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Shen Yue now understood why this dish was called Fragrant Yearning Konjac Noodles.
Because on that small steel cart was an enormous plate, or rather, a washbasin seemed more appropriate, surrounded by 12 conical noodle bowls.
And in the midst of those conical noodle bowls stood a crocodile head that looked quite fierce, with its head raised upwards as if it roared against fate!n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Shen Yue couldn't help but exclaim, "You guys are so bold, can you even eat crocodile? Isn't it a protected animal?"
"It's possible,"
the one who answered her was Han Feifei from across the table. "Although some crocodiles are indeed protected, such as the Yangtze Crocodile which is basically a rare species on the same level as the giant panda, eating them is illegal and criminal, and would land someone in prison."
"But there are also some farmed crocodiles that are edible, as long as the breeding and selling procedures are complete. If you don't believe me, search on Taobao, and you'll find plenty of crocodile meat sellers."
"Now that you mention it, I remember," realized Shen Yue, "previously, there was news about sold crocodiles coming back to life at Hema, though it wasn't clear whether it was true or fake."
"Exactly," said Hebei Big Brother, joining the conversation. "When I was on a business trip in Guangdong, locals there treated me to crocodile meat. Besides us, many Southeast Asian countries, the United States, and Africa also have similar dishes."
"I didn't expect crocodile meat to be so popular; how much does this thing cost?"
"The price varies for different parts, like the crocodile head here; it would be at least two hundred yuan upward, and other parts are more expensive, like crocodile legs, which could cost seventy to eighty yuan per half kilogram," explained Hebei Big Brother.
"Hmm, looking at it this way, this bowl of noodles... still seems pretty expensive."
Hebei Big Brother said nothing but watched as Ma Lu pushed the cart to the center of the restaurant.
The next moment, the crocodile head, which had been stewed in white soup, suddenly emitted a voice.
"Welcome to Universe Infinite Canteen. I hope everyone enjoys me and has a fresh and delightful dining experience!"
Not just Shen Yue but Han Feifei and Hebei Big Brother too were taken aback by this eerie spectacle, and the latter's little daughter nearly burst into tears.
It was only after Ma Lu reached into the crocodile's mouth and pulled out a mini MP3 player that the tension among the customers eased once more.
"Boss, if you're really out of ideas, you could bite a lighter; please don't pull off such creepy stunts again,"
"By comparison, Konjac Noodles, though more elastic, have almost no flavor of their own. Aside from being used by some fitness enthusiasts as a low-calorie meal for losing fat, they're not widely consumed by the general public and lack distinctive taste.
"But in this bowl of noodles, the lack of flavor becomes an advantage, as the essence of the dish is all in the soup base.
"Although I can't identify all the ingredients, I can tell that the mix is incredibly rich; there are at least four or five types of meat alone, and what's more remarkable is that they've achieved a perfect balance with one another.
"Each showcases its most essential aspect; rashly adding other flavors would disrupt this balance.
"The tasteless Konjac Noodles act as a perfect carrier, thoroughly soaked with the broth from inside out.
"When you eat them, there's even an illusion of drinking soup, while at the same time experiencing the texture and smoothness of noodles, it's like... it's like eating..."
"Liquid noodles." Another diner finished her sentence.
"Exactly." Han Feifei then picked up a slice of roasted meat. This slice was generous, about four fingers wide and as long as an index finger, with a thickness equivalent to a one-yuan coin.
The outside was wrapped in crispy skin, but it was tender inside. Eating it together with the Konjac Noodles brought double the satisfaction, instantly filling one with vigor.
And this wasn't just their imagination.
The Fragrant Yearning Konjac Noodles indeed had this magical effect.
As a 4-star Energized Plant, Thousand-Faced Konjac also contained amazing vitality, which in human terms meant it could enhance attributes.
Moreover, the effect lasted much longer than the previous mixed vegetable dish, allowing a person to double their energy for the following two days and even slightly increase their poison resistance.
Of course, the latter attribute wasn't really applicable in modern society.
But the former was quite palpable; Han Feifei finished the noodles in her bowl in one go, feeling instantly refreshed and invigorated.
The other diners shared her sentiment, and with a Deliciousness Index rating of ★★★★, the Fragrant Yearning Konjac Noodles were good enough to become a signature dish capable of defining any restaurant.
Hebei Big Brother also finished his bowl at this time, putting down his chopsticks and smiling contentedly.
"I thought you guys had gotten arrogant, raising your prices so high after opening the restaurant, but now I see I was mistaken.
"The price of 268 is really not expensive for this dish, no, it's an absolute value for money. From now on, I'll be recommending my friends and customers to dine at your restaurant."