"It's okay, I can pack it and take it home."
Ye Jiujiu hesitated. "…It tastes best when it's fresh out of the pot."
"It's alright."
"Okay then." Since he insisted, Ye Jiujiu didn't try to persuade him further. She headed straight to the kitchen to prepare the dishes.
The kitchen was hot and stuffy. She pushed the window open a little wider to let in the summer breeze, tidied her hair, and skillfully got to work.
She grabbed a one-pound coconut snail, scalded it in boiling water until it went limp, then transferred it into ice water. This made the meat firmer and springier. When it cooled, she sneakily twisted off the meat as if catching it off guard.
Her movements were clean, sharp, and practiced—so efficient that no one would guess she was a pretty young girl. She cleaned the meat, sliced it thin, and stir-fried it at high heat, giving it a crisp yet tender texture.
After plating the translucent snail slices back into the polished shell, she placed a small yellow flower on top, making the dish look fresh and full of life.
Next, she made a simple dipping sauce, arranged it alongside the blanched cat's eye snails, and delivered it with the Thai-style cold clam salad she had prepared earlier.
"You can start eating. The mantis shrimp will be ready soon."
Gao Yuan smiled. "Boss, don't worry. I'm not in a rush."
"Alright." Ye Jiujiu returned to the kitchen. The mantis shrimp in the basin were huge, their mantis-like claws waving aggressively as if threatening the "thief" before them.
She put on gloves, grabbed the shrimp from the back, pinned it onto the counter, and swiftly dispatched it with a single cut.
After cleaning and cutting the shrimp into sections for faster cooking, she went to the storeroom and brought out a large jar. Inside were salted duck eggs her grandmother had pickled—fragrant, golden, oily, and sandy. Ye Jiujiu could eat several bowls of rice with just one.
She cracked three eggs, separated the yolks, and prepared the seasonings. When the oil in the wok was smoking hot, she poured in the mantis shrimp.
The oil hissed and popped fiercely. Ye Jiujiu tugged her black mask higher. "Fry however you want, just don't fry my face."
The strong flame quickly crisped the shrimp outside while keeping the inside tender. After removing them, she began stir-frying the salted egg yolks. Slowly, over low heat, the reddish yolks turned sandy. She added scallions, ginger, and garlic. When the yolk crumbs turned golden and fragrant, she added the fried mantis shrimp, coating every piece thoroughly.
Using chopsticks, Ye Jiujiu reassembled the sections into the shape of a whole mantis shrimp and placed a white clematis flower on its head, making it look like a shy village maiden attending a festival.
When she served the dish, Gao Yuan was stunned. He knew it was big, but he didn't expect this big. After frying, the swollen body covered two-thirds of the plate. For 988 yuan, it suddenly felt like a bargain.
"It's huge!" He quickly snapped a picture to post on his Moments later.
Ye Jiujiu stepped aside. "Try it and see how it tastes."
"Alright." Gao Yuan picked up a piece and took a bite. The aroma of salted egg yolk instantly filled his nose. The delicate, sandy yolk melted across his tongue, making him shiver. Before he could savor it, a crisp crack sounded as he bit through the shell.
Inside, the flesh was tender and fresh, carrying just a hint of salted egg yolk without losing the natural sweetness of the mantis shrimp. Every layer was distinct, yet they blended together beautifully.
"It's so good." Gao Yuan couldn't find the words, so he simply focused on eating. Not finishing it would feel like disrespect—to both the chef and the seafood.
Even while eating, he didn't forget to post to his Moments. His friends instantly flooded him:
"Gao Yuan, you're eating alone? Why didn't you call us?"
"That mantis shrimp is huge! Bigger than my arm! It must taste amazing."
"It must be insanely expensive."
"Gao Yuan, I thought we were brothers for life? You betrayed us!"
Gao Yuan was too busy eating to respond.
"Gao Yuan? Where are you?"
"Don't think you can hide. We'll come find you soon!"
"If you don't take us, we'll go ourselves—and we won't call you!"
People who saw the comments were tempted.
"Is it really that good?"
"It is good, but it's pricey." Someone who ate there last night smacked their lips, recalling the meal. "It hurt to spend the money, but it was delicious. I slept like a baby afterward."
"Yeah right, keep bragging."
"I'm serious. You'll understand when you try it."
"If he doesn't believe you, he doesn't believe you." Suddenly, someone remembered the rule—limited portions, first-come first-served—and quickly tugged their friend. "Stop talking."
Everyone immediately zipped their lips. "I was just bragging. Don't take it seriously."
They continued pretending, hoping others wouldn't rush over and snatch their share.
Meanwhile, Ye Jiujiu knew none of this. She trimmed the climbing vines in the vase, waiting for the next customer.
At that moment, in the bluestone alley outside, an elderly woman in her sixties walked slowly with her sickly granddaughter in her arms. As they passed the restaurant, the listless little girl sniffed the air. Drawn by the rich aroma hidden behind the banana leaves, she whispered weakly:
"Grandma… it smells so good…"