Chapter 99 Crazy Food

The driver of the white sedan and his female companion had already stopped talking. Their eyes were fixed on the risotto in the pot, where the sauce was gradually reducing, the rice was turning golden and thick, and the seafood was piled up like a small mountain. They swallowed in unison, looking as if they were longing for it.

Su Xiaonuan seemed to have long been used to all of this.

Her expression was calm, and her wrists were steady.

When the sauce has reduced to the perfect consistency, and the rice has absorbed all the essence while still retaining a slightly chewy core, she sprinkles in the diced bell peppers and parsley, squeezes in a little lemon juice, and quickly stir-fries it evenly.

Turn off the heat and remove from the pot.

She took out a prepared disposable insulated lunchbox and used a large spoon to scoop out steaming, colorful, and fragrant seafood risotto into the box. Each serving was made sure to contain prawns, mussels, squid, and clams, with generous portions of ingredients.

"Your seafood risotto, be careful, it's hot." She handed the first serving to the owner of the white sedan who had been waiting for a long time, with a professional yet sweet smile on her face.

The man almost snatched it, eagerly opened the lid, and shared the small spoon provided by the store with his female companion, scooping up a spoonful and putting it into his mouth.

Instantly, their eyes widened!

The rice absorbs the essence of seafood and broth, with each grain distinct and chewy, while the unique aroma of saffron lingers throughout.

The prawns are fresh, sweet, and tender; the mussels are plump and juicy; the squid is crisp and refreshing; and the clams are full of meat.

The slight acidity of tomatoes, the freshness of lemons, and the aroma of parsley perfectly balance the richness of seafood, creating an amazingly complex flavor profile!

"Mmm! It's so delicious!" The woman covered her mouth, her eyes sparkling with amazement.

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing! It's even more authentic than what I had in Spain!" the man exclaimed indistinctly, his spoon still moving.

Their actions were like flipping a switch.

"Boss! Give me one!"

"I'll have one too! To go!"

"What kind of heavenly flavor is this? It smells amazing!"

"Little girl, hurry up!"

The crowd instantly swarmed around, completely blocking Su Xiaonuan's stall.

Inquiries, orders, and urgings rose and fell in a cacophony.

Su Xiaonuan remained completely calm.

She had anticipated this situation and had placed the prepared folding table and plastic stool in the nearby basket early in the morning.

She picked up the [Ancient Crying Loudspeaker] and pressed play; a soft yet clear voice rang out:

Seafood risotto, 48 yuan per serving! Tables and chairs are available for self-service, and takeout is also possible! Limited to 60 servings, while supplies last! First come, first served!

She still wore that innocent, sweet smile on her face, but her hands moved so fast it was dazzling.

Collecting money, serving food, packing, and handing it out—all done in one smooth motion.

Her petite figure moved nimbly between the stove and the crowd, fine beads of sweat glistening on her forehead under the dim lights of the night market, yet she showed no signs of being disheveled, but rather radiated a focused and captivating charm.

Ordinary ingredients, in her seemingly magical hands, are transformed into the most dazzling and exquisite dishes in tonight's night market through precise control of heat and seasoning.

The rich aroma, like the most effective advertisement, attracts a steady stream of diners.

A long queue quickly formed in front of the small stall, with conversations, exclamations, and slurping sounds weaving together into a lively symphony of the night.

The queue in front of Su Xiaonuan's stall grew longer and longer, with crowds of people. The rich aroma of fresh food had become a unique feature of this night market.

This situation naturally brings joy to some and sorrow to others.

Not far away, several stall owners whose business was relatively slow gathered together, watching the bustling scene over there with mixed feelings.

A bald, middle-aged man selling teppanyaki skewers took a deep drag of his cigarette and muttered sourly, "Damn it, what is that little brat making that smells so good? It's tempting everyone away!"

The woman selling stinky tofu next to him curled her lip and said, "Who knows? It smells really tempting. Hey, Lao Liu, how many of your grilled sausages did you sell today?"

Old Liu, who had been singled out, sullenly stirred the nearly empty oden in the pot: "Don't even mention it! We could have sold some, but after she came, they all went to her! How are we supposed to make a living?"

Jealousy is like mold, quietly growing in dark corners.

Someone anonymously posted an angry message in the group: "Report her! Operating without a license! Obstructing the road! Her hygiene is definitely substandard!"

Soon, someone responded, and a phone call was made quietly.

Not long after, a sharp, piercing siren blared from afar, breaking the hustle and bustle of the night market.

Several blue and white police cars with flashing lights were parked near the entrance to the night market.

Normally, the vendors would be somewhat flustered upon hearing a police siren.

However, Mingyuan Street is a designated area for legitimate street vending, and everyone has all the necessary permits, so they aren't particularly afraid. Instead, they're more curious—what are the police doing here? What are they checking?

The crowd instinctively parted to create a path.

After getting out of the car, the police officers glanced around and then headed straight for Su Xiaonuan's stall, which was the busiest spot of the night.

Su Xiaonuan was quickly packing the last seafood rice for a customer when she heard the noise and curiously peeked out from behind the stove with her rosy, oily face.

As soon as I looked up, I met a pair of smiling, almond-shaped eyes.

Qin Haoran, dressed in a well-fitting police uniform, appeared even more broad-shouldered and long-legged. With his hands in his pockets, he strolled over, giving Su Xiaonuan's gleaming silver stall cart, which stood out slightly from the surroundings, and the long, winding queue in front of it, with a roguish air.

"Hey, Mr. Su, business's booming, huh?" He smirked, his tone teasing. "Are you planning to take over all the business on this street?"

When Su Xiaonuan saw him, she first blinked her big eyes in surprise, and then immediately realized that someone was jealous and had reported her.

Her face instantly switched to an innocent yet slightly aggrieved expression, her voice soft and sweet: "Officer Qin? What brings you here... Everything here is done according to regulations, and the ingredients are fresh..."

Qin Haoran looked at her "I'm very well-behaved and law-abiding" demeanor, and the smile in his eyes deepened.

He solemnly pulled out a small notebook and pen, and pretended to walk around the stall, tapping here and looking there.

"Hmm, the food stall is quite clean, better than some restaurant kitchens." He nodded, then gestured to the auxiliary police officer following behind him, "Go check the ingredients and hygiene."

The auxiliary police officer stepped forward, opened the refrigerated display case, and found all kinds of seafood, vegetables and seasonings arranged in categories. Everything was fresh and clean, and even the dishcloths were neatly folded.

The auxiliary police officers conducting the inspection couldn't help but nod in approval.

Qin Haoran took the test results, glanced at them, and gestured with his chin towards Su Xiaonuan: "It's alright, there's nothing wrong."