Making chili sauce naturally requires chili peppers. Originally, the plan was to use the dried chilies already available, but after checking the system, something unexpected appeared—mutated vegetables from the apocalypse.
During the apocalypse, mutated vegetables usually contained radiation, and those with high radiation levels were inedible.
Out of curiosity, one mutated chili pepper was exchanged.
It turned out to be enormous—almost half a person's height.
Fortunately, the system had a scanning function that could detect radiation levels.
The result was surprising: the chili pepper had zero radiation.
This meant mutated vegetables obtained through the system were completely safe. Not only that, their enhanced properties could reduce the need to buy large amounts of food.
Just thinking about it was exciting.
Resources were scarce now, much like during the apocalypse. Having access to safe mutated food was a huge advantage.
This chili pepper was not only radiation-free, but its mutation had also increased its spiciness and thickened its flesh.
Without worrying about safety, it was worth trying.
The chili was cut open on the chopping board. It had a thick red skin and was packed with seeds. None of it was wasted—the seeds were carefully collected to try planting them later.
After peeling, the flesh inside was bright red and crisp, with very little fiber.
A small piece was tasted first.
Originally, it would have been a mild chili, almost like a vegetable. After mutation, the spiciness had increased, but it was still within a tolerable range.
Satisfied, all the chilies were shredded.
Looking at the large pile, there was a moment of hesitation—it was a bit too much.
Luckily, storage space wasn't an issue.
The chilies were chopped into small pieces, roughly twice the amount of shrimp prepared. Then the fire was lit and oil was heated.
The oil was soybean oil obtained from the system. Since radiation wasn't a concern, it required very few points—just the equivalent of two sea cucumbers.
The oil, made from mutated soybeans, had no unpleasant bean smell—only a clear amber color.
This made things easier. It could simply be explained as part of a dowry if anyone asked.
Once the oil was hot, the chilies were added.
The moment they hit the oil, a strong, spicy aroma filled the kitchen.
Even with a mask on, the heat in the air was intense.
Gradually, the smell became easier to tolerate.
More seasonings were added—crushed peppercorns, black pepper, and other spices—creating a rich and irresistible fragrance.
There was a brief moment of regret for not having a proper kitchen setup with ventilation, but it wasn't a big concern.
When the chilies were nearly ready, the cleaned shrimp were added, followed by sugar and salt.
The flavors blended perfectly—spicy, fragrant, slightly numbing, and savory.
The aroma alone was enough to make anyone hungry.
Once finished, the sauce was ready to be stored. A bamboo tube was prepared for carrying it later.
But when turning around, several small heads were peeking into the kitchen.
"Aunt Tang, it smells so good!"
"Achoo! It smells amazing!"
A group of children stood at the door, drawn by the smell.
It was both amusing and helpless.
"This is very spicy. You probably can't handle it."
It wasn't about being stingy—their stomachs were too sensitive for such strong food.
Still, their eager faces made it hard to refuse.
Leftover steamed buns were sliced, and a tiny amount of chili sauce was spread on each piece.
"Only one piece each."
They were told to wash their hands first before receiving the food.
As soon as they got their slices, they ran outside to eat.
At first, it tasted delicious.
Then the heat hit.
One by one, they ran home looking for water.
The portion given was very small—just enough to taste, not enough to cause trouble.
After that, the chili sauce was packed into a bamboo container. Some leftover chili strips were tossed back into the pan along with sliced sea cucumbers and stir-fried.
Compared to the chili shrimp sauce, this dish was much simpler.
Considering the appetites of Tang Xiuyuan and Bai Xu, most of the sea cucumber was used.
Just as everything was finished, the door suddenly opened.
Zhan Zeyi rushed in, covered in sweat.
"What happened?"
There was confusion—wasn't he supposed to be training?
He checked the kitchen carefully before relaxing.
"That kid Weimin came running, saying our house exploded. He couldn't explain clearly, so I rushed back to check."
Only then did the misunderstanding become clear—it wasn't a real explosion, just the overwhelming spiciness spreading through the air.
The food was packed into a lunchbox, ready to be delivered later.
"What did you make? I could smell it from far away!"
The rich aroma made his stomach growl again.
Since extra had already been set aside, everything was placed on the table.
Without bothering to heat the buns, one was split open and stuffed with chili sauce and sea cucumber.
Half a bun disappeared in one bite.
His eyes lit up instantly.
After finishing, there was a serious look.
"Do you know how much trouble you've caused?"