kingnovel Chapter 107 A Small Gathering at Home
Chapter 107 A Small Gathering at Home
In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.
Chu Ci and Shi An's life in Kyoto gradually got back on track, and everything became orderly.
On this day, Zhou Yun and Chu Ci agreed that she would bring her husband to Chu Ci's home for a gathering around noon.
Upon hearing the news, Shi An was overjoyed and got up early in the morning to take Chu Ci to the morning market.
The morning market was bustling with activity, and the vegetables and meats were extremely fresh.
Shi An carefully selected a basket of eggs, some pork ribs, as well as mushrooms and various vegetables.
Chu Ci thoughtfully followed behind him, helping to carry the purchased items.
The two of them have become regulars at the morning market, and many vendors greet them warmly with smiles.
Shi An then purchased some spices and happily led his wife back home.
He already had the perfect menu in mind for today's gathering—sweet and sour pork ribs were definitely a dish that wouldn't go wrong.
After washing her hands in the kitchen, Chu Ci skillfully picked up a cleaver and quickly cut the ribs into even small pieces.
Shi An took the ribs, carefully placed them in clean water, added a little Shaoxing wine, and began to blanch them.
Time passed slowly, and finally, after patiently waiting for a few minutes, he carefully scooped the cooked meat out of the pot and set it aside for later use.
Then pour a small amount of cooking oil into the pot and add an appropriate amount of rock sugar to prepare for the upcoming caramelizing process.
As the sugar gradually melted, Shi An stirred it continuously while carefully observing the heat.
He knew that controlling the heat was the key to cooking this delicious dish, and that the slightest mistake could affect the taste and color of the whole dish.
When caramelizing sugar, be sure to keep the heat low and cook slowly.
When large bubbles appear in the pot, turn the heat to the highest setting and then put the freshly cooked ribs into the pot.
Chu Ci assisted him tacitly throughout, as if she had become Shi An's third hand, and she was able to complete the task accurately every time.
Shi An was naturally extremely satisfied.
After being stir-fried over high heat, the ribs were evenly coated with an enticing brownish-red color.
Then, Shi An added the chopped scallions, ginger, star anise, and other seasonings to the pot and continued to stir-fry until the aroma was strong.
Next, he added a spoonful of vinegar and an appropriate amount of soy sauce and other seasonings to make the dish more flavorful.
Finally, he poured in enough hot water, brought it to a boil over high heat for a few minutes, and then simmered it over low heat for about half an hour.
During this time, he also made sure to add a spoonful of salt from time to time to add a touch of saltiness to the dish.
As the broth gradually thickened, he gently lifted the spatula and plated the delicious sweet and sour pork ribs.
However, while the meat was stewing, Shi An was not idle. He made several refreshing and delicious stir-fries, making the dishes more abundant and colorful.
Once the meat was cooked, all the vegetables were also ready.
Not long after, Zhou Yun arrived at the door with her husband.
The timing is perfect.
As soon as Song Yin entered the house, he smelled the aroma of food, which made him so hungry that after exchanging greetings with Chu Ci, he couldn't wait to head straight to the kitchen.
At that moment, Shi An was busy serving rice when she heard someone come in. She quickly wiped her hands and went out to greet them.
When Song Yin saw Shi An, he was immediately stunned by his beauty and stared at him blankly for a while before he came back to his senses.
"Are you the husband of Lady Chu?" Song Yin asked in surprise.
Shi An replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "That is indeed me."
"Oh my, you two are a match made in heaven!" Song Yin excitedly stepped forward, grabbed Shi An's hand, and carefully examined him, her eyes full of joy.
"You're so beautiful! I love beautiful women!"
Shi An looked at the enthusiastic young man in front of her, blinked a few times, and seemed a little at a loss.
Song Yin noticed Shi An's unusual expression, pondered for a moment, and quickly waved his hand to explain.
"Don't worry, I don't have any designs on your wife, even though she's a great beauty."
Shi An smiled, finding the man rather familiar, and politely replied, "Thank you for the compliment, sir. Of course, I wouldn't misunderstand."
Song Yin nodded. "You seem to trust your wife quite a bit."
Shi An seemed to be thinking about something, and with a slight smile, she changed the subject.
"May I ask your name?"
"I am Song Yin, the son of Song Taifu."
Chu Ci was visibly taken aback upon hearing the name, and couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
He was actually the son of the Grand Tutor of Song!
No wonder it looked familiar.
Chu Ci quickly came to her senses, and a surprised smile appeared on her face as she said, "You're actually the teacher's child? I never expected that!"
Song Yin smiled and nodded, saying in a relaxed tone, "What, didn't your senior sister tell you about this?" He then glared at Zhou Yun.
Zhou Yun innocently spread her hands and explained, "Oh dear, how can you blame me, husband? She didn't ask me."
Chu Ci quickly nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, I didn't ask, but it's not too late to find out now. Senior sister, you're so lucky."
Upon hearing Chu Ci's words, Zhou Yun's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile.
"Junior sister, what you said makes sense."
Although Song Yin was a carefree man, he was still a man after all. Hearing his wife praising him indirectly, coupled with Chu Ci's teasing look, he blushed with embarrassment.
"Alright, let's eat quickly and stop arguing."