Chapter 411 - 410: Wang Han: "Can You Keep Me Company?

Chapter 411: Chapter 410: Wang Han: "Can You Keep Me Company?

Longfei obediently adjusted the price to nineteen yuan, but he still couldn’t help giving Jiang Liu a two-and-a-half-yuan discount.

"Alright, thanks. Do you like water-boiled fish?"

Jiang Liu took the black bag and asked with a smile.

"I love it! Basically, as long as you’re the one making it, I love it!"

Cai Longfei gulped.

He got cravings every time he so much as thought about Jiang Liu’s food.

But getting to eat it was incredibly difficult.

"If you have time, you can come over at two. I can save you a portion of the water-boiled fish."

"Deal! I’m actually free this afternoon. I’ll head over at two, then?"

"Sounds good. See you later. Oh, right, let’s add each other on WeChat. That way, I can give you a heads-up next time I need something. How does that sound?"

"Of course, of course! I’ll scan your code, Boss Jiang. And thank you in advance for saving me a portion this afternoon."

*

*

Jiang Liu then spent another twenty minutes picking up some side ingredients along the way.

This time, he also bought an additional ingredient—tofu.

Tofu has a smooth and tender texture, and it pairs wonderfully with the water-boiled fish.

Back at the shop, Jiang Liu began to cook.

Empowered by the [Meat-Carving Knife], the black snakehead was quickly sliced into perfectly uniform, tender, and translucent white fillets.

Jiang Liu placed some crushed ice on the fillets to keep them fresh.

Next, he prepared the other ingredients: the yak meat, tuna, and ham.

The buns were made directly with the [Bun-Making Tools].

Thanks to his ten-point Constitution, the knife in his hands danced with incredible, mesmerizing speed.

Any other chef who witnessed this would be absolutely stunned.

Jiang Liu sliced the tofu and placed it with the other side ingredients, such as bean sprouts and mushrooms.

He blanched the fish to remove any gaminess, then scooped it out and coated it in a layer of free-range egg whites.

This would make the fish even more tender and savory.

And more nutritious, too.

10:10.

A large pot of water-boiled fish was ready, steam rising from it in a hot, mala-scented cloud. The tender white fillets were dotted with segments of red and green chili, Sichuan peppercorns, and dried chilies.

Jiang Liu ladled out a bowl for himself.

The snakehead fillets had a perfect, springy bite! They were incredibly tender. Some pieces, marbled with fat, melted the instant they entered his mouth. A rich, fishy flavor wrapped in a savory, numbing-and-spicy fragrance exploded on his palate.

He picked up a piece of scalding-hot, tender tofu. The aroma of soy mingled with the spicy flavor of the fish broth. ’Now this,’ he thought, ’is real fish tofu.’

It was explosively delicious.

"Not bad. It tastes even better than the first time I made it."

Jiang Liu remarked with satisfaction.

After all, he was following a recipe this time; the knowledge hadn’t been instantly integrated into his memory from the start.

Secretary Wang arrived again to pick up the food.

He seemed much more energetic, as if he’d managed to catch a nap that morning.

He pushed open the glass door.

The rich, fishy aroma from inside wafted out.

"What’s that smell?"

"It smells amazing!"

"I’m dying, did Boss Jiang make an off-menu special?"

"I don’t know."

The customers in line breathed in the aroma greedily.

"Damn it, Brother Jiang is trying to kill me with this smell!"

"What’s Boss Jiang cooking that’s so good? And why is he being so secretive about it? I wonder if it’s for sale."

"Fuck, is that water-boiled fish? Holy shit! It smells so authentic. I can smell the mala spices all the way out here."

Standing in line, Yu Guohua was a little stunned.

"Old Hou, do you smell that?"

"Mhm, it’s incredible! As expected of Master Jiang. You can tell the quality of the whole dish from just a whiff!" Hou Canjun said, as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

It was clear he had completely surrendered to Jiang Liu’s culinary world.

"That’s not what I mean! Didn’t you notice how incredibly authentic the Sichuan flavor of this water-boiled fish is?"

He hadn’t expected Jiang Liu to not only know how to make water-boiled fish, but to make it so authentically... And there was something else he left unsaid.

"Is that so? Aren’t you a Sichuan chef? It’s not like you can’t make authentic water-boiled fish yourself. What’s there to be so surprised about?" Hou Canjun asked, confused.

"No! Ugh, forget it. You wouldn’t understand."

Yu Guohua felt helpless.

’This aroma isn’t just from an authentic water-boiled fish,’ he thought. ’It’s from a water-boiled fish that has surpassed the original, authentic flavor and reached a whole new level!’

’Could I have been mistaken?’

Yu Guohua shook his head.

By now, the aroma of the water-boiled fish had faded.

He could no longer analyze it.

He could only give Jiang Liu’s water-boiled fish a provisional score of sixty for now.

*

Inside the shop, Secretary Wang was chatting cheerfully with Jiang Liu.

"Alright, same as always. The large one is for Uncle Jun, and the small one is for you."

"What deliciousness do we have today? Is there any water-boiled fish?" At the mere mention of it, Secretary Wang’s stomach let out an embarrassing growl.

Boss Jiang’s water-boiled fish was just too good.

He had only eaten it once, but he’d never forgotten it.

Jiang Liu replied, "You have the same as Uncle Jun, just a smaller portion. Today I made water-boiled fish, Di San Xian, and I’ve packed some buns, yak and potato mushroom soup, and some beer."

Hearing the long list of food, Secretary Wang’s eyes practically bored holes into the bag.

Never mind such a huge spread; any single one of these dishes would be enough to have the rich and powerful of Jing City fighting over it!

After a bit more small talk.

Secretary Wang checked the time. "I’d better get back, Boss Jiang. President Jun and his client are waiting!"

"Alright. Drive safe, don’t speed," Jiang Liu added.

"You got it, no worries!"

Secretary Wang left in high spirits, carrying the food.

Jiang Liu had nothing else to do for the moment.

He took out his phone to take a look.

Wang Han had sent him a few messages on WeChat.

Jiang Liu opened them.

Wang Han: "Jiang Liu, are you free at seven tonight?"

Jiang Liu thought for a moment before replying: "What’s up?"

Wang Han replied instantly: "I was hoping you could come with me to a family banquet. I don’t have a date. Could you come with me?"

Piles of documents sat on her desk. Wang Han held her phone, a troubled expression on her face.

Her family was pushing her to get married again, but she had no desire to, simply because she wasn’t interested.

She was also emotionally fastidious.

If it were Jiang Liu, however, she could make an exception.

But anyone else... forget it.

Jiang Liu thought it over but ultimately refused: "I’m sorry, Sister Wang. I have to open the shop for business at seven. A lot of customers will be waiting. I really don’t have the time. Sorry."

Wang Han: "Alright, it’s fine. It would be great if you could come, but it’s no big deal if you can’t."

A faint sense of disappointment settled in her heart, one she couldn’t shake.

Jiang Liu sighed and put down his phone.

Even if he weren’t open for business tonight, he still wouldn’t have agreed to go.

If he had the time, he would much rather spend it with Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong.

*

「On the second floor of an elegant restaurant」

Jun Xinghe sat in his usual spot by the floor-to-ceiling window.

A man and a woman sat across from him.

The man, who looked to be in his thirties, wore a faint smile. He was reasonably handsome, dressed in a blue-and-white striped shirt, black trousers, and black leather shoes.

A glamorous woman in a blue gown clung gently to his arm.

Just by looking at them, you would think they were a happy couple.

"President Jun, has Boss Jiang’s food arrived yet?"

Li Feng asked mildly.

His father was the second-largest shareholder of Dongfeng Motor Group. Jun Xinghe had previously wanted to buy a fleet of semi-trucks from him for his transport business, but Li Feng had never agreed to the price he offered.

The only reason he had agreed to this meeting today was to get a taste of Boss Jiang’s private-menu cuisine.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given Jun Xinghe the time of day.

"Just a moment, let me check." Jun Xinghe quickly sent a message to Secretary Wang, then looked up. "It’s almost here. My apologies for the wait, Young Master Li."