Chapter 726: Chapter 630: Newbie Protection Period and Feasting on Meat
Liu Zhaofeng and Liu Hehe were quite busy today too, but not to the point of exhaustion. After all, shredding eggplants and chopping irregular potato chunks don’t require much skill or precision, so they got done pretty quickly. In just half an hour, they had enough for Wang Fan to cook a large pot.
During work breaks, the two managed to eat their own work meals.
Under normal circumstances, their lunch would be two to three bowls, but today they each only had one. It’s not that they weren’t hungry; it’s just because Wang Fan mentioned there would be a luxurious staff dinner tonight.
Although potato stewed eggplant is delicious, compared to the luxurious staff meal, its appeal is naturally much less.
But just how luxurious would it be?
*Slurp...*
Moreover, they had an afternoon activity planned, and eating too much would be inconvenient.
At 2 o’clock, Wang Fan finished his business for the day. The eggplants and potatoes at the entrance were already gone.
Today’s efficiency was indeed impressive; almost every customer who queued up got to enjoy the delicious dish they craved. Uncle had left by noon, and after tidying up, Wang Fan and the others went to meet him.
In the past, during winters in the Northeast, there were hardly any outdoor activities, but ice fishing has always been a popular tradition.
Wang Fan isn’t particularly interested in fishing itself, but he is quite intrigued by the fish caught through ice fishing.
The cold climate of the Northeast causes fish to store more fat in winter, making the fish meat more tender and juicy.
Uncle went out at noon taking equipment to set up a tent on the ice in advance.
Following the directions provided by Uncle, they walked onto the ice. There were quite a few people ice fishing here, with tents of various colors standing like blossoms on the ice.
Seeing the empty fish box Uncle had prepared, Wang Fan curiously asked, "Uncle, when did you start fishing?"
Uncle cleared his throat a little awkwardly and said, "Well, I just set up not long ago. The ice is so thick now that it took over an hour just to make the hole, and then another hour to wait in the hole, so I only started fishing then."
"Oh."
"Hmm, that’s how it is. Now that you’re here, you young folks can enjoy yourselves. This old man will head home first."
With that, Uncle handed the fishing rod to Zhuo Qianqian, put on his coat, and left the tent.
The tent was at a comfortable twenty degrees, so they took off their down jackets, leaving them in thin sweaters without feeling cold. Wang Fan looked at the group and said, "Whether we get to enjoy that luxurious dinner tonight depends on how you all do this afternoon."
Liu Zhaofeng patted his chest loudly, "Watch me. I’ve got three years of ice fishing experience under my belt."
Wang Fan laughed, "That’s good. Our target fish today is the mandarin fish. If we can’t catch any, I’ll buy some from other tents."
Immediately, Liu Zhaofeng wasn’t pleased. "No way, today I’ll definitely fill the box!"
Uncle had drilled two holes and brought two sets of gear. Liu Hehe and Liu Zhaofeng formed one team, and Wang Fan teamed up with Zhuo Qianqian.
Whether it was because the fish were starving after the ice melted, or Zhuo Qianqian was enjoying a beginner’s luck period, as soon as she lowered her bait through the ice hole, her float started shaking rapidly.
"Pull it up quick!"
Zhuo Qianqian quickly lifted the rod, and the soft rod bent sharply. The fishing line retracted, and bursts of water splashed out of the ice hole, soon revealing a dark silhouette.
"Here comes the little black stick."
Wang Fan laughed and added commentary, while helping Zhuo Qianqian remove the mandarin fish from the hook.
The ice-cold river water had no power in the tent. Holding the mandarin fish weighing at least a pound, Wang Fan was very satisfied. "Great, we’re off to a good start. Today’s dinner hinges on you, Qianqian."
Zhuo Qianqian’s confidence soared, "Don’t worry, boss!"
Liu Hehe nudged Liu Zhaofeng’s back anxiously, "Come on, expert. Qianqian already caught a big one."
Liu Zhaofeng adjusted his stance, "Almost there, I’m sure to reel in a big fish."
"The boss is at it again! Haha!"
Sometimes, the novice luck can be unbeatable. Using the same rod, the same bait, even when the ice holes weren’t far apart, Zhuo Qianqian kept catching fish one after another, while Liu Zhaofeng ended up empty-handed even as they packed up to leave.
Wang Fan initially planned to have fun with Zhuo Qianqian and didn’t expect her to actually catch any fish. He was already contemplating buying some from other tents. Unexpectedly, she impressively caught four mandarin fish, each over a pound, and a bass.
By now, it was completely dark, and staying longer wasn’t safe. They packed up and headed home.
On the way back, Liu Zhaofeng was still unwilling to admit defeat, "I wasn’t in the best form today. Let’s reschedule, and I’ll show you what I’m really capable of."
"Little brother, stop embarrassing yourself. Please don’t go around claiming you’re an expert. I feel embarrassed for you."
Zhuo Qianqian was still quite thrilled. Fishing is a form of hunting too. The moment the fish were hooked, she felt the resistance, and the satisfaction when the fish surfaced was truly captivating.
"Boss, ice fishing is really fun. Let’s come again when we have time."
Wang Fan took Liu Hehe and his sister home. He couldn’t back out of the promised luxurious staff dinner.
"You guys play some poker. I’ll cook dinner."
He had already decided what to do with the four mandarin fish and the bass: Steam the bass, make one into squirrel fish, prepare three as "Bo Bo Fish", and add some stir-fried greens and braised pork to complete tonight’s luxurious staff meal.
After slicing the fish meat for the three "Bo Bo Fish," he put the bones in the pot to boil soup and started to steam the bass.
Steamed fish seems simple, something anyone can do, but to make it truly delicious, there are many nuances involved.
He laid a layer of tender white scallions on the plate, placed the prepared bass on top, and rubbed a simple layer of white vinegar over it to neutralize odors while enhancing the flavor.
He took chicken fat from his spice box and poured a layer over the bass before laying marinated meat strips and mushroom strips on top.
This wasn’t your usual steamed bass, but an old Guangfu favorite – Ancient Phoenix Fat Steamed Bass.
Putting the bass in the steamer and setting it to high heat, Wang Fan then eagerly prepared to fry the squirrel fish.
Liu Hehe, her brother, and Zhuo Qianqian were engrossed in a game of fight-the-landlord. Judging by the papers plastered on their faces, it was obvious the battle was intense.
But just as they prepared for an extended showdown, the rich aroma of fish wafted through the air, immediately making them lose interest in any further battles.
Ice-fished fish generally don’t have a muddy flavor, especially carnivorous types like mandarin fish and bass, which are inherently less muddy.
With Wang Fan’s superb culinary skills, the different fish aromas blended to unleash tremendous appeal.
Taking the bass out of the steamer, he sprinkled finely chopped scallions on top, poured over heated chicken oil, and with a "sizzling" sound, the fresh aroma of scallions melded into the fish aroma.
Wang Fan didn’t add salt, just poured two spoonfuls of light soy sauce over the fish meat, and this dish was complete.
Next, he poured a sweet and sour tomato sauce made with pork fat over the freshly fried mandarin fish. With a "sizzle," the second dish was done.
The Bo Bo Fish was a creation Wang Fan came up with during his time in Sichuan. This was its debut, but he was confident it would dazzle everyone’s taste buds.
"Come help with the dishes."
As soon as Wang Fan spoke, Zhuo Qianqian and Liu Hehe vanished in an instant, leaving Liu Zhaofeng, who was just about to get up, stunned.
After Uncle tidied up the table, the three served the three dishes.
The elegant Phoenix Fat Steamed Bass covered in green scallion threads, sweet and bright squirrel fish, and a large bowl of Bo Bo Fish with floating chopped onions and red peppers, occasionally revealing tender fish meat – the visual impact was undeniable.
Liu Zhaofeng took a deep breath, feeling drool accumulating at the corners of his mouth, almost spilling out. He swallowed back the words "All Fish Feast" he’d been about to utter.
Soon after, stir-fried greens were served, accompanied by a sauce-colored braised pork knuckle, covering the round table literally from edge to edge.
Liu Hehe sighed happily, "Brother Wang, let’s make a deal. Can we help out here in exchange for food? It smells amazing."
Liu Zhaofeng nodded enthusiastically, clearly endorsing the proposal.
Wang Fan laughed, "Thanks for your help today. Whenever you want to eat, just come over, and I’ll cook for you."
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