Chapter 497 - 396: These Buns Are 2 Yuan? What Kind of Crap Have I Been Eating

Chapter 497: Chapter 396: These Buns Are 2 Yuan? What Kind of Crap Have I Been Eating

"Don’t forget, President Jun is this boss’s father-in-law. We’re his business partners, so getting a little special treatment shouldn’t be a problem, right?"

Pan Wang was speechless. He jutted his chin toward the line, pointing out Tang Zuhua, Yang Zhengwu, Zhao Chuan, President Jiang, and a whole group of big shots.

This group of powerful figures were all waiting in line, practically panting with anticipation.

Their expectant gazes were intense enough to bore through the glass door.

"See that? Don’t tell me you don’t recognize them. They’re President Jun’s friends from the Jing Circle, with connections even better than ours. They’re all queuing up. What makes you think the two of us can cut in line?"

Pan Xi grunted, fuming, but didn’t say a word.

He was kicking himself with regret.

His original plan was to just have a little snack to tide him over before leaving. That way, he could still say he went out of his way to support his son-in-law’s shop and score some brownie points.

And now look.

The "snack" just made him hungrier,

and now he couldn’t get the food he was craving.

The glass of juice he’d downed had only awakened his inner glutton.

Two young men sat down nearby.

Speaking in a Jing City accent, they started gossiping in low voices. "Did you see that?"

"I saw. There are so many big shots in that line. What’s the story with this shop owner? I’m completely dumbfounded that so many powerful people are queuing up for his place."

The young man with the crew cut and earring looked terrified in hindsight.

’What kind of hellish place is this? Why does it feel so intimidating?’

"I don’t know. A friend of mine who works at the airport told me that a lot of rich people have been flying to South City lately. He was wondering why. Turns out this is where they’re all headed."

"Hey, have you heard? I heard even Sister Mi wants to come check out the hype. A friend on her film set gave me the scoop."

"Holy crap, this boss sure is lucky with the ladies!"

The two of them were practically aching with envy.

Just then, the buns were ready.

The crew-cut guy brought the buns over.

Without a second thought, they both picked up a bun and took a bite.

Hmm??!

’Two yuan for a bun like this?’

’Are you fucking kidding me?!’

Stunned, they exchanged a look, then grabbed the buns in front of them and started devouring them.

Pan Xi shook his head, retracting his curious gaze.

A sense of superiority had unexpectedly welled up inside him. He felt like a Challenger-tier player watching a Bronze-tier player, and it made him want to laugh.

Pan Wang smacked his lips and asked, "We should come back for lunch, right?"

"What about our flight? Don’t we have a meeting with President Jun this afternoon?" Pan Xi frowned.

He wanted to stay, too.

But he needed his younger brother to be the one to suggest it.

Pan Wang hesitated, then gritted his teeth. "How about we just change our flight? A restaurant this incredible... we have to eat here a few more times!"

"Oh? Change it to when?"

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" Pan Xi said, displeased.

"The day after tomorrow, then?"

"The day after tomorrow? I don’t think that’s enough."

"How about the day after that?"

"...Mmm, that’ll do." Pan Xi readily agreed.

He was already addicted to these buns.

’To hell with business. What’s the point of earning all that money if not to enjoy life?’

’The greatest pleasure is right in front of my face. Why wouldn’t I enjoy it?’

’Indulge first, think later.’

The two of them got up and left.

Lei Mingyue rushed in. Luckily, he was an old man, so no one dared to deliberately shove him.

"Jiang Liu, do you still remember—"

"The number one master of Huaxia’s Lu cuisine, right? Hurry up and tell me what you want to eat. I’m busy."

Jiang Liu waved his hand, signaling him not to waste time.

...?

Lei Mingyue forced himself to swallow the words that had been caught in his throat.

He put on a calm smile again and said, "Ahem, this master... I’ll have an order of the Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions, a Yak and Potatoes to go, and a bottle of beer."

"Okay. Go find a seat and wait."

"Er."

Lei Mingyue frowned.

He sighed internally. ’What an unruly disciple, truly unruly...’

’He has no respect for me, the number one master of Huaxia’s Lu cuisine.’

He made up his mind. Once he tamed this disciple who made him so proud, he would have to give him a good scolding.

He sat down at the table where the merchants from Guang Province had been sitting earlier.

The plates had already been cleared away by an auntie at the same table.

During the day, when Jiang Liu was working alone, he relied on the help of his neighbors.

Otherwise, the tables would quickly devolve into a "Xiuluo Scene."

Nearby, the two young men from Jing City had already eaten half their buns.

The crew-cut young man with the earring said, "How about we find a hotel nearby and stay for a few days?"

The pale, thin young man gave a wry smile. "I don’t think that’s a good idea. I just got married, and my wife is super strict. If I stay out and don’t go home, she’ll definitely get mad at me."

"Then just bring her over, can’t you? We can get two rooms. I’ll bring my wife over, too. Then we can heh heh heh at night, and come back to Boss Jiang’s place during the day to keep heh heh heh-ing, how about it?"

"Are we swapping?"

"??? Swap my ass."

*

Lei Mingyue shook his head, unimpressed.

’Young people these days are so crude.’

’They’re nothing compared to my future disciple.’

Stroking his beard, Lei Mingyue’s gaze toward Jiang Liu grew even more smug. This boy might just become his disciple in the future.

After a while, Jiang Liu called him to get his food.

Lei Mingyue was displeased.

’I’m the number one master of Huaxia’s Lu cuisine, and Jiang Liu’s future master! Is he not going to give me any face at all?’

But displeasure was one thing.

He still shuffled over and brought the food he’d ordered to his table.

He looked at the sea cucumber in front of him—the sauce was thick, glossy, and red; the sea cucumber itself was plump and succulent.

Lei Mingyue was inwardly surprised.

Very surprised, in fact.

’Just from the looks of it, not bad. The sauce clings without breaking, the flesh is thick, and the spines are prominent. Not bad at all. He’s got the basics down. He’s even better than the chefs I’ve trained before.’

Lei Mingyue smiled and stroked his beard, his previous dissatisfaction with Jiang Liu vanishing into thin air. ’How could I be angry with such a talented, precious disciple? I don’t have enough time to dote on him as it is.’

He tentatively prodded it a couple of times with his chopsticks.

He picked up a springy piece of sea cucumber and placed it in his mouth.

The rich, fresh, and sweet sea cucumber entered his mouth, tender and smooth.

Lei Mingyue’s clear, dark eyes widened instantly.

’This sea cucumber... How is it even more delicious than mine!?’

No! It was much more delicious than his!

Lei Mingyue began to question his entire existence.

He tasted a few more pieces.

The fragrance of the scallion was surprisingly intense, having permeated deep into the flesh of the sea cucumber.

There wasn’t the slightest fishy smell. It was savory, fragrant, salty, and sweet—an incredibly delectable flavor that wasn’t the least bit greasy.

He picked up a piece of scallion, dipped it in the glossy, thick, red sauce, and put it in his mouth with a piece of the springy, dark sea cucumber. It was still slightly piping hot.

A slick, tender, and refreshing texture exploded on his palate first, followed by a wave of non-greasy, fresh sweetness.

Lei Mingyue ate with great relish, almost forgetting his purpose for coming today.

In just a few moments, the entire half-catty plate of braised sea cucumber was in his stomach. He had barely touched the rice on the table.

He had eaten nothing but sea cucumber, and his mouth didn’t feel greasy at all.

There was only a rich, savory aroma and fresh sweetness left.

Lei Mingyue licked his lips, picked up his beer, and took a sip. The bitter, cold liquid entered his mouth, jolting his senses.

"Delicious! This Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions is divine! This old man..."

He suddenly cut himself off.

Lei Mingyue realized something was wrong.

’Huh? Wasn’t I here to find fault?’

He looked at the plate in front of him, which didn’t even have a film of sauce left, and smacked his lips.

’Forget it. I’ll let my disciple off the hook this time. Next time, I’ll definitely find a flaw!’

’I refuse to believe it. You might know one or two dishes, but can you really know more than three hundred?’

’At most, he probably knows seven or eight. Hmph, to be able to study a few Lu cuisine dishes to this level is a sign of extraordinary talent in itself!’

Stroking his beard, Lei Mingyue looked forward even more to taking Jiang Liu on as his final, most favored disciple.