After devouring the grilled fish and bird, Grandpa Zhang smacked his lips with lingering satisfaction. Smelling the aroma, he traveled to Yantai.
Opening the pot lid releases a wonderful aroma; inside are fragrant meat wings and claws.
Before Xu Nian could even speak, Grandpa Zhang had already scooped the fish and bird fins and claws out of the pot with a spoon.
It's soft, tender, and fragrant upon first bite, with a numbing and spicy flavor that leaves you wanting more.
Grandpa Zhang's eyes lit up after taking a bite.
He turned to look at Xu Nian and Ying Fan, his voice trembling as he asked, "Which of you came up with this?"
"My wife made this, how is it? Isn't it delicious?" Ying Fan said proudly with a smile.
Xu Nian was too ashamed to look at that proud expression.
She just made some food because she was craving something, but in Yingfan's words, it sounded like she had done something extraordinary.
"Delicious, so delicious! I never thought that one day these fish and birds that everyone hates could become a delicacy." Grandpa Zhang said, taking another bite of the fish and bird claw in his hand.
As he ate, thinking of his comrades who had died fighting to kill fish and birds, Grandpa Zhang began to sob, which soon turned into a wail.
Seeing this, Xu Nian was at a loss. No, this is just ordinary braised food. Even if it's delicious, it shouldn't be enough to make you cry, right?
And she didn't even put in any chili peppers!
"Waaah! Damn fish and birds, I'll eat your flesh and drink your blood. I'll avenge my dead brothers!" Old Zhang bit down hard on the fish and bird claws in his hand, eating one after another.
The resentful expression, the speed of venting anger—what's with this feeling of devouring an enemy?
Knowing that Grandpa Zhang wasn't crying from the spiciness or from how delicious the food was, Xu Nian breathed a sigh of relief.
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Grandpa Zhang washed his hands and looked at Xu Nian with a kind and gentle expression. "Little girl, what's your name?"
"My name is Xu Nian. Grandpa, do you want to know the recipe for the seasoning for braised fish and bird and the recipe for the roasting sauce for grilled fish and bird?" Xu Nian smiled, making Grandpa Zhang blush slightly.
It's kind of embarrassing that my thoughts were exposed so quickly by this little girl.
Grandpa Zhang nodded awkwardly and said, "Xu Nian, can you tell me this recipe? I'll trade you my military merits for it."
"You all know this, right? Only by accumulating enough military merits can you return to the rear and continue your peaceful and prosperous life."
"You don't need to keep trading your military merits with me. I'll tell you the recipe for free." Xu Nian took out her phone, added Grandpa Zhang's contact information, and then sent him the recipe proportions for both seasonings.
Grandpa Zhang was overjoyed, looking at the two seasoning recipes over and over with delight.
"Great! Great! Today, I, Zhang Yi, will show off my skills and let all the soldiers on the border eat this fish and bird meat to avenge the blood feud between us!" Grandpa Zhang, also known as Zhang Yi, came out of the kitchen with a face full of excitement.
When they encounter someone they know, they don't even have time to greet them before they hurriedly call for people to catch fish and birds.
Everyone was puzzled as to why Grandpa Zhang, the cafeteria manager, wanted fish and birds!
But fish and birds could be exchanged for military merits, and the border was not lacking in fish and birds, so naturally many people went out to capture them.
"Old Zhang, what are you trying to do by suddenly sending people to catch fish and birds?" Border Commander Wu Jian asked suspiciously.
"Great news, fantastic news! Old Wu, come with me quickly!" Zhang Yi pulled Wu Jian and hurriedly entered the kitchen.
Good heavens, he had only gone out to say a few words when the kitchen was already packed with people.
They all craned their necks to peer inside, their eyes darting around as if they were looking at some treasure.
"What are you doing? What are you doing? What are you all doing blocking this place? Don't you know that the kitchen is a restricted area and no unauthorized personnel are allowed in?" Zhang Yi said with a stern face, clearly displeased.
"Manager Zhang, what's cooking in the kitchen? It smells so good it's making our mouths water!" someone boldly asked.
"I can't say yet, but you'll all get to eat in a few hours. Shall we go?" Zhang Yi's mysterious demeanor really whetted everyone's appetite.
The crowd looked at each other, reluctant to leave because of the aroma.
This made Zhang Yi's mouth twist in anger.
There's not much food in the kitchen, not enough for so many people, don't even think about it.
Seeing Zhang Yi start to glare and bristle, Wu Jian quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "Since Old Zhang said you'd all be able to eat in a few hours, it must not be ready yet. Everyone, let's disperse!"
After hearing Wu Jian's words, the group could only leave, looking back every three steps.
With no one blocking the door, Zhang Yi and Wu Jian entered the kitchen without hindrance and found Xu Nian and Ying Fan still there, and the two of them were even eating.
Zhang Yi hurriedly went to the stove and saw that there was still plenty left. "Old Wu, come and eat quickly, or there won't be any left."
Wu Jian glanced at the two young men and women in the kitchen with surprise, then, smelling the aroma, leaned closer to Zhang Yi and asked, "What is it that you treasure so much?"
"Good stuff, try it!" Zhang Yi scooped up a piece of food for Wu Jian with a look of anticipation.
"Old Zhang, what is this? It's so delicious!" Wu Jian didn't need Zhang Yi to do anything; he went and got a bowl and filled it to the brim.
"Old Wu, don't go too far. There's only so much food. You're going to eat it all tonight. Leave some for me." Zhang Yi tried to snatch the bowl back from Wu Jian, but he was no match for him and couldn't get it.
"Want to take it back? No way! Once it's in my bowl, it's mine." Wu Jian ate while dodging, busy as a bee.
Watching the two old men fight over a bowl of braised fish and bird, Xu Nian and Ying Fan exchanged a glance and smiled without saying a word.
It's clear that these two elderly people have a very good relationship; otherwise, they wouldn't be bickering like this at their age.
In the end, Zhang Yi couldn't beat Wu Jian and watched helplessly as he ate the entire bowl of braised fish and bird.
His expression, his pained look, made Wu Jian wonder if he was about to cry at any moment.
The heartache was fleeting; the thought that I had the recipe meant I could make it whenever I wanted was all too real.
Wu Jian had no choice but to beg him, and Zhang Yi's mood instantly improved.
"Xu Nian, come over here and meet the border commander. His surname is Wu, and his name is Wu Jian. You can call him Old Man Wu," Zhang Yi said, beckoning to Xu Nian.
Upon hearing this, Xu Nian walked to Zhang Yi's side and politely greeted Wu Jian, "Commander Wu, hello!"
"Why call him Commander Wu? Listen to your Grandpa Zhang, just call him Old Man Wu," Zhang Yi said unhappily.
Xu Nian felt embarrassed. How could she really call Wu Jian "Old Man Wu"? He was the border commander, and it was hard to say what her current status was.
Ying Fan was summoned by the authorities, and she came with him.
Ying Fan is still a rookie warrior, and she isn't even a warrior yet, so how could she dare to be so presumptuous in front of Wu Jian!
Besides, she should respect her seniors.
Seeing Xu Nian's obedient appearance, Zhang Yi could only angrily blame Wu Jian.
It's all because of that guy's stern face that scared Xu Nian.
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