Chapter 72: The Origin of the Typhoon Shelter

Still, for a dish that could achieve a "Good" rating, the overall quality was quite reliable.

Zhao Shanshan took a deshelled crab leg from Zhou Yu.

After just one bite, a look of delighted surprise appeared on her face.

She had eaten crab before, but never Pine Needle Crab.

The big, meaty mouthfuls of crab leg were incredibly satisfying.

Zhou Yu:

"Delicious, right?"

Zhao Shanshan nodded.

"Delicious. It’s so delicious."

"The meat is so sweet, and there’s so much of it."

A friendly smile appeared on Li Xiao’s face.

"If you like it, eat up. Don’t be shy just because it’s your first time here."

"You’re Zhou Yu’s girlfriend, so that makes you our friend. Please, don’t be a stranger."

As they chatted, eight minutes passed.

Li Xiao walked over to the steamer and lifted the lid.

He gently fanned away the steam with his hand, revealing five small celadon bowls.

Li Xiao placed the five servings of Steamed Egg with Pine Needle Crab in front of everyone.

He waited for the celadon bowl to cool slightly before picking his up.

The egg was steamed to perfection. Its surface was glossy and delicate, without a single wrinkle. A dollop of orange crab roe rested in the center like a setting sun.

With the slightest movement of the celadon bowl, the surface of the steamed egg quivered breathtakingly.

It jiggled slightly, like liquid gold.

Li Xiao carefully drizzled the prepared soy sauce and heated peanut oil over the surface of the steamed egg.

He picked up a spoon and scooped out a small portion of the steamed egg.

Since the Pine Needle Crab was denser than the egg mixture, its legs had naturally sunk to the bottom.

Now, as he dug in, the red-and-white meat of the Pine Needle Crab was revealed within the egg.

Since this was for them to eat, he hadn’t worried about the cost at all.

As a result, this serving of Steamed Egg with Pine Needle Crab contained more crab meat than it did egg.

The moment he brought the spoon to his lips, the system’s notification sounded.

[Congratulations, you have unlocked the 12th Illustrated Guide entry.]

[Food entry unlocked: Steamed Egg with Pine Needle Crab]

[Dish Score: 88 [Good]]

[Reward x3 for ’Good’ rating.]

[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward: 400,000]

[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward: 400,000]

[Congratulations, you have received a reward: Typhoon Shelter Fried Crab Recipe]

...

Even though one serving of steamed egg had just earned him 800,000 in rewards, Li Xiao paid it no mind.

He quickly swallowed the egg in his mouth, raised his spoon, and dug in for another bite.

This time, he scooped up not only the egg custard but also a generous amount of crab roe.

The egg custard was dense and silky smooth, mingling with his tongue as if it were melting in his mouth.

The fragrance of the egg blossomed on the tip of his tongue, carrying a faint creaminess and a fresh egg aroma that was both warm and delightful.

As he chewed, the savory flavor of the Pine Needle Crab leg quickly permeated his senses.

The crab meat was plump, tender, and naturally sweet, full of oceanic umami that perfectly complemented the delicate texture of the custard.

Every bite offered the springy texture of the crab legs, like tasting the ocean itself.

Meanwhile, the rich fragrance of the crab roe burst forth, adding layers and depth to the entire flavor experience.

The rich oils from the roe dissolved into the custard, making the overall texture even more decadent. The moment it entered his mouth, it was a fusion of silky smoothness and intense richness.

Overall, this bowl of Steamed Egg with Pine Needle Crab had distinct layers of flavor and a rich, delicate texture.

It possessed the smoothness of the egg custard, the springiness of the crab legs, and the sweet umami of the seafood, all culminating in the rich aroma of the crab roe. Every bite was a delicious experience that left a lingering, unforgettable taste.

’No wonder it got a high score of 88, just two points shy of ’Excellent.’ The flavor really is a notch above the simply steamed version.’

He finished off the steamed egg in his hands in just a few quick bites.

Li Xiao quickly stood up and started preparing the next dish.

Glancing at the neatly piled crab legs, Li Xiao decided to remove a dish from his planned menu.

He had originally planned to make Pine Needle Crab leg sashimi.

Pine Needle Crab is actually quite suitable for sashimi, as the meat is naturally very sweet and savory.

However, judging from the scores of the two different dishes—the steamed Pine Needle Crab and the Steamed Egg with Pine Needle Crab—and his own tasting experience, he could tell...

...after several rounds of transport, this batch of Pine Needle Crab, while still usable for sashimi, wouldn’t produce a high-quality result.

’Since it wouldn’t be top quality, I can’t be bothered to even try.’

’After all, today’s stream is supposed to be a demonstration for my audience.’

’These nine Pine Needle Crabs have only been in a foam box for half a day and they’re already less than ideal for sashimi.’

’After further air transport and delays, the crabs that reach my viewers will be even less fresh.’

’If any of my viewers copy me and make sashimi, and then get sick from it, the fault would be all mine.’

With this in mind, Li Xiao spoke up to give a warning.

"While Pine Needle Crab is generally great for sashimi, the batch you all have has been through several stages of transport."

"So, please, do not use this batch of Pine Needle Crab to make sashimi. If you get sick from it, I won’t be held responsible."

As he spoke, he walked over to the pile of Pine Needle Crab legs.

"I just showed you all how to make Steamed Pine Needle Crab and Steamed Egg with Pine Needle Crab."

"Some of you might not be fans of such light flavors."

"So, next, I’m going to make something with a bit more of a kick."

"This next dish is called Typhoon Shelter Fried Pine Needle Crab."

"Typhoon Shelter Fried Crab is a very famous dish from Hong Kong Island."

Livestream Chat:

"What the hell is Typhoon Shelter Fried Crab?"

"Never heard of this cooking method..."

"The streamer knows how to make Typhoon Shelter Fried Crab too??"

"I went to Hong Kong Island a few years ago, and the most memorable dish I had was Typhoon Shelter Fried Crab."

...

Seeing the questions from his viewers, Li Xiao began to explain.

"As you all know, before Hong Kong became a financial center, it was a very prosperous fishing port."

"However, due to its geography, Hong Kong is often hit by typhoons."

"It’s not entirely accurate to say that ’typhoon shelter’ is a place name. To be precise, it refers to the harbors in the Old Hong Kong area where fishermen would take refuge from storms, not any single specific location."

"Places like Aberdeen, Causeway Bay, Shau Kei Wan, Yau Ma Tei, Liyu Gate, Kowloon Bay, Tugua Bay, Cheung Wan, Sai Kung, and Kwun Tong all have typhoon shelters, or they were originally expanded from them."

"Before the 1990s, a sizable population made their homes on the water in these typhoon shelters. Many of them were fishermen or their descendants."

"At the time, people who lived on land held a certain prejudice and discrimination against those who lived at sea."