Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1762 - 968: Wicked Woman (5K)_3

Seeing this, Lin Zida quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, just take what you need! The gas canisters are all topped up to the brim!"

Jiang Ning responded, "Alright."

Zhuang Jianhui inquired, "Are you two planning to hawk some snacks?"

"We've got a fresh catch of fish, so we're thinking of selling some fried fish."

Without further questions, Zhuang Jianhui led the way, offering, "I've got all the spices you might need, plus a few barrels of cooking oil. Some of them are already opened and barely used, so feel free to take them all."

Jiang Ning accepted readily, "Okay, I'll set aside some fish pieces for you later."

A smile touched Zhuang Jianhui's lips, "No need to stand on ceremony."

After obtaining the keys, Jiang Ning hopped onto the tricycle, which he had ingeniously converted into a mobile snack cart, heading back to his humble abode.

Tongtong was still diligently cleaning the fish!

Jiang Ning’s Divine Sense swept across the snack cart, and the precise configuration of every seasoning instantly became clear in his mind.

He then erected a sign, emblazoned with "Fried Fish" on the main board. Beneath it, he clearly stated, "Small portion: 15 yuan, Large portion: 30 yuan."

He possessed unwavering faith in his technical prowess and harbored no fear of unsold inventory.

Xue Yuantong, brandishing a hefty cleaver, began expertly chopping the fish with rhythmic "clang clang clang" sounds. She then playfully winked and asked, "Jiang Ning, don't you think I look fierce?"

"Extremely fierce," Jiang Ning confirmed.

"Hehehe," she giggled with childlike delight.

Gazing at her endearingly cute face, Jiang Ning couldn't help but return her smile.

Once the fish had been portioned into bite-sized chunks, Jiang Ning procured a large basin. He proceeded to add rice wine, chopped green onions, salt, and white pepper, stirring it all together with a stick to marinate the fish.

As time ticked by, Tongtong also dedicated herself to preparing a couple of dipping sauces—one spicy, and the other a sweet and sour variety.

With all preparations completed, Jiang Ning mounted the tricycle, with Tongtong by his side, ready to embark on their venture to make a substantial profit.

The throng of pedestrians along the dam showed no signs of diminishing.

Jiang Ning brought the tricycle to a halt at the water's edge. Xue Yuantong surveyed the scene, murmuring, "Are there too few people here?"

Jiang Ning remained composed, "No need to worry, our chosen spot is precisely the center of activity."

A nearby vendor, selling grilled oysters, offered his seasoned perspective, "Young man, confidence is certainly a virtue."

It is only through experiencing life's harsh realities that young folks truly grasp the arduous nature of earning a livelihood.

Concerned that business might be slow initially, Tongtong began gently heating the oil. She opted to heat only a small amount, intending to fry a single large portion of fish to start.

The stall remained quiet and somewhat desolate. Some passersby, having noticed the sign, deemed the prices to be too high and simply walked on.

However, a young man astride a Ghost Fire motorcycle, accompanied by a tattooed young woman, eventually approached for a look.

"How much..."

As the question left his lips, the Ghost Fire rider froze. The individual standing before him was none other than the very same person who had, during the frozen river period, forced them into labor, pulling carts.

Jiang Ning inquired, "Would you like a small portion?"

The young man, understanding the principle of appeasing authority by spending money to avoid future trouble, reluctantly stated, "A large portion, please, a large portion!"

He harbored a deep-seated fear of being coerced into selling fish!

Jiang Ning readily agreed, "Certainly, we can accommodate that."

After the young man handed over the payment, his gaze met Jiang Ning's. An inexplicable sense of unease washed over him, and he quickly averted his eyes, looking southward.

Only the tattooed girl remained captivated by the fried fish stall, her senses drawn to the alluring aroma, a pang of hunger stirring within her.

"Our establishment uses only freshly caught grass carp," Xue Yuantong announced.

Upon completing the frying of the fish, she inquired, "Spicy or sweet and sour sauce?"

The young man, without turning back, replied, "Whichever you prefer, whichever you like."

"Then, sweet and sour it shall be," Xue Yuantong decided.

She expertly coated the fish pieces with the sauce and packed them into a container. However, due to her lack of experience, two pieces of the golden-brown fried fish inadvertently landed on the not-so-pristine counter.

A brief, awkward silence descended upon the scene.

Xue Yuantong cast a subtle glance towards the young man, who, oblivious to the mishap, continued his interaction. She therefore proceeded to nonchalantly place the fallen pieces into the box.

The tattooed girl, however, had observed the entire incident.

Yet, overwhelmed by her intense hunger, she chose not to voice her observation at that moment.

The fish pieces, now perfectly fried to a golden hue, were hastily retrieved by the girl, who took a substantial bite. The taste was exquisitely fragrant, delightfully crispy, wonderfully fresh, and possessed a fantastic, melt-in-your-mouth texture!

"Delicious! Absolutely delicious!" The fried fish had undoubtedly earned the tattooed girl's unreserved praise.

The neighboring oyster vendor paid little heed, observing the tattooed girl, who appeared as thin as a reed. He surmised that someone who likely experienced hunger two out of every three days would find anything palatable.

As the young man departed on his Ghost Fire, the tattooed girl remarked, "Earlier, two pieces of fish fell onto the counter, and you didn't even glance back!"

The young man inwardly sighed, 'What good would looking back achieve? He would have packed them regardless.'

The tattooed girl added, "But it was genuinely tasty."

Jiang Ning instructed Tongtong, "Fry a full pot, I'm going to utilize my technology now."

Tongtong's eyes sparkled with anticipation, "Okay!"

They proceeded to fry five pounds of fish pieces simultaneously.

As the fish pieces sizzled in the hot oil and were nearing completion, Jiang Ning produced a small bottle.

The ingredients included black sesame seeds, a strain specifically cultivated on Hu Qi Mountain. While this variety possessed a lower nutritional value, its potent aroma was its distinct advantage.

Xue Yuantong reduced the heat to low, and Jiang Ning proceeded to add a handful of the sesame seeds into the hot oil. Even though the fish was already emitting a mouthwatering smell, the addition of the sesame seeds amplified the savory fragrance, causing it to rapidly spread.

A gentle gust of wind carried the enticing scent to individuals passing nearby.

"What is that amazing smell?"

Yin Yu and Xu Wenyi, who were strolling in the vicinity, found themselves drawn toward the source of the aroma.

Upon recognizing the two individuals, Yin Yu was initially taken aback for a moment before a subtle smile touched her lips – a smile tinged with pity for those less fortunate.

Xu Wenyi, however, expressed pleasant surprise. "Is that Jiang Ning?"

"Hello, would you like to try some of this fried fish?"

"Oh, I couldn't possibly impose," Xu Wenyi demurred.

Jiang Ning, without missing a beat, scooped up a piece of the fried fish, dipped it into the sweet and sour sauce, and extended it towards her. "Please, have a taste."

Faced with the alluring scent of the fried fish, its temptation proving too great to resist, Xu Wenyi accepted the offer.

The fish, coated with the Spiritual Sesame, proved to be significantly more fragrant than the portion the Ghost Fire youth had acquired.

Xu Wenyi accepted the piece of fish, took a delicate bite, and couldn't help but let out a soft, satisfied sound, "Mmm~"

The aroma was overwhelmingly delightful.

The fish was fried to a perfect crisp, not merely crispy on the outside and tender within, but wonderfully crunchy throughout. Even the fish bones had attained a delightful crispness. Combined with the sweet and sour sauce and its intense fragrance, each mouthful was an explosion of deliciousness.

Xu Wenyi finished the piece with an audible crunch.

Her expression became one of utter delight. "It's incredibly delicious!! So crispy and sweet!"

Witnessing her reaction, the pedestrians queuing behind them began to voice their eagerness. "Give me a small portion!"

"I want a large portion!"

"Mom, please buy me a super-large portion!"

"I’ll take a mega-large portion!"

Several children, their mouths watering, called out with fervent desperation.

Jiang Ning's voice cut through the clamor. "Please form a line, everyone, line up."

Yin Yu, positioned at the front of the burgeoning queue, observed the unfolding scene with a gentle smile.

She then turned, her gaze sweeping over the eager faces in the crowd behind her, her smile widening with an almost benevolent kindness.

Reaching into her robes, she produced two banknotes and announced clearly, "Hello there, I would like to purchase this entire batch of fried fish."

A profound silence fell over the crowd behind her, the collective wave of disappointment almost palpable.

This was immediately followed by the sharp, plaintive cries of the disappointed children.

Yin Yu added, without missing a beat, "Half sweet and sour, and half spicy, please."