Chapter 204 Oil and Salt Grass Carp Without Ginger and Scallions

As he ate the sand ginger pork trotters, Li Xiao began to reconsider his initial assessment of the restaurant.

The food didn’t come out quickly; in fact, it was a little slow.

The only reason the sand ginger pork trotters had arrived so fast was because the dish could be prepared ahead of time.

He had to wait a good ten-plus minutes for the second dish to be served.

But any trace of complaint vanished the moment he saw the honey-glazed barbecue pork buns being brought to his table.

Each bun was steaming hot, and their enticing aroma continuously drifted into Li Xiao’s nose.

The buns were a moderate size, each about as big as an adult’s fist. Their skin was delicate and smooth, slightly puffed up, and looked soft and springy.

Li Xiao gently picked up a bun with his chopsticks. The skin trembled slightly at the light touch, revealing just how soft and fluffy it was.

He took a small bite from the corner of the bun. Instantly, the fragrance exploded, and the scent of the barbecue pork—mixed with a faint sweetness and a roasted aroma—filled his mouth.

The barbecue pork filling was a tempting, vibrant red, its texture delicate. It blended perfectly with the slightly sweet dough of the bun.

With every bite, he could feel the tender, juicy texture of the pork. The balance of sweet and savory in the barbecue sauce was perfect—not too salty, not too cloying.

This balance gave the bun a distinct, layered flavor that left a wonderful, lingering aftertaste.

Li Xiao could feel the juices from the pork slowly seeping out as he chewed, mingling with the sweetness of the dough to create a rich textural experience.

With every chew, he savored the deliciousness of the meat and the dough, which made him nod in approval.

What was particularly noteworthy was the dough. It was outstanding—neither too thick nor too thin. With every bite, he could feel its pleasant chewiness and airy texture.

The perfect combination of dough and pork made it impossible to resist taking another bite.

Just then, the System’s notification chimed in his ear.

[Congratulations! You have unlocked the 76th item in the Food Guide.]

[The unlocked food item is: Honey-Glazed Barbecue Pork Buns]

[Dish Score: 90 (Excellent)]

[As the dish was rated ‘Excellent,’ you receive a x4 reward.]

[Congratulations! You have received a cash reward: 800,000.]

[Congratulations! You have received a cash reward: 800,000.]

[Congratulations! You have received a cash reward: 800,000.]

[Congratulations! You have received a recipe reward: Recipe for Honey-Glazed Barbecue Pork Buns.]

…

After swallowing the last bite of the barbecue pork bun, Li Xiao started to understand why they had taken so long to prepare.

These were completely different from the ones he usually ate. The dough was incredibly airy and light, and it had a distinct fragrance that only fresh flour possesses.

You couldn’t tell just by looking at them, but the moment you took a bite, it was obvious. The dough was made from scratch, not some mass-produced, factory-line product. These weren’t frozen buns that had been sitting in a freezer for who knows how long.

Li Xiao gave the camera a thumbs-up.

“I’m very surprised. The barbecue pork buns at this place are actually made from scratch.”

“The dough is incredibly soft, and the barbecue pork filling is tender. It’s bursting with juice when you bite into it, and the flavor is fantastic.”

He paused for a moment, then added a word of caution:

“But they do add honey to the seasoning, so the flavor is on the sweeter side. For my viewers from other provinces, I’d suggest you keep that in mind.”

He didn’t have to wait much longer for the third dish. The waitress soon brought it over.

When the Steamed Pork Ribs with Pumpkin was placed on the table, Li Xiao was immediately captivated by its colors.

The dish was vibrant. The pumpkin slices were a tempting golden yellow, while the pork ribs on top were a tantalizing, caramelized reddish-brown. The two created a beautiful visual contrast.

The pumpkin slices were soft, fragrant, and sweet, melting in his mouth with the characteristic creamy texture and sweetness of the squash.

The pork ribs paired with it were crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Steaming had made the meat exceptionally soft, and every juicy bite carried faint hints of garlic and savory sauce.

Li Xiao tasted a piece of a rib. He could feel the firm yet delicious texture of the meat. The savory juices blended with the sweetness of the pumpkin, which not only preserved the ribs’ original flavor but also added the pumpkin’s sweet aroma, making the overall taste even richer.

Next, he tried a piece of pumpkin. Its soft texture stood in stark contrast to the savory crispness of the pork ribs.

The natural sweetness of the pumpkin spread through his mouth, perfectly complementing the savory aroma of the ribs and creating a unique flavor experience.

He had to admit, as he kept eating, he realized that the pumpkin, having absorbed all the meat juices, was perhaps even more delicious and fragrant than the pork ribs themselves.

[Congratulations! You have unlocked the 77th item in the Food Guide.]

[The unlocked food item is: Steamed Pork Ribs with Pumpkin]

[Dish Score: 92 (Excellent)]

[As the dish was rated ‘Excellent,’ you receive a x4 reward.]

[Congratulations! You have received a cash reward: 800,000.]

[Congratulations! You have received a cash reward: 800,000.]

[Congratulations! You have received a cash reward: 800,000.]

[Congratulations! You have received a recipe reward: Recipe for Steamed Pork Ribs with Pumpkin.]

…

Li Xiao explained to his viewers in the live stream:

“This dish is also excellent. It’s simple to make—you just lay marinated pork ribs over pumpkin and steam them until they’re cooked. The flavors of the two blend together perfectly.”

“Steaming makes the pumpkin incredibly soft and juicy, and it absorbs the wonderful aroma of the ribs.”

“The pork ribs themselves are also incredibly tender. When you take a bite, they’re just bursting with juice. It’s delicious.”

“This is definitely a dish you all could try making at home.”

As he spoke, Li Xiao picked up a rib and tucked in with gusto.

Soon, the fourth dish was served.

When he saw the Steamed Grass Carp with Oil and Salt, Li Xiao’s eyebrows shot up, a look of surprise flashing across his face.

The fish looked extremely plain. Unlike typical steamed fish, there wasn’t a single drop of soy sauce underneath it. Even more surprisingly, there were no traces of ginger or scallions on top of it either.

The grass carp had been steamed whole. Its skin looked fresh and the meat tender, and it gave off a light, clean aroma.

Seeing the state of the fish, the viewers in his live stream immediately cried out in alarm.

“How come there’s no soy sauce on that fish?”

“Am I the only one who noticed there’s no ginger or scallions on it?”

“A fish without ginger, scallions, or chili peppers? Isn’t it going to be unbearably fishy?”

“The host’s tastes are pretty wild, huh?”

Seeing his viewers’ doubts, Li Xiao also felt a little apprehensive. He’d eaten plenty of steamed fish in his time.

River fish, sea fish, lake fish—you name it.

But he had never seen one steamed without scallions or garlic. This was a first.

He leaned in slightly and gently wafted the air toward his nose with his hand.

The air carried only the fragrance of peanut oil and the fresh scent of the fish. There wasn’t the slightest trace of a fishy smell.

Instead of immediately answering his viewers’ questions, Li Xiao extended his chopsticks, picked up a small piece of the fish belly, and placed it in his mouth.

The texture of the fish was delicate and tender, melting the moment it touched his tongue.

With every bite, he could taste the inherent deliciousness of the fish itself, along with an elegant freshness from the light salt seasoning.

The amount of oil and salt was judged perfectly, preserving the natural flavor of the fish while avoiding any feeling of it being too salty or greasy.

What surprised Li Xiao the most was that the fish exuded a pristine freshness, a flavor that seemed to transport him to the heart of nature, leaving him feeling utterly refreshed and at ease.

Although the dish looked simple, every step of its preparation was clearly meticulous—from selecting the freshest fish to controlling the steaming time and temperature, every detail was strictly managed.

At that moment, he also began to understand the principle behind this dish’s preparation.