I returned to my hometown after winning the koi lottery.

Oh, I am too full. Sister Xiaoyu held her belly. The aunt on the side looked at her in disbelief. This girl looks so thin, but she is so strong. The takeaway bag I prepared was almost not used. Now that people’s lives are better, no one likes to eat that big elbow. It is usually the norm to take the whole thing away after eating at a large table. I didn’t expect these two girls to finish her off.

The yard was so lively, with dozens of tables filled with food. The chef was bringing up the cooked plates and bowls in a continuous stream. The guests at the table wanted to stand up and make room for the chef, but the chef quickly stopped them. It would be better if you didn't move. I was afraid that if you moved around carelessly, you would get burned accidentally. Thank you, sir.

Three large pots on nearby stoves—one frying, one stewing, and yet another steaming—were clattering in unison. Countless large plates, used for dishes, were constantly being filled and carried away. The chef serving the dishes was incredibly steady, one spoonful filling a plate at a time, flawless and efficient. This kind of work is crucial; once started, neither interruption nor replacement is permitted, otherwise efficiency is compromised.

There are three dishes that are most famous in Shanghe Village. The first is braised pork, the second is roasted chicken, and the third is crispy fish. These three are the main dishes. The others cannot be said to be bad. However, if the big table dishes do not have these three dishes, the guests who eat at the big table will be greatly disappointed.

The braised pork doesn't use soy sauce; it's just top-quality pork belly, sautéed with rock sugar to create a rich, sugary color. No water, just rice wine, cooked slowly over low heat. It's so soft and chewy that even an old lady can chew it. It's Xiao Tao's favorite. I highly recommend it to Xiao Yu. Try it, you'll love it. Xiao Yu looked a little apprehensive, hesitating. She picked up a thin piece with her chopsticks and tasted it cautiously. Her frown immediately relaxed, and she filled her small bowl with it. She devoured it in one mouthful. It was a delicious treat, a bit like that meat from Guangdong, but more glutinous and not at all greasy. She'd just said she was full, and now she's having another bowl. The old lady muttered, almost wanting to curse. She'd studied abroad, probably in some desert country, where she couldn't afford good food, so she's come back to eat like crazy.

The second protagonist is coming soon. The braised chicken is made with young chicken. The chicken cannot be too old, the meat must be tender. It is fried in oil and steamed in a big bowl. After it is marinated, the big bowl is placed on a plate. When it is served and opened, the rich aroma is overwhelming. The steamed chicken in the bowl can be separated from the bones and meat by pulling the chicken legs with your hands. It is tender and delicious. This is a dish that everyone loves, no matter adults or children.

The third one is crispy fish, which is also a more troublesome dish to prepare. Fish is a kind of meat with a very high status in home-cooked ingredients, because fish is relatively cheap and rich in nutrition. You won’t feel sick even if you eat it every day. This is the case at Xiao Tao’s grandmother’s house. There are many ways to cook fish. Xiao Tao’s favorite is fried crispy fish.

Use a fish about the length of a finger, fry it and air-dry it, then use it in cooking, or sprinkle some pepper and salt on it and eat it directly. It tastes fragrant and crispy, and you will want to eat more after you finish it. One person can finish a whole bowl because it is so delicious!

But deep-frying crispy fish requires considerable skill, making it difficult for the average person to make delicious fried fish. For example, here's a simple tip: when frying crispy fish, some people coat it in egg liquid, while others in flour. Which is the correct method? Actually, neither is correct. There's a little trick involved, a secret that Chef Wang keeps secret.

Chef Wang taught Xiao Tao how to deep-fry crispy fish. It turns out that to deep-fry crispy fish thoroughly and make it crispier, you should mix egg white and white vinegar with a little cornstarch. This will coat the fish with a thin layer of batter, making it easier to deep-fry and more fragrant. Only after learning this did I realize Chef Wang had this little trick. No wonder his crispy fish is so tender and crispy!

Add egg white, white vinegar and starch. When the fish are coated with this egg white paste, they will not be greasy when fried, but they can also isolate the hot oil to prevent them from being burnt, and make the fried fish more transparent. No wonder the fried fish made by Chef Wang is always more tender and crispy than the ones we make at home!

The flavors of life endure. The key to delicious cooking lies in the right heat, just as it does in life and work. This precise control of heat stems from a reverence for traditional techniques and the inheritance of ingenuity.

Food brings people together. Delicious food is more than just a culinary delight; it represents cultural heritage, an expression of human emotion, and holds the power to heal the soul. Explore delicious food, find warmth, savor country tunes, understand the ways of life, and find peace and happiness in ordinary times.

At this time, a young man came hurriedly, "Uncle, the film crew is here."

Upon hearing this, most of the crowd put down their chopsticks and turned to look at the newcomer, excited. Actually, now is not the past. Movies are no longer a rarity. Every family has a TV, a mobile phone, a computer, and can watch whatever they want. But everyone has a preference for watching movies on the big screen. Watching the big screen always brings back childhood memories. Not to mention children, who love the lively atmosphere of the crowd. Everyone asked the young man what movie was playing today.

The young man was the happiest because today's movie was "A Chinese Odyssey", a movie starring Stephen Chow. The elderly may not have seen it, but they know "Journey to the West", including "Sun Wukong", who caused havoc in Heaven.

The young man was stunned. Yes, there is such a plot. Come to think of it, it is mainly Princess Iron Fan, Bull Demon King, and White Bone Demon.

A bunch of people were talking about it, saying that the White Bone Demon was good-looking and the girl who played the White Bone Demon was pretty. I liked the White Bone Demon the most when I was a child.

I like Sun Wukong, that little boy, he is really good at using a stick.

Sister Xiaoyu was laughing so hard that she was crooked. Is this really the case?

The uncle quickly arranged to add a few dishes for the film crew. "Why did Old Song come just now? If he had come earlier, he could have made it just in time for the feast." The young man wiped his sweat. They had a lot to do. There was another performance in Xiahe Village, and both teams were too busy to handle it.

My uncle laughed and said that he was not too busy, he just wanted more money.

Several people cursed Old Song, who was showing the movie.

Old Song is nothing.

Last time we had a wedding banquet, he didn't say a word. He said he would come, but he didn't show up in the end. I was really in a panic. Fortunately, Xiaoji from Zhangjiazhai came to help, otherwise I would have been embarrassed.

It happened to me last time. We agreed on 860 yuan, but in the end he insisted that I was wasting his time and wanted to add 20 yuan. It made me feel uncomfortable.