Chapter 102: Another Explosion Coming  

In such a “thrilling and intense” scene—  

Jiang Rou not only poured hot oil over the duck but also gently rotated it to ensure the oil coated the entire surface evenly.  

This step was similar to roasting a chicken in an oven, where turning the meat helped it cook uniformly.  

As the crystal-clear hot oil slowly cascaded over the duck’s surface, it sizzled with tiny bursts, releasing the rich aroma of sesame oil that seeped into every fiber of the duck’s flesh.  

At the same time—  

Under the intense heat—  

The rough skin of the duck began to shrink continuously, becoming tighter and firmer.  

It was almost like undergoing a thermal skin treatment.  

Fragrant, crisp, and bouncy.  

Jiang Rou remained fully equipped, with the splattering hot oil landing on her “protective gear.”  

However, no matter how careful she was, there were always moments of oversight.  

For instance, the area around her sleeves.  

She had to lift the heavy ladle repeatedly, raising and lowering it over and over again.  

With each lift, her sleeve would slide up slightly.  

Her slender, fair wrist was exposed to the air.  

Tiny droplets of scalding oil splashed onto her wrist.  

“Hiss—”  

She furrowed her brows and took a sharp breath.  

It was burning hot. It stung.  

But she couldn’t stop. She couldn’t put the duck down just to rinse her hand under cold water.  

Cooking always came with injuries.  

Jiang Rou was already used to it.  

She remained steady and proceeded with the next steps.  

Once she finished pouring the hot oil, she could finally place the entire duck into the oil pot.  

At this moment—  

The hot oil not only coated the duck’s surface but also seeped into its cavity, into its internal organs.  

There was still moisture inside, causing the oil to crackle and pop.  

Fortunately, since the sound was trapped within the duck’s body, it was much quieter than before, and the oil no longer splattered everywhere.  

For a moment—  

The noise in the kitchen subsided significantly.  

The chaotic scene seemed as though it was finally coming to an end.  

Outside the door, Zhou Xiaohua, and on the other side of the stove, Zhou Xiaochuan, were both growing restless. They craned their necks, trying to get closer, eager for a clearer view.  

What exactly was this delicious dish?  

Why did cooking sound like setting off firecrackers?  

At that moment, Jiang Rou’s warning rang out.  

“Don’t stick your heads in! Step back!”  

Because the second “explosion” was about to begin.  

The duck had already been placed into the iron pot.  

Standing in front of the stove, Jiang Rou put down the ladle and the duck. She switched to holding the pot lid with her left hand and a bottle of cooking wine with her right.  

She used the pot lid as a shield, positioning the cooking wine underneath it.  

Then—  

Catching the duck off guard, she swiftly poured in the cooking wine and, with lightning speed, slammed the lid shut.  

The iron pot was covered with a wooden lid. As soon as it was sealed, muffled explosions erupted beneath it.  

The crackling and popping sounds were even fiercer than when she had poured the hot oil earlier.  

Had the lid not been in place, the scene would have turned even more chaotic.  

Whoosh—  

Reaching this step, Jiang Rou finally let out a long breath.  

She removed her old outerwear and took off the scarf from her head, finally able to breathe comfortably.  

In just that short amount of time, she had been sweating under her layers of clothing.  

The strands of long hair near her temples were damp with sweat, sticking to her cheeks.  

But Jiang Rou didn’t even have time to wash her face—there were still many steps left to complete.  

She wiped her sweat with her sleeve and continued working.  

Outside the door—  

Zhou Xiaohua, who had been peeking with half of her small head inside, witnessed everything.  

She blinked, thought for a moment.  

Then, with a quick step—  

She turned and ran off, her little feet pattering against the floor.  

—–

After covering the pot with the lid—  

Jiang Rou occasionally lifted it slightly, leaving a small gap to pour in more cooking wine in a steady stream.  

As the amount of cooking wine increased, the ratio between the hot oil and wine changed, gradually reducing the intensity of the sizzling explosions.  

Once the noise had nearly faded—  

Jiang Rou fully lifted the lid.  

At this moment—  

Inside the iron pot, the duck—bathed in hot oil—had already developed a faint golden hue.  

The mixture of rapeseed oil, sesame oil, and cooking wine formed a rich, golden-brown broth with no trace of water, bubbling vigorously in the pot.  

It was time to add the prepared ingredients.  

Ginger slices, green onions, and a spice bag—all went in.  

At the same time, she added soy sauce to bring out the salty flavor.  

A dash of dark soy sauce was included to deepen the color of the Sesame Oil Duck, making it more visually appealing.  

Once all the seasonings were in—  

Jiang Rou took a ladle and stirred the soy sauce into the hot oil, blending everything together.  

The high heat intensified the fragrance of the soy sauce, enhancing its rich aroma.  

She scooped up the hot mixture and drizzled it over the duck.  

Very soon, a glossy, caramelized layer of soy sauce coated the plump duck, making it glisten under the light.  

The final seasoning—white sugar.  

Just like brushing honey onto Beijing Roast Duck.  

White sugar was an essential ingredient in Sesame Oil Duck.  

People from the South preferred a sweeter taste, so she added a slightly more generous amount.  

After years of experience, Jiang Rou had mastered the mysterious “appropriate amount” mentioned in recipes to perfection.  

Nothing more—just the skill of a seasoned hand!  

The remaining steps were much simpler.  

It was time to add water.  

Jiang Rou took a kettle of hot water and poured it into the pot in a steady stream—  

Until the water level completely submerged the duck.  

The originally thick sauce became diluted.  

But that wasn’t a problem. As the duck simmered over low heat, the liquid would gradually reduce, and the sauce—blended with melted sugar—would turn even richer and more velvety.  

Once again, she covered the pot with the lid.  

At last, Jiang Rou could relax.  

Her sweat-dampened face lit up with a satisfied smile.  

Just from the mouthwatering aroma in the air, she was almost certain—  

This batch of Sesame Oil Duck would be perfect!