Food Stall: Customers Chase Me across the Country-Chapter 293 - 294: Who Can Appreciate the True Value of This Oyster Sauce Lettuce?
Wang Fan curiously watched the commotion in the line. Is this really happening in the 21st century, snatching strong men?
After enjoying the spectacle, he continued selling his oyster sauce lettuce rice.
Meat dishes for lunch, vegetarian for dinner, balancing meat and veggies while saving students’ money; Wang Fan was very satisfied with his arrangement.
Making oyster sauce lettuce is very simple, but it’s precisely because it’s simple that it tests skill.
The most crucial step is blanching the vegetables.
Blanching directly in water doesn’t work; the leaves turn yellow and look unappetizing. You need to add salt and oil to the water, so the boiled lettuce looks fresh and green.
Next to Wang Fan was a large pot, bubbling with boiling water. The lettuce was cooked for 30 seconds and scooped out with a colander. Divided into five portions, a scoop of slowly simmered garlic oyster sauce was poured over the top. The dish was visually appealing, flavorful, and with ideal texture — a perfect oyster sauce lettuce was completed.
To say they were not satisfied, Derek and Reggie certainly were very dissatisfied.
We were just about to indulge in a meaty feast tonight, and you’re telling us it’s just lettuce?
I’ve had lettuce in my burgers for so many years, do you really think I want to eat lettuce?!
But since they were already here, and at Kerry’s urging, they each ordered a portion, planning to buy some meat from another stall afterward.
Zhang Yang used to dislike eating lettuce, always feeling it tasted a bit bitter.
Yet, he had some mysterious confidence in the No. 5 stall at the canteen, believing the mysterious sauce could balance out that bitterness.
The reality was just as he expected.
This oyster sauce lettuce, rather than just being a dish of vegetables, he preferred to call it a piece of exquisite artwork.
The cooked lettuce leaves were layered like green waves, clustered together as if they were meticulously carved from top-grade jade. Each leaf shone with a bright green light, visually delightful.
Under the dining hall lights, the leaf veins were clear, their delicate texture seemed to convey their freshness and purity.
Zhang Yang picked up a leaf, placed it under his nose, and a faint fragrance wafted through, making him feel like he was in nature. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
Immediately, the aroma of garlic and oyster sauce brought him back to the school canteen.
As he bit into it, a crisp crunch resonated in his ears.
That sound seemed like the tender lettuce jumping between his teeth, playing a symphony of flavors, and the fresh scent of the veggies, reminiscent of post-rain soil, made him feel like swallowing a whole forest.
Every chew felt like the fresh lettuce was dancing on his tongue, perfectly blending with the rich garlic oyster sauce, leaving him both refreshed and flavorfully satisfied, endlessly longed for.
Not just him, but many other students around couldn’t help but praise it.
"This oyster sauce lettuce is just so delicious! It’s crisp, with a strong garlic and oyster aroma, and the slight sweetness is simply ingenious."
"Simple ingredients, but such an extraordinarily delicious taste—truly worthy of the No. 5 stall’s chef!"
"I was going to say that eating just vegetables wouldn’t even please a dog, but wow, wow, wow!"
"Every bite feels full of life and vitality, I just can’t get enough of this taste!"
Derek and Reggie at this moment lost all other thoughts, focusing solely on quickly shoveling the mixed rice and veggies into their mouths.
Their tiny spoons swung so fast they nearly left afterimages; they could only lament why their mouths weren’t as big as a hippo’s.
The lettuce was already scrumptious on its own, but for their taste buds, it was slightly salty until they noticed Zhang Yang’s eating method. It dawned on them: mix it with rice!
After thoroughly mixing, a big spoonful of rice was stuffed into their mouths, where the tastes of rice, lettuce, and garlic oyster sauce intertwined into a unique flavor that was utterly addictive.
Each mouthful of rice, chewing even three times felt excessive, as the plateful of veggies and rice disappeared rapidly before their eyes.
Feeling unsated, the two of them even started picking up their plates, shoveling food into their mouths with spoons.
"Huaxia people are so lucky; 2 Australian Dollars for such delicious food, it’s unbelievable!"
"Is this lettuce? The one in our burgers? This tastes a million times better!"
The two golden-haired, blue-eyed big groundhogs scooped up their food rapidly, with no one paying attention since everyone around was doing about the same. Who can mock whom?
...
Meanwhile, Chen Yonggang stood in the middle of a group, looking dejected.
Just a bit more, just a little more, and he could have bought those delicious dishes!
But two classmates dragged him back by force!
Principal Chen smiled as he looked at the elderly man, whose family members gazed at Chen Yonggang with gratitude.
Clearing his throat, Principal Chen said, "Student Chen, disregarding his safety to courageously save a drowning elder, makes me proud as a principal to have such a student! Would you like to say a few words, Chen?"
Chen Yonggang blushed slightly: "Principal, I really didn’t think much at that time, just wanted to get the person out of the water quickly. I only did something very ordinary; there’s really no need for all this."
"Which school is the best? Our Kainei practices pioneering excellence." The rescued elder held Chen Yonggang’s hand tightly, quoting a famous saying by Mr. Tao to express his gratitude.
"Thank you, Kainei people, for your kindness; I will forever remember it."
The old man was once a teacher himself and was truly gratified to see such students.
After seeing off the elder and his family, Principal Chen beamed as he patted Chen Yonggang on the shoulder: "Well done, young man! Now it’s just us here; do you have anything you’d like to say?"
Such real-life stories of heroism are great for positive publicity for the school, and Principal Chen is, of course, willing to open doors for this student, although not too wide open—maybe just a little preferential treatment.
Chen Yonggang hesitated for a moment, then couldn’t hold back: "Principal, I do have a small request."
Principal Chen laughed heartily and said: "Feel free to speak."
Chen Yonggang’s instructor, Teacher Jin, frowned slightly, genuinely fearing the student might make some unreasonable request.
Chen Yonggang, somewhat embarrassed, said: "If possible, could you tell the juniors to be a bit gentler when getting food from the No. 5 stall at the second canteen? We senior students would also love to try the food there."
