Transmigrated As A Scholar Chapter 62 Part 1

Chapter 62

Before going to the Assistant Prefect's residence, Fang Yu informed Ji Yunlu. He had heard that the Assistant Prefect was particularly fond of marinated duck tongues, specifically those made by the old master chef Gan from the Gan family restaurant in Wuming Lane.

Although the Assistant Prefect held him in high regard, since he now had a request to make, it was best to cater to the man's preferences.

Fang Yu specially sought out this restaurant. He had previously seen a recommendation for it in the manuscripts at the Book and Tea House and had long wanted to try it, but he had been too busy with the imperial examinations to find the time. He never imagined his first visit would be for the sake of currying favor.

Upon inquiring with the waiter, he understood why the Assistant Prefect loved the marinated duck tongues from this place. That old master chef Gan only made them once a month, and the quantity was limited—only about a dozen plates each time. Moreover, Master Gan was a stubborn and principled cook. He said he would only make them once a month, and that was it; no amount of money could persuade him to come make more.

Just as customers got hooked on the taste, they couldn't get more. No wonder people longed for them day and night.

Currently, it had only been half a month since Master Gan last made the duck tongues. Buying them was impossible. Disappointed, he returned home, thinking he might as well just gift the tea and wine from his father-in-law's family. After all, they were respectable presents suitable for any occasion, though they lacked that extra layer of thoughtful intention. 

"If you had told me earlier you were going out to buy Master Gan's marinated duck tongues, you could have saved yourself this futile trip."

Seeing his husband return with a long face and hearing the reason for his displeasure, Qiao Hezhi couldn't help but tease him.

"Oh? Do you have a good idea?"

"Why not let me make some for you to take to the Assistant Prefect's residence? And I can make extra to satisfy your craving."

Although Fang Yu knew his young fulang's culinary skills, he also understood that different cooks produced different flavors.

"I know what you're worried about." Qiao Hezhi said confidently, "I guarantee the taste will be almost identical to Master Gan's marinated duck tongues. Unless it's a top-tier chef with a discerning palate, an ordinary person definitely won't be able to tell the difference."

Seeing Qiao Hezhi so confident, Fang Yu's face lit up with joy, but he was also surprised. "How do you know Master Gan's signature dish?"

"Master Gan used to be a chef employed by our family. He made excellent dishes, and marinated duck tongue was just one of them. Back then, Master Gan saw I had some talent for cooking and would teach me a few tricks in his spare time. I happened to learn how to make marinated duck tongue too."

Qiao Hezhi tied his apron strings and began scrubbing the pot. "Later, Master Gan couldn't bear being separated from his wife for long, so he resigned from his post at our house, rented a small shop outside, and opened a restaurant. Because he was generous and cheerful, and his food was delicious, his business got better and better."

Fang Yu hurried to help tie the apron strings for Qiao Hezhi, resting his chin on his shoulder. "Then my luck is truly too good, to have encountered Chef Qiao who solves all my difficulties."

"Stop with the sweet talk. If the Assistant Prefect invites you to stay for lunch today, on your way back, go to the eastern city and buy me some candied peach preserves."

"Then I'm definitely destined to buy a box of candied peach preserves. You don't know how much the Assistant Prefect appreciates me; he's already calling me 'worthy nephew.' He'll surely take me as his student."

"You can be proud for now."

Fang Yu watched from beside the stove as Qiao Hezhi deftly handled the plump duck tongues, blanched them, and then he tossed firewood into the stove hearth. Like an ordinary couple in the countryside, they were both quite adept at their tasks.

 

He had never tended a fire before. It was because Qiao Hezhi often cooked in the small kitchen, and he would come to keep him company, always wanting to find something to do to feel involved. At first, he helped peel garlic and wash ginger, but he couldn't handle chopping vegetables. Last time, his cuts were uneven and too thick, and he nearly chopped off a fingernail. Qiao Hezhi scolded him for a long time, and he never got to hold the knife again.

Later, he found the task of tending the fire and grew fond of it. It was warm, he could sit and peel garlic, and he felt fully involved in the cooking process.

Marinated duck tongue is actually a cold dish. The duck tongues are cleaned, boiled, and then soaked in a secret marinade. The quality depends not only on the duck tongues themselves but also crucially on that bowl of marinade.

The ingredients in the marinade are essentially the same—green onions, ginger, garlic, bay leaves, cinnamon, soy sauce, vinegar, etc.—but the exact proportion of each ingredient depends on the cook. 

In short, being a novice in the kitchen, he simply watched as Qiao Hezhi added one ingredient after another until the dish was complete.

"Soak them for one shichen (two hours), fully submerged, and they'll be ready. I poked small holes in the duck tongues to help them absorb the flavor. Take this over, chat for a while, and they'll be perfect by noon."

Qiao Hezhi had a servant bring an exquisite food box to pack them. "Don't think about sneaking a taste on the way. If they're not properly marinated, the flavor will be very bland."

"Yes, I'll follow the young master's instructions."

Fang Yu laughed, returned to his room to change into formal clothes, and then set off for the Assistant Prefect's residence with the gifts.

The Assistant Prefect's residence was closer to Hufengjing. From here, it took about two ke (half an hour). When Fang Yu arrived at the gate, Ji Yunlu was already waiting for him.

"Brother Fang, please come inside quickly! My father was just mentioning you, so I came out to see if you'd arrived—and here you are!"

"Brother Ji, you're too kind. If I had known you were waiting at the gate, I would have told the coachman to drive faster."

The two walked into the residence together, chatting and laughing. As they passed through the garden and were about to step onto the covered walkway, they heard a sarcastic voice.

"Oh, Fourth Brother, ever since you passed the provincial exam and pleased Father, it seems things have really changed for you, haven't they? Now you act as though you have a say in this house, bringing home whomever you please and putting on quite the airs. It looks like in the future, even I, your elder brother, may have to depend on you."

"Eldest Brother!" Ji Yunlu lowered his voice, a hint of anger in his tone. "A guest is a guest. We are, after all, a respectable family. What is the meaning of speaking this way?"