Food Stall: Customers Chase Me across the Country-Chapter 366 - 367: This Is the Flavor a Shrimp Like Me Should Have!

Chapter 366: Chapter 367: This Is the Flavor a Shrimp Like Me Should Have!

"Is it ready? Time to eat."

Mr. Zhuo couldn’t suppress his beaming smile as he called out and walked through the door.

He couldn’t help but smile; after all, on his recent rounds, everyone insisted they wanted to taste it in front of him. Consequently, there were scenes of people spewing juice everywhere, and witnessing those dumbfounded expressions was pure bliss!

The only downside was that he seemed to be the first one to have sprayed?

Fortunately, at that time, only his wife and daughter saw it, and their prospective son-in-law... Bah, that boy didn’t see, so his face wasn’t lost.

That boy’s culinary skills are truly impressive. Those six beef balls almost caused a family scuffle, with everyone clamoring for more. They simply couldn’t get enough.

Looking just at this, when that boy opens shop tomorrow, there’s no doubt there will be plenty of customers. Between these neighbors and whoever they bring, it’ll surely start well.

He didn’t doubt that those neighbors would invite others. If it were just tasty, they might not call, but with the added "juice-spewing" feature, they definitely will. After all, seeing a friend spew juice mouthful in front of you is surely worth it.

I wonder what that boy plans to make for lunch today?

Recently, unable to find a market, he hadn’t eaten properly in days, so today he ought to indulge.

Hearing Mr. Zhuo’s voice, Zhuo Qianqian quickly replied, "It’s ready, we can eat soon. Dad, why don’t you wash up first?"

After washing his hands and entering the house, Mr. Zhuo saw a table full of dishes, making him wonder just how long he’d been out.

And every dish looked incredibly enticing, even making him doubt if these shrimp were really the ones he raised.

Take, for example, the plate of boiled shrimp on the table. He’d made this dish before, but his shrimp only came out white with a faint pinkish hue. Yet this boy’s were pink with red, looking far tastier than his previously pale ones. They were gleaming with an appetizing sheen, likely tempting even those who don’t usually eat seafood to try.

Mrs. Zhuo was also amazed and said to Wang Fan, smiling, "Our daughter always said your cooking was exceptional. I thought I had set high expectations, but even then, I underestimated."

Wang Fan hurriedly replied, "It’s just so-so; I’ve dabbled a bit here and there."

"Take a seat; there’s no one else here."

The table wasn’t large, but the four of them seated together felt warm and lively, definitely not lonely. Throughout, Mr. Zhuo’s eyes never left the plate of boiled shrimp. This method truly tests the quality of the ingredients; he intensely wanted to know if his shrimp struggled in the market due to poor quality or ineffective preparation.

"Is there no dipping sauce for the boiled shrimp?"

Looking at Mr. Zhuo, Wang Fan explained, "The natural sweetness and freshness of good shrimp are enough; there’s no need for sauces."

Mr. Zhuo liked hearing this, given the shrimp were his own; this boy certainly knew how to speak well.

"Let me try."

Mr. Zhuo picked up a boiled shrimp, its pinkish-red color shining brightly, the tail naturally curled, exuding vitality.

The shell of the shrimp was as thin as a cicada’s wings, peeling away easily to reveal the tender, dripping shrimp meat inside. The meat was translucent, with a delicate pink hue, emanating a faint oceanic aroma.

Gently pinching the shrimp meat, he could distinctly feel its softness and elasticity.

Are these truly the shrimp he raised?

Once again questioning himself, Mr. Zhuo then bit the shrimp tail, placing the meat into his mouth.

After peeling, the shrimp retained the cooking water and its own juices; upon entry, the first sensory experience was the seafood aroma and the unique sweetness of the shrimp meat.

The taste was particularly rich!

Though seemingly mild, the surprisingly rich sweet-salty flavor spread across the tongue, followed by the savory shrimp essence.

Involuntarily chewing a bit, the firm yet tender shrimp meat was captivating, especially with the ample juices being squeezed out with each bite—the sweet flavor was one he’d never experienced before.

This was on a completely different level from anything he’d made before!

In disbelief, Mr. Zhuo looked at Wang Fan. Despite both being boiled shrimp, how could there be such a disparity?

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the taste he was now enjoying was what he had always imagined his farmed shrimp would have!

They often say wild-caught shrimp have better flavor, but he didn’t believe it.

The shrimp fry were top-quality, purchased from Hainan. Their living environment was meticulously curated.

The fry transitioned through a freshwater pond with added water before entering the large pond filled with Tianshan spring water.

In terms of water quality and growth conditions, Mr. Zhuo could confidently assert that his were on par with any place!

Yet previously, the shrimp meat simply wasn’t tasty!

Now the problem was clear—it wasn’t the shrimp, but the cooks preparing them!

Chefs who had dedicated their lives to beef and lamb couldn’t cook shrimp properly, including him as a shrimp farmer. They hadn’t showcased the shrimp’s true characteristics.

Not until this boy came along did his shrimp truly show their potential.

Mrs. Zhuo also tasted a boiled shrimp; its fresh sweetness, salty aroma, tender bite, and satisfying mouthfeel were worlds apart from what they’d had before.

"Are these really the shrimp we raised?"

Incredulous, Mrs. Zhuo glanced at Wang Fan, then at Mr. Zhuo, strongly suspecting her husband had bought different shrimp.

Wang Fan smiled, "These are indeed the white shrimp Uncle harvested from the farm. When I cooked them, I aimed to preserve their natural flavor, adding only a bit of salt and sugar."

Mrs. Zhuo praised, "I never knew our shrimp could taste this good."

Zhuo Qianqian boasted, "I’ve always said his cooking is top-notch, do you believe it now?"

With a serious expression, Wang Fan shook his head, "It’s not my cooking that’s outstanding; it’s Uncle’s shrimp farming skills."

He said this sincerely, and he genuinely thought so.

Sincerity is the most potent weapon; Mr. Zhuo, flattered by Wang Fan’s compliment, flushed, lightly coughing to mask his embarrassment.

Unconvinced, he picked up another boiled shrimp; its perfect taste and texture reaffirmed that its deliciousness wasn’t accidental.

With each bite, Mr. Zhuo felt a inexplicable twinge of sorrow in his heart, even feeling a tickle at the corners of his eyes.

He had heard countless rejections and criticisms about his shrimp, yet because he couldn’t do any better, he endured it silently.

At last, he was reassured—the problem wasn’t his shrimp but the poor culinary skills of others. The shrimp were undeniably excellent!