Chapter 23: The Pure Yang Boy and the Dog

  The next morning after work, Fang Wei came to pick him up as usual. Seeing Ye Nan coming out, Fang Wei opened the car door and let him in, smiling and asking: "Did you have a good rest last night?" Ye Nan exaggeratedly stretched his waist, laughing: "Indeed, don't be fooled by your gentle days being always beautiful."

  "Nothing to do today, want to go practice driving?" Fang Wei smiled and asked Ye Nan. However, this time was unexpected, Ye Nan shook his head: "Take a rest first today, let's go take a look at the vegetable market."

  "Vegetable market? Are you going to cook?" Fang Wei looked at Ye Nan in surprise.

  "I can make some, I want to eat dog meat today." "Want to eat dog meat? Then why don't we just find a restaurant to eat at, it's quite troublesome to make ourselves." Fang Wei swallowed his saliva.

  "It's better to do it myself, I feel more at ease when I do it myself." Ye Nan was quite stubborn this time. Helpless, Fang Wei had no choice but to start the car and head straight to the vegetable market.

  Fang Wei had never been here before. When he was alone at home, he would buy ingredients directly from the supermarket in his residential area to make two dishes, and he really hadn't been to a vegetable market before. He wasn't familiar with the market, and it took him half a day just to find a parking spot.

  Two men walked into the vegetable market, a pungent smell mixed with the smell of mud and manure hit them in the face. Fang Wei followed behind Ye Nan, shaking his head and sighing: "Isn't this asking for trouble?"

  Ye Nan didn't care about that, first bought a big bunch of scallions, coriander, cinnamon and other small ingredients at the vegetable market, then bought some green vegetables, looked around to see if she had bought everything, and then rushed to the meat market.

  Fang Wei covered his nose and walked through a noisy area filled with the sounds of chickens clucking and dogs barking.

  Fang Wei followed behind and strolled around for two rounds, really couldn't understand why he insisted on buying a whole live dog when there were big chunks of fresh dog meat available next to him, could he finish eating one by himself?

  You'd better buy a whole live dog if you want fresh dog meat, but why aren't you satisfied with those sturdy and lively big dogs jumping around everywhere?

  After a lot of effort, Ye Nan finally found a shiny black medium-sized dog and haggled with the stall owner.

  The stall owner saw Ye Nan circling the market several times before setting his sights on this dog, and he was not willing to let go easily: "I'm telling you, brother, take a look at this dog. It's an authentic native dog that I've gone to great lengths to find from the countryside. Just look at its coat color, its build - it's unmatched. And besides, a dog of this size is definitely still a young and vigorous one, eating it will definitely be very nourishing for the kidneys and yang energy. Two hundred and eighty, you absolutely won't lose out."

  Fang Wei wiped his sweat from behind, what's the point of selling this, it's just a bunch of nonsense, is this market still selling watchdogs?

  But anyway, Ye Nan finally got it for 200 yuan. Seeing the deal was made, the stall owner raised a stick and was about to hit the dog's head when Ye Nan shouted loudly: "Don't hit!"

  The boss was so startled that the stick in his hand almost flew out: "Brother, what are you doing? Are you going to bring a big live dog back?" The boss looked up and down at Ye Nan, puzzled: "This brother doesn't look like he's from that restaurant buying supplies."

  Ye Nan chuckled and said: "No, boss can't this be done with a knife?" "A knife? What's the use of a knife?" The stall owner widened his eyes.

  "I want to get some dog blood..." "Dog blood? Black dog blood! Did little brother run into something unclean?" The stall owner looked at his black dog, very curious. Ye Nan hastily waved his hand and said: "No, no..."

  The stall owner was quite enthusiastic: "Little brother, if you really encounter something unclean, I'll show you the way. In the west of the city, there's a Tianyuan Temple, and inside, there's a temple priest who is very effective. Go find him, and it's guaranteed to be no problem."

  Ye Nan was somewhat annoyed by the boss's enthusiasm, wiping away sweat: "Really not, boss just help me get it over with..."

  "Look, Cheng." The stall owner was very quick and with a light slap, the dog fell to the ground. Then he swiftly took out a knife and made a cut on the dog's neck, and with one hand, he placed a basin underneath, and soon, he collected a steaming hot half-basin of blood.

  Ye Nan watched with a smile, happily pulling out several large test tubes from his pocket that he had prepared earlier and filling them to the brim. The stall owner was skinning the dog, opening its belly, and chopping it up. This kid was still standing aside, foolishly smiling away.

  Paid the money, threw the dog's head, heart and lungs to the stall owner, carried a few pounds of dog meat, and left with a smile.

  Fang Wei carried several bags of vegetables and ingredients, following behind, looking at Ye Nan's silly smile, wondering if this kid had really gone crazy?

  Back home, Ye Nan carefully placed several test tubes containing dog blood in the refrigerator for refrigeration. Then, carrying a bag of dog meat, he rushed to the kitchen. Fang Wei, who was following behind, couldn't help but break out in cold sweat: "What is this kid planning to do? That bag of meat must weigh eight or nine catties, and he really intends to cook it all in one pot?" He hastily followed with several seasonings.

  It's okay, Ye Nan was just a bit too excited, looking at the big pile of meat in the bag, and then came to his senses. He took out a bowl and filled it with a large bowl, and put the remaining meat back in the refrigerator.

  Fang Wei stood in the kitchen, staring blankly. He usually cooks a few small dishes, but he has never seen such a big scene with sandpots, stir-fry pots and hot pot. He can only help wash vegetables on the side.

  Watching Ye Nan pour the dog meat into a large bowl, then add a large amount of cinnamon, dried chili peppers, and orange peel that he somehow managed to get his hands on, adding water... and placing it on the gas stove to simmer slowly.

  After an hour, the fragrance slowly came out and became more intense, making Fang Wei stare at the pot with a "gurgling" sound, drooling, and urging Ye Nan: "Nan Zi, is it done? Can we take it out of the pot now?"

  After being urged several times, Ye Nan also couldn't help but lift the lid and poke it with chopsticks, as if it was almost done.

  The fire was extinguished, and the dog meat was scooped up with a ladle. A strong aroma wafted up, and Fang Wei couldn't help but stretch out his paw to grab a piece and toss it into his mouth. As a result, he was scalded and jumped away like a startled cat or dog.

  Ye Nan couldn't help but laugh at the side, finally managing to compose herself, saying: "What's the rush, honestly, you still need to stir-fry it once more in the wok, and you haven't even added salt yet, see how you can eat it."

  After that, heat the wok, add oil, and after the oil is hot, pour in the dog meat. Stir-fry twice, sprinkle with salt, use a spatula to stir again, then serve.

  "Take the hot pot out and get it ready for the table." Fang Wei hastily moved the pot out, placed it on the dining table, and then rushed back in to carry out the vegetables and other dishes.

  Ye Nan poured the dog meat into the hot pot, then scooped out the cinnamon and chili peppers from the dog meat soup and poured the soup back into the hot pot. As the fire crackled, a fragrance gradually wafted out. Ye Nan threw in a handful of scallions and stirred twice.

  Fang Wei was watching from the side, swallowing his saliva with a "gulp gulp" sound, just about to pick up his chopsticks, when he suddenly darted out. Ye Nan was puzzled, and that guy ran in again, carrying a dozen blue ribbon beers. Ye Nan smiled and nodded, indeed a young man can be taught...

  The two brothers took turns eating, one mouthful at a time, for a whole two hours. Ye Nan patted his belly contentedly, let out a satisfied belch, and smiled as he watched Fang Wei scoop up the last piece of meat from the pot, toss it into his mouth, and then smack his lips in satisfaction.

  Fang Wei gazed at the still half-full pot of soup and let out a sigh: "Nan Zi... next time don't put in so much meat, look at this fragrant and nutritious soup going to waste, what a pity..."