Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   1      tablespoon    salted preserved black beans
   2                    garlic cloves -- minced
   2      slices        ginger -- (quarter-sized),
                        -- minced
     1/2  pound         flank steak
   1      small         onion -- sliced
   1      pound         asparagus -- cut into 1/2-in
                        -- thick diagonal pieces
   3      tablespoons   peanut oil
     1/2  teaspoon      salt
   1      tablespoon    dark soy sauce
     1/2  cup           chicken stock
   2      teaspoons     cornstarch -- mixed with
   1      tablespoon    water
     1/2  teaspoon      sugar
     1/2  tablespoon    oyster sauce
   1      dash          sesame oil
                        hot steamed rice
                        -----beef marinade-----
     1/2  teaspoon      sugar
   1      tablespoon    rice wine or dry sherry
     1/2  tablespoon    soy sauce
   1      teaspoon      cornstarch
     1/2  teaspoon      sesame oil

Preparation:

COVER THE BLACK BEANS with warm water for 5 minutes. Drain. Rinse thoroughly to remove salt. Put into a bowl with the garlic and ginger; mash into a paste and set aside. Slice the beef against the grain into 1/4-inch thick slices; toss with the beef marinade. Set aside for 10 minutes. Preheat a wok until hot. Add 2 tablespoons of the oil. Over high heat, add beef and stir-fry for a minute or until seared; remove and set aside. While wok is hot, add remaining oil, salt and reserved black-bean paste; stir-fry until fragrant, a few seconds. Toss in the onions, stir-fry for 10 seconds, then add the asparagus in 2-or-3 batches, seconds apart, making certain the wok is hot before adding the next batch. Toss and stir until asparagus are coated with the oil. Sprinkle with soy sauce, toss together, then pour in the stock and bring to a boil. If the asparagus needs more cooking, cover for a minute. Meanwhile, stir the cornstarch, water, sugar and oyster sauce into a smooth paste. When the asparagus is tender but still crisp, add the cornstarch liquid into the center of the wok. Immediately stir until thickened, about 10 seconds. Return the beef, add a dash of sesame oil; toss to mix. Serve hot over rice.