章 10: Leftover food
In the kitchen, I'm wondering what can I cook for her. There are not many ingredients left by the previous owner in the kitchen. Although there are many spices still available, not much staple food can be cooked here. The previous owner has a wide knowledge of dishes from many countries that even I never heard the name before. I use his memory to create something nice to eat with those leftovers.
I look at leftover that I put together in the table. There are some cooked brown rice, egg, butter, milk and dried plum. I rack my brains to create something delicious from this leftover. Finally, I have something in my mind since it's already past the dinner time, the body will enter the cycle of rest and rejuvenate during sleep. Eating something heavy only bring burden to the body, so I will make something light that can quickly be digested by the body.
From the spices self, I took a dash of cinnamon, one tablespoon honey, and a quarter teaspoon vanilla extract.
The first thing to do in cooking those leftovers is, take one cup of cooked brown rice, one cup milk, two tablespoons dried plum, one egg, and one tablespoon butter. Then I start to cook by combine the cooked brown rice, milk, dried plum, cinnamon, and honey in a small saucepan. Bring them to a boil, and then reduce heat to low fire and simmer for 20 minutes.
After that, I beat the egg in a small bowl. Then temper the egg by whisking in some of the hot rice, a tablespoon at a time until I have incorporated about 6 tablespoons. I stir the egg into the rice along with the vanilla and butter and continue cooking over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken.
After that's all done, the dish called Brown Rice Porridge is finished.
Ming Er gets down from the upstairs just when I just finishing my dish. It seems she spend some time to take a bath before she gets down. Her wet hair that not completely dried using towel dangled over her shoulder give a fresh air. She also has changed her dress into a clean one. She looks a lot better than the first time she enters the restaurant.
I smile when see her entering the kitchen and sit on the counter. She also smiles shyly when look me smile at her.
"Miss Li, you look a lot better than when you first time enter this restaurant"
"Thank you Mister You, and please call me Ming Er, you don't have to polite with me, after all, I'm just a freeloader in here"
"Okay…Ming Er, you also don't have to call me to mister You. You can call me You Ben or Ben Ben, and please don't think you're freeloader here. I glad I can help someone that needs help"
"Ben ben…mmm, why I feel secure and comfortable when said that?"
"You think so, Ming Er?"
"Um. It's like a feeling that I meet someone that I already know for so long. Did we ever meet before Ben Ben?"
"I don't think so. It's the first time I meet you. By the way, here's the food. Sorry, it's only leftover porridge. I don't have much material left in this restaurant"
I handed her a bowl of Brown Rice Porridge. She accepts it and takes a scoop.
"Ben Ben… Your cooking is delicious. Even with only leftover, this porridge taste great"
I'm stunned hearing what she said. My memory goes back at night before the day I died, when I'm preparing the broth in the kitchen and my wife looking at me. Without I noticed, tears start flowing from my eyes.
"Ben Ben….why are you crying? Am I said something wrong?"
Ming Er looks at me with concern expression. I hurriedly wiped the tears from my face.
"No, you said nothing wrong. It just….it's been a very long time when someone dear to me said something like that"
"Is that your wife?"
"Um. It's my wife who said that"
"Where is she now?"
"I don't know, she left me and never come back"
"Ah, you're such a loving and caring person, why she left you? She should happy have a husband like you"
"Maybe she doesn't want to stay at the side of a broken man like me"
"But, aren't you also once being a successful chef? Up and down is a common thing in this world. Today maybe you're a broken man, but tomorrow you could be a successful man again"
"Do you think so?"
"I believe that. Most people who face a problem like Ben ben already turn into drunkard or even do suicide because they don't believe they can rise again. But Ben Ben is different, I can feel your spirit in your cooking"
"Thank you Ming Er"
"No, it's should me who should thank you, Ben Ben. You already give me shelter now you give me food, a delicious one. I do not lie, the sweetness from milk and honey combined with sour flavor from the plum, it's awesome…..um, do you still have more?"
She shows me her empty bowl with a shy smile. I laugh with her request and give her the remained porridge in the pan.
"Sure, you can have it. You should eat more because there's another life in your belly"
Her face is blushing while rubbing her belly. Ah, I just remember, Ming Er also rub her belly while she waiting for my return from Palace Kitchen
"You also should have enough rest and have a calm mind. You have walked around all days looking for a job right?"
She nodded as yes answer.
"Alright, after finish your bowl, you should go upstairs and rest. Leave this all to me"
After emptying her bowl, Ming Er does as I say. She goes upstairs and takes a rest. I lock the restaurant door and close the curtains. After washing all the bowls and cooking equipment, I also go upstairs to sleep.
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