When the waiter presented the steaming bowl of seafood kway teow to Li Xiao, he was immediately captivated by the rich aroma of the ocean.
The kway teow maintained a natural, creamy white hue, contrasting beautifully with the colorful array of seafood. There were tender shrimp, plump clams, and smooth squid, along with a variety of other fresh catches. Every ingredient had been meticulously selected and prepared.
The moment the ingredients hit the wok, the restaurant’s chef had begun his culinary magic. In Chaoshan, heat control is absolutely paramount when cooking seafood kway teow. The chef must ensure the seafood remains tender while perfectly preserving the texture of the noodles. Through rapid stir-frying, the noodles quickly absorbed the essence of the seafood, while the high heat locked the natural umami flavors deep within the meat.
Li Xiao picked up his chopsticks and served himself a small bowl. He lifted a portion of noodles coated in a thick, savory sauce. They slipped through the rich broth, releasing a mouthwatering fragrance. Taking a careful bite, he noted that the noodles were perfectly chewy yet tender, blending seamlessly with the sweetness of the seafood. Every mouthful offered a different texture depending on the seafood he ate, delivering a delightful, multifaceted surprise to his taste buds.
The natural sweetness of the ocean was on full display in this Chaoshan-style dish. Every piece of shrimp was plump and juicy. The clams were firm, bursting with the briny sweetness of seawater, while the squid provided a satisfying chew. Each type of seafood retained its unique characteristics without overpowering the others, coming together in perfect harmony. As he ate, Li Xiao could distinguish the sharp, aromatic notes of scallion and ginger, along with a faint hint of yellow wine. The addition of these seasonings was undoubtedly the icing on the cake, greatly elevating the entire dish.
[Congratulations, you have unlocked the 51st index.]
[The food index you unlocked is: Seafood Soup Kway Teow.]
[Food Rating: 88 points (Good).]
[As this food rating is Excellent, rewards are multiplied by 3.]
[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward of 400,000 yuan.]
[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward of 400,000 yuan.]
[Congratulations, you have received a recipe reward: Seafood Kway Teow Recipe.]
…
The bowl of seafood soup kway teow before him was quite delicious. The only minor flaw was the thickening of the broth. It wasn’t rich enough, and the flavor leaned a bit too mild, failing to fully draw out the umami of the seafood.
However, Li Xiao understood that while thickening a sauce seemed simple, it was a true test of a chef’s skill. He had already noticed that the kitchen was staffed entirely by young cooks, likely fresh out of culinary school. Such chefs had learned the foundational techniques, but their lack of experience meant they commanded lower salaries, making them perfectly suited for a chain restaurant like this.
Of course, these young cooks came with a glaring weakness: their heat control was nowhere near as masterful as that of veteran chefs. It was simply a trade-off. There was rarely such a thing as having the best of both worlds. Since the boss wasn’t willing to pay top dollar for better chefs, the food quality naturally took a slight hit. Even so, Li Xiao felt that for a chain brand, consistently producing bowls of noodles that reached a “Good” standard was already quite impressive.
After finishing the seafood soup kway teow, Li Xiao served himself a portion of stir-fried beef kway teow. The first thing to catch his eye was the glossy sheen of the noodles and the appetizing redness of the beef. The kway teow had evenly absorbed the color of the seasonings, taking on a highly enticing golden-brown hue. The beef had been stir-fried until crisp on the outside yet tender on the inside, locking in the essence of the meat. Smelling the aroma drifting from the plate, Li Xiao excitedly anticipated his first bite.
Every mouthful of the stir-fried beef kway teow was a tantalizing treat for the taste buds. The noodles were soft yet chewy, perfectly complementing the delicate texture of the beef. The meat was springy but tender, with every piece cooked just right to retain its savory juices. Li Xiao could taste the faint smokiness formed from the high-heat stir-frying—that slight char added boundless flavor to the entire dish.
The combination of kway teow and beef not only struck a flawless textural balance but also wove together a spectacular feast of flavors. The noodles gently enveloped the tender beef, melting together in the mouth and releasing an unforgettable taste. The unique seasonings of Chaoshan imbued the dish with distinct local flair. With every bite, he could detect a subtle touch of five-spice and a hint of sweetness. These blending flavors gave the dish a clear, layered profile and an exceptional taste.
As he savored it, Li Xiao could deeply appreciate the culinary wisdom behind the stir-fried beef kway teow. The soft, glutinous texture of the noodles and the tenderness of the meat were the results of meticulous heat control, with every step showcasing the chef’s ingenuity. This refined attention to detail was exactly what defined Chaoshan cuisine’s pursuit of ultimate deliciousness.
[Congratulations, you have unlocked the 52nd index.]
[The food index you unlocked is: Stir-fried Beef Kway Teow.]
[Food Rating: 91 points (Good).]
[As this food rating is Excellent, rewards are multiplied by 4.]
[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward of 800,000 yuan.]
[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward of 800,000 yuan.]
[Congratulations, you have received an experience reward: Insights into Beef Selection.]
[Congratulations, you have received a recipe reward: Stir-fried Beef Kway Teow Recipe.]
…
Worthy of being the signature dish, both the flavor and texture of this stir-fried beef kway teow were noticeably superior to the seafood soup kway teow. The other two bowls of kway teow they tried next were also quite tasty, but they only reached the “Good” level rather than “Excellent.” Since they had ordered the smallest portions available, there wasn’t a massive amount of food. However, no one was particularly hungry, so the portions ended up being just right.
After they finished eating, Xu drove his electric cart, bringing the four of them to a nearby seafood market. Just as he had promised, even though it was nearly seven o’clock, the market was still brightly lit. Inside, aside from a small handful of closed stalls, the rest of the seafood vendors were operating normally. Many men and women dressed like tourists were happily picking out various types of seafood at the stalls.
Standing to the side, Xu enthusiastically introduced the area. “Our market gets a lot of people every day, but most of them are tourists. A small number of them take the seafood back home to cook themselves, but the vast majority send it to nearby restaurants and have the chefs prepare it for them. However, we locals basically never buy from here.”
Hearing this, Wenchu People became curious. “If locals don’t buy from the market, where do you go?” Changing her tone, she quickly added, “You aren’t trying to scam us, are you? Did you deliberately bring us to a more expensive market?”
Wenchu People was, after all, a grid worker. She had seen her fair share of merchants pulling slick tricks, so she instantly grew vigilant.
Xu was so startled that he frantically waved his hands, hastily explaining. “How could I ever scam our VIPs? We locals all go over to the docks to buy. But it’s too late right now; those fishing boats have all gone back to rest.
“Usually, when the fishermen catch seafood in the morning, they go to certain docks to sell it. However, the selection there is a lot more mixed. Basically, the fishermen just sell whatever they manage to catch. Big, small, all sorts of things—it’s a real mixed bag.
“If you VIPs are interested, you can contact me tomorrow morning. I’ll take everyone to those local docks to pick out some seafood.”
Hearing this, the four of them immediately grew interested, intensely curious about this style of selling. They quickly made an arrangement with Xu to have him take them to the docks early the next morning to see how the fishermen sold their catches.
Thank you for the monthly tickets and tips, bosses.