Chapter 16: Stone-Grilled Fish Fillets

Chapter 16: Stone-Grilled Fish Slices

His nose twitched, and his eyes lit up as he added a large spoonful himself. The soup and noodles instantly turned a glossy red. He picked up the noodles with his chopsticks and brought them to his mouth.

Spicy!

His tongue tingled as if being pricked, and his entire mouth felt a completely different sensation—hot and fiery, yet not pungent or stinging to the nose, with a uniquely bold fragrance.

"So spicy! Delicious!" the short man suddenly shouted, burying his head in his bowl and eating without looking up.

Seeing this, his companions asked Lin Su to add some soup, then added a large spoonful of chili paste. The first bite also hit their mouths with pure spiciness. However, as men who were often out on the river, where the air was damp, they liked to eat spicy, pungent foods to induce sweating. This chili paste was pure and fragrant, perfectly suiting their tastes.

For a while, not a single one of them spoke. They let the cold river wind blow over them as they ate, working up a hot sweat.

It was incredibly comfortable!

The boatmen's behavior sparked curiosity among countless others on boats along the shore. Seeing the clay pot bubbling with fragrant steam, they couldn't help swallowing and giving in to the urge to buy a taste.

In just a few minutes, Lin Su's small boat was surrounded by a crowd. Seeing so many people, he quickly fished out the cooked noodles, added water and more noodles, and started cooking a new batch.

Xu Shi attended to customers and collected payments, while Xu Lei and Xu Xiaohu cleaned the used bowls, scrubbing off the grease with wood ash, washing them with hot water, and stacking them by the pot without pause.

Soon, a fresh batch of noodles was ready. Just as Lin Su was about to serve them, the bowls and chopsticks were suddenly snatched from his hands.

He turned around and saw Fu Yun looking serious, pulling his hand to make him rest. "Brother, I've learned how to do it. Let me take over; you sit down and rest."

"Ah—" Lin Su was standing with all his weight on his uninjured leg, and being pulled by Fu Yun made him lose his balance. Before he knew it, he fell into Fu Yun's arms.

What he didn't expect was that Fu Yun actually lifted him up.

And not only that, but Fu Yun also adjusted his grip to find a stable hold—a textbook princess carry.

Lin Su couldn't help covering his face. This kid was surprisingly strong.

Since Fu Yun wanted to work, Lin Su didn't object. After all, Fu Yun's mind might have regressed to that of a child, but his limbs were those of a fully grown adult. Such simple tasks wouldn't be beyond him.

Still, Lin Su sat down beside him, ready to keep track of the time and remind him.

Lin Su tilted his head slightly and watched as Fu Yun skillfully picked up noodles, filled bowls, ladled in soup with radish and tofu, one bowl after another—smooth and natural, without a hint of hesitation. Then he started cooking another batch.

When the time was up, Lin Su was about to remind him, but saw that Fu Yun had just lifted the lid at the perfect moment. The noodles were cooked to just the right tenderness.

"..." Lin Su raised an eyebrow. On reflection, he realized that Fu Yun had been imitating him, matching every step and timing down to the last detail.

This kid had an amazing memory. In the book, it was mentioned that the villain Fu Yun was exceptionally clever as a child, able to recite herbal medicine classics and recognize hundreds of medicinal herbs by the age of one or two, standing out before being taken in as a closed-door disciple by a traveling doctor.

The noodle stew sold quickly, but the most popular item was the chili paste. Many people, after finishing their noodles, would buy an extra bowl of soup, add chili paste, and drink it down with gusto, warming themselves from head to toe in the winter chill.

Some who were thrifty would buy only a bowl of spicy soup and dip their own dry rations or flatbread in it. Surprisingly, it was full of flavor—their usual bland food suddenly became fragrant and hot.

In less than half an hour, less than half of the noodles that had been brought remained. Those who had eaten didn't leave; they crowded together, chatting and laughing.

With fewer customers now, Xu Shi had time to rest. She looked at the leftover noodles in the bucket and sighed.

"If you've prepared too much, Su Xiaozi, and you don't know what to do with the leftover noodles, I'll take them back. They can be dried and stored. Tomorrow, when you set up your stall, use fresh noodles. Don't use the leftovers and ruin your reputation."

Lin Su appreciated her concern, but...

"Aunt, these won't be leftovers. Have you forgotten that we haven't eaten yet?"

They had prepared roughly a hundred portions last night. Minus what they themselves would eat—especially with that little pig Fu Yun—not much would remain. And he already had other plans for the leftovers.

"Perfect. Now that it's quieter, let's have lunch." Lin Su had Fu Yun cook a pot of noodles while he took out the stone slab from the fish grilling last night, along with the marinated fish fillets and dipping sauce dishes.

Seeing these things, Fu Yun recalled the taste of yesterday's grilled fish slices. His eyes were glued to the slab, and he refused to leave Lin Su's side.

So Xu Lei took over cooking the noodles.

Xu Shi and Xu Xiaohu watched Lin Su's movements curiously, wondering what he was doing with that dark, jet-black stone slab.

Lin Su didn't explain. He calmly cleaned the stone slab, waiting for the noodles to cook so the stove would be free for the slab.

Hmm, he'd need to get another stove.

The black stone slab slowly heated up. Lin Su used chopsticks to pick up a strip of fatback and rub it across the surface. As soon as the fish fillets touched the slab, they sizzled. When the aroma of fish wafted out, he brushed on a layer of chili paste.

In an instant, the intoxicating aroma reached the noses of everyone on the shore.

"Boss, are you frying fish? How much for it?" The short man rushed over eagerly.

Lin Su smiled slightly. "This is a sturgeon caught yesterday. There's not much of it. I was planning to keep it for ourselves..."

He paused, then continued, "But since we can't finish it all in one go, it would be a shame to let such good fish go stale. I suppose I could sell a little."

"However..."

"However what?"

"Sturgeon is rare, so the price will be on the higher side." Lin Su pretended to look troubled.

The short man didn't mind. Everyone knew sturgeon was expensive, and food made from sturgeon would only cost more. He had already prepared himself before asking. "No worries, just say it."

Lin Su smiled. "Fifteen wen for a portion. Each portion has five slices."

The short man looked at the fish slices. The shopkeeper hadn't cut them too thin or too thick. A pound of meat could probably be cut into five portions. The price, while not as high as that of Piaoxiang Tower in the county seat, was still a bit steep.

But... it smelled too good. The shopkeeper's chili paste made everything so fragrant.

Maybe he should buy a bowl of chili paste to use on the boat later.

"Give me one portion... Boss, do you sell the chili paste?" he asked.

Lin Su grilled about twenty slices on the slab. He set aside five for the short man and distributed the rest among Fu Yun and the others. "Yes, I sell it. But I don't have much. It's my secret recipe, made with many spices. A small bowl costs thirty-five wen."

This wasn't an excuse. Making the chili paste had indeed taken many of the medicinal herbs from Fu Yun's medical kit that could be used as spices. Although the spiciness came from the special ability water, and it was sold in small bowls, the spices themselves were not cheap.

"...I'll buy one bowl," the short man said hesitantly. He was spending half of his day's earnings, and his heart clenched. But this chili paste could be added to his meals every day—it would definitely be delicious.

Soon, others began buying fish slices to taste. Most were boat captains, shop owners, and traveling merchants who followed the boats. Those in business had more silver in their pockets, buying several portions at once. Along with the fish, they also bought a few servings of noodle stew.

Lin Su grilled fish for the customers while also grilling some for Fu Yun and the others. As soon as food appeared, Fu Yun stopped vying for work and ate without lifting his head.

Xu Shi initially refused to eat the grilled fish slices, insisting that Lin Su sell more to customers. But after tasting one, she stopped talking altogether. It was simply too delicious. If she didn't eat, she was afraid she'd start drooling.

After a busy moment, Lin Su looked up and saw a young man dressed in deep purple clothing, dark and subdued, but with gold-thread embroidered patterns on the collar, cuffs, and hem. He was short and round-faced, yet the clothes gave him a somewhat regal air.

To anyone with discerning eyes, he was clearly a wealthy merchant.