Food Stall: Customers Chase Me across the Country

Chapter 456 - 454: Improved Peony Pork Slices

The one who had the most confidence in Wang Fan at the scene was definitely Zhuo Qianqian. She never thought there would be a dish her boss couldn’t make, even though this Li Zhuang White Meat seemed very difficult.

She picked up a chopstick and handed it to Wang Fan, waiting with full confidence for his demonstration.

Wang Fan took the chopstick, imitated Master Jia’s actions by lifting the slice of meat onto the chopstick, and then presented it to Master Jia for evaluation.

Master Jia and a few others leaned over to closely examine the thin slice of meat. After just one look, they couldn’t help but gasp in surprise.

"Hiss..."

The slice of meat was so thin that it seemed to let light shine through under the lamp. Its texture was clearly visible through the light, with strands of muscle fibers intricately connected. No matter how you looked at it, it was undoubtedly a masterpiece, which anyone would believe to be the work of a master.

But the problem was that this chef in front of them was in his twenties and slicing white meat for the first time!

Master Jia almost had his eyes pop out.

He was undoubtedly an expert, but the meat slice before him didn’t look like something a beginner could produce.

A beginner slicing meat would inevitably pause during the process, and any pause would leave a mark on the meat. He might not fully cut through, but under the light, a line would surely be visible.

However, this smooth slice in front of him was unbelievably perfect, something that definitely required over ten years of skill to achieve!

Even he would occasionally make mistakes.

"Is this really the first time you’ve sliced white meat?"

Master Jia asked in astonishment.

Wang Fan nodded and said, "It is indeed the first time. Sorry if it doesn’t meet your standards."

The heck I laugh at you!

Let’s not compare this to when I first learned; your first attempt is already on the same level as what I can do now. Can I still laugh?!

Master Jia felt a bit frustrated looking at Wang Fan, feeling utterly defeated in his most proud domain.

Chen Menglong, observing the meat slice, didn’t see any issue but knew the opinion of professional was what truly mattered.

"Old Jia, take a look and tell me if this meat slice is passable. You are the expert here."

Old Jia looked as if he were constipated: "Passable? It’s more than passable. I suspect the kid is here to crush us; there’s no difference between his first slice and what I can currently do."

Chen Menglong was stunned: "Surely, there’s no need for flattery during a time like this? Be honest."

Old Jia grumbled, "I am being honest! This kid is a damn genius! I can’t find any flaw with this meat slice, not even my master could."

"Hiss..."

Chen Menglong and the others gasped again. Old Jia’s master was a top master of Sichuan Cuisine, so for Old Jia to say that, he must be extremely confident!

"Is he really that amazing?"

"Even if this knife skill was practiced from the womb, would it be this incredible?"

"Are you serious, Old Jia?"

"Serious, serious. Lying would mean I’ll end up cutting my hand!"

"Hiss..."

Faced with such a dire oath, the other masters knew Old Jia was being sincere. As they turned to Wang Fan, it was as if they were looking at a freak.

Really, calling him a genius doesn’t do justice; freak is the right word.

Wang Fan didn’t expect such high praise from Master Jia and awkwardly said, "It’s not as good as you say. I still need to learn and practice more."

Master Jia didn’t respond but urged him, "Hurry, slice another one; I want to see if the last one was just a fluke."

Chen Menglong also said, "Yes, yes, Brother Wang, try again. If you can make another like that, this dish will be settled."

Wang Fan nodded, picking up the knife again.

He placed the knife to the edge of the meat slice, slowly cut an incision, then swiftly kept moving, and with a soft "swish," another perfect slice was made, even faster than before.

"Damn!"

Master Jia felt as though tens of thousands of llamas were running wild inside him. Isn’t this a bit over the top?!

Quick is one thing, but this kind of quickness?!

Zhuo Qianqian handed Wang Fan the chopstick again. He shook his head but didn’t take it; instead, he looked thoughtfully at the thin slice of white meat.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he directly pinched the corner of the meat slice with his fingers.

Master Jia watched in confusion. The meat was sliced, what was there to hesitate about hanging it?

A bad cut, making you hesitant to show it off?

Impossible, given that flawless set of actions just now, he believed the slice couldn’t be bad.

Then, what was he planning to do now?

Soon, Wang Fan revealed the answer.

He started rolling up the meat slice in one direction, occasionally making small cuts in the slice. In the end, without anyone knowing how, he tucked it from the bottom and transformed the entire slice into a rose-like meat flower.

"Oh my..."

"Damn!"

"What the heck..."

"Holy cow..."

Seeing the meat flower, even Master Jia and Chen Menglong were dumbfounded.

The Li Zhuang White Meat was supposed to be hung like clothes on a rack, but rolling it into a meat flower like this was hard to accept?!

But one had to admit, this white peony meat flower looked far more upscale than the hanging method.

Master Jia felt a toothache setting in.

This meat could be handled like this?!

If his master saw it, would he jump to give a beating or praise for the clever handiwork?

Chen Menglong licked his dry lips: "Uh... although it’s different from the traditional style, doing it this way suddenly makes it feel more valuable."

Master Wang nodded vigorously: "The hanging one is 48, but this rolled-up meat flower on a plate shouldn’t be less than 288..."

"Good heavens, never mind the knife skill, your craftsmanship in rolling flowers is master level too, isn’t it?"

The masters whispered among themselves, while Wang Fan casually grabbed a cucumber, swiftly slicing it into thin slices and shaping them before placing them on the plate. Then, he placed the pale brown peony flower on top of the meat.

"Damn! It can transform a second time!"

"If you didn’t say, I’d guess this would cost at least 588 now."

"Good grief, I insist Brother Wang be recommended for the next state banquet. This is exquisitely extravagant."

The original brown color of the meat skin didn’t look particularly high-end, nor did it have the visually striking patterns like salmon. But doesn’t a flower need green leaves to set it off?

Wang Fan chose the green skin from the outside of the cucumber; the deep green cucumber skin formed a circle, instantly highlighting the meat flower.

The deep green, in contrast, made the meat slice appear even whiter.

And with this overall arrangement, the entire flower seemed more lively, so it’s no wonder the masters were exclaiming in shock.

Master Jia felt numb.

This dish had been around for over 1,400 years, but he’d never heard of someone rolling the carved meat into a flower plate!