"Old sir, are you wanting to eat at this restaurant?"
Perhaps because he was in a good mood, or perhaps for other reasons, Dylan looked at the plainly dressed old man who had been staring at the restaurant named "Tianfu" for some time, and approached him to strike up a conversation.
"What's the use of wanting to eat? There's no money in my pockets. I can only look from the outside, smell the aromas from within, and consider my cravings satisfied."
The old man spoke eloquently. Though his clothes were patched, they were impeccably clean. Despite his age, he was full of vigor, giving off the carefree air of a great hermit hiding in the bustling city.
Dylan was a good judge of character; this elder before him was definitely extraordinary.
This was an exceptional intuition honed through countless duels against powerful chefs during his time in the Dark Cuisine world!
Otherwise, among the many people stopping to gaze at the restaurant with covetous expressions, he wouldn't have stopped specifically for this man, let alone asked that question.
"How's the food at this restaurant? There are so many restaurants on this street, and seeing you stand here for half the day, you must have eaten here before, right?"
Since he had come out specifically to eat, seeing a seemingly good restaurant naturally piqued Dylan's interest, so he asked the old man.
"The taste... don't mention it! Mentioning it again will stir up my cravings! As for the specific deliciousness, a thousand people have a thousand tastes; you need to experience it yourself."
"Alright, then I've decided on this place. Old sir, please join me. Although I can't afford a luxurious banquet, a simple meal should be fine."
Meeting is fate. Faced with a mysterious old man whose depths he couldn't fathom, Dylan felt the urge to befriend him. Even if the man wasn't someone important, the loss would only be the cost of a meal.
Besides, interaction between people is priceless.
If one only befriends someone because of their high status and discards them like worn-out sandals if they are lowly, the motive itself is impure, and one cannot make true friends.
"You want to treat this old man to a meal? Why?"
Dylan's words surprised the plainly dressed old man. While his attire wouldn't mark him as a beggar, it certainly didn't suggest wealth either. Why would this young man treat him to a meal? What was his motive?
"Meeting is fate. Since we met here today, exchanged a few words, and seemed to hit it off, treating you to a meal is nothing."
"Coincidentally, I also have some things about Guangzhou I'd like to ask you about. You must have lived here for many years, right?"
For an old man who had lived in Guangzhou for decades, even if he was just an ordinary person, he would surely have heard about the major and minor happenings in the city.
As the saying goes, 'An elder in the home is like a treasure.' The man said he had eaten at this restaurant before, so he must have been well-off once. The information alone was worth the price of a meal.
"Meeting is fate."
"This old man likes what you said. One should live life freely and unrestrainedly, not bound by worldly rules and conventions."
"Hahaha! This meal of yours, this old man accepts!"
The plainly dressed old man nodded, then burst into laughter, clapping Dylan on the shoulder as he accepted the invitation. He then headed towards the "Tianfu" restaurant without showing the slightest bit of awkwardness.
Seeing this, Dylan silently quickened his pace to follow. The old man stopped before entering the restaurant, waiting for Dylan to go ahead before following him in.
The host precedes the guest; this was a custom since ancient times, an etiquette ingrained in his very bones.
"Welcome! Is it a table for two?"
As soon as the two entered, a smartly dressed waitress immediately came up to greet them, asking about their party size with a smile.
"Yes, two."
"Valued guests, please be seated over here."
Hearing Dylan confirm the number, the waitress gestured politely. She then led the two to a four-person table, removed two sets of tableware, and picked up a teapot to pour them tea.
•
"Here is the menu, please take a look."
"No need for that. One serving of Wenchang Chicken, two portions of Claypot Rice, and one pot of Old Fire Soup. Just a simple meal for the evening."
Considering he didn't bring much cash, Dylan ordered dishes that typically cost a few hundred Yuan on the market. Seeing the restaurant looked quite upscale, the prices might be higher, but should still be within his budget.
"Lad, you know how to eat."
"Coming to Guangzhou, Wenchang Chicken is essential. Old Fire Soup is also a Guangzhou specialty, the king among soups, holding the simplest memories for generations. Claypot Rice as a staple is naturally impeccable too."
"Just arrived, naturally have to start with the classics. It's been a long time since I've had Guangfu cuisine; speaking of which, I do miss it somewhat."
Dylan smiled, handing the menu back to the waitress. Hearing his words, she nodded slightly and then notified the kitchen to prepare the dishes.
"Well said. Nowadays, many outsiders come to Guangzhou and never try the local specialties from beginning to end. It's truly a pity."
The plainly dressed old man nodded in deep agreement. Only now did he seem to truly acknowledge Dylan, while also becoming slightly curious about his identity.
Such an aura – he definitely couldn't be an ordinary person. If he couldn't even see this much, his old eyes must be failing him.
The strong are drawn to each other. Though unspoken, they both knew this better than anyone.
"Young man, you arrive in Guangzhou at this time and immediately rush to a restaurant to taste local specialties."
"Let me guess... you must be here to participate in Guangzhou's annual Special Grade Chef examination, right?"
Pondering Dylan's purpose here, and connecting it with the chef examination being held around this time, the plainly dressed old man directly stated the correct answer.
"Why Special Grade? At my age, shouldn't it be First or Second Class?"
Dylan said half-jokingly, recalling Li Wanwan's guess on the plane. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, Ginger gets spicier with age.
"What First or Second Class? Do you think this old man's eyes are failing? The aura about you has already told me the answer."
"People come in all forms. Some you can tell at a glance are bosses, some you can tell are strong in science, some make you feel they are reliable, while others seem cunning..."
"...It's an aura. Even if not intentionally displayed, people can still see it at a glance. In my eyes, you are a formidable chef."
The plainly dressed old man took a sip of tea and spoke slowly. At this moment, the two seemed like old friends reunited after many years, getting along exceptionally well.
"I see. I am indeed here to participate in the Guangzhou Special Grade Chef examination. I heard Guangzhou is the most difficult place for the Special Grade exam, and I was curious about where the difficulty lies, so I wanted to give it a try."
Dylan spoke slowly. This was his initial thought. Secondly, it was because Guangzhou held special memories for him, which was why he wanted to achieve the Special Grade here.
"Facing challenges head-on, eh? Every year, many chefs like you come to Guangzhou, believing their culinary skills are well-honed, considering themselves outstanding among the younger generation, only to fall at Guangzhou's Special Grade examination."
"So, old sir, do you think I am also such a person?"
Dylan also picked up his teacup and took a sip, changing his form of address for the old man.
Guangzhou was famous throughout China for the difficulty of its Special Grade Chef examination.
Therefore, many talented young chefs from all over the world came, drawn by its reputation, wanting to pass Guangzhou's Special Grade exam to prove their strength.
Young people have pride; no one wants to be second best.
However, although many came, those who actually passed Guangzhou's Special Grade Chef examination were less than one in ten, even considering that most applicants were geniuses.
"No. The feeling you give me is different."
"You lack their kind of wild arrogance; you possess more calm and restraint. If I had to say, the feeling you give me is more like that of a challenger – not blindly following the trend, but a challenger with confidence and a plan."
The plainly dressed old man stated his judgment. Although he didn't know Dylan's specific skill level, he could sense from his bearing that he was very strong.
Guangzhou's Special Grade Chef examination... a formidable character has arrived this time!
"Honored guests, here is your Wenchang Chicken, Claypot Rice, and Old Fire Soup. Please enjoy your meal."
Three waitresses brought the Wenchang Chicken, Claypot Rice, and Old Fire Soup respectively, placing them on the table. A rich aroma assailed their nostrils the moment the lids were lifted, capturing the attention of both men.
"The food's finally here! Just talking made me hungry. Let me taste if this restaurant is truly as delicious as you implied, making you linger outside."
Because the plainly dressed old man had implicitly recommended the place, Dylan's expectations were high.
As the saying goes, drink soup before eating. Looking at the visually appealing and fragrant Old Fire Soup simmering in the clay pot before him, he gently stirred it with a serving spoon.
"Kapok flower, Tufuling rhizome, Chinese yam, red dates, candied dates, goji berries, hyacinth bean, coix seed... Main ingredients are pork tail, spine bones, tofu, and winter melon. A relatively classic Old Fire Soup..."
"...Pork Bone Soup with Winter Melon and Tofu."
Seeing the ingredients revealed in the spoon, a satisfied expression appeared on Dylan's face. Truly worthy of being a favorite among all Cantonese people.
A restaurant operating in Guangzhou that couldn't even make Old Fire Soup properly could basically declare itself closed!
"Here, try it and see if the taste is any different from before."
"Many thanks."
Dylan first ladled a bowl of soup for the plainly dressed old man, then ladled one for himself, before starting to savor it contentedly.
"The pork tail and spine bones, after prolonged simmering, have fully released the essence from their marrow, adding a rich meaty fragrance and slight sweetness to the soup base. The meat itself has also become tender and succulent, melting in the mouth."
"The tofu, with its unique soy aroma and smooth texture, complements the richness of the pork bones, adding depth to the soup while balancing the overall greasiness."
Experiencing the richness of the Pork Bone Soup with Winter Melon and Tofu, the plainly dressed old man wore an expression of enjoyment, subconsciously beginning to commentate.
This soup, whether in terms of heat control or ingredient handling, was absolutely top-notch quality!
"The addition of winter melon brings a touch of refreshing greenness and natural sweetness to this soup."
"Its refreshing taste effectively neutralizes the richness of the other ingredients, ensuring the entire pot of soup remains refreshing despite its depth."
"And the Kapok flower, Tufuling rhizome..."
Dylan also closed his eyes, relying on the sensations from his tongue, fluently describing the function of the ingredients, even analyzing the medicinal herbs, deeply dissecting the flavor composition of this pot of Old Fire Soup.
This was a flavor achieved through extensive time!
The essence of various ingredients gathered in one pot, and due to the addition of numerous medicinal herbs, it also had health-preserving effects.
"Not bad. Really quite good!"
Dylan couldn't help but praise it. He then turned his gaze to the Claypot Rice and Wenchang Chicken on the other side, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Since Wenchang Chicken is a cold dish, it could be eaten last. But Claypot Rice wouldn't taste good cold! It had to be eaten first out of respect.
So, Dylan took his portion of Claypot Rice and started mixing from the center, scraping off all the crispy rice crust (guo ba) stuck to the pot walls and mixing it with the distinct grains of rice.
The most correct way to eat Claypot Rice is to eat from the outside first, then the middle, one bite of rice with a piece of cured sausage or meat, to savor the best flavor!
However...
Looking at the pale golden color of the rice crust in the Claypot Rice before him, Dylan felt something wasn't quite right. The hardness was clearly lacking, as if the heat control was insufficient.
But perhaps the deliciousness of the Old Fire Soup earlier had raised his expectations too high.
Although he felt something was off, he still picked up his spoon, scooped up some rice mixed with the pale yellow crust, and tasted it carefully.
After just two bites, Dylan put down his spoon and turned his gaze to the Wenchang Chicken.
For Wenchang Chicken to be delicious, it must first achieve crispy skin, smooth and tender meat, be exceptionally juicy, have reddish marrow that doesn't run, and possess a fresh, fragrant aroma when eaten.
And this Wenchang Chicken before him, at least in appearance and presentation, passed muster.
But...
Dipping a piece of the chicken into the nearby ginger-scallion sauce, Dylan's brow furrowed once more. The chicken showed no hint of red near the bone – the cooking time was definitely too long.
Cantonese cuisine emphasizes 'raw chicken, cooked duck'. This doesn't mean eating raw chicken, but rather that overcooked chicken becomes too tough, with its texture and flavor declining exponentially!
Therefore, a successful Wenchang Chicken will always have traces of blood near the bone.
This dish lacked that, and its texture, unsurprisingly, was inferior to authentic Wenchang Chicken, proving the chef simply hadn't put their heart into it.
Because in Guangdong, even non-chefs could make Wenchang Chicken; a Second-Class Chef could make it very well.
Overcooking it like this was the most basic kind of error.
"Waitress, the bill."
Sigh.
Letting out a long breath, Dylan suddenly felt the urge to flip the table.
After tasting the excellent Old Fire Soup, he had been full of anticipation for the restaurant's other dishes, thinking of ordering more if the taste was good.
But if the other dishes were all at this level, there was no need to taste them!
"Truly, one generation is worse than the last. Lad, I owe you an apology for this. I never expected 'Tianfu' Restaurant to become like this."
Seeing Dylan's displeased expression, the plainly dressed old man also sighed and apologized to him.
After all, he had confidently recommended this place (implicitly). Now that Dylan had been served such dishes, he bore some responsibility.
But it was truly incredible. This restaurant's business was clearly much better than decades ago, yet the food they served was completely inadequate.
The only commendable item was the Old Fire Soup, which genuinely reached Special Grade standard. There must be a skilled soup chef here.
"Coming! Sir, your total is 2472 Yuan. Will you be paying with cash or card?"
"2500 Yuan?! Let me see the bill."
Even though he expected the restaurant wasn't cheap, hearing the actual price still made Dylan's mouth twitch. Daring to charge such prices for dishes of this quality – weren't they afraid someone would trash the place one day?
"Certainly, sir."
The waitress replied. A few minutes later, a bill appeared in Dylan's hand. Old Fire Soup: 1088 Yuan. Wenchang Chicken (one serving): 588 Yuan. Claypot Rice (two portions): 388*2 = 776 Yuan. Total: 2452 Yuan.
Adding the 20 Yuan cover charge for two people... this place really had some nerve!
Looking at the bill, Dylan almost laughed out of anger. Although food prices in this world were relatively high, they still had to be based on taste.
Charging Special Grade prices for Second-Class quality dishes like this – it was the first time Dylan had encountered such a thing. He decisively slapped the table and said to the waitress, "Get the chef who made the Wenchang Chicken and the Claypot Rice over here! I want to see what kind of garbage-level cook dares to charge this price!"
It wasn't that he didn't have the money, nor did he want a free meal. He simply couldn't stand seeing such a trashy restaurant cheating customers and wanted to teach them a lesson.
This was the most basic right of a diner. But what surprised him was, why hadn't anyone done this before, after all this time?
Fear of retaliation?
From the plainly dressed old man's words, it wasn't hard to tell this restaurant used to be quite good. How could it have deteriorated to this state?!
Seeing the waitress's slightly panicked expression and the strange looks from many other customers in the restaurant, Dylan didn't feel bothered, simply meeting their gazes calmly, his face full of confidence.
But seeing him like this, the plainly dressed old man actually showed a smile. He sat there unhurriedly in his chair, awaiting the arrival of the restaurant's head chef.
Ah, youth is good. Daring to fight, unafraid of gossip. If it were these old bones of mine, even if taken advantage of, I could only swallow it down silently.
"Pl-please wait a moment! I'll call the chef responsible for these two dishes right away!"
The waitress handling their table had never seen such a scene and was quite frightened, but she quickly composed herself and spoke to Dylan with a trembling voice.
Soon, she left the area, running towards the kitchen. Nearby diners looked over at Dylan's table, starting to whisper among themselves.
"What's happening over there? Could it be they can't afford the bill and are deliberately causing trouble?"
"Looks like it. That old man is dressed so shabbily, his clothes are even patched. Doesn't look like someone who can afford this place."
"If you can't afford a proper restaurant, go eat at a cheap dive! What's the point of making a scene here? It's not like they'll waive the bill, and you just lose face."
"Exactly! Let's see how they handle it. If 'Tianfu' Restaurant compromises this time, similar incidents might happen in the future."
Dylan's 'troublemaking' was like dropping a large stone into a calm pond, immediately stirring up discussion among these self-proclaimed elites.
Most of them were diners who had saved up for a long time, wanting to try the restaurant's top delicacies. Now, they looked at Dylan with strange expressions.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
________
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