Chapter 147 Spicy Squid

He muttered a reply in a low voice, "Thank you for your hard work."

Su Xiaonuan glanced at him in the rearview mirror, smiled, and said nothing.

The inkstone, perched on the passenger seat, seemed to understand An Ran's bold words. It lazily meowed and flicked its tail, as if to express disdain, or perhaps to say, "Count me in."

The car drove smoothly toward the municipal hospital.

Su Xiaonuan chose a roadside parking space that was neither too far nor too close to the hospital gate and was near a convenience store.

This area is not a strictly controlled section, parking is regulated, and the roads are easily accessible, so it will not obstruct traffic and will attract the attention of passersby.

After parking the car, Su Xiaonuan began to make preparations in an orderly manner.

Today's main dish is spicy squid, made with top-quality fresh squid provided by the system's store.

She took out an insulated box, opened the lid, and inside were several whole squids that had been cleaned thoroughly but still maintained an amazing level of freshness. Their tentacles were curled up, their bodies had a faint milky white sheen, and they carried the unique fresh scent of the ocean.

"Wow, this squid is so fresh!" An Ran exclaimed as she leaned closer.

"Of course." Su Xiaonuan put on transparent gloves and began to handle the situation.

Her technique was extremely skillful. With one hand, she steadied the squid's body, and with the other hand, she held the knife. With a light twist and a slash of her wrist, she precisely peeled off the thin, speckled outer membrane.

Then, with lightning speed, she scissors cut off the eyes and hard mouth of the head with a few "snip" sounds, neatly segmented the tentacles, and cut fine and even cross-shaped cuts on the inside of the squid's body. Her movements were fluid and graceful, with a strange beauty, as if she were not processing food, but performing a precise carving.

Qin Haochu was initially just watching quietly, but his gaze was gradually drawn in.

He had seen the meticulousness of Michelin-starred restaurant kitchens, but he had never seen anyone handle street food ingredients with such... artistry.

In her hands, the squid seemed to come alive, eventually becoming pieces of semi-finished products waiting to be cooked.

Su Xiaonuan didn't waste the squid innards and scraps she had processed. She carefully divided them into small bowls and set them aside, intending to give them to Yantai as snacks later.

The inkstone seemed to smell the fishy odor. It stood up from its cat bed, stretched, and walked gracefully to the edge of the worktable. Its golden eyes were fixed on the bowl, and it made a soft purring sound in its throat.

Preparations were complete, and it was nearly 11:30 a.m.

The number of people at the hospital entrance has increased significantly, including people getting off work, visiting patients, and passing by looking for food—all sorts of people.

Su Xiaonuan lit the stove fire, placed a specially made thick-bottomed iron plate on it, and poured in a small amount of the secret spice oil provided by the system.

The rising smoke from the hot oil carried a complex spicy aroma, instantly enlivening the air.

"Anran, Mr. Qin, are you hungry? I'll grill a few slightly spicy skewers for you to have something to eat first," Su Xiaonuan asked, turning around as she used tongs to flip the squid tentacles on the grill.

The moment the hot plate touches the squid, a delightful "sizzle" sounds, accompanied by an even richer aroma that explodes forth.

An Ran had eaten a full breakfast, but the aroma seemed to have a hook, directly waking up her cravings.

She nodded vigorously, but said, "Actually, I'm not that hungry... but since Nuannuan made it, I have to support her!"

Qin Haochu initially intended to refuse out of habit, but the aroma was simply too overwhelming. His gaze involuntarily fell on the squid tentacles on the hot plate, which were rapidly curling and turning an enticing golden brown at the edges. The words that were about to come out changed to: "...Alright, thank you for your trouble."

His voice was slightly lower than usual.

Su Xiaonuan smiled and her hands moved even faster.

She neatly arranged the sliced ​​squid flowers and tentacles on the scorching hot iron plate. The high temperature instantly locked in the moisture, and the squid slices quickly curled into beautiful rolls, like blooming flowers.

She picked up a special brush, dipped it in the bright red and tempting spicy sauce, and with a nimble wrist motion, evenly brushed it onto each piece of squid.

When the sauce comes into contact with high temperatures, it immediately releases an even more stimulating and intoxicating spicy and savory aroma, spreading outwards in circles like invisible waves.

At this moment, several young people who were originally in a hurry and planning to have lunch in the hospital cafeteria suddenly stopped in their tracks.

They both sniffed, their faces showing a mixture of intoxication and struggle.

"What's that smell? It smells so good!"

"It smells like... grilled squid? No, this aroma is amazing!"

"Hey guys, are we still going to the cafeteria? I...I can't walk anymore..."

They glanced at each other and saw the same longing in each other's eyes.

My feet were drawn by the aroma and I found myself at Su Xiaonuan's stall.

At first, they just stared longingly at the sizzling squid on the hot plate, coated in sauce and glistening with oil, their Adam's apples bobbing as they swallowed hard.

Seeing this, An Ran immediately switched to "business mode," a warm smile spreading across her face: "How many of you would like some skewers? Freshly made spicy squid, delicious and inexpensive!"

As the aroma continued to waft through the air and Su Xiaonuan's dazzling cooking performance—sprinkling cumin, chili powder, and white sesame seeds with precise and rhythmic movements—one of the young men in a plaid shirt finally couldn't resist and was the first to "surrender": "Boss, give me five skewers! No, ten! To go!"

"Alright! Ten skewers of spicy squid, to go!" An Ran repeated crisply, quickly taking out a paper bag.

This seemed to be a signal, and the others who were still observing immediately gathered around.

"I want five skewers too!"

"Give me three skewers to try!"

"Boss, just make it mildly spicy!"

The stalls instantly became lively.

Su Xiaonuan's hands moved swiftly, almost blurring the lines, flipping the noodles, brushing on sauce, sprinkling seasoning, and packing them up—all in one smooth motion.

An Ran was responsible for collecting money, giving change, and maintaining order, and surprisingly, she managed to keep things organized despite being busy.

Looking at the bustling scene before him, Qin Haochu hesitated for a moment, then rolled up his sleeves and silently helped hand the grilled squid skewers to the waiting customers.

Although his movements were somewhat clumsy, his focused expression attracted the curious yet slightly shy glances of several young girls.

The inkstone squatted under the workbench, with its small bowl in front of it containing chopped squid scraps that Su Xiaonuan had just fed it.

It lowered its head and ate in small bites, occasionally raising its golden eyes to glance at the busy crowd and the queue. Its gaze carried a hint of arrogance, as if to say, "Mortals are indeed no match for my master's culinary skills."

The first young man to buy squid stood by the roadside and took his first bite.

The squid is incredibly chewy and crisp, with a unique charred aroma from grilling on a hot plate on the outside, while the inside remains surprisingly tender and smooth.