novelhk Chapter 239 Nine Turns of the Large Intestine
Chapter 239 Nine Turns of the Large Intestine
Chapter 239 Nine-Turned Intestines
Yuan Bao stared intently at the musical score, where the notes seemed to leap and dance, as if they were alive.
She took a deep breath, raised her hand and gently stroked the strings, trying to find the feeling.
The strings vibrated slightly under the fingertips, producing a clear and melodious sound.
Yuan Bao became so engrossed in the music that he gradually forgot everything around him and began to play the mysterious and beautiful melody according to the score.
As the music ended, the lingering notes, like a thread that never breaks, echoed leisurely within the Immortal Pavilion.
Fairy Miaoyin gently closed her eyes, as if savoring the melody she had just heard. After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes and looked at Yuan Bao.
He asked softly, "Your playing skills are quite exquisite, which complements this score perfectly, making it a perfect match."
After this piece has finished playing, I'm curious about your understanding of the emotions it conveys. Is it the pride of a triumphant return, the warmth of family joy, the carefree ease, or the satisfaction of success?
Yuan Bao bowed slightly and replied respectfully, "In response to your question, Fairy, when I played this piece, I deeply felt a sense of carefree joy."
Those lively musical notes are like birds soaring freely between heaven and earth, or fish swimming leisurely with the current; every beat flows with unrestrained joy.
Fairy Miaoyin nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes, and said thoughtfully, "Hmm! What you said is indeed reasonable."
Coincidentally, Laozi just sent a white crane with a message to me, mentioning that he has something to discuss and summoning you to the Tushita Palace. You may go with this white crane.”
Yuan Bao did as instructed, turned around, and mounted the pure white crane once more.
With a cry, the crane flapped its wings and soared into the sky, speeding towards the direction of the Tushita Palace.
Before long, the magnificent palace of Tushita Palace came into view.
The palace exudes a mysterious and solemn aura, its glazed tiles shimmering with golden light, and its eaves resembling soaring dragons, creating a magnificent and imposing sight.
Yuan Bao stepped into the hall and saw Laozi sitting upright on a futon, holding a whisk, looking at her with a smile.
Lao Jun spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of teasing: "I heard that I, a humble immortal, have carefully prepared six kinds of uniquely flavored delicacies for Immortal Ancestor Wuxiu, which helped him improve his cultivation level."
"In the celestial realm, I have already tasted all the delicacies, but I haven't seen any mortal dishes for a long time. Little fairy, would you be willing to go and find them for me?"
Yuan Bao quickly bowed and asked, "Does Laozi have any particular earthly dishes he would like to eat?"
Lao Jun gently shook his head and smiled, "There is no specific requirement. Just choose the most delicious dish from the human world that you think is the best, and find it for me."
Yuan Bao darted into the spatial kitchen, his gaze sweeping among the dazzling array of ingredients, his mind rapidly selecting the most suitable delicacies to present to Laozi.
After thinking for a long time, she had a sudden inspiration and decided to cook a classic Shandong dish – Nine-Turned Intestines.
This dish has a long-standing reputation in the Jinan area and is considered one of the best traditional delicacies.
Yuan Bao knew that to make authentic Nine-Turned Intestines, every step of the process had to be done meticulously.
She carefully selected high-quality pig intestines, washed them repeatedly to remove any odor, and then blanched and boiled them until they were thoroughly cooked but still chewy.
Next, Yuan Bao cut the cooked large intestine into small pieces and fried them in hot oil.
In an instant, a sizzling sound filled the kitchen. Embraced by the hot oil, the large intestine quickly donned an enticing, glossy red coat, resembling a meticulously crafted work of art, radiating a captivating luster.
Remove the fried large intestines and drain off the excess oil. In a separate pot, Yuan Bao adds an appropriate amount of white sugar and simmers it over low heat to make caramel.
Once the sugar syrup turned an enticing caramel color, she quickly poured the large intestine into the pot, stirred it evenly, and coated each piece of intestine with the caramel color.
Next, add scallions, ginger, and garlic and sauté until fragrant. Pour in soy sauce, vinegar, cooking wine, and other seasonings, then add a little water and simmer over low heat.
The broth simmered in the pot, releasing a rich aroma. The five flavors—sour, sweet, fragrant, spicy, and salty—blended together, creating distinct yet harmonious layers.
This Nine-Turned Intestine is finished with a bright red color that is very appealing. Each section of the intestine is plump and oily, as if it is telling its own unique charm.
The moment it enters your mouth, the tender and juicy texture of the large intestine is intoxicating, rich yet not greasy, with a mellow and lingering flavor.
Savor it carefully, and the five flavors of sour, sweet, fragrant, spicy and salty will bloom on the tip of your tongue in turn. First, a slight sourness will excite your taste buds, followed by a sweetness that will neutralize the sharpness of the sourness and bring a touch of sweetness.
Then, the spicy flavor surged in like a tide, stimulating the tip of the tongue, but not too intense;
Finally, the saltiness acts as a finishing touch, locking in all the flavors and making the taste even richer and fuller.
It is said that the preparation of this dish is extremely complicated, requiring nine main steps, much like the Taoist practice of refining the Nine-Turned Elixir, undergoing countless refinements, hence the name "Nine-Turned Intestine".
In the long history of Jinan's food culture, it shines like a dazzling pearl.
Yuan Bao thought to himself that the ingenuity and unique flavor of this dish, which resembled the Taoist alchemy of the Nine-Turn Elixir, would surely please Laozi.
Once Yuan Bao had finished, a rich aroma instantly filled the entire kitchen.
Little 9, who had been quietly waiting to the side, was also captivated by the alluring aroma and quickly drifted to Yuan Bao's side like a gust of wind.
Its eyes widened as it stared longingly at the Nine-Turned Intestines in Yuan Bao's hand, circling around her and making "woof woof" sounds: "My lady, my lady! What is this? It smells so good!"
Every now and then, it would nuzzle Yuan Bao's arm with its head, its face clearly saying, "Please feed me."
Yuan Bao couldn't resist Xiao 9's cute and coquettish behavior, and smiled helplessly: "Alright, alright! Little foodie, this is braised pork intestines. Here, you can try this one. I'll make another one."
So I picked up the spatula again and made another batch.
Yuan Bao carefully packed two portions of Nine-Turned Intestines into a food box, leaving one for Little 9, and then carefully carried the other to the Tushita Palace with the white crane.
Upon entering the hall, Yuan Bao respectfully presented the food box and said, "Lord Lao, this humble immortal has found a famous dish from the mortal realm. This dish is called Nine-Turned Intestines."
As she spoke, she gently opened the food box, and instantly, a rich and mellow aroma filled every corner of the Tushita Palace.
Lao Jun narrowed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath of the fragrance, and showed a look of curiosity on his face.
Seeing this, Yuan Bao quickly explained in detail: "Laojun, you may not know, but the process of making this Nine-Turned Intestine is extremely complicated. From cleaning the pig intestine, to blanching, boiling, frying, and then carefully preparing the sauce for braising, there are nine key steps in total."
This process, involving each step, is akin to the Taoist refining of the Nine-Turn Elixir, requiring patience and meticulousness, enduring numerous trials of heat and timing, before this unique delicacy can be achieved, hence the name 'Nine-Turn Intestine'.
Upon hearing this, Laozi's eyes flashed with delight, and he laughed, "Interesting, interesting! It has such a similar effect to my Taoist alchemy."
Yuan Bao placed the dishes on the table, and Lao Jun picked up the jade chopsticks, gently picked up a piece of large intestine and put it in his mouth.
His eyes lit up the moment he started chewing.
The outer skin of the large intestine is crispy, while the inside is soft, tender, and smooth. It is rich but not greasy, and the five flavors of sour, sweet, fragrant, spicy, and salty bloom on the tip of the tongue, blending and complementing each other.
Every bite is full of layers of flavor, with rich tastes constantly stimulating the taste buds and bringing an unprecedented wonderful experience.
Lao Jun nodded repeatedly, praising, "Delicious! This mortal cuisine truly possesses a unique charm. Little fairy, not only are your culinary skills superb, but you have also brought such interesting dishes, which have won my heart."
Seeing that Laozi was so satisfied, Yuan Bao was overjoyed and bowed slightly, saying, "It is my honor to make Laozi smile."
If Laozi ever wishes to taste the delicacies of the mortal world again, this humble fairy will do everything in her power to find them for you.
Lao Jun laughed heartily, his goodwill towards Yuan Bao increasing even more.