Seeing Li Hao Chen and the others return with smiles, their harvest was surely bountiful.
"How was the haul today, handsome guys?"
"It was absolutely great. Look, my contribution was amazing." Liang Min Feng shamelessly boasted.
"Pfft~ It was very amazing, so amazing that..." Liu De Hui, before finishing, felt a sharp killing intent surge from behind and quickly shut his mouth.
Liang Min Feng walked over, knitted his brows, and shot a glance, as if saying, "Good thing you didn't say it, otherwise... hehe!"
Ruan Shan Shan and the others curiously walked over. They looked at the lively sand crabs in the buckets, their big eyes blinking, so cute.
They were a group who loved cute things. How could they not be moved seeing these? As they looked, they reached out.
"Ah..."
Chen He let out a sharp cry nearby. He quickly moved, grabbing Ruan Shan Shan's hand and pulling back, but it was still a step too slow. His little finger was nipped, and the crab wouldn't let go, clamping down tightly.
"Awooo~~"
Chen He sprang up, doing a three-step bounce in place. The few girls were so startled they clapped their chests, a wave of aftershock, that scene...
Perhaps due to the violent thrashing, the sand crab's claw loosened, falling to the ground and scuttling away rapidly. Chen He, clutching his little finger and stomping his foot, wanted revenge but had nowhere to find the culprit. He could only channel his anger towards its siblings, thinking, "I'll eat you guys with extra force later to avenge this nip."
"Does it hurt?" Ruan Shan Shan asked worriedly.
"Mm... It's fine, it just pinched me a little." Chen He's mouth twitched, saying the opposite of what he felt, while inwardly he thought, "You try it, it's damn painful."
"Let me see."
Chen He scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly, "It's nothing, don't worry."
"Give it here." Ruan Shan Shan pouted in annoyance, giving him a look that made Chen He tremble and extend his hand. He looked like a henpecked husband.
Liu De Hui and the others who had been standing around had already slipped away. This scene was meant for the two of them.
"You said it was fine, but it's bleeding." Ruan Shan Shan looked at Chen He's little finger, which was broken and oozing blood. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Ruan Shan Shan took out a tissue and gently wiped the blood from Chen He's hand. She found a bandage from somewhere, dressed it, and then checked it carefully.
Having his hand held by Ruan Shan Shan, Chen He's heart bloomed with joy. He no longer resented the sand crab. If the sand crab brother were present, he would probably go up and kiss it twice.
"There, don't let it touch water later."
"So fast? It still hurts a bit."
Ruan Shan Shan gave him a sidelong glance, knowing Chen He's little thoughts. Her face instantly turned red. Seeing this made Chen He feel a surge of elation, almost making him unable to resist leaning in for a kiss.
"Huh, where did they go?"
"..."
When the two emerged outside, they were immediately teased by everyone, turning their faces bright red.
After this commotion, Li Hao Chen dared not let them touch the sand crabs anymore, preferring to handle it himself.
He took out a large basin and poured the sand crabs into it, washing them clean. With quick hands, he picked one up, used his index fingernail to hook the carapace and pull it off backwards. Holding the shell in one hand and the claw in the other, he exerted force upwards and downwards, tearing it into two halves. He then removed the gills above the crab meat.
He repeated this process, and in about ten minutes, dozens of sand crabs were cleaned.
The process of making sand crab porridge is different from other porridges. To fully bring out the savory flavor of sand crab porridge, it must be cooked over a wood fire. Fortunately, this house had a wood-burning stove.
He opened the stove door, built a small pile with dry pine branches, and stuffed some newspaper underneath. These dry pine branches were collected by Liu De Hui from the back mountain, where there was a vast pine forest and plenty of them to pick.
Perhaps this fellow had never lived in the countryside. He didn't bring back the best fire-starting material, pine needles, so he had to use newspaper to ignite the fire.
"Scratch..."
Sparks from the igniter and flint ignited the butane sprayed from the nozzle, producing a blue-yellow flame. With the help of the newspaper, the pine branches were soon burning, making crackling sounds, and some of the tips bubbled with oil, making sizzling noises.
The benefits of using pine branches to start a fire were obvious: a strong flame and a faint scent of pine oil.
Before long, the temperature inside the iron pot gradually rose. Li Hao Chen held his hand a few centimeters above the bottom of the pot to feel the temperature and nodded with satisfaction.
He poured in peanut oil and salt, stir-frying. Once the salt melted, he stir-fried the onion bulbs until fragrant, then poured in the sand crabs and stir-fried them quickly. When the sand crabs turned red, he poured in the cooked white congee and continued to stir-fry, allowing the savory flavor of the sand crabs to fully infuse the congee.
It wasn't finished yet; the last step was needed to make it perfect.
Li Hao Chen walked out of the yard and picked a few leaves from the flower plate at the base of the longan tree. These were large-leafed cilantro, with an incredibly fresh aroma, far superior to regular cilantro. Only this could fully bring out the savory flavor of the sand crab porridge.
After a few more stir-fries, he sealed the stove opening. The residual heat kept it simmering, filling the room with an enticing aroma that made one's mouth water.
Everyone playing poker in the yard smelled the fragrance, and their stomachs rumbled. They ran into the kitchen, "It smells so good."
"Third brother, what are you cooking that smells so good?"
"This is sand crab porridge. It's incredibly fresh and sweet, with many benefits, wonderful beyond words. It's meant to be savored. Oysters are simply pathetic in comparison. That's why they call it the best porridge in the world, hehe!"
Before stir-frying the porridge, Li Hao Chen had also steamed a plate of minced garlic razor clams. The sea snails were also cooked on the gas stove, and the meat from a few large conches was scooped out and stir-fried.
Coupled with the stir-fried green vegetables made by Ruan Shan Shan and the others, the entire large dining table was filled.
"Dinner is served..."
After Li Hao Chen's words, Liang Min Feng and the others were all focused on the sand crab porridge. If it weren't for the beautiful companions beside them, they would have rushed at it long ago.
Among the boys, Liang Min Feng was the most impatient. As soon as he ladled it into his bowl, he eagerly drank it. As it entered his mouth, one could imagine his entire inner lip getting scalded and peeling off. He kept his mouth open, blowing to cool it.
"Slow down, is anyone snatching it from you?" Zhang Gui Fang said with a hint of admonishment.
"It's really so fresh and sweet. This is the first time I've had such delicious porridge."
"Yes, it leaves a fragrance in the mouth, incredibly fresh and sweet."
The large pot of porridge was quickly devoured, most of it ending up in the bellies of the "three musketeers." They ate until they could barely move, slumping in their chairs and groaning.
Murong Yan Ran brewed a pot of green tea for everyone to aid digestion and then started clearing the dishes. Zhang Gui Fang and the others came to help, but she politely declined, thinking it improper to have guests wash dishes.
A while later, everyone else also left. Li Hao Chen tidied up the tables and chairs in the yard and walked into the kitchen, "You must be tired too. I'll handle the rest."
"No need. You go out quickly. This is my territory, and I call the shots." Murong Yan Ran pouted and chased Li Hao Chen out of the kitchen.
After washing the bowls, Murong Yan Ran patted her arms with her small fists. Li Hao Chen saw this and walked over, "Shall I massage them for you?"
"Okay..."