The traditional method from a thousand years ago involved marinating shelled eggs, large chunks of lamb, venison, pork, chicken, duck, and even badger meat together.
The flavor was somewhat similar to the spicy and numbing taste of Sichuan cuisine, as they would grind Sichuan peppercorns, Chinese prickly ash, ginger, and dogwood into the marinade, giving it a heavy, pungent aroma that could make one’s nose tingle.
Some shops even added mustard, which could make one’s eyes water and was hard to handle.
This was considered the “extra spicy” flavor of the Song Dynasty, beloved by those who could handle it but avoided by those who couldn’t, who would cover their noses when passing by such shops.
Shen Miao’s method of marinating meat was quite different from the traditional approach.
Her marinade recipe was learned from a Chaozhou master who specialized in marinated goose, a formal apprenticeship.
Chaozhou-style marinated dishes are known for their rich and aromatic flavors, with a marinade base made from over a dozen spices like cinnamon, bay leaves, star anise, and fennel, the exact proportions of which were a closely guarded secret.
To start, she would caramelize sugar, then fry and sauté the spices, carefully controlling the heat to avoid bitterness.
She would then add water, scallions, ginger, garlic, and the secret spice blend to simmer the marinade.
Once the broth was boiling, she would blanch the meats according to their cooking times and add them in sequence.
The resulting marinated dishes were rich, savory, and slightly sweet, with almost no numbing spiciness.
In this era, chicken was more expensive than pork, so she started with the most cost-effective option, pork.
Today was the first batch.
Her choice to use pork to test the marinade was deliberate.
The marinade improves with age, and when making Chaozhou-style marinated goose, a few pieces of pork belly are often added first to enhance the richness of the broth.
If this unique, non-spicy flavor proved popular with customers, her shop could not only sell affordable marinated pig’s head but also Chaozhou-style marinated goose.
After marinating a whole goose, she would hang it in the kitchen to dry.
When ready to eat, it would be sliced thickly, drizzled with marinade, and served with garlic or plum sauce.
The skin would be chewy yet tender, the meat juicy and flavorful, with the marinade permeating every fiber.
Slowly savoring a plate of this would be heavenly.
Unexpectedly, today’s marinated pig’s head was well-received.
As soon as it was brought out, curious customers came in to buy.
Shen Miao priced the marinated pig’s head at 35 coins per catty, marinated eggs at 3 coins each, and marinated trotters at 45 coins per catty.
These prices were slightly higher than other marinated meat shops but not unreasonable, so customers enticed by the aroma bought a catty here, half a catty there, quickly selling out the entire pot.
Only a few small pieces of pork belly with skin remained, the fat so tender it was like tofu.
Shen Miao decided to slice them for lunch, adding some meat to their noodles.
After that, the shop finally quieted down.
Shen Miao counted out half a string of coins and sent Jie Ge with Youyu to buy more pork from Zheng the butcher.
She was eager to prepare another batch for the evening rush when, unexpectedly, more customers arrived.
Business was good today.
Shen Miao washed her hands and came out, smiling, “What would you like, ladies?”
The two women who entered were in their forties, dressed in plain, fine cloth robes with their hair simply tied in buns, adorned only with silver hairpins.
But Shen Miao, observing their delicate, fair complexions and demeanor, guessed they were from wealthy families, just dressed down for their outing.
“One bowl of plain noodles, please,” one of them said after glancing at the menu on the wall, smiling.
The other, taller woman with a straight back had already turned to admire the calligraphy and paintings on the wall.
After a while, she noticed the instant noodle tutorial on the other side and walked over to examine it.
For some reason, she suddenly chuckled.
Shen Miao, having agreed to the order, returned to the kitchen to make the noodles and didn’t hear the tall woman’s laughter.
Nor did she hear the tall woman beckon her companion, “Ah Xi, come look…”
Madam Xi had also surveyed the shop.
Such a clean and tidy little shop in the bustling market was rare.
Stepping on the spotlessly swept floor tiles, she hurried over to support the tall woman’s hand, “Madam?”
Madam Xi couldn’t help but whisper to her maid of over twenty years,
“If Old Master Fan Li knew that his most promising disciple had used his talent for calligraphy and painting on something like this, he’d probably rise from his grave in anger.”
Madam Xi laughed, “You can’t blame Ninth Brother. Though he’s skilled in painting, he doesn’t enjoy it much. If Old Master Fan hadn’t accidentally seen his few strokes that surpassed years of others’ practice and insisted on taking him as a disciple, Ninth Brother wouldn’t have learned.”
“I still remember when he was young, he’d often whine to you, ‘Mother, I don’t want to go to the Fan family to learn painting. It’s so boring.’ “
Madam Xi also recalled, pointing at the last picture in the “Instant Noodle Tutorial,” which depicted a playful woman holding a bowl of noodles, her smile wide, eyes curved, and small fangs showing.
It was incredibly lifelike.
She sighed softly, “It seems our disguise was unnecessary.”
Madam Xi, clear-minded, gazed fondly at Ninth Brother’s painting and smiled,
“Since Old Master Fan passed away, Ninth Brother hasn’t picked up a brush in who knows how long. And those two calligraphy pieces, though not explicitly revealing, clearly show his heart’s desires…”
“But this is the passion of youth, pure and unguarded, with love and hate openly expressed, like a rapid melody, spoken and acted upon. At Ninth Brother’s age, it’s only natural.”
Madam Xi glanced at her, “You’re always on his side!”
“Madam, you’re not angry either,” Madam Xi turned her head, covering her mouth with a smile,
“It’s you who’s on Ninth Brother’s side, not me. Otherwise, why would you have me find some old clothes so we could sneak a look without drawing attention?”
“A mismatch in social status, and she’s already been married. I should be furious at his boldness. But… after the Third Brother’s passing, my heart has changed.”
Madam Xi looked up at the distant sky.
The sun, hidden for days, had finally emerged, casting golden light through the treetops, scattering like broken gold on the ground, shimmering before her eyes.
She murmured, “What’s the use of such social standing? Noble families marry among themselves, holding onto their pride, unwilling to stoop. But if heaven forces you to bow, even if you break your neck, you must lower your head.”
The decline and eventual fall of the aristocracy were inevitable.
What would become of the Xie family in the future…
Why was she still clinging to this?
Besides, even the Xi family, with its military background, had once been scorned as “commoners” before her father rose to become a military governor.
This Madam Shen’s words had pulled Third Brother out of the mire of despair and had also struck a chord in Madam Xi’s heart.
Life is but once.
Even if one strives their entire life for fame, wealth, and power, it ultimately depends on whether the emperor is willing to grant such immense fortune.
Even the century-old aristocratic families have become mere fish on the chopping block-what’s the point of clinging to lineage?
One should simply follow their heart.
Now it seems that grand ideals, high-ranking positions, and family glory are all nonsense!
Those so-called “Five Surnames and Seven Clans,” who still pride themselves on their nobility, are nothing more than fat sheep left by the previous emperor for the current one.
If the emperor is in a bad mood today, he’ll slaughter one; if he’s in a good mood tomorrow, he’ll slaughter another.
Moreover, marrying a woman from the common folk might have its advantages.
Seeing the Xie family in such decline, the emperor might not be so eager to wipe them out completely.
As the curtain rustled, Madam Shen emerged, holding a square wooden tray with a steaming bowl.
Lady Xi snapped out of her thoughts and, pretending to be casual, took a careful look at her.
Madam Shen had an oval face, soft peach-blossom eyes, and skin that seemed naturally fairer than others, now flushed pink from the heat of the stove.
Her lips were naturally red without any adornment.
She came out with a smile, revealing two lively and adorable little canine teeth, just as depicted in Ninth Brother’s painting.
Though she dressed plainly for her daily work-a green short jacket with matching trousers and a floral apron her delicate and slender figure was still evident.
“Take your time. Since it’s your first visit, I took the liberty of adding a few slices of smoked meat for you to try,” she said gently, placing the bowl in front of Lady Xi.
The wide-mouthed, coarse ceramic bowl held a clear broth with thin, delicate noodles coiled inside.
Thin slices of smoked meat were neatly arranged on top, accompanied by a few vibrant green water spinach leaves.
The aroma of the noodles wafted up with the steam, filling the air.
Even before tasting it, the fragrance was already captivating-subtle at first but lingering.
Taking a sip, the noodles were tender yet firm, and the broth was refreshingly light, smoothly soothing the throat.
This simple bowl of vegetarian noodles, though seemingly plain, was incredibly well- crafted.
Even Lady Xi, who was accustomed to luxurious delicacies, was moved by this humble bowl of noodles.
She ate it slowly and quietly, finishing the entire bowl.
Not only did it taste excellent, but it also left her stomach feeling warm and comfortable.
The smoked meat was a delightful surprise— rich and glossy but not greasy.
The layer of fat between the lean meat, marinated to an amber-like texture, melted in her mouth with a single bite.
Lady Xi’s eyes lit up!
This smoked meat was truly special, unlike anything she had ever tasted.
It wasn’t overpowering, perfectly balanced in saltiness, with a subtle sweetness a rare delicacy.
She had only known that Madam Shen excelled at making pastries, pancakes, and steamed buns, but her noodles and smoked meat were even more impressive.
It was truly remarkable.
Lady Xi had to admit that Madam Shen’s culinary skills were extraordinary.
Whether it was steaming, boiling, roasting, marinating, or stir-frying, she excelled in every aspect and always brought something new to the table.
Not to mention, her shop was uniquely designed-the half-window counter, the neatly laid floor tiles, the long table under the window, the pine tree by the door, and the menu and illustrations on the wall…
Compared to her, the Fang chef seemed only fit to assist her.
When Madam Shen came out to collect the dishes, Lady Xi remembered Madam Feng’s request to borrow a chef the other day.
Her heart stirred, and she called out,
“Madam Shen, please wait. There are two matters I’d like to discuss with you.”
Lady Xi glanced at the sky; it was almost noon, and the surrounding diners and passersby were sparse.
She turned back and asked, “I hope I’m not disturbing your business. If it’s inconvenient, we can arrange another time.”
Madam Shen looked at the tall woman in confusion, “May I ask who you are?”
At this moment, the shorter woman standing beside her spoke up with a warm smile,
“Madam Shen, our lady has a deep connection with you. She has long admired your character and tasted your culinary skills, but this is the first time she’s met you in person. Do you remember the 450 honey bean puff pastries?”
“So you’re Lady Xie! My apologies, I didn’t recognize you earlier.”
Madam Shen immediately felt a sense of reverence: So this is the real money god!
“May I ask what two matters you’ve come to discuss today?” Madam Shen restrained herself, trying not to let her eyes gleam with excitement.
After all, every time this lady made a move, she earned a substantial amount of money-more effective than praying to any god or Buddha.
She wondered what it was this time.
Lady Xi found Madam Shen’s barely contained excitement quite amusing.
She cleared her throat and got to the point,
“Yesterday, I sent Ninth Brother to discuss the workshop matter with you, but that child has no business sense. He completely forgot what you told him and could only mumble something about a ‘firewall.’ “
“So I’ve come today to clarify. However, this matter will take some time, and it’s not something that can be explained in a few words. We’ll discuss it in detail later. There’s also another matter…”
She paused, pointing to the empty bowl in front of her, and smiled,
“Originally, I came only for the noodle workshop, but after tasting your cooking, I have another request.”
“Please go ahead,” Madam Shen said without hesitation.
“Dr. Feng from Piyong Academy has always been close to our family. His mother is turning seventy soon, but due to her poor health, they don’t want to make a big fuss. They’re planning a small banquet for close friends and family to celebrate.”
“Unfortunately, their chef has fallen seriously ill and is still bedridden. The day before yesterday, they came to the Xie family to borrow Chef Fang temporarily.”
Lady Xi explained the situation carefully,
“Madam Shen, you’ve worked with Chef Fang before, so you probably know he’s quite traditional and only knows how to make the Xie family’s usual dishes. I’m afraid if he goes to the Feng family and they ask him to prepare new dishes, he might embarrass himself.”
“So… would you be available from the 18th to the 20th of this month? I’d like to invite you to help prepare the banquet at the Feng family. They’ve already agreed to compensate with twenty gold coins, and if you’re willing, four of those coins would be yours as a token of gratitude.”
Madam Shen was stunned, “Four gold coins? Gold? Real gold?”
Do wealthy families really spend so much on a single meal?
They actually use gold as currency?
Madam Shen felt dizzy.
She frantically calculated in her mind how many strings of copper coins one gold coin was worth, her fingertips trembling slightly.
Lady Xi observed her expression, seeing her standing there expressionless and silent, and hesitantly added,
“Is it too little? It’s my fault for suddenly thinking of this without proper consideration. With your skills, four gold coins might indeed be undervaluing you, especially since it would take up two days of your business. How about… ten gold coins?”
Madam Shen’s eyes immediately became resolute, and she nodded vigorously at Lady Xi,
“Lady Xie, no need to say more. I’ll gladly accept this ‘hardship.’ “