Chapter 122: Chapter 122 Incredibly Delicious Braised Spare Ribs! Endless Praise!
The funeral banquet involved a morning farewell with relatives, a midday meal, and an afternoon burial.
Cries filled the courtyard.
"Oh, my father, why were you so fated to suffer?"
"Dad, why did you leave us so soon!"
Some well-meaning older women from the same village also offered words of comfort.
"Cui, stop crying. Old Liu was eighty-seven, free from illness and disaster; his was a happy funeral."
"Let’s make it lively today."
"Have something to eat. You’ve been here since last night; you must be hungry."
A few of the younger generation were busy helping the elders.
At that moment, the aroma from the kitchen wafted over. The uncles and aunts hadn’t eaten much, and the meat Jiang Feng was stewing smelled incredibly fragrant. The aroma made their stomachs growl uncontrollably. Everyone, who had been weeping sorrowfully, suddenly stopped crying.
"What smells so delicious?" someone nearby asked.
Liu Erlei was responsible for the family, especially the mourning relatives, whom he had to look after carefully. No matter how sad he felt, taking care of the family and guests was his immediate priority.
"Eldest Sister, Second Sister, hold on for a moment. I’ll go to the kitchen to see if there’s anything ready to eat," he said. "You should have a bite first."
There was no helping it; the smell was too enticing, and Liu Erlei also found it appetizing. He didn’t know what was being stewed in the back kitchen.
He had heard that Jiang Feng’s cooking skills were superb, that everything he made was delicious, and this was the perfect opportunity to taste it.Moreover, the burial was in the afternoon, which would require a lot of stamina, so it was even more necessary to eat well at noon.
Before long, Liu Erlei arrived at the back kitchen. Jiang Feng was stirring the ribs in the large pot; the aroma that had spread earlier was emanating from this pot.
"Boss Jiang, I just came from the mourning hall," Liu Erlei said. "The family hasn’t eaten for a long time, and I’m worried they’ll faint from crying. Do you have anything ready that they can eat to tide them over?"
Hearing this, Jiang Feng looked at the stewed ribs in the pot. These were large ribs, with generous chunks of meat on the bones, already deeply infused with flavor.
"The ribs are ready; you can scoop out a few pieces," Jiang Feng responded immediately.
"Alright, then I’ll scoop out a few ribs."
Liu Erlei picked up a large bowl and used chopsticks to scoop ribs from the pot. In a short while, he had taken out four pieces and also grabbed a stewed egg. The eggs, stewed with the ribs, had absorbed the meat’s rich flavor. What was truly exceptional was the skin of the stewed eggs; it was soft and smooth, thoroughly imbued with the meat’s aroma, and oozed savory juices when bitten into, offering an exquisite texture.
After scooping up the ribs, Liu Erlei headed to the mourning hall, offering them first to his elder sisters. The children nearby saw the ribs and clamored to eat them too. Some guests also fixed their gazes on the ribs; seeing such large, deeply colored pieces, their eyes lit up.
"Eldest Sister, Second Sister, the ribs are ready. Have some to start with," Liu Erlei encouraged them. "I’ll go get more in a bit."
Understanding younger relatives came forward to help, and the elder sisters wiped away their tears, weakly moving away from the mourning hall.
The aroma of these ribs was simply too enticing. Immediately, their stomachs began to growl, and the sensation of hunger became more pronounced. At such times, one’s sense of taste becomes more sensitive, heightening the craving for food. And right then, steaming hot ribs were placed before them.
They each picked up a rib and tore the meat off with a single bite. The ribs were stewed until extremely tender, the meat practically falling off the bone. Jiang Feng had added his secret spice mix while stewing, making the ribs fragrant and deeply flavorful. A bite released a mouthful of savory juices, leaving a delightful aftertaste. The ribs boasted a complex blend of flavors that was indescribably delicious. While eating the ribs, they could feel that the meat had a slight resilience, yet it was so tender it yielded easily to a bite, requiring little effort to chew. To achieve this level of tenderness was truly a mark of exceptional cooking.
Jiang Feng’s control over the heat was impeccable. The timing for stewing the ribs was perfect. The meat was thoroughly cooked, neither tough nor dry. Chewing and swallowing the meat, rich with juices, instantly quieted their rumbling stomachs. A warm current flowed into their abdomens, and a feeling of comfort spread from within, as if their bodies were re-energized. After eating the ribs, the elders felt their strength return.
Several children, witnessing this, craved the ribs and started clamoring for some. Liu Erlei himself wanted more, so he went back and scooped out a few more ribs. Fortunately, plenty of ribs were stewing in the large pot, which Jiang Feng stirred from time to time.
Liu Erlei tasted a small piece. The rich flavor immediately went to his head. It was incredibly delicious!
Ribs stewed with such deep flavor were rare.Every fiber of the meat was soaked with taste.Even the bones were fragrant!As Liu Erlei ate, he watched the large pot. Two spice packets floated in the pot, along with aromatics like scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers. Bubbles gurgled around the ribs. GLUG. GLUG. The aroma continuously wafted out with the steam. This large pot of ribs looked too scrumptious.
The people outside, smelling the aroma, were already finding it hard to wait. For the Liu family, the mood was one of sorrow, but for most others, it was about the food and joining in the lively atmosphere. This is a common human sentiment.
Stewing ribs is common in rural areas; many people cook them in large pots during festivals and holidays. However, making the ribs flavorful and tender until they fall apart requires skill.
At this moment, a younger relative ran over and said to Liu Erlei, "Second Uncle, something doesn’t seem right. The thirteen tables are all full, and there are still people without seats."
Hearing this, Liu Erlei was somewhat surprised. "Thirteen tables aren’t enough? Hold on, I’ll go take a look."
Liu Erlei hurried back to the courtyard. Funeral banquets in the countryside varied. Some villages would invite everyone, meaning at least twenty tables had to be set up. But things weren’t usually that grand here; a dozen or so tables was already considered a large number. And these were all large tables that could seat eight people each.
Seeing more people arriving, Liu Erlei instructed his family to set up three more tables outside the courtyard. That made it just about enough. The increased number of guests made the house lively, which also pleased the Liu family. An elder’s final journey should be conducted in a grand and dignified manner, showing that the Liu family was thriving.
Liu Erlei hurried to find Jiang Feng and changed the booking from thirteen tables to sixteen. He offered to pay more. Jiang Feng called Zhang Hu over to discuss. After confirming there were no issues, he agreed.
Funeral music played continuously. A dedicated band performed, blowing suonas and beating drums and gongs. The sound of the suona was perfectly suited for such an occasion. People chatted idly, their unceasing discussions blending with the suona’s background music, painting a vivid tableau of rural Chinese life.
Before long, as 11:30 approached, Liu Erlei arranged for the feast to begin. First, a few cold dishes were served. Then, meat dishes were brought out one after another. Serving sixteen tables of guests took some time.
Exquisite dishes were carried out from the kitchen one by one. The kitchen was rudimentary, just a few makeshift sheds with earthen stoves. Yet the food they produced was exceptionally fine. Take the meat-stuffed buns, for instance. They were served on a round, petal-shaped platter. Scallop-shaped buns lined the outer edge, while the center held shredded stewed meat, cucumber, and sauces. Placed on the table, they looked quite appealing. The beef slices were layered one on top of another, arranged in a circle.
Large restaurants have professional food platers. A food plater’s job is to know exactly which plates to use, what shapes to create, and what arrangements to make once the chef’s dish is ready. The food platers in restaurants are professionals with excellent skills, usually with at least a year’s experience. It’s not an easy line of work, so lasting that long suggested that Gourmet Suite had treated its employees well.
Dish after dish was placed on the tables. Conversations ceased as everyone’s attention focused on the food being served.
At the Liu family’s tables, two groups of people, dressed in hemp mourning clothes, ate in silence.
"Everyone, eat well," an elder said. "We have the burial in the afternoon, and there’s much to be done. Don’t wear yourselves out."
Another elder added, "The chef Erlei hired is excellent. These dishes are wonderful, so please eat your fill."
The guests ate with great enjoyment.
Liu Bao and his cousin were also in the crowd. After offering their respects, they were mainly there for the meal. Crashing a feast wasn’t particularly shameful, as long as one didn’t cause too much of a scene. Liu Bao had checked beforehand; Jiang Feng’s menu included stewed ribs and Dezhou Braised Chicken. He was waiting for these two dishes.
Soon, the ribs were served. As soon as the large chunks of meat were placed on the table, the aroma billowed outwards. People at the table quickly reached out with their chopsticks, each grabbing a large piece. Although there were many ribs, there were also many people. After everyone took a piece, only one was left on the plate. Liu Bao intended to grab the last piece, but when it came to snatching food, he was no match for the experienced aunties. An auntie took a piece and, without missing a beat, smoothly picked up the last one too.
Liu Bao’s chopsticks hovered in mid-air, somewhat awkwardly. He thought he was shameless enough, but compared to the auntie, he still had a long way to go.
However, getting one piece was enough. He immediately began to savor the ribs, his face instantly filled with admiration. This wasn’t just hype.The flavor was incredible!How could these ribs be so flavorful!Even the innermost part of the meat was savory!
The guests ate heartily, praising the food endlessly.
Many dogs lay under the tables, waiting for bones, their gazes fixed intently on the ribs. Whenever someone tossed them a bone, the dogs would crunch it into fragments with a couple of powerful bites and swallow it down, then continue to stare longingly at the ribs.
The scene was lively and bustling.
The banquet catered by Jiangyue Terrace Restaurant was a perfect success. Throughout the meal, exclamations of praise could be heard from time to time:
"Restaurant chefs are truly on another level—so delicious!"
"If anyone hires them for a banquet again, I’m definitely going!"
"I’ve never eaten such delicious ribs!"
"A top chef is a top chef; there’s no comparison."
The somber atmosphere of the funeral seemed to lighten somewhat.