Zhao Ming is a local from Dongyang. He grew up with a rather light palate, although he occasionally eats spicy food.
For example: Kang Shuifu’s braised beef noodles.
That level of spiciness in instant noodles is already a bit overwhelming for him. But the stall in front of him only had a sign with the na "Mala Rabbit Head," while nothing was visible on the stall itself.
Zhao Ming didn’t think much of it. He wasn’t interested in eating spicy rabbit heads; he just found the stall’s owner a bit odd.
Even in the evening, Dongyang’s temperature is still over thirty degrees. Yet, this owner was impeccably dressed in a black suit, just looking at him was enough to make one feel overheated.
"This guy has to be up to sothing. Could he be an undercover cop trying to catch criminals?"
The thought had barely ford before Zhao Ming dismissed it. It seed unlikely. Based on his years of experience playing murder mystery gas, a cop running a stall wouldn’t be so conspicuous, allowing themselves to be identified at a glance.
"Then it must be sothing else; this boss is definitely not a good person!"
Zhao Ming quickly ca to a conclusion in his mind. So, he decided to try a rabbit head to see what the boss was really up to.
Seeing soone ordering, Chen Mo leisurely opened the braising barrel on the ground and scooped out five rabbit heads thoroughly steeped in marinade, glistening with red oil and peppercorns clinging to their surface.
"Boss, I said I only wanted one."
Chen Mo lifted his eyelids and looked at the young man in front of him. "I know, but I think once you’ve tasted it, you’ll want more."
Zhao Ming said nothing, but he kept pondering those words in his mind.
Why did this young owner assu that I would want more after tasting it? Was he overconfident in his snacks, or was there sothing else going on?
He quickly dismissed the forr; just wearing a suit while running a stall was odd enough, and now making such bold assumptions, this boss indeed had issues!
Zhao Ming stood in front of the stall, sticking his hand into his pocket to blindly activate the recording function on his phone.
This scenario was one he had imagined and practiced at ho countless tis!
Practically second nature!
Zhao Ming intently watched all of Chen Mo’s actions, observing as the young owner placed the scooped rabbit heads into the wok, then ladled a large scoop of braising liquid from the barrel, imdiately turning up the heat. The sauce in the wok visibly thickened as it evaporated.
The previously floating red oil concentrated and adhered completely to the surface of the rabbit heads. Chen Mo grabbed a handful of white sesa seeds and so scallions, tossing them into the wok with an easy flip.
The rabbit heads, now shimring with a red oily sheen, beca more colorful. Chen Mo placed the cooked rabbit heads mouth-side out on a stainless-steel tray on the counter.
Then he picked one up and put it in a disposable egg tart bowl. "Here, your mala rabbit head."
Zhao Ming held the small bowl, deliberately edging forward, trying to improve the recording quality from his pocketed phone.
But reality let him down. After preparing the rabbit head, the strange boss said nothing further and simply retreated to his small stool, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes slightly, as if he had nothing to do with the entirety of Night Market Street.
Without understanding why, Zhao Ming focused back on the small bowl in his hands.
The streetlights on Night Market Street cast a faint yellow glow on the rabbit head in the bowl, making the oil shine even more vividly, with white sesa seeds and chopped scallions sprinkled on top.
"Why does it actually look a bit appetizing?"
"Could he really be a professional street vendor?"
Zhao Ming’s earlier suspicions began to waver. If Chen Mo could hear his thoughts at that mont, he might just say: "Wow, what a dramatic youth?"
But it didn’t matter since he had already bought it.
Zhao Ming put on the disposable gloves provided by the owner and awkwardly held the rabbit head.
"How do you even eat this thing?"
The three onlookers, led by Bao Shuai, were getting anxious. It had taken so much effort to sell one rabbit head, only for the custor to be clueless about how to eat it?
Sun Jianhong was also anxious.
Buddy, hurry up and eat! It looks so tempting, if only I had so money, I would have bought one long ago.
At this mont, he wished he could tell Zhao Ming: if you’re not eating it, I will!
Cheng Xiuli, hidden on the opposite side of the street, was also clenching her fists in anticipation; the custor’s feedback would directly validate whether her recent decisions were correct.
So, she was growing impatient.
Seeing the young man still reluctant to eat, Cheng Xiuli couldn’t hold back any longer. After all, she worked for a snack company, and she had researched rabbit heads many tis before, but had never included them due to their strong regional appeal.
Fine, let’s teach him!
Cheng Xiuli decisively stepped out from the shadows and approached the stall, "Boss, one rabbit head, please."
Chen Mo hesitated, then, seeing Cheng Xiuli giving him a look, didn’t say much and pretended not to know her as he packed a rabbit head.
Cheng Xiuli held the rabbit head and sniffed lightly, her eyes narrowing instantly.
"How could he capture the essence of spicy, savory, and fragrance so vividly? What a skill!"
When eating, it’s rare to find dishes that sll spicy, savory, and fragrant from the get-go. These flavors usually need to be tasted to be appreciated, but this rabbit head was different. Just a whiff seed to convey all those flavors.
Cheng Xiuli didn’t dwell further; moving slowly, she used her gloved hands to break open the rabbit head by its mouth, using minimal effort to split it down the middle.
Inside, the tender at was imdiately exposed. Although it was a whole rabbit head, even the interior at appeared to have absorbed a layer of oily gloss.
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