Chapter 21: A Letter Arrived

Su Taotao found it a bit inconvenient to carry Chenchen on her back while working. Putting him down wasn’t an option in this busy, dangerous kitchen.

Chef Xu frowned at the little boy. “You’re working with him here?”

Worried Chef Xu might kick them out, Su Taotao quickly reassured him, “He’s very well-behaved and won’t cause any trouble.”

Chef Xu kept his serious face on. “No, is he a foundling? This is the heart of the kitchen, and it’s dangerous, with fire and hot oil everywhere. People are carrying hot dishes in and out. What if he gets burned?”

Su Taotao knew it wasn’t safe and considered sending Chenchen to Chen Sihai’s house to have his mother watch him for a while.

Chef Xu pointed to a small separated room. “That’s my resting room. If he’s well-behaved, he can play there for a while. But he must be well-behaved. If not, you’ll have to take him with you and leave.”

Su Taotao thanked Chef Xu over and over. “Don’t worry, he’s super well-behaved.”

As Su Taotao moved Chenchen from her back to the front, before she could say anything, Chenchen looked into her eyes and nodded seriously. “Well-behaved~~”

Su Taotao was stunned for a moment before realizing that he had understood their conversation and was promising to be good.

Su Taotao’s heart ached and softened. How fortunate she was to have such an angelic baby. She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “We woke up too early today. Go take a nap, and by the time you wake up, Mom will be done with her work.”

Chenchen nodded obediently again.

After settling Chenchen, Su Taotao began preparing the braising liquid.

She had been careful and, before leaving, wrapped all the spices she needed in a piece of gauze, making a spice bag for braising. She also brought a jar of braising oil. Now, she just needed to add the right amount of oil, salt, soy sauce, yellow wine, monosodium glutamate, and other seasonings, along with scallions and ginger slices, and she could start making the braising liquid.

Of course, caramel sauce was also essential. These days, state-run restaurants always had red-braised pork, and caramel sauce was a must-have. But to her surprise, Chef Xu didn’t have any!

“Chef Xu, didn’t you make caramel sauce today?”

Chef Xu frowned and pointed to a jar of thicker-than-oyster-sauce liquid next to them. “Isn’t that it?”

Su Taotao never expected that this sticky black substance was supposed to be caramel sauce. She dipped her finger in to taste it and found it bitter and astringent, worse than herbal medicine. No wonder even red-braised pork, a dish that was supposed to be delicious no matter how it was cooked, wasn’t selling well.

Su Taotao tactfully said, “My ancestors were imperial chefs, and we have a secret recipe for caramel sauce passed down through generations. The color and taste might be better than this. Should I make some? It’ll be quick, only three or four minutes.”

Chef Xu was a smart man and understood immediately what Su Taotao was implying. “Are you saying my red-braised pork is bad because of this caramel sauce?”

Su Taotao: “…” It was him who said it, she didn’t dare to.

Su Taotao tried to be as tactful as possible. “I haven’t tried your red-braised pork, so I don’t know the taste, but the caramel sauce from my family’s recipe isn’t bitter or astringent. I don’t know if it will help improve the taste of your dish.”

The apprentice, who had made the caramel sauce, scowled at Su Taotao’s comment. “Who are you to say my caramel sauce isn’t good? You don’t even have a chef’s certificate, just a country woman. Have you ever even tasted red-braised pork? Do you know how to make it?”

Su Taotao didn’t want to offend anyone and waved her hands quickly. “That’s not what I meant. I just said the caramel sauce from my family is different. Maybe mine isn’t any better?”

Hearing this, the apprentice’s expression improved slightly.

Chef Xu tasted the caramel sauce. The color was passable, but the taste was a bit off. He had been severely injured during a bombardment when he was in the army, and since then, his five senses had become unbalanced. He had mostly lost his sense of taste, only able to detect some saltiness, and it was hard for him to distinguish other flavors. He could only cook by feel, and the people who tested his dishes didn’t dare tell him the truth. He really had no idea what his dishes tasted like.

Judging by the customer flow, it was clear his dishes weren’t that delicious.

On the surface, he remained calm, but inside, he was more anxious than anyone else, though he couldn’t express it.

Su Taotao’s arrival seemed like a rare opportunity.

“Make the caramel sauce your way,” Chef Xu said expressionlessly.

The apprentice was startled. “Master?”

Chef Xu glanced at him, and with just a sharp look, the apprentice shrank back automatically without a word.

“Thanks, little master.” Su Taotao walked up to the pot, and the apprentice stepped aside to make room for her. “Got any rock sugar?” she asked.

The apprentice snorted. “Looks like you’ve never been in a kitchen before. No one uses rock sugar to make caramel. We use white sugar.”

Su Taotao didn’t get upset and smiled. “If we don’t have rock sugar, white sugar works too. But rock sugar has a fresher taste.”

Before she could finish, Chef Xu handed her a jar of rock sugar.

Su Taotao thanked him and took two large pieces of rock sugar, crushing them. It was roughly the amount of a large spoonful, and she added it to the pot with an equal amount of cold water.

The apprentice snorted again. “You’re actually adding cold water…”

Su Taotao ignored him, turned on the heat to medium after the water boiled, and added a bit of cooking oil. When white bubbles appeared in the pot, she began to stir in one direction continuously.

As she stirred, she explained. “In my hometown, there’s a dish called ‘frosted taro.’ At this point, if you turn off the heat and add fried taro, it turns into ‘frosted taro’ with a sugary glaze.”

Chef Xu’s expression shifted from casual to focused.

After another minute or so, the caramel in the pot turned into a light yellow color like maltose. Su Taotao said, “This consistency is perfect for pulling sugar. ‘Sugar-coated sweet potatoes’ would be delicious.”

She stirred the pot a few more times, scooped up some caramel with the ladle to inspect it, then immediately removed all the heat, leaving only some residual warmth to continue cooking. She added, “If you don’t remove the heat at this point and keep cooking, it usually turns bitter.”

The apprentice pressed his lips together, saying nothing. He usually cooked it over the same heat until he got the color he wanted. Sometimes it would burn, but since Chef Xu never said anything, he kept doing it the same way. No matter how it turned out, Chef Xu still used it for red-braised pork.

By this point, the caramel had reached the color Su Taotao wanted.

“Excuse me, where’s the hot water?” Su Taotao asked.

The apprentice questioned, “What are you doing? Isn’t it done? Aren’t you going to take it out?”

Chef Xu had already handed her the thermos.

Su Taotao thanked him and added two ladles of hot water.

The apprentice was dumbfounded, unable to speak. After a long while, he said, “You clearly don’t know how to cook.”

Su Taotao ignored him, turned the heat back on to medium, let it boil, then lowered it to medium-low. “We’ll simmer for another forty seconds.”

As she counted down in her mind, as soon as she reached forty, she immediately lifted the pot and placed it on a nearby stove that wasn’t lit, then turned off all the heat.

She found a large bowl and scooped out the caramel, exactly two ladles’ worth. “This caramel can last a long time without spoiling or turning bitter. Chef Xu, would you like to try?”

Chef Xu didn’t need to taste it; just by looking at the color and her technique, he knew the caramel was perfect.

He pointed at the apprentice to try it.

The apprentice tasted a little and indeed found it sweet and not bitter. He pouted and said, “It’s not much different.”

Chef Xu ignored him and casually grabbed a waiter. “Taste these two bowls and tell me which one tastes better.”

The waiter braced himself and tasted the apprentice’s batch, a caramel darker than soy sauce. As soon as it hit his mouth, he couldn’t help but spit it out. “It’s bitter and astringent. I can’t eat it.”

Chef Xu handed over the other bowl, and the waiter, reluctantly tasting it, found his eyes lighting up. “This one is good! It’s sweet and has a light caramel fragrance.”

Chef Xu waved his hand to dismiss her and looked at the apprentice. “Is there anything else you want to say?”

The apprentice’s face turned red as he retorted, “You never said anything about how I cooked it before…”

Chef Xu was furious, thinking, *If my taste buds were still working, would you even dare to talk back to me like this?*

He pointed to the door. “Get out. You’re not coming back tomorrow.”

The apprentice was stunned. “Master, am I… am I off tomorrow?”

Chef Xu’s anger flared. “Get out! You’re not coming back ever again!”

The apprentice, who had used many connections just to become an apprentice here, was completely dumbfunded. “Master, why? What did I do wrong?”

Chef Xu gave him a cold look. “You haven’t done anything wrong. It’s me who’s in the wrong. Maybe I should be the one who doesn’t come back, huh?”

The apprentice panicked. “I was wrong, Master, really wrong! I won’t do it again, I swear! It’s because of her, isn’t it? Are you going to take her on as an apprentice? She’s here to cause trouble!”

Before Chef Xu could say anything, Su Taotao spoke up. “I’m sorry, but I have no intention of becoming an apprentice.”

Chef Xu glanced at the others. “What are you waiting for? Get him out of here!”

The second chef and the prep cook finally snapped into action, dragging the apprentice out.

Su Taotao didn’t respond, but the tension in the room was palpable.

Chef Xu didn’t say anything further. He silently dumped out the caramelized sugar the former apprentice had made and switched to using Su Taotao’s sugar to make today’s braised pork.

Su Taotao also added the appropriate amount of caramelized sugar to the bubbling braising liquid and began to prepare the pig feet, pig ears, and pig tails. These items had already been cleaned thoroughly when she received them from Chen Sihai, but to enhance the flavor, Su Taotao found a bundle of straw and placed the pig parts on top, roasting them until the skin turned yellow.

The others glanced at Su Taotao from time to time but didn’t dare to ask any questions in front of Chef Xu. As the saying goes, “Outsiders watch the excitement, insiders watch the craft.” By now, they all understood that Su Taotao was an “expert,” or at least someone far more skilled than Chef Xu.

Chef Xu just watched silently without asking any questions.

The straw-roasted pig skin gave off a unique, smoky aroma. Su Taotao washed them clean and, without cutting them, placed the whole pieces into the braising liquid. Her work was done; now it was just a matter of time.

Su Taotao went into the rest area to check on Chenchen. The child was sleeping soundly, his thick eyelashes like two small fans gently covering his eyes. Just the slightest movement of them seemed to brush against Su Taotao’s heart, and her lips involuntarily curled into a smile. The best part of coming to the 1970s was becoming a mother without the usual struggles, having a well-behaved, clever, and beautiful little angel like Chenchen.

Su Taotao tiptoed out, and suddenly Chef Xu handed her a spoonful of broth. Su Taotao looked up at him, confused.

Chef Xu’s expression was a bit stiff as he said gruffly, “Without the apprentice, there’s no one to help me taste the food.”

Su Taotao understood. She dipped her finger in the broth and tasted it. “A little more huangjiu and a bit more salt would really bring out the flavor,” she suggested.

Chef Xu didn’t taste it himself. Following Su Taotao’s suggestion, he added half a spoon more of huangjiu and a bit of salt.

Chef Xu moved on to preparing other dishes, having Su Taotao taste each one and making adjustments based on her feedback.

By the time Chef Xu finished his dishes, Su Taotao’s braised meats were almost ready.

She opened the lid and let the braising liquid reduce a bit more to make it more flavorful.

Once the liquid had reduced enough, Su Taotao turned off the heat and let the braised meats cool naturally. This process would allow the ingredients to better absorb the flavors of the braising spices.

But since time was limited, Su Taotao first picked out small pieces of each item and handed them to Chef Xu. “This dish is called a braised platter. Please try it and see if it meets your standards.”

The rich, glossy sauce and enticing aroma made it clear that the dish was a success. The straw-roasted pig skin and the spices in the braising liquid complemented each other perfectly, adding a touch of wild flavor. The dish was perfect in color, taste, and texture. The pig feet and pig tails were tender enough to fall off the bone with a gentle bite, yet not overly soft. The pig ears had just the right amount of chew. Despite coming from the same pot, each piece had its own unique flavor. Even with 80-90% of his taste gone, Chef Xu could still tell that this braised platter was incredible.

“You all should try it too. Actually, if we let it sit for a few more hours, the flavor would be even better. In the winter, leaving it overnight would be ideal.”

The few others in the kitchen had been working while smelling the aroma and could hardly contain themselves. After tasting it, they also praised it highly, giving Su Taotao a thumbs up.

Curious early arrivals poked their heads into the kitchen: “Did you change the head chef today? Is there a new dish? It smells amazing!”

“Yes, yes, I caught a whiff of it as soon as I passed the door. What new dish is it? How can it smell so good?”

“I was planning to eat over on Jiefang Road, but this smell drew me in. Comrade waiter, what’s on the menu today? What do you have to eat?”

……

The waiter, with a straight face, said: “We serve what we got. What’s with all the questions?” She, too, wanted to know what the new dish was. She had been smelling it all morning and was dying to try it.

But since Chef Xu wasn’t saying anything, they didn’t dare go into the back kitchen to try the dish.

The second chef came out to hang the menu, and the braised platter (limited quantity) was clearly listed as a new dish. It didn’t take long for it to sell out, along with the other dishes.

As the dishes went out, the customers praised every single one, especially the braised platter. It was so delicious that they wanted to swallow their tongues. Even the waitstaff wanted to take some home, but there was none left. Before long, everyone in Qinglian County would know that the First Restaurant had a new, amazing head chef who could cook up a storm.

“Tell me your goal,” said Chef Xu, truly impressed by this young comrade.

Strangely, she had said before that she didn’t intend to work permanently at the state-run restaurant, and she hadn’t hidden her family’s secret techniques.

In this day and age, everyone knew that teaching your apprentice too well might leave the master hungry, so who wouldn’t hide their skills, afraid that someone might steal them? But Su Taotao wasn’t like that. She openly shared her skills and gave her all in guiding others on different dishes. Chef Xu really couldn’t figure out her motive.

During casual chats, Su Taotao had already explained her background.

Seeing Chef Xu’s question, she answered frankly: “You’ve seen how young my kid is. I’m not planning to stay in the county long-term, so I don’t need a full-time position. But I do need to earn money to support him.”

Pointing to the braising liquid, Su Taotao continued: “In this weather, the braising liquid can be reused for three to four days. Just skim off any impurities, boil it, let it sit, and repeat the process at the end of each day. The next day, you can boil it again and adjust the water based on the ingredients. The flavor will actually be richer on the third day, but after that, you must change the braising spices and oil. If you reuse the braising liquid for too long, it can spoil, and the flavor won’t be the same.”

In later generations, some places claimed to have century-old braising liquid that had been reused for years, but whether that was true or how to properly preserve the liquid, Su Taotao wasn’t sure. She personally felt it was best not to reuse it too many times.

Chef Xu frowned and asked: “Isn’t that kind of… undermining the system? Doesn’t seem right, does it?”

Su Taotao shook her head: “I’m a law-abiding comrade. I won’t do anything illegal. I’d like to apply as a consultant or adviser for the restaurant.”

“We can handle some procurement work. On market days, like today, I’ll replace the braising spices and oil. All the materials used will be accurately reported and expensed. You just need to apply for my compensation.”

Su Taotao paused, seeing Chef Xu was thinking something over, then continued: “The braised platter is just my first dish to test the waters. It can become a signature dish. But even the best meals get tiresome if eaten every day. On the first market day of every month, I’ll provide a new dish along with the recipe. Except for the recipe for the braising liquid, I’ll provide all other recipes without reservation. With over ten new dishes a year, you can decide which ones to keep and even adjust based on the season.

I can help source the ingredients for each dish. If I’m unavailable, your buyer can take over. For tomorrow’s ingredients, I’ve already made arrangements. You just need to go to the meat processing factory and mention my name to Comrade Chen Sihai, following the normal procurement process.”

Lastly, to protect both of us, I suggest we sign a contract for a three-month trial period. If it works out, we can continue this arrangement. If not, we’ll part ways after the trial.”

In fact, the three-month trial period was partly because of her personal considerations. She didn’t know exactly when Fu Zhengtu would return, only that it would be within the next three to six months. Afterward, she would definitely go to the base with him. The father’s role was indispensable, and ideally, Chenchen should grow up with his parents. That was Su Taotao’s principle.

Chef Xu hadn’t expected this. She’d covered every angle. Given how things were at the restaurant, he couldn’t say no. Even if the management didn’t want to add a consultant, they could list her as my apprentice and cover her expenses from my wages. This could work out.

Chef Xu was delighted inside. Su Taotao’s arrival was a huge blessing for him and the restaurant. Even if he had to pay out of his own pocket, he would do whatever it took to keep her.

“Did you do a detailed investigation before coming here? You seem to know everything about us,” Chef Xu’s tone made it clear he was on board.

Su Taotao, switching the way she held Chenchen, smiled and shook her head. “No, I had only heard that the First Restaurant wasn’t doing well. Other than that, I don’t know anything and don’t need to.”

If you’re not confident, don’t take on the job. I knew this place wasn’t doing well, but I was confident I could turn things around.

Chef Xu left it open-ended, saying, “Make a list of the materials used today for reimbursement, and come back on time on the next market day.”

Su Taotao was delighted. “Does that mean you agree?”

Chef Xu didn’t give a definitive answer, only saying, “I still need to consult with the higher authorities. You’ll get a reply when you return on the next market day.”

Su Taotao thanked him repeatedly and reiterated some important points, adding that if Chef Xu found braised pork too troublesome, he could simply braise the pork belly for a unique flavor. She also suggested adding eggs, and in the future, they could experiment with offal in the braising liquid.

Her suggestions left everyone speechless, but they were thoroughly impressed.

After the staff meal, Chef Xu packed some braised pork and salted fish with eggplant for Su Taotao. These were the dishes she had suggested improvements for, and they had received high praise from the customers. Even in terms of plating, she had offered excellent suggestions.

Ever since becoming the head chef at the state-run restaurant, Chef Xu had never felt such a sense of accomplishment as he did today. He knew his position was secure, earned through years of dedication, but this sense of achievement felt different. Every dish that left the kitchen brought praise from the customers, and this feeling was indescribable. At that moment, he was utterly convinced of Su Taotao’s abilities.

Su Taotao was not only an excellent cook but also had a palate like gold. She could pinpoint the ingredients and nuances of almost any dish she tried, and compared to his previous apprentice, she was a treasure trove of culinary knowledge.

By the time they returned to where the tractor was parked, it was almost 3 PM. Chenchen had slept soundly and was no longer tired, but Su Taotao was exhausted.

“I’m sorry, Chenchen. I wanted to show you around, but I’m too tired to walk anymore. Let’s take a break.”

Chenchen shook his head, nestled comfortably in his mother’s arms, and said in a childish voice, “No need to explore.”

Just as Su Taotao was about to kiss her little one, a postal worker approached. “Excuse me, are you Su Taotao from the Qinglian Commune?”

Su Taotao nodded. “Yes, what is it?”

The postal worker handed her a letter. “You’ve got mail. I’m glad I ran into you so I don’t have to make another trip.”

Su Taotao thanked him and took the letter. The familiar, strong and elegant handwriting caught her eye, causing her heart to race. When she saw the sender’s name, she was so stunned that it took her a moment to regain her composure.