When Ren He returned to the Courtyard House in Liu Hai Alley, Yang Xi was learning to cook with Mrs. Wang. She used to be able to cook, but her skills were rather basic; she only knew how to use staple condiments like cooking oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar—spices and ingredients like cinnamon, abalone sauce, light soy sauce, and Sichuan peppercorns were beyond her.
To make Ren He's favorite dish, shredded pork with garlic sauce, she had to learn how to mix the sauce first.
Two spoons of vinegar, one spoon of light soy sauce, one spoon of starch, three spoons of sugar, one spoon of cooking wine, and three spoons of water—that was basically the recipe for the shredded pork with garlic sauce.
Chinese cuisine is so vast and profound; preparing a meal could involve a multitude of ingredients.
