Chapter 242: Fragrance of Crab

Translator: 549690339

Yan Chao is a local of Yue Hu City.

He is not a Spirit Chef, at most, he can be considered a cooking enthusiast. However, apart from cooking, he has an even bigger passion, which is tasting delicacies.

Even though he enjoys cooking, how could it compare to the convenience of eating good food cooked by someone else?

Being a local, Yan Chao is naturally familiar with the Leaping Fish Banquet. The 26-year-old him has attended five or six banquets that he can recall.

When the rules for this Leaping Fish Banquet were announced, he was thrilled. In previous banquets, he could watch as an audience member, but he didn’t have the chance to taste the exquisite food cooked by the master chefs.

But this time at the Leaping Fish Banquet, not only can he freely sample the food, but he can also cast his sacred vote to help his favourite dish win!

Praise be to Miss Ye Cangqing!

While excited, Yan Chao was browsing a local online forum and noticed that many people mentioned how the number of food stalls nearby had suddenly increased, and the culinary skills of all were not low.

Moreover, these stalls all have one thing in common, the price of the food isn’t low, but considering the quality of ingredients and cooking skills, they are very reasonable.

He quickly related this to the new rules of the Leaping Fish Banquet- setting up stalls!

All these new stalls are perhaps preparing for the Leaping Fish Banquet!

Upon this realization, without saying a word, Yan Chao rushed to the nearest open lakeside area.

In the past, there would be snack stalls set up here daily, but now with this development, perhaps many new stalls will appear.

And indeed, it was as he thought.

Seeing the crowded and bustling food street scale area, Yan Chao was glad he hadn’t eaten dinner.

Now he can fill his stomach with a variety of delicacies!

Feasting along the way, for Yan Chao, who loved tasting different food, it felt like he had entered paradise.

In the past, this quality of food could only be obtained in more expensive restaurants; he couldn’t afford such luxury daily due to his limited financial strength. He could occasionally treat himself, but not regularly.

Now, he could choose whatever he wanted, and eat till he was satiated! Although the prices were still a bit high, they are within his affordability. Thinking of these stalls continuing to exist before the commencement of the Leaping Fish Banquet, and even increasing in number, Yan Chao couldn’t help but feel happier and more grateful to Miss Ye Cangqing.

While enjoying himself, Yan Chao smelled a peculiar aroma.

Even amidst the mixed fragrances of various delicacies in the area, this sudden aroma stood out distinctly.

Yan Chao sniffed, and his eyes lit up.

It’s the smell of crabs!

He was too familiar with this scent.

The Yue Hu lake also produces crabs, hence the price was not expensive.

Every now and then, Yan Chao will buy two or three crabs.

You don’t need too many cooking steps, just simply boiling it would result in a splendid delicacy, what’s even more valuable is there’s no need to add any seasonings.

The innate freshness and sweetness of the crab meat and roe were already stunning.

For Yan Chao, who’s just an average cook, this was indeed very favourable. Therefore, out of all the seafood ingredients, crab is Yan Chao’s favourite. Throughout his journey so far, he hadn’t seen any stalls cooking crabs. The smell of the crab that he just sniffed made Yan Chao follow the aroma immediately without any hesitation.

Soon, he found the stall emitting the aroma.

There was a glass tank covered with a lid on the stall, filled with various fresh seafood ingredients soaked in sauce, which sparked Yan Chao’s interest.

However, the price of a hundred yuan per jin calmed him down.

It’s not that he could not afford it, but it’s better to observe for a while.

Yan Chao’s gaze quickly shifted to the young boy who was bustling around the stall.

He was stir-frying a rich, orange-coloured dish in a large pot.

The distinct aroma of crab was emanating from the food he was preparing. Yan Chao wanted to inquire about this dish still being prepared, but seeing the focus of the young chef, he swallowed his question.

Even though the chef was young, Yan Chao didn’t underestimate him.

After all, two two-star Food Spirits were fluttering next to him.

Moreover, if he had the confidence to participate in the Leaping Fish Banquet, his culinary skills certainly wouldn’t be lacking.

Thinking such a high-level chef, one should not disturb the cooking process lightly.

With these thoughts, Yan Chao remained silent, simply watching with curiosity as the aromatic meal in the pot was continuously being stirred.

The orange part should be crab roe.

As he watched the stir-frying process, Yan Chao could vaguely see strands of tender, white crab meat and the darker-colored crab paste.

He couldn’t help but swallow again.

Stir-frying these three ingredients together…

Just picturing a spoonful of crab roe, crab meat, and crab paste going in his mouth gave him a satisfying feeling, not to mention any additional seasonings and extras.

He had to taste this dish once it was ready!

Luckily, he was the first one there!

Yan Chao turned to see people queued up behind him and wore an expectant expression on his face.

During his anxious wait, the young stall owner finally completed the cooking steps and lifted his head.

Meeting the stall owner’s gaze, Yan Chao quickly asked, “Boss, what is this dish? How much is it?”

“Crab roe fried rice, a bowl,” Qin Lang said, scooping the cooked rice into a cleaned, disinfected, delicate small bowl, covering it with a layer of crab powder, and placing it on the table, “Twenty dollars per bowl.”

Twenty dollars a bowl?!

Yan Chao’s eyes widened as he looked at the bowl on the table that probably wasn’t even as large as his fist.

Was it expensive?

Of course not.

Just the layer of crab roe on top alone was worth nearly half a hairy crab.

He just felt the portion was a bit small, not even enough for one mouthful.

However, considering he was already seventy percent full from tasting other foods before, Yan Chao felt the portion was acceptable.

“Give me one!” Without a moment’s hesitation, he immediately paid via a QR code.

“Enjoy. Please place your used tableware in the basket to the side when you’re finished,” Qin Lang said, handing him the bowl of crab roe fried rice and a spoon, and then pointing to the basket for collecting used tableware.

Yan Chao carefully took the rice and stepped aside to make room for the next customer. He then began to savor the dish.

Even though he deliberately slowed down, two spoonfuls was all it took to finish the small dish of crab roe fried rice.

“All…”

Yan Chao scooped a full spoonful of the rice covered with crab powder and quickly put it in his mouth.

After a few bites, an intoxicated expression appeared on his face.

The crab meat, crab roe, and crab paste were fully stimulated during the stir- frying process, releasing their rich taste and aroma. The moment the food entered his mouth, the wonderful flavor overflowed in between his lips and teeth.

The full grams of rice had a slight stickiness and sweet aroma that blended with the richness of the crab and brought a whole new culinary experience.

After placing the empty bowl and spoon into the recycling basket, Yan Chao hurried back to the end of the line without a word, ready to queue up again.

He wanted another bowl of crab roe fried rice!

Well… maybe he should also try the gravy seafood?

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