Chapter 56 056 Spicy and Numbing Seafood Stew, Abalone and Oxtail in Clay Pot [...]

Qu's mother said she would deliver the ingredients in the morning. Wen Fan thought that "morning" meant around 10 o'clock, but unexpectedly, just after 8 o'clock in the morning, Wen's mother received a call.

On the other end of the phone was the owner of a seafood store that specializes in delivery, who loudly asked why no one was in the store.

"Hurry up and come to pick up the goods. These are all fresh goods, and we're rushing them over."

When the family rushed to the store, the seafood shop owner carefully lifted the styrofoam box and let Mr. Wen check the freshness of the ingredients.

"They were all installed last night."

Seven or eight kinds of seafood, neatly packaged according to their respective preservation methods, were shipped from a coastal city in a neighboring province, a direct six-hour journey via expressway. Upon opening the box, the shrimp were still jumping, clearly very fresh.

Wen Fan emerged from behind his father and eagerly picked up a sea urchin with long black spines to examine it.

The seafood restaurant owner was still boasting, "I'm not kidding, but in the whole city, I'm the only one who can take your order!"

The person ordering the seafood had very complicated requirements. They wanted both high quality and freshness, and they didn't even like the seafood in the shop. In the end, they spent a lot of money, only asking that the time from when the seafood was caught to when it was cooked should not exceed 24 hours.

While the seafood restaurant owner was internally complaining about the rich people's bad habits, he was still obediently charging exorbitant service fees.

But the food was indeed excellent; the seafood shop owner patted his chest proudly.

"If you ever need anything in the future, just look for me at Dahai Cow Seafood Stall! My name is Zhang Hai Cow!"

As Zhang Hainiu spoke, he handed over a business card, but to his surprise, the little girl in the family accepted it.

Wen Fan's fingers were slender and white. He held the business card between his fingers with great interest and suddenly asked a question that surprised Zhang Hainiu.

"Uncle, how much do the seafood restaurants you supply charge?"

Zhang Hainiu was taken aback for a moment, but assumed it was just because the girl was talkative. He also had a child in middle school, so he became more patient.

"Oh, that's hard to say. Some street food stalls will charge you 50 or 60 yuan for a dish if you bring your own food. For something cheaper, like stir-fried shrimp, you can get it for 20 or 30 yuan. But bigger restaurants have their own suppliers and don't usually accept your food. In those kinds of places, a stir-fried crab will cost you over 100 yuan. They'll probably make at least half the profit."

"And then there are the even more upscale ones, like Jin Yu Lou..."

Zhang Hainiu laughed twice: "Which seafood dish doesn't start at several hundred? At this point, let's not talk about costs; their skills speak for themselves."

Wen Fan's eyes showed a rare interest. She had heard about Jin Yu Lou's reputation at least five times, and she would definitely try it if she had the chance.

After unloading the goods, Zhang Hainiu left with a "See you later" and left. Wen's father carried the things into the store, feeling somewhat at a loss.

With so much seafood, he had hardly ever even seen it before, let alone eaten it, and he didn't know how to handle it.

"Xiao Fan, what are you planning to do?"

Wen Fan woke up early this morning, stretched, and showed no signs of his parents' anxiety.

"Mom and Dad, I'm going to try out the dishes in a bit, so you two should eat on an empty stomach today."

She already had a general idea in mind. She had stayed up all night last night, not to do homework, but to research ingredients she had never seen before online.

After researching the basic cooking techniques of his peers and reading customer reviews, Wen Fan had a general idea of ​​what to do, but the specific dishes would definitely require experimentation and refinement.

One day...

He was definitely nervous, but Wen Fan was in a good mood.

This good mood reached its peak when I saw that each ingredient was prepared in quantities for ten people.

It seems that the mother has already factored in the losses.

Since that was the case, Wen Fan didn't hold back. While she was busy in the kitchen, she suddenly slapped her forehead.

"Mom, when you collect the money, remember to mention that this is an exception. From now on, if customers bring their own ingredients, the processing fee will be calculated separately."

As Zhang Hainiu said, those who bring their own ingredients have processing fees, and those with good skills are even more expensive!

Wen Fan: "For orders like this in the future, the processing fee... will be increased by one hundred per person!"

Wen's mother was amused by her daughter's calculating expression: "You, you..."

I knew she wasn't just asking Zhang Hainiu offhand; she actually felt like she was getting the short end of the stick.

Wen Fan snorted, "It's already very cheap, isn't it..."

She used to be able to easily grab a bushel of pearls!

...

Wen Fan occupied half of the kitchen. Wen's father asked Wen's mother to turn off the food delivery platform and stop making claypot rice for the time being. They would turn it on again in the evening after they finished these tasks.

Wen's mother agreed and hung up a sign in front of the counter that read "Claypot Rice Sold Out".

A short while later, Mr. Wen also came out of the kitchen.

Wen's mother asked him in a low voice, "What? Don't you want to see how Xiao Fan did it?"

She thought her husband had stopped making claypot rice so he could help their daughter or see her cook.

Father Wen gave a wry smile: "Alright, the important thing is not to bother Xiao Fan."

Wen's mother asked cautiously, "Don't you understand?"

"No, not really..."

I just feel that my daughter is different from usual today.

In the past, the daughter was confident and skilled at cooking, and she could easily save her husband from any minor mistake he made. She seemed to have everything under control.

But today, Wen Fan moved with lightning speed, like a blade drawn from its sheath. She was completely absorbed in her own world, chopping and stir-frying, only smelling the food after each dish, and adding more ingredients or taking further action if she felt something was wrong. All the pots and pans were working, and the entire countertop was her battlefield.

Mr. Wen was not only unable to help, he even felt that standing in the kitchen was just causing trouble for his daughter.

The couple looked at each other in bewilderment until Yao Qingqin came to work.

Yao Qingqin was startled when she entered the store. The store was open, but the Wen couple were sitting there, not even using their phones.

"What's wrong, boss or boss's wife?"

Father Wen waved his hand: "It's nothing."

Wen's mother: "Perfect timing, Xiao Yao is here, let's have some skewers, just prepare less today."

Father Wen: "Then I'll join you guys for some skewers too..."

Suddenly, Wen Fan's voice came from inside.

"dad--"

Mr. Wen quickly responded and went into the kitchen.

Yao Qingqin clicked her tongue and asked, "Boss lady, what is the young boss doing?"

Before Wen's mother could reply, Wen's father jumped out as if his butt was on fire.

"Xiao Fan asked me to buy something, I'm leaving now!"

Wen Fan gave his father a list of items to buy. Wen's father rushed to the market and realized how much it benefited to have a car. He bought everything in half an hour.

With all the ingredients delivered to the kitchen, Wen Fan's movements became even smoother.

As Wen Fan's movements became increasingly smooth, the fragrance, like a cannonball, emanated from Wen Ji's core, casting a fragrant ripple around him.

Worried, Qu's mother entered the shop and was overwhelmed by the aroma.

"...What is Xiao Fan doing?"

Wen's mother turned her head. Although she was already used to the aroma of the restaurant, she was still shocked by her daughter's new dish. Her face showed the same bewilderment as Qu's mother.

"We're doing a food tasting."

Qu's mother wanted to ask more questions, but her body language betrayed her; she silently sat down and waited to taste the food.

...

On this day, the neighbors on the street were really unlucky. In the past, the aroma of Wenji's food would only waft for a while and then disappear after mealtime. But today, it had been going on non-stop since morning!

"What's Old Wen doing? Why does it smell so good!"

"I don't know, maybe it's a new dish?"

"...This smells amazing."

Silently calculating the shop's income and expenses, he wondered if he was more than one neighbor who would be going out for dinner that night.

Many people came to peek and ask questions, only to be dismissed by Wen's mother with a simple "I don't know either."

As dusk settled and the people around were about to lose their patience, a slightly worn BMW appeared on the street and quickly stopped in front of the pharmacy.

Kong Zhenhua jogged off the bus and reached for the door handle before the person in the back seat could open it.

A lean, short middle-aged man got out of the car, followed by a tall assistant. The middle-aged man said in Mandarin with a Cantonese accent, "Zhenhua, don't be so polite. We came here today at your invitation to try your food. We should be thanking you. You're not going to spend money on us."

Kong Zhenhua was short and stout, more than twice the size of the other man. He had a big smile on his face and his eyes were narrowed.

"Not at all, Manager Chen, it's an honor to have you here. It's just that the place isn't as nice as a big hotel, I'm afraid it will be inconvenient for you."

Chen Jiahe laughed heartily: "Even deep in the mountains and forests there are delicious foods. This time it's only a few dozen kilometers, which is very close."

He patted Kong Zhenhua on the shoulder warmly, without a trace of disgust on his face, and pointed to the Wenji signboard: "Is this the one?"

"Yes, yes, please wait a moment, I'll go find you a cleaner spot."

Chen Jiahe stopped Kong Zhenhua: "Hey, no need, this place is fine."

He stared at the empty seats outside, next to which was a folding table. It seemed that because there weren't many people, the folding table wasn't unfolded.

Chen Jiahe pretended to stretch out the folding table, but Kong Zhenhua dared not let him, and squeezed his fat body to snatch the table away.

After setting up the folding table and wiping the small stools twice with wet wipes, Kong Zhenhua politely invited the guests to sit down.

"Assistant Zeng, please have a seat."

A hint of disdain flashed in the tall assistant's eyes, but seeing that his boss had already sat down, he reluctantly sat on the small stool.

After sitting down, Chen Jiahe looked around with a smile and said in a gentle voice, "Zhenhua, are we having braised food today?"

The aroma of braised dishes was particularly strong, and almost every table had a plate of braised dishes, either vegetarian or various braised duck feet and chicken legs.

Chen Jiahe sighed inwardly. The braised food was good, but it was really disappointing that Kong Zhenhua had brought him here from a neighboring city dozens of kilometers away just for the braised food.

Fortunately, Kong Zhenhua shook his head vigorously upon hearing this, speaking rapidly and in rapid succession: "This restaurant mainly serves braised dishes and claypot rice, but we also take some private orders. We only serve on weekends. Don't worry, all the seafood is freshly bought today, so you'll definitely find it worth your trip!"

Chen Jiahe chuckled briefly: "Then I'll wait to taste it."

Kong Zhenhua quickly got up to go find his wife's sister.

As soon as he left, Assistant Zeng frowned and said, "Boss, this place is really terrible."

The street was dilapidated, and there was a school across the street. The seating consisted of only simple folding tables and chairs. How could this be considered a proper restaurant?

Chen Jiahe took out a wet wipe and wiped the tabletop little by little, but a stain on it just wouldn't come off no matter how he wiped it. Assistant Zeng sensibly took the wet wipe from him.

Chen Jiahe sighed: "Then what should we do? Leave now? That would be too inappropriate."

It was also due to his momentary craving for food. He had been on a business trip to the mainland for several months, but he couldn't find a restaurant that suited his taste. In desperation, he decided to try his luck here, which is why Kong Zhenhua brought him here.

He had originally imagined it would be one of those farmhouses hidden deep in the mountains, where even if he didn't get the best food, at least he could have something fresh. But now he was here…

Assistant Zeng wiped the mark until sweat beaded on his forehead: "This Mr. Kong is so incompetent."

Chen Jiahe waved his hand: "They're just catering to my preferences, so it's not wrong."

If he were to come himself, he would seize the last opportunity.

Even making a mistake is better than doing nothing.

Assistant Zeng: "Boss, I really don't understand. If you eat a dish you like today, would you really give him the order?"

Is it worth it for a meal?

Chen Jiahe laughed: "Yes, I do."

"That's too hasty..."

Chen Jiahe interrupted his assistant: "Anderson, when we make a judgment, it's best not to tell others the reasons. Let them think that they got the opportunity because of a meal. What does it matter?"

Assistant Zeng had a gut feeling that the boss was teaching him something, so he lowered his head to think.

"Furthermore, if there really is something here that can tempt me..."

Chen Jiahe smiled and said, "I will offer everything."

The conversation between the two was interrupted by Kong Zhenhua's voice. Kong Zhenhua, who was carrying a tray with two plates on it, was quite obese, but the aroma of the plates on the tray was enticing even from a distance.

Chen Jiahe was stunned, and then he saw Kong Zhenhua bending over in an extremely undignified posture, his white shirt slipping out of his tight belt, revealing a patch of white flesh on his lower back.

Kong Zhenhua, unaware of what was happening, loudly announced the names of the dishes.

"Spicy and Numbing Seafood Stew!"

"Abalone and oxtail stew in a clay pot!"

One is a large white plate, devoid of any superfluous decorations, garnished with braised dishes in red oil and Sichuan peppercorns. The other is a steaming clay pot, as if it had just come off the fire a moment ago; you can even hear the sizzling sound if you get close.

A large platter of spicy and numbing braised seafood was served. Unlike other restaurants that only serve a fistful of cold braised seafood, Wen Fan generously provided enough for three people. In the center of the porcelain white plate, the red chilies and green Sichuan peppercorns stood out, with scallops as the centerpiece. Besides the scallops, three sea cucumbers were also prominently displayed, garnished with black wood ear mushrooms. Visually, this dish wasn't as striking as the hot dishes next to it. However, the moment the plate was placed on the plate, the fragrant and spicy aroma instantly made one's mouth water.

In the other casserole, dark brown oxtail segments and abalone were piled together, coated with a fragrant sauce. The sauce flowed slowly as it was placed in the casserole, clinging to the plate without spilling. Bathed in the light from the doorway, it seemed to cast a soft glow on all the ingredients in the casserole. In this soft light, the tendons between the oxtail joints were clearly visible. The tailbone and meat, stewed to the point of almost falling apart, were held together by the tendons, soft and sticky. The abalone was scored, its crevices filled with sauce. The steam mingled with the rich aroma of abalone sauce, instantly silencing Chen Jiahe, who had been chatting idly just moments before.

Chen Jiahe twitched his nose and looked at Kong Zhenhua incredulously.

Kong Zhenhua grinned foolishly, completely oblivious to Chen Jiahe's meaning. He had been carrying the plate all the way, his nostrils filled with the rich aroma of oxtail and abalone sauce, and he was already drooling with envy.

"Manager Chen, eat up!"

"Assistant Zeng, you should eat too!"

As if sensing that the two were hesitant, Kong Zhenhua placed the chopsticks in their hands, his enthusiasm leaving no room for refusal.

Chen Jiahe thought to himself that he wouldn't be able to wait for Kong Zhenhua to introduce him, so he might as well eat first and then find the head chef.

Chen Jiahe picked up a piece of food and put it in his mouth, the spicy and savory flavor filling his nostrils.

The chopsticks fell under the table with a "thud".

Kong Zhenhua quickly put down the piece of oxtail he hadn't even eaten yet: "I'll do it, I'll do it!"

He was bent over, his fat body bulging out more and more of his flesh, and he was almost lying under the table when he realized he couldn't find his chopsticks.

Fearing that Chen Jiahe would get impatient, Kong Zhenhua crawled up from under the table.

"Manager Chen, I'll go find you a new pair of chopsticks..."

Kong Zhenhua stared in disbelief at the two people opposite him.

Chen Jiahe and his assistant Zeng's eyes were red from eating, truly as if they were "eating themselves to death." Chen Jiahe, in particular, even used his hands, sucking on the oxtail bone with one hand and holding half a sea cucumber on his chopsticks in the other.

Assistant Zeng was equally enthusiastic, eating one spicy braised dish after another, even as sweat poured down his forehead from the spiciness.

Kong Zhenhua touched his nose. Well, he might as well eat some too. If he didn't eat now, he wouldn't be able to get any of the three sea cucumbers later.

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Author's Note: Sorry, I was really stuck on this chapter, so it's over an hour late. That's all for now. I'll adjust my schedule and update again today. Also, the update frequency has been adjusted; it will be nine days a week instead of six. Thank you for your support.