noffsinger Chapter 161 Advanced
Chapter 161 Advanced
"Splash—!!"
Inside the floor-to-ceiling window, Zhou Benchang flicked his wrist slightly.
The large strainer in his hand drew a gorgeous silver light in mid-air, skillfully scooping the last few strands of chicken, which were perfectly cooked and distinct in the scallop broth, into a large celadon soup bowl next to him, which had been warmed by hot water and was gleaming with an ancient blue light.
As the last spoonful of rich soup, infused with the aroma of matsutake mushrooms, was poured over his head, the elegant and noble aroma of the complex oils exploded throughout the lobby of the No. 1 store.
"Wow!! Master Zhou's skills are amazing!!"
"A state banquet delicacy!! Absolutely unparalleled in the world!!"
The more than two hundred extras in the "atmosphere group" guarding outside saw the process of making the dish, which was almost like a work of art.
Knowing it was time for them to put in their effort, everyone craned their necks and burst into another round of cheers.
Meanwhile, the dozen or so young diners who had just thrown away their "Human Fireworks" queue number and rushed back in a panic were now pressed against the gleaming tempered glass window.
They craned their necks, their eyes filled with fervor and barely suppressed anticipation.
They stared at the elegant celadon basin from which wisps of white steam were rising, their mouths watering uncontrollably.
"My goodness, look at how particular they are, even the soup bowl is custom-made."
"That means, no matter how fresh the loach is, even if it costs 36 yuan, it's still a muddy, low-quality product."
Master Zhou's matsutake chicken soup is a national banquet dish, and it's only 9.9 yuan! We've really hit the jackpot this time!
Listening to the almost overwhelming fervor of the discussions around him, and watching the crowd of retail investors who had gathered again in the lobby, even more enthusiastic than before, Su Ang, sitting in his Mercedes-Benz, relaxed once more.
Behind the gold-rimmed glasses, the anxiety and rage in the narrow, bloodshot black eyes were completely washed away by the smugness and sneer on his face.
"Third brother, did you see that?"
Su Ang reached behind him and pulled out a snow-white cigar, tapping it lightly twice on the leather armrest with one hand, his voice deep:
"The lowly people in the city are the ones who forget their mistakes and are most easily led by the tide."
Even if Chen Feng could turn a mudfish into a divine dish, it wouldn't amount to anything compared to the prestige of "State Banquets in Beijing, Legitimate Imperial Court."
"President Su is brilliant!! With Master Zhou's intervention and some further management, that poor chef will never be able to sell a single dish again!!"
The third brother stood outside the car window, hurriedly bowing and fawningly echoing the sentiment.
Meanwhile, behind the cutting board.
Zhou Benchang tore off a snow-white hand towel and slowly wiped the fine sweat from his body.
Listening to the almost worshipful exclamations of the peasants outside the window, the arrogance that should have been present in the eyes of this self-important middle-aged chef suddenly became so intense that it almost overflowed.
In his view, the outcome of this so-called "battle of wits" was already sealed the moment he made his move.
"That's how it should be."
Zhou Benchang gave a faint snort, his disdainful smile widening.
He didn't even glance at the "small restaurant" not far away, arrogantly slamming his large ladle onto the alloy cutting board, and coldly reprimanded his four apprentices beside him:
"Those country bumpkins outside have never seen the world; they've spent their whole lives drinking dishwater."
The dish I, Zhou, am serving today was once served to a very important person in Beijing.
Using such a show of force to intimidate a migrant worker cook in a run-down alley would be beneath my dignity.
Xiao Chen, open the door and serve the food to these ignorant peasants!
Let them see for themselves what the most authentic and exquisite taste of heaven and earth truly is!
"Open the door!! Serve the [State Banquet Matsutake and Jade Wine Chicken]!!"
Zhou Benchang's eldest apprentice's clear voice instantly resonated throughout the lobby of Yihaodian.
"Clang—!!"
The two large glass doors were pushed open by the salesman in black.
The aroma of matsutake chicken soup, once locked inside the house and exuding an air of wealth and elegance, instantly lost all its restraint, bursting out like a stream of clear yellow air along the bluestone path.
"Quick, quick!! Give me a bowl first!!"
"Don't push!! Number 36 is in front!!"
The dozen or so middle-class white-collar workers who had just rushed back from the "human world" all stared wide-eyed, their shirt collars soaked with sweat, and strode into the lobby like madmen.
In just a short while, the twelve alloy square tables, gleaming with a cold luster, were already filled with the first group of people sitting neatly.
The four disciples, with steady steps, carried large, ancient, blue-green porcelain soup bowls in one hand, placing the bowls of thick soup in the center of each square table as if they were walking on a straight line.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Imperial Jade Chicken served to dignitaries within the Forbidden City. Please enjoy." The eldest apprentice, Xiao Chen, arrogantly raised his chin and scooped the chicken into the bowl with one hand.
"I'll try a bite first!!"
The bespectacled office worker at the front of the line, whose stomach had been rumbling with anticipation of the delicious loach while he was enjoying the food, could no longer resist the temptation of this Jade Wine Chicken!
With a flick of his wrist, he grabbed a small white porcelain spoon and hastily scooped a spoonful of clear, bright yellow chicken soup, glistening with fine oil, from the basin, then deftly shoved it into his mouth.
In that instant, the white-collar worker's eyes widened in shock.
High-end, exquisite, and flawless!
The free-range chicken shreds, sliced as thin as cicada wings, melt in your mouth without any effort of chewing. The tender meat spreads like cotton thread on your tongue.
Next came the rich, savory scallop broth that had been simmering for most of the night.
The unique aroma of the premium matsutake mushrooms, catalyzed by the century-old purple clay teapot and the old jade bowl, transformed into an exquisite and elegant oily fragrance, which burned his way down his throat and into his stomach.
That feeling, every pore exudes an unapproachable sense of order and dignity.
"My goodness...this is so...so high-tech!!"
The white-collar worker wiped the amber-colored grease from the corner of his mouth, his face filled with rare shock, and couldn't help but shout and yell in a rather unladylike manner:
"You all have to try this!! This truly lives up to the reputation of being made by a top-tier master craftsman invited from within the imperial palace!!"
The shredded chicken is as tender as tofu, and the matsutake broth is so flavorful it's completely free of any earthy taste. This is truly authentic, heavenly elixir-like deliciousness!
"Exactly!! Nine yuan and ninety cents for a bowl of state banquet chicken soup, I really got a steal today!!"
For a moment, the lobby of the first "Extreme Flavor Space" store was filled with the exclamations of more than a dozen individual customers frantically slurping chicken soup and chewing on premium matsutake mushrooms.