Jiang's Auspicious Chicken

Chapter 25 Jiang's Auspicious Chicken

Luo Qinzhu left in a hurry, her skirt sweeping across the bluestone slabs, stirring up a gentle breeze.

The onlookers automatically made way for her, their eyes following her back before turning back to Nan Xu, full of doubt.

"What are you buying? Why are you being so mysterious?"

"Buying it now? I think it's like cramming at the last minute!"

""

"Could it be that he knows he has no chance of winning and is deliberately trying to attract attention?"

'

Whispers began to rise, but Nan Xu seemed not to hear them.

He simply took out the ingredients that had been prepared beforehand and carefully processed them one by one.

Before making the cut, he added the 10 attribute points he had gained from leveling up to [Concentration].

To make that dish, one needs a certain amount of internal energy and the ability to control it. Although his concentration is already quite high, it will still be somewhat difficult without some effort.

Moreover, improved concentration will indirectly improve his knife skills, which will also help him in handling ingredients.

Nan Xu took out the square piece of white tofu and placed it on the cutting board.

Unlike Jiang Chengjin's swift knife skills, Nan Xu's knife work was much slower. His movements were steady, the blade gently gliding across the tender tofu, cutting it into small cubes.

If someone were to look closely, they would be surprised to find that these tofu blocks are all exactly the same size!

Next, he finished processing the bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, lean meat, and ham, cutting them into equally neat and uniform small cubes.

Then, he walked to the stove, flicked his hand, and lit the fire.

Flames licked the bottom of the pot, and wisps of smoke rose up.

He put the remaining ham, bones and all, into the casserole dish, then took the prepared pork bones and whole chicken and put them into the pot as well.

With a "whoosh," the flames shot up.

Nan Xu put the pot lid on, stood quietly in front of the stove, and silently channeled his inner energy to adjust the heat of the stove fire.

With limited time available in the cooking competition, he needed to have extremely precise control over his internal energy to prepare a high-quality broth in a short period of time.

The sound of boiling water gradually rose from the clay pot.

After waiting quietly for a while, he lifted the lid of the pot, attached his inner energy to the spoon, and patiently skimmed off the foam.

After skimming off the foam, he put the lid back on the pot and used his culinary skills to control the heat.

After repeating this process several times, the broth finally became clear and transparent.

Nan Xu scooped up a spoonful of soup, brought it to her lips, and gently sipped it.

"Hmm, it's ready." He nodded to himself.

He used his inner energy to filter out the residue, and then added the diced bamboo shoots, shiitake mushrooms, lean meat, and ham to the pot.

"Click".

After the lid was put down, the pot was simmered for a while longer until the flavors of the ingredients were fully blended. Then, Nanxu turned down the heat and put the pot on a slow simmer.

Next, all you need to do is wait.

He withdrew his hands, which had been continuously channeling his inner energy, and soaked them in cold water for a while.

The prolonged and intense use of the Fire Palm technique caused his hands to turn red from the heat.

Fortunately, he possessed high-level internal energy and thick skin, otherwise he might have burned his hands, leading to a decrease in dexterity.

In that case, the culinary battle would be dangerous.

While waiting, Nanxu took the time to rinse the tofu, which had been cut into cubes, to remove the beany smell, and used a frosting technique to keep the tofu firm.

This way, even if you cook it for a little longer, it won't lose its texture due to becoming mushy.

After doing all this, Nanxu simply sat cross-legged in front of the stove and waited.

His profile was illuminated by the flickering firelight from the stove, yet his expression remained calm and composed.

Time passed second by second, and the sun gradually set in the west, slowly sinking below the horizon.

Jiang Chengjin's cooking is nearing completion; he's currently plating the food.

-

The crowd began to stir, and some people in the Baiweilou queue kept looking towards Nanxu with anxious expressions.

"Why hasn't Chef Luo returned yet? There's less than an incense stick's time left!"

"What's so special about his soup? Is it really possible for him to beat the Jiang family's seventh-rank chef?"

""

I doubt it —

'

Amidst the murmurs, Jiang Chengjin, carrying an exquisitely carved tray, calmly emerged from behind the stove.

His face still held that confident look, as if the outcome of this trip was already decided.

The next moment, everyone's eyes were drawn to the tray in his hands.

On the plate is a golden-brown roasted chicken.

The chicken lay perfectly in the center of the plate, its shape intact, without a single exposed cut.

The chicken skin is golden and glossy, emitting an enticing aroma. The afterglow of the setting sun falls on the chicken skin, reflecting a dazzling light, as if it has been plated with a layer of gold leaf.

Jiang Chengjin gently placed the tray in front of the judges' table and bowed.

"Jiang's Auspicious Chicken, please enjoy it, gentlemen." His tone carried a hint of arrogance.

Prefect Zhao stroked his beard, his gaze falling on the dishes on the tray. After examining them for a long time, he slowly spoke, "This—is this the famous Ruyi Chicken, which even His Majesty praises highly?"

Jiang Chengjin bowed slightly, a smile involuntarily appearing on his lips: "Yes, sir. Our Jiang family's Ruyi Chicken was originally a staple food carried by our Jiang family members when they traveled long distances for business. It was packed in a specially made bamboo barrel and could last for dozens of days without losing its aroma and remaining delicious."

"Later, when the Emperor made his southern tour, the head of the family was in charge of welcoming him. It was this dish, 'Ruyi Chicken,' that pleased the Emperor and earned him the name 'Ruyi Chicken,' which means 'making money wisely and having everything go smoothly.'"

As he spoke, a proud look appeared on his face: "This Ruyi Chicken uses locally produced young chickens to ensure that the meat is tender. The ingredients include a variety of mountain delicacies such as mushrooms, fresh bamboo shoots, goji berries, ham, and ginseng. It is made through more than ten processes, including soaking in honey, stuffing with seasonings, slow roasting over pine charcoal, and sealing in bamboo tubes. It is not only fragrant, tender, and crispy, but also has the effect of warming and nourishing the body."

"Our Jiang family has gained the Emperor's favor and the reputation of being able to make friends with the Emperor even when we are commoners, all thanks to this Jiang Family's Auspicious Chicken!"

""

Manager Huang said with emotion, "The recipe for the Jiang family's Ruyi Chicken has always been a secret, passed down only within the clan."

I'm so lucky to be able to eat this today!

As he spoke, he stretched out his chopsticks and reached for the Ruyi Chicken.

The chopsticks gently touched the chicken, and with an enticing soft sound, the golden chicken skin broke open.

From the crack, a wisp of steam rose, and a rich and enticing aroma of meat suddenly filled the air, with a faint hint of medicinal fragrance mixed in with the meaty aroma, whetting one's appetite.

Upon smelling the aroma, Manager Huang's eyes lit up.

He applied slight pressure with his chopsticks, gently pried along the crack, and a piece of chicken was picked off.

The chicken has a pinkish-white color, with juice seeping slightly between the fibers. It trembles gently on the tip of chopsticks, as if it is so tender that it would fall apart with the slightest force.

Manager Huang licked his lips, and then couldn't wait to put the piece of chicken into his mouth!