Chapter 179: Chapter 169: This Beef, Potato, and Mushroom Soup Is Way Too Delicious
Xia Changzhi took a deep, appreciative breath of the aroma and explained rapturously, "You just don’t get it. Only those who have tasted Boss Jiang’s food know there’s a happiness beyond what you thought was possible in this world."
"Besides, this is Boss Jiang’s newest dish. You two really lucked out today, getting to enjoy this with me."
Jun Xinghe and Guo Dapao shook their heads slightly.
They weren’t the type to just take someone’s word for it.
Beef, juice... they’d lost count of how much they’d had in their lifetimes.
They were hardly anything special.
They could afford to hire state banquet-level chefs, after all.
So what could a humble little eatery possibly offer?
Meanwhile, Xia Changzhi couldn’t wait any longer. He picked up a tender, fragrant piece of beef, closed his eyes, and placed it in his mouth to savor slowly.
A smile of pure bliss spread across his face.
Even having been wowed by the tuna before, the flavor of the yak, potato, and mushroom stew still left Xia Changzhi inwardly astonished.
’The texture is completely different from regular yak meat!’
’The rich, fragrant fat in particular is just incredible!’
"Boss Jiang’s cooking is just so good! I just wish I could live another few decades to enjoy it!"
"Ah, so good."
Xia Changzhi let out a long sigh of contentment after eating a piece of beef.
"Er, is he being that dramatic?"
Jun Xinghe and Guo Dapao stared, dumbfounded.
When Xia Changzhi saw his friends still hadn’t touched their food, he tapped his chopsticks on the table, urging them on.
"Eat! What are you two sitting there for? If you’re not going to eat, I’ll pack it up for my son. Don’t blame me when you regret it later!"
Jun Xinghe sighed in resignation. "Alright, alright, I’ll eat. It’s just beef and potato stew. Look how antsy you’re getting."
He had zero expectations. Having tasted every delicacy the world had to offer, he had yet to find a dish that could truly captivate his palate.
With that, Jun Xinghe picked up a piece of tender stewed beef. A gentle squeeze with his chopsticks sent juices spilling out.
He brought it closer for a sniff.
The beefy aroma was potent, and it wasn’t artificial—it was the pure, natural scent of the ingredients.
He was starting to feel uncertain.
’I’ll just try a bite. It does seem pretty good.’
With that thought, Jun Xinghe quickly popped the piece of beef into his mouth.
The next moment.
’This... How is this possible!?’
A jolt of shock ran through him.
The beef was stewed to an incredible tenderness, its fibers delicate and the juices rich and fragrant.
The meat itself was infused with the fragrance of various spices.
Jun Xinghe shuddered in disbelief.
Even the back of his tongue tingled.
His earlier nonchalance had vanished into thin air.
’This is unbelievably good!’
’I completely underestimated this!’
Honestly, in all his years of eating beef, he’d never imagined it could taste this good.
Even the beef he’d had at extravagant courtyard banquets in Jing City couldn’t hold a candle to this!
But those other beef dishes cost tens of thousands per serving.
And this plate was only two thousand... from a little-known shop?
Now, the only thing in his entire field of vision was the beef before him.
Xia Changzhi cleared his throat, prompting him for a verdict.
"The flavor is... truly something else!"
Jun Xinghe racked his brain, barely managing to squeeze out a fitting word.
He had no idea what flowery words could possibly do justice to the texture and flavor of this dish.
A smug look appeared on Xia Changzhi’s face, his eyes crinkling into a grin.
Boss Jiang had really made him look good.
"See? I was right, wasn’t I? So tell me, how does this beef stack up against all the others you’ve had?"
he asked expectantly.
Jun Xinghe didn’t even pause his chopsticks. He savored another piece of beef, then popped a sweet, fluffy potato into his mouth. Mumbling with his mouth full, he gave his earnest review, "It’s phenomenal. Nothing can compare. This is the food of the gods."
"And the best part is the price! Getting to eat a top-tier delicacy like this for only two thousand is like winning the lottery!"
Seeing his usually proud friend look so utterly astonished, Xia Changzhi beamed, his face flushed with excitement.
"Of course! And let me tell you, Boss Jiang’s dishes are all limited edition. I told you before, everything in this shop is one serving per person, max! Heh, if it weren’t for my connections? You wouldn’t have even had a chance to taste this, I’m telling you."
"Pfft? Hahahahaha!"
Guo Dapao couldn’t take it anymore. He clutched his stomach, letting out a laugh that sounded like a pig snorting.
???
"Are you two putting on a play for me? ’Nothing can compare,’ ’food of the gods,’ ’limited edition’... You’re killing me! I swear, Old Jun, when did you learn to spin such tall tales? You don’t sound like the major shareholder of a public company!"
’I was thinking the exact same thing just a minute ago...’
Jun Xinghe swallowed another piece of beef, then looked up with a smile. "Brother Guo, let me ask you for a favor. How about you give me your portion? I want to take it home, freeze it, and let my daughter have a taste."
"?"
Guo Dapao sensed something was off. He eyed the two of them suspiciously.
’These two are acting weird today! Could it really be that good?’
’No way. I refuse to believe it.’
If he had to guess, he’d be more willing to believe they were teaming up to mess with him.
Jun Xinghe and Xia Changzhi ate with such gusto, completely lost in the experience.
Having stewed in the pressure cooker for hours, the aroma was sealed in by a gelatinous film that had formed from the broth. Only once in the mouth would the flavors explode on the taste buds.
’No, I have to try a bite...’
Guo Dapao couldn’t stand it any longer. He snapped his chopsticks apart and cautiously picked up a piece of potato to try.
Hm?
’This potato... why does it taste so different from any I’ve had before?’
’It’s sweeter, more fragrant, and the texture is so soft... yes, it crumbled the moment it entered his mouth.’
He couldn’t help but pick up a piece of yak meat and examine it closely.
He paired it with what looked like a mushroom and popped them both into his mouth.
The instant it touched his tongue, a rich beefy flavor exploded. The meat felt like it was about to melt, yet as he chewed, it had a satisfying, springy resilience.
He was shocked.
’So it really *is* this good!’
While Guo Dapao was still dazed in disbelief, five pieces of meat quietly vanished from the plate.
’WHAT THE HELL!!! Where’s my meat?!’
He snapped out of it, furious!
He shielded the plate with his arms as if protecting his own child.
"Damn it! You two are shameless! Why the hell are you taking my beef?"
"You said you didn’t want it. I snatched these fair and square. What’s the problem?"
"Old Guo, you don’t like it anyway, so I’m just helping you out," Jun Xinghe mumbled, his mouth completely full.
Guo Dapao was having none of it.
’Dammit! How could I let these two bastards steal such delicious beef and potatoes?’
"No! I’m taking them back! Give them back!"
"In your dreams! Didn’t you say you don’t like it? I’ll take another potato, then." Xia Changzhi’s chopsticks darted toward the plate again.
Guo Dapao hurriedly wrapped his arms around the plate.
"FUCK! You old bastard, give you an inch and you take a mile, huh?! You two fucking owe me five pieces of beef! Give them back now!"
"Nope!"
"Dream on!"
"I’m about to lose it, you hear me!?"
The three of them grew more and more frantic as they ate, nearly coming to blows.
Who would believe that these distinguished, high-status men were actually fighting over a piece of potato in a tiny restaurant?
Jiang Liu heard the CLATTER of plates and thought a fight had broken out. He rushed out to see what was happening, but relaxed when he saw the three of them were just fighting over a mushroom.
’As long as they don’t wreck the place, I don’t care.’
"Hey, hey, hey! Old Xia, you have your own damn juice! What the hell are you doing taking mine?"
Xia Changzhi placed the bottle of juice by his feet and said with a grin, "My grandson wants to try it. I’m taking it home for him."
