IHOEAYSTTTIW Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Double Pepper Fish Head and the Essence of Human “True Fragrance”

Ginger, garlic, and fermented soybeans, lined up in a row, Lin Yan swiftly chopped and crushed them all. The washed fish head also needed a simple preparation: make a few cuts on both sides to ensure the fish head remained intact while allowing the flavors to penetrate.

The golden mushroom was trimmed and sliced, then laid at the bottom of the plate.

Heat the wok with cold oil. When the oil reached about 60% of its maximum temperature, sauté the ginger, garlic, and fermented soybeans until fragrant, then add the chopped peppers and stir-fry to season.

Lin Yan was no longer the Lin Yan who had just transmigrated. He now had a full array of supplies. Chicken essence, pepper, white sugar, and salt were all added to the pot, stirred evenly, and set aside for later use.

To make the fish head flavorful and eliminate any fishiness, steaming it twice was essential.

First, add water to the wok, place a steaming rack inside, and steam the fish head with ginger slices for four minutes. Remove the ginger slices, drain the bloody water, and steam a second time.

Lin Yan efficiently arranged the fish head on the plate, placing half with red chopped peppers and the other half with green chopped peppers. Then, he placed the fish head in the pot.

The aroma of the fish wafted out through the cracks in the window. Within twenty minutes, White had meowed ninety-two times and pawed at the door thirteen times. Now, it was directly pressed against the door.

After the fish head was steamed, only the final step remained: pouring hot oil over the fish head to fully unleash the aroma.

“Brother, I’m here to get cat food…” Yun Qi sniffed delicately. The rich and intense aroma of the fish head was irresistible, eagerly burrowing into his nostrils. The fiery spiciness of the red peppers and the subtle freshness of the green peppers intertwined, cleverly blending with the savory aroma of the fish head. Every wisp of fragrance made one’s appetite surge.

Yun Qi swallowed hard, his eyes constantly darting towards the plate.

The plump and round fish head was cut in half from the middle, its surface completely covered with a thick layer of double pepper relish. The chopped peppers were a vibrant, tempting red, while the green pepper relish was a lush green. A few strands of blanched, crisp green onions adorned the perimeter of the fish head.

The meal was served. Yun Qi, already familiar with Lin Yan’s habits and convinced that anything Lin Yan made would be delicious, hesitated to pick up his chopsticks. Lin Yan picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of fish in Yun Qi’s bowl, “Eat.”

Yun Qi poked at it, struggling to look away. He forced himself to meet Lin Yan’s eyes and said with some difficulty, “Brother, I have something to tell you…”

It was rare for Yun Qi to be so serious. Lin Yan put down his chopsticks and waited for him to continue.

These words seemed difficult to say. Yun Qi took a long time to gather his courage. He finally made up his mind, but then the courtyard door was knocked.

The Village Head’s voice came from outside the courtyard: “Lin Yan, are you eating?”

“Another freeloader is here.” Lin Yan sighed, but a smile appeared on his face as he opened the door and politely welcomed the Village Head into the house, “Xiao Qi, the Village Head is here, add another pair of chopsticks.”

White, who was eating the fish tail in a daze, only meowed twice when he heard someone coming in.

Even the cat got to eat fish, let alone people.

“It smells so good, is it bacon again?” The Village Head sniffed and practically flew into the room.

Only two bites had been taken from the fish head on the table, and the dish was still steaming. A new set of tableware had already been prepared.

Disappointed that it wasn’t the bacon he had been longing for, the Village Head’s hopes were further dashed when he saw the red and green fish head. He poked the fish’s eye with his chopsticks and asked with some difficulty, “What is this?”

“Double Pepper Fish Head.” Lin Yan waved for Yun Qi to sit down and put the most succulent piece of fish head meat into Yun Qi’s bowl.

The Village Head looked on eagerly and asked unwillingly, “Where’s the fish meat?”

Lin Yan rolled his eyes inwardly and didn’t even bother to explain, “Double Pepper Fish Head *is* the meat.”

“Can you eat a fish head?” The Village Head picked up his chopsticks, circled the fish head with them, but couldn’t find a place to start. He finally put them down and looked toward the kitchen for a long time, “How do you handle the fish meat? You didn’t hide it, did you?”

Lin Yan pointed to the door. White, who was full and content, strutted in and nodded to everyone at the table.

The Village Head looked at the fat cat, whose fur was glowing, and shook his head, “You’re really particular. Using Drunken Pleasure Tower’s yellow wine as cooking wine, eating the fish head yourself, and feeding the fish meat to the cat?”

“What’s wrong?” Lin Yan beckoned White over and pinched the plump flesh on its belly, “White likes to eat it. Look at its fur, look at its meat, and I debone it for him too…”

The Village Head thought of his own family’s terrible cooking and then looked at White’s meals, his head in a daze, “Does your family need a dog?”

“What?” Lin Yan looked at the Village Head in disbelief. He rubbed his ears, trying to make sure he was hearing correctly.

At least he shouldn’t hear such outrageous things again.

“Never mind.” The Village Head coughed awkwardly twice, picked up the yellow wine on the ground, and shook his head regretfully, “Looks like I can only drink it straight.”

“Try my cooking.” Lin Yan randomly picked a piece of meat and placed it in the Village Head’s bowl.

The politeness was there, but he couldn’t be bothered to care whether the Village Head ate it or not.

The Village Head had heard a little about Lin Yan’s cooking skills. The meat in the bowl exuded a savory aroma, and the red vegetable, whatever it was, had a unique taste.

The Village Head took a deep breath, a battle raging in his mind, and finally picked it up.

The fish meat was silky smooth. The fiery spiciness of the chopped peppers was like a small sun exploding on the tip of his tongue, hot and scalding, igniting his mouth. The spiciness was mixed with a hint of sweetness. The Village Head instantly turned red. The spiciness made his scalp tingle, but he couldn’t stop himself.

The Village Head picked up another piece of the green pepper. The fresh spiciness of the green peppers neutralized the fire of the red peppers. The vegetable fragrance was fresh and natural, with a rich texture. Both the red and green were delicious. The Village Head mustered some courage and reached for the fish brain, which he would never have touched before.

The translucent fish brain was soft, delicate, and melted in his mouth. It was dense and mellow, bringing together the extreme flavors of the double peppers and the fish head. The savory, spicy heat flowed down his throat, warming his spleen and stomach, leaving a fragrant taste in his mouth. He was already eagerly anticipating the next bite.

Lin Yan watched as the fish, which he had paid money for, Yun Qi had cleaned, and had gone through various processes, all ended up in the Village Head’s stomach. He was a little dissatisfied. He coughed lightly and moved the plate away, winking at Yun Qi like crazy, “Xiao Qi, the Village Head can’t get used to it. Get the Village Head two pieces of pickled radish.”

“Stop.” The Village Head held onto the increasingly distant plate. His voice was hoarse from the spiciness, but his chopsticks didn’t stop moving, “Who said I can’t get used to it? Who said fish head isn’t delicious? This fish head is excellent!”

Lin Yan released the plate and looked expressionlessly at the Village Head, who had supposedly eaten everything but always came to freeload, with an “I knew it” expression.

The Village Head touched his nose, took the wine from Yun Qi’s hand, and waved at him with a friendly expression, “Tell your Xiao Qi not to bother, sit down and eat.”

Lin Yan didn’t stand on ceremony with the Village Head, and he didn’t want Yun Qi to go hungry. His chopsticks moved between the three plates, and they ate the meal with ferocious expressions. The fish on the table quickly turned into bones. The Village Head let out a satisfied burp, shook the empty wine jar, and then remembered that he had come on business, not just to freeload.

New buds were sprouting on the trees, and two swallows flew by together.

“You said before that the weather was too cold and it wasn’t convenient to hold a wedding.” The Village Head tapped the table, revealing his purpose for coming today, “Now the weather is warming up, and even the swallows have found partners. When are you planning to have the wedding with Xiao Qi?”

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