Chapter 207: Shredded Pork and Bean Sprout Chow Mein

After hearing the auntie’s explanation, Li Xiao understood why the two dishes looked so similar. It turned out their preparation methods were largely the same, with only minor adjustments to a few small details.

This Roadside Chicken looked ordinary, without any fancy garnishes, but as the locals said, “It may look unremarkable, but one bite will capture your soul.”

Li Xiao leaned in and sniffed. It was just as the auntie had described.

The chicken itself had been carefully marinated, somewhat like a saltwater chicken, giving off a faint, savory aroma. It was already so flavorful that it didn’t need any extra dipping sauce.

In the livestream.

“Wow, look at that color! It looks delicious just from a glance!”

“Brother Li, take a bite and tell us how it tastes!”

“Just looking at the skin on that chicken, you know it’s gotta be good!”

…

Li Xiao picked up his chopsticks and gently lifted a piece of chicken.

He took a small bite. The texture of the chicken was smooth and tender, with a subtle sweetness mixed into its savory flavor that made it utterly irresistible.

As he chewed slowly, his brows relaxed, revealing a satisfied expression.

The meat of this White Cut Chicken was incredibly delicate. With every bite, he could feel its tender texture and taste the savory juices.

At the same time, the System’s notification sound echoed in his ears.

[Congratulations, you have unlocked the 80th item in your Food Compendium.]

[Food Compendium item unlocked: Roadside Chicken]

[Dish Rating: 92/100 (Excellent)]

[Due to the Excellent rating, you will receive a 4x reward.]

[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward: 800,000]

[Congratulations, you have received a reward: 0.1% of the shares in Haitian Flavors]

[Congratulations, you have received a recipe reward: White Brine Recipe]

[Congratulations, you have received a recipe reward: Roadside Chicken Recipe]

Li Xiao swallowed the chicken in his mouth and smiled as he explained to his audience:

“Look at this skin. It’s so thin and translucent you can almost see the texture of the meat underneath. You can only get chicken with this kind of texture when the cooking time and temperature are controlled perfectly.”

“The chicken they use here is exceptionally good.”

“It’s not too old and not too young—probably a free-range chicken around four months old. The meat is very firm, yet tender and smooth.”

“And because the chicken is relatively small, you don’t run into the problem where the outside is cooked through, but the inside is still raw and bloody near the bone.”

He popped the piece of chicken from his chopsticks back into his mouth, chewed it thoughtfully, and continued his commentary:

“This place’s Roadside Chicken is made extremely well. Not only is the quality of the chicken excellent, but the white brine they use is also seasoned perfectly.”

“The white brine and the natural savory flavor of the chicken complement each other. It’s refreshing without being overpowering, perfectly highlighting the chicken’s natural deliciousness.”

“This dish looks simple, but it tastes amazing. If you’re a fan of chicken, you definitely can’t miss this one.”

Next, Li Xiao’s gaze fell on another dish on the table—the Secret Recipe Pork Belly.

The dish had a golden-brown color and a glistening sheen of oil, looking incredibly appetizing.

He noticed this pork belly was prepared differently from the usual methods. Its unique characteristic was the use of a sweet bean paste in its preparation.

Li Xiao picked up his chopsticks and gently lifted a piece of pork belly. He could clearly feel the richness of the meat and see the glossy fat.

He placed the pork belly in his mouth and bit down gently. The layered texture of the meat immediately unfolded in his mouth.

The top layer of fat melted effortlessly, while the lean meat was firm and juicy. The combination of the two was just right.

Next, Li Xiao savored the flavor of the sweet bean paste within the pork belly.

The sweetness of this bean paste wasn’t straightforward; it was a delicate, complex, and layered sweetness.

It blended subtly with the meat, never overshadowing the pork belly’s flavor but perfectly complementing its texture.

The slight sweetness of the bean paste intertwined with the savory flavor of the meat, creating a unique profile that left a lingering aftertaste. It was like a symphony of flavors playing out in his mouth, or like the bean paste itself was telling the story of its long fermentation process.

In the livestream, the viewers were also captivated by this dish.

“The marbling on that pork belly is beautiful!”

“That pork belly is making my mouth water just looking at it.”

“Am I the only one who doesn’t eat fatty meat?”

“A kindred spirit! I can’t eat even a tiny bit of fat either!”

“If you don’t eat fatty meat, you’re missing out on so much deliciousness!”

“What’s so good about lean meat? It’s dry and not even sweet!”

…

Seeing the discussion in the comments, Li Xiao responded with a smile:

“Lean meat has its good points, and fatty meat has its good points.”

“It’s true that some people don’t like fatty meat, and you can’t force it.”

“But in my opinion, meat that’s all fat or all lean is just average in terms of flavor and texture.”

He picked up a piece of pork belly with a good mix of fat and lean meat and held it up to the camera:

“A ratio like this, about seventy percent lean and thirty percent fat, is the absolute best.”

With that, he tossed the pork belly into his mouth and began to chew seriously.

“The texture of this meat is fatty but not greasy, and lean but not dry.”

“The most crucial part is this sweet bean paste. Unlike the saltiness of regular bean paste, its flavor is perfectly suited to the tastes of people in Guangdong Province. It has a deep sweetness that melds perfectly with the flavor of the meat.”

“A combination like this really makes you want to have another bite.”

Then, the System’s notification sound rang out again.

[Congratulations, you have unlocked the 81st item in your Food Compendium.]

[Food Compendium item unlocked: Secret Recipe Pork Belly]

[Dish Rating: 91/100 (Excellent)]

[Due to the Excellent rating, you will receive a 4x reward.]

[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward: 800,000]

[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward: 800,000]

[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward: 800,000]

[Congratulations, you have received a recipe reward: Sweet Bean Paste Pork Belly Recipe]

……

After a few bites of pork belly, the third dish was served.

Li Xiao’s attention was immediately drawn to this new dish.

The third dish was Silver Sprout and Shredded Pork Stir-Fried Noodles. “Silver sprouts” are just bean sprouts, so you could also call this dish Bean Sprout and Shredded Pork Stir-Fried Noodles.

The stir-fried noodles had a golden-brown hue and gave off an enticing aroma.

The noodles were first pan-fried, then tossed and stir-fried. This unique preparation method gave the noodles not only a crispy texture but also an irresistible stir-fried fragrance.

Li Xiao used his chopsticks to lift some of the golden noodles. He could see they were coated in sauce; they were crispy on one side, yet soft and juicy on the other.

He took a mouthful of noodles. First, he felt the crispiness of the noodles, followed immediately by the rich sauce and the savory shredded pork.

The shredded pork was tender, creating a distinct contrast with the textures of the silver sprouts and the noodles.

This complex texture made Li Xiao exclaim in admiration. The flavor of this Silver Sprout and Shredded Pork Stir-Fried Noodles was indeed a bit like a stir-fried version of Meizhou Hakka Marinated Noodles, possessing both traditional flavors and innovative elements.

He continued to eat, each bite a collision of crispy fragrance and savory deliciousness, every chew a delight for his taste buds.

A satisfied smile appeared on Li Xiao’s face. Clearly, this dish had exceeded his expectations.

In the livestream, the viewers’ comments began to flood the screen.

“Those noodles look so fragrant, I can practically smell them through the screen!”

“Brother Li, your expression already tells us how delicious that dish is!”

“Hurry up and tell us, what’s so magical about these Silver Sprout and Shredded Pork Stir-Fried Noodles?”

Li Xiao replied with a laugh:

“These Silver Sprout and Shredded Pork Stir-Fried Noodles are a surprise in every bite. Look at the noodles—they’re crispy on one side and full of sauce on the other. The combination of shredded pork and silver sprouts is the icing on the cake, not only adding layers of texture but also making the flavor much richer.”

“Personally, I think this dish is even better than the chicken. You could call it the best dish of the day!”

Li Xiao’s high praise made the atmosphere in the livestream even more enthusiastic, with viewers all expressing their curiosity and longing to try the dish.

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