Chapter 305: This is absolutely the best birthday banquet ever!

With a bowl of longevity noodles down, many guests were already slumped against their chair backs, entering the "sage state" of being fully satisfied.

This state is briefly referred to as "carb-dizzy."

It is also possible they were just stuffed.

Many felt that today's birthday banquet was already very complete; the main dishes were grand and delicious, the vegetable dishes were exquisite, elegant, and had substance, and while the longevity noodles served at the end were lacking in presentation, the flavor and the noodles themselves were absolutely beyond reproach.

Not to mention that the longevity noodles themselves fit the theme perfectly; hitting the theme was a bonus, so there was no need to be overly critical of the presentation.

Many were already sighing with emotion:

"The banquet hosted by Han Zong today is truly beyond reproach; it's top-tier."

"Just that last bowl of longevity noodles alone is almost on par with the craftsmanship of the master chefs at Zhi Wei Ju. It's good to know Xu Cheng; even for a birthday banquet, one can invite such a formidable master."

After saying this, he gave a thumbs up, indicating his affirmation of the food.

These were the normal guests.

In recent years, Hao Weidao has developed rapidly; Hao Weidao soy sauce has almost occupied all major supermarkets in A City and nearby cities, and its market value has multiplied several times. Among the guests present, there were also many who found Han Guishan an eyesore. Hearing someone being so exaggerated, they couldn't help but make a few sour, sarcastic remarks.

"It's just a bowl of ordinary noodles; it doesn't qualify as Zhi Wei Ju's craftsmanship. If a master chef from Zhi Wei Ju had really been invited, would they only make a bowl of noodles?"

After saying this, the person who spoke had to silently move the empty bowl in front of him away, as this would make it appear that he hadn't eaten his noodles quite so cleanly.

Such remarks inevitably drew side-glances from those around them. Everyone couldn't help but glance at him, then secretly calculate in their hearts whether this person had some grudge against Han Guishan.

Just as the banquet was about to fall into silence, the San Ding Bao and fermented rice mantou were served.

These two dim sum dishes, just looking at their appearance, were absolutely plain and unremarkable. They were just buns and mantou; you could buy them at any breakfast shop.

No matter how pretty a bun or mantou is, it's still just a bun or mantou, not to mention that many buns and mantou produced by assembly-line factories nowadays look quite good. It's normal to serve a dish of sliced mantou or handmade fresh meat buns at the end of an ordinary banquet, but for a birthday banquet of this grade today, serving such casual flour-based snacks seemed a bit underwhelming.

The mantou was fragrant, with a faint scent of fermented rice, which was not very prominent when mixed with the aroma of other dishes, and even the most obvious aroma of steamed wheat from the buns and mantou was covered up.

However, many people smelled it.

The guest who had just mocked the longevity noodles for being just a bowl of ordinary noodles became even more energized. Originally, he had wanted to restrain himself a bit, but now he didn't even bother to act, letting out a sneer.

"Serving noodles first and then buns and mantou; our Han Zong is really as simple as ever. I haven't eaten such a simple banquet in many years; the last time I ate one was seven or eight years ago when eating at a banquet in the countryside."

Such remarks inevitably led to whispered discussions among the guests at the same table. Someone who didn't know the situation asked in a low voice: "Who is this? Is he drunk?"

The implication was, what was going on? Had an enemy infiltrated the banquet?

"The Vice President of Jin Biao; it seems he has had a bit too much to drink."

"That Jin Biao Soy Sauce?"

"Yes, the leading soy sauce enterprise in our city for the past two years, but hasn't it been overtaken by Hao Weidao in the last two years? I heard that their current turnover is particularly bad, and they are even starting to lay off staff."

"Why did Han Zong invite him?"

"I remember a few years ago when his daughter got married, he invited Han Guishan; it should be a matter of courtesy. After all, both sides haven't torn their faces off, but it might not be the case when he goes back this time."

The Vice President of Jin Biao didn't know if it was because he had drunk a few more cups, or if he felt he had finally vented his anger. His face was slightly red, and he sat triumphantly on his chair, contemptuously sizing up the snacks that had just been served.

The seating of the guests at Han Youxin's birthday banquet was specially arranged. Among the guests at the same table, there were some who had a decent relationship with this Vice President. They hurriedly picked up a San Ding Bao to smooth things over, fearing that because he was drunk and his mind wasn't clear, he would say something else that would mean he wouldn't be the Vice President when he woke up tomorrow.

"Buns and mantou are good; I love eating buns and mantou. After eating too much big fish and meat, I just want to eat some simple staple food at the end. It just so happens that I wasn't really full from that bowl of longevity noodles just now; I'll eat a bun to pad my stomach." After saying this, the guest who was smoothing things over stuffed the San Ding Bao into his mouth.

And then he froze.

Nothing else, it was just too delicious.

The San Ding Bao that Qin Huai is making now is at a B+ level, the fermented rice mantou is still B grade, and the longevity noodles are also B+ because of the high quality of Zang Mu's stock, but there is a difference between B+ and B+.

Before Qin Huai's Four Joy Tangyuan rose to A grade, his most proficient dim sum was Guo'er, followed by San Ding Bao.

San Ding Bao is the high-difficulty dim sum that Qin Huai has made the most. When he was at the Qin family breakfast shop, he made it every few days, occasionally dropping a surprise San Ding Bao for the neighbors, allowing everyone to start a happy day.

After the opening of the Cloud Canteen, San Ding Bao once became the backbone of breakfast. The Five Ding Bao was too expensive to eat, and Qin Congwen's cheap buns weren't delicious, so San Ding Bao was set off as an excellent bun with a very high cost-performance ratio. Qin Huai made it every day, and his proficiency brushed up rapidly.

Later, after obtaining the recipe for San Ding Bao, San Ding Bao was even more upgraded, with a whole version update, becoming the new favorite of the diners at Huang Ji Restaurant.

It can be said that although the novelty-seeking Assistant Xiao Qin has always been making new dim sum and has never stayed too long for one dim sum, nor has he practiced San Ding Bao very hard, San Ding Bao has always been inseparable from Assistant Xiao Qin and has never truly left him.

Qin Huai's San Ding Bao is truly a combination of skills + practice makes perfect + recipe blessing. If it weren't for the fact that this bun requires too many skills, needing both dough leavening and heat control, and couldn't be leveled up just by brushing the filling, San Ding Bao would definitely be Qin Huai's most proficient dim sum.

Everyone who bit into the bun was shocked.

The guests who could appear at Han Youxin's birthday banquet, not to mention having seen the world, were at least relatively well-off financially. They had all eaten big dishes and good dishes, and it wasn't as if they hadn't eaten dim sum or even buns that were more delicious than San Ding Bao.

But the sense of expectation was different.

Before taking this bite, those eating the buns didn't have much expectation for the taste of this bun.

The appearance was ordinary, and the buns served with the equally ordinary-looking fermented rice mantou really made it hard for people to raise their expectations.

There were even many guests whose thoughts were the same as the Vice President who had just mocked them: Han Guishan, no matter how big his business is, came from a poor background, and the things in his bones cannot change. No matter how beautiful, exquisite, and high-end the dishes at the birthday banquet are, the buns and mantou served at the end are just ordinary.

Now, this ordinary bun rushed up and slapped you in the face with a "slap," grabbing you by the collar and asking fiercely:

Who did you say was an ordinary bun or mantou? Say it again, who is ordinary?!

Then the bun puffed out its chest, pointed at the fermented rice mantou on the side, and said super loudly: Open your eyes and look at my brother again, is my brother ordinary?

The people eating the buns were speechless for a moment. The words of mediation that had originally reached their lips couldn't be said, and their eyes were no longer fixed on the drunken friend who was causing trouble, but turned to the fermented rice mantou on the plate.

Both the buns and mantou were served per person.

This bun is actually so delicious, then what about this mantou that smells so fragrant?

Didn't my friend mock it? Since that's the case, can I eat his share?

What? You say I'm already full?

It's different; that was eighty percent full just now, and after the bun and mantou are down, it's ninety-five percent full, and the remaining two are just right to fill the last half percent.

A bright light flashed in the eyes of the friend. Those who didn't understand were still waiting for him to speak, while those who had discovered the clues had already decisively reached out with their chopsticks to pick up the San Ding Bao.

Those waiting for the words also reacted a few dozen seconds later and hurriedly took action. The friend knew he couldn't wait any longer, stuffed the last bit of the bun into his mouth, and then reached out with his chopsticks to pick up another one.

He had already mediated, so eating a bun from a friend wasn't a problem!

The Vice President of Jin Biao, who discovered that everyone at the table had suddenly started gnawing on buns and mantou:?

Is it that delicious?

Should he also...

Holy crap, which person took away his bun and mantou? That's greedy!

This situation of taking more than one's share only happened at a few tables; most tables were still very harmonious, with one for each person.

At the other tables where there was a situation of taking more than one's share, there were also people who said they were really full and didn't want to eat anymore, waving their hands in refusal.

Then the extra San Ding Bao and fermented rice mantou were divided up by the people at the same table, who thanked them repeatedly, saying that their appetite was really small and they wanted to sit at the same table with them next time.

A guest who was really full, but turned his head to find that the person next to him who had just said he was also full was now gnawing on a San Ding Bao:?

Didn't you say you were full?

Looking again at the guest who claimed to be on a diet and not eating carbohydrates:?

Didn't you say you were on a diet and not eating carbohydrates?

At today's banquet, what is actually true?

The same doubts appeared in the heart of Han Guishan's younger sister.

Han Guishan's younger sister looked at her own sister, who was eating the bun in big mouthfuls, with a face full of question marks, and asked in a low voice: "Sister, didn't you just say you were almost full and worried that you wouldn't be able to eat the Four Joy Tangyuan?"

Why are you still eating? This bun doesn't look fragrant, but after biting it open, the meat filling is particularly fragrant. You are sitting right next to me, and you are eating so fragrantly; if you keep eating, I won't be able to help but eat it too.

I am really almost unable to eat anymore.

The younger sister looked at her sister with resentment.

Xu Cheng watched the two sisters and almost laughed out loud, then looked at Han Guishan, who was wolfing down the buns and mantou for three people, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart that having a big appetite is good; if he had Han Guishan's appetite, he would also eat two more.

Unfortunately, he could only taste a little.

Xu Cheng really wanted to taste what the Four Joy Tangyuan tasted like.

As a professional food critic, Xu Cheng knew well that one shouldn't eat too much when eating, because the feeling of fullness would make people lose their judgment of food.

Xu Cheng said to Han Guishan's younger sister: "Qin Huai's San Ding Bao is still worth a taste; the level is quite good, and it's not much worse than the master chefs at Zhi Wei Ju."

Getting Xu Cheng's endorsement, Han Guishan's younger sister didn't hesitate and took a bite of the bun, revealing a happy expression.

Mmm, delicious meat bun!

Salty and fresh, rich in juice, with soft and fragrant dough, a big meat bun with thin skin and plenty of filling!

"Brother, can you help me ask the master who makes the buns for some raw bun embryos later so I can take them back?" the younger sister asked. Facing the younger sister's request, Han Guishan hesitated for two seconds and finally decided to endure the pain and give it up: "I'll divide a bag for you; you each get a bag."

There were two younger sisters at the table, so he couldn't favor one over the other.

Sigh, he would have to eat two fewer bags of buns then.

The entire banquet hall was immersed in an ocean of carbohydrates made of buns and mantou.

"Hiccup."

A guest who was actually already full when eating the longevity noodles, and had eaten a whole San Ding Bao and fermented rice mantou, leaned back against the chair after finishing and let out a long sigh of relief without any image, letting out a hiccup.

It was very unrefined, but very satisfying.

A hiccup that wasn't loud but complete was the highest praise for carbohydrates.

"The dishes at the birthday banquet hosted by Old Han today are truly beyond reproach; these few snacks at the end are absolutely amazing. I don't know how many years it's been since I've been this full," a guest sighed.

"Yeah, yeah, when they were first served, I felt they were a bit simple, but now that I think about it, what's the use of fancy snacks? Deliciousness is the hard truth."

"What's the use of those good-looking snacks just looking good? They taste average, and no one reaches for them when they are placed on the table."

"Right, right, right, I've had this feeling for a long time. Whether I go out to eat or attend a banquet, I don't like to eat the snacks at the end; they all taste the same, and now that I think about it, it's actually because the craftsmanship of the snack master is not up to par."

"Exactly, it's only complete after eating the dishes and then eating two bites of snacks, but the quantity is a bit large, it stuffed me."

A scene of joy and laughter.

In such a harmonious environment, the last dish was served.

Four Joy Tangyuan, served in a bowl per person.

Four tangyuan of the same size, different in shape but with a very sufficient portion, were placed in an exquisite small porcelain bowl, and there was shallow soup in the porcelain bowl to prevent the tangyuan from sticking together.

If it were normal times, when guests were served such a dish at the end after being full, everyone might just take a bite to taste it, or simply not taste it at all.

After all, they were already full, and the snacks at the end were not important.

Banquets nowadays are all like this; the quantity of dishes should be more rather than less, and everyone doesn't really use their chopsticks for the last few dishes served.

But today, well.

Many people's first reaction was to stand up first to let the food settle and free up some stomach capacity.

The Four Joy Tangyuan served now were the most beautiful and exquisite from name to shape.

The plain ones in front were already so delicious, so how delicious must these Four Joy Tangyuan be?

Facts have proven that in many cases, the name is very important.

If the guests present knew a little bit about Four Joy Tangyuan, they would know that today's snacks were of the simple, unadorned, and filling style: noodles, buns, mantou, and tangyuan.

The Vice President of Jin Biao didn't speak. Not eating the San Ding Bao and fermented rice mantou just now made him a bit sober, and he realized he was an idiot. Now he just silently took a bite of the Four Joy Tangyuan.

And then he was even more unable to speak.

At Han Guishan's table, Xu Cheng was introducing to Han Guishan's two younger sisters how to eat the Four Joy Tangyuan.

As a professional food critic, Xu Cheng naturally knew that one should eat the sweet Four Joy Tangyuan first, then the salty one, and finally eat the sweet one again. Eating this way could allow the tongue to respond to changes in taste without being overly sweet, and could also better bring out the layers of the Four Joy Tangyuan.

Han Guishan looked like he had learned something and asked: "Is every bowl eaten in this order?"

Xu Cheng: "...... You have a big appetite, eat however you like."

Han Guishan's younger sister couldn't wait to take the first bite; she chose the red bean paste filling.

"Mmm, delicious, especially delicious!" the younger sister covered her mouth and sighed, fearing that if she didn't cover her mouth, someone would discover that the red bean paste in her mouth was even flowing down the corner of her mouth.

She took too big a bite, and her mouth couldn't hold it.

The people of the Old Han family are all bold when eating.

Xu Cheng smiled and didn't pay much attention. Holding the idea of tasting a little, he also scooped up the red bean paste tangyuan and took a light bite.

Eh?!

This taste, this smoothness, I feel this red bean paste...

A very bizarre idea appeared in Xu Cheng's mind.

Could it be that Qin Huai hid a hand from him?

His Four Joy Tangyuan is made so well, why didn't he make it for him to eat last time?

Such good Four Joy Tangyuan should have been served at Zhi Wei together with Guo'er!

At this moment, Xu Cheng only had regrets in his heart.

If it were served at Zhi Wei together with Guo'er, then there would naturally be no problem. But if he opened a special column specifically for Four Joy Tangyuan, Four Joy Tangyuan wouldn't be qualified enough. Qin Huai had already been on Zhi Wei, and he wasn't a new star with special treatment.

If he wrote an article together with other snacks...

There are no snacks to write about recently. He couldn't write about foreign desserts and domestic flour-based snacks together, right?

Xu Cheng began to worry, and unknowingly, a tangyuan had already been eaten.

Xu Cheng scooped up another one.

The mixed fruit filling.

He took a bite.

Xu Cheng was surprised.

Such rich ingredients, such redundant combinations, such... delicious taste.

The taste is good, but why use so many nuts and candied fruits?

Does Qin Huai's family also happen to do business in nuts and candied fruits, and because the goods were unsalable, they stuffed them all into the filling?

Xu Cheng finished the mixed fruit filling tangyuan in shock again.

The 3rd one should be the meat filling. Xu Cheng knew that the meat filling tangyuan is actually the most important existence in the traditional Four Joy Tangyuan; it is the only salty filling that plays the role of connecting the preceding and the following.

He took a bite.

Xu Cheng didn't have any redundant thoughts, only pure admiration.

He had eaten so many of Qin Huai's snacks and had a very full understanding of Qin Huai's craftsmanship.

Xu Cheng realized that Qin Huai's filling adjustment had improved.

Xu Cheng had this conjecture when eating San Ding Bao before, and now it was completely confirmed.

A very big improvement, a breakthrough and leap-forward improvement.

Given Qin Huai's current age and experience, Xu Cheng felt that this filling adjustment was almost perfect for the current Qin Huai.

It was hard for him to imagine how much more excellent Qin Huai's filling adjustment could be; he was just a pastry chef from a wild background, and he had been making very simple breakfasts for the past few years.

This is a very excellent meat filling tangyuan, and its excellence has raised this Four Joy Tangyuan to a higher level as a whole.

Xu Cheng accelerated the speed of eating tangyuan; he couldn't wait to eat the last tangyuan and feel the final "synthesis" of connecting the preceding and the following.

Two minutes later, Xu Cheng, who had been stuffed again after several months, slumped against the chair back and let out a shallow hiccup without any image.

He was not the most prominent one at this table; Han Guishan's two younger sisters had already been hiccuping for a while.

Wang Jing suspected that they had eaten too fast, so she told them to drink some water.

Xu Cheng was carb-dizzy.

He sat on the chair and relaxed for a long while before his clear consciousness returned to his brain. He asked in an excited voice that even he himself hadn't noticed: "Is Master Qin Huai in the kitchen now?"

"I want to interview him again! Write another special food review for his Four Joy Tangyuan!"

At the same time, the game prompt sounded in Qin Huai's mind.

"Ding, congratulations on completing the side quest 【Assistant Chen's Wish】, obtaining the quest reward: 【A segment of Chen Gong's...】 Detected that the situation of the quest object has changed, reward is being repaired..."

"Congratulations on obtaining the quest rewards 【A recipe voluntarily gifted to you by Chen Gong】, 【Chen Gong's affirmation】, popularity drainage +2000."

Qin Huai:???

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 306 =====