Chapter 55: Braised Boneless Duck Feet with Black Garlic and Winter Bamboo Shoots

When Li Xiao announced the new rule, some were happy, and some were not.

The ones who were upset, of course, were those whose accounts had never posted anything.

"Streamer, I swear I’m not a bot! I just don’t usually post on TikTok!"

"I’m gonna go post three videos right now! I hope it’s not too late!"

"I could just die, I’m literally dying! I’ve watched every single one of your streams and never won a thing. I thought I was miserable enough, but now there’s another rare giveaway, and I look at my profile and see only two videos. I don’t even qualify to enter!!!"

"Streamer, I’m begging you, please make an exception! I’m not a bot either, I’ve just never posted a video before!"

Li Xiao ignored their pleas. The rules were set. If he started flip-flopping now, he would only encourage more people to demand more exceptions in the future.

Although a rule like this might screen out some of his genuine fans, it was also the most effective way to weed out as many bot and inactive accounts as possible.

It was a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils, and Li Xiao didn’t think there was anything wrong with his decision.

"Future giveaways will most likely follow this format."

"It can’t be helped. There are just too many bots and inactive accounts these days. I’m sure you don’t want giveaway farms and bots snatching up prizes that should be yours, right?"

"So if you really want to participate in future giveaways, please try to complete the real-name verification process and post a few videos."

After hearing Li Xiao’s explanation, many people’s complaints subsided.

He had a point. If there were no entry requirements, the vast army of bots would have a much better chance of winning.

As he spoke, Li Xiao finished setting up the cash giveaway.

In that short half-minute, the stream’s viewer count skyrocketed from just over 7,000 to 11,000.

After all, with a prize pool totaling 200,000, who wouldn’t be tempted?

Li Xiao didn’t bother trying to figure out if the new viewers were bots or real people.

Once the giveaway was live, he paid it no further attention, because the third course had been served.

As Taotao helped serve the dish, she carefully explained:

"Honored guests, this is the Braised Boneless Duck Feet with Black Garlic and Winter Bamboo Shoots. The briquette underneath is smokeless anthracite coal, which is used to heat the dish. Please be careful not to touch it, or you could easily get burned."

Like before, it was an individual serving in a small crock, which sat atop a device resembling an alcohol stove.

However, this one didn’t use alcohol. Instead, it held a dark, unassuming, hollow metal sphere.

Wisps of flame flickered out from within. The heat wasn’t intense, but it was remarkably steady—more than enough to keep the dish warm.

Li Xiao lifted the lid of the crock, and a potent aroma of black garlic and solo garlic rushed out.

He found it hard to imagine that a high-end restaurant—one holding two Michelin stars and a two-diamond Black Pearl rating—would actually serve a dish with such a powerful aroma.

Those who liked garlic would find it fragrant, of course, but anyone who didn’t would find it unbearable. It seemed certain to affect other guests.

But on second thought, he realized that Jiuhe Garden didn’t have a main dining hall, only private rooms of varying sizes.

This way, even if different guests ordered different dishes, the aromas wouldn’t interfere with one another, no matter how potent they were.

If it had a main dining hall, the issue of clashing aromas alone would probably have significantly lowered its Michelin and Black Pearl ratings.

There were only two duck feet, but both were exceptionally large. They had been deboned with exquisite care, removing only the bones without damaging the meat or skin.

The two duck feet were arranged neatly, filling the porcelain crock. Beside them sat several cloves of solo garlic and black garlic, which released a killer aroma as they heated.

Many people may not be familiar with black garlic. In essence, it’s just solo garlic that has undergone a rigorous fermentation process, which usually takes three to four months.

After fermentation, the flesh of the solo garlic clove turns from a pale yellow to jet black.

The original sharp, spicy flavor of the solo garlic is greatly diminished, and it develops a rich garlic fragrance with creamy notes.

Furthermore, the long fermentation process makes black garlic much less harsh, so it’s suitable for the elderly.

Elderly people who love garlic but whose digestive systems have weakened are perfect candidates for this type of black garlic.

The chef had used two different preparations of solo garlic, which made the garlic aroma richer, more robust, and gave it a stronger sense of complexity.

The duck feet had been braised in advance, giving them an attractive, deep golden-brown color.

A layer of finger-thick strips of winter bamboo shoots lay beneath the duck feet. The rich, thick sauce simmered under the flame, tiny bubbles popping on its surface.

The moment Li Xiao saw the sauce, he understood why the small smokeless-coal stove was necessary.

The sauce was so thick that if it wasn’t kept constantly heated, it would cool into a viscous, paste-like coating on the food, rapidly ruining the texture.

Li Xiao looked at the tempting golden-brown solo garlic but decided against trying it first.

He knew that putting such a pungent food in his mouth first would overwhelm his taste buds and ruin his palate for what was to follow.

Li Xiao picked up the small golden knife and cut into a piece of duck foot.

The braised duck foot was incredibly tender. The golden blade glided through it, easily separating it into two pieces.

After cutting the large piece of duck foot into four sections, Li Xiao set down his knife and fork, picked up a piece with his chopsticks, and popped it into his mouth.

At the same moment, a system notification chimed in his mind.

[Congratulations, you have unlocked your 8th catalog entry.]

[Gourmet Catalog Entry Unlocked: Braised Boneless Duck Feet with Black Garlic and Winter Bamboo Shoots]

[Dish Rating: 94 (Excellent)]

[As the dish rating is Excellent, you will receive a 4x reward multiplier.]

[Congratulations! You have been awarded 800,000 in cash.]

[Congratulations! You have been awarded: Black Garlic Production Recipe.]

[Congratulations! You have been awarded: A Guide to Selecting Winter Bamboo Shoots.]

[Congratulations! You have been awarded: Recipe for Duck Feet in Abalone Sauce.]

[Note 1: All rewards are automatically made legal and legitimate. There is no need to worry about their origin.]

[Note 2: Reward values vary based on the rating.]

The next moment, Li Xiao saw his phone screen light up.

[Your savings account ending in 7700...]

This dish truly deserved its score of 94.

Savory, aromatic, and tender.

The sauce was intensely fragrant, a rich garlic aroma suffusing the two different solo garlic broths.

Then, a savory sweetness spread across his tongue. Li Xiao pondered it for a moment before he immediately realized where that flavor came from.

It was the savory sweetness of abalone sauce. The duck feet had been braised in it, allowing the plump, tender flesh to completely absorb its essence. This flavor was then elevated by the garlic aroma, creating a wonderful synergy.

Two seemingly opposing flavors had, in that moment, fused in perfect harmony.