I'm a Druid at a farmhouse.

Chapter 53: New Druid Dishes

Wang Tong's question came suddenly, as if it were just a casual remark, but his clear eyes were fixed on Song You's face, not missing a single subtle change.

The air in the courtyard seemed to freeze for a moment because of this question.

Wang Guoming's heart skipped a beat; he knew his master was testing him.

Butchering and butchering are fundamental skills for advanced chefs, but they are also the ultimate manifestation of their understanding of the structure of ingredients.

The layman looks at the excitement and the insider looks at the doorway.

The number of cuts used directly reflects the chef's familiarity with the bone structure and muscle distribution of a pig.

Song You did not answer immediately.

His gaze shifted from Wang Tong's face to the massive pig breastbone, his eyes following the curve of the ribs down to the spine.

"Let me think," he said calmly. "From separating the limbs to removing the ribs, tenderloin, and pork belly, disassembling these major parts will probably take around thirty cuts."

Thirty dollars!

Wang Guoming gasped.

This number is not something that can be said casually.

Even the most skilled butchers in the industry can only make at least thirty cuts on a standardized-farmed pig.

What Song You was facing was a wild boar with firm muscles and thick bones!

Wang Tong's eyebrows twitched slightly, and a ripple of emotion finally appeared on his usually calm face.

"Thirty dollars?" he repeated, his tone neither questioning nor praising.

"Actually, the number of cuts isn't important." Song You picked up the boning knife and twirled it in his hand. "The meat on a pig has its own texture, and there are gaps between the bones. My knife just followed their natural shape, without much effort."

He said it so casually, but it instantly changed Wang Tong's expression.

Walking along the gap requires no effort.

These words struck Wang Tong's heart like a hammer blow.

Isn't this natural state of mind what he always emphasized to his disciples?

This young man, without any formal instruction, has already reached this level.

Moreover, I had previously heard him mention the circular agriculture model of agritourism, which seemed to have this idea in mind, and it coincided with the philosophy of Wang Tong's school of thought.

Wang Guoming listened from the side, completely bewildered. He felt that what Song You said was very profound, but judging from his master's expression, he knew that Song You had passed this test, and had won a great victory.

"Well said." Wang Tong nodded slowly, withdrawing his scrutinizing gaze. "Talk is cheap; what are you planning to do today?"

"It's an honor to have Senior Wang here. I must show you some of my best skills." Song You smiled and relaxed. "I just happened to get some new ingredients. I'll make you a new dish to try."

As he spoke, he turned and walked towards the vegetable garden.

Wang Tong and the other two followed behind.

Song You bent down and picked a few of the most vibrant red peppers from a row of bright red ones.

The aroma of chili peppers is spicy and pure, carrying an invigorating power.

【Courage Chili】

He then walked to the cucumber trellis and picked two green cucumbers with flowers and thorns still attached. The refreshing fragrance of cucumbers wafted over him, invigorating him.

【Vibrant Cucumber】.

Wang Tong watched Song You's actions and observed the extraordinary quality of the vegetables.

This place truly exudes the wonder of nature.

Back in the courtyard, Song You carefully took out a piece of meat wrapped in oil paper from the freezer.

He unfolded the layers of oil paper, revealing the piece of pork inside, which was pink in color and had fine texture.

Fine white fat strands are evenly distributed between the lean meat fibers, crisscrossing like snowflakes falling on red plum blossoms. It's so beautiful that it doesn't look like a piece of raw meat, but rather like a work of art.

"Pork shoulder!" Wang Guoming's eyes widened instantly when he saw it from outside.

He strode forward, leaned closer to examine it closely, and then took a deep breath.

It lacks the usual gamey smell of pork, possessing only a pure, fresh aroma of meat with hints of herbs and plants.

"Top-notch! This is absolutely top-notch!" Wang Guoming rubbed his hands excitedly. "There's only such a small piece from a pig, you're really generous, brother!"

Song You smiled and placed the top-quality pork belly on the kitchen cutting board.

Wang Tong's gaze was also drawn to this piece of meat.

He has processed countless top-quality ingredients throughout his life, but wild boar shoulder meat of such perfect quality is rare.

The pig needs to be able to eat and move while it's alive, so that its meat and blood are trained to a certain degree. This kind of meat can even have a massage effect just by touching it.

He was eager to see how the young man would handle the meat.

But given his status, he couldn't speak directly; he simply glanced at his apprentice beside him.

Wang Guoming immediately understood.

"Brother Song, the lighting in your kitchen is poor and the space is small, so you can't work properly." Wang Guoming leaned over, looking eager. "Why don't you work on this stone slab? Let us see your amazing knife skills."

Li Zhe, listening nearby, felt embarrassed for Wang Guoming; the excuse he came up with was far too blatant.

Song You glanced at Wang Tong and saw that although he didn't say anything, there was indeed some curiosity in his eyes.

He nodded: "Okay, let's do it outside then."

After he finished speaking, he took a deep breath, and his entire aura changed instantly.

The easygoing and cheerful owner of the farmhouse has disappeared, replaced by a focused and quiet craftsman.

He did not immediately make a cut.

Instead, he reached out and gently placed his hand on the piece of pork belly.

His lips moved slightly, and in an almost inaudible voice, he whispered an ancient prayer, his hands stroking the flesh.

"Thank you for nature's gifts..."

A gentle, otherworldly power flowed slowly from his palm into his flesh.

Wang Tong's pupils suddenly contracted.

He could clearly see that under the young man's palm, the color of the pork belly seemed to have become more vibrant and lustrous.

The fibers of the meat seemed to be stretching and breathing.

This is impossible!

What kind of technique is this?

A storm raged in Wang Tong's heart.

In his more than fifty years in the industry, he had never seen anything like it.

He instinctively wanted to ask the other person to stop and explain what it was, but now was not the time. He swallowed his words and just stared at Song You's every move, afraid of missing any detail.

The prayer is over.

Song You opened his eyes and picked up the broad-bladed kitchen knife.

A flash of light.

Without even looking, he flicked his wrist, and the broad blade sliced ​​off a thin layer of fat, as thin as a cicada's wing, from the surface of the meat.

His movements were lightning fast.

Slice, shred, or mince.

Every movement was incredibly precise, full of rhythm and power.

That top-quality pork belly was quickly broken down and reshaped in his hands.

The entire process was smooth and seamless.

When he stopped, a pile of evenly sized diced meat and a small pinch of fine minced meat were neatly arranged on the stone slab.

Wang Guoming and Li Zhe were completely stunned.

They thought the knife skills they saw at the last food festival were the limit.

But seeing it with my own eyes today, I realize that it was just the tip of the iceberg.

This isn't just knife work, it's art!

Ignoring their shock, Song You turned around and carried out a ceramic jar from the house—the pickled cabbage that Jiang Milu had brought.

After sifting through the bag again, he found the fruit from the bayberry tree that he had taken out of the cellar.

He unsealed the jar of pickled cabbage, and a tangy and appetizing aroma instantly filled the air.

He then poured the deep red bayberries into the bowl and gently pressed them down with his palm.

The plump fruit burst open instantly, releasing its sweet and sour juice.

He mixed the bayberry juice, chopped fruit pieces, and finely chopped pickled cabbage together, and then covered it with his palm again.

He quietly infused it with a faint force of nature.

Sour, sweet, salty, and umami.

Several seemingly conflicting scents, under the harmonizing power of that mysterious force, are perfectly blended together, sublimating into a brand new, more layered complex fragrance.

He poured the prepared sauce evenly over the diced meat, carefully mixing it to coat each piece with that tempting crimson color.

After doing all this, he picked up the plate and nodded to Wang Tong and the other two.

"Please wait a moment, it will be ready soon."

After saying that, he turned and went into the kitchen.

In the courtyard, only Wang Guoming and Li Zhe remained, still immersed in the shocking performance they had just witnessed, unable to come back to their senses for a long time.

Wang Tong stood with his hands behind his back at the kitchen door, looking at the busy figure inside with a complicated expression.

Soon, the sound of stir-frying meat came from the kitchen.

First, there was a "sizzle" sound, as the hot oil met the diced meat that was moist.

Immediately afterwards, an extremely rich aroma of meat, mixed with sweet and sour fruit, burst out of the kitchen and domineeringly occupied the entire yard.

Wang Guoming's Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably.

So delicious!

Just smelling this aroma made him feel like he was about to get drunk.

In the kitchen, Song You finally finished making his original dish when suddenly the [Druid's Diary] popped up.

[Druid Log: Your understanding of ingredients has deepened; you've created entirely new Druid dishes.]

Congratulations! You have obtained a new recipe: Crimson Dragon's Breath Plum Blossom Pancake.

[Gourmet Druid Beginner Progress +50%]

[Gourmet Druid: 71% (Advanced Quest 83/100)]

A surge of joy welled up in Song You's heart, but he controlled his expression well and covered the dish to let the aroma linger.

Not long after, Song You came out carrying two plates.

A plate of stir-fried cucumber, and a plate of cold chili salad.

The cucumbers are emerald green, the peppers are bright red, and these are the simplest home-style dishes, but the refreshing aroma that hits you makes your mouth water.

"Senior Wang, please have some vegetarian dishes to whet your appetite."

Song You placed the dishes on the stone table and then turned back to the kitchen.

Wang Guoming looked at the two plates of vegetarian dishes and could no longer contain himself. He turned to look at his master, his face full of undisguised pride.

"Master, you see, I didn't lie to you, did I?"

Wang Tong did not answer immediately.

His gaze pierced through the wafting aroma of food and landed on the kitchen curtain, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

After a long while, he slowly nodded and uttered a sentence that made Wang Guomeng's brain shut down.

"This kid might actually be able to help me get that top-level chef position."