Chapter Forty-Two: Erina's Secret Recipe for Stir-Fried Beef with Green Peppers

Pouring the prepared sauce directly into the pan, the strong, conflicting aromas of the fish-fragrant spices and seasonings quickly merged under the influence of the sauce, ultimately uniting into a unique and irresistible fragrance. As the sauce gradually blended with the ingredients in the hot pan, Zhuang Xiaoyuan took the pre-cut cilantro, tossed a few sprigs into the pan, and gave it another quick stir. She then transferred the dish onto a plate, covered it with a lid.

Picking up a clean towel, she wiped her forehead, removing the sweat brought on by heat and exertion. Zhuang Xiaoyuan turned to the soaking machine and retrieved the black soybeans and yellow soybeans she had placed there earlier, ready to begin making tofu.

There was a ready-made machine available, and since it was already getting late, Zhuang Xiaoyuan didn’t intend to show off; she simply used the tofu-making machine to produce semi-finished soybean milk, which she poured into molds she’d created during her previous trial run.

Layer after layer: solid yellow butter, white soybean milk, solid yellow butter, black soybean milk, solid yellow butter, white soybean milk—she repeated the cycle several times until all the molds were full. She covered them, placed the molds atop a charcoal stove, and lit the coal beneath. For now, she left that process unattended.

With the tofu molds underway, Zhuang Xiaoyuan opened the oven and took out a dish she had placed inside earlier, performing some finishing touches before finally storing it in the refrigerator. This dish was not meant for dinner.

Now, it was time to prepare the last dish—a recipe by far the simplest of the evening, whose flavor was much milder than the previous courses. It was specially designed to soothe the palate after the intense flavors, restoring the taste buds for those accustomed to strong tastes.

She cracked eggs into a bowl, placed it under the mixer, and switched it on. The mixer whirred to life. She then took the corn she’d bought on her way home, peeled and washed it clean, and shredded it using the grater. The corn kernels transformed into sticky corn pulp, which she scooped from the grater and poured into a clean pot. Adding water, she turned on the heat and brought it to a simmer over medium flame.

While the corn simmered, Zhuang Xiaoyuan fired up another stove to prepare spicy sauce for the upcoming tofu. When the corn was nearly ready, she returned to its pot, removing the froth and corn residue floating on top. She lowered the heat and let the soup simmer; two minutes later, she poured in the beaten eggs, stirring gently with a ladle, and finally added chopped scallions and a pinch of salt to enhance the flavor.

As beautiful egg ribbons bloomed in the golden soup, the dish was complete. Almost simultaneously, the spicy sauce on the other stove was ready, its aroma filling the air and overpowering the sweet scent of corn.

She ladled the spicy sauce onto a plate lined with lotus leaves, then placed the steamed-baked tofu mold atop a platter filled with bamboo leaves—another dish completed. Lastly, she poured the corn-and-egg soup into a bowl; dinner was finished.

Three dishes and one soup—more than enough for two people. After cooking, Zhuang Xiaoyuan washed her hands, removing the oil and sauce, then carried two plates to the dining table. Wen Hui, quick-witted, fetched the other two dishes from the kitchen counter.

"Wow, uh... Well, I’ll admit you’re impressive," Wen Hui said, eyeing the four dishes still covered. She had meant to express her astonishment at Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s skills, but seeing Xiaoyuan’s face transformed by the divine descent, she turned away, flustered. The tsundere attitude emerged again—was it because their pride clashed?

With the meal ready, Zhuang Xiaoyuan withdrew her divine power, returning from Erina Nakiri’s godly transformation. Though the God Tongue allowed her to experience food in a completely new way, it also made her sensitive to any flaws, especially in her own creations.

Whenever she tasted her own cooking, she couldn’t help but wonder how to improve it, which inadvertently diminished her enjoyment. So, faced with her own dishes, Zhuang Xiaoyuan wanted to savor them as a normal diner.

"So, Xiao Hui, which one will you try first?" She tapped the lids of the four dishes, looking at Wen Hui’s blushing face.

"Meat, of course—I’ll start with the meat dish," Wen Hui replied without hesitation, choosing the one with the most meat.

"Then, welcome to the secret Zhuang-style stir-fried pork with green peppers," Zhuang Xiaoyuan said, a mysterious smile curling her lips as she slowly lifted the lid.

As the cover rose, a rich aroma of meat mingled with the freshness of peppers burst forth, filling the kitchen. In that moment, it was as if they’d entered a kingdom of meat; the spicy, verdant scent only amplified the savory allure.

"Wow, it smells amazing! So much meat, how can it be so fragrant?" Just inhaling the aroma made Wen Hui’s mouth water. Without hesitation, she grabbed a chopstickful of the succulent pork and peppers.

As the pork, bamboo shoots, and peppers entered her mouth, Wen Hui imagined herself rolling on a giant bed of meat, surrounded by intense meatiness. As she tumbled, she fell to the ground, where the aroma gained new notes—bamboo shoots and peppers.

The ground grew warm, a fiery comfort blossoming from within. All around her stretched a wild meadow, tiny spring shoots growing sturdy until they became lush green bamboo. From the bamboo hung peppers stuffed with tender meat. She plucked one and tasted it—meatiness, freshness, and spicy heat all melded together. This was the realm of gourmet cuisine...

Coming back from the reverie of stir-fried pork with green peppers, Zhuang Xiaoyuan opened her eyes to see Wen Hui looking back at her, eyes filled with longing for such deliciousness.

The sound of chopsticks clashing rang out.

"Xiaoyuan, what are you doing?" Wen Hui’s second attempt at the pork dish was blocked by Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s chopsticks, her expression anxious.

"Wait, take it slow—try the other dishes first. It’s just us; no one will snatch it from you," Zhuang Xiaoyuan said, pushing Wen Hui’s chopsticks aside and covering the pork dish again, gesturing toward the remaining three plates.