Chapter 245 (2/2)

Wu Zhou once had the experience of touching a bee when he had seen one fall on the ground during his childhood and then getting stung on his thumb. Ever since then, he hated bees very much. The source of the hatred was, of course, the fear, which was the reason he asked.

“Of course not,” Yuan Zhou answered him with quite a firm tone.

“He might have recovered after being stung,” Ling Hong revealed an evil smile and then said suddenly.

“No, that’s impossible. I remember it takes at least one week for the bulge to vanish after bee’s sting.” Wu Zhou seemed to have a lot of experience.

“The propolis is said to have the function of hastening healing.” Octopus also showed up and participated in the heated talk.

“As a chef, collecting food materials is an indispensable capability. We chefs have nothing to fear,” said Yuan Zhou shamelessly.

He had totally forgotten how he followed Liu Zi and asked him humbly all the way and how cautious he was while going down the cliff.

“Hey, you guys. Are you eating or not? This old man is going to starve. Why do you all still chirp endlessly?” Lee Yanyi really couldn’t bear that and thus complained with a blaming tone.

“Hi. May I ask what you like to order?” Zhou Jia went up and asked him hurriedly.

“Humph. You guys are all as dense as a tree trunk and, moreover, have so many rules.” Seeing the girl come to greet him, he contrarily wasn’t worried anymore. He first complained for a while and then started to order his dishes.

“A serving of Soup Dumplings and a small plate of Celestial Vinegar.” Every time Lee Yanyi ordered the dishes, he brought out the name of the vinegar.

“One moment, please,” Zhou Jia answered neatly.

Yuan Zhou straightforwardly placed the two dishes on the tray and gave it to Zhou Jia to pass to the customer.

“Sir, how do you know it’s Celestial Vinegar?” Ling Hong was to some extent an experienced foodie and loved the soup dumplings most. However, he had never known much about the vinegar. It was also the first time that he had met with Lee Yanyi.

Certainly, he knew Lee Yanyi, but nevertheless didn’t uncover that he was a food critic.

“Huh, a lad naturally can’t recognize it just by eating.” Lee Yanyi had always talked with Yuan Zhou like that. He never knew what was called courtesy.

“It’s indeed Celestial Vinegar,” Yuan Zhou suddenly uttered and confirmed that.

“Of course, this old man won’t make that mistake.” Hearing that, Lee Yanyi appeared to be more complacent.

“Here are your dishes.” At that time, Zhou Jia carried the soup dumplings and the vinegar to him.

“The vinegar is red in color and acidic in the taste. It wasn’t astringent at all and moreover was fresh and delicate. It’s supposed to be the first yield of the newly made vinegar. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be such a taste,” Lee Yanyi said in detail while pointing at the vinegar in the small plate.

“But Boss Yuan, which method did you use to make the celestial vinegar? It surprisingly has no dregs and extra odor. Besides, even the color is so transparent.” Lee Yanyi had long been expecting to ask him about that and only got the chance this time.

“Take the rice cooked on the lunar month May 1st and shape it into rice balls. Store one every day until noon of the next May 1st. Crumble them and then wash the rice clean. Next, put all of them in a jar along with the water used for steaming the rice. Use the willow branch to stir for the first seven days. And one month later, the vinegar is produced naturally.” Yuan Zhou brought out the preparation method as concisely as possible.

Since Yuan Zhou had personally experienced the whole process before, he explained carefully in detail.

“It’s truly complex.” Lee Yanyi looked at Yuan Zhou with a complex gaze.

Preparing this thing required much patience. He needed to make it at a fixed time every day. Even an auxiliary material was so complex, let alone the main ingredients. That was why Yuan Zhou’s dishes were so expensive.

Although some people would complain about the price, most of them were convinced of Yuan Zhou’s craftsmanship.

Speaking of the celestial vinegar, could anyone find another store that sold the same one in Chengdu City?

“Master Yuan, your craftsmanship is truly supreme,” Lee Yanyi heaved a sigh and then said earnestly.

“Thank you.” Yuan Zhou expressed his gratitude calmly.

But in his heart, he was naturally very happy. Yuan Zhou had already known that this person was a food critic. Although he came for meals frequently, he never wrote any comments for his restaurant. For the overdue compliment now, Yuan Zhou, of course, wouldn’t feel embarrassed.