「12:00 noon, Hongshan Park.」
Jiang Feng's business was as booming as ever.
It was truly packed!
The number of neighboring stalls had increased, as many vendors, noticing the high foot traffic, had set up shop nearby.
Jiang Feng was vigorously working his spatula.
Just then, a stall owner on a tricycle slowly approached Hongshan Park. He stopped near Jiang Feng's stall and began laying out his goods.
Seeing this, a customer eagerly asked, "Boss, what are you selling?"
Hearing the customer's question, the stall owner replied, "Braised meat and raw meat. I heard this rice combo set place always runs out of meat before the afternoon, so I came prepared."
Upon hearing this, the customers exchanged knowing smiles.
"Boss, you should have come yesterday! I queued up here, and they ran out of meat. The cook had already packed up!"
"Now we won't have to worry about them selling out of ingredients!"
"You're the real MVP!"
Jiang Feng also overheard their conversation. He glanced over at the meat vendor's tricycle.
Good heavens, this vendor brought at least 50 pounds of meat. If all that were made into stir-fries, it would take forever! Even more ridiculous than the customers who brought their own meat yesterday!
Jiang Feng just wanted to finish his work and close up as early as possible. He felt that preparing over three hundred portions a day was just right, well within his acceptable limit. Working overtime meant he'd be wearing a "mask of suffering."
The meat vendor politely greeted Jiang Feng,
"Boss, let me know when you run out of meat; I'll give you a good price!
"All top-quality meat!
"Your rice combo sets are too delicious. I'm going to queue up myself in a bit!"
Hearing this, Jiang Feng forced a slight smile.
Sell, go ahead and sell. Who does he think he's fooling, setting up to sell meat right next to me? Fortunately, I have a backup plan.
Jiang Feng checked the rice in the steamer. He'd prepared enough for about three hundred and thirty portions. Once the rice ran out, he could pack up.
This thought motivated him further.
Just then, a portly customer approached the stall. Unlike the others, he was holding up his phone on a selfie stick, angling it high.
Jiang Feng looked up and saw only the back of the phone.
"What can I get for you?" Jiang Feng asked, addressing the phone.
"One specialty chopped chili fish head rice combo set. That's 48? Boss, your prices are pretty steep!" the portly customer remarked.
Jiang Feng regarded him calmly.
"I'll take one. I'm a food vlogger. I heard this rice combo set is amazing, so I'm here to review it."
"Alright. Scan to pay, then wait over there," Jiang Feng said, preparing to cook.
"Boss, maybe you didn't hear me. I'm a food vlogger. My name is Fatty Liu, and I have over three hundred thousand followers," Fatty Liu reiterated.
"Scan to pay, wait over there," Jiang Feng repeated.
"Boss, my review will make your business explode. Surely I don't have to pay?" Fatty Liu pressed, hoping for a free meal.
Before Jiang Feng could respond, the customers behind him grew impatient.
"Are you buying or not? If not, don't hold us up!"
"What are you doing holding your phone up like that!"
"Is this some new kind of beggar?"
"Man, this guy needs your traffic like a hole in the head! Didn't you look in the mirror first?"
Fatty Liu hadn't expected the customers to be so aggressive. He didn't dare say more, so he obediently scanned the code to pay and went to sit at a small table.
The customer behind Fatty Liu was a regular who had eaten at Jiang Feng's stall for three days straight. Seeing a new dish on the menu today, he said eagerly, "Boss, I want a chopped chili fish head rice combo set too."
"This is my first time trying it."
Jiang Feng replied, "Alright. Sit and wait there."
The reason the chopped chili fish head was so expensive wasn't that the ingredients were particularly costly, but because it was a real hassle to prepare. Jiang Feng was very thorough, meticulously cleaning every fish head he bought. Only by cleaning them thoroughly could the fishy smell be completely eliminated.
Next, he prepared a marinade with scallions, ginger, garlic, salt, cooking wine, and a touch of light soy sauce. He poured this all over the fish heads. He used his hands to mix it thoroughly, ensuring the fish was completely coated in the marinade. Then, he set them aside to marinate.
The chopped chilies were store-bought. However, the supermarket kind was overly salty and lacked aroma, so Jiang Feng had to process them further. He poured out a bowl of the bright red chopped chili sauce, rinsed it once with water, and set it aside. He also smashed and minced a few cloves of garlic and chopped up some fermented black beans.
The customers watched from the side. The food vlogger, Fatty Liu, also stood up to watch Jiang Feng cook.
Jiang Feng heated oil in his wok, added the minced garlic, and stir-fried it until fragrant. The white minced garlic sizzled in the hot oil, countless small bubbles forming around it. When the garlic turned golden brown, Jiang Feng added the rinsed chopped chilies and stir-fried them with the garlic. This step helped to cook off excess moisture from the chilies and enhance their flavor. Finally, he added the fermented black beans, a suitable amount of light soy sauce, a little oyster sauce, and a pinch of chicken powder.
The red chopped chilies, now mixed with seasonings, stir-fried in the wok, sending plumes of fragrant steam into the air. The resulting chopped chili sauce was incredibly fragrant!
You wouldn't even need the fish head; just this chopped chili sauce poured over rice would be absolutely divine!
The aroma made the customers' mouths water uncontrollably.
"This stir-fried chili smells amazing!"
"Boss, do you sell this chopped chili sauce? I want to buy some to mix with rice!"
"I want some too!"
"It smells so good! I shouldn't have ordered the Kung Pao chicken rice combo set. I should've tried the chopped chili fish head. I'll have to come back tomorrow for it!"
"How does he make everything so delicious!"
Everyone chattered excitedly.
Of course, Jiang Feng's chopped chili sauce wasn't for sale.
He arranged the marinated fish heads on a plate and placed them in the steamer for about six minutes. This initial steaming, done without the chilies, was to further remove any fishiness. After steaming, Jiang Feng removed the plate, discarded the accumulated liquid, and then returned the fish heads to the plate.
Next, he evenly spread the prepared chopped chili sauce over the fish heads. The vibrant red chili sauce completely blanketed the fish heads, its juices seeping into the tender meat. It looked incredibly spicy and appetizing. The mere sight made you imagine the taste, a tantalizing flavor that made you want to take a bite.
The plate went back into the steamer. After about fifteen more minutes, Jiang Feng removed the plate. The fish heads were now completely covered in the red chopped chili sauce, radiating its rich aroma.
Jiang Feng sprinkled chopped scallions over the fish heads and then drizzled two spoonfuls of hot oil on top. The moment the oil hit, it went SIZZLE!, and the aroma of the fish intensified, bursting forth.
"His skills are truly impressive!"
"Boss, I want a chopped chili fish head rice combo set too!"
"Me too!"
Seeing how delicious the chopped chili fish head looked, the customers further back in line quickly placed their orders.
A rice combo set was 48. It sounded expensive, but a similar plate of chopped chili fish head at a restaurant would cost at least 98.
Jiang Feng took one serving of the fish head, divided it in two, and arranged it over a bed of rice. A generous layer of the red chopped chilies covered it.
Then, Jiang Feng handed over the two rice combo sets and continued with the next order.
Fatty Liu received his chopped chili fish head rice combo set. Looking at the abundant red chopped chilies covering his rice combo set, Fatty Liu couldn't help but gulp. He picked up his chopsticks, mixed some chilies with the rice, and took a bite.
Instantly, the rich sauce flooded his mouth. The wonderful flavor made his saliva flow, and Fatty Liu let out a contented "Mmm!"
This chopped chili fish head rice combo set was incredible!
The chopped chilies weren't harshly spicy; instead, they were extremely appetizing. The fish meat had no hint of fishiness. It tasted incredibly fresh, perfectly infused with the flavor of the chili sauce.
To prepare fish head this well was no easy task; it required a top-tier chef.
Fatty Liu marveled, his hands moving swiftly. He lifted his plate and shoveled the chili-laden rice directly into his mouth. His cheeks bulged as he chewed, his mouth shiny with oil.
He was so engrossed in the delicious meal that he completely forgot to film any footage.
He was so glad he'd come today! This stall was an amazing find!