Gu Fei's spatula was a blur. Once the snake pieces were fried to a golden brown, she scooped them out and set them aside on a plate.
Next, Gu Fei added ginger, garlic, dried red chilies, star anise, cassia bark, and bay leaves to the wok. The spices sizzled in the hot oil, sending a fragrant aroma wafting through the air.
An old woman nearby caught a whiff and sneezed. "What is that smell? It's so pungent!"
A few others in the crowd also sneezed. The village chief clicked his tongue. "She's from the Marquis Mansion, all right. I've never seen anyone cook with so much oil and so many spices."
Lan Zhi, standing nearby, covered her nose and shook her head. 'People in the Marquis Mansion don't eat this stuff, nor do we use spices so pungent they could choke you.'
'She didn't even know Little Fei could cook!'
