Chapter 381: Sweet or Savory Tofu Pudding
"Old Zhou, what are you planning to eat tomorrow?"
Walking out of Han Shi side by side with Zhou Long, Tang Zi chuckled.
"Lamb pao mo, I guess." Zhou Long didn't think long before answering.
Hearing this, Tang Zi immediately lit up. "What's this? You think lamb pao mo is better than your oil-splashed noodles?"
Casting Tang Zi a look full of disdain, Zhou Long shook his head. "Are you stupid? I'm planning to try every single breakfast Han Shi has. They're all new to me. I just happen to want to try the lamb pao mo first tomorrow."
After all, watching Tang Zi eat it today had made Zhou Long crave it too.
"Wait—you're not gonna eat lamb pao mo again tomorrow, are you?" Zhou Long glanced at Tang Zi as if he were an idiot.
Tang Zi froze on the spot.
Now that he thought about it… it was true. This breakfast menu was full of new dishes. Wouldn't it make sense to try everything at least once?
He had originally planned to eat lamb pao mo again tomorrow, but now he was starting to reconsider.
The lamb pao mo was delicious, sure, but if Boss Qi's other dishes were just as amazing, then shouldn't he taste them all first?
"Of course not!" Tang Zi scoffed, unwilling to admit it out loud. "I was already planning to try the oil-splashed noodles tomorrow."
He had only eaten two strands today—not nearly satisfying. Tomorrow, he was definitely getting a whole big bowl!
"This breakfast is so good… makes me wonder what the late-night snack will be like," Zhou Long said, his face brimming with anticipation.
If it was as delicious as breakfast, then that would be incredible.
"I don't know," Tang Zi grinned, "but I'll definitely be lining up early tonight. Honestly, eating Han Shi's food four times a day… even the gods would want to trade places with me. It's just a shame I can't stay in Shrek City long-term…"
"Not like me. I can eat it every single day—four meals a day." Zhou Long split his face into a wide grin, the very picture of smugness.
Damn it!
Tang Zi clenched his fists, then slowly relaxed them.
Forget it. This guy's spirit power was two levels higher than his. He couldn't win a fight anyway.
…
After Zhou Long and Tang Zi left, the little shop once again had empty seats.
Ji Yunruo quickly beckoned the next two guests waiting outside to come in and dine.
At the very front of the line, Yun Qing's face lit up with joy. He gave Ji Yunruo a polite nod before stepping inside and taking the seat Tang Zi had just vacated.
The seat opposite him—previously occupied by Zhou Long—was soon taken by the customer who had been standing behind Yun Qing in line.
Yun Qing gave the man a brief nod in greeting, then eagerly opened up the menu in his hands.
Yesterday, Yun Qing had already enjoyed two wonderful meals at Han Shi.
Whether it was the sweet-and-sour delight of the squirrel-shaped mandarin fish at lunch, or the fresh, tender spiciness of the spicy fish head with chopped peppers at dinner, both dishes had left him utterly amazed.
What pleased him even more was how perfectly both dishes paired with rice.
The sweet-and-sour tang and fried aroma of the squirrel fish made it a flawless appetite-starter, perfect with rice. Yun Qing had practically inhaled three bowls. Meanwhile, the spicy fragrance of the chili fish head was equally ideal as a rice companion.
Yun Qing had even discovered that pouring the fish head's sauce over his rice created a flavor so divine, he nearly spun around in place three times from sheer delight.
So for today's breakfast, his expectations were sky-high.
Though he wasn't familiar with the term "breakfast," Yun Qing did have the habit of eating a "morning meal."
The two were probably about the same thing.
And when it came to morning meals, Yun Qing's tastes were completely different from what he preferred at lunch or dinner.
In his view, lunch and dinner without white rice were soulless, but the morning meal could be much more flexible. Pastries, steamed buns, and other foods that could stand in as staples were all acceptable for breakfast.
After browsing the menu for a moment, Yun Qing had already made his choice.
"Hello, I'll have a soy milk & cahkwe set, and also a bowl of tofu pudding."
"I'll have a basket of steamed dragon dumplings, and a bowl of tofu pudding!"
The first sentence came from Yun Qing, while the second was spoken almost simultaneously by the diner sitting opposite him.
Startled, Yun Qing gave the man across from him a curious glance before pulling his gaze back.
The other had ordered tofu pudding as well.
"Understood." Ji Yunruo, noticing Yun Qing wave her over, quickly came forward. She glanced at the two diners who had already made their choices and said, "For tofu pudding, there are two flavors. Which one would you like?"
Yun Qing wasn't surprised—he'd already seen that mentioned in the menu description. "I'll have the sweet one."
The diner across from him glanced once more at his menu before replying, "I'll take the savory one."
"All right. Please wait just a moment." After noting down their orders, Ji Yunruo nodded and headed off toward the kitchen.
Since the food would take a little while, Yun Qing decided to strike up a conversation with the man opposite him. "Hello, my name is Yun Qing."
"I'm Darn." The other man gave a polite smile as he introduced himself.
Both of them had ordered tofu pudding, each with a different flavor. With introductions made, it was only natural that the topic turned in that direction.
"I've heard of tofu before, but Mr. Darn, have you ever heard of tofu pudding?" Yun Qing asked curiously. He already knew that this Darn was a regular at Han Shi, so he assumed he must be knowledgeable.
"Actually, I haven't." Darn shook his head, then smiled faintly. "But the tin foil roasted brain flowers are quite good, so when I saw a dish with the word 'brain' in the name, I figured I'd give it a try."
"I see…" Yun Qing nodded in sudden understanding. Then he tilted his head in curiosity. "But I heard that tin foil roasted brain flowers are made from badger pig brains. Isn't that a little…"
"You mean evil?" Darn gave him a knowing look and chuckled. "To be honest, when Boss Qi first introduced that dish, I was there. Some young fellow actually thought he was an evil spirit master and nearly attacked him."
"Pfft!" Yun Qing burst out laughing. It was the first time he'd heard such an amusing story, and his interest was piqued. "What happened after that?"
"What else?" Darn chuckled. "Of course, the boy was stopped. And once the Wood Spirit Douluo praised the tin foil roasted brain flowers as delicious, everyone stopped being afraid. Believe me, though it sounds intimidating, that dish is not to be missed."
"The Wood Spirit Douluo…" Yun Qing's face took on a look of respect. Although he had only learned of him after coming to Shrek City, any titled Douluo known for healing and saving lives was surely worthy of respect.
Since even the Wood Spirit Douluo praised tin foil roasted brain flowers, it must be fine.
Yun Qing nodded. "Then I'll try it at lunch today."
Having successfully recommended one of his own favorite dishes to a new customer, Darn smiled more warmly. "Friend, the honey-glazed grilled ribs are also excellent. They're my personal favorite, and I'd recommend you try them too."
"I was already planning on tasting those ribs today at lunch," Yun Qing said with a small smile, letting him know the dish was already on his must-try list.
That only made Darn happier.
The two of them chatted with growing enthusiasm, and before long, their dishes were brought to the table.
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Note:
The chinese word for tofu pudding and tin foil roasted brain flower have the word 脑 on them, which mean Brain
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