Chapter 25. It's only been one day, how could it be like this? ...
"Ding ding ding ding—! Hello everyone, I'm Qin Shiyue. Today I'm in Qinghe City because I heard there's a fish restaurant here that's incredibly delicious, and its signature dish is... Want to guess what it is? It will absolutely surprise you!"
Qin Yue started her live stream as soon as she left the hotel.
Qin Shiyue is her online name.
Around 11 a.m., which is lunchtime, there weren't many people, but regular fans gradually entered the live stream and interacted with Qin Yue.
[The anchor is in Qinghe? Qinghe City is by the river and has many reservoirs, so they definitely like to eat fish. I'm guessing it's probably reservoir fish head? Many fish restaurants there use that dish as their signature dish. Or maybe it's mandarin fish?]
I'm sure it's not true, otherwise Xiaoyue wouldn't have specifically said it would surprise us.
She posed a riddle, which ignited the enthusiasm of her fans.
Qin Yue chuckled, "You'd never guess! You'd never imagine I'd come all this way to eat here again, and even from another city!"
One fan had a sudden inspiration: 【Wait, judging from your description, it wouldn't be... West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce, would it?】
This was her most-liked video at the time, and it even made it onto the website's homepage trending list. Lovers and opponents of the dish were locked in a fierce battle in the comments section, and people still leave messages under that video. Currently, it seems the latter has a clear advantage.
Qin Yue laughed arrogantly: "How about that? You didn't expect that, did you? I actually made a special trip all the way to Qinghe City just for West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce!"
Are you crazy?
[Interesting! But isn't that a famous Hangzhou dish? Why would they go all the way to Qinghe City to eat it?]
Some haters also mocked her in the live chat: "[Is the streamer out of ideas and just rehashing old content because she had the best viewership before?]"
Supporters of the dish expressed their dissatisfaction: "I've told you all before, this is a state banquet dish. If it were truly unpalatable, would it have been served at a state banquet? Besides, this dish has such a long history; it's about appreciating the culture. People without a certain level of cultural understanding won't understand it."
This immediately drew ridicule: "What? Now it's gotten to the point where even eating a dish requires cultural knowledge? Leave me alone, I just want to eat in peace."
Why can't I learn about culture at a museum?
Some more moderate people offered lengthy explanations: "Actually, the West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce that I ate at Lou Wai Lou when I was a child was really delicious—very tender and the sauce was very flavorful. But the taste has definitely declined over time. This dish requires considerable skill and expertise from the chef; everyone should definitely try the version served at those high-end restaurants."
Why don't you mention how expensive those restaurants are? They charge three or four hundred, even five hundred yuan for a single fish. With that money, what else could I possibly eat?
The comments section quickly erupted into a heated argument.
Qin Yue didn't stop them, but merely offered a token attempt to mediate. "Good for them to argue," she thought, "the more they argue, the more traffic they'll generate."
"Everyone, stop arguing. The chef at this restaurant I'm going to today is really a master chef, and the prices aren't high either. A friend recommended it to me, so it definitely won't rip me off! I'm taking you all here to try it out." She saw Song Sao Fish Restaurant in the distance and quickened her pace. "Come on, I can't wait!"
Comments: [No way? No way? It's those little shops in front? They can really make good West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce here?]
The fan who just recommended the upscale restaurant is now in despair: "...It's over!"
[Is the streamer deliberately trying to smear us? They intentionally chose this place! What good does this do you? Unfollow, unfollow!]
Qin Yue ignored the live stream and offered no explanation, knowing that her innocence would be cleared soon enough.
She ran into Xu Chen and his group at the entrance.
Xu Chen was examining the small wooden board by the door, something that had been added today.
The small wooden board had the words "Today's special set meal price: Jade Fish Ball Set Meal 48 yuan, Sauerkraut Fish Set Meal 38 yuan, plus a free drink" written in cute font.
He was somewhat surprised; the price was much better.
In addition, a large blackboard is hung on the wall of the store, with "Today's Menu" written on it.
He asked Zhao Feiyan curiously, "Why is today's menu different from yesterday's?"
Zhao Feiyan was pleased to see so many people at noon today: "Fifth Sister-in-law said that the fish she buys from the market every day is different, so the menu naturally needs to be changed every day as well. Using a blackboard is more convenient."
She spoke politely and gently. Her long, cascading hair was casually tied back with a hairpin. Although she wore a mask, her smooth forehead and beautiful, misty eyes revealed her to be a rare beauty.
Xu Chen's colleagues, who had just complained about the shabby environment, immediately shut up, only occasionally glancing over furtively.
"What would you like to eat, gentlemen?" Zhao Feiyan was in a good mood today, and her tone was also much more pleasant.
Fearing they might slight the beauty, the group immediately ordered: "We'd like a sauerkraut fish!"
"I also want jade fish balls."
"Then let's have another fried anchovies, and some stir-fried greens." The one who was most skeptical earlier was now the most generous when it came to ordering.
They came out today specifically to order food, so they didn't consider more cost-effective set meals.
"Alright, please wait a moment." Zhao Feiyan noted it down, then turned and gracefully went to the kitchen.
Xu Chen's colleague nudged him and whispered, "You little rascal, Xu Chen, no wonder you've been so eager to eat here. Turns out you just wanted to see pretty girls. You didn't even tell us."
Xu Chen cried out that he was innocent: "No, that's not true! I was so busy eating yesterday that I didn't even notice!"
If he had paid attention, he would have dressed properly today. Xu Chen looked down at his slightly sloppy attire and felt extremely regretful. He really hadn't noticed; all he could think about was the jade fish balls.
My colleague looked at me with disbelief: "Just how delicious are those jade fish balls?"
How could he miss out on such a beautiful woman!
"It's really delicious, trust me!" Xu Chen launched into a frantic recommendation mode. "And the West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce that girl ordered yesterday looked delicious too, right?"
He turned to Qin Yue, who was live-streaming, and said this.
When two E-people get together, there won't be any awkward silences or silences.
Qin Yue nodded: "It really is delicious, the best West Lake Vinegar Fish I've ever had. I want to have it again today. But the sauerkraut fish you ordered was also delicious..." She rattled off a bunch of things, then asked, "By the way, I'm doing a live stream now, you don't mind being on camera, do you?"
Xu Chen and the others said they didn't mind.
Even a colleague recognized her: "You're Qin Shiyue, right? Oh, I'm a fan of yours."
Qin Yue smiled. She wasn't a big streamer, and she wouldn't be able to run into fans on the street all the time. She felt it was fate that she met one in Qinghe City, and maybe the data for this episode would actually be pretty good.
When Qin Yue turned her attention to the camera, she realized that the chat in her live stream had gone crazy:
[Stunning beauty!]
[The truth is out! Where is justice?! A true beauty is stuck working as a waitress in a small restaurant! What a waste of talent! She should debut as a celebrity right now!]
Where's the talent scout? Where is the talent scout? I want to see her on TV tomorrow! Even a short drama will do!
[What's all the fuss about? Maybe she'll look worse than an ordinary person once she takes off her mask. Haven't we been fooled enough over the years?]
Qin Yue pretended to be angry: "Hey, are you here to see me or someone else? I'm going to get angry."
Zhao Feiyan had already taken the menu to the kitchen. The people in the live stream were all regulars online, used to seeing handsome men and beautiful women. Although they were amazed, they weren't going to chase after her asking so many questions. The big reaction earlier was just because the beautiful woman and her surroundings were so different. Now that she had disappeared from the camera's view, everyone jokingly changed the subject back to online topics.
However, later on, whenever Zhao Feiyan appeared on camera, the live stream would become very active, and the traffic would increase.
Sister-in-law Song was quick and efficient, and soon the dishes for both tables were served.
"West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce!" Qin Yue exclaimed excitedly. "Family and friends, it's that familiar moment again. Look, West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce! To be honest, I actually came here once yesterday and ate it once already, this is my second time. Just think about it, this is the only West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce that would make me come back twice, its quality is truly amazing~~~"
On the phone screen, one of her die-hard fans gasped: No way? A second time? Could it really be that delicious?
She watched as Qin Yue picked up a piece of snow-white fish with her chopsticks, dipped it in the oily sauce, and put it in her mouth, then revealed an expression of bliss:
"That's the taste! Everyone, I did my research before when I had a bad experience with West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce. The reason why West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce tastes so good is because during the Song Dynasty, scholars loved to eat crabs, but there was no artificial farming back then, and fresh crabs were hard to find. So, a chef came up with this cooking method to make the fish taste like crab meat. Therefore, a good and authentic West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce must have a crab flavor; if it doesn't, it's not up to standard!"
Song Sao's Fish Restaurant wasn't large, and even when Song Wu Sao was busy in the kitchen, she could hear Qin Yue's live stream outside. A smile played on her lips, revealing a nostalgic expression—this young lady was absolutely right; crabs were incredibly expensive back then, something ordinary families couldn't afford. Her family originally ran a small eatery near Qiantang Gate, catering mainly to the neighborhood. One day, she noticed some regular customers eyeing the crabs sold at the large restaurant across the street, and that's when she came up with this idea.
From sweet and sour fish to Song Sao fish soup, they all follow the same idea.
Later, after the crab season ended, the reputation of her two dishes gradually spread. When distinguished guests started patronizing her establishments, many restaurants in the city also began serving this sweet and sour fish, but none could match her seasoning. With this skill, her restaurant gradually grew larger and larger, eventually securing its place in Lin'an City.
Qin Yue continued, "It's not too sour; it's lightly sweet overall, but a hint of sourness emerges from the base, which is very appetizing. And the sauce is delicious, everyone, it's incredibly delicious! I could eat a whole bowl of rice with it on its own! Anyone who likes sweet and sour flavors absolutely can't miss it."
"Also, as you all saw in the video where I complained about the fish I ate before, it had a really strong muddy taste, but this time it didn't. The texture of the fish and the sauce blended together very well; there wasn't a situation where the vinegar was vinegar and the fish was fish. I specifically asked the chef, and he said that they used ordinary grass carp, and the grass carp they bought needed to be kept for a few days to slim down and purge the muddy taste before it could be used for cooking..."
As Sister-in-law Song skillfully sliced the fish, she listened attentively, nodding frequently. She had bought the fish a few days earlier; the skill of raising fish was indeed very important. It was a pity there was no running water; it would be much better if they could be raised in running water.
The fan who had been frequently leaving comments in the live stream was quite excited: "Yes! Previously, Lou Wai Lou's grass carp was kept in net cages in West Lake for several days before being cooked. It seems the restaurant the streamer found this time is really authentic."
Qin Yue's eating is a pleasure to watch; she eats quickly but not rudely, and she has a large appetite, which is one of her advantages as a food vlogger. Watching her devour the West Lake Vinegar Fish, even mixing the sauce with her rice, the number of viewers in the live stream increased, and the comment section became incredibly lively.
[Really? They really ate it all? It must have been really delicious.]
Even a dog wouldn't believe it.
[Could they have been paid to run this ad?]
Someone blurted out: "[...No, look at this environment, does it look like a place that can afford to advertise?]"
Immediately, a string of "hahahahahaha" laughter appeared in the live chat.
Lu Xiaoqi sat opposite Qin Yue, occasionally posting a comment in the comment section. She originally wanted to control the situation, but later realized that she didn't actually need to do anything; the comments and bullet comments were quite positive.
[I'm not exaggerating, but these little street-side restaurants are the most classic. You don't have to worry about pre-made food, and they have that authentic, homey feel. These kinds of restaurants are becoming increasingly rare; we should cherish them.]
[Agreed. When I travel, I also love to eat at the small restaurants frequented by locals; that's where the truly unique and delicious food comes from.]
Some sharp-eyed people even spotted the jade fish balls on Xu Chen's table next door: "Look! Judging by the presentation and plating, it definitely looks like it's run by a master chef. There are hidden talents among ordinary people!"
Xu Chen, an E-person, even brought the jade fish balls in front of the camera: "This is my second time eating here, it's delicious, highly recommended! And the sauerkraut fish is so good with rice, it's better than anywhere else."
He doesn't have many food evaluation terms; he just says it's delicious no matter what. But this kind of ordinary person's reaction is very convincing.
[Host, please tell me which store it is! I'm from Qinghe City! I need to know the store's name within three seconds!]
Do you do food delivery? I'm also from Qinghe, and I'd like to order some.
[Hmph, although I'm not from Qinghe, I happen to be going there on a business trip the day after tomorrow.]
Qin Yue immediately and readily provided the store name and address. Seeing that the atmosphere had been built up, Lu Xiaoqi decisively gave Qin Yue's live stream a carnival boost, significantly raising its ranking and attracting more viewers.
Qin Yue gave her a knowing gesture.
Just then, new customers arrived at the shop—He Guihua, the auntie Song Wu Sao had met while shopping for vegetables, came in with three or four aunties in their fifties or sixties: "Oh my, you have quite a lot of people here today."
Hearing the noise, Sister-in-law Song Wu came out with a large ladle, somewhat surprised and delighted: "Why are you here?"
He Guihua laughed heartily, "I've come to support you."
Actually, she came here today specifically to support Sister Song. Last night, when she went for a walk, she overheard some shop owners on the street discussing Sister Song's Fish Restaurant: "There are hardly any customers at noon, it might close down tomorrow."
He Guihua's heart skipped a beat; it seemed that Sister Song's small restaurant was not very successful.
When she talked to Sister-in-law Song, Sister-in-law Song said that she had no relatives and had come to Qinghe to seek refuge with distant relatives, so she felt sorry for her. Later, seeing how efficient Sister-in-law Song was and how quickly she opened her small restaurant, she felt even more that she was a respectable person.
He Guihua is very enthusiastic and has just retired with money and free time. When she heard that Song Wusao's business plan was not going well, she immediately pulled three or four people from her square dance team to support Song Wusao.
Sister-in-law Song was grateful: "Okay, just tell me what you want to eat, and I'll give you a 20% discount."
If He Guihua came alone, she would treat everyone, but since there are so many people, she can only offer a discount.
Upon hearing about the discount, the aunties who had initially thought her restaurant was a bit pricey immediately calmed down. Looking at the dishes on the two tables, they thought it seemed alright.
Liao Yunyun, who works nearby and was attracted by the small blackboard at the entrance, also thought it was alright. However, she was alone and saw so many people in the store. She thought the store must be good, but she was also afraid to stay in such an environment, so she asked in a low voice, "Can I get it to go?"
Zhao Feiyan was still busy, so Lu Xiaoqi quickly greeted her: "Of course, would you like a set meal? Please sit here and wait for a while."
Yesterday afternoon, she not only bought a small blackboard but also fast food containers, and she bought the expensive kind, which are of good quality and environmentally friendly. She was thinking that she could use them for takeout, which is the fastest way to complete her weekly tasks.
Liao Yunyun nodded quickly and then sat down far away from the crowd.
She ordered a sauerkraut fish set meal.
Two more people came in and each ordered a sauerkraut fish set meal and a jade fish ball set meal. They thought it was a bit expensive, but since it was so expensive and there were so many people, it must taste pretty good, so they were willing to give it a try.
Lu Xiaoqi glanced at the packed store and nodded to herself. This was the herd mentality of people. If there hadn't been many people in the store today, she would have been thinking of asking others to queue up. Luckily, she could save that money.
Moreover, she believed that there would definitely be many repeat customers here, just look at Qin Yue and Xu Chen.
Liao Yunyun returned to the company with her sauerkraut fish set meal. Her company was quite large, with forty or fifty people. Usually, about a third of them brought their own lunch, while two-thirds ordered takeout. Everyone liked to gather in the large conference room for lunch, then play on their phones for a while and take a nap.
She opened the sauerkraut fish set meal, which included a small bowl of sauerkraut fish, a plate of stir-fried vegetables, and a plate of pan-fried tofu. The restaurant also included a complimentary drink. Each item was individually boxed, looking neat and tidy.
Upon opening, an overwhelming aroma immediately fills the nose, and what comes into view are snow-white fish slices and reddish-brown dried chili pepper segments, making it irresistible to both the sense of smell and taste.
"It looks pretty good." A colleague came over to take a look and casually asked, "How much?"
Liao Yunyun: "Thirty-eight yuan."
"That's a bit expensive." The older woman clicked her tongue. "It's only because young people like you don't have to support a family, and you can eat such expensive fast food. Thirty-eight yuan a serving, that's enough to cover a month's salary just for food."
Liao Yunyun smiled. This older sister was a bit talkative, but she wasn't a bad person. Her usual way of dealing with her was to just say "uh-huh" and let it go in one ear and out the other.
She ate a piece of pickled fish, and her eyes immediately lit up.
Delicious! The fish is so tender that it was almost impossible to pick up with my hands. It melts in my mouth after just a couple of sips and has a unique freshness. The broth clinging to it is refreshingly sour and spicy, creating a very rich and complex flavor.
The pickled cabbage was also delicious, crunchy and not too salty. Digging deeper, I discovered tender, fresh bamboo shoots hidden inside, which was rare, unlike the ubiquitous bean curd sheets found elsewhere. Liao Yunyun realized that it was the perfect season for bamboo shoots, and the chef had truly put thought into it. It also showed that this was definitely not a pre-made dish.
She ate her fill, but when she looked up, she suddenly saw several people staring at her, including the older woman next to her.
"Is it good?" Someone quietly swallowed and asked her, feeling that the food in their own hands didn't taste so good when they saw her eating.
"It's delicious!" Liao Yunyun answered honestly.
"I want to try a piece." A familiar colleague couldn't wait and brought over a bowl. "Would you like some of my braised pork? It's quite delicious."
Liao Yunyun was not good at saying no, so she could only exchange a piece of sauerkraut fish for a piece of braised pork. The braised pork was indeed good, but she still felt that her sauerkraut fish was more delicious, which made her quite heartbroken.
"It's really delicious!" my colleague exclaimed with delight. "Which restaurant did you order from?"
This shout attracted the attention of the others who had been eyeing the restaurant. Liao Yunyun, no longer caring about being shy, immediately shouted, "That's all! I don't even have enough left! It's a newly opened restaurant called Song Sao Fish Restaurant. They make the dishes fresh. How about we order together tomorrow?"
She overheard in the store that it seemed to be a newly opened store, and Liao Yunyun suddenly felt that she had a responsibility to let more people know about it, otherwise what if it went out of business?
“I think that’s a good idea.” My colleagues all nodded in agreement. “Then I won’t bring my own lunch tomorrow.”
Even the originally frugal older sister was somewhat tempted: "Take me with you, I'll go have a good meal too."
Seeing that the crisis was over, Liao Yunyun finally relaxed and began to eat her meal with peace of mind.
Through repeated referrals and recommendations, Song Sao Fish Restaurant has become known to more and more people.
Qin Yue ended her live stream, which had reached around 30,000 viewers, a small peak for her recently, and she was quite satisfied. Song Wu Sao's cooking was indeed delicious, and she really wanted to stay in Qinghe City for another two days, but unfortunately, an advertiser was pressing her for time, so she had to return to the provincial capital first.
"I will come again!" she vowed to Lu Xiaoqi.
Lu Xiaoqi naturally welcomed the feedback. That noon, she received a total of ten positive reviews from diners, almost a 100% approval rating. She was certain that people who had watched the live stream would contact her that evening, and things would only get better.
She was overjoyed; at this rate, she should be able to complete her week's tasks without any problems.
As expected, there were many more people at dinner than at noon. Some were referred by customers from noon, and others came after watching Qin Yue's live stream.
“We are originally from Qinghe City, and we don’t live that far away, so we came directly here.”
Lu Xiaoqi was grinning from ear to ear, planning to give Qin Yue a big red envelope later: "Come in and sit down. The menu is on the blackboard. Take a look and see what you want to eat?"
These people knew before they came that the shop was small and simple, but they didn't mind. Even after dividing the four tables, there weren't enough seats, so some of them had to stand at the entrance. They happened to have ordered set meals to take home.
The male owner of the small restaurant next door came out and saw this scene, leaving him speechless.
It's only been a day, how could it have turned out like this?!
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