GBP Chapter 39: Selling Crayfish
Chapter 39: Selling Crayfish
After walking through several streets and alleys, Li Xiaoxiao arrived at Xiang Man Lou. The restaurant was bustling with activity, with diners chatting loudly or whispering quietly, enjoying the delicious food and the time together.
Li Xiaoxiao found a waiter and explained her purpose. The waiter looked her up and down, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, but still led her to the kitchen to find Manager Zhao.
Shopkeeper Zhao was busy in the kitchen. When he saw Li Xiaoxiao, he stopped what he was doing and walked over to greet her. The person in front of him was the one his master had taken a fancy to, so Shopkeeper Zhao dared not neglect her.
"Miss Li, how come you have time to come here?" Shopkeeper Zhao asked with a smile.
Li Xiaoxiao opened the bamboo basket and showed the crayfish inside to Shopkeeper Zhao. "Shopkeeper Zhao, these are the crayfish I caught by the river this morning. I've tried them myself and they taste great. Would you mind selling them here?"
Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Zhao frowned slightly. It was obvious that he knew about this hard-shelled shrimp. It must be not tasty with such a hard shell.
Seeing that Manager Zhao was a little hesitant, Li Xiaoxiao expressed his willingness to sell all the crayfish-related recipes he knew to Xiangmanlou, and said that he was willing to make a dish first for him to taste before making a decision. Manager Zhao agreed immediately.
He found a waiter and asked him to take Li Xiaoxiao to the small kitchen next door. It was specially prepared for the grandfather, just in case he suddenly came to eat or something, it would be more convenient.
Shopkeeper Zhao turned back to the third-floor private room and reported the matter to Yun Che. Yun Che, after hearing this, was also very curious about the crayfish Li Xiaoxiao had mentioned. He sent Shopkeeper Zhao downstairs to wait for Li Xiaoxiao to prepare some and bring them up.
The waiter took Li Xiaoxiao to the small kitchen and left, even considerately closing the door for Li Xiaoxiao. Li Xiaoxiao put down the basket and began to pack the crayfish. Considering that the crayfish head was not edible and a bit dirty, Li Xiaoxiao decided to remove the head and leave only the tail. Then he removed the shrimp thread and blanched it for later use.
Li Xiaoxiao took a look and found that the small kitchen had all kinds of seasonings, worthy of being a big restaurant.
She decisively chose to make a plate of spicy crayfish and a plate of garlic crayfish. Li Xiaoxiao skillfully mixed the spicy and garlic sauces, and the air was gradually filled with a mouth-watering aroma.
She knows very well that if she wants this seemingly inconspicuous crayfish to have a place in Xiangmanlou, its taste must be unique and unforgettable.
First, she heats the oil over high heat and sautés chopped garlic and chili peppers. The crackling sound and overflowing aroma instantly fill every corner of the kitchen. Then, she carefully adds the pre-cooked crayfish tails to the wok and stir-fries them quickly, ensuring each shrimp is evenly coated in the spicy flavor. As the heat intensifies, the crayfish gradually turns a bright red, and the spicy flavor and garlic aroma intertwine, creating an irresistible temptation.
Elsewhere, the garlic crayfish sauce is prepared with equal care. Li Xiaoxiao, in a separate pot, slowly simmers the golden garlic sauce over low heat. The delicate, rich garlic aroma seems to penetrate everything and strike a chord. She adds the blanched crayfish tails to the garlic sauce, gently stirring to absorb the essence of the garlic. Soon, a warm, rich garlic aroma permeates the kitchen, creating a stark contrast to the intense heat of the spicy crayfish, yet equally captivating.
Finally, two plates of delicious crayfish were ready. Li Xiaoxiao surveyed her work with satisfaction, her heart filled with anticipation. She found a tray and carefully carried the two delicious dishes out of the kitchen, handing them to the waiter waiting at the door.
The waiter took the tray and went straight to the kitchen to find Manager Zhao, and Li Xiaoxiao followed behind.
Arriving at the kitchen, Shopkeeper Zhao came over to greet them. Several chefs who were cooking in the kitchen also smelled the aroma of crayfish and gathered around to ask what kind of delicacy it was. One of them was quick-handed and wanted to pick up one with chopsticks to taste it, but Shopkeeper Zhao knocked the chopsticks away with one hand. "Go away, this is also something you can eat. Take it to the third floor for our boss to try first."
When they heard that the food was for the host, they didn't dare to do anything rash. They just said that the food tasted so delicious.
Shopkeeper Zhao took the tray from the waiter and led Li Xiaoxiao to the private room on the third floor for Yun Che to taste.
When they arrived at the door of the box, Manager Zhao asked Li Xiaoxiao to wait at the door while he went in with the tray.
Seeing Shopkeeper Zhao carrying two plates of steaming crayfish in, Yun Che's attention was instantly drawn to them. "Master, Miss Li has already prepared the crayfish. Would you like to try some and see how they taste?"
Yun Che picked up his chopsticks, picked up a spicy crayfish, and gently bit into it. The spicy and fresh aroma instantly exploded in his mouth. He couldn't help but squint his eyes and reveal a satisfied smile.
“Shopkeeper Zhao, you should try it too.” After hearing Yun Che’s words, Shopkeeper Zhao was flattered.
He carefully picked up the chopsticks on the table and tried the garlic crayfish. The delicate garlic aroma and the sweetness of the shrimp meat blended perfectly, which made him nod in praise.
“This Miss Li’s cooking skills are truly remarkable. I’ve never tasted anything so delicious!” Yun Che praised endlessly.
"Yes, Miss Li's cooking skills are really admirable. Sir, if these crayfish were sold in our Xiangmanlou, they would definitely be very popular!" Shopkeeper Zhao also echoed.
"Well, that's good. Go call her in." Yun Che said.
Shopkeeper Zhao hurried over to bring Li Xiaoxiao in. "Master, Miss Li is here."
Li Xiaoxiao stood obediently beside Shopkeeper Zhao, not opening her mouth to speak. Yun Che then began to examine her. She wore a brand new dress today, and seemed even prettier than before. If she grew a few more years, her looks would surely rival those of the noble ladies of the capital. Yun Che thought to himself.
Li Xiaoxiao, who was standing aside, felt a little frightened by Yun Che's stare, but her confidence wouldn't allow her to back down, so she had no choice but to meet Yun Che's gaze.
What caught my eye was a handsome face, no less handsome than those modern stars, and even with a bit more fortitude than them. Today I really had a feast for my eyes, to see such a handsome man.
Li Xiaoxiao felt that if she continued to look into his eyes like this, even she, a modern soul used to seeing handsome men, would probably fall for him.
Li Xiaoxiao hurriedly shook her head, forcing herself to calm down. Yun Che, standing across from her, found her sudden head shake adorable, and the inadvertent upward curve of his lips revealed his excellent mood.
Shopkeeper Zhao couldn't stand it anymore and pretended to cough, trying to break the silence between the two.
Li Xiaoxiao felt that Shopkeeper Zhao's cough came at the perfect time. "Miss Li, your way of cooking crayfish is truly amazing. Xiangmanlou is willing to cooperate with you." Shopkeeper Zhao spoke for Yun Che.
Receiving the approval of Yun Che and Shopkeeper Zhao, Li Xiaoxiao felt a surge of accomplishment and confidence. Smiling, she suggested, "Shopkeeper Zhao, since you also believe this crayfish has potential, why not start by introducing it as a seasonal specialty and see how the market responds? Meanwhile, I can teach the chefs how to handle and cook crayfish, ensuring every customer enjoys the same delicious flavor."
Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Zhao's eyes flashed with approval. He knew that innovation was essential to surviving the fiercely competitive restaurant industry. And the crayfish Li Xiaoxiao had brought was undoubtedly a brilliant innovation. "Miss Li, your idea is great. I'll arrange for someone to learn your crayfish cooking techniques. At the same time, we'll also increase publicity efforts to let more people know about our new Xiang Man Lou dish."
Yun Che, listening from the side, also quite agreed. He looked at Li Xiaoxiao with a hint of admiration and anticipation. "Miss Li, you are not only a skilled craftsman, but also a visionary. I believe that with your help, Xiang Man Lou will reach new heights."
Li Xiaoxiao was even happier to receive Yun Che's affirmation. Seeing that they had almost finished their conversation, Li Xiaoxiao hurriedly said that she would go downstairs and hand over all the steps from cleaning to cooking the crayfish to the chef in the kitchen.
Yun Che nodded, and Shopkeeper Zhao took Li Xiaoxiao out. Yun Che continued to savor the remaining crayfish. Before he knew it, the plate of spicy crayfish was empty. Yun Che looked at the plate, which was only left with broth, and found it amusing. He must be addicted.