Republic of China, 1928: Starting from a Wonton Shop

Hu's lips twitched violently.

Having been in this business for so many years, he understands the weight of the word "backer" better than anyone. If what the young manager said is true, then this restaurant is no ordinary small restaurant. If he acts up and smashes up the shop today, he might be dragged out by his superiors to apologize to these big shots tomorrow.

"Hey, I didn't realize," Hu Chouchou looked Li Chunsheng up and down again. "Your little temple actually houses so many big shots? That President Feng is someone even our Commander-in-Chief Yan has to invite for tea. Would he really come to your place for a meal?"

"Sir, even big shots need to eat, right? When you get tired of delicacies, you sometimes want to try what ordinary people eat," Li Chunsheng replied. "If you don't believe me, go back and ask around at Xinhua Bank to see if they have the guarantee that Mr. Feng gave me."

Hu shrank back, his momentum weakening by half. This seasoned soldier was most afraid of running into a brick wall.

But he was a gangster by birth, and his innate gambling instincts made him want to get back at anyone, even when he was being cowardly.

"Alright! Manager Li, since you've brought up these important figures, I, Hu, will give you face today," Hu Chou Chou suddenly grinned, revealing a set of yellowed teeth. "However, I have a problem: I always feel that what I haven't seen with my own eyes is unreliable. You said that even Mr. Mei praised your food highly. My palate has tasted everything from bird's nest and shark fin to abalone and sea cucumber. If it doesn't taste right, then that wouldn't make sense."

His eyes lit up. "How about we make a bet?" Hu Chou Chou pulled a heavy Yuan Shikai silver dollar from his pocket and slammed it heavily on the table.

"What does the general want to bet on?"

"I'll bet on your new dish!" Hu Chouchou pointed at the sign on the wall. "If you can really make my taste buds feel good, and I think this sliced ​​meat is even better than the ones in those fancy restaurants, I won't just refrain from tearing your shop down today, I'll also pay you double the price on this menu! Consider it a way to calm the brothers down."

He paused, then continued, "But if your dishes don't live up to their name and you're just using your status as a big shot to freeload, then I'm sorry, I won't pay you a single penny for this meal, and you'll have to pay me double! Do you dare accept?"

Li Chunsheng looked at the silver dollar gleaming under the lobby lights and suddenly burst into laughter.

"Since you're in such high spirits, sir, if I were to back down, it would not only be a loss of face for myself, but also for Mr. Mei and Mr. Feng!" Li Chunsheng patted his apron. "I'll take this bet! But sir, let's get this straight: since it's a bet, there needs to be a fair agreement."

He gestured to the diners present, "These are all old neighbors. Let's all stand here and witness this, sir, what do you say?"

"No problem!" Hu slapped his thigh. "I might not be able to guarantee anything else, but when it comes to gambling etiquette, it's absolutely guaranteed!"

Li Chunsheng turned and walked towards the kitchen.

"Chunsheng," Yunniang approached with some concern, carrying a basket of freshly washed cabbages, "that officer doesn't seem like someone to mess with. What if he tries to renege on his debt..."

"He won't renege on his debt," Li Chunsheng said, bowing his head as he processed the fine pork tenderloin. "The gambler's biggest fear is being accused of being untrustworthy. Besides, even if he wanted to renege, he'd have to think about Mr. Mei and the others. Don't worry, I'll make sure he pays up willingly."

Li Chunsheng began slicing the meat.

This is the soul of boiled pork slices. He first uses a little salt and cooking wine to knead the pork slices until they become sticky. Then, he starts to add ginger and scallion water in batches, stirring vigorously with his palms to allow the pork slices to absorb the water.

"Ya Ya, the fire's about to reach medium intensity, hold it steady."

"Hmm!" Ya Ya's little face was flushed red from the firelight as she frantically pulled the bellows.

The final step is to coat the meat with starch. Li Chunsheng used sweet potato starch and a fresh egg white. The starch coats the meat slices, forming a transparent protective film, while the egg white adds a smooth and tender texture. This is the basic technique in later generations, but in Beiping in 1929, it was a closely guarded secret.

Heat the wok, and Li Chunsheng first throws a handful of dried red chilies and Sichuan peppercorns into the empty wok, slowly roasting them until they turn black and crispy. Finally, he takes them out and crushes them with the back of a knife.

"Sizzle!"

Minced ginger, minced garlic, and fermented bean paste are added to the pot, and as the red oil boils, a ladle of rich and flavorful broth is poured in.

Use cabbage as a base, blanch it in the soup until just cooked, then quickly remove it and place it at the bottom of the porcelain bowl. Next, evenly scatter the slices of meat into the boiling soup.

He gently stirred the meat slices without using a spoon, letting them tumble in the soup. They were cooked when they changed color after ten or fifteen seconds.

"Take it off the heat!"

The sliced ​​meat, along with the broth, was poured into the porcelain bowl, covering the cabbage.

Sprinkle with a thick layer of crushed chili flakes, a handful of finely minced raw garlic, and a handful of bright green scallions.

He picked up a spoonful of boiling oil that was sizzling and smoking.

Yunniang carried a porcelain basin, and Li Chunsheng carried an oil ladle. They quickly walked out of the kitchen and into the main hall.

At this moment, Hu Chou Chou was impatiently picking at his ear.

"They're here!" Li Chunsheng shouted.

Yunniang placed the porcelain basin in front of Hu Chouchou, and then poured the ladle of boiling oil over it.

A thick plume of white smoke instantly rose up, mingling with the aroma of charred chili peppers, numbing Sichuan peppercorns, and raw garlic, all instantly activated by the hot oil, and exploded right at Hu Chou Chou's nose!

Hu Chou Chou squinted from the smoke, but he didn't flinch. The red oil was bubbling, the slices of meat were as white as jade, and they were topped with reddish-brown chili flakes. The visual impact was immediate!

"Sir, please enjoy your boiled sliced ​​pork!" Li Chunsheng gestured for him to eat.

Hu twitched his lips, this time with an extremely high frequency.

He pushed aside the wine bowl on the table and grabbed his chopsticks.

He picked up a slice of meat, which was covered in sticky red oil, and without even blowing on it, he put it directly into his mouth.

"hiss!!!"

Hu's face twitched, the heat and spiciness starting from the base of his neck, turning red in one second, purple in five seconds, and sweating profusely in ten seconds.

So tender!

It was tenderness beyond his comprehension; with just a slight push of his teeth, the delicious meat juices mixed with the numbing spiciness shot straight to the top of his head.

Then, that tingling sensation came over me.

His tongue began to tremble; the sensation was a mixture of pain, numbness, and pleasure, as if a strange creature was moving about below—an indescribable feeling.

He didn't have time to say anything and picked up another piece.

Then eat another piece of cabbage at the bottom. The crisp and sweet cabbage is soaked with spicy soup, and the refreshing and hot flavors collide repeatedly on the tip of your tongue.

Hu Chou Chou suddenly turned around and yelled at Xiao Wu, "Food! Get me the food! Hurry up!"

Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment, then quickly ran to the counter.

A whole pot of boiled sliced ​​meat and half a pot of white rice.

Hu Chou Chou was like a madman, working hard without saying a word, just like a prisoner who hadn't eaten for three days.

Five minutes later.

Hu put down his bowl and let out a loud burp.

He hastily wiped the sweat and oil from his face with his sleeve, stared at the empty porcelain bowl, and then looked at Li Chunsheng, who stood calmly to the side.

"Damn it!" Hu cursed, his lips twitching again. "It's fucking delicious!"

"Manager Li! I've eaten the food of countless master chefs, both in the Northeast and in the capital, but yours is the best! It's so spicy it makes my heart race, so numb it makes my legs weak, but I just can't stop eating it!"

He slammed his hand on the table, and the silver dollar spun around on the marble surface.

"I've lost! I accept my defeat wholeheartedly!"

Hu Chou Chou was not angry or embarrassed. Instead, he seemed unusually excited. He took out another silver dollar from the heavy little bag under his arm and put it on the table along with the one on the table.

"This is for the vegetables, and this is my tip!" Hu Chou Chou stood up, straightened his mink coat, and said, "I lost this round decisively!"

"Let's go! I had a great meal today!"

Hu Chou Chou stood up and walked towards the door.

The soldiers looked at each other, realizing that while Hu Chou Chou had enjoyed his meal, they hadn't eaten a single bite!

"Commander, we still..."

"What are you waiting for? Let's go! Let's go see the opera!"

"Sir, please take care."

Hu Chou Chou walked to the door, then suddenly stopped and looked back at Li Chunsheng.

"Manager Li, when will the private room be ready?"

"It will take some more time."

"Alright! I'll come back then. And if Mr. Mei doesn't come, I'll definitely sit in the private room too!"

Hu Chou Chou, with his entourage, burping and reeking of spicy food, swaggered out of the restaurant.

"call!"

Yunniang leaned against the stove door and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Chunsheng, you're incredibly audacious."

"A businessman like you, why not take a gamble and turn a bicycle into a motorcycle?" Li Chunsheng walked over, picked up the two heavy silver dollars on the table, and weighed them in his hand. "Besides, these thugs may be scoundrels, but they're not stupid. As long as you give them enough face and enough money, they're easier to serve than anyone else."

"Brother Chunsheng, what are bicycles and motorcycles?" Ya Ya asked curiously.

"Don't worry about the details," Li Chunsheng waved his hand.

Zhou Zhengnan slowly finished the last bite of his meal in the corner, then got up and walked to the counter.

"Boss Li, congratulations." Zhou Zhengnan lowered his voice, a hint of amusement in his tone. "On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, you've welcomed a Martial God of Wealth. Two silver dollars is no small sum."

"Mr. Zhou, you flatter me. He's just a rogue soldier, hardly a god of wealth," Li Chunsheng said, bowing slightly. "I hope this farce didn't spoil your enjoyment?"

"No, no," Zhou Zhengnan paid the bill, "Boss Li's cooking is as good as ever."