bookrebus Chapter 223 Seafood
Chapter 223 Seafood
Chen Yuan pointed to the large pile of various kinds of seafood on the table and said.
"We've added first-harvest seaweed and fresh sea urchin to the original eight ingredients. We've also added fresh shrimp roe and dried scallop powder to the seasoning. I guarantee today's buns will be so delicious they'll make your eyebrows fall off."
The aunt looked at this and that: "My goodness, 10 kinds of seafood! I've never even heard of them before. The cost of these buns alone must be fifty or sixty yuan."
Chen Yuan laughed and said, "Forget about money, the most important thing is that everyone enjoys the meal. Actually, I originally wanted to prepare eight kinds of dishes today, but considering it's Grandma's birthday, it would be better to prepare ten. It sounds nice too, like perfect ten."
At this point, Wang Xiulan chimed in with a cheerful laugh, "Yes, and not only is it perfect, we're also hoping the old lady will live to be 100!"
Everyone praised the idea.
The eldest aunt nodded repeatedly: "Your child, aside from everything else, is especially filial and truly cares about your elders. Just for that, the old lady will definitely be happy."
Chen Fei patted Chen Yuan on the shoulder heavily: "That's right, among these children, you are the most thoughtful and filial, much better than your brother."
Chen Yuan simply smiled and said, "Everyone should do their own filial duty."
There's no need to wait for the steamer lid to be lifted; the aroma wafts out of the kitchen.
Chen Yuan really put a lot of effort into making these steamed buns.
Not only is it filled with 100% seafood, but the dumpling wrappers are made with homemade flour, and a little bit of minced pork fat and lard are added inside. In addition, there is a soul broth made with big bones. This complex aroma is compressed in the steamer and then released.
The fragrance is incredibly strong.
Even the old lady sitting in the house could smell it, and her nose twitched twice.
"Oh my, what's that smell? It's so tempting, it's making my stomach rumble."
Chen Yuan kept checking his watch and wouldn't turn off the stove until it was time. After turning it off, he would let it sit for another five minutes.
When the time comes...
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Chen Yuan lifted the lid of the steamer.
The white mist rose suddenly like thick clouds, then slowly dissipated.
The steamed buns in the steamer were all round and plump. Because they were filled with so much filling, the plump outlines of several kinds of seafood could be vaguely seen through them.
The aroma instantly filled the entire courtyard, strong yet not pungent, gently seeping into people's nostrils.
Even the neighbors came out to smell what it was.
Even the big yellow dog that roamed the village smelled the scent and crawled towards Chen Yuan's doorstep.
Cold dishes and hot platters were served in a continuous stream, and several tables were joined together to form a long mat.
The guests took their seats one by one. Su Qingxue wanted to sit somewhere a little off to the side, but the old lady grabbed her and wouldn't let go: "Good child, you are a guest today, sit next to me."
Auntie also said, "Yes, yes, Grandma is celebrating her birthday today. Sit closer to her so you can share in her good fortune."
Unable to refuse Su Qingxue's kind invitation, he had no choice but to comply.
During the meal, Su Qingxue and Chen Yuan barely had time to say a word, communicating only through eye contact.
It was just a simple, home-cooked meal, nothing special.
When the ten-ingredient steamed buns were served, the family members who had been holding back, offering toasts and serving food, suddenly dropped all formalities, some using chopsticks and others using their hands.
The youngest boy, Little Tiger, scratched it and cried loudly from the heat.
My second aunt, undeterred by the heat, tore a hole in the bun with her iron claws and blew on it vigorously. The aroma was so enticing that my mouth watered.
One bite, and his eyes widened in surprise. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "My goodness! This soup is absolutely amazing! One bite, and it's so delicious it's making my soul fly away!"
The aunt looked at the buns, which were bigger than a fist, and said, "Goodness, with this size, let alone 88 yuan each, I think 98 yuan each wouldn't be expensive."
"The seafood here is so fresh. Especially the shrimp, how can it be so fresh and bouncy? It tastes so much better than the ones I make at home."
Uncle San took a swig of strong tea, and we exclaimed, "It's so fresh, I can't stand it! Xiao Yuan's cooking skills are truly superb, no wonder the shop is so popular."
The old lady had weak teeth, so Chen Yuan picked out the softest one for her beforehand. He gently made a small opening with his chopsticks, blew on the contents to cool them down a bit, and then handed it to her, saying, "Grandma, eat slowly."
The old lady first took a sip of the soup, smacked her lips, and then raised her voice.
"Delicious, delicious! The filling is so generous, and the soup is also very good. It has the flavor of both seafood and meat broth."
Su Qingxue said from the side, "Grandma, try the filling again. If you can't chew it, pick it out and give it to me."
The old lady laughed and said, "How could I let you eat that? You tell me how lucky I am! I've lived 80 years, and it's truly been a worthwhile life!"
When the seafood entered her mouth, the old lady felt the rich flavor of the different seafood explode on her already atrophied taste buds.
She looked up at the dozen or so people of all ages in the yard, listening to the sounds of chewing, laughter, cursing, children crying, and the clatter of bowls and chopsticks.
The old lady breathed a long sigh of relief and revealed a genuine, extremely satisfied smile.
Lunch passed quickly.
After the banquet, the relatives gradually rested or returned home.
After all, people have to go to work or school on Mondays and can't stay at home for long.
Chen Yuan's family will have dinner before going back.
The red lanterns in the courtyard swayed gently in the night breeze. The residual warmth of the kitchen had not yet dissipated, and inside and outside the house, some kind of insects were making a buzzing sound.
Chen Yuan was helping his third aunt put the last bowls and chopsticks into the bamboo basket.
The old lady sat inside the house.
As the people in the main room gradually left, the old lady called Chen Yuan to her side.
Chen Yuan vigorously wiped his wet hands: "What's wrong, Grandma?"
The old lady reached out and grabbed Chen Yuan's wrist, not with much force, and when she spoke again, her voice was clear and direct as she pressed him for an answer.
"On such a big day, there are some things I can't say. I'm asking you, where's your wife? It's my birthday today, and she hasn't shown up at all. Where did she go?"
Chen Yuan's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface.
"Grandma, I've been so busy with work lately. You know how hard it is to find a job these days, so I just haven't been able to find the time. Lin Wei asked me to bring you two boxes of bird's nest. They're on the cabinet in the inner room. The quality of this bird's nest is quite good. Remember to eat it."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the old lady raised her hand and gave him a light slap on the arm.
A crisp "snap" sounded particularly clear in the quiet main room.
Chen Yuan was stunned. The old lady's face suddenly darkened, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes tightened sharply.
"Don't try to fool me with that. Do you think I'm a three-year-old?"