A delicacy that cost 5 yuan per jin 20 years ago has nearly vanished because it was too delicious, and now it is hard to buy even for a thousand yuan

In rural areas there are all kinds of wild animals and plants, and wild grasses and fish are very common. In the countryside of our hometown there are all kinds of wild grasses, and in the small rivers and ponds there are all kinds of fish, such as crucian carp, common carp, silver carp and so on, all of which are very common.

I remember that in the past, whenever it was time to catch fish, the whole family, young and old, would join in. The children would catch fish while splashing muddy water everywhere, getting mud all over themselves, yet still happily using their clothes to hold the fish.

Speaking of catching fish, I believe many friends who have lived in rural areas must have done this as children. It was really fun and there was something to eat. In the author's hometown there is a kind of fish that used to be extremely abundant, so abundant you could call it a plague, and therefore 20 years ago it was especially cheap, just 5 yuan for a jin. But because this fish tasted so delicious, people caught it recklessly, and now it is on the verge of extinction and has become a rare fish species. It is the "Kanglang fish".

This Kanglang fish has very distinctive looks. Its whole body is spindle-shaped and slender, generally about the size of a long chili pepper, the largest as thick as a toe, no more than 20 cm long, reflecting silvery white light in the sun. It does not look very different from other fish, but its flesh is extremely delicious.

With ordinary fish you have to add a lot of seasonings to remove the fishy smell, but this Kanglang fish is not like that. Its fishy smell is very faint and can even be ignored, and its taste is very fresh and delicious. For people who are picky about food and afraid of fishy smells, this is simply a blessing. It is very suitable for people who dislike fishy smells, and it is also suitable for the elderly and children to eat. There are also many ways to eat it: stir-fried, boiled, steamed or braised, and especially charcoal-grilled or pan-fried, which is absolutely superb.

In the lake waters of the past, Kanglang fish were everywhere, and schools of them could be seen swimming around at any time. Like crucian carp, they seemed impossible to catch out. The price was also cheap, 5 yuan for a jin. As for how to catch them, that was simple too. You did not even need to use your hands. As long as you made a noise by the water, they would swim over to you by themselves, and you only had to scoop them up with a net or even catch them with your bare hands. Even children could catch them.

But due to environmental pollution, changes in the ecological environment, the appearance of fine-mesh nets and electrofishing, and because Kanglang fish tasted so good, wild Kanglang fish were overfished and have nearly disappeared, so the Kanglang fish has also been listed as a nationally protected animal.

Fortunately, the farming of this fish has succeeded. After years of breeding and environmental management, the Kanglang fish population has grown strong again. Although farmed fish are not as tasty as wild ones, they are still delicious, so the price is often several hundred yuan per jin. Many farmer friends living by rural waters have started farming them and earned quite a bit of money. Wild Kanglang fish are even harder to get. Nowadays, even 1000 yuan per jin does not necessarily buy one. It can be said that wild Kanglang fish is now a delicacy that can be encountered but not sought.

Dear friends, have you ever eaten this delicacy, the Kanglang fish? What do you think of its taste? You are welcome to leave comments and share your thoughts.