Chapter 279 - 167: Her Excessive Adorableness Makes the Kitchen Shine

Chapter 279: Chapter 167: Her Excessive Adorableness Makes the Kitchen Shine

"This just proves the magazine’s quality," Huang Ying said, her eyes shining. "Zhou Yan recreated Kneeling Beef from a fragment of a recipe, and even improved upon it. After countless failures and a relentless pursuit of perfection, he created this pot of fresh and delicious Kneeling Beef."

"That kind of skill and spirit makes him worthy of the title ’Rising Star of the Culinary World’."

"I have a strong feeling that Zhou Yan will one day become a top Sichuan Cuisine Grandmaster!"

Huang Bing closed the magazine and puffed out his chest. "So, what about me?"

Huang Ying shot him a look. "You have the potential to become a competent prep cook."

"What the hell!"

...

"It hasn’t even been a month, and you’re back again. Is Zhou Yan’s cooking really that magical?" Huang Chen glanced at He Zhiyuan riding beside him, a teasing smile playing on his lips. "Who was it that once called Suji a food desert?"

"Zhou Yan’s cooking is excellent, but I think he’s an even more fascinating person. He always manages to surprise me and even gives me useful suggestions for my own creative work," He Zhiyuan said with a laugh. "I take back what I said. Suji does have good food. I was just being narrow-minded."

"You, a stubborn mule like you, actually taking back your words?" Huang Chen was genuinely surprised. He looked at him and asked, "So what are you planning to interview him about this time? The braised meats? Let me tell you, the braised vegetables he just came out with are fantastic. My kid loves them, especially the braised bean curd sticks. The flavor is out of this world—even better than meat."

"He has braised vegetables now?" He Zhiyuan asked, a little surprised. "I am here to do a story on the braised dishes, but I’m not interviewing Zhou Yan. I’m interviewing his grandmother, Comrade Zhang Shufen."

"Mrs. Zhang?" Huang Chen paused, then nodded in profound agreement. "Then you’re definitely interviewing the right person. Zhou Yan learned everything from Mrs. Zhang. Her braised meat is legendary. I often hear the old-timers talking about how popular Zhang’s Braised Shop was back when it was just a stall at Suji Bridgehead. The crowds were as big as the ones at Zhou Yan Restaurant today, maybe even bigger.

Of course, Mrs. Zhang’s legend isn’t just about that pot of braised food. Her husband..."

As the two bicycles rolled along side by side, Huang Chen recounted Mrs. Zhang’s legendary life story at a leisurely pace.

Li, sitting on the back rack, fumbled in his bag for his notebook several times, but gave up each time because the road was too bumpy. Meanwhile, his brain was working furiously.

’Come on, brain, remember all this!’

’The manual says that as a stenographer, I have to record all supplementary accounts about the subject from third parties.’

’But why is Mayor Huang talking about all this on a bike?’

’Has he even considered my situation?’

’Don’t us workhorses count as people?’

’I don’t want to work this stupid job for a single day longer!’

"This is great! All of this is incredibly valuable supplementary information," He Zhiyuan exclaimed in admiration.

Li jolted, narrowed his eyes, and started listening even more intently.

"Huang, it’s my treat today. Order whatever you want. We’ll even get a portion of the braised vegetables for your kid to take home," He Zhiyuan said to Huang Chen with a smile. "But I’ll need to borrow this old roadster of yours for the afternoon. Li and I have to go to Zhou Village for an on-site visit and to interview Mrs. Zhang."

"Sure, take it. I have a meeting this afternoon, so I won’t need it," Huang Chen agreed with a smile and a nod.

The two continued their idle chat. By the time they reached the entrance to the textile factory, the workers were already off their afternoon shift. Three long lines had formed in front of Zhou Yan Restaurant, each with seven or eight people.

"These customers are all here for takeout orders of the braised vegetables. A lot of them are worried their favorites will be sold out if they come too late tonight," Huang Chen explained with a smile. He turned his head and saw that He Zhiyuan had already taken out his camera, aimed it at the queueing crowd, and pressed the shutter.

Lowering his camera, He Zhiyuan smiled. "The workers in line, the middle-aged man slicing meat, the table piled high with braised meats and vegetables, and that huge, steaming pot of Kneeling Beef in the background... what a wonderfully authentic scene."

"Come on." After parking his bike, He Zhiyuan headed straight for the braised food stall. "I have to taste these braised vegetables for myself today. See what’s so good it makes people line up like this. I never got to see the glory days at Suji Bridgehead, but experiencing this today feels just the same."

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PS: This is a two-in-one Chapter, and there will be another update tonight!

Momo, with stars in her eyes: Brother, pleeease! How about a monthly ticket?~