The fresh bamboo shoots were blanched and cooled immediately. It could remove the bitterness while maintaining the crispness it deserved.
Of course, controlling the fire was very important during this process. If one was not careful and cooked too much, the tender bamboo shoot would immediately go limp and lose its appetite.
The bamboo shoots that were simply processed could still stand upright when pinched with hands. This meant that the blanching was just right.
Xiaoxiao gave herself a thumbs up and then dragged out the bamboo mesh board her brother had made from the kitchen.
It didn't have any technical skills. It was just intertwining bamboo pieces and forming a tablet with gaps.
After Xiaoxiao finished discharging the bamboo shoots, she stuffed the bamboo mesh board into the stove.
The bamboo net board and the flame were about a fist's length apart. It was just enough to heat the bamboo shoots on it evenly without burning them.
When the bamboo shoot shrank slightly, she pulled back the bamboo board and asked Rong Yan, who was outside.
"Do you mind eating spicy?"
Rong Yan paused for a moment. "It's fine if it's just a little."
Xiaoxiao asked again, "Do you want garlic?"
Rong Yan didn't say anything. He wasn't pampered and spoiled. He didn't eat garlic because it was too smelly.
Hence, Xiaoxiao made a sweet and spicy sauce for him. It was mainly fresh and sweet. She only added a bit of chili powder and used it as an embellishment.
Rong Yan looked at the chili powder in the sauce and hesitated momentarily. Then, under Xiaoxiao's puzzled gaze, he took a bite. He was stunned when he tasted it. The sauce was not spicy at all. The bamboo shoot strips were crispy and refreshing when he bit into them. There was a faint taste in the saltiness and an imperceptible sweetness.
His stomach, which had been tortured for the past few meals, seemed to have been redeemed. He quickly took another bite.
Xiaoxiao propped her chin and watched him eat. After he finished eating, she handed him another one. She was completely immersed in the joy of successfully feeding him.
Rong Yan, who had grown up in luxury life, did not expect to be interested in such poor food, nor did he expect to finish five or six sticks unknowingly.
After eating, his ears turned red as he thought, "Food is the most important thing for people." The ancients were not lying to him.
From the emperor to the common people, eating was a major event regardless of their status.
As he began to strategize in his mind, Xiaoxiao only thought that he ate too little.
When she met such customers, she would usually self-reflect first. Was the food not delicious? Or was it not to his liking?
Hence, she took out other bamboo shoots from the stove, using another method to deal with them. "Why don't you try something else?"
Madam Song happened to hear her words and poked her daughter's head.
Only her daughter could treat a few wild bamboo shoots as treasures and use them to entertain guests.
It seemed that the young master's family background was good. He had already eaten a few mouthfuls, but Xiaoxiao still wanted him to eat,
She smiled apologetically at Rong Yan. "Please forgive me for my poor hospitality."
Rong Yan stood up and bowed. "Aunt, you're welcome. Miss Ning's culinary skills are very good. I apologize for disturbing you."
He thought momentarily and said, "Aunt, just call me Ah Yan."
Madam Song liked this good-looking and polite young man very much. However, her family was poor. She could not take out anything suitable to entertain him. After chatting, she saw he was about to leave and did not ask him to stay.
Xiaoxiao was in charge of sending the guests off. Even though he lived next door, she still couldn't forget their etiquette. Her mom had always valued the upbringing of the siblings.
However, on the way, she couldn't help but mutter, "Actually, the bamboo shoots that are roasted together with the skin have a different flavor. The moment the shell of the bamboo shoots is peeled, the fragrance goes straight into my nostrils! If pork belly with fat and lean meat is sliced into thin slices, rolled up the bamboo shoots, and roasted with my secret sauce, the taste will be amazing!"
Rong Yan was speechless. Why was he suddenly hungry again?
When this girl talked about food, she was just like Aunt Xiao's husband, who was an imperial chef. Her image was too specific and tasteful.
Thinking about it this way, her eyes seemed somewhat familiar.
Xiaoxiao realized that Rong Yan would look at her quietly when she spoke. This made Xiaoxiao, who was always despised for being bold and talkative, feel satisfied and comfortable.
She then became more talkative. "I know how to make a lot of sauces. Sweet, salty, spicy, and sour. I can make whatever you want!"
"I realized that you don't like to eat onions and garlic. Are you like to eat more salty or sweet?"
Rong Yan swallowed and answered honestly, "I like sweet."
Xiaoxiao felt that he was adorable. As she imagined such a good-looking young master hugging a dessert to eat, she was suddenly filled with motivation!
However, it only lasted for a moment. Because, in this era, sugar was a luxury item that her family could not afford.
However, she still said thoughtfully, "I'll remember. I'll make you sweet sauce next time."
After saying that, she turned around and ran back to her house.
When the guard saw Rong Yan standing at the door, he happened to hear her words and looked puzzled.
When did Master become so familiar with the girl next door?
Huh, wasn't this the girl who took their carrier pigeon?
Before he could figure it out, he heard Rong Yan ask calmly, "What did you hunt today?"
Yun Yi, who had gone to the mountains with Zhao Hu to try his luck, shook his head. Rong Yan didn't say anything, but the guard could see the obvious disdain in his eyes.
Yun Yi, also ranked among the imperial guards, felt very aggrieved. Wasn't he trying to hide his strength?
However, he thought that his master wanted him to hunt prey.
He probed, "What do you think I should hunt?"
Rong Yan said calmly, "A wild boar."
He added, "The kind with pork belly."
Yun Yi was speechless.