The Female Supporting Role Shows Out

Chapter 25

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

The dish in front of him was placed in a semicircular shape in the bowl. It was steaming hot and was giving a subtle yet sweet aroma of rice wine that was not at all overpowering. The fermented glutinous rice flour that formed the outer and was viscous enough to keep the delightful aroma within.

Marquis Weiyuan removed the layer of glutinous rice flour with his chopsticks. He could immediately smell a unique aroma which had not only surprised him but also the onlookers who were starting to make a commotion. Combined with the aroma of wine, vegetables, marinade, meat, and light soy sauce, the smell of the dish was extremely strong but was neatly layered on top of each other that made people desire for the food even more.

Dishes that were delicious in appearance, smell, and flavor were known to be delicacies. The dish that Lin Dan made may look and smell nothing extraordinary, but when the outer layer of glutinous rice flour was removed, the aroma that was kept underneath immediately revealed itself. The dish had somehow seemed to have a soul of its own.

As the emerald ice jade pork slices were soaked in the marinade, the thinner parts had been slightly stained red, looking like delicate petals. The fat of the meat was slowly eliminated by the heat and was absorbed by the bright and brown glutinous rice flour. This had made the two ingredients stuck tightly together. There was meat in the flour and flour in the meat, which created a flavorful dish.

Marquis Weiyuan picked up a piece of ice jade meat that was wrapped in the glutinous rice flour. He had only taken a bite and his eyes widened in astonishment. The meat was just as Lin Dan described – it had fully absorbed the wine and felt as though he had drunk a glass of wine just with one bite. Similar to wine, it had a strong yet mellow taste. This piece of meat was actually unlike a food ingredient but more like a container of wine. It did not only have the freshness and tenderness of meat, but it also had the flavor of the marinate and soy sauce, which produces a rich flavor. The glutinous rice flour that was used to make the outer layer also had a unique taste. It was originally used to make rice wine, but as it was only semi-fermented, it was sweeter and softer than the ordinary glutinous rice flour.

When all kinds of flavors including the sweet and salty, the sauce, and the fermented ingredient were combined, it did not cover the aroma of the wine, which got stronger as he chewed. However, there was no burning sensation of the wine when the meat entered the throat, but it made the stomach warm. Lin Dan actually fulfilled his unusual request. With a pair of skillful hands, she managed to create a dish with wine, and it tasted wonderful. Marquis Weiyuan could not help but glance at her before finally trying the cold bean sprouts.

The bean sprouts were also made with fermented rice and were mixed with some pepper and sesame oil. When the marquis chewed the stems, the aroma of the wine-filled up his mouth with the freshness of plants and created a refreshing taste.

As the marquis wanted to have wine for every meal, he often only had two mouthfuls of food before his stomach was filled with alcohol. Then, he would fall soundly asleep. Although the Emperor had sent him back to the capital to treat his illness, it was due to that reason that he had become thinner instead. Now, his subordinates were overjoyed to see that he was willing to sit down and eat a proper meal and even had a good appetite.

He picked up the food with his chopsticks one after another. His actions were elegant but were carried out in haste. Within a short moment, he had already finished half a plate of Wine Steamed Pork, and only some sauce was left on the plate that contained the bean sprouts. The rest of the diners stared at him eagerly and were swallowing their saliva. "Darn, Manager Lin's culinary skills are impressive. I thought her braised pork was the best, but the steamed pork was even better." The onlookers thought. It was simply torturous for them to be able to smell it but not taste it.