After eating a bowl of Longevity Noodles, many guests slumped against chairs, entering a state of fullness.
This state is jokingly referred to as being "carbon drunk."
Or perhaps just overstuffed.
Many people felt that today’s birthday banquet was already very satisfying. The main dishes were grand and delicious, the vegetarian dishes exquisite and elegant with depth, and although the longevity noodles lacked somewhat in appearance, their flavor and the noodles themselves were beyond reproach.
Not to mention that the Longevity Noodles themselves were very fitting with the theme; addressing the theme is a bonus, and there’s no need to be picky about the appearance.
Quite a few people had already started to express admiration:
"President Han really hosted a flawless banquet today, this is it."
"Just the final bowl of Longevity Noodles alone almost rivals the handiwork of the Master at Zhiwei Restaurant. It’s great knowing Xu Cheng; their birthday banquet can invite such an outstanding chef."
After speaking, they gave a thumbs-up to express affirmation of the meal.
These are normal guests.
In recent years, Good Taste has developed rapidly. Good Taste soy sauce has virtually taken over all major supermarkets in City A and nearby cities, with its market value multiplying several times. Among the guests present, there were also quite a few who didn’t look favorably upon Han Guishan; hearing such extravagant praise, they could not help but make some sarcastic remarks.
"It’s just a bowl of ordinary noodles; it can’t be called the craftsmanship of Zhiwei Restaurant. If they really invited a Master from Zhiwei Restaurant, would they only make a bowl of noodles?"
Saying this, the person then quietly moved the empty bowl in front of him away, so that it would appear he hadn’t eaten the noodles that cleanly.
Such comments inevitably drew sideways glances from those around, everyone couldn’t help but cast a quick look, then secretly ponder whether this person had some grievance with Han Guishan.
Just as the banquet was about to fall into silence, Three Meat Buns and Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns were served.
These two snacks, judged solely by appearance, were absolutely ordinary. Buns and steamed buns, any Breakfast Shop could offer them.
No matter how beautiful a bun or steamed bun might be, they are still buns and steamed buns. Not to mention nowadays, even factory-produced buns and steamed buns often look pretty good. It might be normal at the end of a regular banquet to serve Dun-cut Steamed Buns or Handmade Fresh Meat Buns, but at a birthday banquet of this caliber, serving such plain dim sum seems a bit underwhelming.
The steamed buns smelled very fragrant, carrying a faint aroma of fermented rice, mixed in with other food scents and not standing out, even covering up the most distinct wheat-steamed fragrance of buns and steamed buns.
However, quite a few people sensed it.
The guest who had just ridiculed the Longevity Noodles as merely ordinary came in full swing again, originally wanting to restrain a bit, now he didn’t even bother to pretend, releasing a sneer.
"First noodles, then buns and steamed buns. Our President Han is always so down-to-earth. I haven’t attended such a plain banquet for so many years; the last time I had one was at a rural feast seven or eight years ago."
Such comments inevitably brought quiet discussions among guests at the same table, with one uninformed person whispering, "Who’s this? Did they drink too much?"
The implication was what’s going on, an enemy snuck into the banquet?
"The Vice President of Jinbiao, seems to have had a bit too much."
"That Jinbiao Soy Sauce?"
"Yes, they were the leading soy sauce enterprise in our city a couple of years ago. Recently, they were surpassed by Good Taste, and they’re reportedly doing terribly in revenue, even starting layoffs."
"Why did President Han invite him?"
"Remember a few years back, his daughter got married and invited President Han; it’s probably reciprocation, as the two sides haven’t actually fallen out. But it might be different after this time."
The Vice President of Jinbiao, whether from having drunk a few glasses too many or feeling he finally released some anger, sat in his chair with a slightly reddish face, contemptuously sizing up the newly served snacks with smugness.
Han Youxin had specially arranged the seating for the guests at his birthday banquet, among the guests sharing a table with the Vice President were those with fairly good relations, quickly picking up a Three Meat Bun to smooth things over, fearing this person, after drinking too much, might say something that would make him wake up no longer the vice president tomorrow.
"Buns and steamed buns are great, I just love eating buns and steamed buns. After too much rich food later I just want to eat something simple from the staples. Just right since I didn’t actually eat enough from that bowl of Longevity Noodles just now, let’s have a bun to pad the stomach." After saying this, the guest trying to smooth things over stuffed the Three Meat Bun into his mouth.
No other reason, it was too delicious.
The Three Meat Buns Qin Huai makes now are at a B+ level, Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns is still at a B level, and Longevity Noodles earned their B+ due to Zang Mu’s high-quality soup, but B+ and B+ is not the same.
Before Qin Huai’s Four Happiness glutinous rice rose to A level, his best snacks were guo’er, followed closely by Three Meat Buns.
Three Meat Buns were the high-difficulty snacks Qin Huai made the most often, back at the Qin Family Breakfast Shop he would make them every few days, now and then dropping a surprise Three Meat Bun on neighbors to let everyone start a happy day.
Since Yunzhong Restaurant’s launch, Three Meat Buns once even became the breakfast champion. Five Fillings Buns were too expensive to eat often, Qin Congwen’s cheap buns weren’t tasty, making Three Meat Buns stand out as an exemplary bun with great cost performance, made every day by Qin Huai, raising his Skill Level remarkably.
Later, after obtaining the recipe for Three Meat Buns, the buns were upgraded, becoming a new favorite among Huang Ji Restaurant’s diners.
It could be said, Xiao Qin Master who always loved the new over the old might have consistently been making new snacks and never stayed for too long on one snack, lacking strict practice on Three Meat Buns. But Three Meat Buns have always stuck with Xiao Qin Master, never truly parting from him.