"I'm also very good at cleaning fish." Mai Ge said with a smile, rinsing the cleaned fish with water.
"The boss is amazing, much better than me." Yabemia nodded, deeply agreeing with Mai Ge. She had worked in the kitchen for so many years, but she could never do it as well as Mai Ge, who seemed to have practiced a thousand times, every movement was so elegant and natural.
"Alright, you two go and sit down. It'll take a little time to marinate. I'll call you when it's ready." Mai Ge said, turning to the two of them.
"Boss, can I watch how you cook fish? I promise I won't steal your recipe, I'm just curious." Yabemia pleaded with Mai Ge.
"Of course." Mai Ge nodded.
"Thank you, boss." Yabemia said happily, obediently standing to the side watching.
"Warning! The host does not currently have permission to teach others how to cook. Please do not casually agree to anyone's request to learn to cook!" the system's stern voice rang out.
"System, didn't you hear her say she wasn't trying to steal my cooking skills, she was just curious? I trust Mia's character, just as I trust your lack of integrity." Mai Ge said calmly, picking up various seasonings to marinate the cleaned fish.
"..."
The system silently displayed a line of text, but ultimately chose to remain silent.
Sally hesitated for a moment at the doorway, then decided to sit outside, resting her delicate chin on her hands, staring blankly at Mai Ge's back in the kitchen.
Grilling fish is actually quite a troublesome task, especially to grill a fish that tastes exceptionally good, it requires even more time and effort.
Mai Ge had already prepared the old oil. Since there were four people eating, Mai Ge chose a large fish. His countless cooking experiences in the Chef God Trial Ground had allowed him to perfectly master the skills of grilling fish. The marinated fish was placed in the oven and taken out when it was half-cooked. A layer of old oil was brushed on it, and then it was put back in the oven to continue grilling.
"Boss, what's this box? Why did the fish cook so quickly after being put in?" Yabemia couldn't help but ask, pointing at the oven with curiosity.
"This is an oven, specifically for baking fish, but it can also be used to bake other things." Mai Ge explained with a smile. Ovens were still a bit too advanced for this world.
"I understand, it's like a closed grill." Yabemia nodded thoughtfully, stared at the oven for a while, and then asked curiously, "But this oven doesn't have a heating element, so how does it get hot?"
"This oven doesn't heat up by burning charcoal, it uses electricity. The electricity is conducted into the oven through this wire, and then heats the heating element inside, providing heat to the oven. That's how the oven works, similar to the way the lights in the restaurant work." Mai Ge explained. He had previously given Yabemia and Sally a simple explanation of how electricity works, since there were electrical appliances everywhere in the restaurant, and it wouldn't be good if the two girls accidentally got an electric shock.
"So that's how it is! Boss, you're amazing! You've invented so many things, all so convenient and quick!" Yabemia looked at Mai Ge with admiration, her eyes sparkling.
"Hmph, those were all invented by this system." a slightly arrogant voice echoed in Mai Ge's mind.
"Life should be lived to the fullest." Mai Ge ignored the system's voice and accepted the girl's admiration without any hesitation.
After being brushed with two layers of old oil, the rainbow fish, with its golden-brown and crispy skin, was taken out of the oven by Mai Ge. The enticing aroma of the fish wafted out, and one could feel the deliciousness within the fragrance.
"It smells so good! I never knew fish could be grilled like this. It's completely different from the dark, hard grilled fish that chefs used to make." Yabemia couldn't help but swallow as she looked at the grilled fish that Mai Ge had placed on the iron plate.
The aroma wafted slowly from the kitchen. Sally, who was lost in thought, sniffed and her eyes lit up. This smell reminded her of the fish she used to eat when she was a child, fishing with Princess Irina at the Wind Lake and she tasted the fish directly by the lake while it was being grilled.
Although the fish grilled back then didn't taste as delicious, but the taste in her memory is still unforgettable. She rarely eats fish, partly because fish have many bones and she gets pricked every time she eats it, and partly because she feels that eating fish is somewhat cruel and she feels a little guilty when she does it.
But now, smelling that aroma, she felt a strong urge to taste the fish. A powerful desire rose within her, and she unconsciously sat up straighter, as if wanting to see how the fish in the kitchen had turned out.
The Ugly Duckling, who had been sleeping on the high stool, suddenly opened its eyes, turned its head towards the kitchen, and sniffed hard. It stood up and peered inside, its eyes filled with excitement, its little claws pawing at the stool, seemingly impatient.
"Daddy, I'm home!" Amy's voice rang out from outside the door, accompanied by a few knocks.
Sally got up and opened the door.
"Hello, Sister Aisha." Amy greeted Sally, skipping in as she smelled the delicious aroma, her eyes lighting up immediately.
"It smells so good! Is this what fish tastes like?" Amy toddled towards the kitchen, picking up Ugly Duckling, who was anxiously standing on the high stool. Standing at the kitchen doorway, she tiptoed and asked expectantly, "Daddy, is the rainbow fish ready? Little Amy and Ugly Duckling really want some!"
"Meow meow~" Ugly Duckling stretched its neck, staring at the grilled fish on the plate on the stove, its little paws reaching forward, as if wanting to claim it as its own.
"Yes, almost done. Little Amy, go wash your hands, then sit outside obediently. It'll be ready in a minute." Mai Ge stirred the chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns in the wok. High quality chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns, once stir-fried, didn't have a pungent spiciness, but rather a subtle, fragrant aroma.
"Okay," Amy replied happily, putting the Ugly Duckling down on the ground. She rolled up her sleeves, washed her hands, and then climbed onto the chair at the table where they usually ate.
"Sizzle!"
The stir-fried chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns were poured over the grilled fish, making a sizzling sound. The aroma and spiciness of the grilled fish quickly blended together, along with the flavor of the sauce. The familiar taste of grilled fish brought a smile to Mai Ge's face. He grabbed a small handful of tender green scallions and sprinkled them on top. A perfect serving of Spicy Grilled Fish was ready!
"Boss, you're a genius! I've never seen anyone cook fish like this before, and I've never seen such a perfect fish." Yabemia looked at Mai Ge with adoration, completely captivated.
"Wash your hands and eat. We'll have grilled fish for lunch today." Mai Ge said with a smile. Being praised and admired naturally felt great.
A long stainless steel plate, along with the alcohol burner underneath, was carried out. Underneath the grilled fish, Mai Ge added a serving of noodles. The side dishes were not about quantity but quality, of course, he added noodles because he really liked them.