Siheyuan: Tanjia Cuisine He Daqing, destroying Yi Zhonghai

The porridge was gradually cooked. According to the chef's instructions, Sha Zhu added the polished rice and rock sugar at the end, then simmered it over low heat until the porridge turned milky white and the rice grains were soft. The whole kitchen was filled with a faint fragrance.

"Master, the porridge is ready, please try it." Sha Zhu carefully served a bowl to He Daqing, his eyes full of anticipation.

He Daqing took the bowl, looked at the color of the porridge, smelled the aroma, and nodded. He scooped up a spoonful, blew it gently to cool it, and put it into his mouth to taste it carefully. The porridge tasted fresh and refreshing, with the rice grains and the glutinous fragrance of mung beans and coix seeds blended perfectly, and the sweetness of lotus seeds and lilies made people feel at ease.

"Not bad, Shazhu, you did a great job." He Daqing said with satisfaction, with a hint of praise in his eyes, "The temperature of this porridge is just right, and the taste is very authentic. You have learned the essence of this porridge."

When Sha Zhu heard the compliment from the master, he was very happy, but he knew that he still had a lot to learn. He asked seriously, "Master, do you think there is anything else that needs to be improved in this porridge?"

He Daqing smiled slightly, put down the bowl and said, "Shazhu, this porridge is already very good. However, there is no end to cooking, and you have to experience it with your heart every time you cook. Just because it tastes good today doesn't mean it will be the same tomorrow. Remember, a chef's skills lie in continuous improvement, and there can be no slackness."

Sha Zhu nodded and secretly took note of the master's teachings. He understood that although the master was very satisfied with his porridge, the true cooking skills were endless and required him to keep working hard and improving.

In the next few days, He Daqing's health improved and his stomach discomfort was relieved. He knew that this was not only because of the effect of the porridge, but also because of Sha Zhu's dedication in making the porridge. This made him more determined in his decision: Sha Zhu was no longer just his apprentice, but someone he could fully trust and entrust to.

Sha Zhu also benefited a lot from this experience. He not only learned how to make the quenching porridge, but also realized the true meaning of cooking from the master's words and deeds: every dish is a test of the chef's thoughts and skills, and only with heart can the food really touch people's hearts.

After He Daqing finished drinking the porridge, he felt a warmth slowly spreading in his stomach, and the heaviness of his body gradually eased. Although it was still early, he decided to take this opportunity to have a good rest and relax his body completely. He put the bowl aside, patted Sha Zhu's shoulder, and showed a tired smile.

"Shazhu, this porridge is really well cooked. My old stomach feels much better today." He Daqing's voice was a little tired. "You have been busy for most of the day. Let others take care of the kitchen affairs for the time being. Go and take a rest."

Seeing the master's tiredness, Sha Zhu felt distressed, but he knew that the master was a strong man who would never show weakness to others easily. So he nodded and said gently: "Master, you should have a good rest first. If you have anything, please tell me. I will keep an eye on the kitchen, don't worry."

He Daqing smiled with relief and walked back to his room with a slightly heavy step. He lay on the bed, closed his eyes, and let his body and mind completely relax. Thinking back to the scene of Sha Zhu making porridge for him just now, a warm feeling surged in his heart. This warmth came not only from the temperature of the porridge, but also from the sincere care of his apprentice.

As his breathing gradually became steady, He Daqing soon fell into a deep sleep.

Sha Zhu stood in front of the master's room, looking at the closed door, and sighed silently. He was concerned about the master's health, but he also knew that he couldn't disturb his rest. So he turned back to the kitchen and began to check today's menu and ingredients, preparing for a busy day.

The kitchen was bustling with people, and the atmosphere was as busy as usual. Sha Zhu was busy at the stove, directing his chefs while preparing a few key dishes himself. Although he was used to this kind of busyness, he felt a little uneasy today, as if something was going to happen.

While he was busy, several guests who usually came to the restaurant walked in. They were a few hooligans from the neighborhood who usually had nothing to do and always liked to take advantage of the restaurant. When Sha Zhu saw them come in, he frowned secretly, but he still suppressed his displeasure and asked politely: "What would you like to eat today? We just got some fresh ingredients here."

One of the hooligans pouted and said impatiently, "We want to eat something different today. Prepare a few of your specialties for us. Hurry up!"

Although Sha Zhu was unhappy, he still maintained a polite smile and said, "Okay, wait a moment, I'll arrange it right away."

Sha Zhu turned back to the kitchen, but he couldn't help but worry in his heart. These people usually like to make trouble, and today they suddenly did this to him, which made him feel something was wrong. Despite this, he decided to try his best to cook the dishes well to avoid trouble.

Not long after, Sha Zhu brought up several carefully prepared dishes. When the hooligans saw the dishes, they didn't hesitate to eat. However, after eating a few bites, their faces turned ugly.

"What the hell is this?" A thug threw his chopsticks on the table viciously and shouted at Sha Zhu, "Why is this dish so bad? Are you trying to fool us?"

Sha Zhu was stunned, a trace of helplessness flashed across his face. He had clearly cooked the dish according to his usual method, so there was no way the taste would be wrong. These hooligans were obviously looking for trouble, but he still tried to control his emotions and said calmly: "If you are not satisfied, I can make you another portion."

"No need! You are looking down on us, aren't you?" Another thug stood up with a sneer, a provocative look on his face, "If you don't give me an explanation today, this matter will not end!"

Seeing this, the customers and chefs around stopped what they were doing and looked at the situation here nervously. Sha Zhu knew that these people were coming for him today, and if he didn't handle it properly, it might cause even bigger trouble.

Sha Zhu took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He knew that a head-on confrontation would only make things worse. He smiled and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I think this may be a misunderstanding. How about this, I'll treat you to dinner today, and you can pick a few dishes you like and I'll cook them for you again, how about that?"

However, these hooligans had no intention of giving up. Seeing Sha Zhu give in, they thought he was weak and could be bullied, and they became even more arrogant.

"Treating us? We don't want your crappy dishes! If you don't give us an explanation today, we will smash this crappy restaurant of yours!" said the leading thug viciously.

The smile on Sha Zhu's face gradually faded. He knew that things had reached an inevitable point. These people were determined to cause trouble today and wanted to show their "power" by bullying him.