Just like how:
A wife cake has no wife.
Fish-flavored shredded pork contains no fish.
Socks milk tea has no socks.
And a wallet often has no money…
Buddha Jumps Over the Wall has no Buddha.
Yet, the most outstanding feature of this dish is its aroma.
Its captivating scent comes from a complex blend of 18 main ingredients—such as lamb elbow, pig stomach, trotters, tendon, abalone, fish maw, sea cucumber, and dried scallops—combined with 12 auxiliary ingredients, including wolfberry, longan, shiitake mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and razor clams.
To put it bluntly, this grand dish is one of the rarest treasures in all of Chinese cuisine!
A Tempting Aroma
"Master Zane… Are you making Buddha Jumps Over the Wall?"
Tsuchihana Sonoka, who had just stepped into the tavern, stared in astonishment at the earthenware jar sitting on the dining table.
The rich, intoxicating aroma wrapped around her like an invisible force, igniting her appetite. Without realizing it, she gulped.
"Hmm?"
"Sonoka? Your sense of smell is quite something."
Seeing her mouthwatering expression, Zane chuckled and said,
"Since you're here, why not eat with me?"
"Eh? I can?"
Sonoka was taken aback.
She had planned to shamelessly beg for a taste, but before she could even open her mouth, Zane had already offered. His generosity touched her more than she expected.
"Of course. This jar of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is enough for four or five people. Even if we eat together, there's no way we'll finish it all."
Hearing this, Zane handed her a pair of chopsticks.
Despite her usual reserved nature, Sonoka didn't hesitate this time. She accepted the chopsticks and took a seat beside him. Her eyes gleamed as she gazed at the simmering dark broth, watching the steam rise.
Under Zane's expectant gaze, she eagerly took her first bite.
A Taste of Perfection
The moment it entered her mouth—
A tender, umami explosion coated her taste buds!
The flavors of succulent meats, fragrant wine, fresh seafood, and rich broth blended in perfect harmony, sending waves of warmth through her body.
It was as if each ingredient told its own story, yet none overpowered the others. The balance was flawless.
With just a few bites, Sonoka felt light-headed and intoxicated, as if she had sipped on a fine aged wine.
She had tasted Buddha Jumps Over the Wall before, but this—this was on an entirely different level!
"Amazing…!" she murmured breathlessly.
Even among the Eight Major Chinese Cuisines, Min cuisine isn't the most widely known.
Many people could list numerous Cantonese dishes—like Steamed Chicken, Double-Boiled Soup, Crispy Roast Goose, Braised Pigeon, and Honey BBQ Pork—but when it came to Min cuisine, most could only name Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.
Yet, Zane's version of this dish wasn't just authentic—it was perfection.
Sonoka examined the luxurious ingredients in the bowl:
Dried abalone, dried sea cucumber, dried fish maw, dried tendon, shiitake mushrooms, pigskin, quail eggs…
Each ingredient was a treasure in itself.
The sheer extravagance of this dish was on par with the finest French haute cuisine.
The Secret Behind the Golden Broth
"Mmm~ This is incredible!"
Sonoka savored another mouthful and analyzed the flavors.
"So many ingredients… and not a single one is cheap."
"But somehow, despite their variety, the flavors don't clash or overwhelm each other."
"Instead, they merge seamlessly into one unified savory richness!"
She licked a drop of broth from the corner of her lips, still craving more.
As a chef, she had always been curious about the golden hue of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.
She once assumed the color came from chicken broth, but that didn't explain the deep, luminous yellow.
"Boss," she finally asked.
"This broth… it's not made with chicken stock, is it?"
Zane smirked.
"No, chicken broth wouldn't work for this dish."
"Then how…?"
"Curious, aren't you?" Zane teased.
"The secret is Shaoxing Huadiao wine—a specialty of Tianchao."
"Huadiao wine?"
"This wine is made from high-quality glutinous rice, traditional yeast, and crystal-clear lake water. It's aged to develop a deep, mellow aroma."
"During cooking, it's gently heated to reduce the alcohol content, allowing only the rich, fragrant essence to remain."
Sonoka's eyes lit up in realization.
"Ah! That explains it!"
The alluring fragrance, the depth of flavor, the golden hue—
It all came from this aged rice wine!
The Two Misses of the Nakiri Family
The night sky stretched vast and deep, sprinkled with stars that twinkled like mischievous children peeking down at the world.
"Eri, can you stop being so impatient?"
"But, Alice! I really want to meet this mysterious tavern owner!"
"This place doesn't open until 7 PM. Rushing won't change that—"
"Wait!" Alice suddenly exclaimed.
"Look! The tavern's door is already open… and the lights are still on!"
"Huh?"
Erina blinked in surprise.
"Could it be… they opened early today?"
At this moment, the two Nakiri heiresses—Erina and Alice—stood before the entrance of Zane's tavern, their curiosity burning stronger than ever.