ca-book Chapter 82 Tea Eggs and Braised Eggs
Chapter 82 Tea Eggs and Braised Eggs
Su Qingxue didn't stand on ceremony and reached out to take the still-hot tea egg.
Chen Yuan casually handed her a tissue, his tone very natural.
"Be careful, it's hot. Blow on it before you continue peeling."
Su Qingxue gave a soft "hmm," wrapped the egg in a tissue, and carefully peeled off the shell.
As the shell fell away, an amber-colored egg was revealed.
The snow-white egg white has varying shades of brown cracks, giving it an alluring sheen, and the complex aroma of star anise, cinnamon, and black tea fills the nostrils.
She couldn't help but swallow slightly, then took a small bite.
Surprisingly, the egg white was chewy, unlike the dry and tough texture of regular tea eggs.
Most importantly, the tea aroma doesn't just float on the surface; it seeps into the egg in subtle ways, giving it a delicate fragrance when you eat it.
Moreover, it has a perfect balance of saltiness, with a slightly sweet aftertaste.
Chen Yuan pressed on, "How was it? Was it delicious?"
Su Qingxue nodded vigorously, then took another big bite.
Besides the egg white, the yolk inside also tastes very good.
It's both sandy and sticky, and not dry at all. Most importantly, the flavor has seeped into it, so it's not bland or tasteless.
"Delicious, especially delicious."
Su Qingxue ate all the remaining egg whites, then carefully savored them, racking her brains to find the right words to describe them.
"Senior brother, the tea eggs you make are especially delicious."
"The tea eggs I've had before were either too salty, or... how should I put it, they had a tea flavor, but were a bit bitter and astringent, but your tea eggs are different."
"How is it different?" Chen Yuan pressed for details.
Su Qingxue thought for a moment before answering.
"It tastes purer, and the egg yolk is also flavorful. Most importantly, it has a tea aroma that is not bitter at all, and it also has a unique fragrance. The spices are not strong either."
Chen Yuan smiled, clearly very satisfied with Su Qingxue's assessment.
He then scooped out another braised egg for her to try.
"Try this. It's braised egg. But since I just made this braising liquid, it might not be as rich as the old braising liquid. But I think it should taste good."
Su Qingxue took the braised eggs, which were peeled before being braised.
The color of the egg white has become very dark.
It has a soy sauce red color and a shiny, oily surface.
The braised egg enters the mouth.
The strong aroma, distinct from that of tea eggs, instantly filled my mouth.
The braised egg has a rich, savory flavor with a strong salty and fresh taste. The five-spice powder has a subtle flavor that doesn't overpower the other flavors.
The egg white is firmer than that of a tea egg, and it even feels a bit bouncy when you bite into it.
The most amazing part is the egg yolk inside. The edges have turned grayish-green from the marinating process, while the center remains golden. It melts on the tongue as soon as it touches the tongue.
It has a distinctly different texture from tea eggs, which are sandy and chewy.
Su Qingxue ate too quickly and almost choked, so she quickly picked up the water next to her and took a big gulp.
Chen Yuan hurriedly patted his back, his eyes filled with a smile.
"Slow down, no one's going to take it from you."
"It seems both of them taste pretty good."
Su Qingxue shook her head vigorously, her rosy cheeks turning slightly red, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Chen Yuan.
"It's not just 'not bad,' it's absolutely delicious!"
"Senior brother, it's a waste of your skills to open a breakfast shop. Your level is even worse than that of chefs in five-star hotels."
Chen Yuan was not surprised by Su Qingxue's evaluation.
Since they are produced by the system, these ordinary eggs are bound to have an exceptional taste.
Chen Yuan didn't speak, but instead tasted both kinds of braised eggs.
"It's really good, better than I expected."
"No, it's just incredibly delicious!"
"Yes, yes, you're right, it's especially delicious."
Chen Yuan's eyes crinkled with laughter, and he didn't forget to say something to Su Qingxue.
"If you like it, there's still plenty left in the pot. I cooked 10 jin (5 catties) at once. You can take some back with you for breakfast or a late-night snack when you leave. It can be kept in the refrigerator for at least two or three days."
Su Qingxue felt a sweet warmth in her heart.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony with you."
After the two ate a few eggs, Su Qingxue recounted the things her family had told her.
Chen Yuan agreed without even thinking about it.
"No problem, but as you know, my breakfast shop is very busy and I don't have time to deliver. If you want me to deliver, it will have to wait until I'm done with my work and take Youyou to kindergarten."
Su Qingxue hurriedly said, "No need for that trouble, someone will come to buy it."
Chen Yuan subconsciously wanted to ask Su Qingxue's brother what he did, since he even had someone come to buy his meals.
But then I thought, if the other person doesn't want to talk about it, why should I ask?
So he put that question out of his mind.
Su Qingxue stayed at Chen Yuan's house for a while before leaving.
Although I'm already a senior and about to graduate, I'm still a student, and there are some classes I still have to attend as a formality.
Su Qingxue left reluctantly.
Chen Yuan was left to continue his struggle with the eggs.
Night fell quickly.
The city's neon lights all lit up.
Those who were going to work or leaving school all went home.
For everyone, nighttime is a time for rest, but for some, falling asleep is the hardest thing to do all day.
I returned to my rented room.
As usual, as soon as Wang Xiaoya came back, she threw down what she was holding and collapsed onto the sofa, as if all her energy had been drained, and she didn't want to move at all.
The light from her phone screen shone on her extremely tired face.
"Nine o'clock..."
"If I keep working overtime until 9 PM like this, when will it ever end?"
Usually, Wang Xiaoya is already very tired and sleepy when she gets home.
But for some reason, I just can't fall asleep.
After all, as a typical office worker, the daytime belongs to the company, and only the nighttime belongs to oneself.
As usual, she mechanically swiped through the short videos on her phone.
Even after making countless resolutions.
"Just one more time, then I'll go to sleep!"
"I can't stay up late again tonight!"
"Make sure you go to bed early!"
But it's no use.
She usually scrolls through her phone until at least 1 or 2 a.m. before she's willing to go to sleep.
Even if you feel dizzy and lightheaded when you wake up the next morning, it still won't change anything.
Just when Wang Xiaoya thought today would be like any other day.
Not right.
Something's really not right.
She felt a warm sensation emanating from her stomach for some reason; it wasn't like a raging fire, but rather a gentle comfort.
This soothing effect gradually calms the restlessness in the nerve endings.
Wang Xiaoya muttered, "Five minutes, just five more minutes..."
But my eyelids are getting heavier and heavier.
Half a minute later, the phone fell from my palm and landed on the blanket.
"Huff huff..."