Lin Dan soaked a bowl of rock tripe in coarse salt again and instructed the kitchen helpers to continue rehydrating the other dried goods according to her method. Only then did she turn to the cook and slowly say, “Since you sincerely admitted your mistake, I’ll teach you one signature dish.”

“Huh? What did you say?” The cook looked at Lin Dan in disbelief, doubting his ears. It was already incredible that Shopkeeper Lin was willing to teach him some secret techniques for handling ingredients, how could she be offering to teach him a signature dish? A signature dish was every cook’s trump card, something they rarely revealed to others.

“You heard me right. I’ll teach you a signature dish, so pay close attention.” As Lin Dan spoke, she pulled a lively carp out of the bucket and placed it on the chopping board, knocking it out with a swift motion.

Ninth Brother Tang glanced at her and then at the stunned cook, a gleam of interest flashing in his eyes.

“Shopkeeper Lin, wait a moment! I’ll go get some paper and a brush!” The cook, seeing Lin Dan’s serious demeanor, quickly ran to the front hall, returning with a stack of paper and a wolf-hair brush. He hurriedly began to write, 「Select a Yellow River carp, weighing three to four pounds……」

“Did you get it?” Lin Dan asked with a smile as she held a cleaver in one hand and the carp in the other, waiting for the cook to finish writing. She appreciated hardworking and eager learners and a little slowness didn’t bother her.

“I got it, I got it. Please continue, Shopkeeper Lin!” The cook nodded respectfully. Even the old shopkeeper, who had already been impressed by Lin Dan, squeezed next to Ninth Brother Tang, his eyes fixed on the chopping board with intense curiosity.

Lin Dan continued, “I’ve tasted the new Squirrel Fish from Yan Family’s Restaurant. It’s sweet, sour, and tender, quite good indeed. The dish I’m going to teach you is even better in taste, also belonging to the sweet and sour category. It’s called ‘Golden Lion Fish’.”

One dish was named after a squirrel and the other one after a golden lion. Even the names seemed to compete with each other. Are you sure you’re not here to challenge them? The cook’s mind was filled with wild thoughts, but he quickly forgot everything as Lin Dan’s extraordinary knife skills mesmerized him. With just a few swift cuts, she cleaned the fish and sliced the meat on both sides into thin sheets, cutting from the tail towards the head with shallow and deep strokes, eighteen cuts on each side, smooth and continuous. She turned the large carp into a lotus bud and when she lifted the tail and gave it a shake, the pale white ‘petals’ layered beautifully, creating an exquisite display.

The cook had thought that these knife skills were already impressive, but he was unprepared for what came next. Lin Dan took out scissors and began to cut the petal-like fish slices into strips, each slice cut into six or seven strips, and then she stacked them together. A single fish bone was covered in delicate, thread-like fish meat from head to tail. The shape alone was already extraordinary. The fish had been sliced so finely, but how would it hold up during cooking? Wouldn’t it just turn into a mushy mess with one touch of a spoon?

As the cook recorded everything, his mind raced with worries, but he watched as Lin Dan began to prepare the egg batter. Six eggs, half a pound of starch, and four ounces of flour were mixed with water into a thick, golden paste that could be grasped in hand and drawn out in thin strands.

“When making the egg batter, only use egg yolks, not the whites. This ensures a nice color. Use only water starch, not dry starch, or the fish meat will turn rough. Water starch keeps it tender and smooth.” Lin Dan briefly explained as she held the fish head in one hand and the tail in the other, dipping the chrysanthemum-like fish meat into the egg batter, ensuring it was evenly coated. When she lifted it, each fish strip stuck together, dripping with egg batter, not the most appealing sight, but after frying, the strips separated and stood up straight, truly resembling a golden lion.

As the cook and the old shopkeeper exclaimed in amazement, Lin Dan slowly explained, “When all the fish strips are submerged in oil, you must shake them three times to separate the strips. After shaking, lower the head and slightly lift the tail, letting the strips gather towards the head, forming the golden lion shape. This is the key to the presentation. Once the fish is in the oil, the temperature will drop. When it reaches sixty percent heat, switch to high heat and fry quickly to set the shape. Then you can release your grip and fry the head and tail as well. After flipping it with a slotted spoon and frying for a bit longer, it’s ready to be taken out and sauced.”

It might have sounded easy when Lin Dan explained it, but in practice, it was incredibly challenging. Just slicing the fish and cutting it into strips required excellent knife skills, not to mention the later steps of coating and frying. The seasoning, by comparison, was the simplest part. During frying, the cook had to hold the fish head and tail firmly, keeping them close to the boiling oil and ensuring that the thread-like fish meat was fully submerged and fried until it set. The high temperature could easily burn off a layer of skin from one’s hands. If the fish were dropped into the oil before the strips were properly fried, the entire dish would be ruined.

The cook took a closer look at Shopkeeper Lin’s hands and indeed noticed a thick layer of calluses on her fingertips, the result of countless experiences with high-temperature frying. She gently shook the fish strips, her face showing no sign of pain, only patience and focus.

After placing the entire fish into the oil, Lin Dan gave the cook some final instructions and then took out a clean pan, adding a bit of vegetable oil. “Once the fish turns golden, take it out and place it on a plate with the belly facing down. I’ll prepare the sauce.” As she spoke, the oil in the pan was already hot. She casually crushed lime and tomato with a large spoon, mashing them into a pulp, before adding sugar, vinegar, and water, and simmering them into a thick sweet and sour sauce. After making it thick with a bit of starch, she poured it evenly over the crispy fish strips, and the Golden Lion Fish was complete.

The sour-sweet aroma instantly filled the air, causing everyone to salivate uncontrollably. This dish not only had an overpowering fragrance but also an imposing appearance, resembling a lion with its mane wildly spread, giving off an aura of fierce power.

“So, so fragrant!” The cook gulped down his saliva.

“May I taste it?” Ninth Brother Tang stared intently at Lin Dan. Usually reserved, he only showed such intense and greedy interest when confronted with delicious food.

“Try it.” Lin Dan picked up a towel to wipe the sweat from her forehead.

The cook and Ninth Brother Tang immediately grabbed their chopsticks, ready to dig into the golden lion fish. However, the old shopkeeper, who had slipped out at some point, suddenly rushed back in, shouting urgently, “Don’t eat it, don’t eat it! Prince Cheng is here and specifically requested the dish you just made! Hurry, hurry, Xiao Douzi^[1]Little Beans, take this plate out immediately. Don’t keep the prince waiting!”

The waiter darted under Ninth Brother Tang’s arm, grabbed the plate, and ran off.

Lin Dan, deeply immersed in her cooking, was unaware that the aroma of her sauce had wafted through the window and out onto the street. Like Marquis Yongding, Prince Cheng was a well-known gourmand in the capital, with a great passion for tasting delicacies. He used to be a regular at Qiaoyuan Restaurant, but after the cook’s father passed away, his visits became less frequent.

On this particular day, Prince Cheng had originally planned to have lunch at Yan Family’s Restaurant. But as he passed by Qiaoyuan Restaurant, his attendant, who had been bribed by the old shopkeeper, casually mentioned that a new batch of premium seafood had just arrived at Qiaoyuan and suggested they stop by for a bite.

Prince Cheng, who had a good relationship with the cook’s father, thought it wouldn’t hurt to pay a visit. Just as he was about to enter, another carriage pulled up beside his. Prince Gong’s head popped out of the window, grinning mischievously. “Imperial Brother, don’t fall for it! I was tricked into going in yesterday, and let me tell you, Young Qiu’s craftsmanship is really not good. The seafood there is nowhere near the level of Yan Family’s Restaurant!”

Prince Cheng shot a glare at his attendant and was about to leave when suddenly, a peculiar aroma hit his nose. It was sweet and sour, and after a moment, it blended with the fresh scent of fish and the richness of oil, creating an irresistible fragrance!

“What is that smell? Can you smell it? Take a whiff, quickly, take a whiff!” Prince Cheng bolted upright, his neck stretching out of the carriage window as he sniffed around like a dog.

The playful grin vanished from Prince Gong’s face as he clamped his mouth shut and swallowed his saliva which almost flowed out like a stream.

The attendant, who had been terrified that his true intentions were exposed, hurriedly explained, “Your Highness, the fragrance is coming from Qiaoyuan Restaurant. It must be Cook Qiu cooking.”

“Let’s go in and see!” Prince Cheng couldn’t sit still any longer. He jumped out of the carriage and dashed into the restaurant in just a few strides. Seeing no one to greet him, he called out loudly, “Where is everyone? What dish is being prepared in the kitchen? Bring it to me immediately!”

The waiter quickly seated the prince and then dashed to the back kitchen to inform the old shopkeeper of the situation. The old shopkeeper then hurriedly snatched the plate of fish from Cook Qiu and Ninth Brother Tang, rushing it to the front hall.

Prince Gong, who had long lost faith in the Qiu family’s cooking, initially intended to stay in his carriage and watch the scene unfold. But when the dish was brought out, he couldn’t resist. He quickly pulled his head back into the carriage, stood up, and scrambled out, only to bump his head on the carriage roof in his haste, leaving him a bit dizzy. After finally managing to get to the table and taking a look at the dish, he gasped in shock. Prince Cheng’s eyes were also wide with astonishment.

They had always believed that Yan Family’s Restaurant’s squirrel fish was the pinnacle of knife work, presentation, color, and flavor. But the moment this dish was served, it shattered that belief.

The fish, cut into fine threads, stood upright and gathered towards the head, creating a visually stunning and unique presentation. When the crispy outer layer was poked with chopsticks, the tender, white meat inside would be revealed, and immediately, glistening oil would seep out, mixing with the thick, vermillion sauce. The flavors of freshness, tenderness, crispness, sourness, and sweetness would explode on the tongue, indescribably delicious!

Prince Cheng carefully picked up a piece of ‘lion’s mane’ with his chopsticks and quickly popped it into his mouth. His eyes immediately squinted with pleasure and the layers of wrinkles on his face visibly smoothed out, making him look several years younger.

“Is it good?” Prince Gong impatiently tugged at his sleeve.

Prince Cheng ignored him, savoring another piece while shaking his head and smacking his lips, looking thoroughly satisfied.

“Hey, say something! I’m losing my patience here!” Prince Gong rolled up his sleeves and scolded, “Waiter, are you blind? Can’t you see that I’m here as well? Why aren’t you bringing another set of chopsticks and bowls? Hurry up and bring them over.” Or he would have to grab some food with his bare hands!

The waiter hurriedly brought another set of chopsticks and bowls, only to find the two distinguished princes nearly brawling at the table, their chopsticks clashing as they refused to yield to one another.

“Sixth Brother, get lost! This dish was ordered by me. There’s none for you!”

“Brother, you’re not being fair! We’re brothers, so what’s wrong with sharing one dish?”

“If you want to eat, order your own!”

“But if I order now, it’ll take forever! This smell is driving me crazy!”

Seeing the situation, the waiter sprinted back to the kitchen, urging Shopkeeper Lin to prepare another golden lion fish quickly, lest the two princes really start a fight.

Lin Dan remained unfazed and calm. She slowly rolled up her sleeves and said, “Since it’s come to this, I’ll help you all the way today and show you what I’m capable of.”