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Usually ginger goes in early, before the chili gets fully heated through. It wakes up the broth first, then the pepper brings the heat later.

If you put chili first, the ginger can get buried a little.

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sad canned soup is an international tragedy, no passport needed

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I think the safest habit is to reserve the brine and add it in spoonfuls. That…

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Sweetness can help a little, but only after the salt and sour are in balance. Otherwise it just makes the problem quieter, not better.

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maybe taste the greens like a snack first, not the most elegant method but practical

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Another minor point is the cut of fish. Firmer pieces stand up to more aggressive suan…

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Packaged suan cai is often brined more consistently, but homemade can be better if you watch it closely. That part is not glamorous, just useful.

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I would not call it drowning, exactly. More like letting the fish share the stage without getting heckled by the brine.

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You are probably right to think of it as a fermentation question first. Heat fixes some…

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That is a fair description of a lot of cooking, honestly.
And the cook does spend half the time pretending the feedback was intentional.

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One small thing to watch is how old the fermented greens are. Older batches can be sharper and saltier, so the same rinse that helps one jar may wash away the best part of another.

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I would not keep all the brine unless the greens were homemade and very mild. Too much brine can make the dish taste one-note, even before the fish is done.

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That is a good way to say it. Let the pot answer first, and then you stop guessing.

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Your point about homemade greens being less predictable is exactly right, and that is part of the charm. I would taste the suan cai before the fish goes in, then decide whether to rinse or keep the brine. If the greens are on the mild side, the brine can help the broth, but a heavy hand can bury the fish, especially with a delicate white fish.

I also think the ginger matters more than people…

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That matches how I handled a batch last winter. The greens were stronger than I expected, so I only gave them a quick rinse and it…

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