Chapter 41: A Feast for the Eyes and Nose

  As they spoke, several cold dishes were brought up. Lei Dapeng's eyes lit up, Si Muxian looked at them with interest, but Shan Yong was sitting there like a big shot. Wang Huating hadn't even had time to react when she saw the person who came in, a man in his thirties or forties, wearing a short jacket made of coarse cloth and an apron, looking like a chef, but on his feet were shiny leather shoes, and on his wrist was a valuable gold watch. His face was full of fat and smiles, and he didn't look like a waiter at all. However, his movements were smooth and natural, and the dishes were served with precision. With a flick of his hand, a large plate of food was placed on the table without spilling a drop. Four cold dishes were arranged neatly on the table, followed by another person who brought up the rear. The one in front shouted loudly: "Garlic sauce donkey ear, braised water donkey heart, ginger juice donkey lip, pickled pepper donkey liver, spicy mouth strip, plus a serving of dipping sauce and cucumber... Everyone, enjoy your meal!"

  As he spoke, he quickly put several cold dishes on the table, opened a mud-sealed jar and poured wine into bowls. The smiling shopkeeper asked Xian Yong with a smile: "I heard you are the son-in-law of the Shi family."

  "Hehe... don't take it seriously, I'm just inviting a few friends over to sit and chat." Shuang Yong said with a smile, speaking very casually. The more noble one's status, the more low-key they appear, so humble that the shopkeeper became even more convinced. Since Shuang Yong was pretending to be refined, he might as well pretend all the way, looking at him with a condescending gaze, asking: "Hey, boss, you look unfamiliar. I often come to the village, but I've never seen you before?"

  "Haha, I'm from the generation of Shi Lao Ye Zi, and I ventured to Shandong early on. Now I've come back to visit my old home." The man said with a smile, looking at Jun Yong's appearance which seemed somewhat plausible, and he became more polite, saying: "I say, Master Gū (Jun Yong), we have 12 cold dishes, 48 hot dishes, and 9 soups. I see you only have four people, I'm afraid you won't be able to finish all of them. Why don't you pick a few?"

  He said he was picking, but the order didn't mention the dish name, in this situation, ordinary people would be confused. But unexpectedly, Dan Yong smiled and handed a cigarette to him, saying: "How many great chefs have come this year?"

  "Gongfu donkey Huang Damao is here, Guanshan Cheng Xiaomi is here, Dezhou Yipinju's is also here, and then there's us old brothers coming back to join in the fun." The man said, taking a drag on Shan Yongfa's cigarette, lighting it up. Although he was dressed as a chef's underling, he didn't have the subservient demeanor of one, probably because he hadn't forgotten his humble origins. Shan Yongfa directly ordered the dishes: "Nine-turn donkey intestine, sliced; fish-flavored donkey tendon, Yipinju-style; butterfly donkey kidney, original flavor; numbing and spicy donkey ribs, freshly killed, smaller portions, and add a red soup abalone stew with golden coins, that's it, let my friends try the freshness."

  "Hey, this foodie, you said you're not a connoisseur of the Shi family's culinary skills? These dishes are all signature specialties of several families. Just wait for a moment."

  That person discovered a new continent, flattered him with a few words, and left with great joy, but didn't know where the joy came from.

  At this time, Lei Dapeng and Simu Xian had already grabbed a small cucumber and started chewing on it. Wang Huating hadn't even moved her chopsticks yet. However, the three of them were all puzzled by Shan Yong's behavior. You're saying that Brother-in-law can't be real, right? But his attitude doesn't seem fake at all.

  Shan Yong picked up his chopsticks, took a sip of wine, and smiled as he explained that Old Master Shi from the Donkey Garden was a well-known figure in his younger years. He had made a fortune selling donkey hides, which were more expensive than donkey meat back then, and were used to make gelatin. From Lushan to Shandong and Henan provinces, many friends knew him, mostly fellow enthusiasts of the trade. Although the donkey meat business wasn't as booming in previous years, he had laid a solid foundation, so when business picked up later on, with the Donkey Garden's unique breeding conditions, Master Shi naturally became the center of attention. Every year during this ordering season, bosses from various places, including large restaurants, would bring their head chefs to not only build relationships with Master Shi but also learn about donkey meat cooking techniques from other regions. It had almost become an unofficial gathering. Just look at the master chefs who came here to cook; most of them have opened their own restaurants outside and are quite wealthy.

  This Wang Huating believed that he had just noticed the man's attire was not matching, as if intentionally dressed like a small second. Speaking and laughing, they started eating. Although the place was a bit simple, the dishes were not simple at all. The braised water buffalo heart was mixed with red and white sliced radishes that had been braised until they turned light green, and the garlic shoots were fragrant, spicy, crispy, and chewy, with a lot of flavor. The donkey's lips were purple and white in color, and on the plate, there was an intricately arranged flower-shaped pattern, which looked very high-end. Dan Yong, however, looked at the knife work and said regretfully that only this one skill of cutting thin slices could be done by the people from Hebei province, no other family could do it. It's said that this knife work was practiced on a sheet of white paper until the meat was cut well and not a single mark was left on the entire sheet of paper before one could be considered a master.

  Lei Dapeng nodded frequently, and didn't say much. Si Mu Xian took a few sips, but was praising the donkey ear for being well-made, with a nice balance of flavors, not greasy or hard or old, just right.

  Three people were drinking slowly, and Wang Huating was stunned. After eating for a while, Dan Yong advised Wang Huating, who didn't dare to pick up her chopsticks: "What's wrong? Are you feeling sorry for the living again? Eat."

  "Hmm, Wang Huating shook her head in distress, to be honest, these ears, heart, mouth, and lips, when connected with the donkey outside the door, really didn't have much appetite, let alone these lower body things she never liked, and it's been half a day since she last moved her chopsticks."

  Shan Yong took the initiative and said with a smile, "There's an old saying that goes 'good intentions are like donkey liver... it's just right here. Try some, this is authentic braised donkey liver from Lanzhou." The two of them ate and laughed, Wang Huating finally mustered up the courage to take a small bite, although she thought it smelled good, but was probably still held back by psychological barriers. Shan Yong didn't persuade her, saying "just wait till you try the main course, this is just an appetizer, the specialty hasn't come out yet."

  When she heard this, Wang Hua Ting really put down her chopsticks. Xian Yong was urging her to drink a couple of mouthfuls and wait, the wine here is not bad. It's unclear what prompted it, but it seemed like watching these three people drinking happily, she also brought it to her lips and took a sip. But unexpectedly "plop", she turned her head to one side, Wang Hua Ting spat everything out, then fanned her mouth with her hand, making a "bah" sound, sticking out her tongue, with an expression of being unable to bear it. The three of them simultaneously let out a snicker, and finally they still managed to get the team leader drunk.

  Wang Hua Ting pointed at Shan Yong, staring with her eyes wanting to say something, but couldn't get it out. Just then, Lei Da Peng hastily handed over a cup of water and pushed the dishes around, urging: "Hurry up and eat something, drink some water... Quick, quick, press down."

  She only felt a burning sensation from her mouth to her throat, as if she had opened a pot of boiling water in her mouth. Wang Huating quickly picked up her chopsticks and stuffed a large amount into her mouth, then drank water upside down, trying to push the burning sensation down. It wasn't until after a while that it eased up a bit. Wang Huating was furious, scolding Shan Yong: "Are you doing this on purpose? What is this thing?"

  "Alcohol." Shuang Yong said.

  "Is it wine? More potent than liquor." Wang Huating said.

  "It's almost as if this wine is called 'knockout donkey', it's even stronger than the 63-degree old baijiu." Lei Dapeng said with a smile. At this time, Wang Huating only realized that these few people were just taking small sips, and earlier they had intentionally looked at her to laugh, her nose twitching, she asked the three of them: "Are you three doing it on purpose?"

  "Be determined." Shanyong stroked the donkey's ears, teaching Wang Huating slowly and carefully: "Now how do you feel? Like this, smack smack smack, pucker up..."

  Wang Huating was taken aback, subconsciously smacking her lips, and then she noticed something unusual. The lingering spiciness from before had a savory flavor, an indescribable savory flavor mixed with the aroma of wine. Although it was a bit intense, the fragrance was refreshing. She looked at herself in surprise, having just taken a bite of the dish, and that was the flavor of braised donkey liver. Singleton Yong said with a sly smile: "If you don't try it, it's really a pity. The donkey liver from Gongfu is famous, and we can't get it in our Lu Zhou. This thing paired with strong wine is an absolute match, one is strong and the other is mild, eating it is incredibly refreshing."

  It sounds quite mysterious, but Wang Hua Ting really felt that the aftertaste was very fragrant, and with great courage, she took another bite, just like tasting sparrow meat, and finally dared to move her chopsticks.

  Several cold dishes have already shown their skills, and Leida Peng's chopsticks haven't stopped. Simu Xian and Shanyong each tasted a few dishes, sipping wine but had already put down their chopsticks. Shanyong reminded Leida Peng: "Dapeng, the main course hasn't come up yet, don't stuff yourself."

  "It's nothing, at most I'll just eat three meals in one go, I'm afraid of being hungry, not afraid of being full."

  Lei Dapeng stuffed his mouth, and the eating was really not very elegant. It made Shan Yong and Si Muxian laugh. Wang Hua Ting had a few bites, but didn't eat much. This thing is good, it's just that the psychological shadow is too heavy. Donkey liver dare to try, other things did not dare to touch.

  Just as I put down my chopsticks, after a few sips of wine, the hot dishes from the other side had already arrived. The first to arrive was the shopkeeper, accompanied by his followers, carrying two large food plates. The red ones were deep red, the purple ones were reddish-purple, and the white ones were crystal clear. The largest plate was braised pork ribs, with bones, over half a foot long. The black lacquered square plate looked like an antique, taking up almost half of the table. The freshly cooked pork ribs were sizzling with oil bubbles, sprinkled with sesame seeds and cumin, topped with a few sprigs of bright green scallions. The aroma of cumin, sesame, and pork ribs wafted directly into my nostrils, making me involuntarily take a deep breath. I straightened my waist and stretched my neck, staring at this dish that looked quite coarsely made, yet it was another style, exuding a sense of boldness, making me irresistible to the urge to devour it in big bites.

  Just took a glance, the next dish was a large casserole of stew. Once served, it overpowered the aroma of the braised pork ribs. The fragrance wafted out with the steam from the milky white bowl. Lifting the lid, the thick and rich red broth revealed tender shoots of yam and slices of meat, creating an interesting contrast. Served in a ceramic casserole with a rounded belly, it exuded an ancient charm, simple yet not ordinary. The understated appearance and aroma had actually surpassed that dish of coarse and domineering braised donkey ribs.

  That color, as if displaying a kind of desire; that shape, in the midst of being pleasing to the eye, seemed to carry a mysterious hint; that fragrance, as if it had gathered the essence of all ingredients, overpowered all other delicacies, and upon careful savoring, it was slightly intoxicating, while deeply inhaling, it was somewhat tantalizing, even Wang Huating, who had just put down her chopsticks, was lured by curiosity, this strange dish suddenly made her overcome her psychological barrier, and unconsciously picked up her chopsticks...

  (Add one more, hurry up and go to Sanjiangding. The update at midnight remains unchanged.)