Night 69: Leizi, Lotus Pastry
The Late Night Diner is a part of Rhodes Island's canteen. That goes without saying – to whom had anyone ever heard of a diner in the boiler room?
As the name implies, it opens around midnight. There are only a handful of customers at a time.
Operators off their night shift could take an order and bring back to their quarters. Night owls could sit dining-in while leeching off the Diner's wi-fi. The Doctor would come for instant noodles from time to time.
Drinks are in the cooler. Anyone burdened by their own thoughts could take one and chug it down, anytime.
Menu? No such thing exists. What the Chef prepares is what you get. It all depends on his mood of the day.
Welcome to the Rhodes Island Late Night Diner. In here, you might even meet a familiar face or two.
Spotting a celebrity on Rhodes Island was not much of a rare sight. From the president of Karlan Trade to the revered Radiant Knight, one could always see a few familiar faces that appeared on yesterday's news. There were also some whose faces one could swear seeing somewhere important, yet could not recall them from any news media or official accounts. They should not be underestimated however, for the names hidden behind those faces were often shocking.
A string of phone beepings rang out adruptly in the air, disrupting the chatter of nearby diners. The owner of the phone turned off the timer, and peeled open a cup of instant noodle. She stirred the noodle soaked in paltry broth with a plastic fork. Today was a weekday, and coming off a packed workday she did not appear to have the energy to enjoy some delicacy like the others did. A simple cup of instant noodles coupled with the nightly news would be her sustenance for both body and mind, filling her stomach while helping her finishing up the last bit of work before bedtime.
"A cup of six Lungmen dollar instant noodle. Hmm, it doesn't quite suits your status, madam Censor of the Supervisory Department of Great Yan."
A plate was placed before Leizi, and in it was a pan-fried egg. Sunny-side up.
Leizi raised her head and met her gaze with the Chef. With a kind smile on his face, the Chef said. "Getting off work rather late, and still need to checking the major news event of the day. You worked rather too hard, madam Censor."
"It's my duty and my responsibility. Ought to be like this." Leizi took out her meal card. "I'll pay for the egg."
"Had Madam Censor always been this polite, hmm? Others may think you being aloof." The Chef said, yet still took the meal card. He did not want to argue with a censor of the Yan's Supervisory Department, especially when she had the reputation of treating business seriously. "Operators always say that you are hard to work with, and carries...ulterior motives"
Leizi shook her head. "I came to Rhodes Island on my own volition. It's only natural for others to be suspicious. On matters of dealing with others my master had taught me many ways, and I don't think I treated anyone wrong."
"Even as you said, madam Censor, you still looked rather distant during the day." The Chef said with a smirk. "But of course, you can retaini your own judgement on this matter. Please enjoy the egg, I will be back shortly."
Not long after the Chef returned with the card. Along with it was a small blue and white porcelain saucer. In the saucer was a lotus pastry. Thin, layered pink shell was cut into six petals, and in the middle was many light yellow pastry layers – like a beautiful lotus flower blossom, lovely and delicate.
As the pastry was presented on the table, the fragrant of oil and lotus seed started to permeating in the air. Leizi turned to look at the Chef for an explaination. The Chef in turn said. "I can't just charge you for an egg, so...I made a decision on my own and made you some dessert. There is a saying in Yan about the lotus flower – 'out of the mud yet untainted, basked in dew yet remained pure' – a fitting discription too for madam Censor."
"Your Yanese was better than I thought." Leizi said, picking up the lotus pastry and studied it carefully. The round bottom was covered in white sesame, and through the paper-thin layers she could almost see the light brown core. "Can you tell me how you made it?" She asked.
"Madam Censor was from Yan, you certainly know more about Yan dessert than me." The Chef pointed to the pastry in Leizi's palm. "I used lard to form the inner dough. Then regular dough skin was used to wrap around it, leaving it to loosen. Afterwards I folded it three times then set it down for awhile again. Repeat the process three times and the pastry skin would be made. The color on the skin was from beat and carrot juice. And the core was made from lotus seed paste with the yoke of a salted egg and carved into the shape of the blossom. The shell is then wrapped around the core, cut into six petals and dipped in white sesame. Finally put into a wok and fry and you have it."
A jolt of golden lightening arced across the tip of Leizi's finger, and a thin layer of the pastry was shaken loose. It lightly fell onto her palm. She sent it into her mouth, and the layer quickly melted into a rich smear on her tongue. Then she took the whole pastry and took a small bite.
The crispy skin made a pleasant crunching sound. Smooth lotus seed paste mingled with flaky salted egg yoke, the flavour danced at the tip of her tongue, leaving hebind the refreshing, lightly sweet flavour of lotus seed. It made her want for more.
"It does taste like the pastry I had when I was young. I never thought you are so familiar with Yan dessert, mister Chef." Leizi smiled at the Chef. "Although in matters of treating things and rendering judgement I still have much to learn. You are too kind to compliment me."
"Madam Censor, whether one is rightous or corrupt, they would know themselves well by heart." The Chef smiled back. "With the Lei Fa you wield, only by investigating the unjust and the unsolved, this world would be a better place. I still have other business to attend to, so please excuse me. Enjoy this lotus pastry."
Leizi stared at the lotus pastry with one conern missing – its blossom delicate and petals beautiful. Its golden core was just as bright as the arcs of lightening that danced inbetween her fingers.