Chapter 38 CASEFILE·4: Night Bandits (5)
When it comes to his family's meals, Jiangyou is always generous with the ingredients. Whether it's oyster pancakes or pot-side paste, they are all filled with seafood - all thanks to Xiaolong's dedicated contribution.
Of course, Xiaolong, a simple food supplier, had already happily enjoyed his first pot of pot-side porridge with oyster pancakes. In front of him was even a plate of fried dough sticks, a large bowl of tofu pudding, and a cup of soy milk. This breakfast alone covered the entire cost of buying seafood for the day.
Xiaolong, who was enjoying his meal, didn't feel like he was losing out, so Jiangyou naturally wouldn't rush to pay him. In business, as long as both parties felt they were making a profit, that was enough!
"Go wash your hands and face," Jiang You took a large bowl and scooped out a bowl of fragrant pot-side porridge, "It's time for breakfast!"
Andrei's stomach immediately let out a deafening roar. He'd been running around all night, and every cell in his body was clamoring with hunger, thirst, and exhaustion. He hurriedly washed his face and hands at the sink, rinsed his mouth, and returned to the table, feeling refreshed once again as the Vice-Captain of the Knights.
Jiangyou placed the bowl full of pot-side paste in front of him. On the small plate next to it was an oyster cake, a fried dough stick, and a round, donut-shaped fried cake with dried shrimp and chopped green onions clearly visible on it.
"These are called shrimp crisps. They only have dried shrimp and chopped green onions in the batter, but they're crispy and delicious," Jiang You introduced. "These are perfect for dipping in soup."
Andrei picked up the bowl first and took a swig of the soup. The soup was filled with seafood caught directly from the ocean that morning: prawns, seashells, oysters, and squid. Takumi had already shelled the prawns and seashells, making it very easy to eat without worrying about irritating your teeth.
The fresh seafood had no fishy smell, only a rich, savory aroma. Every drop of its essence had been cooked into the broth, absorbed by the rice paste around the edges. The aroma of rice melted into the broth, mixed with the notes of celery and white pepper, sliding warmly down Andre's throat, nourishing his body and soul.
He slowly exhaled a breath of hot air and felt like he was coming back to life.
He first picked up the small fried doughnuts known as 'shrimp cakes.' Because they were shaped like circles, compared to thicker pancakes, the shrimp cakes had an extra 'border' at the inner edge. Here, the batter reacted with the oil and heat, fiercely frying them into a crispy shell that crackled in his mouth.
The dried shrimp selected by Jiangyou are large, fried to a crispy, shell-on perfection. Coated in batter, they are crispy and tender, with a hint of shrimp flavor. The batter is infused with salt and chives, making it incredibly flavorless. Even on its own, it's a delight to savor.
Andrei slurped up a few more mouthfuls of the slurry from the pot. The rice paste that formed at the edge of the pot this way was different from noodles or rice rolls. It looked white and tender, slightly curly, yet had a unique, homely flavor. It was smooth and tender, with a chewy texture.
The rice paste is precisely adjusted to a perfect consistency, resulting in a uniformly thick edge. Too thin and it's fragile, while too thick loses its elasticity and tastes subpar, putting the skill of the maker to the test.
Eat a few mouthfuls of pot-side porridge, then taste a few mouthfuls of seafood; eat a mouthful of small green vegetables soaked in soup, then take a bite of the crispy and fragrant oyster cake... The full filling fills up your mouth and makes your empty heart full.
The fried crispy and fragrant rice milk crust is wrapped with crispy cabbage shreds inside, and the plump and tender oysters are cunningly hidden in the filling, giving people full surprises every time they eat it.
The finely chopped seaweed and the occasional small shrimp exude the salty aroma of the sea, while the pork belly spread flat on the pancake adds a land-based meaty flavor to these seafood flavors. The fried peanuts trapped in the crust are the finishing touch... Every bite is like eating the essence of the sea and the land in your mouth. The rich taste layers and abundant energy awaken Andre's taste buds and brain, making his sluggish mind work again after a night's work.
"Delicious, so delicious!" He finished a whole oyster pancake, licked his fingers with satisfaction, and ate half a bowl of pot-side paste in one gulp. Then he sighed with satisfaction, "Delicious! Another bowl!"
"Okay!" Jiang You poured him another bowl and added two oyster cakes. "Thank you for your hard work last night. What did you find out?"
As soon as she asked this question, the gossipy neighbors and employees who were having breakfast in the restaurant pricked up their ears, and even the chewing sounds became softer.
Andre glanced at them with amusement, and suddenly noticed the door of the workshop: "What's wrong with this door?"
The battered wooden door had disappeared, replaced by a large blue crystal-like object.
"Oh," Jiangyou said, "You mean that? The little dragon guarded the door all night last night. When we woke up in the morning, we found that the door had turned into dragon crystal... Well, it's pretty much as we planned, except that the shape is a little rough. I've already notified the trolls, and they'll send someone over this morning to trim and reshape the door so that it becomes... more like a door."
"However, although it doesn't look good yet, I already bound this dragon crystal to my magical aura this morning. Now I can control it as I please!"
Jiangyou said, demonstrating a few times. When the door is open, the dragon crystal will become transparent, allowing people to come and go freely; when the door is closed, the dragon crystal will turn into an opaque silver-blue wall, and it seems that there are twinkling stars inside. If you stare at it for too long, you will feel dizzy.
"Overall, it's quite convenient to use," Jiang You commented. "But the color seems a bit too bright and doesn't quite match the decor of this workshop... I hope the trolls can find a way to adjust it."
"Get to the point, get to the point," the gossipy Xiaolong couldn't wait any longer. He was eager to know the follow-up of last night's case. "How's the investigation going on last night?"
Andrei put down the bowl and exhaled a breath of hot air. "I went to Chena's house last night. Baro Ho Chena admitted that the carriage transporting goods last night was his family's, but until we arrived, he didn't know about the accident of his team. The woman sitting in the carriage was indeed Baro's daughter, Cheersna Ho Chena, who was responsible for escorting this batch of goods.
"But it's clear that she disappeared along with the cargo last night. She was most likely kidnapped by those criminals."
Hearing this, Nasha and her nanny couldn't help but let out a small cry of surprise.
"Barrow claimed that the truck was carrying rough jewels he had purchased, worth a fortune, but I don't think he was telling the truth. The weight of the cargo and the tracks left behind don't match what he said."
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