The castle banquet was, as usual, accompanied by a violin piece. Dukes and ministers busied themselves shoveling food into their mouths, while Sailerpeith ate at his own unhurried pace.
Xiao Xun wasn't at the dinner table but went directly to the kitchen.
Ever since the hot pot incident that day, the head chef of the kitchen had tasted the leftover scraps from their meal and found the eating method novel, delicious, and well-balanced with meat and vegetables, suitable for a main meal.
It was like a buffet, where one could cook whatever they desired in the pot. Each person had their own small pot, which was clean and hygienic. However, they had no idea how Xiao Xun prepared his soup base and dipping sauces, and the head chef dared not ask, so he could only experiment on his own.
The entire kitchen was busy following Xiao Xun's lead today, wondering what kind of strange yet delicious food he would create.
Xiao Xun looked around for a long time, not knowing what to eat. Finally, he cast his gaze towards the sky, "Generally, on a day like this, what do people eat over there?"
He scratched his head, looked at the flour sacks, and then said to the dough maker, "Go and make some dough. Tell me when it's ready."
Then he said to the butcher, "Go and select a prime cut of pork belly, the fresher the better. Remove the skin and mince it into filling."
Finally, he addressed several slaves, "You all find some fresh leafy vegetables, wash them, drain them, and also chop them finely."
The kitchen staff busied themselves upon receiving the orders. Xiao Xun used two thin wooden sticks to thoroughly mix the minced meat and chopped vegetables, then poured in the world's unique sweet sauce, salt, a little sugar, cracked an egg, stirred evenly again, and finally poured in hot oil.
The butcher brought the dough over. Xiao Xun had everyone watch how he made it.
Initially, the head chef wanted to watch alone and keep it as exclusive knowledge, but seeing that Xiao Xun was so open about sharing the entire process of making this delicacy, he didn't dare to say anything more.
Xiao Xun took out the dough, rolled it into strips, then cut it into small pieces with a knife, and used a rolling pin to flatten the small pieces into wrappers.
He placed the filling in the center of a wrapper, then brought his hands together, and a dumpling was made.
"This is a common delicacy from my hometown. Have you all learned it?"
Everyone nodded their heads while practicing the motion of wrapping dumplings.
"Since you've learned it, let's get started!"
With so many people, they quickly wrapped all the dumpling wrappers and fillings into dumplings.
Xiao Xun looked at the dumplings they had wrapped, which were actually more aesthetically pleasing than his own. Feeling gratified, he said to the head chef, "Now, bring the pot to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the dumplings. When the water boils again, add some cold water. After the third time of adding cold water and waiting for the pot to boil, taste one to see if it's cooked. If not, continue boiling.
His Majesty and I will have one bowl each. If you're willing to try, eat the rest. If these aren't cooked, they can be put into the freezer. With the temperature of your freezer, these can be kept frozen for seven to eight months without any problem."
The head chef kept nodding. He was also eager to taste how delicious dumplings, made by wrapping filling with dough and boiling them, would be.
After the meal, the dukes and ministers left the castle, and the castle gates slowly closed as the last minister departed.
Xiao Xun brought the cooked dumplings to the top floor, returning to the bedroom.
Many of the castle's servants and guards crowded into the kitchen, asking Xiao Xun what amazing new delicacy he had created.
The head chef pointed to the dumplings in the small silver basin, "It's this. Sir told me it's called 'bianshi'."
The captain of the guards looked at the steaming dumplings and, in his own understanding, asked, "Biànshí? Flattened and eaten?"
This comment struck a chord. The head chef used a flattening machine to press the cooked dumplings into flat cakes, then deep-fried them again until golden brown. After taking them out, he tasted one and found it truly delicious.
"So this is how you eat this!"
Thus, everyone eagerly imitated, and the fillings became more diverse.
Furthermore, it spread to the common people and, as if on a power-up, spawned many similar delicacies, such as pancakes and pizzas...
Mu Jiahe looked at the steaming dumplings, "What day is it today that we're eating this?"
Xiao Xun placed the dumplings on the bedside table, "Mainly, I didn't know what else to eat, so I decided to try this! I prepared the filling, and the kitchen staff wrapped the dumplings."
Mu Jiahe picked up a fork and speared one. "Eating them plain? Didn't you prepare any dipping sauce? Even some sesame oil would be fine."
"My Majesty, we don't have those things you're talking about, and I wouldn't dare use seasonings randomly! What if they're poisonous when mixed? I'm not a pharmacist, so please make do."
Mu Jiahe shrugged, and after all, ate seven or eight of them. "Indeed, there must be issues with pork farming in the other world; the texture isn't as good as the pork here."
After eating the dumplings and taking a short nap, the two returned to their original world.
The first thing they did upon opening their eyes was check their phones. There were seven or eight missed calls, two from Xiao Xun's parents, and another from his cousin Liu Shijia.
He thought to himself: Damn, I completely forgot about my parents.
He quickly called them back, bracing himself for the scolding from his parents.
The call was answered quickly, and it was his mother's voice, "You little brat, you have a wife and forget your mother. You don't even call back. Are you trying to worry me to death?"
Xiao Xun smiled sheepishly, "Mom, I was just busy and couldn't get to it! I'll call you back as soon as I have time. What are you guys doing now?"
"Sleeping, what else? Your father drove overnight and didn't get home until after three in the morning."
Mu Jiahe kicked him and whispered, "Hurry up and go make food."
Startled, Xiao Xun quickly covered the mouthpiece. He suspected Mu Jiahe was doing it on purpose. He glanced back at her, then stood up and walked out.
At this moment, Mu Jiahe rolled over and fell back asleep.
But Xiao Xun's mother had already heard the commotion on the other end. "Jiahe is with you! Make whatever she wants to eat and don't bully her. Or maybe your father and I will close the shop and come to take care of you and Jiahe. We have more than enough money to last a lifetime."
"Mom, it's not what you think. She and I are nothing. Okay, I understand. If you want to come, you can," he said.
His mother replied, "That's how it is. Don't explain. Who hasn't been young? You and your father got married after you were conceived. Back then, I just liked that your father cooked well; I wouldn't go hungry with him."
"Alright, Mom, I still need to cook for our boss, and I have to go to work later."
"Okay, I see you're destined for a life of hard work. You go ahead and be busy!" Without waiting for Xiao Xun to reply, she hung up the phone.
Xiao Xun's father was startled awake and looked at his wife, "Who is it so early in the morning?"
Xiao Xun's mother said irritably, "Who else could it be, your unlucky son! Go back to sleep. After you wake up, go to the shop and sell it."
Xiao Xun's father rolled over and waved his hand, "Not going. They're so rich, with nannies and bodyguards around. What business do two old country folks like us have going there? It'll just embarrass our son.
Besides, among my buddies and old customers in the neighborhood, many recognize my skills. If I go there, no one will know me, and I won't be used to it."
Xiao Xun's mother thought about it calmly. "That's true, then we won't go. Whoever it is, it's their business. Sleep~"