Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 35
Tled by Serena Love
Unedited
Chapter 35: Rou Jia Mo
Speaking of cakes or pastries, Jiang Shuyao could come up with many types, such as Xiangjiang bing (soy sauce-flavored pancakes), scallion pancakes, beef shortbread pastry, scallion puff pastry...
But when it comes to buns, the first thing that comes to her mind is Rou Jia Mo.
Rou Jia Mo is a special delicacy from Shaanxi, but it was so delicious that it was sold in stores across the country.
Rou (meat) Jia (sandwich) Mo (bun), as the name suggests, is a meat sandwich. The bun refers to a white bun with a crispy outer skin and a fluffy and soft inside. The meat included braised pork, bacon, lamb, etc., chopped into minced meat and folded inside the white bun.
Jiang Shuyao did not rush to cook some test dishes for Xie Xun. After all, she enjoyed cooking, but if she were in a hurry, she would lose that soothing feeling.
So, taking advantage of the sunshine in the afternoon, Jiang Shuyao entered her small kitchen and set up the pottery jar to prepare the marinated meat.
Cured meat and braised meat are slightly different. Without adding ginger, onion, and cooking wine, she only mix the pork with cloves, cardamom seed, ginger, pepper, ice cinnamon, fennel, and other Chinese herbs and spices. Then it was simmered over low heat until the Chinese herbs' aroma absorbed into the meat, and the fatty meat was stewed until it becomes soft.
The sun was warm and made people drowsy. A little kitten in the corner that was slumbering in the sun, suddenly smelled the scent of meat. It woke up leisurely and walked towards the kitchen with his tail cocked.
Who knew which little maid picked up a wild cat and left it here. Jiang Shuyao threw it a piece of fatty meat, and it immediately came over and ate it clean.
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Xie Xun was not there to watch her cooking, but there was a kitten that sat obediently and meowing coquettishly. Jiang Shuyao turned her head several times, and she happened to see the kitten's natural curled mouth.
'Hmm... it's a bit similar, maybe let Xie Xun raise it.'
As she thought about it, she prepared the white steamed bun.
The white bun was made from yeast and ordinary flour. After the dough was smooth, she shaped it into a round ball. She heated the pan without oil, and she put the buns directly into the pan and cover it. Then she waited until the two sides of the bun become golden brown.
When the buns were baked, the braised pork will be stewed enough.
The snoozing kitten woke up and yelled, "meow~." As soon as the kitten meowed, another clear voice said, "What did you do?"
Xie Xun just got off duty and had changed into his casual clothes. He sniffed the scent while walking into the yard and said, "I am going to discuss some matters with my eldest brother and my second brother about tomorrow. So I won't have dinner here."
Jiang Shuyao opened the lid of the pot and glanced at the braised pork. The pork was dark red and glowed with a bright luster. She asked, "Are you sure?"
Xie Xun was hesitant and said, "...If you can save some, please save it for me. I will reheat it when I come back."
Jiang Shuyao asked again, "You don't want to eat now?"
Xie Xun, who was not originally hungry, became a little greedy because her question, but he still refused, "Big brother and second brother are waiting for me, I can't delay."
Jiang Shuyao saw his regret and said with a smile, "It just so happens that I made buns today. You can eat it without delay."
Xie Xun's eyes lit up when he heard her words, "That would be better."
He leaned over and looked into the pot behind her, "What bun?"
After he spoke, there was a meow next to him. Xie Xun turned his head and saw a kitten begging for food.
He asked casually, "Where did the cat come from?"
"I don't know which little maid surreptitiously raised it. The fur is clean. I think it should be healthy."
Xie Xun nodded, turned his head to look at the cat cleaning its nose, and said naively, "The cat is greedy."
Then he turned his head and continued to look into the pot.
Jiang Shuyao quickly took a piece of braised pork from the pot and threw it on the chopping board. The soup was dripping from the pork.
She raised the knife and chopped for a while, the soft and glutinous meat was chopped into roughly minced meat in two seconds, and the thick gravy was scooped out and mixed with the minced meat.
Then she lifted the lid of the pan, took one bun and sliced the middle. She put the minced meat between the two slices, scoop a soup of salty, fragrant, and fatty broth and pour a little bit into it. Then she placed the Rou Jia Mo into Xie Xun's hand.
Xie Xun was holding the sandwich, and the rich oily aroma made his tongue evoke fluids. Look at the white bun. It was fluffy and soft, the minced meat was rosy in color, and there are some crystal-clear minced fat. He couldn't help but say, "Could you make one more for me?"
After finishing speaking, he reluctantly added, "If there is anything left tonight, keep it for me. I will come back to eat at night."
Knowing that he had a big appetite, Jiang Shuyao made another one for him, and said while she was cooking, "I will use the remaining heat to keep the bun warm, the meat is also simmered over a small fire. If it was not enough for you, just ask someone to come here. I will assemble it for you and let them send it over."
Xie Xun said joyfully, "Very good, very good."
Holding two meat sandwiches in a graceful posture, he went to look for his brothers in the pavilion.
Thanks to this old-fashioned eldest brother, even if they are hungry, they can't eat during the meeting.
When people were seriously discussing matters, it would be strange if someone was eating next to them.
So even if Xie Li and Xie Lang were hungry, none of them eat. At most, they swallowed some cakes to cushion their stomach. However, gentlemen don't like sweets, so they took out the plate after eating two each.
Xie Xun happened to come at this time, and they packed the table and prepared for the discussion.
As soon as the brothers raised their heads, they saw Xie Xun's posture, which was as tall as a pine and bamboo, but he held a meat sandwich in each hand like a fool.
Xie Xun saw the servants take away the half-empty pastry plate, and quickly stopped them, "Wait, leave that plate."
After speaking, he strode forward and put a meat sandwich in his left hand on the plate. Then he sat down and said, "Okay, let's start."
Xie Lang and Xie Li didn't know how to look at him anymore.
Xie Xun's expression was flat, "Big Brother, please talk about your opinion first. I'll listen."
Xie Li took a breath and smelled the fatty oil aroma mixed with herbal scent and the mellow savory fragrance.
"Ahem." He coughed. "Eat it after discussing the matter."
Xie Xun replied, "It's not a problem. I won't make any noise, and it's convenient to eat. I can swallow and talk at any time."
Xie Li was helpless about his cold-faced brother, so he started talking about business.
Xie Xun listened very seriously, and his expression was very serious, but his actions were completely inconsistent with his face. He held the Rou Jia Mo by pinching the two ends and did not know how to start eating.
He bit from the side first, but it was too big. It slightly squeezed the meat out from the bun, the fragrant gravy suddenly flowed out, almost flowing into his hand.
It was exactly the reason why Rou Jia Mo is especially attractive. The meat was bulging inside the bun, and it was filled with hot broth. Just imagine how delicious it is.
Xie Lang's voice faintly said, "This is what the third sister-in-law made for third younger brother?"
Xie Xun swallowed what was in his mouth and replied, "Yes."
Xie Li was surprised, "How come you eat buns for dinner?"
"Jiang-shi afraid that I will be hungry tomorrow, so she wants to try to make some pastry that can be eaten even when cold."
Xie Li said, "I don't think there would be such a thing."
Xie Xun nodded and said, "Exactly, but why not? I eat two more serving tonight so that I won't be hungry for a day tomorrow."
Xie Li was silent.
Xie Lang retracted his gaze, "Okay, brother, let's talk about the matter first." He brought the topic back to business.
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Xie Li started to talk about the money. Xie Xun joined them from time to time to discuss proposals. Eating a meat sandwich while thinking about work, he felt that the discussion had become a pleasure.
He ate excitedly, but Xie Li can smell it from across the table, and can't bear it anymore, "I wonder if third sister-in-law made more today?"
Xie Xun heard the alarm bells sounding in his heart immediately. He only remembered how gluttonous the two of them were.
He stretched out his hand to pull the plate and sat tightly to the edge of the table. "I don't know about that. Is there anything wrong, eldest brother?"
Even though he was greedy, he still couldn't beg for food from his younger brother. He said, "Nothing, just curious."
Xie Lang couldn't speak either, and the two of them stared at Xie Xun simultaneously.
Xie Xun couldn't bear it, "I will eat this after I finish the other one."
However, Xie Lang said solemnly, "But isn't it will be cold in your plate?"
'Humph, you want to grab my food!'
Xie Xun said coldly, "It's still hot, it's not cold."
"Third brother." Xie Li said, "Well then, let's have dinner before continuing this discussion. My second brother and I are still hungry."
In this way, Xie Xun suddenly felt that he was a petty and selfish person who was only concerned about eating and delaying business.
He had to push the plate over, "You can eat." Then he called the maid to come in and asked her to go to the Bamboo Courtyard to find Jiang Shuyao and get two more sandwiches.
Xie Li and Xie Lang stared at the pork sandwich on the plate, and at the same time, raised their eyes. Their eyes met, and there was a spark.
Xie Lang was quick and got it first.
The bun was still warm, and the meat inside was still steaming. Xie Lang felt greedy when he smelled it. He pinched the sandwich and took a bite.
The fragrant gravy was squeezed out and slid down the edge and soak the bun.
The white bun had a crisp surface but a soft and fluffy inside. The gravy was fully absorbed in the bun. The inner layer of the bun was soggy and salty but very delicious, not to mention the crispy braised pork inside.
The soup was rich in flavor. Fully absorbed the aroma of herbs and meat, and the same was for the meat.
The lean meat was cooked until soft and tender, thin but not dry. The fatty meat was crispy, blending the refreshing scent of Chinese herbs. It was fat but not greasy. It melted in the mouth, sticky but smooth.
The aroma of meat and herbs were blended and complement each other. How could it be described with words.
Xie Lang ate cleanly. But he was not full, and even felt more greedy.
Then Jiang Shuyao's freshly made Rou Jia Mo arrived, Xie Xun naturally took one, and the other was given to Xie Li.
Xie Li had long been greedy, and finally, it was his turn to eat.
After a bite, he was stunned. What else that they need to discuss? Wouldn't it be better to wait for a while and slowly taste the sandwich?
When Xie Xun and Xie Li finished eating, everyone finally started to discuss matters.
At the beginning of the Haishi, Xie Xun stood up and prepared to go, but Xie Lang stopped him.
[T/N: Haishi is between 9 pm to 11 pm.]
"Third brother, I don't know what third sister-in-law will make for you tomorrow?"
"I don't know, probably nothing. I don't think she has any ideas." Xie Xun replied casually.
"If she does--" Xie Lang hesitated.
Xie Xun finally noticed something wrong, and this time he was really angry.
He frowned and said, "Second brother, there is no such thing. How can my brother trouble my wife to cook?" He said unhappily, "Jiang-shi loves cooking herself. Isn't it tiring to cook for you?"
His younger brother spoke without mercy, so Xie Lang said, "I didn't know that my younger sister-in-law actually did it by herself. It was my mistake. Please don't mind me, third brother."
Xie Xun's expression was a little awkward, "I'll go back and ask her."
Xie Xun returned to Bamboo Courtyard, thinking about this and fearing that Jiang Shuyao would think that his brother's request was disrespecting her. After all, she was a noble lady, not a cook.
He thought about it and felt a bit angry. He stood unhappily in the yard for a while.
After he figured it out, he ran to the East Wing to find Jiang Shuyao, but didn't find her, so he went to the kitchen and finally saw her.
Jiang Shuyao was making tomorrow's cakes. Seeing Xie Xun came, she said to him, "I'm baking a cake for you tomorrow."
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