I Have a Countryside Gourmet Restaurant

Chapter 199: Chapter 195: A New World of Gastronomy Indeed

Xie Feng and the others were filled with regret. One after another, they asked, ”What about Master Guyi’s painting? Can we see it?”

The customer in the white shirt said, ”Of course! The owner already said he’ll display it in the shop. It’s being sent out to be mounted and framed right now. It should be on display by tomorrow.”

’Tomorrow?’

Xie Feng and his friends felt a pang of disappointment. Since they came today, they definitely wouldn’t be able to come back tomorrow.

After all, everyone had their own lives and responsibilities. They all had to work to make a living.

Still, as long as the owner was willing to display it, that was enough. They should have time to come back in a few days.

Admiring it then would be just as good.

At that moment, the customer in the white shirt spoke again. ”Alright, your braised chicken has been served. I won’t disturb your meal any longer. Go on, try the food here. You’ll definitely be glad you came today. Oh, and for those of you who can drink, I still strongly recommend you try the wine. Okay, enjoy your meal.”

”Thank you! Thank you!”

Xie Feng and his friends thanked him profusely. Then, their gazes all fell upon the braised chicken, which had already been cut into pieces.

’Just how good is the food here? Let’s start with this braised chicken and find out.’

As for the wine, they would decide after tasting the chicken.

Everyone picked up their chopsticks and took a piece of braised chicken.

They popped it into their mouths and began to eat.

The moment they took a bite, they were all once again struck with disbelief, followed by an unprecedented sense of delight.

Because the braised chicken in their mouths was far more delicious than they could have ever imagined.

The flavor was endlessly savory, leaving a fragrant aftertaste. It had reached a level of deliciousness that was almost inconceivable!

They never knew that braised chicken, a dish they were so familiar with, could be this delectable.

This truly opened the door to a new world of food.

Everyone was once again reminded of Jiang Caidong’s words.

But this time, none of them felt that Jiang Caidong had been exaggerating.

They had only eaten a single small piece of braised chicken, yet their previous opinions had already been completely overturned.

The food here was indeed unbelievably good. No wonder even Master Guyi had been drawn to this place.

’If the food is like this, then what about the wine? Could it really be something that should only exist in the heavens?’

All those who planned to drink were suddenly desperate to taste the wine.

Including those who had driven.

But they could only force themselves to resist the urge.

Meanwhile, those who hadn’t driven started calling for wine.

They’d heard the wine here was served in bowls, with one bowl holding two taels.

So they each ordered a bowl to try.

Xiaohai served them the wine.

Soon, everyone who had ordered wine had a bowl placed in front of them.

The rich, intoxicating aroma of the wine was captivating.

They had never smelled such a bewitching fragrance from wine before.

The ones who had driven smelled it too.

At that moment, all they could think was, ’Why did we have to drive today?’

To be in the presence of such fine wine and not be able to taste it was truly one of life’s great regrets.

Meanwhile, those who hadn’t driven said excitedly, ”Well then, don’t mind if we do.”

They all raised their bowls and took a sip.

Moments later, they were too thrilled to even speak.

’How can such fine wine exist in this world?’

’This wine truly belongs in the heavens!’

Master Guyi’s assessment, borrowing a famous line from Du Fu, couldn’t have been more fitting!

Getting to drink such incredible wine made the trip more than worthwhile!

At that moment, all who had drunk the wine exclaimed with emotion, ”This wine truly belongs only in the heavens.”

This made the drivers’ craving unbearable, and they grew even more frustrated with themselves for choosing to drive that day.

The customer in the white shirt at the next table chuckled. ”So? I was right to suggest you try the wine, wasn’t I?”

The drinkers all agreed he was right, saying the wine was just as Master Guyi had praised—fit only for the heavens. They added that being able to drink such a vintage was one of the greatest fortunes of their lives.

After that, the group collectively raised their bowls in a toast to the customer in the white shirt.

The customer in the white shirt laughed heartily and gladly drank with them.

After the toast, the other dishes they had ordered—Mapo Tofu, Twice-Cooked Pork with Garlic Sprouts, Stir-Fried Shredded Potatoes, Crucian Carp with Agastache, and Tomato and Egg Drop Soup—were brought to the table one by one.

Looking at these dishes, everyone grew excited all over again.

Because every single dish looked absolutely delicious.

Everyone picked up their chopsticks and dug in eagerly.

And with every bite, they grew more and more excited, more and more thrilled.

’A new world of food. This is truly a new world of food.’

Each dish felt like it opened up yet another new culinary world.

But the most incredible thing was that these were all incredibly common, ordinary home-style dishes.

It turned out that you didn’t need expensive, rare ingredients to open the door to a new world of food. All it took were the most common ingredients, prepared into the most common home-style dishes.

It was unbelievable, and yet it was the truth.

’So, just how high does a chef’s skill level have to be to achieve something like this?’

’A Special Chef?’

’Only a Special Chef could possibly pull this off, right?’

’Could it be that the young owner, Li You, is actually a Special Chef?’

’A Special Chef at such a young age?’

Everyone found it absolutely incredible.

Xie Feng and the others had all seen Li You at Jiang Caidong’s noodle shop that day.

So, they knew the owner here was very young.

’So, is Li You really a Special Chef?’

’There’s only one way to find out.’

Xie Feng turned to the customer in the white shirt at the next table and asked, ”Friend, excuse me, but is our host, Li You, a Special Chef?”

The customer in the white shirt shook his head. ”No.”

”He’s not?” Xie Feng and the others were all shocked.

’Owner Li You has such unfathomable culinary skills, yet he’s not even a Special Chef?’

The customer in the white shirt smiled and continued, ”Let me finish. The reason Owner Li You isn’t a Special Chef isn’t because he lacks the skill. It’s because he’s never taken the certification exam. I suppose it’s because he has no interest in official chef rankings and doesn’t want to get certified.”

’So that’s how it is.’

Xie Feng and the others all nodded.

’But... Owner Li You is so young, and he’s already lost interest in chef certifications?’

That was quite surprising.

After all, people his age usually loved to be in the spotlight.

If Owner Li You got his Special Chef certification, he could totally show off anywhere he went.

After all, a Special Chef that young would be one of a kind.

’That said, if Owner Li You decided to take the Special Chef exam, he’d pass with flying colors, wouldn’t he?’

”Of course,” said the customer in the white shirt. ”In fact, the owner’s culinary skills are even above that of a Special Chef. And that’s not just my opinion. I’ve never eaten anything made by a Special Chef, so I can’t judge. That’s what Master Guyi said. And if Master Guyi said it, it must be true.”

Xie Feng and all the others were once again surprised and found it hard to believe.

’Owner Li You is too damn amazing, isn’t he? Even more amazing than we imagined!’

’No wonder a simple, ordinary home-style dish from him can open up a new world of food.’

...

A huge thanks to Old Man Returning Home for the 500-coin donation!

Thanks, boss!

Please add to your collection, subscribe, and vote with monthly and recommendation tickets!

...