Chapter 369: Yun Qing's Joy
The Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish in front of him was generously coated in a vibrant tomato-red sauce. That rich, vivid red hue—paired with the scattered green peas and shrimp on top—created a strong visual impact.
Just one glance was enough to make Yun Qing think, This dish must taste amazing. And that was before the wild, enticing aroma of fried goodness mixed with a faintly sweet and sour tomato scent stormed into his nose, making his senses tremble with anticipation.
What an incredible smell!
Yun Qing considered himself fairly well-traveled when it came to mainland cuisine. He had sampled many famous dishes known for their powerful aromas—but nothing he'd ever tasted came close to the intense scent he was experiencing now.
Unable to resist, Yun Qing picked up the pair of chopsticks beside him and reached for the fish coated in sauce.
He had learned how to use chopsticks shortly after arriving in Shrek City, thanks to the restaurants in the food district.
These utensils, which also originated from Han Shi, felt like the perfect match for this wonderful dish. Carefully, Yun Qing picked out one of the countless strands of crisp fish fillets and gave a slight twist. A sharp crack rang out as it broke cleanly.
The crispness of that sound sent a shiver down his spine.
He slowly moved the fish closer to his nose. Beneath the translucent red sauce, he could see the golden, perfectly-fried crispiness of the fish.
'It must taste incredible, with that crunch in every bite…'
He couldn't wait any longer—Yun Qing placed the fish into his mouth.
The moment it touched his tongue, the intense fried aroma filled his mouth and nose. The sweet-and-sour tang of the tomato sauce sparked a surge in his appetite, which was already ravenous.
Crunch
He started chewing, and the golden fish was even crispier than he'd imagined.
But that wasn't all—he quickly realized something different.
While the outside of the fish was fried to perfection, the inside remained tender and juicy. That freshness, nearly bursting with juices, only intensified as he chewed—forming a perfect contrast to the crispy exterior.
If the texture had only been crispy, it would've been delicious but one-dimensional. The inner tenderness added depth and transformed the dish entirely.
Juicy, succulent fish meat and the crisp, golden shell melded together as he chewed, creating a harmony of textures that offered a completely new, delightful experience.
"Mmm!" Yun Qing's eyes lit up with excitement.
The Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish was every bit as delicious as promised.
Even if he had waited twenty days just for this one dish—it would've been worth it.
Right then and there, Yun Qing had the urge to stand up and shout to the world that this was the most delicious food ever made.
But thankfully, reason prevailed—he didn't want to die of embarrassment.
After devouring that first bite, Yun Qing felt something was missing.
'What was it…?'
Oh, right!
Rice.
To enjoy something this exquisite without pairing it with rice? That would be nothing short of a tragedy.
With that thought, Yun Qing reached for the purple clay bowl beside him.
"Nice-looking bowl," he murmured, running his fingers over the raised cloud patterns etched on the bowl's surface in surprise.
But soon, his attention shifted to the rice inside.
What he saw next shocked him even more.
This… is rice?
The purple clay bowl was broad, and the rice inside it had risen just slightly, forming a neat, perfectly domed surface.
Each grain of rice looked round and plump, with a translucent glow under the lights.
The grains clung gently to each other, yet they were clearly defined and distinct—individual pearls of perfection.
Even without any side dishes, just eating this rice alone would surely be a joy.
Gulp
Yun Qing swallowed hard.
As he scooped out a bite with his chopsticks, seeing the small dip he'd created in the bowl, he actually felt a tiny twinge of regret—like disturbing a perfect work of art.
However, that faint sense of regret was quickly crushed under Yun Qing's overwhelming desire to devour his food. With a loud "Awoo!", he didn't hesitate to shovel a mouthful of white rice into his mouth.
Although the Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish had already been swallowed, its rich, flavorful aftertaste still lingered faintly between his teeth.
As Yun Qing began to chew the rice, the remaining flavors began to blend with it.
The rice had a firm and springy texture. As he chewed, it yielded slightly under his teeth and then began to break apart, fragmenting more and more with each bite.
At first, it carried only a light and elegant aroma of rice—not too stimulating to the palate.
But as the chewing continued and the grains grew finer, the scent and taste of the rice grew stronger.
Once the starches inside the rice began to release, his taste buds responded differently.
There was a gentle sweetness—nothing overpowering, but incredibly satisfying.
Within that light sweetness, the fading flavors of the fish returned more vividly, creating a lingering and layered aftertaste that danced on the tongue.
After swallowing a spoonful of rice, Yun Qing's face was filled with happiness.
At that moment, he suddenly felt that a one-gold-coin bowl of white rice should taste like this.
Before long, he was alternating between bites of crispy fish and spoonfuls of rice, embarking wholeheartedly on his personal rice-devouring journey.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
"Meow~"
Just as Yue Lengxin was finishing the last bites of her Dinghu Shangsu, preparing to try the next dish—Dragon Serpent Soup—a familiar mewl made her turn her head.
Seeing the well-behaved Pururu, Yue Lengxin's face lit up with a brilliant smile. She took the plate from the top of Pururu's head and reached out her arms.
"Pururu, it's been so long!"
"Meow~!"
Pururu leapt into her embrace and nuzzled her cheek affectionately, making the young woman's smile even brighter.
But the restaurant was still busy, and after a moment of play, the little cat had to go.
Watching Pururu leave with a bun in its mouth, Yue Lengxin's gaze returned to the Dragon Serpent Soup in front of her.
The surface of the soup was pure white, without any garnishing, giving it a very clean and plain appearance.
But the light, savory aroma wafting into her nose told her otherwise—this dish was far from ordinary.
She picked up a spoon and gently scooped some of the thick soup. As it rose, it formed a long, thin string from bowl to spoon, making her even more eager to taste it.
It looks promising!
This was the first time Han Shi had ever served a soup this thick. Previous dishes like the Wensi Tofu had a light starch-thickened broth for a smoother texture, but nothing like the dense consistency of this Dragon Serpent Soup.
As the scent grew stronger the closer she brought it to her mouth, she tipped the spoon and took a sip.
Despite being called a soup, the Dragon Serpent Soup's texture reminded her of black sesame paste.
Not that she had ever tasted black sesame paste—so to her, this strange, sticky smoothness was completely new.
As she gently swirled it in her mouth, feeling the slightly thick soup slowly melt, an explosion of flavor erupted—a unique, savory note from dragon meat combined with the rich taste of chicken broth.
Yue Lengxin's bright eyes lit up at once.
So delicious!
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