Creating Chinese Hot & Sour Soup is simple if you follow these steps:

1. Prepare Ingredients: Gather and chop all ingredients before you start cooking to make the process smoother.
2. Heat Broth: In a large pot, bring the chicken or vegetable broth to a boil over medium heat.
3. Add Vegetables: Stir in the sliced mushrooms, tofu, bamboo shoots, and carrots. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
4. Season the Soup: Add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and white pepper. Adjust the seasoning as needed, adding salt to taste.
5. Thicken the Soup: Slowly pour in the cornstarch slurry while stirring continuously. This will thicken the broth to your desired consistency.
6. Add Egg: Reduce the heat to low. Slowly drizzle the beaten egg into the soup while stirring gently to create egg ribbons.
7. Finish with Oil: Stir in the sesame oil for added flavor and aroma.
8. Garnish: Remove from heat and sprinkle chopped green onions on top.
9. Serve Hot: Ladle the soup into bowls and serve immediately. Drizzle with chili oil for extra heat if desired.

These steps will guide you in creating this incredible soup effortlessly.