The effect of opening a beginner-level food blind box should be the same: a 'bang,' followed by some non-choking misty gas that dissipates.
A large cardboard box then appeared before Ding Yun.
Simultaneously, a description appeared in her mind.
[Five-Colored Chicken Strips, Beautiful and Delicious Chicken Strips!]
At this point, Ding Yun's previously anxious heart finally settled. Chicken strips were good. At least they should be normal food, not too difficult to explain.
And with such a large box, the quantity was definitely substantial.
Quite a good deal!
So, the very next second, Ding Yun happily squatted down and opened the cardboard box. She then saw a box full of five-colored chicken strips, truly chicken strips of five colors: shimmering golden, bright red, verdant green, snowy white, and pitch black.
Not a single color looked normal.
Even the golden and white, which were closest to the normal color of chicken strips, were abnormal. The so-called golden color of normal chicken strips was actually just yellow, but this gold was the actual golden color of pure gold.
Normal, un-fried chicken strips were white.
But that was just normal, ordinary white.
Not the current white, which looked like white paint.
These chicken strips looked as if they had been loaded with excessive pigment, and not natural pigment either. Ding Yun was momentarily speechless. Her first thought wasn't about how beautiful or delicious these chicken strips were, but whether they were toxic.
These chicken strips, looking like they were coated in oil paint, could they really be eaten without issues?
However, trusting the instructions and considering that a little pigment shouldn't have much of an effect, Ding Yun decided to give them a try. She immediately moved the box of semi-finished chicken strips to the corridor kitchen to fry them.
She planned to taste them herself first.
As for why the kitchen was in the corridor, it was because the house was so small that living in it was already a bit crowded. If a kitchen were crammed inside, how much more cramped would it become?
So, their kitchens were all located in the corridors.
Whatever anyone cooked, the neighbors knew clearly.
At this time, most families didn't deep-fry things unless it was a festival. So, when the surrounding neighbors saw Ding Yun pouring oil to fry chicken strips, they immediately grew curious and came closer.
Some wanted to see what she was frying, while others directly asked if there were any important guests visiting today, or what was the occasion.
Ding Yun replied directly that a little guest was visiting.
She couldn't disgrace her own daughter.
Then, some people asked what she was frying, saying it looked gaudy but smelled quite fragrant, and if it was edible. Since they were neighbors, Ding Yun could only respond vaguely.
It wasn't until the first batch of chicken strips was fried and out of the pan.
Ding Yun, with the intention of letting others try the taste of the chicken strips and to shut up the overly chatty ones, began to share, distributing them to the people around her.
Although everyone found the color of the chicken strips strange,
They were meat, after all, and deep-fried. So, ultimately, no one refused and everyone tasted them.
Just looking at their hands and mouths that couldn't stop,
One could tell the taste was definitely good.
Therefore, Ding Yun quickly picked up a red chicken strip and put it into her mouth, beginning to taste it carefully. The sound of her teeth colliding with the crispy outer layer of the chicken strip was crisp. The chicken meat inside the crispy layer was tender and juicy, and even had a slight chewiness.
Accompanying the delicious taste was a spicy flavor, not overpowering, not burning the throat, just right.
It was perfectly mildly spicy, appetizing, and mouthwatering.
The texture was truly impeccable. Although the color was a bit bizarre, the taste was absolutely top-notch, a delicious level that ordinary street vendors could never achieve.
At the same time, Ding Yun didn't feel any abnormality in her body. So, it could be basically concluded that these things were not poisonous. Even if there were toxins, they were only subtle, trace amounts, the kind that wouldn't kill someone even if they ate a lot.
Since the food was both delicious and seemingly harmless,
There was no need for the neighbors to continue trying.
So, the next second, Ding Yun started to shoo them away and collected the bowls, not letting them eat any more. Everyone had their pride. Although food was not as scarce now as it was twenty years ago, it was still not cheap, let alone meat. Being able to taste a few pieces was already good.
So, everyone soon dispersed, satisfied.
Ding Yun then began to focus on frying the chicken strips.
By the time she had fried five catties of chicken strips, her daughter had already successfully returned with a few classmates.
Yuan Meng had originally planned to take her classmates to see the particularly large grain of rice as soon as she got back, and then send them away so it wouldn't affect her dinner. But before she even entered the house, she saw and smelled her mother frying something incredibly fragrant. She then looked back at the classmates behind her with immense regret.
She instantly wanted to chase them away.
If only she had known her mother was frying something delicious for dinner.
She would have brought her classmates over tomorrow.
But now that everyone had seen it, how could she not share some with them? Yet, if she shared some, she would have less for herself. She instantly felt like she was losing out.
Ding Yun didn't have telepathy, so how could she know her daughter's inner thoughts? Seeing Yuan Meng stop at the doorstep and turn to look at the classmates behind her with a conflicted expression, she thought her daughter didn't know how to introduce her classmates. So, she immediately said warmly:
"Yuan Yuan, you're back. Those few behind you must be your friends. Come in quickly. I specially fried chicken strips for you. Tonight's dinner is this!"
After speaking, Ding Yun brought out the fried chicken strips.
She pushed open the door and brought them inside.
Then, she got each of them a pair of chopsticks and told them to eat themselves, while she went to clean the pots and pans.
Yuan Meng had originally thought her mother might have only fried a little bit, so she felt a little heartbroken and regretful. However, as Ding Yun brought out five large bowls of chicken strips, she didn't feel so bad anymore. Instead, she generously invited her classmates to enjoy the feast together.
While eating, she specifically took out another bowl and portioned some out, telling everyone not to eat the chicken strips from that bowl – those were for her mother.
Everyone hadn't expected to come over to see a large grain of rice and get a dinner, and such fragrant and delicious chicken strips at that. So, naturally, no one had any objections. They happily ate and praised, complimenting both the delicious food and Ding Yun's cooking skills. The flattery from children was quite pleasant to hear.
Even though the chicken strips weren't actually made by Ding Yun,
She had fried them, hadn't she?
Rounding up, it was as good as if she had made them.
So, Ding Yun accepted the praise with a clear conscience.
She even chatted with the children while eating.
After all the chicken strips were finished, and everyone had drunk some water to quench their thirst, Yuan Meng then took them to the bedroom to see the grain of rice. It, undoubtedly, elicited another round of amazement.