Chapter 537: Yakumo Yukari's Wild Thoughts, Reimu's Entrustment
The dish known as steamed pork with rice flour is exactly what its name implies: succulent cuts of meat coated in toasted rice flour and steamed to perfection. But the true magic lies in the careful execution of its ingredients.
Premium pork belly, complete with the skin, is absolutely essential. That perfect trinity—a layer of gelatinous skin, a layer of rich fat, and a layer of tender lean meat—promises an incredibly satisfying mouthfeel before it even touches the tongue.
The rice flour is equally crucial, acting as a fragrant blanket that tightly hugs the rich pork. The soft, toasted grains absorb every drop of rendered fat. Just imagining the words 'soft,''rich,' and'yielding' is enough to evoke the exquisite sensation of the meat melting effortlessly in the mouth.
The flavor profile of this classic dish is wonderfully versatile. A touch of chili introduces a gentle, fiery kick; pumpkin adds a clean, natural sweetness; lotus root provides a crisp, refreshing contrast; sweet potato brings a deep, earthy aroma; and a splash of aged balsamic vinegar can even coax out a mellow, sweet-and-sour depth.
For the serving prepared specifically for Yakumo Yukari and Reimu, Ren had carefully considered his options before settling on pumpkin. First, pumpkin was exceptionally easy on the stomach. Second, compared to the heavy, cloying sweetness of sweet potato, pumpkin offered a much fresher, lighter sweetness. It elevated the dish without overpowering the savory aroma of the pork., pumpkin possessed a delicate, powdery softness that sweet potatoes simply lacked.
The preparation was elegantly straightforward: slice the pork belly, massage it with a savory marinade, toss it thoroughly in the toasted rice flour, and let the steam work its magic in the bamboo basket.
Simple dishes often harbor the most extraordinary depths of flavor, and this steamed pork was no exception. As the cooking time neared its end, the rich, savory aroma wafting from the kitchen became absolutely intoxicating.
The moment the lid was lifted, a cloud of steam billowed out, carrying a fresh, sweet fragrance that left only one thought in the mind: this dish is going to be divine.
That prediction proved entirely accurate. When a slice was gently lifted from the bamboo steamer with chopsticks, the meat was so impossibly tender that one hardly dared to apply any pressure. The pork quivered slightly, feeling as though it might fall apart under the slightest grip.
There has never been any shame in the old adage of eating meat in large bites and drinking wine in deep gulps. Taking a generous slice of the steamed pork and placing it whole into the mouth offered an experience of pure, unadulterated pleasure. The moment the rich meat met the taste buds and yielded to the teeth, words became entirely unnecessary.
The pork slices were fragrant and yielding, the fat melting instantly without a trace of greasiness, while the lean meat remained tender but never mushy. The toasted rice flour coating was rich with savory oils, soft and subtly sweet. Beneath it all, the steamed pumpkin provided an elegant, fresh sweetness. It looked like a heavy, indulgent dish, yet it flooded the palate with a clean, vibrant flavor.
Rich but not greasy, sweet and impossibly soft—this was the ultimate expression of steamed pork with rice flour. To accompany it, Ren had prepared a batch of pristine, fluffy steamed buns folded in half. These were known as lotus leaf buns. The method of consumption was wonderfully simple: tuck a slice of the steaming pork inside the soft white bun and take a bite.
The already exquisite steamed pork, when embraced by the pillowy, mildly sweet lotus leaf bun, created a textural masterpiece that practically dissolved on the tongue.
Traditionally, the flavor profiles of this dish fell into three distinct categories.
Five-spice offered a deep, lingering aroma and a tender bite that left a lasting impression of culinary elegance.
Chili, enhanced with pickled peppers, delivered a mouth-watering, sour-spicy kick that danced between the teeth.
Mushroom, incorporating plump shiitake, infused the meat with a rich, earthy fragrance that endured long after the meal.
This was the beauty of steamed pork with rice flour—deceptively simple to prepare, yet exceptionally difficult to master. True culinary elegance often lay in restraint.
At the counter, Reimu instinctively cupped her free hand beneath her chin as she lifted a slice, terrified that the impossibly tender meat might break apart and fall before reaching her lips. Fortunately, the pork held its shape just long enough.
The instant the flavors bloomed on her tongue, the shrine maiden was utterly conquered. She had never tasted anything so magnificent in her life. Even the most boastful cooks at the grand banquets in Gensokyo had never produced a dish of this caliber.
Reimu had a fondness for sweet things, but she despised anything overly sugary; a cloying sweetness was far more offensive to her palate than heavy grease. This steamed pork, however, struck an immaculate balance. The fresh, clean sweetness and the melt-in-the-mouth texture left a lingering, elegant aroma. She was absolutely certain this wasn't the result of some bizarre Incident! What kind of Incident could possibly spawn food this divine?
Beside her, Yakumo Yukari mirrored her astonishment. The dish was dangerously addictive. For a fleeting moment, the ancient youkai entertained the dangerous illusion that as long as this restaurant remained open, she could simply come here every single day.
But then, her mind drifted back to the date they had shared earlier. She had lived for an unimaginably long time, yet she had never actually been on a proper date with a man. Just the memory of it made her chest tighten with an unfamiliar, fluttering nervousness. Ren was an anomaly—an existence entirely beyond her vast powers and calculations. He was an overwhelming presence, and that complete lack of control left the usually unflappable Sage of Gensokyo feeling deeply, intimately flustered.
Across the room, Ren was quietly watching a movie with Lucy when Reimu's voice suddenly shattered the comfortable atmosphere.
He turned his head to find the shrine maiden staring at him with a dead-serious expression. "Mr. Shopkeeper! I have officially confirmed that you are a good man! Therefore, I can confidently entrust Yakumo Yukari to you!"
Yukari, who had been mid-chew, froze completely. A second later, she slammed her hand against the table, her elegant facade shattering. "Reimu! You little brat! What do you mean you're entrusting me to him?!"
"Think about it!" Reimu argued pragmatically. "You sleep all day anyway, and you can just eat here at the shopkeeper's place every night. If you move in with him, Gensokyo will have way fewer problems. Isn't that a perfect solution?"
Yukari gritted her teeth, her violet eyes narrowing dangerously. "You just want me to pay for my own meals from now on, don't you?!"
Reimu's expression instantly did a complete one-eighty. She turned back to Ren, her tone entirely different. "Mr. Shopkeeper! Even though you are a good man, I absolutely refuse to hand Yakumo Yukari over to you!"
Watching the shrine maiden's face change faster than flipping the page of a book, Ren—who hadn't uttered a single word during this entire exchange—simply tilted his head, regarding the two of them with dry, silent amusement.
Yukari immediately snapped at Reimu. "Who gave you the right to decide who owns me in the first place?!"
"Oh? So you do want to be with Mr. Shopkeeper!"
"I do not! Just drink your wine!"
"Fine, I'll drink! When it comes to holding my liquor, I bow to no one! I am the greatest—wait... Hmm... Huh?!" Reimu paused mid-boast, her nose twitching. "This wine smells incredible!"
Yukari huffed, adjusting her posture to regain her lost elegance. "Just drink it and be quiet. My personal goal is to sample every single wine suitable for ladies in the shopkeeper's establishment."
Reimu blinked, her curiosity piqued. "What about the ones meant for gentlemen?"
Yukari paused. The thought hadn't occurred to her. She turned her gaze toward Ren, her voice raising slightly. "Mr. Shopkeeper? What exactly are the gentlemen's wines like?"
Ren thought about it for a moment. He stepped back into the kitchen and returned a moment later carrying a small glass of crystal-clear liquor, the top covered by a small piece of cardboard.
Yukari and Reimu leaned in closely. The moment Ren lifted the cardboard cover, Reimu immediately wrinkled her nose, her brow furrowing. "Whoa! That is a seriously strong smell of alcohol!"
Yukari nodded in agreement, though her curiosity won out. She leaned a fraction closer, her voice softening. "Mr. Shopkeeper... could I perhaps have a little taste? Just a tiny sip."
Ren nodded permission. Under Reimu's wide, disbelieving gaze, Yukari delicately picked up the glass and took a small sip. Almost instantly, her elegant features scrunched up. She set the glass down with a sharp clink. "It's far too spicy! And incredibly bitter!"
Ren smiled faintly, shaking his head. "That's because this is a medicinal tonic wine, specifically brewed for strengthening the body. You definitely wouldn't be used to drinking it neat. It contains a heavy concentration of medicinal herbs. It's not suitable for cooking, nor is it used for removing fishy smells or other odors in food. You should know, just this one small glass is exceptionally expensive."
As he spoke, under Yukari's lingering, wide-eyed gaze, Ren picked up the very same glass. Tilting his head back, he poured the remaining clear liquor directly into his mouth in one smooth motion. Even though his lips never actually touched the rim of the glass she had just used, the sheer proximity and the casual intimacy of the gesture caused a sudden, furious flush to spread across Yukari's cheeks.
Reimu, completely oblivious to the sudden spike in tension, clapped her hands in surprise. "Oh! Mr. Shopkeeper has an amazing tolerance for alcohol!"
Ren simply lowered the glass, his expression as calm and understated as ever. "It's nothing special. Please, enjoy the rest of your meal."
[Akarin's Note: Fenzheng Rou (Steamed Pork with Rice Flour) is a traditional Chinese dish originating from Southern China. The pork is coated in a mixture of toasted rice flour and spices, then steamed until it achieves a melt-in-the-mouth texture.]
[Akarin's Note: Lotus leaf buns (He Ye Bing) are soft, folded steamed buns often served with rich meats like Peking duck or braised pork. They act like a soft taco shell to balance the heavy, savory flavors of the meat.]
[Akarin's Note: In the Touhou Project universe, an "Incident" refers to a major, widespread anomalous event that disrupts the peace of Gensokyo, which Reimu is usually tasked with solving.]
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