Chapter 280: Chapter 185: The Steamed Rice Flour Silver Strips are So Delicious! Making Pickled Pepper Fish Skin! [Monthly Ticket 1800 Extra]_3
So it needed to blanch for a while longer. Moreover, freshwater fish tend to have more parasites, so it’s better to blanch it a bit longer to avoid undercooking.
Thirty seconds later, Lin Xu used a slotted spoon to lift out the fish skin and plunged it straight into icy water to cool. This step had to be quick; only then would the texture of the fish skin be crisp and refreshing.
Once the fish skin was completely cooled, Lin Xu took out a pack of pickled peppers his mother had bought from the market. He poured the pickled pepper liquid into a larger bowl and began to season. There was already salt in the pickled pepper liquid, so there was no need to add more. He added a small spoonful of sugar, several freshly cut lemon slices, slices of ginger, several cracked garlic cloves, a small handful of washed cilantro roots, a few chili rings cut from small hot peppers, and several pickled pepper halves. Finally, he added the cooled fish skin. After mixing well, he covered it with plastic wrap and placed it in the refrigerator to marinate. By mealtime, it should be well-marinated.
"Xu, your cooking skills are getting better and better; you even know how to prepare fish skin now! I used to worry that raw fish skin wouldn’t taste good, so I always fried it," Chen Meijuan said, watching Lin Xu marinate the fish skin, her face filled with pride. Her son was becoming more capable by the day.
Lin Xu smiled and said, "I’ve actually never made this kind of dish before, but the principles of cooking are similar. As long as the flavor isn’t too extreme, it shouldn’t taste bad."
Next, Lin Xu prepared the White Jade Lotus Root Strips. He also sliced a white radish and made another dish of Steamed Rice Flour Silver Strips. Just as this dish was ready, the Shen Family arrived.
Lin Xu and his parents took the elevator downstairs to greet them. After all, it was his parents-in-law’s first visit, so the etiquette had to be impeccable.
Downstairs, the three members of the Shen Family had just alighted from an Alphard minivan. Zou Cheng, who had delivered the Mercedes G63 last time, was carrying the gifts from the trunk: a case of 2005 Flying Moutai, a case of red wine whose name Lin Xu couldn’t recall, a hundred-year-old ginseng with intact roots, a high-end shawl woven with gold threads, a string of prayer beads blessed by high monks, and a box of exquisite cigars wrapped in gold leaf. Last time Lin Xu visited the Shen Family, he brought six gifts. This time, Shen Guofu also brought six.
"Hello, in-law!" Lin Hongqi said, extending his hand to shake Shen Guofu’s.
"Hello, Brother Lin!" Shen Guofu replied, and they exchanged simple pleasantries.
Meanwhile, Chen Meijuan was greeting Han Shuzhen.
After the polite small talk, Shen Guofu was about to carry the gifts when Lin Xu stepped forward. "Dad, let me do it."
"Ah, come here, son. This is a little token from Dad for you calling me that," Shen Guofu said. He then took out a small red envelope from his pocket that seemed almost empty.
However, when Lin Xu took it, he felt a card inside. A bank card?
"Carrying a bundle of cash is just too old-fashioned, so I put it directly on the card for you. The PIN is Yueyue’s birthday; you can withdraw it later."
A bundle? How much is this token, Father-in-law?
Lin Hongqi chimed in, "In-law, if you give too much, our Xu can’t accept it."
"It’s not much, just a hundred thousand. Xu, quickly call her Mom; your mother-in-law is getting anxious," Shen Guofu urged.
Lin Xu hadn’t expected his father-in-law to be so eager.
He called out to Han Shuzhen, "Mom!"
"Ah, good child! Here’s Mom’s token for you," Han Shuzhen replied, taking an identical small red envelope from her bag. It also contained a bank card.
After Lin Xu took it, she said, "It’s the same as your father-in-law’s card; the PIN is Yueyue’s birthday too."
Once the tokens were given, Shen Guofu turned to Zou Cheng and said, "You can head back first. We can carry these things upstairs ourselves; I’ll call you after dinner."
They were definitely going to drink today. That was why President Shen hadn’t driven himself but had arranged for a car directly from the company.
Zou Cheng agreed, greeted Lin Xu, and then drove away.
The two families, carrying the gifts, headed into the building, chatting as they walked.
Once upstairs, as soon as they entered, Dundun wagged its tail and pounced into Han Shuzhen’s arms.
It let out a coy little mew: "MEOW~~~"
"Aww, my little baby, were you missing Grandma? Last time Dundun came to our place with Xiao Xu, my mother adored this little one! She held onto this little fella and wouldn’t let go," Han Shuzhen cooed.
Lying in Han Shuzhen’s arms, Dundun gave Shen Baobao a provocative look. Hmph! Now let’s see how the Yueyue Demon King can bully this kitty!
Nearby, Shen Guofu and Lin Hongqi hit it off immediately.
"Brother Lin, you’re in really good shape! Unlike me, I get winded just walking a short distance," Shen Guofu remarked.
"I was just like you when I had an office job," Lin Hongqi replied. "But ever since I started managing the scenic area, I make at least two trips up the mountain every day. I’m fitter now than I was in my twenties."
Hearing this, Shen Guofu turned to Han Shuzhen and said, "Shuzhen, let’s find some time to stay at our in-laws’ scenic area for a while. We can climb some mountains, forage for wild vegetables, that sort of thing."
Having lived in a concrete jungle for years, Shen Guofu had long yearned for life in the mountains and countryside. However, with his busy business and many commitments, finding the right time to get away wasn’t easy.
"Sure, let’s go. We can leave whenever you have time," Han Shuzhen replied, sitting on the sofa and gently scratching Dundun’s chin. "Actually, I’d like to stay at the scenic area’s cliffside hotel for a bit."
Dundun, thoroughly enjoying the attention, squinted its eyes and purred contentedly.
After they chatted for a while, lunch began. The table was laden with various dishes, making even Shen Guofu, the "little foodie prince," drool in anticipation.
Lin Xu took the marinated fish skin from the refrigerator and poured it onto a plate. Then he brought over the White Jade Lotus Root Strips and Steamed Rice Flour Silver Strips he had prepared.
"Dad, Mom, you should try this dish—the Steamed Rice Flour Silver Strips I made today," Lin Xu said.
Steamed Rice Flour Silver Strips? Shen Guofu thought, looking at the visually appealing dish. He asked curiously, "Are you sure this is made from radish strips? It looks just like rice noodles..."
On the way over, he had been guessing endlessly but never imagined such an elegant dish could be made from white radish. Seeing it now, his interest was thoroughly piqued.
The dishes were now all laid out. Lin Hongqi was opening a bottle of National Cellar 1573 he had bought from Uncle Yu’s supermarket the previous night. After opening it, he poured some for Shen Guofu. Lin Xu hadn’t planned on drinking, but seeing his father-in-law in such high spirits, he poured a glass for himself as well.
Once everyone was seated, they began to eat.
Shen Guofu was the first to try the Steamed Rice Flour Silver Strips. "Wow, this flavor! Is this really made from radish strips?" he exclaimed. "It’s chewy yet tender, and the seasoning is perfect. This dish is excellent!"
He couldn’t stop praising it.
Shen Jiayue and Han Shuzhen were also quite surprised. They simply couldn’t associate such a delicious dish with plain white radish.
While the Shen Family tasted the Steamed Rice Flour Silver Strips, Lin Hongqi and Chen Meijuan also tried the White Jade Lotus Root Strips their son had made. The refreshing first bite and the crisp texture amazed them. They had never imagined their son could make lotus root so delicious. His culinary skills were truly extraordinary!
After tasting the dishes, Shen Guofu raised his wine glass and began drinking with Lin Hongqi. As the junior, Lin Xu also joined them for a drink. The men ate slowly as they were drinking, but Shen Baobao had no such inhibitions, wielding her chopsticks non-stop.
Soon, while Lin Xu was sipping chicken soup from a small bowl, Shen Baobao started to feel too full to eat anymore. She rubbed her little belly, feeling stuffed again. But Grandma’s cooking is just too good! Even Mom, who always prides herself on being such a refined lady, is gobbling down her food!
"Umm... I’d really love a bowl of sweet soup!" Shen Baobao sighed. Since I’m already full, having some soup isn’t too much to ask, right?
No sooner had she spoken than Lin Xu said, "You want soup, huh? Then I’ll make you some corn cream soup."
Corn cream soup? Shen Baobao’s eyes lit up. "Yes, yes! Go ahead and make it. I’ll take a short video!"
Lin Xu got up and asked curiously, "What’s the video for?"
"Yan Sister is setting up live streaming equipment at the Fishing Platform banquet hall, and she hasn’t eaten yet. I want to make her jealous!" Shen Baobao replied mischievously.
Lin Xu was speechless. "..."
Why do I already hear my sister-in-law’s furious shouting even though Baobao hasn’t even started filming yet?