The fresh, clean scent of seafood wafting through the air drew Li Xiao irresistibly to the small pushcart.
After ten minutes of gentle roasting over a low flame, the conch meat had completely firmed up, beginning to dehydrate and shrink.
The juices rendered from the conch meat made a BUBBLING sound as they boiled inside the shell.
Seeing the conch at this stage, Li Xiao finally understood. ‘So this is what they mean by juice-roasted conch.’
He had been wondering what kind of sauce the chef would use to roast the conch, but it turned out to be the conch’s own natural juices.
This, however, was perfectly in line with the Cantonese culinary style: letting the original flavors shine.
Even the purest spring water couldn’t have been a more suitable cooking liquid than the conch’s own juices.
The chef, already wearing thick, heat-resistant gloves, carefully turned the enormous conch from side to side. Ensuring the conch cooked as evenly as possible while also making sure none of the juices spilled out was a true test of his skill.
The heat from the olive-pit charcoal was remarkably stable. As the chef turned the shell, gentle flames licked every corner of the conch. The charcoal in the stove glowed with a ruddy light, and sparks seemed to dance merrily from the cracked pits.
As the small red-clay stove slowly roasted it, the juices inside the conch shell began to evaporate with the heat.
During the slow-roasting process, the conch meat gradually released a mouthwatering aroma—the perfect fusion of the ocean’s scent and the fragrance of charcoal fire.
Bathed in the warm glow of the fire, the conch shell slowly took on a golden hue—a color bestowed by the charcoal, a mark of culinary artistry.
As he saw the “water level” of the juice slowly drop, the young chef’s previously cautious turns became increasingly relaxed and fluid.
While turning it, the chef continuously sprinkled in various seasonings.
Soon, the BUBBLING of the juices grew faint. The chef took out a fork, carefully extracted the conch meat, and placed it on a cutting board.
The chef picked up his kitchen knife and skillfully sliced the conch into uniform, thin pieces. Each slice of meat appeared translucent, its edges slightly curled, indicating it had been cooked to perfection.
Under the warm light, the surface of the roasted conch glistened with an oily sheen, presenting an alluring golden-brown color. The edges of the meat showed a slight, delicious char from the roasting.
The sliced conch was arranged on a warm stone slate. The slate had been sitting next to the red-clay stove, absorbing its radiant heat, but not so much that it would continue to cook the slices.
The slate’s moderate temperature kept the conch warm, and this attention to detail made every slice gleam invitingly.
After finishing the slicing, the chef quickly prepared the sauce.
The young chef took out a small iron pot and carefully poured the remaining juices from the conch shell into it.
He didn’t add many more seasonings, just a bit of starch slurry to thicken the juice.
The thickened juice was poured evenly over the conch slices. Finally, the stone slate was carefully placed on a wooden tray and presented to Li Xiao’s party of four.
The conch was enormous, but after removing the shell and inedible parts, there wasn’t actually much edible meat.
Once it was divided, each person only had six or seven slices in front of them.
A gentle breeze drifted by, carrying the salty aroma of the ocean and the unique, savory scent of the conch.
Li Xiao extended his chopsticks and gently picked up a slice of conch meat coated in sauce.
It was a thin slice. Held up to the light, the meat was translucent. The sauce had set into a thin glaze on its surface, releasing an aroma that was a perfect blend of roasted meat and seafood.
He brought the slice to his lips. With a light bite, the crisp exterior and the tender meat within melted together on his tongue. The richness of the sauce and the natural sweetness of the conch intertwined, releasing layer upon layer of flavor.
The conch meat, pressed gently against the roof of his mouth, instantly released the freshness of the ocean—a perfect harmony of savory umami and subtle sweetness.
The meat was firm yet elastic, and the sauce had the perfect viscosity, enhancing the conch’s delicious flavor instead of overpowering its natural taste.
As he chewed, the conch revealed its multiple textures: the slight crispiness from roasting, combined with the meat’s natural tenderness and resilience.
This contrast of textures had Li Xiao instinctively reaching for another piece.
The sauce, meticulously prepared from the conch’s own juices, preserved the fresh taste of the sea creature while adding just the right amount of seasoning, making every bite a gift from the ocean, warmed by fire.
There wasn’t much meat, and before he knew it, the stone slate in front of him was empty, with only a few drops of thick sauce remaining.
Just then, a system notification sounded in his mind.
[Congratulations, you have unlocked the 48th entry in your collection.]
[Food item unlocked: Juice-Roasted Conch]
[Dish Rating: 92 [Excellent]]
[Excellent rating: Rewards x4]
[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward: 800,000]
[Congratulations, you have received a cash reward: 800,000]
[Congratulations, you have received a special reward: Taste +1]
[Congratulations, you have received a recipe reward: Juice-Roasted Conch Recipe]
…
Wen Yaqian licked the sauce from her lips.
“You really have to eat the big conches.”
“Last time, the one we had was only about half a pound. The flavor was still good, but the texture was a world of difference.”
“It’s just that these big conches are so expensive. If we weren’t tagging along with Brother Li, we would never splurge on this.”
“Thank you, Brother Li! Brother Li, you have to invite me next time you go out for good food!”
Li Xiao chuckled and nodded.
“How could I refuse the company of a beautiful woman at dinner?”
“We’re all in Yangcheng, so there will definitely be more chances to eat together in the future.”
He was smiling, but the look he gave Wen Yaqian was becoming rather intriguing.
Although Wen Yaqian had only asked if they could eat out together next time, as a seasoned casanova with dozens of ex-girlfriends in his past life, how could he not understand her real meaning?
However, Li Xiao wasn’t put off by it. In fact, he was somewhat impressed.
They were both single and at the right age. For a woman to be willing to take the initiative… that courage alone was something many girls lacked.
It had been almost two months since Li Xiao came to this world.
As a college student full of vigor, if he hadn’t been spending all this time adapting to this new body, he probably would have broken his dry spell by now.
When it came to relationships, Li Xiao had always been quite casual.
If he liked someone, they got together. If not, they went their separate ways.
He could love with fiery passion, and he could part with quiet indifference.
His guiding principle was simple: it was about the experience, not eternity.
As for his dozens of ex-girlfriends, not a single one held a grudge against Li Xiao.
Many of them still kept in touch after the breakup, and some even wanted to get back together.
After all, when they were together, their love had been passionate, and Li Xiao had been completely devoted and treated them extremely well.
He didn’t just buy them clothes and bags; for some of the girlfriends he’d been with longer, Li Xiao even bought them cars and apartments.
A top-tier, wealthy bachelor like him was truly a rare find.
Unfortunately, Li Xiao never had a habit of going back to his exes.
In his view, if a couple broke up once, they wouldn’t last long even if they forced themselves to get back together.
It was like a game you’ve grown tired of and have already uninstalled.
Even if one day, on a whim, you decide to download it again, you might feel a rush of excitement at first, a sense of nostalgia.
But tired was tired. Bored was bored.
It might only take a month, or even just a week, before you quickly grow tired of the game you were once obsessed with day and night, and you’ll just delete it again.
Because what excites you is just a fleeting moment from the past, not the game itself that you’ve already grown weary of.
Li Xiao wasn’t the type to accept any and all offers, but the woman before him, Wen Yaqian, was quite something—her looks, figure, and personality were all top-tier.
If she was willing to make a move, he had no intention of turning her down.