Chapter 387: A Soup That’s Worth A House!
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Ah Li, try this fish gelatin soup!” Zhou Chao carefully served a bowl of fish gelatin to Jiang Li.
“Mmm, it’s so fresh, and the gelatin and ribs are delicious too. How come I’ve never had this before?” Jiang Li quickly finished a bowl of fish gelatin soup.
“Brother, where did you get this fish gelatin and ribs? They’re incredibly tasty!” Guo Yan, a food lover, was already onto her second bowl.
“This fish gelatin is from the Yellowlip Fish, and the ribs are from Iberian Black
Pigs. That’s why they’re so flavorful. Try some of the other dishes too!”
Ping pong! Just as Zhou Chao finished speaking, Jiang Li accidentally dropped her spoon into the bowl.
She cleared her throat and looked at Zhou Chao in disbelief. “Did you just say this fish gelatin is from the Yellowlip Fish?”
Jiang Li’s expression left Zhou Chao somewhat puzzled. He nodded and said, “That’s right, it’s Yellowlip fish gelatin, and the ribs are from Iberian black pigs.”
“Ahem! Ahem!” Jiang Li coughed tactically, calming her inner emotions.
“Sis, is there something wrong with this Yellowlip fish gelatin?”
“Of course, there’s a problem. Do you know about Yellowlip fish?”
Guo Yan wore a bewildered expression and shook her head.
“Yellowlip fish, also known as Golden Carp, is extremely valuable. Just the gelatin from one fish is worth over a million yuan. It’s roughly the amount we have for this meal. Currently, Yellowlip fish is extremely rare, with only around three to four hundred left. They aren’t very large in size, and they are a second-tier protected species in our country. Genuine Yellowlip fish gelatin is scarce in the market, and most of what’s available is fake!”
Guo Yan looked shocked, glanced at Zhou Chao, and then back at the bowl of fish gelatin. She stammered, “1 can’t believe it… 1 should quickly eat some Yellowlip fish gelatin to calm down!”
“Bro, this meal is worth several million, right?”
“Close to that, and there’s also the most exquisite part of Bluefin Tuna. If you don’t want it, I’ll throw it away.” Zhou Chao pointed at the plate of sashimi at the far end of the table.
“I want it all! I want to eat it all!” Guo Yan transformed into a true foodie, burying her head and devouring the food. Zhou Chao and Jiang Li were both taken aback by her voracious appetite.
The two exchanged glances before joining in.
“Brother Chao, how can this rice be so delicious?” Jiang Li admired the shiny, translucent grains of rice, each resembling a pearl.
“This is Jingyang rice!”
“Oh, 1 see.” Having experienced the previous culinary surprises, Jiang Li’s amazement was more subdued this time.
“Let’s eat before it gets cold!”
“Alright.”
After half an hour of indulging themselves, all three of them had round bellies. Guo Yan, in particular, was so stuffed that she flopped onto the sofa.
Bro, I feel like I’ve eaten all the way up to my throat. It was so delicious; what will 1 do if I can’t eat something this good again in the future?”
“What kind of family are you from? You want to eat like this every day? Do you think our house is a bank?”
“Hehe, I was just saying. Don’t take it seriously!”
As Jiang Li tidied up the table, she smiled at the playful bickering between Zhou Chao and Guo Yan.
“Ah Li, I and Xiaoyan are planning to return to Fog City tomorrow. Do you want to come along?”
“But you just got back today, why are you leaving again?”
“Xiao Yan has finished her college entrance exams and is planning to return to fill out her university application. I want to keep an eye on her and make sure she chooses the right one.”
“How many points did she score, and which university do you plan to send Xiao
Yan to?”
“She scored 688 points, and 1 plan to send her to the National University of Defense Technology.”
“That sounds like a good choice. Well, I won’t go back with you. There are a lot of things to handle lately, and you’re always asking for help. Can’t you see that everyone underneath is running themselves ragged?”
“I feel for my Ah Li too. You go out, and I’ll clean up.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Li rushed out of the kitchen, leaving Zhou Chao to wash the dishes and tidy up.
In Fog City, at Jiangbei Airport:
Dole, you can have a couple of days to enjoy Fog City, but there’s one thing no drinking or going to bars!”
“Don’t worry, boss, I’ll take care of them.”
Zhou Chao nodded and left the airport with Guo Yan and Lin Wu, taking the airport shuttle to Fuzhou.
Returning to Fog City, Zhou Chao immediately felt the heat. Through the car window, he saw the clear blue sky and the sparse crowd on the road, indicating the beginning of summer in Fog City.
After an hour and a half of travel, they finally arrived in Fuzhou, and the sweltering heat hit them as soon as they got off the bus.
Seeing Zhou Chao lost in thought after getting off the bus, Lin Wu quietly asked, “Boss, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just thought of a name after getting off the bus.”
“A name? What name?”
“MarkMampeker Ray!” Zhou Chao wiped the sweat from his forehead with a tissue.
Lin Wu was momentarily puzzled, but Guo Yan beside him burst into laughter.
Lin Wu, if you say it in the Fog City dialect, you’ll understand what’s going on!”
Lin Wu quickly pronounced the name in the local dialect and soon caught on.
“Boss, you’re really clever!”
“It’s not me; it’s the witty netizens. Let’s get a taxi and go home first. The weather in Fuzhou is unbearably hot!”
Just as they were about to flag down a taxi, one pulled up in front of them. Lin Wu hailed it, and they all got in.
“Golden Coast!” Zhou Chao immediately told the driver their destination without much small talk.
The taxi headed straight to Guo Yan’s home.
The hot weather had reduced the number of cars on the road.
Soon, the taxi pulled up steadily at the side entrance of the Golden Coast.
“Ah, just when we were enjoying the coolness for a moment, we had to feel the warmth of the sun again. This is so tough!”
“Let’s go, we’re almost home!”
Guo Yan reluctantly opened the car door and stepped out.
Fortunately, Guo Yan’s home was the first building on the side entrance. She only took a few steps before entering.
Click! Guo Yan took out her key and unlocked the door.
“Who’s there?” A man’s voice came from the kitchen.
A moment later, Guo Yan’s father came out holding a kitchen knife.
Dad-” Guo Yan ran up and tugged at her father’s arm, calling out.
Uncle!” Zhou Chao also greeted.
“Oh, you’re back! 1 thought it might be a thief coming in. Xiao Chao, come in quickly; it’s scorching hot outside!” Guo’s father looked pleasantly surprised.
“You guys came back without giving us a call. I could have prepared more food. Let me call your aunt to close the small shop and bring back some groceries. We’ll have to make do with a light lunch!” He took out his phone and called Guo Yan’s mother.
Zhou Chao didn’t want to stop him when he saw the situation.
Guo Yan’s father was straightforward in his conversation. As soon as the call connected, he said, “Xiao Chao and the others are back. Close the small shop and buy some meat and vegetables!”
After a few words, he hung up the phone.
Uncle, you don’t have to go through so much trouble. We can just have a simple meal!”
“Why is it trouble? You’ve come back after such a long time. Besides, buying some meat and vegetables won’t be too difficult. You guys can sit and chat for a while. Yan, go wash some fruits for your brother. I’ll go to the kitchen and stir-fry the dishes!” Guo Yan’s father said, taking out some fruits from the refrigerator.
When Guo Yan heard her dad’s words, she pouted her lips and reluctantly carried a fruit tray to wash the fruits.
Just as Zhou Chao was about to get up and help in the kitchen, Guo Yan’s father stopped him, insisting that he rest. Zhou Chao could only sit on the sofa and enjoy the fruits that Guo Yan had washed.
Guo Yan’s mother returned home quickly. When she entered the house, she was carrying two large bags, mostly filled with cold dishes made from meat.
“Third Aunt!”
“Oh, you guys didn’t even tell us in advance that you were coming back. Where’s Xiao Li? Why didn’t she come with you?” Guo Yan’s mother looked around but didn’t see Jiang Li.
“All Li didn’t come back. She had things to do at work and she couldn’t leave. I’m only here for a few days this time. Once things with Xiao Yan are settled, 1’11 have to go back to Modu. There’s still a lot of work to do there!”
Guo Yan’s mother’s smile faded slightly when she heard this, but she quickly smiled again.
“Well, young people should work hard while they’re young. 1’11 go see what your uncle is busy with!” She carried the two big bags and walked into the kitchen.
It didn’t take long before Guo Yan’s father and mother came out with several dishes.
“We’ll just have a light lunch today. I’ll go buy some more groceries to make a delicious dinner tonight!”
“Third Auntie, there’s no need to trouble yourself. How about we go out for dinner tonight? It’s too hot to cook at home!”
Guo Yan’s mother hesitated for a moment and then said, “Alright, that works!”
“Let’s eat. The porridge has cooled down, which is perfect!”
Zhou Chao and the others began to eat with their chopsticks.
“Xiao Chao, I heard from your third aunt that you plan to have Xiao Yan apply for a military academy!”
“Yes, that’s my plan. 1 came back this time for this matter.”
“I just hope this girl can prove herself.” Seeing Guo Yan enthusiastically indulging in her meal, he shook his head gently, head.
“Don’t worry, Uncle. Xiaoyan will definitely do well.”
“Well, I hope so,” he sighed lightly, and Guo Yan’s father fell silent.
After finishing their meal, Guo Yan was pulled away by her aunt to do the dishes, while Zhou Chao chatted with Guo Yan’s father.
“Do you know the process for applying to a military academy?”
“I do. I’ve already looked it up online. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the school with Xiao Yan to get the necessary documents. It’s a relatively straightforward process, just requires a few trips.”
“You’ve been putting in a lot of effort for Xiao Yan’s sake!”
“It’s no big deal; these are minor things. In the afternoon, I’ll visit my parents when I go back home!”
Zhou Chao’s words caught Guo Yan’s father off guard for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
“Well, the weather is too hot in the afternoon. How about you go tomorrow morning? I don’t want you to be in a rush.”
“No problem. I just happen to have nothing important to do today. Once 1 get busy tomorrow, 1 won’t have time. Besides, I can’t stay at home for more than two days; I’ll have to leave soon!”
Guo Yan’s father nodded in response, no longer insisting on his earlier suggestion.
“Then, later, take my car. It’ll be inconvenient with the other one, especially in this scorching weather!” He walked to the door and handed Zhou Chao the car keys.
Zhou Chao accepted them without hesitation.
By this time, Guo Yan and her aunt had finished their tasks and walked out of the kitchen.
“Third Aunt, I’m heading out now. I have some errands to run!”
“Go ahead, but it’s so hot outside!”
“I’m going to Qinglong Mountain!”
Guo Yan’s mother nodded and then looked at Guo Yan, saying, “Take Xiao Yan with you!”
“Okay.” Zhou Chao took the keys and left with Guo Yan and Lin Wu..