Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 762 - 386: Xu Nuo (Part 7)

By the time Xu Nuo arrived breathlessly at the entrance of the State owned Restaurant, he was completely dazed.

Qin Huai could see that it was 30% exhaustion dazed + 40% aroma dazed + 40% pure dazed, with the pure dazed coming from the explosive news he had just heard, and he hadn’t digested it all the way while running with Wang Gen Sheng.

His current expression, appearance, and status really looked like someone who had just been scammed by Xu Nuo.

Xu Nuo told Wang Gen Sheng to queue up properly at the entrance; since they arrived early, they would definitely get some buns. There were only thirty or forty people in front of them, so Xu Nuo slipped into the State owned Restaurant by himself.

Qin Huai tried to follow and found the distance was manageable. This time, his range of activity was quite broad, not only reaching inside the State owned Restaurant but also following Xu Nuo all the way to the kitchen entrance.

A plump female server at the entrance of the State owned Restaurant saw someone come in and instinctively frowned, ready to scold and chase them away. But upon recognizing it was Xu Nuo, she relaxed her brow and asked, "Xiao Xu, why are you here so early today? Master Jing is still steaming the buns."

Xu Nuo grinned and showed an obedient smile: "I came early on purpose. Today, a new college graduate is joining our factory. My dad asked me to bring him to the State owned Restaurant for a good meal."

The waitress was surprised: "This new college graduate is quite precious! Well, you’re in luck today. We just received two old hens from the countryside, and that big green fish from yesterday seems to be still..."

Xu Nuo waved his hand repeatedly: "Not that great, not that great, a meal of braised pork will do. Is Master Jing in the kitchen? Sister Ye, mind if I stand at the kitchen door and say a few words to Master Jing?"

Sister Ye rolled her eyes at Xu Nuo: "What’s the use of me minding? Everyone’s already saying you’re a temporary worker at our State owned Restaurant. Even if you are a temp, you go wherever you want."

Then Sister Ye stood with her hands on her hips at the entrance of the State owned Restaurant, commanding the customers in line waiting to buy buns: "Stop the noise, what’s all the chatter about, what’s the rush? Do you think the buns will grow wings and fly out of the steamer?"

"It’s not time yet, queue up properly. You at the back, no cutting in line, I’m talking to you! If you’re cutting in line today, you won’t buy anything. If you’re cutting in line for buns, what if we let you in for a meal? People will start a fight in our State owned Restaurant then!"

The originally noisy queue instantly quieted down, and Wang Gen Sheng, who was already very quiet in the line, shrunk his neck even further and continued to queue silently.

Qin Huai was slightly shocked inside at the status of service staff in State owned Restaurants in this era, then followed Xu Nuo into the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Master Jing was drinking tea. The Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns were not out of the steamer yet, and Huang Shengli and Zheng Da were standing by the steamer, ready at a moment’s notice.

Seeing Xu Nuo arriving, Master Jing smiled, his originally intimidating face with a scar appearing kinder: "Why so early today?"

Xu Nuo repeated what he said to the server, then pulled out the money and tickets Mr. Xu gave him in the afternoon, counted them, and placed them all on the table.

"I heard Director Li from finance ordered a welcome banquet here." Xu Nuo asked.

"What welcome banquet, it’s just using your textile factory’s name to force Ye Jie to reserve a table for him in the hall. Asked what dish he wants, and he hemmed and hawed, not saying. In the end, Sister Ye got mad and he finally ordered a stir fry of three shreds," Zheng Da complained.

Master Jing glanced at Zheng Da, signaling him not to speak out of turn.

Xu Nuo nodded without responding to Zheng Da’s words, choosing not to bad-mouth Director Li in front of Zheng Da, though he would certainly criticize him in front of Wang Gen Sheng.

"So he ordered a stir fry of three shreds, let’s add a dish of braised pork and a pan-fried small fish. There should be small fish today, right, Master Jing? The small fish you fry are so delicious, even better with more oil."

Master Jing chuckled: "Of course, we got fresh small fish delivered this morning. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure there’s enough oil, so they’re golden and crispy on both sides, just like you like."

"We also have pork belly left, and it seems we have some quail eggs. I’ll make a quail eggs braised pork belly dish you like, sweet and salty, the quail eggs cooked tiger-skin style, fried in oil first."

Xu Nuo chuckled sheepishly: "How embarrassing! This is supposed to be the welcome banquet for the college graduate, yet it’s cooked to my taste."

Master Jing shook his head helplessly: "I know you too well, your lunch is still in the cabinet. Don’t worry, the fish will be ready and we’ll call you in. The braised pork and quail eggs will be in the lunch box, and we won’t forget your Stuffed Tofu from yesterday. Plus, four Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns: two for you, one for each of your parents."

"Don’t leave your lunch box in the cabinet next time. This afternoon, Zheng Da almost took it, thinking it was his own lunch." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Zheng Da pretended to focus intently on the steamer, as if the Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns were about to be done.

Xu Nuo didn’t mind: "Well, if you did, you could just wash it out."

"Master Jing, last time you mentioned that the crab yellow’s season is too short; it’s a waste spending so much on the Double Crab Bun recipe when you can only make it for a few months. You wanted to use Crab Yellow Sauce instead, and I have some ideas on that, I..."

"Try this." The kitchen was a bit noisy, and Master Jing had turned away to grab something, not really hearing Xu Nuo.

Master Jing handed over a bowl of lotus root powder balls.

Xu Nuo was momentarily stunned, taking a few seconds to react: "Is this... Osmanthus Lotus Root Powder Balls?"

"With sugar filling. Zheng Da’s uncle sent me a big bag of lotus root powder yesterday, all handmade and high quality. I thought it would be perfect for making lotus root powder balls, and since I had some dried osmanthus at home, I made these Osmanthus Lotus Root Powder Balls."

"Give it a taste."

Without hesitation, Xu Nuo accepted the bowl, scooped up a ball, and popped it into his mouth.

The lotus root powder balls in the bowl were crystal clear, but inconsistently sized, indicating an al dente texture. They were sugar-stuffed, and the water used to cook them likely had honey added, appearing slightly yellowish and a bit thick, more like a broth.

He ate several, his cheeks puffing out as he chewed.

"Master Jing, my friend is still outside waiting in line, I want him to try the rest. Can I bring him in to taste it?" Xu Nuo asked.

"Of course, but the line... I saved 4 for you."

"I understand the rules, no breaking them, that I get." With that, Xu Nuo put down the bowl and dashed outside, pulling the quietly queuing and speechless Wang Gen Sheng from the line, dragging him into the State owned Restaurant despite his surprised eyes.

Wang Gen Sheng was still dazed.

As a new hire who hadn’t officially started yet, today’s events were somewhat overwhelming for him.

Xu Nuo handed the lotus root powder balls to Wang Gen Sheng: "Skip the Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns for now; those can be eaten anytime, but the lotus root powder balls are only available today. There’ll be a big feast tonight, if you fill up on the buns, you’ll spoil your appetite for dinner."

Without a word, Wang Gen Sheng took the bowl and ate.

Qin Huai felt like Wang Gen Sheng was a hostage, obeying what the captor said just to save his life.

Wang Gen Sheng, still in a daze, took the first bite, becoming even more bewildered.

Baffled, yet with a hint of clarity.

His eyes filled with confusion and shock, his face seemed to question how something this delicious could exist—was it eight treasures jade food?

Xu Nuo smirked triumphantly.

Upon seeing Xu Nuo’s smirk, Wang Gen Sheng froze again.

He felt like the number of times he’d been dazed, stupefied, and amazed today surpassed that of the past two decades combined.

"So this is the sugar-coated cannonball," Wang Gen Sheng muttered.

Qin Huai stepped away from the memory.