Chapter 10 of 100
Chapter 10: Cooking Lessons
19 min read4,813 words
Luo Jing'en softly and gently said, "Well, I prefer dishes that are a bit lighter and healthier, and I also like noodles and baked goods like cookies and bread. I've made some simple steamed buns and bread at home. I hope the cooking can be as simple as possible, as I might not be able to learn something too complicated. And I'm not a picky eater."
Li Shenxing wrote down everything she mentioned in his notebook.
"Sister Jing'en, let's exchange phone numbers and email addresses first. If you have any questions, you can call me. I plan to record the cooking process with a DV, edit it, and send it to your email. You can review it later or call me if you forget anything."
"Ah~ That would be great. I don't want to bother you too much by calling you all the time," Luo Jing'en said happily.
"Hehe, it's no trouble. Let's go to the kitchen now."
"Okay." Luo Jing'en stood up and followed Li Shenxing.
Li Shenxing led Luo Jing'en to the kitchen of the café, but they didn't cook there. Instead, they went through the kitchen to a room at the back. This was Li Shenxing's private kitchen, where he usually experimented with new dishes.
The kitchen wasn't small, about ten square meters, with a stove in the middle and cabinets around it. The kitchen was very clean and neatly arranged.
Li Shenxing handed one of the two DVs on the table to Luo Jing'en, "Sister Jing'en, can you use this?"
"Of course, I can." Luo Jing'en took it and said.
"Good. You can use this one to film, and I'll set up the other one." Li Shenxing set up a tripod next to the stove, placed the DV on it, and adjusted the angle.
"Sister Jing'en, let's start with something simple and easy to learn. Wait a moment, I'll go get the ingredients we need."
Soon, Li Shenxing came back with a tray.
"Sister Jing'en, let's start filming." Li Shenxing turned on the DV and set it to recording mode.
"Since you all like noodles, I'll teach you two noodle dishes today: Braised Pork Diced Noodles and Tomato Pork Diced Noodles. Both dishes use lean pork, so we'll start by slicing the pork into thin pieces or strips, or dicing it." Li Shenxing demonstrated the process while working.
"Before cooking, prepare all the ingredients first so that we won't be in a rush. For the Tomato Pork Diced Noodles, we need tomatoes. Cut the tomatoes into wedges or dice them. Sister Jing'en, make sure not to cut them too thick or large, as we need to cook them down to a sauce. Thinner and smaller pieces will release the juice more easily." Li Shenxing reminded her.
"Got it, I'll remember that." Luo Jing'en filmed attentively.
"Cut the scallions diagonally into rings or strips, depending on your preference."
"Before cooking the noodles, let me introduce the seasonings we'll use. For the Tomato Pork Diced Noodles, we need oil, garlic, salt, and oyster sauce. You can also use abalone sauce to enhance the flavor."
"Now, let's start. Heat the pan and add a little oil. Sauté the garlic until fragrant, then add the pork and stir-fry until it changes color. Add the tomatoes and cook until they soften and release their juice. Add water according to how much noodles you're cooking. Once the water boils, add the noodles and stir with chopsticks to prevent them from sticking. Cook until the noodles are done, then season with salt, oyster sauce, or abalone sauce. Finally, add the scallions and it's ready to eat."
Li Shenxing didn't make too much, just a regular single serving.
He divided the Tomato Pork Diced Noodles into two bowls, placed one in front of Luo Jing'en, and gave her a spoon and chopsticks.
"Sister Jing'en, try it and see how it tastes. Hold the DV for me."
Luo Jing'en handed the DV to Li Shenxing, picked up the spoon, and took a sip of the soup, blowing on it before putting it in her mouth.
"Mmm~!!! The soup is delicious." Luo Jing'en took another sip, "It's refreshing, sweet and sour, and not at all greasy. It really suits my taste, and the method is simple. This Tomato Pork Diced Noodles is really great."
It was clear that Luo Jing'en enjoyed the Tomato Pork Diced Noodles, praising it while eating. She finished the small bowl, including the soup.
"I'm glad you like it. Next, let's make the Braised Pork Diced Noodles. The ingredients we need are doubanjiang (fermented broad bean and chili paste), salt, and scallions. You can also add vegetables of your choice when cooking the noodles."
Li Shenxing washed the pan and heated it to dry out any remaining water.
"Always make sure the pan is dry before adding oil, or the oil will splatter." Li Shenxing turned to Luo Jing'en and reminded her.
"Heat the pan, add oil, and stir-fry the pork until it's separated." Li Shenxing demonstrated while explaining.
"Once the pork turns white, add the doubanjiang and stir-fry until it's cooked. Transfer it to a bowl, Sister Jing'en, can you get a bowl?"
Li Shenxing lifted the pan and poured the cooked pork into the bowl Luo Jing'en had brought over.
"No need to wash the pan. Just add water to cook the noodles. You don't need to add oil. Once the noodles are cooked, turn off the heat and season with a little salt. Don't add too much, as the doubanjiang already has enough flavor. Stir in the scallions and it's ready to serve. If you prefer it spicier, you can add the scallions after serving, depending on your preference."
Li Shenxing divided the Braised Pork Diced Noodles into two bowls, topped them with the cooked pork, and placed them in front of Luo Jing'en.
"This is a home-style version of braised noodles, different from what you usually eat outside. It tastes even better when it's cold. Stir it before eating, Sister Jing'en, try it."
"Mmm~!!! The sauce is rich and flavorful, not at all greasy. It's perfect with some vegetables, and the method is simple. I should be able to learn it easily. The taste is really great!"
"When you start learning to cook, it's best to start with simple dishes and gradually progress. This way, you'll feel a sense of achievement and won't be discouraged by difficulties." Li Shenxing turned off the DV and put it away.
After cleaning up the kitchen with Luo Jing'en, they went outside to have coffee and rest.
Luo Jing'en took out a notebook and wrote down the cooking steps, then showed it to Li Shenxing.
Li Shenxing carefully read it, wrote some notes, and returned it to Luo Jing'en.
Then, the two of them chatted about food while drinking juice.
...
"Oppa, when do you finish work today?" After leaving the café, Luo Jing'en called Liu Zaishi.
"I'll be off around six today. By the way, you went to learn cooking with Shenxing today, how was it?" Liu Zaishi asked with concern.
"Today, I learned to make two noodle soups with Shenxing, and they were delicious. I just left the café, and we had a great chat. We agreed to meet every Saturday at the café to learn cooking. I'll buy the ingredients and cook for you when you come back. The method is simple, but the taste is amazing," Luo Jing'en shared her day's achievements with Liu Zaishi in a cheerful voice.
"Then I'll have a treat today. I can't wait to try it! I'm already looking forward to it," Liu Zaishi replied excitedly.
"I'll go to the supermarket now and cook for you when you come back. You can go back to work now. We'll talk more when you get back."
"Okay, you can hang up now. I'll be back once I finish."
After ending the call with Liu Zaishi, Luo Jing'en hailed a taxi and left.
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---
"Oppa, when do you finish work today?" After leaving the café, Luo Jing'en took out her phone and called Liu Zaishi.
"I'll be off around six today. By the way, you went to learn cooking with Shenxing today, how was it?" Liu Zaishi asked with concern.
"Today, I learned to make two noodle soups with Shenxing, and they were delicious. I just left the café, and we had a great chat. We agreed to meet every Saturday at the café to learn cooking. I'll buy the ingredients and cook for you when you come back. The method is simple, but the taste is amazing," Luo Jing'en shared her day's achievements with Liu Zaishi in a cheerful voice.
"Then I'll have a treat today. I can't wait to try it! I'm already looking forward to it," Liu Zaishi replied excitedly.
"I'll go to the supermarket now and cook for you when you come back. You can go back to work now. We'll talk more when you get back."
"Okay, you can hang up now. I'll be back once I finish."
After ending the call with Liu Zaishi, Luo Jing'en hailed a taxi and left.
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