Chapter 95: Pan-fried Steak

Chapter 95: Pan-fried Steak
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
He Jing did not correct him. Those uninitiated would look at speed while experts discerned the way. Chef Wang was not as skilled as Chef Luo.
Although Chef Luo was young, he handled the ingredients well. He also had a unique understanding of the combinations and possible interactions each ingredient might have on another. His technique was strong yet supple, like a dance shared by a dragon and phoenix, far more impressive than Chef Wang’s more traditional skillset involving the four main techniques of Ming dynasty cooking.
Chef Wang scored a 9.8, while Chef Luo only got a 9-4.
He Jing got up, saying, “Third Brother, enjoy the rest of the show. I’m heading to bed.”
He Zhou thought that He Jing would force an argument or change her words to please him. Neither of those outcomes came to pass, and it caught him flat-footed. He did not expect her to respond to his provocation by saying she was off to bed, changing the topic as if his words were irrelevant.
“Wait a minute.”
He Zhou called out to her.
“Didn’t you want to learn how to cook? Would you like to start now?”
He Jing’s eyes narrowed, her head tilted thoughtfully. “Fine by me.”
The two of them entered the kitchen together.
He Sui had just finished washing the dishes when he saw He Jing carrying a large bag of ingredients and following He Zhou.
Astonished, he watched with mouth agape as He Jing removed ingredients from the plastic bag. “What’s going on?” he demanded.
“I’m learning how to cook, ” He Jing replied.
“You’re crazy!” He Sui cried in shock. “We’ve just eaten!”
In a deliberate show of authority, He Zhou told He Sui, “If you have nothing better to do, perhaps you should step out for a bit.”
He Sui was displeased by the tone He Zhou had taken with him. He Jing was a girl. It was one thing for a woman to be wilful and mischievous but quite another for a man to slip into irrationality.
“I’ll whip up some beef meatballs for you as a late-night snack,” He Jing said. ‘I ! ! !” He Sui’s expression quickly changed. “Be my guest!”
He Zhou took in the scene and had a deeper understanding of how He Jing had managed to sway He Sui to her side. It seemed she had been bribing him with food.
That’s right; He Sui was a glutton. Put a little bit of meat in front of him, and he could be led astray far too easily. One could say he was the most innocent in the family…
He ling divided each ingredient into two portions. one for herself and one for He Zhou. “Third Brother, what will you be teaching me?”
He Zhou eyed the large slabs of beef tenderloin and announced what they would be cooking. “We’ll be cooking Western cuisine.”
“But don’t you specialize in Chinese cooking?” He Jing enquired, giving He ZHou a strange look.
With the He family’s financial situation, the only Western food they could afford was vegetable salad and mashed potatoes. How could he have had experience cooking steaks?
“My experience is enough to teach you,” He Zhou answered.
He Jing was speechless. A short silence ensued, eventually broken by He Jing. “Very well. I’ll watch and learn from you, Third Brother.”
He Zhou was pretty confident in his ability to cook steaks. While helping his aunt, he occasionally snuck a few glances at the old man frying burgers next door, memorizing the steps needed to cook them. He Zhou did not believe his steaks would be inferior to those served at restaurants.
Pan-frying steaks might look easy, but it was not. It was the perfect dish for him to make a fool of He Jing.
One had to maintain strict control over the fire, cooking the meat evenly on both sides. Too little and they would be eating raw steak; too much and the meat would turn leathery.
He Zhou smirked, satisfied with his little scheme.
He Jing watched as He Zhou prepared the steak, cleaning off the excess blood and tenderizing the meat with the edge of his chopping knife. Afterward, he threw the beef tenderloin into the hot oil.
Five minutes later, He Zhou scooped the steak out of the hot oil, plating it..