"That familiar tone…" Mai Ge raised an eyebrow. He had heard this kind of statement many times online back then, and he expected that someone would say it, but he did not expect that the first person to hear it would be from Yabemia.
"That's not necessarily true." Mai Ge shook his head with a smile. He hadn't expected that the restaurant's internal tastes were already inconsistent even before the tofu pudding had started selling. However, he didn't rush to argue with Yabemia. He sat down and picked up the bowl of savory tofu pudding on the table.
The side dishes were prepared according to his own taste: a bright orange sauce drizzled over the tender white tofu pudding, chopped pickled vegetables, sprinkled with cilantro, minced garlic, and chopped green onions, and a couple of drops of sesame oil. It was fresh out of the pot and still steaming hot.
He picked up a spoon and scooped a spoonful into his mouth. The tofu pudding slid down his tongue, and the delicate aroma of the tofu pudding and the savory sauce melted together instantly in his mouth.
A few simple side dishes are the finishing touch, and when paired with the sweet tofu pudding, the taste is surprisingly refreshing and delicious. After swallowing, the subtle bean flavor lingers in the mouth for a long time, fragrant but not greasy.
"This tastes even better than Bai Ji's tofu pudding from the overpass in Nan Cheng, Bei Jing! This must be the best tofu pudding ever made" Mai Ge's eyes lit up, and he couldn't stop eating with his spoon. Three minutes later, he slowly put down his spoon, looked at the empty bowl, and thought to himself with satisfaction, "A steaming bowl of savory tofu pudding in the morning is truly a satisfying thing. It would be even better with a Rou Jia Mo. Mia likes sweet tofu pudding, and I like savory tofu pudding. Now it all depends on whether Amy prefers sweet or savory flavors."
"Daddy, Little Amy is hungry." Just then, Amy's voice rang out from behind. She had somehow come downstairs carrying the Ugly Duckling, sniffing the air, and looked at Mai Ge with curiosity. "Daddy, is there something new and delicious today?"
"Yes, the restaurant has a new dish today. Little Amy, have a seat. I'll get you a bowl of delicious tofu pudding. Would you like it sweet or savory?" Mai Ge turned around, looking at Amy, who was now dressed in her dress, and stood up, asking with a smile.
"Tofu pudding? Sweet or savory?" A look of hesitation crossed Amy's face.
"Amy, sweet tofu pudding is super delicious! It's sweet, and it tastes like pure happiness." Yabemia couldn't help but suggest.
"She's even using the recommendation method!" Mai Ge, who had originally planned to wait for Amy to choose, raised an eyebrow, trying to figure out how to describe the irresistible flavor of savory tofu pudding.
"Really? But the salty one must be super delicious too!" Amy's eyes lit up as she looked at Mai Ge. "Daddy, can I have both?"
"Of…of course." Mai Ge paused for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled. That's right, this is the kind of choice Amy would make. In this situation, it's absolutely impossible to choose between two options. He just wonder which flavor she will prefer after eating it.
"Okay, thank you, Daddy." Amy happily skipped over, carrying the Ugly Duckling, and sat down at the table. Her big, bright blue eyes were wide with anticipation as she looked at Mai Ge. Although she didn't know what tofu pudding was, she was sure anything her Daddy made would be delicious.
Mai Ge went into the kitchen and soon returned with two bowls of tofu pudding, gently placing them on the table. "The one on the left is sweet tofu pudding, and the one on the right is savory. Which one would you like to eat first, Amy?"
Yabemia also looked at Amy with anticipation. She could tell that Mai Ge preferred the savory tofu pudding, and she thought sweet tofu pudding must be the most delicious food in the world, so she naturally hoped Amy would like it too.
"It smells so good!" Amy fanned the rim of the bowl with her little hand, her face beaming with joy.
"Meow meow~" The Ugly Duckling in Amy's arms also meowed twice, rubbing against Amy's hand and climbing up to see what was in the bowl.
"Ugly Duckling, you don't need to look anymore, this is mine!" Amy reached out and pressed the Ugly Duckling's little head back.
"Meow—" The Ugly Duckling looked up at Amy pitifully, its sapphire-like eyes filled with a resentful look.
Amy ignored it completely, her gaze sweeping over the two small bowls. The white, tender tofu pudding looked like it was made of snow, both looking so cute. After hesitating for a moment, she reached out her little hand and moved the savory tofu pudding a little closer, picking up a small spoon.
"This is a partial victory for the savory party." Mai Ge smiled, realizing her daughter's taste was indeed like his own.
"Once Amy tries the sweet tofu pudding, she'll definitely like it too!" Yabemia was slightly disappointed, but not discouraged, firmly thinking to herself.
"I'm going to eat it now." Amy scooped up a spoonful of tofu pudding. The tender white tofu pudding was coated with orange-red sauce and topped with some chopped pickled vegetables. It wobbled in the spoon, looking very bouncy. When she opened her mouth and put it in, it melted without her having to chew. The sweet tofu pudding and the salty pickled vegetables and sauce blended perfectly together, making her eyes light up instantly.
With a soft gulp, she swallowed it. Amy's little face was full of joy. She looked up at Mai Ge, who was full of anticipation, and nodded her little head, saying, "Daddy, the tofu pudding is so delicious! But can I have a Rou Jia Mo to go with it?"
"Okay, I'll make it for you." Mai Ge nodded. He also thought savory tofu pudding would go well with a Rou Jia Mo. He hadn't expected Amy to ask for one before he even mentioned it; her foodie talent was truly extraordinary.
"Is it really that good?" Yabemia watched Amy happily scoop up another spoonful of tofu pudding, a little doubtful. However, her gaze shifted to the bowl of sweet tofu pudding beside her, and her expression hardened. "Sweet tofu pudding is the best!"
The Bai Ji Mo were already baking in the oven, and the braised meat was cooked. He quickly made two Rou Jia Mo and made himself another bowl of savory tofu pudding to eat with it.
Amy took a bite of the Rou Jia Mo, then a bite of the tofu pudding. Her eyes widened, her little face filled with happiness, and her body swayed from side to side, clearly enjoying her meal immensely.
The Ugly Duckling's head swayed from side to side with the spoon in Amy's hand, its eyes full of longing.
Mai Ge had a smile on his face; at least for now, Amy seemed to quite like the savory tofu pudding.
A few more urgent knocks came from outside the door. Mai Ge glanced at his watch; it was only seven o'clock. He wasn't going to open the door.
"Boss Mai, this is from the Sherlock Detective Agency. I have something for you." The knocking stopped, and a somewhat urgent voice came from outside.