After her grandmother fell ill, Ye Jiujiu resigned from her job to stay home—there was simply no one else to take care of the old woman. She had originally planned to manage the family's small restaurant while caring for her, but her grandmother's condition deteriorated too quickly. Before Jiujiu could settle into the new routine, her grandmother passed away.
There was no need to go into details with Grandma Liu, though.
"Don't worry, Grandma Liu," Jiujiu said gently. "I know what I'm doing. My cooking isn't bad either. If I plan things properly, the business shouldn't be too hard to keep running."
Grandma Liu had never tasted Jiujiu's cooking. Her gaze drifted to the girl's fair, slender hands—hands that looked more suited for playing piano than wielding a kitchen knife. And Pear Blossom Lane… these past years, shop after shop had folded. Could a young girl with so little experience really keep this one afloat?
"Pear Blossom Lane gets quieter every year," Grandma Liu sighed. "Think it over carefully."
"Thank you for the reminder," Jiujiu replied. She didn't explain further; once things picked up, Grandma Liu would understand on her own. "It's just that… I'll have to pay back the money I borrowed a bit later."
Her grandmother's hospitalization had drained all their savings. Later, she had borrowed money from Grandma Liu and a few others to cover the medical bills and funeral expenses. After reimbursement, she was left with only a small amount to manage the restaurant.
"I'm not in a hurry. Take your time paying me back," Grandma Liu said. She was about to say more when a loud clattering sound erupted from the refrigerator.
"Jiujiu, is your fridge broken?"
Jiujiu froze. She opened her mouth to deny it—
Then the sound came again. A harsh racket, like something fighting inside the refrigerator.
Grandma Liu jumped. "Heavens! Is the refrigerator about to explode?"
"No… there are crabs inside."
The moment the words left her mouth, the not-fully-closed refrigerator door was shoved open from the inside. Several fat crabs tumbled onto the floor and scuttled away in all directions.
Grandma Liu gasped. "These crabs are huge! Where did you buy them?"
Jiujiu had no idea where they came from either. She could only give an awkward smile before bending down to scoop them up one by one, placing them quickly into the kitchen sink. All six crabs huddled together and immediately began fighting again, their shells clacking loudly.
Leaning closer, Grandma Liu marveled, "They're really lively."
Jiujiu nodded. "One of them even pinched me earlier."
"Crab claws are strong—be careful." Grandma Liu tightened her grip on her basket. "I'd better hurry to the market before all the fresh vegetables are gone."
"Alright, take care."
She walked her to the back door, closed it behind her, then returned to the kitchen. Her eyes fell on the crabs again—still feisty, still tangled with fresh seaweed stuck to their claws. Where on earth did you come from?
Still unsettled, she checked the security camera footage once more. Nothing unusual.
She walked out through the kitchen, lifting the floral curtain that separated it from the dining area.
She circled the doorway once more but found nothing out of place. Still puzzled, Jiujiu returned to the kitchen.
"This is really strange," she muttered, staring at the six crabs clustered in the sink. "Where did you all come from?"
The crabs snapped their pincers fiercely, completely ignoring her question.
"Tell me the truth," Ye Jiujiu threatened lightly, poking one of them, "or I'll eat you."
Lucheng was far from any coastal city. Fresh seafood like this was rare, and even when available, it cost a small fortune. Having studied and worked in Lucheng for years, she couldn't stop her mouth from watering at the sight of those plump, meaty legs.
Could she eat them?
Probably.
Otherwise, throwing away such good crabs would be a crime against deliciousness.
A secret lover of aquatic delicacies since childhood, Jiujiu felt her resolve slipping. She stared at the fat blue crabs with longing, licking her soft red lips.
"They must taste amazing…"
A glance at the clock—already ten in the morning. Time to start preparing brunch.
The heat of midsummer had dulled her appetite, so she decided on a pot of congee. She took rice from the cupboard beside the fridge, soaked it for half an hour until the grains swelled, then poured it into the congee pot. The texture would be thicker and more fragrant this way.
While the rice cooked, her gaze drifted back to the lively blue crabs. She made up her mind—crab congee it was.
Back in her university days in Haicheng, she had worked part-time at a seafood restaurant. Handling and preparing seafood was nothing new to her.
Standing beside the half-open kitchen window, the hot summer wind brushing across her fair, delicate face, she grasped each crab by the back, flipped it over, pried open the shell, removed the organs, washed it clean, and chopped it into neat pieces.
When the porridge began to thicken, she added the crab chunks, ginger slices, and scallion segments, gently stirring the pot. Within minutes, the crab shells gradually turned a vivid orange-red.
After another five minutes of simmering, the crab congee was ready—rich, fragrant, and mouthwatering. Jiujiu nodded with satisfaction. She sprinkled finely chopped scallions over the top, then carried the steaming bowl to the restaurant table.
She stirred the congee lightly. The once-distinct grains had melted into a silky texture, the bright red crab shells contrasting beautifully with the fresh green scallions. A warm, sweet, briny aroma drifted through the air.
"It smells even better than the raw crab congee I remember," she murmured, lifting a spoonful eagerly.
Just as she was about to take the first bite—
A soft, wet slurp sounded behind her.