Feng Haidong spent the whole afternoon busy, and it wasn't until his son was about to get out of school that he finally started cooking the crayfish.
As the aroma of cooking crayfish wafted through the air, neighbors quickly appeared on their balconies upstairs.
"Hey Feng Haidong, you really know how to pick your time! Starting at this time every day, are you deliberately trying to tempt us?"
"That's right, whenever you cook crayfish at home, our upstairs neighbors suffer."
"The key is that it smells so good that we can't even eat the dinner we make at home."
"Feng Haidong, if you continue like this, we won't be so polite."
"Yes, we should all condemn your behavior."
Hearing the chatter of the neighbors upstairs, Feng Haidong quickly looked up, clasped his hands in apology, and said, "I'm sorry, I had no choice. I had to rush to the night market to set up my stall, so I had to make it at this time."
I've been busy all afternoon, sorting and washing things; I haven't been idle at all.
The older woman living on the second floor of Feng Haidong's apartment asked, "Haidong, what kind of seasoning do you use to cook crayfish? Why does it smell so good every day?"
Feng Haidong chuckled and said, "Actually, it's just some spices. As for the specific recipe? That's my trade secret, I can't just say it casually."
The neighbors upstairs heard this and started laughing and joking.
"Oh ho, you're putting on airs, Feng Haidong? You think we wouldn't guess if you didn't tell us?"
"Exactly, aren't the spices just some cinnamon, star anise, and bay leaves? And you added a lot of chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, didn't you? It smells extremely pungent."
"I think there's also a very unique fragrance; it smells especially good."
"Yes, yes, I smelled it too. It's not just the pungent smell of chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, but it seems like there's no star anise or anything like that."
Listening to his neighbors' speculations, Feng Haidong chuckled and said, "Everyone is overthinking it. It's not that complicated at all. My recipe and ingredients are very simple. If I told you, you would understand immediately. But I can't tell you, or my business will suffer."
The suspense has left the neighbors feeling quite annoyed.
Suddenly, Ding Ze, the man who lived next door to Feng Haidong, climbed onto the wall and said, "Haidong, aren't you going to sell these crayfish? Then give me a serving, I want to try them."
Feng Haidong looked at the head sticking out from the wall and replied with a smile, "Ding Ze, you should try some. I'll give you a few later. We're all neighbors, so there's no need to buy any."
Ding Ze smiled and said, "Okay, just give me two to try."
Upon hearing that Feng Haidong had given some to Ding Ze next door, the neighbors upstairs all wanted to try some as well.
Seeing this, Feng Haidong said, "Okay, okay, everyone gets a share. Two for each person, is that alright?"
At this moment, the lady upstairs said, "Haidong, let's have three of them. There are three people in my family."
Feng Haidong smiled and agreed, "Okay, I'll give you three, Sister He."
Although Feng Haidong was very generous, most of the neighbors were too embarrassed to ask for more.
Besides Sister He upstairs who took three, even Ding Ze, who was the first to ask next door, only took one back.
Even so, this wave of deliveries still allowed Feng Haidong to send out quite a few.
Fortunately, most people in the residential compound hadn't come home from get off work yet, otherwise Feng Haidong felt that his pot of food wouldn't be enough to share with his neighbors.
When Feng Haidong ladled out the leftovers from the first pot, rinsed the pot, and then started making the second pot...
Ding Ze leaned over the wall again and said, "Hai Dong, I didn't expect you to be such a good cook! Your crayfish is absolutely amazing, it's so delicious!"
As soon as Ding Ze finished speaking, the other neighbors who had received crayfish also poked their heads out to praise him.
"Yes, Haidong, your crayfish tastes really good."
"It's spicy and flavorful, but the key is that it's not too spicy. I sipped the soup and there was even a hint of sweetness. It makes you want to eat it instantly."
"Oh dear, one isn't enough for me, I want more."
"Feng Haidong, how much are you selling these for? I want to buy them."
Once one person expressed interest in buying, the other neighbors quickly followed suit, all clamoring to buy Feng Haidong's spicy crayfish.
After getting off work, Lu Wanling picked up her son and went home together.
As the mother and son stepped into the gate of the residential compound, they could see many people coming and going in front of their house.
Upon seeing this, the mother and son exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat worried.
Could something have happened at home?
As the mother and son hurried back to their door, filled with anxiety, they were greeted by a neighbor carrying out several bright red crayfish in a small iron basin.
The scene before them stunned both mother and son.
It was a neighbor who saw Lu Wanling and her son and greeted them: "Little Lu is back? The crayfish that Feng Haidong made is really delicious. I just bought ten, and I'll let my son try some tonight."
The neighbor's words startled Lu Wanling, and she quickly put on a smile and said, "Thank you for your support, sister-in-law."
Upon hearing his mother's words, Feng Qifan also said to the woman who came out of his house carrying crayfish, "Thank you, Aunt Li, for patronizing my father's business."
Aunt Li smiled and said, "You're welcome. It's mainly because your father is a good cook."
After Aunt Li left, Lu Wanling and her son stood in front of their house, watching as one neighbor after another lined up to go inside, and then came out carrying crayfish.
Lu Wanling watched as one by one her neighbors came out of their homes carrying crayfish.
After the last neighbor came out and left, Lu Wanling couldn't help but turn to her son and say, "I feel like your dad doesn't need to set up his stall today?"
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