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Chapter 13: The Taste of First Love
"The fish itself isn't anything special."
With practiced ease, Huo Yuhao flipped the roasting fish over the fire, smiling as he explained, "What's special is the technique. As for the flavor—guaranteed to be worth every coin."
Humans were curious creatures. Even knowing something was priced unreasonably high, there would always be that thought—I have to see what makes it so expensive.And then, after discovering it tasted no different from the cheap kind, they would realize they had been duped.
That was what people called learning from experience.But more often than not, they would fall for the same trick all over again.
As a seasoned merchant who'd long been tempered by society's harsh lessons, the middle-aged vendor firmly believed he was past such naivety.And yet…
It smells too damn good.
The sizzling sound filled his ears, fat dripping from the fish's golden-brown skin as it curled slightly from the heat, revealing the tender, juicy flesh beneath. The vendor swallowed hard, his throat bobbing.
For a brief instant, his vision blurred. The fish before him was no longer a fish—It was her.
The girl he had secretly loved in his youth.The one who had vanished from his life before he'd even found the courage to confess.
The motion of the turning skewer—Wasn't that just like the way she used to twirl lightly in front of him?
That glistening golden skin—Wasn't that like the hem of her flowing dress?
That pale, tender flesh—Wasn't that like the fair skin beneath, glimpsed when the wind mischievously lifted her skirt?
This… this is my first love!
Even the fragrance of the roasted fish seemed to become her scent, delicate and intoxicating.
Books said first love was always restrained and bittersweet—unfulfilled and fleeting.But after all these decades… perhaps he could taste it again.
Like a man enlightened to some great cosmic truth, the vendor stopped hesitating. Gritting his teeth, he took out a silver coin and handed it to Huo Yuhao.
"I have to see," he declared solemnly, "what makes this fish worth such a price."
"...Thank you for your patronage."
Huo Yuhao's expression twisted oddly. He reached out to take the coin, but halfway through, he hesitated, almost pulling his hand back before finally accepting it.
For some inexplicable reason, the moment the coin touched his palm, he absorbed something—a trace of the Sin of Lust.
What in the world is going through this guy's head?!I'm selling grilled fish, not fantasies!
Suppressing the chill creeping up his spine, Huo Yuhao stiffly continued flipping the fish, asking in a casual tone, "Do you want it spicy?"
The vendor closed his eyes, lost in reverie. His voice came out low, raspy, and strangely magnetic.
"A little spicy."
Though the details of that girl had long faded, he vaguely remembered—She had a fiery temper, too.
"...Alright. Careful, it's hot."
Sprinkling the final layer of chili powder, Huo Yuhao sold his first grilled fish.He passed the skewer to the man with a faint smile, discreetly wiping his hands clean afterward… twice, just to be sure.
Golden oil glistened as it slid down the fish, shimmering like powdered gold under the light. The aroma spread through the crowd, making everyone subconsciously swallow. All eyes were fixed on the vendor, waiting for his verdict.
The man didn't make them wait. The moment he received the fish, he took a huge bite.
Crunch!
The crisp fish skin cracked between his teeth, and the hot, tender flesh danced upon his tongue. Each chew released an explosion of fragrant spices, flooding his mouth and stimulating his senses.
"Ah—!"
He let out a sound halfway between a scream and a sigh, like a dragon breathing fire. Even as he waved his arms frantically, face twisting from the heat, he refused to spit it out.
Because this… this is the taste of first love!
No matter how scalding or painful, it was a taste he'd yearned for all his life.
Watching his trembling, ecstatic expression, one bystander couldn't help but whisper to a friend,
"...So, is it delicious or not?"
"I don't know. Smells great, but that reaction doesn't look normal."
"Maybe he's just insane."
The vendor ignored them all. Raising a shaking hand, he extended three fingers.
"Th-th-three… more!"
Huo Yuhao's eyelid twitched. He smiled politely and replied, "Apologies, but due to limited supply, each customer can only buy two. I hope you understand."
"Then… one more!"
Taking the payment again, Huo Yuhao handed over another freshly grilled fish. Watching the man devour it eagerly, the rest of the crowd finally gave in to temptation.
"Give me one too!"
"Yeah, I'll take one. I want to see what's so special about it."
Just then, a clear, pleasant voice rang out from the edge of the crowd.
"It smells so good! Excuse me—please let me through!"
A girl squeezed through the onlookers. Her features were delicate, her long black hair tied neatly into a ponytail. She looked to be around Huo Yuhao's age, and her bright phoenix eyes sparkled as they landed on the grill.
"Um, how much for one—"
Her small nose twitched as she inhaled the fragrance, but when she looked up and met Huo Yuhao's eyes, her words stuck in her throat.
She hadn't expected the stall owner to be this young.
Huo Yuhao's hand paused for a second, but he quickly looked away, calmly flipping the fish.
"Ten copper coins per skewer. Limit two per person."
The girl blinked. "There's… a limit?"
Without stopping his movements, Huo Yuhao jerked his chin toward the crowd behind her. "I only sell fifty a day. A lot are already reserved, so if you want one, you'd better hurry."
The girl glanced around at the eager faces around her and nodded quickly.
"T-then I'll take two!"
…
"Little brother, your grilled fish is so good! How come I've never seen you before? Are you coming again tomorrow?"
"I just arrived in Heaven Dou City two days ago with my mother."
While cleaning up his stall, Huo Yuhao chatted casually with the girl. "This recipe's a family tradition. I thought I'd earn a bit to help with expenses. I'll probably be here every noon from now on."
Thanks to his exceptional mental strength, he could roast several fish at once with perfect timing. Within just over an hour, all fifty skewers were sold out. His earnings—five gold soul coins. Enough to close up early.
"You familiar with this market street?" he asked as he packed up.
"Of course!"
The girl puffed out her small chest proudly. "I come here all the time! I know exactly which stalls are worth it. But now, yours ranks number one!"
Then, as if remembering something, she brightened. "Oh—right! I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Tang Ya. What about you, little brother?"
"Huo Yuhao," he replied, dusting off his hands and putting away the grill into his storage ring.
"Senior Sister Tang Ya, do you know where the biggest pharmacy in Heaven Dou City is?"
(In the Douluo Dalu II anime, Tang Ya's character design really is beautiful!)
(End of Chapter)