After some time of simmering, the broth in the barrel had noticeably reduced; by this point, the fragrance of osmanthus flowers and the vibrant color of red yeast rice had completely melded into the soup.

Huang Jun carefully fished out the packets of red yeast rice and osmanthus from the barrel and set them aside, as they were no longer needed in the cooking process. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

In the preparation of osmanthus sticky rice lotus root, controlling the heat is of utmost importance.

Only the perfect level of heat can ensure that the lotus root retains its shape during cooking while absorbing enough sugar and osmanthus fragrance, achieving a texture that’s soft yet not mushy, and sweet without being overwhelming.

As time gently passed...

The lotus root, under the slow simmer, gradually became tender and smooth, quietly absorbing the essence of the broth in the pot.

The sticky rice, in this warm and sweet process, soaked up the sugary water and osmanthus aroma, gradually becoming crystal-clear, like jewels, each grain glistening alluringly.

When the lotus root and sticky rice reached their perfect state, the lotus root’s skin glistened enticingly, and the sticky rice became plump and elastic, signaling that the osmanthus sticky rice lotus root was nearing completion.

At the moment the lid was lifted...

An intense osmanthus fragrance wafted out, filling the entire kitchen, making everyone present take a deep breath involuntarily, captivated by the sweet scent.

"Chef Huang, can we eat it now?" Chu Qiweng, with a touch of eager anticipation, asked.

"We still have to wait a bit until the sweet osmanthus syrup is ready," Huang Jun replied with a smile.

"Ah..."

Chu Qiweng let out a small sigh of disappointment: "Really, we still have to wait..."

Huang Jun explained with a smile: "Don’t rush, Accountant Chu, the sweet osmanthus syrup is the finishing touch of this dish, it will enrich the flavors of the lotus root and sticky rice. Just wait a little longer and it’ll be ready to eat."

"Oh well, it can’t be helped!"

Chu Qiweng helplessly stood aside, continuing to wait.

Huang Jun fetched a hefty large pot and poured in some of the rich original broth from the osmanthus sticky rice lotus root.

Next, he picked up the bottle of sweet osmanthus paste, tilting it carefully, so the viscous golden stream slid gently into the pot, melding with the original broth.

At once.

A rich osmanthus aroma permeated the air.

With a deft twist of his wrist, the long-handled spoon danced through the pot in an elegant arc, allowing various flavors to weave and blend until perfect harmony was achieved.

With continuous stirring...

The color of the soup gradually deepened and brightened.

He turned up the heat to simmer it.

The resulting sauce would be used to pour over the osmanthus sticky rice lotus root as a finishing touch.

He occasionally lifted the spoon, observing the flow of the broth to assess the progress and texture changes during simmering.

Of course, controlling the heat was especially critical.

He alternated between high heat, which quickly concentrated the broth, and low heat, which allowed the flavors to slowly settle.

Finally.

When the broth reached the desired thickness, Huang Jun turned off the heat, using a cloth to hold the pot handle gently, moving it off the stove.

He lightly tapped the pot’s rim with a spoon, letting the bubbles in the broth slowly release, each pop accompanied by the aroma wafting out.

Then, he carefully poured the well-cooked sauce into a clean container to cool naturally, preparing for the next step of plating.

The cooked osmanthus sticky rice lotus root, when stored, can be placed in a container along with the original broth to extend its freshness and ensure lasting flavor.

Huang Jun gently lifted the cooled lotus root, carefully removing the "cap" used earlier, and placed it on the chopping board.

The tip of the knife lightly touched one end of the lotus root, and he began cutting.

As the blade moved...

Pieces of lotus root fell away gently, each slice as thin as a cicada’s wing, neatly edged, revealing the translucence of the sticky rice and the whiteness of the lotus root, each piece reflecting the soft glow of the kitchen lights.

Beside him, Chu Qiweng was almost entirely captivated by the cut osmanthus sticky rice lotus root on the board, its enticing color and wafting aroma making her swallow involuntarily, longing desperately to devour all of the freshly cut osmanthus sticky rice lotus root on the board.

This urge...

made her, unable to resist, instinctively reach out her eager hands, wanting to immediately take a slice to taste.

"Watch the knife~"

A tense reminder suddenly rang out, and Liu Suyu quickly pulled Chu Qiweng back from behind: "Don’t you want your hand anymore? What if you get cut?"

Chu Qiweng was taken aback by this sudden tug, then stuck out her tongue playfully: "Don’t worry, Chef Huang’s knife skills are excellent, there’s no way I’d get cut, and I know what I’m doing."

Huang Jun teased: "My knife doesn’t have eyes, I’m glad you trust my knife skills, but don’t try to grab food while I’m cutting! If anything goes wrong, I’d be held responsible."

Chu Qiweng couldn’t help but laugh, playfully retorting: "Chef Huang, it’s your fault for making the osmanthus sticky rice lotus root so irresistible. I just couldn’t hold back."

Saying this, she once again focused all her attention on the chopping board in front of her, where the slices of osmanthus sticky rice lotus root tempted her relentlessly, making it impossible for her to look away.

Huang Jun responded in a mock stern tone: "Oh, so it’s still my fault? Accountant Chu, do you know the consequences of offending me? Do you not want to eat anymore?"

Chu Qiweng: "..."

Was she going to get into trouble?

Indeed!

You shouldn’t offend the chef!

Otherwise, you might just end up with no meal at all.

She pouted, rubbing her hands together endearingly, pleading: "Okay, okay, Chef Huang, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said that. You’re a magnanimous person, please don’t take my words to heart, don’t hold a grudge against me!"

Huang Jun looked at her expression and couldn’t help but laugh.

He waved his hand with a smile, "Alright, alright, I know it was unintentional. How could I really hold a grudge against you? I forgive you."

Saying this, he continued to slice the osmanthus sticky rice lotus root with a steady rhythm, precisely cutting it into uniform slices.

With the last slice of osmanthus sticky rice lotus root perfectly placed, he set down the knife, arranging the sliced lotus root neatly on a plate.

Huang Jun scooped a spoonful of stewed osmanthus syrup over them and sprinkled a few pieces of osmanthus as garnish. A dish that satisfied all senses was complete.

"Alright, everyone, don’t just stand there, hurry up and start eating, have a taste first!"

Saying this, Huang Jun deliberately bypassed Chu Qiweng and passed the dish to Liu Suyu behind him.

Chu Qiweng, witnessing this scene: "..."

Hmm.

Wasn’t he supposed to bear no grudge?

Wasn’t he supposed to forgive?

So this is it?

Chu Qiweng felt a slight chill in her heart, and she strongly suspected that Huang Jun was deliberately getting back at her for the innocent joke from earlier by bypassing her and giving the fragrant osmanthus sticky rice lotus root to Liu Suyu.

But she had no evidence to support her suspicion.

She looked at Huang Jun with grievance, hoping he would notice her emotional fluctuations and offer some comforting explanation.

But things did not go as she wished!

Huang Jun seemed completely oblivious to her gaze, focused intently with his head down, continuing to slice osmanthus sticky rice lotus root on the cutting board, as if everything just now was just her overthinking.

This left her feeling helpless!

And she suddenly felt that, though Huang Jun appeared honest and harmless, he might secretly harbor a sly edge.

Hmm.

It seems that from now on, under no circumstances should she offend Huang Jun, or she might not even get to taste the food!

She secretly took note in her heart.

Liu Suyu picked up a pair of chopsticks, cautiously lifted a piece of osmanthus sticky rice lotus root, and examined it closely.

What she saw was the faintly pink lotus root, so enticing in color, contrasting sharply with the crystal clear, pearl-like sticky rice embedded within, pleasing to the eye.

With a gentle break, she saw the plump grains of sticky rice, tightly arranged, bulging from absorbing syrup.

As it entered her mouth, with a light bite...

First, there was the crispness of the lotus root, followed by the soft stickiness of the rice unfolding on her tongue. The contrasting textures strangely harmonized, offering her a unique enjoyment.

As she chewed further...

The aroma of osmanthus gradually unfolded in her mouth, elegant and enduring, forming a wonderful trio with the refreshing sweetness of the lotus root and the fragrance of the sticky rice.

The addition of osmanthus syrup further enriched this dish, making its overall taste more complex, sweet but not cloying, with a hint of sweet and sour.

"The texture of this lotus root is amazing, both crisp and tender, and the sticky rice is perfectly soft,"

Liu Suyu remarked as she savored, her eyes full of admiration for Huang Jun’s cooking skills.

The other colleagues also nodded in agreement, expressing their thoughts:

"Exactly, and the fragrance of the osmanthus is truly the finishing touch. It not only enriches the flavor of the entire dish but also gives a sense of autumn, warm and sweet."

"Wuwuwu, I feel like crying! It’s simply delicious!"

"..."

Drawn by the commotion, Chu Qiweng slowly came back to her senses and turned her head to see Liu Suyu and the other garden leaders indulging in the food behind her, anxiety surging in her heart.

"Give me a piece, don’t hog it all to yourselves!"

Saying this, she disregarded using chopsticks, directly reached out to grab a piece of osmanthus sticky rice lotus root, and hurriedly stuffed it into her mouth.

The crispness of the lotus root and the soft, sweet aroma of the sticky rice instantly intertwined in her mouth, while the fragrance of osmanthus lingered long, prompting her to close her eyes and relish in the deliciousness of the moment.

"Hey, Accountant Chu, why are you using your hands? You didn’t wash them!" Liu Suyu reminded, surprised.

"It’s fine, thanks for your concern." Chu Qiweng said nonchalantly, chewing the food as she responded, "As the saying goes, ’Dirt doesn’t hurt you,’ don’t worry, I’ll be fine."

"Who’s worried about you!" Liu Suyu retorted, "I meant you’re dirtying the rest of the osmanthus sticky rice lotus root slices!"

Chu Qiweng: "..."

Is this blatant disdain?!

If that’s the case...

Then why not...

Her eyes shifted, and a plan formed in her mind: "Since you’re disdainful, why don’t I just eat all that’s left?"

Saying this, she reached out to grab the plate.

"In your dreams..."

Liu Suyu reacted quickly, immediately raising the plate out of Chu Qiweng’s reach.

Chu Qiweng: "..."

Her wishful thinking ultimately fell through...