.
Zong Ruoan still had a soft spot for the clear broth Si Xi Meatballs.
Xia Chujian, Xia Yuanfang, and Wu Fu all favored Red Braised Pork.
So in the end, the only sounds at the table were those of people eating; no one spoke.
Quan Yuxun, unusually, ate three bowls of rice in a row.
All the dishes, including the appetizers, were eaten clean before Quan Yuxun put down his chopsticks and said with a smile, "I was rude today. It was indeed too delicious. Ruoan did not exaggerate."
Zong Ruoan said, "I've known Yuxun for over twenty years, and I've never seen him eat so much food in one meal!"
From a young age, Quan Yuxun had been taught that no matter how much he liked something, he couldn't eat it freely, nor could he let others see what he liked to eat.
Therefore, he partook of food Evenly Distributing Dew, and thus didn't have any particular feelings about it.
As long as it could fill him up, and the nutrition was balanced, healthy, and moderately tasty, that was enough.
He had always felt that no matter how delicious food was, it was just that, and nothing could make him break his rules.
But today, a habit he had maintained for over twenty years was broken.
He wasn't annoyed.
"Such good food should make people forget themselves," Quan Yuxun said with a smile. "Luckily, I haven't had such delicious food before, or I might have really become a foodie."
Xia Chujian said in a serious tone, "Chief Quan Da, it's never too late to become a foodie. And foodies are the humans who love life the most. It's not a derogatory term!"
Still three updates today! The second update is at 7:00 AM, and the third update is at 1:00 PM.
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