61: You have lowered the price, doesn't that show your ability?

Mo Li served Qi Manman a bowl of preserved egg and lean meat congee from the pot.

“You’re quite talkative… Try it first and give your sharp critique.”

Qi Manman took the preserved egg and lean meat congee that Mo Li handed her, blew on it a few times, and once the congee in the bowl wasn’t so hot, she eagerly took a bite.

The moment the congee entered her mouth, her eyes widened instantly, and she looked at Mo Li with an expression of disbelief.

“It feels about eighty percent similar to Zhen Yan Private Kitchen’s preserved egg and lean meat congee. This… this is too amazing. How did you do it?”

“You might not believe me, but a few days ago, an Old Granny said I had an extraordinary bone structure and insisted on teaching me the recipe for this preserved egg and lean meat congee…”

Qi Manman rolled her eyes at Mo Li in exasperation.

“Even if you’re making up a story, at least make up a plausible one… This is too perfunctory.”

Mo Li pouted.

Make up what?

I was clearly telling the truth, at most I just omitted a part.

These days, why does no one believe you when you tell the truth?

“Never mind, that’s not the point. You just said this bowl of congee is eighty percent similar to Zhen Yan Private Kitchen’s preserved egg and lean meat congee?”

“Mhm… The aroma is almost one hundred percent similar, but when I eat it, it always feels like something is missing, though I can’t quite pinpoint what it is.”

Mo Li felt that Qi Manman’s evaluation was very fair, because it was similar to his own.

In short, compared to Zhen Yan Private Kitchen’s preserved egg and lean meat congee, it always felt like something was lacking when eaten.

Most likely, it was the flavor of the century egg that was a bit off.

Ultimately, the century eggs used in this pot of preserved egg and lean meat congee were bought from the fruit stall next door.

The fruit stall owner merely had someone bring him very ordinary century eggs made with traditional methods from his hometown, nothing extraordinary.

Whereas Zhen Yan Private Kitchen’s century eggs were either self-made or sourced through special channels, definitely not ordinary goods.

Mo Li leaned close to Qi Manman and mysteriously told her:

“I know what the problem is, it’s the century egg… The flavor of the century egg is lacking.”

Qi Manman looked at Mo Li with some surprise.

“You’re not going to say that if you find the right century eggs, you can make the same preserved egg and lean meat congee as Zhen Yan Private Kitchen, are you?”

“That’s pretty much what I mean… So I want to ask you for a favor.”

Although almost a day had passed, Qi Manman’s mouth still watered whenever she thought of Zhen Yan Private Kitchen’s preserved egg and lean meat congee, so much so that saliva was almost dripping from the corners of her mouth.

Today, she had eaten preserved egg and lean meat congee that was eighty percent similar to Zhen Yan Private Kitchen’s, and Qi Manman was already very satisfied.

She didn’t even think, just nodded vigorously.

“Tell me, what do you need help with? As long as I get to drink another bowl of congee, I’ll do anything…”

“Relax, it’s not that serious. I want you to help me buy some traditional century egg making recipes in your hometown.”

“Huh?”

Qi Manman was a bit confused.

From Mo Li’s words, it was clear he intended to find recipes and make century eggs himself.

The question was, what sane person making preserved egg and lean meat congee would start from the step of making century eggs?

What was the difference between this and making twice-cooked pork starting from raising pigs?

That was too outrageous!

Mo Li noticed Qi Manman’s somewhat dazed expression and couldn’t hold back.

“What kind of look is that? Why do you have a kind of clear foolishness? Just tell me if you’ll help or not.”

“Pfft! I just think this is a bit absurd! I didn’t say I wouldn’t help, why are you so impatient…”

“That just means you usually watch too few short videos. I’ve seen people who, to make twice-cooked pork, leased a whole mountain and raised their own pigs.”

Mo Li had indeed seen this online, and driven by curiosity, he had specifically verified it; it was real.

He said that pigs raised in modern industrialized piggeries had too little exercise, and their meat quality wasn’t good enough, not meeting the requirements for traditional cooking methods.

To pursue better meat quality, they directly leased a mountain and raised free-range pigs there.

The pigs ran all over the mountains every day, foraging for themselves.

Pigs raised this way were vastly different from those raised in confinement.

Whether it was a gimmick or a genuine demand for ingredients, in short, they did it.

Compared to leasing a mountain to raise pigs, making century eggs oneself was no big deal at all.

Qi Manman looked at Mo Li with a mix of doubt and suspicion still in her eyes.

“Really?”

“I’ll find that video for you later… That’s not the point, let’s get back to the century egg matter.”

“If you want to do it, then do it, it’s no big deal… I’ll ask my parents to help me inquire about it, but don’t have too high expectations, at most they’ll find some folk recipes.”

After discussing the serious matters, Mo Li walked to another soup pot and served a bowl of black sesame oatmeal porridge.

“Since you’re already here, try this too…”

Qi Manman glanced at the bowl in Mo Li’s hand from a distance and saw that it was completely black.

“It has the aroma of black sesame, black sesame paste? Or black sesame oatmeal porridge?”

“black sesame oatmeal porridge. Don’t ask why it’s not black sesame paste; if you ask, it’s because adding oats is cheaper!”

Mo Li mumbled an excuse, then handed the bowl of black sesame oatmeal porridge to Qi Manman.

Qi Manman took the bowl, quickly judged the temperature, felt it was just right, and immediately took a bite.

The moment the congee entered her mouth, Qi Manman immediately felt the silky smoothness of the black sesame oatmeal porridge.

She couldn’t stop, finishing the entire bowl of congee in one go, almost licking the bowl clean right in front of Mo Li.

“No… I drank it too fast just now and didn’t taste it. Give me another bowl, I want to taste it again.”

“I know you’re in a hurry, but don’t rush yet. There’s a big pot of it, enough for you to eat. Tell me first.”

Qi Manman glared at Mo Li angrily.

“Didn’t I say I drank it too fast just now and didn’t taste it?”

“You’re like Zhu Bajie eating a ginseng fruit, saying you didn’t taste it. Alright, alright, I’ll get you another bowl.”

Mo Li grumbled, and under Qi Manman’s “resentful” gaze, he served her another bowl.

This time, Qi Manman didn’t gulp it down, but savored it slowly, one small spoonful at a time.

After finishing, she put down the bowl and looked at Mo Li with an expression of disbelief.

“It’s too delicious! I’ve never had such a delicious dessert congee. If I said this bowl of congee is on par with Zhen Yan Private Kitchen’s preserved egg and lean meat congee, would you believe me?”

Hearing Qi Manman’s words, Mo Li chuckled inwardly.

Believe it!

Of course, he believed it!

This black sesame oatmeal porridge was taught to him personally by An Ran, the owner of Zhen Yan Private Kitchen.

At Zhen Yan Private Kitchen, this congee also appeared as a double-feature with the preserved egg and lean meat congee.

Being on par was exactly right!

Mo Li’s lips curved upwards, revealing a smug smile.

“Oh no, that can’t be. Their preserved egg and lean meat congee sells for 98 a bowl, while my congee is at most 1.5 yuan.”

Remembering the ridiculously priced dishes at Zhen Yan Private Kitchen, Qi Manman also laughed, saying to Mo Li:

“If you bring the price down, doesn’t that just show how capable you are even more?”

“That’s enough for now, you keep eating. Old Zhao from the fruit store next door also promised to help me acquire century egg making recipes, so I need to get him a bowl of congee.”

“What? You even asked the fruit store owner next door? No, I’m calling my mom right away to tell her to hurry up and find recipes!”

Mo Li chuckled inwardly.

How did it turn into a competition? This damned competitive spirit!