Chapter 284 - Chapter 284: Chapter 292: The More Difficult It Gets (2/2)

Shu Qin was skilled in cooking and had a thoughtful mind. Currently, Su Wenyue had handed over all kitchen affairs to Shu Qin, who so far had been very satisfactory. The cooks in the kitchen had been well-trained by Shu Qin and were quite proficient.

“Madam,” Shu Qin said, uncertain, “I am not entirely sure about preparing Sour Bamboo Shoots with Meat Slices. I’m afraid the final dish may not meet your taste, so I came to inquire.”

Shu Qin knew her mistress had high standards for food. Sour Bamboo Shoots with Meat Slices sounded like an easy dish to make, yet the simpler a dish, the harder it was to make it well.

“We don’t have bamboo shoots stored in the kitchen. I’ve ordered the servants to dig up fresh ones from the Bamboo Forest. This dish has not been made often, as nobody really enjoys bamboo shoots. If we cook it in the most common way, it surely won’t taste good. So, I thought of a method: the shoots have a bitter taste, therefore, we should blanch them first before stir-frying them with meat and rice vinegar, then adding some green garlic and chili.”

Hearing Shu Qin mention digging up shoots from the Bamboo Forest, Su Wenyue realized they didn’t have sour bamboo shoots at home; she too had overlooked that bamboo shoots were not popular at this time, so naturally, nobody made Sour Bamboo Shoots. These naturally fermented sour bamboo shoots, with a taste that vinegar couldn’t match, were not just limited to sour varieties—they could be processed into many bamboo shoot products, delicious and, over time, becoming a staple on the dining table.

The idea invigorated Su Wenyue, and she recalled other possible ventures. It was the season for winter bamboo shoots. If they harvested all the bamboo shoots in the Bamboo Forest and processed them into various bamboo shoot products, packaged in attractive porcelain jars, these would be perfect for the New Year when vegetables were scarce, making an exceptional gift. Unlike other pickles, bamboo shoot products were an original idea and would certainly be fresh and popular.

“Shu Qin, I remember there being several bamboo forests nearby, right?” Su Wenyue, not a genuine rural woman raised in seclusion, was unfamiliar with these matters. Before her marriage, she would visit the Bamboo Forest for fun without paying any attention to bamboo shoots.

Unaware of what Su Wenyue was contemplating, Shu Qin replied, thinking Su Wenyue might be worried about not having shoots for lunch, “Indeed, not to mention other places, there’s a large bamboo forest near Xinluo Town within the mountains, not too far away. I told them to hurry, so Madam will definitely have bamboo shoots for lunch.”

“That’s wonderful, but we don’t need to make Sour Bamboo Shoots with Meat Slices for noon—let’s do Winter Bamboo Shoots with Meat Slices instead.” Su Wenyue continued, teaching Shu Qin how to cook the dish. She was picky about authentic flavors; eating anything that didn’t meet her standards felt off. Thus, they wouldn’t have sour shoots for a day or two. However, her current fascination with bamboo shoots prompted her to opt for a different flavor.

“Be sure to add some of our homemade Glutinous Rice Wine during cooking and make sure it’s well simmered. That way, it won’t cause heartburn when eaten.” Su Wenyue emphasized the secret to cooking bamboo shoots, so they’d be delicious and not cause discomfort even if consumed in larger quantities.

“I’ve got it,” Shu Qin responded with a smile, often personally cooking for Madam during less busy times.

After instructing Shu Qin, Su Wenyue, preoccupied with her plans, called for the home’s steward.