Just before the small crayfish were almost ready, he tossed them into the pot. This would elevate the flavor of the crayfish to another level. Many people mistakenly believe that dried chilies are sufficient for cooking small crayfish and that green chilies are unnecessary. Although green chilies have a limited effect on increasing spiciness, they can enhance the dish's fresh, clean notes, making the overall flavor richer and more complex. Perilla leaves are the perfect accompaniment to small crayfish; typically, when buying crayfish from a stall, a handful of perilla leaves is included.

After setting the crayfish to stew, Lin Xu washed the cucumbers he had bought and cut them into strips as thick as his little finger. He planned to make refreshing sweet and sour cucumber strips to help cut through the richness of the crayfish. He took a small basin and added one ladleful of Rice Vinegar, half a ladleful of Chen Vinegar, a generous handful of White Sugar, half a ladleful of Light Soy Sauce, a touch of Dark Soy Sauce, a small teaspoon of salt, a few lemon slices, a generous handful of chopped hot chili rings, and some coriander segments. Using chopsticks, he stirred the seasonings until the salt and sugar dissolved. Then, he added the prepared cucumber strips, sealed the basin with plastic wrap, and placed it in the refrigerator's chilling compartment to marinate. Since they were meant to be eaten right away, the seasoning needed to be stronger. This would allow the flavors to penetrate the cucumber, transforming them into sour, sweet, savory, and spicy strips. When eating the small crayfish, one could simply pick up a strip and pop it into their mouth. It was not only an appetizer and palate cleanser but also kept the mouth feeling refreshed.

After preparing the cucumber strips, he readied a few other dishes before finally emerging from the kitchen.

"Wow, the aroma from the kitchen is amazing!"

As the kitchen door opened, a group of famished foodies immediately craned their necks. Chen Yan even pulled out a disposable glove she had prepared. But when they saw their brother-in-law come out empty-handed, disappointment was immediately written across their faces.

Lin Xu chuckled, opened the refrigerator, and said, "There are chilled drinks here. What does everyone want?"

Yesterday, while tidying up, the delivery boy had brought home some leftover drinks from the shop's beverage cooler. Wanting them for his own convenience, Lin Xu selected some of his favorite flavors and placed them in the compartments on the fridge door.

Upon hearing there were drinks, Chen Yan, who was famished, got up from the sofa. She planned to drink something to boost her sugar levels, worried she might get hypoglycemic before even tasting the crayfish. As she stood before the refrigerator earnestly making her selection, she noticed winter melon strips and pumpkin strips marinating inside.

"What's this, brother-in-law? Can we eat it?"

"Those are for the Winter Melon candy and Pumpkin candy I'm preparing. They're soaking in limewater now and can't be eaten yet. You can try them when they're ready," he explained.

"Winter Melon candy? My grandma loves those! Yueyue, doesn't Grandma like Winter Melon candy?"

Chen Yan's maternal grandmother was also Shen Jiayue's paternal grandmother, Madame Shen.

Hearing her cousin, Shen Jiayue nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes, my grandma absolutely loves them... You can make these? That's fantastic! Remember to bring some over the weekend; my grandma will be overjoyed."

So... Dundun had me draw this snack as a way to honor the elders?

No wonder, out of all the delicious dishes, it was this Winter Melon candy that he picked.

What a respectful and considerate child!

To reward Dundun, Lin Xu made a special trip back to the kitchen and steamed a small piece of pork loin for the little fellow in a small steam pot.

Indeed, while the adults indulged in the small crayfish, the little one also needed some meat.

「Half an hour later.」

The small crayfish were ready.

The coffee table in the living room had been cleared, and everyone gathered around it. On the table sat three large trays piled high with small crayfish that were a vibrant red, glistening with oil, and exuding a numbing and spicy aroma. Several side dishes were arranged around them.

"Let's eat the crayfish first. After we're done, I'll cook some noodles and toss them in the broth," Lin Xu suggested.

At this, everyone's appetite was instantly rekindled.

Using the broth from the crayfish to toss with noodles—even the most ordinary dried noodles would taste absolutely superb, wouldn't they?

But for now, they couldn't dwell on that thought. The small crayfish before them were far too tempting.

Everyone put down their phones, donned disposable gloves, and dug in!

Eating small crayfish is one of the best ways to liven up the atmosphere at a gathering because everyone is too preoccupied to use their phones, forcing them to chat with one another.

Picking up a large crayfish, one would first suck on the head to savor the brains and rich roe. The savory, numbing, and spicy flavor instantly awakened the taste buds. Next, they would break open the body. Those with strong teeth might tackle the claw meat, but most people preferred the tail. After peeling out the plump crayfish meat, those who liked a stronger flavor would dip it in the sauce. The fresh sweetness of the meat, combined with the savory, numbing, and spicy sauce, was an incredible combination.

"Wow! Delicious, delicious!"

"So spicy and savory, this is incredibly satisfying!"

"Lin, your culinary skills are truly beyond words; these small crayfish are exceptional."

"Exactly, especially that hint of sweetness in the sauce. It's simply amazing. I think it's even more satisfying than the crayfish from Guijie."

"Will this small crayfish dish be on the new restaurant's menu?"

Lin Xu popped a piece of peeled crayfish meat into his mouth, then raised his chilled beer to clink glasses with Yue Liyue before replying, "It most likely will. After all, small crayfish are highly profitable and incredibly popular. There's no reason for us not to make this money."

With that, he tilted his head back and took a large gulp.

The savory, numbing, and spicy crayfish paired with ice-cold beer—this was truly fantastic.

Unfortunately, Shen Baobao, his sister-in-law, and Panda had to drive, so they couldn't drink. While Zeng Xiaoqi, Dou Wenjing, and Wu Kexin didn't have to drive, the three of them were more interested in eating than drinking. As for Geng Lele... technically, he should have been at the children's table with Dundun, so drinking was out of the question for him.

Thus, while everyone else had soft drinks, only Lin Xu and Yue Liyue, who lived nearby, enjoyed iced beers. They clinked their glasses occasionally, making those who had to drive quite envious.

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