The Simplest Dish, Fried Rice

At 11:30 PM, the Tavern was nearing closing time.

Mana, who hadn't left yet, still felt awkward and guilty in front of her daughter. But to bridge the gap between them, she shared every experience she'd had since leaving home.

She talked about how she became a special executive officer of the WGO culinary organization, and about the world-class chefs she'd met whose cooking could never conquer the God Tongue.

Throughout, Erina listened with great interest. Perhaps deep down, she was curious about her mother's past years.

...

Seeing the warm atmosphere, Hisako, an onlooker, felt happy inside. She looked out the window, then at the clock on the wall, and gently tugged Erina's sleeve, whispering, "Lady Erina, should we go back now?"

"It is quite late."

"Mother, let's end it here for tonight," Erina said reluctantly. "Seeing you again brought back many unpleasant memories. But knowing your eating disorder is cured makes me happy for you."

"Erina, I... I..."

Mana wanted to say something, but the words stuck in her throat.

"Mother, if it's too hard to say, you don't have to. I understand," Erina replied, showing surprising strength.

She then approached Zane, blushing slightly, and asked softly, "Zane, do you remember our agreement?"

"I remember. After the training camp ends, you'll have a break, and you wanted to work part-time at the Tavern."

Zane looked at her deeply, then smiled, "Come by at 7 PM tomorrow."

"Yes!"

"I... I will," Erina said, a bit excited. Then, without another word, she turned and left the Tavern, under the watchful eyes of her mother and Zane.

Hisako quickly paid the bill and followed.

...

Watching Erina's receding figure, Mana felt lost. But she smiled slightly, feeling that the outcome was better than she'd hoped.

"Zane, thank you."

"Since meeting you, I feel like the goddess of luck has been with me. You cured my long-standing eating disorder, freeing me from constantly being hungry."

"And tonight, you helped Erina understand with your egg and chicken dish. I know you still had ingredients for the golden ratio shumai, but you chose to help mend our relationship instead."

"Honestly, I feel like I owe you a lot in this life."

These words were heartfelt, as meeting Zane was the happiest event in Mana's life.

"Don't think that way."

"My Tavern is meant to bring happiness to diners."

Zane replied with a cheerful smile.

Hearing this, Mana couldn't help but admire his generous heart. She felt a bit emotional, her eyes reddening, and whispered, "If only I had met you sooner, I wouldn't have suffered so much."

...

"Mom, hurry up! The Tavern is about to close."

Suddenly, a voice called from outside.

Alice and Leonora entered the Tavern. The moment Leonora saw Mana, she was stunned.

"Is that... Mana?"

"It's been a long time. You haven't changed at all, no, you seem even more beautiful," Mana said calmly, though she still hadn't fully processed reuniting with her daughter.

"Aunt?"

Alice, puzzled, tried to recall. When Mana left, Alice was very young and had little memory of her. But as she thought harder, she realized who Mana was.

"Alice, you've changed a lot too, almost didn't recognize you," Mana sighed, recognizing her niece.

...

Life is unpredictable.

Who could have guessed that in one night, Mana would reunite with her daughter, sister-in-law, and niece?

"How have you been all these years?" Leonora asked, feeling mixed emotions. Mana's departure had caused tremendous upheaval in the Nakiri family.

"It's a long story. I'll tell you all about it when there's time."

Mana shook her head, sighing deeply.

"You two came at an awkward time. My Tavern is about to close," Zane said, placing a bottle of chilled plum wine in front of Leonora.

"All that's left is some rice and eggs. How about I make you some fried rice?"

"Sure, let's go with that," Leonora nodded.

"And you, Alice?"

"If Mom has no objections, neither do I," Alice agreed quickly.

"Okay, wait a moment."

Zane returned to the kitchen to prepare the fried rice.

...

Every dish has its story.

The simplest dish, fried rice, has an interesting origin. Sui Yangdi's chef Xie Fang wrote about a dish called "Golden Fragments Rice" in his book "Food Classics."

The term "Golden Fragments" described the egg pieces mixed with rice, resembling gold fragments. The popularization of iron woks during the Sui Dynasty made stir-frying common, leading to the creation of fried rice.

Today, many people love fried rice because it's easy to make with simple ingredients. But no matter how it changes, it always involves rice and eggs, leading to the debate: Do you cook the rice or the eggs first?

Both methods work, with the difference being whether the egg coats the rice. The third method mixes the egg and rice before frying.

Zane prepared egg yolks, salt, green onions, and rice. He mixed a third of the egg yolk with the rice, frying the rest separately.

This ensured golden rice with tender whites and fragrant yolks.

He heated the wok until it smoked, added oil, then the rice. Once fragrant, he added the egg mixture, stirring quickly until the rice turned golden and enticing.

Finally, he added salt and black pepper, then the green onions, frying until soft.

...

"Here it is, fried rice."

The dish looked amazing, each grain distinct, soft yet firm, with a hint of shine from the egg coating. Green onion bits added color, making the dish visually appealing.

"It's fried rice?"

Alice rubbed her eyes, thinking she saw wrong. The simple ingredients produced a rich aroma that made her stomach growl. She eagerly took a bite.

The flavor was irresistible. Each grain was chewy, dancing in her mouth with a blend of oil, egg, and onion. Alice's eyes lit up as she took another big bite, savoring the taste.

...

"Is this the fried rice I remember?"

Leonora took a bite, her reaction exaggerated. She closed her eyes, savoring the taste.

The fried rice was fragrant and sticky, each grain a delight to chew. The rich flavor lingered, warming her from the inside.

This fried rice was an endless temptation, blending the dense rice and fresh eggs into a perfect harmony.

"A bowl of fried rice, with the fragrance of egg, but if the rice is mushy or hard, it's unappetizing."

"So, I chose this rice with low water content and stickiness. It might be hard when cooked, but perfect for fried rice."

"The final product is excellent."

"The egg like golden fragments among the distinct rice grains, with green onions adding a fresh touch."

"Tasting it, the egg and fluffy rice are delightful."

"It's hard to believe this dish took less than five minutes to make."

"The rice dances in your mouth, the egg yolk fresh and tender. This must be what happiness tastes like."

Leonora was lost in the moment, feeling enveloped by the dish's warmth.

...

Fried rice, the simplest yet most complex dish.

The key lies in the skill of flipping the wok and the precise control of heat.

Perfect fried rice must have distinct grains and a balanced flavor, with a touch of wok hei. Zane's dish was flawless.

----------

For 10 advance chapters: patreon.com/angelictranslating