Chapter 9 Something's fishy going on.

Next, a large spoonful of Shaoxing wine was poured in. With a "sizzle," the aroma of the wine rose, carrying away the fishy smell and leaving only a mellow fragrance.

Then add two spoonfuls of "Supreme Seafood Sauce", one spoonful of oyster sauce, a little fish sauce and a pinch of sugar, stir-fry quickly and evenly to fully blend the sauce and shrimp roe.

Pour in the prepared rich broth and bring to a boil over high heat.

After boiling, turn to medium heat and let the soup slowly thicken to about one-third. During this process, the complex and progressively increasing aroma becomes more concentrated and enticing.

At this point, gently slide the blanched and chilled lobster balls into the pot, and gently push them with the back of a spoon so that each lobster ball is evenly coated with the thick and delicious sauce.

Pour in about half of the previously fried garlic, along with the chopped fresh thyme and dill, and stir-fry quickly to let the fresh aroma of the herbs infuse the sauce.

Finally, drizzle in an appropriate amount of cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce, which immediately becomes crystal clear, thick, and smooth, perfectly coating each lobster ball.

Turn off the heat! While it's still hot, add that small piece of cold butter and use the residual heat to melt it and stir well.

This step, known as "glossing," instantly enhances the sauce's shine and makes it smoother and richer in flavor.

Su Xiaonuan placed the juicy lobster balls into a clay pot with excellent heat retention.

Large, plump lobster balls are soaked in a golden, perfectly thick sauce, topped with crispy garlic and vibrant green herbs. The scalding heat carries an indescribable blend of fresh and savory aromas, overwhelming all the senses.

She couldn't resist trying one herself first.

The moment the lobster ball enters your mouth, the outer layer of savory and rich sauce, along with the unique mellowness of lobster roe and the multi-layered flavors of garlic and herbs, creates a delightful sensation.

With a gentle bite, your teeth pierce through the thin layer of sauce, and the firm, bouncy, and incredibly tender shrimp meat inside bursts with hot, sweet juice!

The ultimate freshness, sweetness, bouncy texture, and tenderness, combined with the rich and fragrant sauce on the outside, create an incredibly beautiful contrast and fusion, so delicious that it makes your scalp tingle!

"Amazing... This is a product from the system, it's absolutely delicious..." Su Xiaonuan covered her mouth, almost moved to tears by the deliciousness.

She had no doubt that the fragrance would definitely lure that scumbag over!

She glanced at the time; it was about the time the man usually got home from get off work.

She immediately took the pot of food, enough to drive anyone crazy, and hurried downstairs. She set up a small table next to her tricycle and opened the lid of the casserole a crack.

In an instant, that overwhelmingly delicious and incredibly fragrant aroma seemed to come alive, spreading wildly and drifting on the evening breeze to every corner of the neighborhood.

The effect is immediate.

Neighbors returning home from get off work, elderly men walking their dogs downstairs, mothers playing with their children... almost everyone passing by involuntarily stopped, sniffing hard, their eyes fixed on the steaming clay pot.

"Hey! Little girl, what are you making? It smells amazing!"

"My God, this smell... is it lobster? I've never smelled lobster smell so good before!"

"Boss, are you selling this? How much? I'll have one!"

Su Xiaonuan had already prepared small sample packs and some disposable bowls and chopsticks.

She replied with a smile: "Homemade juicy lobster balls, we're having a soft opening today, limited quantity available, first come first served! Small portion is 88, large portion is 168!"

The price was high, but the aroma was so tempting that people couldn't resist buying it.

Su Xiaonuan quickly packaged the food for them, and everyone who bought it couldn't wait to take a bite. They were all amazed and satisfied, praising it endlessly.

The aroma attracted more people, and a queue quickly formed in front of the stall.

While busy collecting money and packing, Su Xiaonuan kept an eye on the system map and the exit of the unit door.

I both hoped he would come soon and was a little worried that the lobster balls would sell out too quickly.

Time passed second by second, and the lobster balls in the casserole dwindled at a visible rate.

Just as the water was about to run out, Su Xiaonuan began to feel a little anxious—

[WARNING! High-criteria target detected approaching! Direction: Directly ahead, distance 10 meters! Criteria: 51!]

The system's piercing alarm suddenly went off!

Su Xiaonuan felt a chill and suddenly looked up.

A middle-aged man, dressed in a wrinkled Brazilian suit, tall but slightly overweight, with greasy hair and a tired and impatient look on his face, was hurrying out of the building entrance.

His gaze was also drawn to the overpowering aroma, and he subconsciously looked over. But when he saw the people gathered around the stall, his brows furrowed even more, and his feet moved over involuntarily.

He squeezed to the front of the stall, his tone somewhat aggressive, with an obvious sense of impatience: "Hey! Boss, how much do you have left? I'll take it all! Hurry up, I have an emergency at home, I need to get back in a hurry!"

Su Xiaonuan looked at his face, which matched the system prompt and the neighbor's description, and at the glaring 51 points of sin value. She sneered inwardly, but put on a troubled expression: "Ah? Brother, I'm sorry, this is the last bit left, and there are several neighbors in line behind me..."

A flicker of anxiety and displeasure crossed the man's face; he seemed about to explode in anger, but he forced himself to hold it back. He glanced at the last remaining lobster ball in the casserole, coated in a rich, golden sauce, his Adam's apple bobbing noticeably. His tone softened slightly, but remained urgent: "I really have something urgent! Boss, please be lenient, I'll give you more money if you want!"

Su Xiaonuan's mind raced with thoughts.

Why is he in such a hurry to get home? Something's not right! According to the neighbors and the information in the system, he usually goes home to vent his anger and commit violence. Why would he describe it as an "urgent matter"? And why would he be willing to delay for a bite to eat?

Something unusual must be going on!

A sudden inspiration struck her, and she tentatively said, "Brother, how about this? I really only have a little bit left, and I need to share it with these neighbors. I see you're in such a hurry, how about... I offer you a delivery service? Just tell me your house number, and I'll deliver it to your door! You can eat as soon as you get home, cash on delivery, how about that?"

The man was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting the stall owner to offer this service.

A flicker of hesitation and wariness crossed his face, but when his gaze fell once more upon the fragrant lobster balls, his appetite ultimately triumphed over his doubts.

He gritted his teeth, as if he had made up his mind, and quickly shouted out a door number: "1203! Hurry up!" After saying that, he didn't bother to argue anymore, turned around and rushed back to the building entrance.

1203! It really was him!

As Su Xiaonuan watched his disappearing figure, her doubts deepened.

He agreed to delivery so easily? And he seemed to be in a real hurry? What exactly happened at home?