Chapter 8 — Salted Egg Yolk Baked Mantis Shrimp (1/2)
Ye Jiujiu, only twenty-three years old, was so startled that she instinctively took a step back. She absolutely did not want a son this big!
The chubby young man kneeling on the floor looked up at her with shining eyes and said excitedly, "Boss, you're my Gao Yuan's benefactor. I really have to thank you."
Ye Jiujiu stared at his acne-covered face, her whole body radiating rejection, and silently moved even farther away. "Calm down. I definitely can't give birth to a son your size."
"Boss, I'm not trying to take advantage of you." Gao Yuan quickly waved his hands. "I'm just truly grateful." He pointed at his cheeks. "Look, my pimples were so red yesterday, but today they're much calmer!"
Ye Jiujiu had been too busy yesterday to notice. "Really?"
Gao Yuan nodded firmly. "Yes! I stare in the mirror every day. They're definitely not as red as before."
"I… think so?" Ye Jiujiu gave an uncertain hum. "But what does that have to do with me? Why are you looking for me?"
At this rate, anyone passing by would think they were causing trouble.
She glanced around and noticed the shop owners nearby peeking in curiously. She quickly opened the door to her restaurant and walked inside.
Gao Yuan hurried after her. "Boss, I ate here yesterday. I felt better when I got home. It has to be because of your seafood."
Hearing this, Ye Jiujiu paused for two seconds. "…You didn't apply any medicine?"
"I didn't apply anything or take anything." Gao Yuan sighed. He'd had acne since school and it continued even after he started working. He had tried every medicine possible, but in the summer he loved eating too much to stick to treatment. "But this morning, my face looked slightly better. I thought carefully—nothing changed except that I ate your seafood. So it must be thanks to you."
Looking at his sincere expression, Ye Jiujiu felt her heart skip a beat. After all, she had experienced that magical night of eating seafood and then staying up late only to wake up with glowing skin. And considering how the seafood popped out of the fridge on its own… It wasn't impossible that her seafood had other mysterious effects.
But she absolutely couldn't admit that. If the refrigerator was taken away for "research," how would she survive?
So she denied it vehemently. "What nonsense? Maybe your body is just adjusting itself. It has nothing to do with our seafood."
Seeing her nervous look, Gao Yuan scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Boss, I'm not here to scam you."
Ye Jiujiu raised a brow. "Guess whether I believe that."
Flustered, Gao Yuan scratched his head and said honestly, "Boss, I really didn't mean anything bad. I was just too happy."
"I know." Ye Jiujiu softened her tone. "Most seafood is cooling in nature. It might have a mild anti-inflammatory effect, so you're probably imagining a cure. Don't overthink it. If you're sick, it's best to see a doctor."
"Boss, I understand." Seeing that she didn't want to continue the topic, Gao Yuan stopped pressing. He glanced at the empty restaurant. "Boss, can I order now? I want to eat."
"Are you eating alone?" Ye Jiujiu asked, kindly reminding him, "The dishes are quite expensive. It's better to come with friends so you can split the bill."
"If I'm alone, I don't have to fight anyone for food." Gao Yuan picked a small four-person table in the back and sat down. "Boss, what seafood do you have today?"
Seeing his determination, Ye Jiujiu took out the handwritten menu and handed it to him.
Today's Menu:
Thai-style Cold Clams / 88
Steamed Clams with Egg / 188
Spicy Stir-fried Clams / 188
Razor Clams with Egg / 288
Boiled Cat's Eye Snail / 388
Spicy Stir-fried Coconut Snails / 388
Fermented Spicy Conch with Lingzhi Mushrooms / 488
Salted Egg Yolk Baked Mantis Shrimp / 988
Gao Yuan's eyes lit up instantly. "There's mantis shrimp today?"
"Yes. One per serving, about the length of my forearm. That's why it's pricey." Ye Jiujiu hesitated, then added, "We only have five servings each of the coconut snails, conch, and mantis shrimp. The rest are seven or eight servings."
"Then I'll take one mantis shrimp!" Gao Yuan felt like he had won a lottery. Chefs sold mantis shrimp of that size for far more. "Boss, your price is actually very fair. High-end restaurants charge much higher."
"Next time I might raise the price," Ye Jiujiu muttered. Selling mantis shrimp this big for 988 was indeed cheap. But she worried a higher price would scare customers away, so she kept quiet until now.
"…" Gao Yuan covered his mouth, instantly regretting saying anything.
Ye Jiujiu smiled lightly. "Done ordering?"
"Not yet." Gao Yuan added enthusiastically, "Thai-style cold clams, razor clams with egg, and spicy stir-fried coconut snails."
Ye Jiujiu reminded him gently, "You might not be able to finish all that by yourself."