"Come on, dig in."
Yu Xiaogang urged them on, his face tinged with impatience, like a chef waiting for his diners to review the meal.
He picked up his chopsticks and waved them in front of everyone. "Here, let me teach you how to eat this. It's called One Bite Three Springs."
He picked up a baby mouse with his chopsticks. Trapped between them, its pink little body squirmed, letting out the tiniest, faintest "Squeak—"
Its eyes were still closed. Its four limbs kicked feebly in the air, and its tail curled into a tiny loop.
Yu Xiaogang dipped the baby mouse into the sauce made from Century-Old Stinky Acid, rolling it through the dish.
The baby mouse struggled again, letting out an even more frantic "Squeak—!" Its pink skin was coated in gray-brown sauce, so thick that fine strands stretched from it.
Then, as Tang San and the others stared in shock, Yu Xiaogang popped the baby mouse into his mouth.
"Squeak—!"
The third squeak was brief and shrill. Then, as Yu Xiaogang chewed, it fell silent for good.
He chewed a couple of times, closed his eyes, and wore an expression of bliss, as if savoring the finest delicacy in the world.
A moment later, he opened his eyes and sighed with satisfaction before picking up another one.
Tang San and the others gaped, their eyeballs nearly popping out of their sockets.
What kind of immortal had invented this dish?
Was this something people were supposed to eat?
"Um, teach—teacher, I've got something to do..." Tang San blurted out. His voice wavered, and he was already lifting himself from his chair.
He tried to make his escape, hoping to slip away while Yu Xiaogang was still focused on the food.
"Xiao San."
Yu Xiaogang set down his chopsticks.