Fishing and Hunting 82, Starting with Three Sisters Who Overprotect Their Brothers

Zhang Wenshan's words stunned the three people present.

Is it worth at most two cents a pound to give away as a novelty?

Ge Ergui's lips twitched slightly, and he almost couldn't hold back his laughter.

Zhang Fengxia hesitated, barely suppressing her urge to stop her younger brother.

Even though Wu Xia had seen a lot in state-run restaurants, she could only force a smile and say, "Well... thank you."

"These are the ingredients; we'll need to use your kitchen for the main dish," Zhang Wenshan continued.

"Ah, make snails?" Wu Xia raised her eyebrows, pondered for a moment, and then nodded. "Alright, I want to see what tricks you can come up with."

After several collaborations, the younger brother has proven to be quite reliable; he doesn't waste his time on trivial matters.

As she spoke, she led the way to the kitchen.

"That state-run restaurant, what good food haven't they seen?" Zhang Fengxia grabbed her younger brother who was trying to follow, "They're not like our place."

She had eaten Zhang Wenshan's cooking before and knew that her younger brother was quite skilled.

But no matter how you cook snails, they're still just the same; adding some seasoning won't turn them into a delicious dish.

Ge Ergui was even more worried because he didn't know Zhang Wenshan's cooking skills.

"Team leader, there are about a hundred pounds of snails. If you don't want them, then don't."

His subtext was quite clear.

Don't ruin the sales of state-run restaurants; it's not worth it.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Zhang Wenshan continued walking without stopping, stepping straight into the kitchen of the state-run restaurant.

There were countless pots, pans, and bowls next to the four stoves, and all kinds of seasonings were arranged in order, with everything you could want.

In Chishongtun, pork is a precious commodity, often served in small bowls but displayed in two large basins.

There was also a full bucket of soybean oil, and piles of ingredients...

Zhang Fengxia and Ge Ergui couldn't take it all in; they looked left and right, and couldn't help but swallow hard.

When Wu Xia saw the two of them, she raised her head almost imperceptibly, a hint of smugness appearing on her face. But when she saw Zhang Wenshan, she seemed dazed again.

Why isn't my little brother responding?

Wait, why does he seem a little disgusted?

Zhang Wenshan indeed didn't like it.

Having lived two lives, I've seen and tasted many things, so I'm not easily shocked by a few ingredients.

As for the others.

A kitchen with an earthen stove and open flame, and no electrical appliances, was just so-so. If the hygiene conditions were in modern times, it would definitely be shut down due to public outcry.

"Sister Xia, can I borrow some materials?"

"Alright! Use all the ingredients you need."

"Thank you, Sister Xia." Zhang Wenshan turned to greet the two who were still in a daze. "Uncle Ergui, please help start the fire. Sister, please cut off the snail's tail."

He can use the earthen stove, but controlling the heat is difficult.

If there are readily available helpers, there's no harm in using them.

"Oh, here it comes."

Zhang Fengxia and Ge Ergui suddenly realized what was happening and quickly rolled up their sleeves to get to work.

The kitchen of state-run restaurants is fully equipped with knives.

Zhang Wenshan quickly explained the tricks of cutting snail tails, then picked up a cleaver to prepare the ingredients, leaving behind streaks on the cutting board.

"Brother, your knife skills are quite good. Have you studied it?" Wu Xia could tell at a glance.

Knowing how to use a knife is not uncommon.

The difference between high and low skill levels is huge. Except for a few talented ones, chefs need a lot of practice, which is why learning to cook always starts with chopping and cutting.

Young man, your knife skills are something you can't learn in the countryside.

There aren't that many things.

There's also the fact that you can remove the tail from a snail to make it easier to eat, something most laypeople wouldn't know.

"I learned a few side dishes to go with drinks from my master," Zhang Wenshan said without looking up, giving a very purposeful answer.

"Snacks to go with drinks?" Wu Xia's eyes lit up, instantly realizing the key point.

Outsiders may find it hard to imagine that snacks served with alcohol often make more money than meals.

After a hard day's work, which of the factory workers in town wouldn't want to have a drink to relax?

They couldn't bear to buy expensive dishes.

Inexpensive, flavorful, and satisfying, peanuts and edamame naturally became the top choice.

Snails, on the other hand, have even lower costs, or even no costs at all.

"Sizzle!"

The popping sound of oil sizzling woke everyone up.

Ge Ergui was terrified when he saw the oil sizzling in the pot.

Zhang Fengxia clenched the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning white.

Not only do they cook in state-run restaurants, but they also use soybean oil right away?

What if it gets smashed?

Wu Xia's eyes, however, held a hint of anticipation. She had a feeling that her younger brother might bring a huge surprise.

Zhang Wenshan was completely focused at that moment.

Once the oil was hot enough, he flicked his wrist and dropped the Sichuan peppercorns and dried chili pepper pieces into the pot.

A strong, pungent aroma suddenly exploded in the kitchen, causing everyone to cough involuntarily.

Next, stir-fry scallions, ginger, and garlic to release their flavor, then add a spoonful of Northeastern soybean paste.

Several ingredients released their aroma as they were constantly stir-fried.

In an instant, the kitchen of the state-run restaurant fell silent, and everyone couldn't help but sniff.

The light in Wu Xia's eyes shone even brighter.

She knew it would work even without it being finished.

"Splash!"

Zhang Wenshan poured in the snails with their tails trimmed, stir-fried them over high heat, then added a little soy sauce and salt... Finally, he added half a bowl of water and covered the pot.

There are no problems.

He breathed a sigh of relief, after all, it was related to the subsequent plans, and it would be very troublesome if it was ruined.

"Wait for the broth to thicken..." Zhang Wenshan turned around to introduce, but saw that his eldest sister and Ge Ergui had already gathered around the pot, constantly licking their lips, their eyes completely glued to the pot.

He sighed silently to himself.

In an era of low oil and low salt, the impact of stir-fried snails with soy sauce is undeniable.

Wu Xia was the first to come to her senses and asked, "Brother, are you selling snails?"

This dish is not difficult to make, you don't even need to look at the recipe. You can replicate it after tasting it a few times. The person didn't keep it a secret.

What's left is self-evident.

"Sister Xia is brilliant." Zhang Wenshan smiled, knowing that his goal had been achieved.

Just as we were about to discuss...

"Clang!"

The kitchen door was flung open with brute force, and a burly figure rushed in at lightning speed, heading straight for the stove.

"Who did it?"

Everyone was startled.

Zhang Fengxia and Ge Ergui jumped in alarm, quickly shielding Zhang Wenshan behind them, their hearts pounding in their throats.

Could it be the hotel manager who has come to question us?

"What are you wailing about?" Wu Xia grabbed the man's ear impatiently. "My brother has come to bring us money."

"Oh my god, I'm just thankful they're not eating my food."

The man turned his head, saw who it was, and looked surprised.

"Is it you, the one who delivered the fine-scaled fish?"

"Hello, brother-in-law." Zhang Wenshan recognized Hong Yuan and greeted him with a smile.

"What good stuff did you catch this time?"

"Here, this is what the young man made."

"What?"

Hong Yuan glanced at the stove, sniffed the air, looked at Zhang Wenshan, and suddenly jumped up.

Zhang Fengxia and Ge Ergui immediately formed a human wall.

"Don't scare him." Wu Xia slapped her forehead, pulled her husband away again, and said apologetically, "That's just his personality, don't mind him."

Zhang Wenshan quickly waved his hand and said he dared not.

Hong Yuan calmed down, cleared his throat, and said, "Young man, could you introduce me to your master?"

No reply was received.

He said to himself, "Your master is a master; how come I didn't think of stir-fried snails with soy sauce?"

These days, seafood in Northeast China is either boiled or stewed.

Braised and stir-fried dishes are expensive to prepare and use a lot of oil and ingredients. Few people can afford to eat proper ingredients, let alone waste them on snails.

"My master has passed away, and he wasn't a cook either." Zhang Wenshan didn't rule out the possibility of a fight. He went to the stove, lifted the pot lid, and said, "Brother-in-law, could you give me some advice?"

The moment the pot lid was lifted, Hong Yuan had already rushed to his side.

Ignoring the fact that it was hot, he picked up a snail and put it to his mouth.

Instantly, Zhang Fengxia and Ge Ergui tensed up.

Even a fool can see that whether or not snails can be sold for money depends entirely on the other party's evaluation.