Chapter 86: Adding Dishes ( 2 )

Chapter 86: Adding Dishes ( 2 ) It had nothing to do with how long their marriage lasted, but rather with how good their relationship was and how much they cared for each other.

Although he thought so, Fu Chen’an didn’t say anything when he heard his brother’s words. Everyone lived their own life. It was not his place to comment on others’ private matters.

The two of them chatted as they walked and reached the barracks at seven o’clock in the morning. After arriving, they placed their luggage in the camp and went to report to the Centurion.

Recalling his wife’s words, Fu Chen’an hesitated for a moment before taking the jars with him. When he arrived at Yan Shu’s tent, he waited briefly while the guard went in to report before being called in.

Seeing him carrying two jars, Yan Shu raised his eyebrows but said nothing.

Fu Chen’an placed the jars on the desk, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Centurion Yan."

Yan Shu nodded and asked, "Fu Chen’an, what is this?"

"Centurion Yan, these are dishes made by my wife. She asked me to share them with everyone."

Hearing this, Yan Shu smiled and said, "Since they are from your wife, take them to the kitchen and share them with everyone."

After receiving the order, Fu Chen’an bowed and left with the jars. When he arrived at the kitchen, he went to find the head chef.

Seeing him, the chef smiled and greeted him. "Squad Leader Fu, are you here for breakfast? We only have some steamed buns left."

Fu Chen’an placed the jars on the table and said, "Cook Li, I came to deliver some dishes from my wife. I already informed Centurion Yan, and he agreed to let me share them with the brothers."

Hearing this, Cook Li was curious. He had worked as a cook in the White Tiger Army for more than fifteen years. Although his skills were not on par with the imperial chefs, they were far better than those of ordinary housewives.

At that moment, he thought that Fu Chen’an’s wife was either naive or overly confident to dare bring dishes into his territory.

With that thought, he untied the hemp rope and opened the cloth. When he lifted the lid, the fragrance of braised meat filled the air.

Instantly, several cooks turned around and stared. Cook Li was surprised. Using a chopstick, he picked up a piece of meat. When he looked closer, he was taken aback.

"Squad Leader Fu, isn’t this pork innards?" he asked.

Fu Chen’an nodded and explained, "Cook Li, this is braised innards made by my wife. It’s edible and delicious."

Seeing his skepticism, Fu Chen’an picked up the largest piece with his chopsticks and ate it without hesitation. Even after eating a lot at home, he was still not tired of it. The more he chewed, the more flavorful it became.

Watching him eat, the cooks couldn’t help swallowing. After a while, they finally tried the braised innards themselves. The moment they tasted it, they exclaimed in surprise.

"Pork innards can be this delicious?" one cook said in disbelief.

"It’s even better than meat," another added.

"I wonder how it was made. If we could learn this recipe, we could replace meat with it. Not only would it save money, but we also wouldn’t have to worry about lacking meat dishes."

In this era, the so-called braised dishes were actually a meat dish cooked at low heat for hours until the soup thickens. Compared to Yao Zhi’s braised dish, their braised dish was light in color and didn’t have the complex flavor.

While they were discussing, Cook Li put down his chopsticks and opened another jar. This time, the fragrance was lighter than that of the braised innards. There was no soup, but it was covered in fragrant oil.

Using a clean chopstick, he picked up some soybean pulp and examined it. This time, even he didn’t know what it was.

"Squad Leader Fu, this is...?"

Seeing the confusion in Cook Li’s eyes, Fu Chen’an said, "My wife said this dish is made from soybean pulp, minced meat, and soy sauce."

The cooks had never heard of soy sauce and asked, "What is soy sauce?"

"It’s a sauce made from soybeans. As for the soybean pulp, it’s the residue from making soy milk."

Hearing this, Cook Li assumed that the soy sauce must be made using a family secret recipe, so he felt too embarrassed to ask further.

He tasted the stir-fried soybean pulp and nodded. "This dish is fragrant and flavorful. It tastes better than the usual stir-fried minced meat."

Hearing this praise, Fu Chen’an felt proud. Everyone in the barracks knew how picky Cook Li was. For him to praise a dish meant its taste was exceptional.

Despite his pride, he showed nothing on his face. "Cook Li, can these dishes be added to the menu?" he asked.

"Of course," Cook Li nodded.

If dishes like these couldn’t be served, then the food usually served in the mess hall could only be called pig feed. But to keep the face of the cooks, he didn’t say these words outwardly.

Before leaving, Fu Chen’an said, "Cook Li, please save some for the General, Battalion Commander Gao, and Centurion Yan."

As his direct superiors, it was natural to share the dishes with them. Cook Li agreed. "Rest assured, I’ll take care of it."

After Fu Chen’an left the kitchen, the cooks surrounded the jars and discussed the methods and ingredients used.

Since the war had just ended, the soldiers didn’t need to train as intensely as before. After leaving the kitchen, Fu Chen’an went to carry out his patrol duty.

Before noon, the news about Fu Chen’an’s wife preparing two meat dishes to add to the menu spread in the barracks.

Everyone knew about the monetary reward he received from the General. While no one brought that matter up, they still harbored some envy. Now that Fu Chen’an prepared two meat dishes, everyone felt much more balanced.