CH 12

Spicy Chicken Dices is a traditional Sichuan dish that is quite spicy. It is not a mild introduction to chili for those who have never consumed chili before.

The truth is this, while Bai Xianzhi was preparing the ingredients, he accidentally added a handful of dried chili peppers. The three individuals in the dining area started live streaming without his permission, and when he glanced at the comments, he realized that if these three weren’t here to cause trouble, then he had wasted all these years for nothing.

The chicken thighs are deboned and cut into cubes, marinated with cooking wine, salt, five-spice powder, and light soy sauce. The dried chili peppers are cut into small pieces, and the garlic, scallions, and Sichuan peppercorns are prepared. The white sesame seeds are also ready as garnish.

Heat oil in a pan, add the chicken cubes and fry until golden brown. Remove the chicken cubes from the pan, leaving a small amount of oil. Add minced garlic, minced scallions, Sichuan peppercorns, and dried chili peppers to the pan and stir-fry until fragrant. Finally, add the fried chicken cubes and white sesame seeds, stir-fry evenly, and then remove from the heat and plate.

The bright red dried chili peppers are adorned with golden chicken cubes, filling the entire kitchen with a strong and spicy aroma that even the spice-loving Bai Xianzhi can barely hold back a sneeze. It is evident that this bowl of Spicy Chicken Dices lives up to its name.

At this moment, Xiao Yu in the dining area was forced to retreat to the entrance by the overpowering aroma. His eyes were red, sneezing continuously, with tears streaming down his face. Qing Shu and the assistant were also in discomfort, standing beside Xiao Yu, their eyes filled with fear.

Their appearance frightened the viewers in the live stream.

“Xiao Shu, what’s happening to you all? Why are you suddenly crying?”

“Xiao Shu, they are all looking towards the kitchen. What smell is coming from there?”

“Oh my, the three of them look so miserable! I wonder what smell is making them feel so uncomfortable?”

“…Poison… Poisonous fruit?”

“It must be poisonous fruit! My grandma said that when you eat poisonous fruit, your eyes will tear up!”

“But they only smelled the scent, poisonous fruit too… horrifying!”

“Ah! Xiao Shu, please leave! I am satisfied with your livestream today. Don’t eat anymore!”

“Satisfied +1. Xiao Shu, leave quickly!”

“Satisfied, leave quickly +2”

“Satisfied, leave quickly +3”

…

Moved by the comments on the screen, Qing Shu looked at her assistant, who was feeling uneasy. Xiao Yu continued to shed tears, covering his nose and said, “Xiao Shu, let’s go! I can’t bear it anymore!”

Qing Shu clenched her teeth, “You two go first. I want to stay and see what this Spicy Chicken Dices really is!”

“Qing Jie/Xiao Shu!”

Qing Shu looked at the two and smiled determinedly, “I have done 536 livestreams, and each one has a beginning and an end. I can’t let a mere poisonous fruit leave a stain on my livestream. You two go ahead, I will stay here and continue the stream!”

“Qing Jie/Xiao Shu!!”

The assistant and Xiao Yu shook their heads, “No, how can we let you stay alone? What if… we’ll stay here with you!”

Qing Shu looked at them, touched, “Xiao Yu, Little Lili, you two… you’re so good!”

*Cough, cough,* Bai Xianzhi cleared his throat and looked strangely at the three individuals who were imitating scenes from a drama at the entrance. “Three of you, your Spicy Chicken Dices and Egg Fried Rice are ready. Please enjoy.”

Looking at the bright spicy chicken dices and the distinct grains of Egg Fried Rice on the table, Qing Shu, Xiao Yu, and the assistant exchanged glances. At this moment, they suddenly understood what those brave heroes who sacrificed themselves on the battlefield felt. The intense emotions of “sacrifice oneself for others” surged through their chests. The overwhelming smell in the air seemed insignificant, and the three of them walked confidently to the table.

Bai Xianzhi retracted his hand from the ventilation fan switch and looked at the three people who were sitting at the table with heroic expressions as they faced the Spicy Chicken Dices. He spoke gently, “Three of you, this dish is Spicy Chicken Dices. We usually only eat the chicken cubes, the red chili peppers are just a garnish. It’s best not to eat them.”

The expressions of the three individuals instantly relaxed.

Bai Xianzhi blinked, feeling that he had spoken too soon, and felt a bit regretful.

Qing Shu, Xiao Yu, and the assistant were relieved to hear that they didn’t have to eat the red poisonous fruit. If they only ate the chicken cubes and not the poisonous fruit, it would be much better.

As a livestream host, regardless of whether the food is delicious or not, Qing Shu must be the first to taste it.

She picked up her chopsticks, exchanged glances with Xiao Yu and the assistant, and then firmly extended her chopsticks towards the Spicy Chicken Dices.

Using the bamboo chopsticks, she picked up a golden chicken cube from the crispy dried chili peppers and placed it in front of her. Qing Shu took a sniff, then looked into the camera and said, “It has a somewhat indescribable fragrance. If it were only this aroma, I would definitely consider this chicken cube extremely delicious. But besides this fragrance, there is also a pungent taste, which I suspect is the taste of the poisonous fruit. It gives a slightly uncomfortable feeling when smelled.”

Saying that, Qing Shu furrowed her brows and put the chicken cube into her mouth, slowly chewing it.

Her expression suddenly relaxed. “Surprisingly, this chicken cube is delicious. It has a moderate level of saltiness, and the meat is tender and crispy when eaten–“

Qing Shu’s expression suddenly changed, her face became solemn as if she was experiencing something. Finally, she couldn’t bear it any longer and opened her mouth to inhale sharply. “Sss! It’s so uncomfortable! My tongue feels so uncomfortable! It’s like being burned by fire!”

Xiao Yu and the assistant’s faces turned pale. “Qing Jie/Xiao Shu, what’s wrong with you?”

Bai Xianzhi smirked and immediately handed her a glass of milk. “This young lady has been overwhelmed by the spiciness. Drinking a few sips of milk will help alleviate the heat.”

Ignoring everything else, Qing Shu picked up the glass of milk and gulped down a few mouthfuls. The piercing sensation of her tingling tongue indeed diminished considerably. She put down the glass and took a deep breath, feeling relieved.

“Xiao Shu/Qing Jie, how are you?”

Qing Shu whispered softly, “Much better, I’m fine.”

Qing Shu looked up at Bai Xianzhi and said, “Thank you, boss.”

Bai Xianzhi smiled gently, “No need to thank me. It’s just a small favor. However, this dish, Spicy Chicken Dices, is quite spicy. Although it won’t cause any harm when you eat it, your mouth will still feel uncomfortable. Will you still eat it?”

Xiao Yu and the assistant quickly shook their heads, “No, we won’t eat it anymore!”

Qing Shu glanced at the screen, where the viewers in the live chat were also advising her not to eat anymore. Her tongue still had a lingering burning sensation, which made her uncomfortable, but also… somehow satisfying?

“No, I won’t eat it.” Ultimately, the burning sensation prevailed.

Bai Xianzhi smiled, “Alright, but our restaurant doesn’t offer returns.”

Qing Shu nodded in understanding. They had ordered these dishes themselves, and she had already tasted them. It wouldn’t be reasonable to ask for a refund.

The three of them avoided the Spicy Chicken Dices and focused on eating the Egg Fried Rice. Once again, they entered a frenzy of devouring. Qing Shu protected her bowl of rice and ate quickly in front of the camera. Finally, she found a moment to speak, “It’s so delicious! It’s the first time I’ve eaten something like this, with each grain distinct. It doesn’t have a strong flavor, and there isn’t much to say about it when it’s in your mouth. But that’s its greatest characteristic – it doesn’t have much taste. I can only taste a subtle saltiness and a rich egg flavor. The eggs are the main highlight and they don’t overpower the dish. It’s simply amazing!”

The viewers in the live chat once again left comments, their mouths watering. The shadow of the Spicy Chicken Dices from earlier seemed to have dissipated. Gradually, the large bowl of Egg Fried Rice was completely devoured by the three of them. Not a single grain of rice was left. They sat on their stools, holding their stomachs, feeling satisfied. At that moment, Qing Shu’s chopsticks couldn’t resist reaching out towards the Spicy Chicken Dices…

“Xiao Shu/Qing Jie! Are you going to eat again?”

Qing Shu smiled at them, “Let me taste it again!”

So, once again, a golden chicken cube entered her mouth, and the numbingly spicy and fragrant flavor spread inside. If it weren’t for the burning sensation, this Spicy Chicken Dices would undoubtedly be the most delicious dish among the four, without a doubt!

Unfortunately, there was that burning sensation. Qing Shu drank the glass of milk that Bai Xianzhi provided, then faced the camera and said, “Apart from the discomfort caused by the spicy taste mentioned by the boss, these Spicy Chicken Dices are absolutely marvelous! It makes you want to eat more even with the burning sensation!”

She couldn’t resist reaching for the Spicy Chicken Dices with her chopsticks again. This time, she ate much faster, and one golden chicken cube after another disappeared into her mouth, accompanied by the continuous sound of her inhaling sharply.

Xiao Yu and the assistant couldn’t bear to watch any longer. “Stop eating! You’ve already had so much. This live stream can be considered perfect now! Don’t force yourself anymore!”

Qing Shu took a breath, “Hiss… You don’t… Hiss… understand, I’m not… Hiss… forcing… this tastes… Hiss… so… Hiss… satisfying!”

Xiao Yu/the assistant: Satisfying?

Live chat viewers: ? Satisfying? But you look so uncomfortable!!

Qing Shu’s chopsticks continued moving, and while eating, she said, “It’s true… Hiss… satisfying! The more I eat… Hiss… the more satisfying it is! It’s really delicious!”

In the end, Qing Shu single-handedly finished the last plate of Spicy Chicken Dices. Her stomach was visibly distended, mostly due to the milk she drank. After finishing the milk that Bai Xianzhi provided once again, she supported her stomach and addressed the live stream, “Today’s live stream ends here. Xiao Shu had a very happy time at Three Thousand Food House, and the food there has truly become delicious, especially this Spicy Chicken Dices. It’s crispy on the outside, and then there’s a burning sensation in your mouth. However, it doesn’t cause any harm and instead becomes more satisfying the more you eat. You want to eat more even after you’ve had some!”

“…Most importantly, the milk provided by the boss quickly alleviates the burning sensation. If anyone is curious, you can come and try it. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed! If you have time, come and give it a try! Well, see you next time!”

Bai Xianzhi was going to be busy! He didn’t expect that the live stream by the girl who called herself Xiao Shu would have such a huge impact. In the past few days, the number of customers in his restaurant had skyrocketed. They all claimed to have come after watching Little Fox’s live stream, and after trying the food, they were amazed. They all said they would come back the next day. As a result, new and old customers kept pouring in, and Bai Xianzhi was busier than ever in the kitchen!

During these days, the dishes he cooked the most were the Spicy Chicken Dices, Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Pork, Steamed Egg with Shrimp, and Egg Fried Rice. There were customers who ordered other dishes on the menu, but they were in the minority. Because of the Spicy Chicken Dices, milk in his restaurant was in high demand.

The sales unexpectedly remained high, and the most common sound in the restaurant every day was the sound of inhaling sharply.

Bai Xianzhi looked at them, watching them drink milk to alleviate the spiciness while continuing to eat the Spicy Chicken Dices, and sighed silently. Despite being affected by the spice, they still wanted to eat. Should he commend these strange customers from unknown places for their bravery?

After another day came to an end, Bai Xianzhi collapsed onto a chair. He made up his mind to hire some staff!

However, choosing the right candidates for the staff was a big problem. Most of the customers who visited his restaurant were strange individuals, with many of them having ears and wagging tails. If he were to recruit staff from his own world, it would undoubtedly scare people away. Therefore, he could only select staff members from among these peculiar customers!

Bai Xianzhi felt somewhat uneasy. He wasn’t familiar with the worlds where these strange customers came from. Would he be able to find suitable staff members?

Suppressing his concerns, he hand wrote a recruitment notice and posted it in the restaurant, using curvy and twisted characters that the peculiar customers could understand.

1TL: YSIAD “You can support me if you like my translations by leaving a comment below, or by sending me a Ko-fi. Thank you ”