Chapter 36: It’s Very Good!
“Owner, give me one plate!” Habeng called out to Mag as he rose to his feet suddenly.
Then he sensed that someone was looking at him unkindly, and immediately realized he had done something wrong. “Owner, I’d like a plate of Yangzhou fried rice,” he repeated in a much lower voice.
“Okay. Please wait a minute,” answered Mag. He found himself chuckling when he turned around. He gave up his pride just to get a plate of Yangzhou fried rice.
“Father is not mad this time, so I’ll let it go.” Behind the counter, a small fireball dwindled and died out as Amy clenched her little fist. No one noticed.Mag was becoming quicker and quicker after he cooked for two days. He could process the ingredients and make a plate of Yangzhou fried rice in just five or six minutes.
“Your Yangzhou fried rice, please enjoy.” Mag put the plate in front of Haga.
“Thank… you,” Haga said with a smile. His eyes brightened when he took the first bite. It’s so marvelous, like nothing I’ve ever eaten.
He tasted the eggs outside the rice first. How did he do it? Even the swan eggs by the lake wouldn’t be this soft and tender. The taste of the eggs is brought out by the rice. The sweet rice has combined perfectly with the eggs.
Other ingredients are very tasteful too. The ham, which had been salted for many years, releases juice as I chew on it. The shrimp have a taste of the ocean, and the grain-sized mushrooms, winter bamboo shoots, green peas, and green onions are so sweet. All the ingredients are combined perfectly, and together they create a unique taste, which lingers in the mouth long after I swallow.
Habeng was swallowing ceaselessly. “Brother, let me try it.” He leaned close and looked at Habeng expectantly.
Habeng was the nicest brother he had, and he would normally give it to him when he found something good to eat.“No.” Haga took his plate and turned away from him, just like Mobai had done. His spoon clattered on the plate, and he stuffed himself quickly and unceasingly.
Habeng wouldn’t give up that easily. “I am your little brother. You always give me something to eat,” Habeng said, circling around him.
Habeng stopped eating and swallowed the fried rice in his mouth. “Because they are bad,” he said to Habeng, smiling.
Habeng stiffened. He took a look at Haga, who was enjoying his fried rice, and then he resumed his seat, not feeling right. Is this still my good old brother?
After a little while, his mind was back on the Yangzhou fried rice again. He waited and waited, and finally, it was ready.
“Your Yangzhou fried rice, please enjoy.” Mag put the plate down and stepped back.
Amy was standing beside Mag, blinking.
Habeng was totally attracted by his Yangzhou fried rice. Three people had enjoyed gourmet food in front of him, but he had had no choice but to watch. It had been a torture he could barely stand.
He snatched up the spoon and scooped a large spoonful from the middle. Its aroma was even stronger and more appetizing than the roasted meat’s. He brought the spoon to his mouth. His eyes widened.
How can something taste this good?!
Different tastes were dancing on his tongue. He felt so good that it seemed his body and soul were screaming: eat, eat, eat!
One spoonful after another, he wanted to swallow the whole plate. He finished it in no time.
“Is it good, Loud Voice?” Amy asked Habeng.
Habeng held the plate in one hand and the spoon in another. He got a weird nickname suddenly, but still he nodded, smiling. “It’s very good!”
“If you want to eat it again, do not be so loud, or we won’t sell it to you.” Amy sounded like a grown-up. She crossed her arms.
Habeng nodded quickly. “I won’t. I promise!” He was not nearly as grumpy as when he’d first come. He could only think about Yangzhou fried rice right now. One plate was far from enough. He would regret it for the rest of his life if he got kicked out because of his loud voice.
Did the 600 copper coins, or his face, or his vow matter right now?
No. They didn’t matter at all in front of such a plate of Yangzhou fried rice.
Of course, it was also because Amy was such a lovely and terrifying little girl. If someone else had said those words to him, he would pick up his club and fight to uphold his honor as an orc.
And he would strike himself first before he fought Amy.
Amy nodded. It seemed she liked Habeng’s answer. She climbed onto the long-legged chair again and smiled at Mag cheerfully.
Mag chuckled and stroked Amy’s head. The little thing was trying to maintain order. She was so adorable, and unexpectedly helped a lot. He went back into the kitchen.
“One more plate!” the customers called out over and over again, and Mag slaved away in the kitchen for almost a whole noon. The pleasant aroma brought more customers. They watched as Mobai, Habeng, Haga and Conti were stuffing themselves, intoxicated. Some even ordered a plate in spite of the high price, and after the first plate, they couldn’t help but ask for seconds.
Habeng belched. “Owner, you must be a genius. How can you make something as good as this? We’ll come again for dinner.” After five plates, he was finally stuffed.
Mag put the fried rice before a customer and nodded, smiling. He felt so good to conquer the customers with his food.
“Five plates. Five six thirty. 30 gold coins please,” Amy said to Habeng as she held out her hands.
Habeng smiled. “Little girl, we’re together.”
“Then it will be…” Amy cocked her head to one side and thought for a moment. “60 gold coins!” she called out delightedly just when Mag wanted to give her a hint.
“Here, six dragon coins.” Habeng pulled the coins from his pocket and put them on Amy’s hand. Then he rose from the table and reached out his hand. “Mag, right? I’m Habeng and this is my brother Haga. Sorry about before.”
“Do you have another brother called Hacui 1 ?” Mag asked after he shook his hand gently.
“What?” the two brothers asked, wondering.
“Nothing. Please come again.” Mag smiled awkwardly, and didn’t explain.
