txolops Chapter 59 Awakened by the Delicious Scent
Chapter 59 Awakened by the Delicious Scent
Seven o'clock in the morning.
The tricycle came to a steady stop downstairs in front of a rented house in the urban village.
"We're home, Brother Chen."
Wang Bai took off the car keys and jumped out of the car.
Without delay, the two carried the bags of groceries they had bought from the farmers' market upstairs.
Pushing open the door and entering the house, Lin Chen placed the rice, local eggs, and chicken bones used for making soup aside.
He carried the plastic bag filled with prawns, pork tenderloin, and various vegetables directly into the kitchen.
"Fatty, wash the rice we'll be using tonight and put it in the pot to simmer."
As Lin Chen untied the bag, he assigned tasks, "I'll prepare Tangtang's lunchbox for kindergarten."
"Alright! Leave the big stuff outside to me, Chen-ge, you just focus on making the lunchboxes."
Wang Hai rolled up his sleeves, picked up a large vegetable washing basin, and headed towards the sink.
Lin Chen washed his hands and tied on an apron.
He first rinsed the spinach, purple cabbage, and red dragon fruit under running water.
With a swift stroke, the vegetables were neatly chopped into small pieces.
Lin Chen took out a small household juicer.
Plug in the power and put the vegetable pieces in to juice.
A few minutes later, three clean glass bowls were filled with bright green spinach juice, purple cabbage juice, and bright red dragon fruit juice, respectively.
Lin Chen scooped out an appropriate amount of flour and divided it into four equal portions.
He poured the three kinds of vegetable juice into three portions of flour, and added water to the last portion.
Apply pressure with your fingers, kneading and turning.
Soon, smooth doughs of four colors—green, purple, red, and white—formed on the work surface, were covered with plastic wrap, and set aside to rise.
Next, Lin Chen began to prepare the filling.
The live prawns were quickly peeled and their veins removed.
Remove the white connective tissue from the tenderloin, leaving only the tenderest lean meat.
Lin Chen gripped the kitchen knife in his right hand.
"Chop chop chop chop—" The crisp and rhythmic sound of chopping meat rang out in the kitchen.
Lin Chen's wrist was extremely steady. Without using a meat grinder, he relied solely on his knife skills to mince the shrimp and pork tenderloin into a fine paste.
Place the minced meat in a bowl, add a little salt and the pre-soaked scallion and ginger water.
Lin Chen held the chopsticks and stirred quickly in the same direction until the filling became sticky and elastic, emitting a pure meaty aroma.
The main filling is complete. Lin Chen took the washed shiitake mushrooms and carrots.
The knife flashed. The shiitake mushrooms and carrots were chopped into tiny, almost identical cubes.
Lin Chen placed the diced shiitake mushrooms, diced carrots, sweet corn kernels, and tender peas into four small dishes for later use.
This is the "Four Happiness" filling placed on top of the steamed dumplings.
The dough has finished rising.
Lin Chen rolled the four-colored dough into long strips and cut them into small, even pieces.
The rolling pin rolled lightly in his hand, and the dough instantly turned into round sheets of dough with extremely thin edges and slightly thicker centers.
Making steamed dumplings is a skill.
Lin Chen picked up a spoonful of minced meat mixed with shrimp and placed it in the center of the dough.
His fingers flew across his hands. He first folded the dough in half and pinched the middle, then gathered the other two sides together and pinched them tightly.
The originally ordinary round dough was instantly transformed into a three-dimensional shape with four symmetrical spaces, like a blooming four-leaf clover.
Lin Chen picked up a small spoon and filled the four empty spaces with golden corn, bright green peas, dark brown shiitake mushrooms, and orange carrots, respectively.
The movements were fluid and seamless, without any pauses.
In less than twenty minutes, several trays of colorful, small and exquisite Four Happiness Steamed Dumplings were ready.
Lin Chen started the fire to boil water. After the water boiled, he placed the steamer on top, covered it with a bamboo lid, and adjusted the heat to medium.
Ten minutes later.
White steam rose from the kitchen.
A fragrant aroma, a blend of the scents of noodles, shrimp, and the sweetness of vegetables, wafted out from the gaps in the bamboo steamer and quickly spread throughout the entire rented room.
Wang Hai, who was chopping scallions in the living room, stopped chopping with his cleaver.
He sniffed hard and followed the aroma to the kitchen doorway.
"Brother Chen, what are you steaming in this pot?"
"It smells so good!"
Wang Hai craned his neck, his eyes fixed on the steaming bamboo steamer, his Adam's apple bobbing. "The aroma is absolutely amazing, and it's even a little sweet. It makes me hungry just smelling it."
Lin Chen glanced at the time, then twisted his left hand to turn off the gas stove valve.
Steamed dumplings.
Lin Chen replied with two words in a calm tone.
He reached out and lifted the bamboo lid of the steamer.
"Whoosh—"
The white steam dissipated instantly.
Wang Hai took a closer look and his eyes widened in surprise.
Inside the steamer, rows of small, neatly arranged four-happiness steamed dumplings were laid out.
The dough, after being steamed at high temperature, becomes translucent, subtly revealing the pink shrimp filling inside.
The four colors on top—red, yellow, green, and black—are vibrant and steaming hot.
"My goodness, this is so beautiful!"
Wang Hai swallowed hard, his face full of shock. "Brother Chen, your cooking skills are amazing!"
This is practically a work of art! Even the dishes made by chefs in high-end hotels aren't as beautiful as this!
Lin Chen ignored Wang Hai's astonishment.
He took a clean pair of chopsticks, picked out twelve steamed dumplings, and carefully placed them into a pink insulated lunchbox that he had bought especially for Tangtang.
The dough in four colors—red, green, purple, and white—is arranged in an alternating pattern, making it a pleasing sight to behold.
After closing the lunchbox lid, Lin Chen took the remaining four steamed dumplings from the steamer, placed them on a white porcelain plate, and handed them to Wang Hai, who was standing at the door, swallowing his saliva frantically.
"I made a few extra packets, you can try some."
Lin Chen said, "Brother Chen, then I won't stand on ceremony!"
Wang Hai eagerly took the plate, not even bothering to pick up chopsticks, and directly reached out to pinch a green-skinned steamed dumpling, blew on it twice, and stuffed it into his mouth.
The moment your teeth bite through the dough.
The freshness of the shrimp combined with the smoothness of the pork tenderloin bursts in your mouth.
The corn and carrots on top have a crisp and sweet texture, creating distinct layers.
What surprised Wang Hai the most was that the green dough not only didn't stick to his teeth, but also had a faint spinach fragrance.
"Mmm...it's so delicious!"
Wang Hai mumbled indistinctly as he chewed, his eyes shining brightly, "Brother Chen, amazing!"
The skin is chewy, and the filling is bursting with juicy flavor with every bite!
If this were sold at a street stall, it would definitely be more popular than fried rice!
Lin Chen turned around and began to tidy up the kitchen utensils on the counter.
"This was made especially for Tangtang."
Lin Chen said calmly. Just then, a slight noise came from the direction of the bedroom.
"Daddy..."
A soft, sweet voice rang out from the doorway.
Tangtang, wearing only a thin nightgown, rubbed her sleepy eyes and walked out barefoot.
The little girl's nose twitched; she had clearly been awakened from her dream by the fragrance.
"What does it smell like? It smells so good!"
Tangtang followed the aroma to the kitchen door and looked up at Lin Chen with her little face.
Lin Chen put down what he was holding, walked over, picked up his daughter, and placed her on the chair next to him.
"Why aren't you wearing slippers when you're awake? The floor is cold."
Lin Chen gently reprimanded him.
"Tangtang came out as soon as she smelled the aroma."
Tangtang stared intently at the pink insulated lunchbox on the table with her big eyes. "Daddy, what delicious food did you make?"
Is this a lunchbox I'm taking to kindergarten?
Lin Chen walked over, picked up the lunchbox, and returned to Tangtang.
"Open it and take a look."
Lin Chen gently lifted the lid of the lunchbox.
Inside the box, twelve brightly colored, small and exquisite steamed dumplings were neatly arranged in the compartments.
Tangtang's eyes lit up instantly, her mouth opened slightly, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Wow—!"
"It's so beautiful!"
Tangtang stretched out her two little hands, wanting to touch it but hesitant, and looked up at Lin Chen excitedly, "Daddy, is this a flower?"
"These are Four Happiness Steamed Dumplings, made with vegetable juice and flour."
Looking at his daughter's surprised expression, Lin Chen's eyes softened. "It's filled with Tangtang's favorite shrimp and meat."
"It's so beautiful!"
Tangtang clapped her little hands happily.
She stared at the steamed dumplings in the lunchbox for a while, then turned to look at Lin Chen and said happily, "Daddy, I'm going to share these green and red ones with Xiaomeng for lunch today!"
Xiao Meng will definitely love it when she sees it!
Tangtang puffed out her little chest, looking proud: "I'm going to tell her that this was made by my daddy!"
My dad is the best chef in the world!
"Okay, you can give it to whomever you want."
Lin Chen smiled as he closed the lunchbox and put it into a matching insulated bag.
Lin Chen placed the insulated bag on the table and gently pinched Tangtang's cheek.
"Okay, the bento is ready."
Go wash up and change your clothes. Dad will take you to school in a bit.
Lin Chen gave instructions.
"Yay! Time to share lunch at school!"
Tangtang jumped off the chair, slipped on her little slippers, and happily ran towards the bathroom.
Wang Hai stood to the side, stuffed the last steamed dumpling on the plate into his mouth, and smacked his lips with a lingering sense of satisfaction.
"Brother Chen."
Watching Tangtang's cheerful figure disappear into the distance, Wang Hai said with a smile, "Those kids at kindergarten who didn't get to eat at noon today are probably crying with envy."
Lin Chen didn't reply. He turned around, walked to the sink, turned on the tap, and prepared to wash the kitchen utensils he had just used.