Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 815 - 409: Forceful Spectator Frenzy (Part 2)
As soon as he spoke, Qin Huai instantly felt that Master Hua was radiating golden light. The difficulty of each notch in stretching noodles increases exponentially, stretching Dragon Beard Noodles to 19 notches is already considered extremely top-tier, and Master Hua said he can barely stretch to 20 notches but with many broken noodles, which means his 19 notches can be done very well.
At such a top-level, casually a bowl of noodles sells for hundreds or even thousands, and diners would give a thumbs up praising the chef’s integrity.
Making noodles at this level is no longer just about making noodles; it has reached the pure exhibition stage like the boat-shaped pastry. Although Qin Huai has always heard others say that Zhiwei Restaurant is the undisputed top pastry restaurant, gathering top pastry chefs from all corners of the country, he actually never had any concept in his heart.
In Qin Huai’s mind, Zhiwei Restaurant was just an amazing Master Zhou and a bunch of other impressive chefs without any concept.
Now, Master Hua’s brief self-introduction suddenly gave Qin Huai a concept.
Zhiwei Restaurant is like a top university, gathering top champions of various years. These champions sometimes stay in Zhiwei Restaurant, becoming professors who continue to teach and enlighten others, while others go elsewhere to shine. As a top academic institution, Zhiwei Restaurant recruits numerous excellent disciples from all corners of the country every year, who are selected to become champions, and then compete among champions to leave the ultimate winner behind.
Thinking this way, Qin Huai instantly understood why apprentices at Zhiwei Restaurant were so competitive whereas direct disciples were relatively fine and masters seemed so leisurely.
The masters had competed intensely long ago.
At this moment, Master Hua in front of Qin Huai was no longer just Master Hua, but a noodle-stretching master.
The brilliance of the noodle-stretching master was so dazzling that Qin Huai could hardly keep his eyes open.
Qin Huai’s entire psychological dynamics were almost all written on his face, making Master Hua’s smile even broader, he asked, "Can I try the Four Joy Dumplings you made, Xiao Qin?"
"Of course!" Qin Huai hurried to serve Master Hua, he had just made quite a batch, and some Four Joy Dumplings were still in the pot.
Qin Huai served Master Hua two dumplings, explaining that these were a trimmed version of the Four Joy Dumplings, and looked at Master Hua with some anticipation as he ate. Just as Master Hua hadn’t even chewed two bites to swallow and comment, another lean master squeezed in.
This lean master introduced himself immediately upon arrival, "Old Hua, that’s not fair, sneaking over to eat halfway through teaching the disciples. Hello, Xiao Qin, my surname is Zhang, Zhang Dongliang, not sure if Xiao Tan has mentioned me to you, I generally handle the morning and noon pastry shifts, I get off relatively early, I’m off in another two hours."
"I heard from Xiao Tan that you love shrimp dumplings, feel free to find me if you want to eat, I’m best at Cantonese-style pastries. Speaking of which, we’re even fellow townsmen, I’m also from Guangdong Province, Xiao Tan mentioned you’re from Qiu County, I’ve heard of your Qiu County."
With Master Zhang’s words, Qin Huai immediately knew who he was, his eyes lit up: "Master Zhang, I’ve heard Tan Wei’an mention you, he also told me your shrimp dumplings are excellent, I’m wondering if I might have the chance to try them tomorrow."
"No need to wait until tomorrow, I’ll make another batch for you later, you can try them in an hour."
"Thank you, Master Zhang, please have some dumplings." Qin Huai hurried to serve the dumplings.
Before he could finish serving a bowl of dumplings, another master squeezed in.
"Xiao Qin, right? My surname is Chen, Chen Xin, not sure if Xiao Tan mentioned me to you, I..."
Another one.
"Xiao Qin, right? My surname is Liang, Liang An, I usually make more kinds of pastries, I’ve heard from Xiao Tan that you..."
"Yo, why have you all come over? Xiao Qin, right? My surname is Liu, Liu Haiqiao, Hua, you don’t squeeze forward, you’ve already eaten, why squeeze more? I’ve heard from Xiao Tan that you’re very interested in imperial snacks, coincidentally, I’m best at various imperial snacks, we should exchange some ideas if there’s a chance... Hua, stop squeezing forward!"
"Xiao Qin, right? I..."
"I..."
Within minutes, Qin Huai’s culinary workstation was surrounded by Zhiwei Restaurant’s masters, packed like sardines.
Yes, packed like sardines.
Not only was there no space for anyone else to squeeze in, Tan Wei’an couldn’t even squeeze out. The pot of Four Joy Dumplings Qin Huai cooked was long insufficient, the second pot Qin Huai originally planned to cook when Master Zhou was done, but now it seemed too late.
The masters took one dumpling each, holding bowls and chewing by the culinary table. Even after finishing, they didn’t leave, nor did they put down their bowls, they just stood there discussing directly.
"Xiao Qin’s filling skills are great, chopping the meat filling like this, clearly didn’t handle the flavor well yet it’s still so delicious. Xiao Tan didn’t exaggerate."
"Don’t you think the mixed fruit filling’s skills are more impressive? Although the taste is quite ordinary, yet so many diverse ingredients can be unified and integrated in the end, the basic skills and taste sensitivity are remarkable. Among us, perhaps only Old Zhou, Old Hua, Old Liu and Xiao Liu can do it?"
"Xiao Dong might be able to too."
"No wonder Old Zhou was restless all morning, grilled a batch of egg tarts to pass the time and kept crouching by the door waiting. Old Zhou wasn’t just waiting for the exchange chef, he’s waiting for his future treasure apprentice."
"Shh, keep it down, Xiao Qin... Eh, where’s Xiao Qin?"
"He squeezed out to get glutinous rice flour, you think I’m stupid? I only spoke after I saw him leave. Let me tell you, Old Zhou is definitely considering taking him as an apprentice, you didn’t see Old Zhou leading Xiao Qin in with a smiling face. All the way, so welcoming, oh my, I’ve known Old Zhou for 20 years and never seen him treat anyone so well."
"Is it necessary?"
"Why don’t you try another dumpling before saying that?"
"I only got one earlier, you mentioned the fresh meat filling I didn’t get to taste, I only had the mixed fruit filling. What snacks is Xiao Qin making next?"
"I just asked Xiao Tan, seems to be Three Meat Buns."
"Three Meat Buns are great, they really showcase the fundamental skills."
"..."
When Qin Huai squeezed back from outside, he noticed it seemed there were even more masters surrounding the culinary table.
As if, if he was correct, it seemed like all working masters who could be there today had come around.
Qin Huai suddenly had the feeling like he was the last student in the exam hall during a school exam, and all the invigilators from the entire teaching building were idle and gathered around for some entertainment, standing beside observing him filling out the test paper.
He thought the masters were just there to join in the fun, but he didn’t know what they were actually up to, watching the newbie?
Yet theoretically, Zhiwei Restaurant wouldn’t lack new people coming for exchange.
Qin Huai didn’t understand, he silently made Three Meat Buns.
Compared to the trimmed version of Four Joy Dumplings, the Three Meat Buns required more time. Kneading dough, preparing ingredients, cooking filling, and adjusting filling all took time. Due to the scarcity of space near the culinary table, the previously unnamed apprentice had already been squeezed out, leaving only Tan Wei’an to assist Qin Huai.
Even halfway through Tan Wei’an helping, enthusiastic masters Master Hua and Master Liu felt Tan Wei’an’s skills were lacking and might hinder Qin Huai, directly stepping in to assist with chopping vegetables and preparing ingredients.
Thus, the two masters, who usually never met due to an unresolved conflict, extremely rarely appeared together at the same culinary table, standing next to Qin Huai on both sides, cutting with the tension and subtle competition, creating a sense of confrontation, smoke signals, blade light and sword shadow, cunning tricks and deceitful intrigues.
By the end of preparing ingredients, Tan Wei’an was also squeezed out.
Too lame, this place had become a masters’ gathering zone, Tan Wei’an, as a direct disciple, didn’t have the qualification to squeeze in.
Tan Wei’an: ...
Under great pressure, Qin Huai finished wrapping the Three Meat Buns, watched a nameless apprentice take these buns to the steaming section, feigned to go to the restroom, and pulled Tan Wei’an away from this troublesome place.
During this period, Master Zhou never returned, it was said he was examining Su Qian’s progress and status during this time.
Qin Huai dragged Tan Wei’an to the corridor and looked at him: "Spill it."
Tan Wei’an: "? Spill what?"
"How did you advertise me to the masters when I wasn’t at Zhiwei Restaurant?"
"Why does everyone know me, know my situation, know where I’m from? The first sentence upon meeting me is always, Xiao Tan said."
Tan Wei’an: ...
Miscalculated, when he went to Huang Ji for an exchange and started gossiping everywhere upon returning, he never thought Qin Huai would one day come to Zhiwei Restaurant!
Qin Huai smiled at Tan Wei’an.
Tan Wei’an: "Brother, Brother Qin, Master Qin, Xiao Tan, can I still kneel before you now?"
"It’s not that I didn’t say it, it’s because I’ve said so much I’ve already forgotten what I said."
