Chapter 399 - 398: The Two Elders Get a Chill, Godly Cuisine?

Chapter 399: Chapter 398: The Two Elders Get a Chill, Godly Cuisine?

As a top chef who charged a hundred thousand per appearance, his reputation was his calling card. When had he ever been treated like this at a grand hotel? Forget not getting a seat; most owners would practically worship him like an ancestor.

He’d never been so aggrieved.

Yu Guoguang said nothing, his eyes narrowed, the displeasure on his face self-evident.

Du Qin gave a wry smile.

"Alright, you two masters, let’s just bear with it for a moment. You can’t blame Boss Jiang. There are just too many people, there’s nothing to be done."

"That’s right, Teacher Hou. Here, let me lay down some paper for you. Please, have a seat."

Xia Lianshan helped the two men sit down, inwardly lamenting his misfortune.

’How did I end up with these two? I can’t possibly offend them, so all I can do is serve them carefully.’

"Number fifty-eight," Jiang Liu called out.

"Coming, coming, Boss Jiang!"

Du Qin jogged over with a broad smile, completely lacking the airs of a master chef.

"Boss Jiang, you’ve worked hard."

"Thank you." Jiang Liu offered a polite smile.

Du Qin’s mood instantly brightened. It was an honor that Boss Jiang was willing to speak to him!

He called Xia Lianshan over.

The two of them worked together to carry the food out, having bought a cardboard box from Xue Guang’s shop to use as a table.

The four of them sat on the ground.

Some of the business magnates still in line sighed with emotion.

’This atmosphere is really nice. It’s been years since I’ve felt anything like this. It’s like celebrating the New Year when we were kids—we had no money, but life was simple, happy, and carefree.’

"Elders, please try some. It’s my treat today."

"Hmph."

Hou Canjun, being hot-tempered, forcibly suppressed his displeasure.

He casually took a sip of juice to wet his throat.

The moment the juice went down, he felt a jolt of surprise.

’Hm? This juice... tastes pretty good.’

But that was all.

’I didn’t expect the juice from this ordinary little shop to be so fresh and sweet, and without any additives. But I could make this too.’

Of course, he was just saying that to save face. Even if he could really make this juice, he couldn’t produce much of it, let alone sell it in such large quantities.

"Elder Yu, have a bun."

Xia Lianshan handed over a bun. He and Du Qin had already eaten several.

"Alright, Old Hou. Let’s give this junior a critique."

Yu Guoguang had been influenced by the atmosphere, and his tone softened considerably.

He took the bun, and Hou Canjun took one at the same time.

"Huh?" they both exclaimed.

The two men cried out in surprise simultaneously.

As veteran chefs, they could feel the profound skill involved the moment the buns were in their hands.

They exchanged a glance, both seeing the confusion in the other’s eyes.

Nearby,

Du Qin mumbled, "Mmm, delicious! This fish is so tender!"

Xia Lianshan countered, "The beef is even better! They definitely put beef marrow in it. And this isn’t ordinary beef either; it has a fresh herbal fragrance. This has to be grass-fed!"

Seeing the two of them eating with such relish, Hou Canjun and Yu Guoguang cast aside their reservations, sat on the ground, picked up their buns, and took a bite.

Just one bite.

Their gazes froze. They were both stunned!

’This bun... there’s something incredible about it!’

The dough was both chewy and soft, emitting a faint wheaten aroma completely different from ordinary flour!

The scalding-hot juices filled their mouths.

In an instant, the two of them identified the seasonings within.

No additives!

Pure, natural, traditional seasonings!

The shrimp was crisp, tender, and savory—it had been prepared from live shrimp!

And not just any shrimp, but wild Little Cyan Dragon lobster meat!

A wave of shock washed over them.

Next, they tasted the rest of the food.

Rich and tender tuna, dipped in fragrant soy sauce, brought the umami flavor to its absolute peak!

The beef was fall-apart tender. With one bite, authentic, savory beef juices exploded in their mouths. The fat wasn’t greasy; instead, it left a light, fresh aftertaste. It was rich without being heavy, its deep aroma permeating the air.

But what shocked them most was the ham.

The meat was tender, not at all "dry" like some hams. It was lightly salted on the palate, with a rich, smoky fragrance. It had a pleasant chewiness that became more fragrant the more they chewed, leaving a fruity aftertaste of acorns!

The shock in their hearts grew deeper and deeper.

They could see the astonishment in each other’s eyes.

They were speechless for a long time.

"Eat?"

"Eat!"

And then...

The two completely transformed into ravenous beasts, furiously devouring the food before them.

"Old Yu, don’t eat so fast! Don’t you have a weak stomach?"

"Who has a weak stomach? Mine is perfectly fine!"

"Alright, Xiao Du, Xiao Xia, you two eat less. We’ll finish the rest."

???

"Don’t you understand the meaning of ’respect your elders’?!" Hou Canjun smacked Du Qin’s chopsticks away.

???

Du Qin: ...

’That’s not what you were saying at the beginning!!’

One by one, the plates of food on the "table" were emptied.

Xia Lianshan was very experienced. Despite being heavy-set, he was nimble and returned shortly with six steamed buns.

"I bought these at the noodle shop. Damn, I’m floored. Three yuan for one bun, more expensive than in Jing City, and you still have to fight for them."

"Quick, give me one."

"Don’t grab! There’s enough, one for each of us!"

The four of them took the steamed buns, dipped them in the yak beef broth, and then smeared on a bit of the numbing, fragrant chili oil.

One bite brought a feeling of complete, primal satisfaction.

"I never thought a simple steamed bun dipped in Boss Jiang’s chili oil could be this delicious. It tastes just like it did when I was a kid on my way to school."

Yu Guoguang remarked with a sigh, staring at the bun in his hand.

He looked like an idiot.

The four of them quickly finished their meal.

Du Qin asked smugly, "So, Elders, what do you think of this place?"

Xia Lianshan also looked up, eager to hear the two titans’ evaluation.

The two elders were silent for a few seconds.

Yu Guoguang was the first to speak, slowly and deliberately.

"To be honest, this old man... I am not as skilled as this Boss Jiang."

Hou Canjun sighed beside him. "The new generation truly surpasses the old! Perhaps this young man can win glory for our Huaxia!"

The two of them had already let go of their prejudices.

Before they arrived, they had come with a condescending attitude, planning to find fault.

But now, the way they looked at Jiang Liu was no longer so casual.

It was a look of admiration mixed with a trace of excitement!

In their eyes,

if this Boss Jiang were to enter an international culinary competition, he could absolutely win glory for the nation with his buns alone.

Who dares say Huaxia’s buns are unsophisticated?

It’s just that you people don’t understand them!

"What you two elders have said is exactly what I was thinking." Hearing others praise Jiang Liu, Du Qin felt pleased as well.

He continued,

"If I were twenty years younger, I would beg Boss Jiang to take me as his apprentice. Even if I could replicate just half the flavor of these buns, I would become a legend. My achievements would far surpass what I’ve accomplished now."

The two elders nodded in agreement.

He wasn’t wrong.

Even Yu Guoguang felt the same way.

"Du Qin, have you guys noticed? The buns we’re eating now are exactly the same as the ones from this morning and noon. There’s not a single flawed one."

Now that Xia Lianshan had mentioned it,

Du Qin snapped to his senses. "You’re right!"

The four of them thought about it, and a terrifying realization dawned on them.

A tingling sensation started on their scalps and spread rapidly through their bodies, making their hair stand on end.

"This... How does he do it?"

"Boss Jiang is simply a god! So many buns, yet every single one has the exact same flavor. The weight of the filling, the thickness of the dough—it’s all controlled without the slightest deviation. He is truly a role model for our generation!"

"Perhaps this is the true spirit of craftsmanship!"

Hou Canjun and Yu Guoguang looked at each other with lingering fear. Thank goodness they hadn’t offended this master.

———