Chapter Fifty-Four: The Satisfaction of Fine Food
As dusk settled in, firewood crackled in the stove, and dancing flames licked the bottom of the newly fired clay pot. The pot still carried the lingering earthy smell of clay, and its rough texture scraped against Chen An's palm, yet it gave him a sense of solidity—this was the first pot he had molded and fired himself that could truly be placed over a fire.
He ladled in a spoonful of lard as smooth as congealed cream. The moment the lump of fat slid onto the bottom of the pot, it gave a soft sizzle, and white smoke rose as a rich meaty fragrance mingled with a charred aroma and spread through the air. The grease quickly melted, gathering into a trembling golden lake across the bottom of the pot.
The Little White Cabbage Chen An had washed was still dripping with well water. Its emerald leaves unfolded like jade, while faint golden patterns flowed along the veins. In the firelight, they seemed to contain stardust moving within. He grabbed a handful of vegetables and flicked his wrist, sending droplets flying.
The instant the leaves touched the hot oil—
"Ssshh—!"
A crisp, fresh sweetness like that of plants erupted, as if life force accumulated over a thousand years had suddenly been ignited. It burst forth with unstoppable momentum, like green fireworks exploding across the universe of taste. In the blink of an eye, it washed away the greasy, meaty smell and seized absolute dominance.
The phenomenon that followed grew even more astonishing. White vapor billowed from the pot. It was no longer shapeless heat, but seemed to draw in the essence of the plants as it churned, condensing into an extremely faint yet utterly pure azure halo. The halo resembled a naturally