Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Hearing this, Gu Qingping looked up at her, her lips curled up slightly, "Because simple dishes are the hardest to make. Tofu may seem ordinary, but it takes a lot of patience to blend its texture and flavor to the best."

Yurong blinked, tilted her head and thought for a while, then nodded and said, "It sounds reasonable. Then... should I also choose an easy one?"

Gu Qingping chuckled: "Not everyone is suitable for cooking simple dishes, Yurong, just cook what you are best at."

"My best specialty..." Yurong repeated in a low voice, and then began to carefully select her ingredients.

Gu Qingping placed the tofu on the chopping board, pressed it gently with her hand, then picked up an extremely sharp knife and began to cut the tofu into small, even pieces.

Her movements were slow and precise; each piece of tofu was the same size, with smooth edges and no damage.

A woman nearby saw her knife skills and couldn't help but say, "Sister Qingping, your knife skills are really amazing. The tofu is so soft that half of it breaks every time I cut it."

Gu Qingping answered while cutting tofu: "Cutting tofu depends on the feel and patience. If you use too much force or rush too fast, it will break. You might as well try to be gentle and practice a few more times."

The woman nodded thoughtfully: "I understand. It seems that I will have to ask my sister for advice more often in the future."

Gu Qingping smiled slightly and put the cut tofu into a plate for later use.

She then began to process the shrimps. She used the back of the knife to gently pat each shrimp apart, and then cut them into small pieces. The shrimp meat was tender and would break if the knife was not used carefully, but Gu Qingping's movements were as steady as ever.

Yurong looked at her and couldn't help but sighed: "Sister Qingping, you seem to be very calm in everything you do, and you are not in a hurry at all."

Gu Qingping lowered her head and smiled: "Cooking is something that requires patience. If you are impatient, the taste will change. Just like this shrimp, if you cook too hard, its freshness will be suppressed."

After saying that, she poured the processed shrimps into a small bowl, picked up the eggs, cracked them gently, and the egg liquid flowed into the bowl.

She stirred the egg liquid with chopsticks until it was thoroughly mixed with the shrimp, and finally added some water to mix it just right.

After placing the tofu on the plate, Gu Qingping evenly poured the egg liquid on it, making sure that every piece of tofu was covered with egg liquid. She gently shook the plate to make the surface of the egg liquid smoother, and then put the plate into the steamer.

She moved very carefully, fearing that the egg liquid would spill if she was not careful.

The female official behind her came closer, watched her work, and asked in a low voice: "Miss Qingping, why did you choose this dish?"

Gu Qingping stood up straight and answered respectfully: "Although lotus tofu is simple, it requires great care and patience. The control of the heat during steaming, as well as the ratio of egg liquid to tofu, will directly affect the final taste. This dish may seem ordinary, but it can reflect the dedication of the maker."

The female officer nodded, with some recognition in her tone: "Well, you said it very well."

The water in the steamer began to emit steam, and white steam rose up. Gu Qingping stood in front of the stove, keeping an eye on the changes in the steamer.

She did not leave, but watched the time carefully, turning the lid of the pot gently with her hand from time to time to ensure that the heat was evenly distributed.

Seeing this, Yurong couldn't help but say, "Sister Qingping, you've been standing for so long, aren't you tired?"

Gu Qingping shook her head and said softly, "The most important thing in cooking is concentration. If the heat is not controlled well, the taste of the whole dish will change."

Yurong nodded, and said in a half-understanding tone: "Sister is really serious, no wonder the lady official praised you just now."

The steam in the steamer gradually dissipated, and the time was just right. Gu Qingping gently lifted the lid of the pot, and a burst of fragrance wafted into her nose. The steamed tofu showed a golden and white color, and the surface was as smooth as a mirror, which looked particularly tempting.

She brought out the plate carefully and sprinkled some chopped green onions and a few drops of sesame oil on it, and the whole dish suddenly had more color and layering.

The woman next to her looked at her work and couldn't help but admire it, "Sister Qingping, this tofu looks so good that I want to taste it right away."

Gu Qingping smiled slightly: "This is just a home-cooked dish, just cook it with care."

After tasting Gu Qingping's lotus tofu, the female official nodded with satisfaction: "Miss Qingping, although this dish is light, it has great color, aroma and flavor. The smoothness of the egg liquid and the tenderness of the tofu are perfectly combined, and the heat control is also very precise."

Gu Qingping bowed and said, "Thank you for your praise, sir. I will continue to work hard."

The female official nodded slightly and left with some appreciation.

Yurong, who was standing by, held Gu Qingping's hand and whispered, "Sister Qingping, I want to learn from you. I want to be so attentive when cooking!"

Gu Qingping looked at her with a gentle gaze: "Yurong, as long as you are willing to put your heart into it, no matter what you do, you can do your best."

However, Wang Yueru's actions seemed out of place. She stood nonchalantly in front of the long table, picked up a piece of pork, and threw it on the chopping board without even looking at it.

"Cutting meat is such a troublesome thing, I might as well just throw it into the pot." She muttered, picked up the kitchen knife casually, and cut the meat slices into different sizes in a few strokes.

A woman beside her looked up at her and whispered, "Sister Yueru, this is an assessment. The female officials will be watching everyone's performance. If you are too casual, I'm afraid they will be dissatisfied."

Wang Yueru sneered and didn't take it seriously at all: "It's just making a dish, not asking us to be real cooks. What can they do to me?"

The woman frowned and advised, "But it's not just about the taste of the food, it also depends on whether you put your heart into it. Every step of the assessment can reflect your character."

"You think too much." Wang Yueru waved her hand and said nonchalantly, "Anyway, I don't believe they will really eliminate me because of a dish."

Seeing her arrogant attitude, the woman sighed and said no more.

Wang Yueru grabbed a handful of chopped green onions and sprinkled them into the pot, then threw the sliced ​​meat directly into the pot before the oil was fully heated.

Soon there was a sizzling sound coming from the bottom of the pot, and the smell of hot oil and wet meat mixed together, but it did not emit the aroma it should have.

She picked up the spatula and stir-fried it a few times, completely not caring whether the meat slices were evenly cooked. She didn't even control the amount of salt and just grabbed a handful and sprinkled it in.

Soon, choking smoke rose from the pot, the edges of the meat slices began to turn black, and a burnt smell was emitted. Several women standing nearby covered their noses and could not help but whispered: "Sister Yueru is too casual. How can people eat such a dish?"

"Yes, this is the Crown Princess's assessment, how can you be so careless?"

Hearing these comments, Wang Yueru turned around and glanced at them coldly, with disdain in her tone: "You are all so serious, are you really expecting His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to taste the food himself? It's so funny!"

At this moment, a female official in dark green palace clothes came over and stood behind Wang Yueru. She looked down at the mushy meat in the pot, frowned slightly, and then said in a cold voice: "Miss Yueru, who is this dish for?"

Wang Yueru was startled and almost dropped the spatula in her hand. She turned around, looked at the unhappy expression of the female official, and forced a smile: "Sir, this is just an examination. It's harmless to just make a random dish."

The female official stared at her coldly, her voice becoming more dignified: "No item in the assessment of the Crown Princess can be taken lightly. Cooking is not only a test of your skills, but also a test of your character. With this attitude, how can you be competent for your future duties?"

Wang Yueru was speechless and her face turned pale. She looked down at the mushy meat in the pot, her fingers tightly gripping the spatula, but she didn't know how to respond.

The women around also whispered, "The lady official is right. It is really unreasonable for Sister Yueru to be so perfunctory."

"Yeah, if you don't even cook carefully, how are you going to manage the harem in the future?"

Wang Yueru gritted her teeth and forced a smile: "Your Excellency is right. I was negligent. I will take it seriously next time."

The female official snorted coldly: "I hope so. Otherwise, you have no right to stand here anymore."

After saying that, the female official turned and left, leaving Wang Yueru standing in front of the stove, her face full of regret and embarrassment.

She looked at the completely blackened meat slices in the pot and couldn't help complaining in her heart: "It's just a dish, is it necessary to be so strict?"

Although she was dissatisfied, she still picked up the knife and cut some new slices of meat in an attempt to salvage her performance.

Smoke rises from the courtyard, and the air is filled with the aroma of various dishes.

Zhao Wan'er stood in front of her stove, with washed asparagus and chopped chicken neatly placed in front of her. Her hands were shaking slightly, but her eyes were full of concentration.

Zhao Wan'er picked up a small knife and carefully cut off the roots of the asparagus, then cut the tender green asparagus into even pieces. She was cautious with every cut, as if she was afraid of making any mistakes.

A woman nearby couldn't help but ask, "Sister Wan'er, isn't it too simple for you to choose asparagus as the main dish? After all, it's just a side dish. It's not easy to make it stand out as the main dish."

Zhao Wan'er smiled and said calmly, "Indeed, asparagus may look ordinary, but its fragrance and freshness can be the main attraction if it is paired properly. Stir-fried asparagus and diced chicken may be simple, but it can show the exquisiteness of the heat and knife skills."

The woman nodded thoughtfully: "Sister, you are so thoughtful."

Zhao Wan'er smiled modestly and continued to work on the chicken in her hands. She first cut the chicken into small pieces, then marinated it with a little salt, starch and cooking wine, her technique was skillful and steady.

She lit the stove, heated the pan, and poured in a spoonful of oil. When the pan started to steam, she quickly poured the diced chicken into the pan and stir-fried it. The moment the chicken came into contact with the hot oil, a "sizzling" sound was heard, and the white and tender diced chicken was quickly coated with a thin layer of golden color.

As she was frying, she whispered to herself, "You have to fry the chicken quickly. If the heat is too high, it will become woody."

Then, she put the fried chicken aside, added a little more oil to the pan, and poured the chopped asparagus into the pan. The emerald green asparagus rolled in the oil, exuding a fresh aroma.

Zhao Wan'er poured the diced chicken back into the pot and stir-fried it with the asparagus. She took out a little soy sauce and a little bit of sugar and quickly added them to the pot to fully blend the flavors of the two.

The woman next to her couldn't help but praise: "Sister Wan'er, your dishes look so fresh, like a painting."

Zhao Wan'er turned around and smiled: "Thank you, but the key to this dish is not complexity, but to let each ingredient show its own flavor."

As she spoke, she placed the food in the pot on a white porcelain plate and carefully adjusted the position of the asparagus with chopsticks. Each piece of asparagus was neatly placed around the diced chicken, making the whole plate look colorful and fresh.

The female official in dark green palace dress approached and glanced down at Zhao Wan'er's dish. She looked at it carefully for a moment, then nodded: "Miss Wan'er, although your dish is simple, it is so exquisite, which shows your dedication."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wan'er quickly put down the rag in her hand and bowed respectfully: "Thank you for your advice, sir. I am just doing my best."

The lady-in-waiting continued, "The asparagus is crisp, the chicken is tender, and the seasoning is just right. Although this dish is not fancy, it can make people feel your thoughts at a glance."

Zhao Wan'er replied modestly, "Your Excellency is too kind. I just feel that complicated dishes may not impress people. It is better to use the simplest ingredients to make a sincere dish."

The female official smiled slightly after hearing this, and her tone became a little gentler: "Not bad, I will remember your performance today, and I hope you can continue to maintain this original intention."

"Sister Wan'er, your stir-fried asparagus and chicken dish looks so good. The presentation is so exquisite that even the female official praised you!" said a young girl with envy on her face.

Another woman also said, "Yes, I think Sister Wan'er will definitely stay this time. That dish looks so good that I want to try it."

Zhao Wan'er just smiled softly after hearing this and whispered, "The assessment is not over yet, this is just one of the items. All we can do is to do our best at every step."

Gu Qingping came over with a gentle look in her eyes: "Miss Wan'er is right. Only those who are dedicated can go further in this selection."

Zhao Wan'er nodded and looked at Gu Qingping gratefully: "Thank you, Sister Qingping. In fact, I think you did a better job than me."

The night breeze blew gently on the corridor, and the lights in the courtyard were reflected on the bluestone slabs, swaying with hazy light and shadows.

Zhu Han and Zhu Biao walked side by side, slowly walking in the carved corridor. Neither of them was in a hurry to speak, as if they were digesting the results of the day's assessment.

Zhu Biao was the first to break the silence. He frowned slightly, and said thoughtfully, "Uncle, after this assessment, I think each of these women has their own strengths. Jinyun's talent is indeed outstanding. Whether it's embroidery or calligraphy, you can see that she has a family background. She really lives up to the name of a lady from a noble family."

Zhu Han stood with his hands behind his back and nodded slightly: "Well, Su Jinyun's performance is indeed brilliant, but have you noticed that although she is skilled, she is a little arrogant. A Crown Princess needs not only talent, but also tolerance and humility."

Zhu Biao nodded thoughtfully after hearing this: "Uncle Huang is right. She is indeed too talented and may not be suitable for coordination in the harem." (End of this chapter)