The freshly cooked tofu pudding was still steaming hot, served in two small white ceramic bowls with a white spoon beside them.
"This is!" Crassus's eyes lit up as he looked at the small bowl in front of him.
A delicate aroma of tofu pudding wafted out, the scent of crushed soybeans.
What surprised him even more was what was inside the bowls: square and white, topped with a layer of golden-red sugar syrup, it looked like a piece of pure white jade encased in amber, though it wobbled slightly when placed down, appearing quite bouncy.
The sweet aroma of the hot sugar syrup mingled with the bean flavor; even before tasting it, he could feel the sweetness in his mouth. For someone who loved desserts, it looked incredibly tempting.
"Hmph, so sweet, aren't you afraid of getting sick of it?" Yulian at the next table curled his lip, but his eyes lit up when he looked at the tofu pudding in front of him.
The same square, white tofu pudding was served in a small bowl, topped with chopped pickled vegetables and other side dishes, and drizzled with a spoonful of orange-red sauce. The aroma of the sauce and side dishes, mingled with the fragrance of soybeans, wafted up, making it incredibly tempting.
"The salty one looks so appetizing; it should taste delicious." Yulian thought to himself, a hint of anticipation creeping in.
Almost simultaneously, the two picked up their spoons and scooped a spoonful into their mouths.
Mai Ge, Amy, and Yabemia stood quietly to the side, watching the two with curiosity, wanting to know which flavor of tofu pudding they preferred.
"Mmm! This tastes amazing!" Crassus's eyes widened instantly. The tofu pudding coated in a layer of sugar syrup melted in his mouth. The soft and sweet tofu pudding, paired with the sweet syrup, was different from the usual thick syrup. This golden-red syrup was sweet but not cloying, and it did not mask the natural bean flavor of the tofu pudding at all.
With a gulp, he swallowed it down his throat, leaving a faint bean flavor and a subtle sweetness in his mouth—a truly unforgettable experience.
"This is made from soybeans, right? But how can soybeans be made so tender and soft, like brain? It doesn't even need chewing, it melts in the mouth! And this syrup is so special; although it's sweet, but it's not cloying at all. After swallowing, it feels quite refreshing." Crassus looked at Mai Ge, countless questions swirling in his mind. The spoon in his hand just wouldn't stop; he ate one bite after another, never getting tired of it.
"So delicious! How can there be such delicious food in this world!" Yulian, on the other side, stared blankly at the empty spoon in front of him.
The tender white tofu pudding is coated in an orange-red sauce and topped with chopped pickled vegetables. When he put it in his mouth, it melts without him having to chew. The sweet tofu pudding and the salty pickled vegetables and sauce blend together perfectly, stimulating his taste buds. It seems like each one is cheering and jumping for joy. After swallowing, there is a light bean flavor in his mouth, and he feel refreshed all over.
If Crassus had eaten Yang Zhou Fried Rice at the restaurant many times before and was somewhat looking forward to the tofu pudding, he had some expectations and was prepared. However, this was Yulian's first time in the restaurant, and his first time tasting Mai Ge's cooking. The impact was so strong that he couldn't help but scoop up another spoonful and slowly savor it, a joyful smile spreading across his wrinkled face.
"Looks like they're quite satisfied." Mai Ge said with a smile. Crassus and Yulian's smiles were genuine. Seeing his own food recognized and enjoyed by guests makes him feel good.
"Ding!"
"Clang!"
With two soft sounds, Crassus and Yulian almost simultaneously finished their bowls of tofu pudding. Looking at their empty bowls, their expressions were both somewhat unsatisfied.
"Boss, another bowl of savory tofu pudding, please! This is absolutely delicious!" Yulian put down his spoon and said to Mai Ge, his expression slightly excited.
"Sweet tofu pudding is the best!" Crassus glanced at Yulian, then looked at Mai Ge and said, "Boss Mai, could I have another bowl of sweet tofu pudding? I'll pay, just name your price."
"What's so good about something so sweet? You're not a child anymore. Why would someone over a hundred years old like sweets?" Yulian looked at Crassus, his eyes revealing undisguised disdain.
"What's so good about savory tofu pudding? Fragrant and tender tofu pudding goes perfectly with sweetness. A heretic like you should be roasted over a fire. You can't possibly understand the feeling of sweet tofu pudding sliding down your throat." Crassus gripped his mage's staff, glaring at Yulian, a few specks of red light began to gather on the mage's staff, indicating that he was truly angry.
"Nonsense! You sweet faction people are the heretics! Savory tofu pudding is the authentic flavor! You can't even imagine how delicious it is with sauce and all sorts of chopped toppings!" Yulian's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, frost appeared under his feet, and the temperature around him dropped slightly.
"Sorry, the tofu pudding hasn't officially started selling today, and I wasn't planning on offering samples, so there are no more servings available." Mai Ge looked at the two who had reverted to their fighting stance over a bowl of tofu pudding, seemingly determined to fight to the death, his expression somewhat strange. This was probably the first sweet vs savory debate in this other world.
Unexpectedly, the two had originally come for Amy, but now their focus had shifted to a bowl of tofu pudding. In his previous life, the sweet vs savory debate mostly existed on forums or Weibo; keyboards were their only weapon, and no matter how fierce the argument, it never led to a real fight.
But the situation was different now. Crassus and Yulian's argument had escalated to the point where they were ready to fight to prove their favorite tofu pudding right.
"Sweet tofu pudding...delicious." Yabemia muttered softly beside, her voice barely audible.
"They're both so delicious, why are they arguing?" Amy looked at the two with a conflicted expression, somewhat puzzled.
"Is that all?" Crassus and Yulian both seemed disappointed, their gazes meeting simultaneously, both appearing quite angry.
The anger that had been building up from competing for apprentices finally erupted after a bowl of tofu pudding.
"Yulian, you heretic! I've hated you for a long time! Let's have a fair fight! I'll smash your head open!" Crassus stood up, leaning on his mage's staff, glaring at Yulian.
"Hmph! Crassus, do you think I'm afraid of you? I'll freeze you and throw you into the moat to feed the fish!" Yulian also stood up, his voice hoarse, his expression somewhat gloomy.
"So, are you going to fight over which is better, sweet or savory tofu pudding?" Amy asked, looking at the two of them with great curiosity.
She paused for a moment, then clapped her hands and said, "Then you two hurry up and start! Just don't fight in the restaurant!"