jdhmnovel Chapter 332 Late Night Snack Time
Chapter 332 Late Night Snack Time
It was time for a late-night snack, and the family decided to try some deep-fried skewers from Changyao.
Following the navigation, the group soon arrived at the old factory area of Changyao Pharmaceutical, where the night was bustling with activity and fireworks.
Various ingredients are skewered, deep-fried in boiling oil until golden brown and crispy, then coated with a secret chili powder or sprinkled with salt and pepper.
The pork belly was fried until crispy and fragrant, the spare ribs were crunchy, the Cantonese sausage was sweet and savory and bursting with juice, and the vegetables such as green beans and lotus root slices were also fried in a unique way.
The atmosphere was lively, with everyone enjoying beer in one hand and skewers in the other, eating to their heart's content.
Little 9 seemed a bit averse to the strong smell of fried food, lying far away in Yuan Bao's canvas bag, only peeking out its little head to observe.
Yuan Bao smiled and let it smell a string of corn kernels that had only been fried briefly and were almost completely dry (picked from a string of sweet corn).
Little 9 sniffed, reluctantly licked off a piece, chewed it, then, showing little interest, retreated back into its bag to remain an "observer."
However, its round eyes never left the satisfied smiles of its family.
【My lady, the oil temperature is precisely controlled, and the double-frying process locks in moisture... the chili powder recipe...】
After several days of "deep diving in Leshan," the taste buds of every member of the Yuan family were completely conquered by the flavors of this major culinary town in Sichuan.
Its belly is round, its smile is full, and even Xiao Jiu seems to have a more glossy and smoother coat because of its high level of "participation".
On the night before they left, the group returned to the riverbank and enjoyed the cool evening breeze.
Without any specific destination, I simply strolled around, reminiscing about the culinary delights of the past few days.
"Leshan is such a place, it's worth making a special trip just for the food," Bao Guo remarked.
"Yes, it feels like my stomach has been opened up to a whole new world." Aunt Ping touched her belly, her face showing a mix of satisfaction and wistfulness. "What am I going to do when I go back home..."
Aunt Yuan and her aunt smiled and said, "You've remembered the taste. Try making it when you get back!"
"Little 9, don't you think so?" Auntie asked jokingly, looking down at Little 9 in Yuan Bao's arms.
Little 9 lazily meowed, but in its mind it was thinking: [Replicating delicious food is a piece of cake for my master.]
Xiao Zhi counted on his fingers: "Beef with Pork Knuckle, Sweet-Skinned Duck, Tofu Pudding, Bobo Chicken, Spicy Hot Pot, Eel Shreds, Tofu Feast, Fried Skewers... I've written them all down in my notebook! I'm going to brag to my classmates when I get back!"
Little Leyi, holding Yuanbao's hand, summarized in her childish voice: "Delicious! Sweet! Spicy! Fragrant!"
Holding Xiao 9 in his arms, Yuan Bao looked at the city lights reflected on the river and felt a surge of warmth in his heart.
This journey of "discovering the flavors of Sichuan and Chongqing" started in Shenzhen, crossed thousands of mountains and rivers, and finally arrived at the pinnacle of culinary bliss in Leshan.
The scenery along the way, the warmth of family, the laughter of sharing delicious food, and this all-powerful smart cat that is sometimes aloof, sometimes greedy, and always silently protecting—all these have transformed into the most mellow flavors of life.
The "Food Express" RV started up again in the morning light, embarking on its journey home.
The train carriage was filled with the sweet aroma of packaged sweet-skinned duck and everyone's lingering fondness for Leshan cuisine.
Little 9 was curled up in its favorite cat bed, seemingly asleep, but Yuan Bao knew that its powerful "processor" must have stored every frame of scenery, every fragrance, and every laugh of this journey, like the most precious database, never to be erased.
The taste of Leshan, the taste of home, will become the brightest memory of this summer.
Unlike the excitement and anticipation that filled the journey there, the return trip was filled with a sense of languid contentment and a comforting sense of peace.
The storage box was crammed with packaged Leshan flavors: vacuum-sealed sweet-skinned duck, a whole jar of Bobo chicken seasoning, several boxes of frozen Qiaojiao beef soup base, and several packets of Mala Tang base that Aunt Ping had begged the owner to give her extra... These were all "taste memories" to take home.
Aunt Yuan and her aunt sat in the booth area, looking through photos they had taken over the past few days on their phones: the bustling Zhanggong Bridge, the magnificent view from the river-view suite, close-ups of the dazzling array of food, and the smiling faces of the family enjoying their meal together.
Each photo brought a knowing smile to their faces, and they whispered among themselves about which dish was the most amazing.
"This eel shreds, so sour, spicy, and savory, I really have to try making it when I get back," said Aunt Yuan, pointing to the photo.
"And that tofu feast, it's a feast for the eyes and a delight to eat," Auntie chimed in.
Xiao Zhi buried himself in his notebook, writing furiously as he recorded his "food diary" and observations from the past few days, preparing to "show off" to his classmates when he got back.
Little Leyi hugged her favorite plush toy, leaning against her great-aunt, her little head nodding, clearly not fully awake from last night's excitement.
In the driver's seat, Bao Guo remained the most reliable helmsman, his expression focused yet relaxed.
Yuan Bao, in the passenger seat, was holding Little 9, who had curled up into a warm ball of fur.
The little guy seemed to have entered "energy-saving mode" as well, closing his eyes and emitting even, soft purring sounds, with only the tip of his tail occasionally wagging lazily, indicating that he was not completely asleep.
This time, Aunt Ping didn't sit in the passenger seat, but squeezed into the booth area, scrolling through food videos on her phone while smacking her lips with lingering relish: "Sigh, the fried skewers in Leshan, that pork belly was fried so well... tsk, I won't be able to eat that when I go back."
Suddenly, an idea struck her, and her eyes lit up. "Brother Baoguo, on our way back, how about we find a place to have a treat? Just as a... little bonus for our memorable trip?"
Little Nine, nestled in Yuan Bao's arms, twitched its ears almost imperceptibly.
A subtle thought entered Yuan Bao's mind: "My lord, about 150 kilometers ahead, at the 'Zhulin Pass' service area on the border of Sichuan and Chongqing."
Their self-operated restaurant, "Shuwei Xiaochu," has surprisingly good reviews, especially its signature dishes "Bamboo Tube Tofu Fish" and "Stir-fried Bamboo Shoots with Cured Pork," which use fresh local ingredients and have unique flavors, making them a safe and convenient stopover for supplies along the way.
Yuan Bao smiled wryly. This little guy, although he was "tired" from eating, did not slack off in his work at all.
She turned to Aunt Ping and Baoguo and said, "Pingping, that's a good idea. We're almost at the Zhulin Pass service area on the border of Sichuan and Chongqing. I heard there's a restaurant called 'Shuwei Xiaochu' that has good reviews. They have local specialties like bamboo tube tofu fish and stir-fried bamboo shoots with cured pork. It's a good place to rest and try something new."
"Bamboo tube tofu fish? That sounds intriguing! Okay! That's the one!" Aunt Ping responded immediately.
Bao Guo smiled and nodded, "Okay, this is a good opportunity to refuel and replenish supplies."
As its name suggests, the "Zhulin Pass" service area is surrounded by a lush bamboo forest, creating a tranquil environment.
After parking the huge RV, the group walked into the clean and tidy "Shuwei Xiaochu" (Sichuan Flavor Kitchen).
The restaurant wasn't large, but it was filled with travelers from all over the country. Soon, the signature dishes were served.
Bamboo Tube Fish with Tofu: Fresh green bamboo tubes hold milky white fish soup, containing tender fish slices and snow-white, smooth tofu. The soup is garnished with emerald green scallions and a few bright red goji berries.
The fragrance of bamboo blends perfectly with the umami of the fish soup and the smoothness of the tofu. One sip is sweet and refreshing, as if you've drunk the freshness of the mountains and fields into your stomach.
Stir-fried cured pork with bamboo shoots: Locally smoked cured pork, with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, is stir-fried with the freshest bamboo shoots of spring.
The oil from the cured pork soaks into the bamboo shoots, while the crispness of the bamboo shoots balances the richness of the cured pork, resulting in a savory, refreshing, and delicious dish that goes perfectly with rice.
While it can't compare to the ultimate culinary feast in Leshan, this simple and delicious food, infused with the local mountain flavors, perfectly soothes the stomach after a journey, bringing a comforting feeling of returning to home.
Even little Leyi held her tiny bamboo tube and drank with great relish.
"Mmm, this soup is really delicious, it tastes like bamboo," praised Aunt Yuan.
"These bamboo shoots are so tender, and the cured meat is so fragrant!" Baoguo shoveled rice into his mouth.
"Not bad, not bad, it adds a refreshing little touch to our Sichuan cuisine." Aunt Ping was also very satisfied.