Chapter 120: West Lake Vinegar Fish [First Update]

Fang Nian smiled and cast an apologetic look at Lu Xiao before speaking.

"This dish is called 'Hehuan Soup.' It is made by steaming tender chicken, yellow fungus, fresh lily bulbs, and lion’s mane mushrooms in a steam pot without adding a single drop of water. Because no water is used, every drop is the pure essence of the ingredients. It leaves a lingering fragrance on the palate, nourishes the body, and imparts a sense of familial harmony, reunion, and well-being."

Fang Nian’s introduction was concise and sincere, making it very pleasant to hear. Upon learning that every drop was essence, Qian Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but start slurping the soup from the bowl, a sight that was both comical and authentic.

Cui Yunhai’s work was incredibly demanding, requiring him to travel frequently between major districts. Due to the chaos of the times, each trip drained him of energy, leaving him in a poor state of health, often plagued by a feeling of tightness in his chest.

However, after drinking this bowl of Hehuan Soup, the tightness in his chest suddenly vanished. His circulation felt smoother, and he felt energized.

Cui Yunhai, who rarely spoke, asked Fang Nian, "Chef, may I ask, why does this bowl of Hehuan Soup have such miraculous effects? Why did the tightness in my chest slowly disappear after drinking it?"

Hearing Cui Yunhai’s inquiry, Wan Feng, who also frequently drifted from place to place, nodded in agreement; it was indeed as Cui had described.

Fang Nian did not actually know traditional Chinese medicine, but he had memorized many medicinal recipes while watching films. These recipes were not fictional; they were genuinely effective. This Hehuan Soup was one such medicinal diet recipe from a film, where it was mentioned as an ancient traditional Chinese medicinal formula.

Fang Nian replied to Cui Yunhai, "Mr. Cui, this soup actually has another name: 'Jieyu Hehuan Tang' (Melancholy-Relieving Joyous Soup). It is a classic traditional Chinese medicinal formula from the second volume of *Yichun Shengyi*. It is known for soothing the liver, clearing heat, nourishing the blood, and calming the heart. It is primarily used to treat stagnant 'fire' caused by unfulfilled desires, which leads to irritability, feverishness, and restlessness."

"The reason you felt the chest tightness disappear, Mr. Cui, is likely because your lifestyle is far too repressed. You are constantly preoccupied with company matters and never stop to rest, so this soup is perfectly suited for you."

Cui Yunhai was slightly stunned. "Jieyu Hehuan Tang? I see... that is indeed the case. I’ve been so busy with business over the years that I haven’t paid enough attention to my health. Usually, I just consume heavy tonics, which have only led to an accumulation of excess nutrients."

"It seems I should be drinking tonics like this instead. After all, too much of anything is never good. Thank you, Chef."

Fang Nian did not act arrogant but responded modestly, "You are too kind, Mr. Cui."

***

Seeing that Fang Nian had gained approval, Lu Xiao, as his employer, was delighted. He laughed heartily and said, "Old Li, write down the recipe for the Jieyu Hehuan Tang later and give a copy to Mr. Cui and Mr. Wan each. You two can use it to restore your health back home."

"Oh, then I must thank you, Mr. Lu."

"You are most welcome."

Fang Nian did not refuse Lu Xiao; a recipe was nothing to hide, especially since he didn't rely on running a restaurant for a living. He readily agreed, called for pen and paper, and wrote them out for Wan Feng and Cui Yunhai.

With the recipes in hand, the two men were in high spirits and shared a few more drinks with Lu Xiao.

Watching all this, Xiao Xuefeng found himself in an awkward position. He had intended to show off his own culinary skills, but things hadn't gone as planned, making him seem petty instead. He felt quite sullen.

Satisfied with the meal, Lu Xiao’s interest was piqued, and he asked Fang Nian, "Old Li, is your second signature dish ready? Don't tell me you've swapped it for something else again?"

At this point, Lu Xiao had no grievances about the menu changes; in fact, he looked forward to Fang Nian surprising everyone and earning him some prestige.

Fang Nian understood Lu Xiao’s intention and nodded. Seeing the nod, the others became interested, putting down their chopsticks to stare at the tray behind Fang Nian, eager to see what was inside.

Fang Nian smiled slightly and had the plates distributed to everyone’s tables. As he uncovered them, an indescribable aroma of vinegar filled the air, instantly whetting everyone's appetites. Even those who were already full began to feel their stomachs rumbling, as if making room for this dish.

"I had originally intended to prepare a 'Boiling Fish Fillet' dish with black carp, but while cleaning the fish, I discovered it was pregnant. As the saying goes, 'Heaven has the virtue of valuing life.' After much consideration, I decided to set the fish free. Thus, I prepared this dish using grass carp instead: West Lake Vinegar Fish."

Lu Xiao, Cui Yunhai, and the others gave Fang Nian a thumbs-up. While it was common for chefs to kill ingredients, most people didn't care about such things. The fact that Fang Nian showed such compassion for his ingredients was a rare virtue, earning him unanimous respect.

However, to Xiao Xuefeng, this sounded pretentious. He didn't believe a chef could harbor such compassion for a fish.

"Hmph, it's just vinegar fish. What's there to show off about? Let's see if it actually tastes good first."

Xiao Xuefeng curled his lip and took a bite of the vinegar-soaked fish. A moment later, he froze, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"This vinegar fish... it’s truly delicious."

Xiao Xuefeng was dumbfounded, while the others were completely immersed in the delicacy of the West Lake Vinegar Fish. Wang Jiang, a boisterous real estate developer, even asked the waiter for a bowl of rice, believing it was a crime against nature to eat such a rice-pairing dish without rice.

Before the Great Catastrophe, Wan Feng had been part of the Zhejiang circle. He had come to the relatively colder Northeast to escape the turmoil and had built his company there, becoming a titan of the 16th District.

Truth be told, he had struggled to adapt to the local food and deeply missed the flavors of his hometown. But because of the distance and the instability of the outside world, his wishes had never been fulfilled.

But after tasting Fang Nian’s West Lake Vinegar Fish, Wan Feng experienced that long-lost sensation; the familiar taste of home had finally returned.

"Chef Li, this West Lake Vinegar Fish of yours is absolutely superb. Not only does it capture the flavor of our hometown’s vinegar fish, but it even surpasses it. This is the pinnacle of vinegar fish!"

"Chef Li just told us about the origin of 'Shadow Beef,' which I found very interesting. You mentioned 'West Lake' for this fish. As far as I know, our Huaxia history spanning thousands of years doesn't seem to include such a lake. Does this West Lake Vinegar Fish have a beautiful story behind it as well? If so, could you please tell it to us?"

Fang Nian gave an embarrassed smile at Wan Feng’s request and looked at Lu Xiao for guidance.

Lu Xiao naturally wanted his man to shine, so he didn't stop him and gestured for Fang Nian to speak freely. Only then did Fang Nian smile and say, "As you suspected, Mr. Wan, this West Lake Vinegar Fish does indeed have a story. Since you are all interested, I will share it. I hope you will forgive me if my telling is not up to par."

Upon hearing this, the group burst into applause. Such entertainment was far more interesting than discussing dull business.