Food Stall: Customers Chase Me across the Country-Chapter 335 - 336: The Little Wooden Fish Returns

Jia Fengyue carried the washed vegetables over to Wang Fan, her face, with its many furrows, visibly laden with melancholy.

In the morning, she sneaked a glance at the village. The apocalyptic scene left her both shocked and fearful. Thinking that her own house looked the same only deepened her sorrow.

Seeing the elderly woman’s expression, Wang Fan and the others fell silent; they didn’t know how to comfort her.

But if it goes on like this, her health will deteriorate quickly.

Wang Fan thought for a moment and then said to Cheng Dong, "Brother Cheng, why don’t you watch the fire? I’ll grab something from the car."

Cheng Dong nodded, and Wang Fan headed back to the RV.

At the front of the RV were several small ornaments, and among them lay a small wooden fish.

This little thing had been his moneymaker in the past, though it hadn’t been used for quite some time. Perhaps now was the right moment to bring it out again.

Seeing Wang Fan return with the wooden fish, Cheng Dong couldn’t help but smile and ask, "Young Wang, do you believe in that stuff at such a young age?"

Wang Fan shook his head, "Not really. It’s just that knocking on this little wooden fish helps improve my mood when I’m feeling down. I think these aunties and uncles might need it."

Cheng Dong, who only believed in the five-starred red flag, was not into gods or anything like that, but at this moment, he hoped that what Wang Fan held could truly work.

"If it helps, that would be wonderful. I know the villagers are feeling down, but if it continues like this, they might really fall ill."

Wang Fan placed the wooden fish on the table, planning to later take it to Zhuo Qianqian during meal distribution, and let her take it from there, as she was more experienced in this aspect.

As the lid was lifted, a cloud of white steam rose, the rich aroma of lamb wafting generously in all directions.

He took a deep breath, savoring the changes in the aroma. After more than ten minutes of simmering, the alcohol scent had largely dissipated, while the malt aroma from the beer had been absorbed by the lamb.

He grabbed a handful of washed red dates and added them to the pot, followed by chopped carrots, then covered the pot and adjusted the stove’s flame to a gentle simmer.

Repeating the same process with another large pot of lamb, he left it to time—waiting for a perfect pot of red-braised lamb or a sticky-bottomed one...

The aroma escaping from the small holes in the lid grew stronger, with a hint of carrot’s freshness and the sweetness of red dates quietly joining the meat’s fragrance.

Cheng Dong, claiming to be professionally trained, could maintain seriousness in any situation, especially with so many watching; he had to uphold the fire department’s good image.

Yet his increasingly heavy and rapid breathing indicated he was barely holding it together.

Whose lamb stew smells this good?!

Silently calculating the time, carefully noticing the changes in aroma, occasionally lifting the lid to check the color of the lamb, every move Wang Fan made became the center of attention.

Brother, can you speed up a little? It’s really getting hard to hold on!

Everyone who could smell the aroma internally screamed, the primal urge to eat meat driving them almost mad.

"Snap."

With a gentle sound, Wang Fan decisively turned off the gas stove.

Cheng Dong felt a surge of joy in his heart; turning off the stove meant the stew might finally be served! Although they were in the last group to eat, it didn’t stop him from feasting his eyes and nose first!

The other three were in a similar state, eagerly staring at the pot lid, ready for the first glimpse of the red-braised lamb that exuded such an incredible aroma to see how good it would look.

Wang Fan placed his right hand on the small handle of the lid, and everyone’s gaze locked onto his hand again.

The lid opened a crack, and thick white steam wafted out again, making everyone wish they could bend their gaze to peer through the gap.

At this moment, it could only be described as longing for a sight until one was worn out.

"Open it!"

"Hurry and open it!"

"Quick, lift the lid!"

Everyone’s hearts were full of anticipation, ready to exclaim in surprise the next moment. Those with thicker skins were already crafting some words of praise.

"Damn!"

"What the hell?!"

"What’s going on?"

"Is this some kind of joke?!"

Cheng Dong felt like he had just taken a rollercoaster ride, reaching the peak only to plunge down in an instant.

It’s the kind of feeling that makes you just want to curse.

He wasn’t the only one; everyone watching felt the same way.

There was no helping it; everyone was waiting to witness a miracle, only for you to open up a small crack, throw something into the pot, and immediately close it again. What kind of behavior is that?

Really, with your pants down, is this all you’re going to show us?!

Wang Fan, focused on cooking, didn’t notice the people around, or he would have certainly seen their barely-contained desire to slug him.

If he had known what everyone was thinking, he would have protested in his defense.

Red-braised lamb, as the name implies, needs to braise. Turning off the heat and letting it sit for ten minutes achieves its final form.

As for that moment with the lid, he had just added some goji berries.

Goji berries, these little things, turn mushy if stewed for long. Adding them in the final braising phase gives them just the right tenderness.

Cheng Dong twitched at the corner of his mouth, resisting the urge to lift the lid, and asked, "Brother Wang, what was that step for?"

Wang Fan explained the reasoning, and Cheng Dong and the others suddenly understood.

Being self-taught, much of their cooking habits were makeshift. With their training schedules, they never really had the time for systematic study. Over time, their culinary skills improved, but without someone to explain finer points, they’d never truly grasp them.

Time gradually ticked away under everyone’s anticipation for those 10 minutes, and Wang Fan’s slender fingers once again rested on the lid.

This time, there wouldn’t be any issues. Wang Fan, with one swift motion, lifted the entire lid, finally revealing the red-braised lamb to Cheng Dong and the others.

This wasn’t an anime; this pot of lamb hadn’t been treated with radioactive elements or flashlights, so it wouldn’t glow.

Yet Cheng Dong and the others didn’t feel the slightest disappointment; instead, they felt that the wait had been worthwhile.

The overall tone of the pot appeared in an enticing reddish-brown, seemingly narrating tales of rich broth.

The lamb and carrots in the pot had been thoroughly infused with the broth; the carrots, after long hours of braising, had a sandy texture on their surfaces, indicating their sweetness must be impeccable.

The broth was thick and rich, its red sheen glistening with oil. Legs of lamb, lamb ribs, and more were haphazardly nestled in the pot, their enticement enhanced by the oily shimmer enveloping them.

"Gulp... Gurgle..."