Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 531 The Best Kitchen Knife of the Dynasty

Shen Yu once heard Lu Lang say that the best kitchen knife in the current dynasty was the one that was tributed by the Gulan Kingdom.

The steel there is purer, the smelting technology is very advanced, and the knives they make are sharp and durable.

However, Gulan is located in a remote area, and the production of these good knives is not high.

After being carefully made, they were sent back to their country as tribute.

It is absolutely not circulated in the market and cannot be bought even if you have silver.

When Shen Yu heard this, he felt deeply moved and envious.

But it was just a thought, I never expected that I could have such a knife.

Unexpectedly, today the emperor rewarded her with a complete set of knives.

A complete set!

Shen Yu was so happy that he wanted to jump up and shout "Long live the emperor".

Although she was still kneeling with her head bowed, she was already smiling from ear to ear, singing praises in her heart: "You are worthy of being the emperor. You just casually gave me a whole set of such precious knives."

This time he kowtowed most willingly.

"My daughter Shen Yuzhi thanks the emperor for his reward. Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor."

Shen Yu thanked him in a crisp voice, stood up, and looked at the tray over there expectantly. It seemed that there were knives placed under the gift list on the small tray, waiting for her to try them out.

The Queen Mother looked at Shen Yu, whose lips couldn't help curling up, and couldn't help but smile as well, teasing, "Miss Shen is laughing so happily, let me guess, is it because the Emperor rewarded you with a set of Gulan Country kitchen knives?"

Shen Yu then realized that she was a little too happy, and quickly restrained her smile and said, "Please forgive me, Queen Mother. I was so happy that I lost myself."

"I heard that the kitchen knives of Gulan are the sharpest and most useful. I have always longed for them."

"I've always wondered how to use this knife. I'd be happy if I had one."

"I didn't expect that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager would give me a whole set. I'm really happy. I just hope I can get it now and try out the new knife in the kitchen."

The Queen Mother listened and nodded happily: "Okay, okay, then you don't have to wait here, go to the kitchen now."

"I'm looking forward to you making me some fresh food at noon."

"I'll have someone send this set of kitchen knives to your small kitchen, and the other rewards to the Misty Rain Pavilion where you live now."

Shen Yu happily bowed and thanked him, then bowed and walked out.

The emperor also felt that this Miss Shen was indeed special. She was not as dignified and proud as other girls from aristocratic families, nor was she as frightened as ordinary girls who could only kneel and kowtow when they saw an important person.

Although she is not very beautiful, she is lively and smart. She will express her love for something, which makes the person who gives her a gift feel that the gift touches her heart and she can't help but laugh.

Shen Yu walked briskly towards the small kitchen.

Once we got to the small kitchen, we saw four cooks gathered around the table looking at something.

When they saw Shen Yu coming in, they all said enviously: "Miss Shen is so lucky. Only Liu Yidao, the chef king of the imperial kitchen, has this set of Gulan country's kitchen knives. No one else has it."

Shen Yu was also very happy. Although it was nice that the emperor rewarded her with gold and silver, she was always dissatisfied with the knives she used after coming to this era.

I always feel that the knives are not as convenient to use as the ones I used in modern times.

Although the kitchen knife that Lu Lang gave her was good, it was still incomparable to the one that her master had given her before.

She always felt regretful every time she thought of it, so she was so looking forward to the kitchen knife that the emperor gave her.

Everyone urged, "Miss Shen, please try this set of knives and see if it works. We have been watching for a while, but you didn't come and we didn't dare to move."

Shen Yu saw a flat wooden box that had been opened on the table.

Both sides of the box were covered with leather and had kitchen knives neatly inserted inside.

After careful counting, there are sixteen kitchen knives in total.

The handle is made of smooth, beautifully textured rosewood, while the blade is hidden in the leather sheath.

In addition, this box is also equipped with a knife cloth, whetstone and other items, all of which are also placed in a fixed cover.

Once the wooden box is closed, the knives inside are fixed very well and will not bump into each other. You can just pick them up and take them with you. It is a very convenient, practical and space-saving knife box.

Shen Yu estimated the size and pulled out a commonly used kitchen knife.

The knife was very thin and not too heavy. When it was taken out, it flashed with a cold light, causing the four chefs to cheer in unison: "Good knife."

Although Shen Yu didn't understand what their standards were, he felt that this knife was indeed good.

It is light and fits the hand well, the steel edge is good, the overall lines are smooth, and the knife is very comfortable to hold, as if it was tailor-made for her.

Chef Liu next to him couldn't wait to say, "Miss Shen, cut some ingredients and see."

Shen Yu nodded, and the clever eunuch brought him a peeled large green radish.

Even in the palace, there were no fresh vegetables in winter. The only vegetables Shen Yu saw were radishes, cabbages, leeks, garlic sprouts, and coriander that could be grown in the greenhouse.

Shen Yu gestured with his hands, then started cutting.

When she was cutting vegetables, her expression was calm and her posture was relaxed.

Everyone stared at the knife rising and falling quickly, hitting the wooden chopping board under the radish in a rhythmic manner, making it look like it was cutting very lightly.

The sound was so urgent that one could not help but hold their breath for fear of disturbing Shen Yu from cutting vegetables.

Shen Yu finished slicing a large radish in one go.

After cutting, she held the knife in her right hand and gently pressed and stroked the radish with her left hand, and the almost transparent radish slices fell down at an angle.

Shen Yu measured it again, adjusted his posture, and started cutting it into strips.

After a short while, the silvery shreds of radish came out continuously from under the knife, slowly filling up most of the chopping board.

After Shen Yu finished cutting, he scooped up the shredded radish with a knife along the chopping board and put it into the basin of cold water next to him.

With a gentle stroke of the hand, the silver needle-like radish shreds floated and spread out in the water, thin and long, without a single strand of them being cut.

As the water surface rotates, the shredded radish turns into a large snow-white ball, which looks like a silver needle ball frozen by frost and snow, and is very beautiful.

Chef Liu was the first one who couldn't help himself. He reached out and scooped out a piece of shredded radish from the basin, squinting his eyes to look at it carefully against the light.

The shredded radish was so thin, no thicker than a piece of thick cotton thread, that he was so shocked that he was speechless for a long time.

A cook who came over said to himself, "No wonder the emperor gave her a kitchen knife. Her knife skills are not much worse than Liu Yidao's."

At this time, Chef Liu looked at Shen Yu who was standing aside and examining the kitchen knife carefully. He finally said with conviction: "Miss Shen, I am convinced today."

"Based on your knife skills, if you stay in the palace, you will definitely be the next chef king."