Chapter 134: Chapter 132: Truly an Exquisite Braised Fish

Taking the pot off the heat doesn’t mean it’s over.

The black ladle was used with such ease, precisely and skillfully placing the big carp onto a long plate.

The plate was also brought in by Mu Mu. Although I didn’t know why Mu Mu brought restaurant tableware to the food truck, it certainly came in handy now.

The black pot went back onto the stove, and the high heat continued to boil.

As Chen Mo expected, the broth reduced under the high heat. The black ladle scooped and poured it back in; one could clearly feel that the broth had become much thicker.

This time, it hit the perfect spot. With the [Perfect] indication flashing before his eyes, Chen Mo turned off the heat, used the black ladle, and scooped out the thick broth from the pot.

Aiming at the big carp, he poured it over from head to tail.

Then he scooped another ladle and poured again. The excess thick broth flowed along the altered cuts and dripped onto the plate.

He fetched a bit of cilantro and placed it on the edge of the plate as garnish.

Yellow River Carp, done!

Just then, Shi Lei returned, holding a red notebook in his hand, “Here, you didn’t believe me, did you? Let me show you this.”

Chen Mo didn’t look, but instead, gazed at the two nearly perfect Yellow River carps on the countertop, savoring the pure fragrance coming towards him.

The fish aroma, this is the real fish aroma!

Frying preserved the fish meat’s natural flavor, slow-braising thoroughly activated the fish’s savory taste and infused it into the broth, and the high heat melted part of the fish skin into the broth before thickening it, making the aroma even more intense.

“Let’s look later. You try it first.” Chen Mo handed over a pair of clean chopsticks, “See if this 60 yuan was worth it.”

Only then did Shi Lei remember that he originally thought if he took this fish home, it would most likely die, and a dead fish that hasn’t been refrigerated is definitely inedible.

That’s why he came here, wanting the small food truck owner to help him process it. How did it end up looking like I wanted to show off?

Right, it’s all this boss’s fault. If he hadn’t always argued with me, I wouldn’t have brought this thing out.

Shi Lei held the red notebook in his left hand; showing off has to be the whole package. Since the other party asked him to taste it first, he would taste it first and then point out the shortcomings. When the small boss was unconvinced, he would bring out his credentials.

’Small boss, you can just say you want me to show off. Why go through so much setup?’

With chopsticks in his right hand, Shi Lei directly aimed at the side of the fish’s belly. This piece of meat, known for its rich fat, was delectable, rich but not greasy.

With a slight reddish-brown hue, the fish meat entered his mouth.

Shi Lei was ready to start criticizing.

He pressed the meat, opened his mouth to speak, and the nearly melting fish meat almost slipped from his lips, prompting Shi Lei to quickly close his mouth.

In an instant!

An incredibly rich savor of fish flavor overwhelmed his mouth, entering the stomach before Shi Lei could savor it thoroughly.

This piece of meat was unbelievably tender.

Shi Lei quickly grabbed a piece of meat near the fish’s back.

This time, with a slight chew in his mouth, he felt the fish skin’s charred crispiness, with none of the mushiness. Biting down, there was a slight crunchiness with a hint of toughness.

This layer of fish skin seemed to be a delicious armor. Once bitten through, the fresh and tender taste of the fish meat swept in, firm and elastic.

Just by continuing to chew, you could feel every fiber of the fish absorbing the rich, full broth. At this moment, the salty and savory flavor of the fish merged and exploded on the tongue!

“Damn, it’s a bit delicious.” Shi Lei was quite shocked inside.

How could it be so delicious?

More importantly, why is this flavor so…

As the champion of young chefs, after thinking for a while, Shi Lei could only use “rich” to describe this texture and taste.

Every bite felt just like it.

The stewed fragrance in the mouth and the fish flavor intertwined, lingering and leaving a lingering taste even after finishing, making him want to take another bite.

No, another bite!

A Yellow River Carp weighing two pounds already had very few bones; it’s something difficult for southerners to comprehend.

After all, in the south…

Carp is a type of fish thrown into the trash can without a second thought.

But if Mu Mu were here now, she would definitely jump up and cheer.

Shi Lei kept eating, finishing off the top of one fish in a few bites.

It was already lunchtime, and feeling slightly hungry, this delicious fish proved irresistible for Shi Lei.

He completely forgot about being a champion, his mind full of confusion.

Why can this fish produce such a wonderful, rich flavor?

According to his champion-level understanding, what’s crucial in stewed carp?

Stewing!

But this dish seemed more about highlighting the carp’s own characteristics, putting the taste of stewing behind the fish’s taste.

This was a peculiar feeling one could only notice after many years in the culinary world; an ordinary diner would simply find it delicious.

When working as a chef, Shi Lei also studied fish preparations extensively. Why don’t southerners eat carp?

Carp meat comes in lumps, not strands like southern fish.

If not done well, carp meat tastes extremely dry, especially bad; forget about any tender feeling, it doesn’t exist.

And carp can only be eaten as wild Yellow River carp; ordinary farmed carp has more bones and a heavy earthy taste.

To achieve this level with carp, Shi Lei believed he hadn’t seen a second one since he began his career.

“So, how was it? Tasty?”

“There’s still something… Hey, no, I mean, weren’t you saying you didn’t believe what I said?”

Chen Mo pursed his lips, “Ah?”

He had forgotten what Shi Lei wanted him to believe; this guy was so weird.

But Chen Mo saw over by the Audi Q7 that a woman was getting off the car.

Dressed in a black silk dress and wearing slippers, likely for comfort in the car.

The woman walked with a formidable air, one glance could tell she was furious, as women in this state move fifty percent faster.

Too quick, before Chen Mo could even remind him, the woman had already arrived here.

“Didn’t you say to wait for you in the car for lunch, and you’re eating here yourself?”

Hao Jia looked forward and saw only a carp laying bare-boned on a plate, “Did you finish it already?”

Shi Lei was instantly terrified, secretly thinking it was bad.

Earlier, because he was eager to show off to the little boss, and then the fish was so tasty, he completely forgot his wife was in the car.

“No, there’s still half left. I thought I’d eat first…” Shi Lei started, only to realize that wasn’t right either.

What does it mean I’d eat first and then give you some?

I should let my wife eat first.

Watching the big brother battling wits and courage, Chen Mo thought to himself that marriage was indeed a man’s grave.

Old Zhao, despite his age, had to go to the hospital to get circumcised just to please his wife.

Brother Si Shi’s quick talking boosted his survival instinct to the max.

Truly daunting!

Hao Jia, unlike usual, didn’t catch the problem in Shi Lei’s words. She leaned to the side.

“What’s that in your hand?”

Shi Lei’s scalp suddenly tingled, not from the thrill of showboating, but because, after three years of marriage, he’d been claiming he couldn’t cook!

Hao Jia had been forced to cook for three years!

At that moment, Shi Lei’s mind whirled like an engine with the pedal floored.

He seemed to be close to thinking of a solution.

He just heard the little boss Chen Mo, also quite curious.

“Yeah, you kept saying for me to look at that thing, what is it after all?”

Shi Lei turned his head blankly, looking at Chen Mo.

He still only wanted to say three words.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep