Chapter 141 The Infiltration Begins
As dusk settled, the charcoal fire at the barbecue stall gradually ignited, its orange flames licking the wire mesh and releasing an irresistible aroma of oil. Su Yingxue skillfully flipped the meat skewers, drops of oil sizzling as they fell onto the charcoal, instantly sparking a cluster of leaping flames that grilled the lamb to a golden-brown, slightly charred surface.
"Boss, the usual, ten skewers of mutton!" Old Zhang waved from afar. He was the owner of a hardware store on this street and would stop by every day on his way home from work.
Su Yingxue nodded with a smile, her hands moving non-stop: "Almost done, Brother Zhang, aren't you working overtime today?"
"No way," Old Zhang said, taking the beer offered to him. "The factory's rushing to finish a batch of goods; things will be easier tomorrow."
Behind the curtains on the second floor of the building across the street, a young man with a messy haircut was yawning listlessly. His name was Xiao Sui, and he was the "logistics staff" of this temporary hideout, responsible for counting and managing various "goods".
"Boss," Xiao Sui said lazily, rubbing his eyes, "can we sell that batch of goods tonight? I've almost counted them three times already, and the numbers all match."
The man referred to as "the boss" didn't look up, still intently staring at the data spreadsheets on his laptop screen. His name was Wang Zhiqiang, the leader of this gang. On the surface, he was a businessman, but in reality, he controlled an underground drug distribution network.
"What's the rush?" Wang Zhiqiang said without looking up. "Xiao Wang, go check if the barbecue stalls are open yet. Buy a few skewers of lamb; I can smell it."
"Okay!" Xiao Wang replied, and excitedly ran outside.
"Wait," Wang Zhiqiang suddenly called out to him, "Don't go dressed like that. Change your clothes so no one recognizes you."
Xiao Wang pouted, but still obediently went back to his room to change into a regular jacket. Before leaving, he couldn't help but tease, "Boss, that proprietress across the street is really pretty. How about... we take over her stall too? We can discuss business while eating barbecue tonight, wouldn't that be great!"
"Stop thinking dirty tricks, you brat!" Wang Zhiqiang slapped Xiao Wang on the back of the head. "Focus on your work! We're going out for dinner tonight, don't cause trouble here."
Xiao Wang rubbed his head, looking aggrieved, and went out the door. He went downstairs, deliberately circled around to the side of the Western-style building, avoiding the main entrance, and slipped out through the back alley. That way, even if someone saw him, they wouldn't immediately associate him with the people inside the building.
At the barbecue stall, Xiao Wang pretended to be a customer passing by by chance, ordered a skewer of lamb and a skewer of chives, and then found a seat away from Su Yingxue and Lin Xiaoman.
"Boss, your mutton smells great, much better than the one next door." Xiao Wang deliberately raised his voice, but his eyes kept glancing at Su Yingxue and the "female customer" sitting in the corner.
Su Yingxue smiled and handed over the skewer: "Thank you. This is a newly prepared seasoning. Please try it and see if it suits your taste."
Lin Xiaoman keenly noticed that Xiao Wang's gaze shifted between her and Su Yingxue. She lowered her head without making a sound, pretending to be engrossed in playing on her phone, but in reality, she had already turned on the recording function.
Xiao Wang, with his keen eyes, noticed that Lin Xiaoman hadn't eaten much. Her attention seemed to be fixed on him, so he asked somewhat nervously, "What are you looking at? Haven't you ever seen a handsome guy before?"
Lin Xiaoman glared, clearly about to explode in anger.
Su Yingxue conveniently blocked their view. She brought over a plate of grilled chives, perfectly cooked. Smiling, she said, "Handsome, these are some freshly grilled chives. They're for you. This is my cousin from my hometown, she's working here. She just arrived today, and I was worried you wouldn't be satisfied with the food."
Xiao Wang then noticed the plate of vibrant green chives. The leaves were roasted until slightly curled, with an enticing golden-brown edge, yet still retaining their tender green color. He picked up a stalk, took a small bite, and first felt the slightly charred aroma of the outer layer, followed by the unique fragrance of the chives bursting in his mouth, mixed with the spiciness of the special seasoning—neither overly pungent nor overly overpowering, perfectly highlighting the natural sweetness of the chives.
"Hmm!" Xiao Wang's eyes lit up, and he nodded unconsciously. "These chives are really well-grilled, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the seasoning is delicious. They're much better than the ones downstairs from my house."
Su Yingxue smiled and handed over another skewer of mutton: "Try this, it's freshly marinated, made with mutton from local ranches."
Xiao Wang took the lamb skewers and saw that the marbled pieces of meat were grilled to perfection—the fat was translucent, almost melted into the lean meat, while the lean meat was an enticing reddish-brown with a slightly crispy surface, locking in the succulent juices. He took a bite, and the first sensation was the spicy aroma of the outer seasoning and the smoky flavor of the charcoal fire. Then, the tender and juicy lamb burst in his mouth, firm yet not tough, perfectly seasoned, highlighting the lamb's natural flavor without masking its inherent taste.
"Wow, this lamb is amazing!" Xiao Wang couldn't help but exclaim. "It's fatty but not greasy, lean but not dry, the flavor... Boss, did you used to be a professional barbecue chef?"
Su Yingxue smiled and waved her hand, "It's just something I came up with myself; as long as the customers like it, that's fine."
Lin Xiaoman also took the opportunity to pick up a skewer of mutton and taste it. The charcoal fire had slightly charred the surface of the mutton, forming a delicious crust, while the inside remained a tender pink. The seasonings were evenly coated on the pieces of meat, and every bite offered the aroma of cumin, the mild spiciness of chili, and the umami of salt, perfectly blending with the natural sweetness of the mutton. Especially the marbled parts, the fat melted in the mouth, bringing a rich meaty aroma without being greasy.
Xiao Wang finished two skewers in a few bites, then licked his lips with lingering satisfaction: "Boss, two more skewers of lamb, please!"
"Alright, coming right away!" Su Yingxue deftly flipped the meat skewers on the grill, her movements so skillful they seemed like a performance. The charcoal fire reflected on her slightly sweaty face, but it couldn't hide her focus and enthusiasm.
As night fell completely, the barbecue stalls became increasingly busy. Su Yingxue busily flipped the food, sweat dripping from her forehead, but she didn't bother to wipe it away. Lin Xiaoman, on the other hand, would occasionally look up to observe the movements across the street, while also thinking about how to obtain more useful information without alerting the enemy.
She noticed that Xiao Wang's gaze kept glancing towards the Western-style building, then quickly looking away, clearly waiting for something. Behind the curtains on the second floor of the building, Wang Zhiqiang's figure was intermittently visible; he would occasionally pick up his phone to make a call, his expression serious.
Looking at the bustling scene below from his second-floor window, Wang Zhiqiang smirked coldly. "Looks like tonight's a good opportunity." He turned to Xiao Sui. "Get ready. We'll move in once it's completely dark."
Little Sui nodded sleepily, "Okay, boss, everything is prepared as you said."
Xiao Wang was still reluctant to leave the lamb skewers. They tasted really good. He kept eating a large portion of lamb skewers and chives.
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