abnabooks Chapter 162 Soulless
Chapter 162 Soulless
The alloy floor-to-ceiling windows are brightly lit with spotlights, and steam rises from them.
The first group of individual customers, who filled twelve square tables, were initially amazed by the paper-thin shredded chicken and the renowned dried scallop broth.
But as the two bowls of soup were finished, the almost frenzied praise in the hall gradually and strangely subsided.
The air inside the shop began to feel a bit thick, and apart from the occasional crisp sound of wooden chopsticks hitting white porcelain bowls, there was an awkward silence that made people feel uneasy.
"Slurp... That's strange. Why does it taste worse and worse the more I drink?"
The bespectacled white-collar worker who had just been praising the mushroom so effusively was now holding an exquisite white porcelain bowl, with a piece of fresh matsutake mushroom held between his wooden chopsticks, but his brows were furrowed in confusion.
Undeniably, Zhou Benchang's "State Banquet Matsutake and Jade Liquid Chicken" is so high-class that it's flawless.
But for some reason, after tasting the delicious flavor brought out by the precise cooking time a few times, it became even more irresistible.
Beneath that impossibly high and exquisite exterior lay a lack of novelty, and the entire bowl of soup suddenly became somewhat bland and lifeless.
This soup is beautiful, but it's as beautiful as a fake flower displayed in a museum glass case—it lacks soul and memorable qualities.
It simply cannot evoke that intense physical urge to eat heartily, sweat profusely, and be so hot that you can't bear to put it down.
On the contrary, at this very moment, through the crack of the alloy door, the domineering and unique aroma of "Human Fireworks" next door, carrying the fierce and spicy flavor of bright red chili peppers and the firm and fresh meat of loach, forcefully sneaked in again.
It was a smoky aroma that seemed to bring the dead back to life. When it collided with the elegant yet rigid state banquet chicken soup in their mouths, it was like an invisible slap, abruptly waking many diners from their illusion of "high-class".
"Sigh... I feel like after drinking so much of this state banquet chicken soup, my tongue is all sticky, and I'm actually craving the taste of Chen Ge's red pepper and garlic from next door!"
"Now that you mention it, I'm right! Those loaches next door look so tempting! Watching them eat them makes my bones melt in your mouth. This chicken soup... it's fancy, but it's soulless, not satisfying at all!!"
Private musings instantly spread like water around the alloy square tables.
"presumptuous!!"
A piercing, violent shout from a middle-aged man suddenly exploded behind the alloy cutting board with a loud bang.
Enraged, Zhou Benchang slammed his right hand hard on the marble island, producing a dull thud.
His once prosperous face turned ashen with rage in an instant, and the arrogance of a master of the red walls in his self-important eyes was ignited by fury.
He's been adored by thousands in this area for most of his life. When has he ever been criticized like this by a bunch of peasants digging mud in remote old streets?!
"You guys really don't know how to enjoy good food!!"
Zhou Benchang pointed at the few whispering customers, his middle-aged voice turning into a sharp, distorted laugh:
"While I, Zhou, was serving those important figures inside the red walls, you were still catching loaches in the mud!!"
The finest cuisine is all about the refined elegance of Dali, a land blessed with natural beauty!
Your tongues, ruined by cheap chili peppers and garlic, know nothing about authentic cuisine!
What a bunch of ignorant country bumpkins! Giving you dragon meat would be a waste!
The middle-aged chef's hysteria sounded particularly jarring in the brightly lit lobby.
Meanwhile, dozens of individual travelers were gathered outside the window, not yet in line.
Hearing the chilling shouts and curses coming from the lobby, and glancing at the strange expressions on the faces of the diners, the defenses that had been built up by the hype created by the extras began to waver violently once again.
The money is theirs, and their legs are their own.
"Sigh... Everyone inside says it has no soul, and Chef Zhou even curses at people."
"I think it's unlikely! Although Brother Chen's rules are a bit strange, he only sells a hundred servings a day."
When has Brother Chen ever boasted like that to customers on the stove?!
Their cooking is so good it'll bring tears to your eyes!
Someone muttered something under their breath in the crowd:
"Holy crap!! Don't get ripped off here and get yelled at!!"
Brother Chen only sells 100 servings a day!
We rushed over early this morning, and if we don't grab a spot now, we'll be completely out of luck!
These words struck like a thunderbolt, hitting the soft spot of all the still hesitant diners!
Limited spots available!! A hard and fast rule: 100 spots!!
Without any hesitation, a young individual in the last row was the first to come to his senses, ripped off his black gold card, turned around, and strode briskly across the muddy water.
Then, this panic and frenzy over ultimate deliciousness transformed into a massive, utterly unrestrained collapse!
Dozens of casual diners who had been gathered in front of Su Ang's shop turned around with eyes as red as hungry wolves, howling as they ran back towards the wooden door of "Human Fireworks" like a whirlwind, stepping on the colorful ribbons scattered on the ground!
"Don't push!! Leave me a spot!!"
"My queue number!! Where's my queue number?!"
The commotion of dozens of people running wildly down the street caused the headlights of Su Ang's black Mercedes to shake a few times.
However, when this group of sweaty, disheveled tourists finally ran back to the narrow wooden threshold of "Human Fireworks"...
When they looked up, they were met with a chillingly still scene.
"Excuse me, everyone."
Behind the counter, Su Chen, a young man, wore a strange smile that was both confident and utterly cold.
"Just two minutes ago, a few discerning locals outside had already swept up the last three queue numbers."
Everyone knows Brother Chen's rules: a hundred portions, not a drop more soup.
Today... all orders have been closed.
All orders have been closed!! That's all!!
These five words were like a bucket of ice water poured over the heads of the dozens of returning diners, freezing all their enthusiasm and expectations outside the old wooden door.
"My God... how could it be gone?!"
"I was completely out of my mind just now, going to listen to some talk about a state banquet and drinking some rubbish. Now I haven't even gotten close to Brother Chen's bowl. I'm so regretful!!"
In front of the wooden door of the old street, dozens of people looked at their empty palms and smelled the increasingly domineering and irritating aroma of braised loach with red peppers coming from inside the house. For a moment, the entire narrow alley was filled with the sighs of these clueless passersby, filled with utter despair and desolation.