Chapter 184: Giant Oyster

Seeing Li Xiao’s straightforwardness, Sixth Uncle acted with natural efficiency. In no time, he plucked sixty oysters—each larger than a hand—from the nylon netting attached to the buoys. Looking at the oysters scattered on the ground, Li Xiao practically drooled.

Though the nearest town, Qingao Town, wasn’t far, the journey would take at least forty to fifty minutes. To the impatient Li Xiao, this was simply too long. He turned to Sixth Uncle beside him. “Sixth Uncle, are there any restaurants nearby that can help cook these oysters?”

Sixth Uncle shook his head without thinking. “There are no restaurants around here. The closest one is over in Qingao Town.”

Li Xiao felt a bit helpless upon hearing this. The small village near the pier was indeed too small, so it was perfectly normal for it to lack a restaurant. It seemed they would still have to go to Qingao Town to find a place to cook them. Thinking this, he was just about to ask Sixth Uncle to head back when the older man suddenly changed his tune.

“However… if you just want to prepare the oysters simply, I can lend you my kitchen, as long as you don’t mind that it’s a bit rustic.”

Joy washed over Li Xiao’s face at the proposal. With oysters this fresh, he never intended to overcomplicate the cooking process anyway. Simply steaming them and dipping them in soy sauce and minced garlic—or spreading minced garlic directly on top of the oysters—would yield an exquisite delicacy.

Terrified that Sixth Uncle might change his mind, he quickly said, “If you’re willing to lend me your kitchen, Sixth Uncle, that would be absolutely perfect! Just let me know how much it costs, and I’ll pay you extra.”

Hearing that Li Xiao wanted to pay, Sixth Uncle waved his hand magnanimously. “Listen to you. How much could a little seasoning and gas possibly cost?”

After a few more polite exchanges, Sixth Uncle turned the boat around, and soon the fishing vessel was moored at the pier. Sixth Uncle hopped onto his motorcycle to lead the way, and the group quickly arrived at his house.

To their amazement, the small fishing village might not have looked large, but its buildings were far from dilapidated. Almost every family lived in a modern multi-story house, and beside each house, there were usually one or two cars or small trucks parked. It seemed the village had made quite a bit of money relying on the fishing and tourism industries.

Navigating through a maze of twists and turns, Sixth Uncle led the electric scooter on his motorcycle until they arrived beside a three-story house. He smoothly parked his motorcycle in the courtyard. His home sported a clean and tidy exterior, and the peaceful surroundings exuded the quiet comfort typical of a fishing village.

Li Xiao and his companions followed Sixth Uncle into the cozy house. Stepping into the spacious and bright living room, Sixth Uncle welcomed them warmly. “You’re Xu’s friends, which means you’re my friends too. Just make yourselves at home.”

His words were brimming with sincerity and enthusiasm, making Li Xiao and the others feel exceptionally welcome. Soon, they were led to the kitchen. Though the space wasn’t large, the layout was practical. It was fully equipped with kitchenware and stocked with all the basic seasonings.

Looking around, Li Xiao felt very satisfied with the kitchen’s setup. Sixth Uncle didn’t linger. After a few casual pleasantries, he left Xu in charge of hosting them and rode his motorcycle back to his card game, the engine chugging with a loud PUTT PUTT PUTT.

Li Xiao and the rest began processing the sixty massive oysters they had brought back. While sixty wasn’t an overwhelming number, the sheer size of each oyster made the washing process quite laborious. Fortunately, Sixth Uncle’s kitchen was equipped with specialized oyster-cleaning tools. With so many hands on deck, it took less than ten minutes to scrub all the shells clean.

During this time, Li Xiao had already prepared the minced garlic sauce, which was giving off a mouthwatering aroma. Next, he started prepping the oysters themselves. He placed the first thirty into a steamer basket, ready to be steamed whole. Using an oyster knife, he carefully pried off one side of the shell for the remaining thirty.

The pristine waters of South Australia Island yielded oysters with tender, fresh meat that looked delightfully white and appetizing. Using a spoon, Li Xiao meticulously spread the minced garlic sauce over the surface of the halved oysters before placing them into a second steamer.

By the time everything was prepped, the water in the two large iron woks was boiling. Li Xiao placed the steamer baskets filled with oysters into the woks, officially beginning the steaming process. The intertwining scents of fragrant garlic and savory seafood soon filled the kitchen, making everyone salivate.

They didn’t have to wait long before the timer on Li Xiao’s phone chimed a pleasant notification. He turned off the timer, grabbed a rag, and immediately lifted all the steamer baskets off the iron woks. Soon, six steamer baskets were neatly arranged across two tables.

The moment the baskets were opened, the steaming aroma instantly permeated the entire kitchen. Li Xiao and the others sat around the tables, faced with plates of freshly steamed giant oysters. The meat was thick and plump, exuding an irresistible seafood fragrance.

Seeing that no one had picked up their chopsticks, Li Xiao knew they were waiting for him. He hurriedly grabbed his chopsticks and urged everyone, “What are you all staring blankly for? These oysters won’t taste good once they get cold.”

With that said, he delicately picked up a steamed oyster. Holding it with his chopsticks, Li Xiao could clearly feel its firm and plump texture. The minced garlic sauce clinging to its surface added a unique aroma, elevating the complexity of its flavor profile. He blew on it gently to cool it down, then took a careful, savoring bite.

As the oyster entered his mouth, his taste buds were first greeted by the rich flavor of the garlic sauce, closely followed by the sheer umami of the oyster itself. The meat was smooth yet springy, possessing a satisfying chew. With each bite, the briny taste of the sea released by the oyster blended perfectly with the pungent kick of the garlic, creating a complex and profound flavor experience.

Unlike the singular texture of standard small oysters, these colossal ones felt incredibly fulfilling in the mouth. Every bite was a gift from the ocean—savory with a hint of saltiness—as if one could taste the unique essence of the sea itself. Their immense size gave the meat an exceptionally firm and crisp texture, completely devoid of the mushiness found in ordinary oysters. Furthermore, because they had been pulled from the sea mere moments ago, there was absolutely no fishiness—only an ultimate, refreshing sweetness.

Li Xiao became thoroughly intoxicated by the taste. Even in his past life, he had never eaten oysters this fresh, massive, and plump. This kind of ultimate flavor could only be experienced at the source. Even ingredients claiming to be air-freighted to high-end restaurants were only relatively fresh, whereas the oysters right in front of him were absolutely fresh.

After all, barely half an hour had passed since they were plucked from the sea. To achieve this level of freshness, a restaurant would practically have to be built right on the beach.

The three women followed Li Xiao’s example, carefully tasting the freshly cooked seafood. Expressions of deep satisfaction bloomed on their faces, punctuated by intermittent gasps of praise. Every bite of oyster was brimming with the unique maritime flavor of South Australia Island, leaving an unforgettable impression.

Xu went a step further. Grabbing a simply steamed oyster with his bare hands, he carefully detached the meat from its shell. He dipped the entire oyster in wasabi and soy sauce before tossing it whole into his mouth. The next moment, his nostrils flared slightly as the spicy jolt of the wasabi shot straight to the top of his skull.