Grandpa Su shook his head and said, "No, our family is from the Northwest!"
"Then your family's cook is from Hunan?" Director Li pressed.
Grandpa Su shook his head again. "Our restaurant doesn't have any hired cooks; it's all family."
Hearing this, Director Li was very puzzled. How was that possible?
Northwesterners making authentic Hunan cuisine?
It shouldn't be!
"Director Li, why bother being so particular about where the cook is from? As long as you know this dish suits your palate, isn't that enough?"
Su Xiaotian said this with a smile, and Director Li suddenly understood.
He had been too fixated.
Why did he have to find out where the cook was from?
Even if they were from Hunan, would every single one of them know how to make authentic Hunan cuisine?
Not necessarily.
"I'll be coming to your place for meals from now on!" Director Li declared.
Su Xiaotian hadn't expected that inviting someone for a meal to express gratitude would also have the effect of advertising.
"You're most welcome! Director Li, if there's anything you're not satisfied with, please let us know so we can improve!"
Grandpa Su was delighted to hear about repeat customers.
Xiaotian had said long ago that when running a restaurant, repeat customers were very important.
But he hadn't known who would become a repeat customer.
Director Li stopped talking and began to eat the chopped chili fish head at a rapid pace, as if he would be at a disadvantage if he ate any slower.
Teacher Yu was bewildered. Was the fish head even tastier than braised pork?
With that thought, Teacher Yu's chopsticks reached out.
But as soon as he picked up a piece, Director Li, disregarding his image, pulled the chopped chili fish head towards himself.
At the same time, he glanced at Teacher Yu, his expression not much different from a puppy guarding its favorite stone.
Teacher Yu was speechless. With the attitude of "just trying it out," he placed the fish meat he had managed to get into his mouth to taste.
After taking a bite, Teacher Yu looked at the chopped chili fish head in front of Director Li, not understanding.
Director Li saw this and assumed Teacher Yu wanted to snatch the fish head from him, so he increased his eating speed even further!
Teacher Yu, however, merely glanced at it twice before burying his head and starting to eat the braised pork.
He poured the braising sauce over the rice, mixed it, and the rice instantly changed color.
Shiny and moist, with a rich soy sauce aroma.
The fragrance of the rice, combined with the aroma of the braised pork, whetted Teacher Yu's appetite.
He ate meat and rice with large mouthfuls, feeling that nothing in life was happier than this!
As he ate, he thought, what was so good about that fish? It had no oil or moisture at all; it couldn't compare to the rich flavor of the braised dish.
Meanwhile, Director Li was unaware of Teacher Yu's thoughts.
He ate bite after bite, finishing the entire chopped chili fish head in one go, wasting not a single morsel.
Director Li ate very quickly, almost swallowing his tongue.
It was too delicious!
After the meal, Director Li leaned back in his chair, utterly satisfied.
"Director Li, was the meal to your liking?" Grandpa Su asked.
This was a leader, someone who must have eaten many delicacies, so asking him was definitely the right thing to do.
"Good, good, it was truly excellent. Old Su, this chopped chili fish head of your family's is truly authentic."
Perhaps someone in the Su family had once apprenticed under a Hunan cuisine master, which was why they could make such authentic Hunan dishes.
Grandpa Su was relieved.
Just then, Su Xiaoliu walked over with a plate.
On the plate were six bowls of noodles, a Northwestern specialty called "changmian," also known as sour soup noodles with minced meat.
Director Li was already quite full, but when he smelled the sour and fragrant aroma of the noodles, he couldn't help but swallow.
However, Director Li absolutely refused to admit that he was craving them.
It was mainly because the sour soup's flavor easily made one's mouth water!
It must be like that.
Su Xiaotian, observing Director Li's subtle movements, was certain that Director Li was a true foodie.
Earlier, he had been talking incessantly about wanting to see Grandpa Chi. Now, after such a short time, he had completely forgotten his original intention and transformed into a glutton.
"Director Li, this is the taste of our hometown. The children like to eat it, but we don't know if you'll be able to get used to it."
Grandpa Su had seen people for a lifetime and had some experience. He could tell what Director Li was thinking, so he said with a smile.
Director Li glanced at the noodles Su Xiaoliu had placed on the side table.
The light brown sour soup, the thin noodles, the bright green chopped scallions, the golden scrambled egg bits, the white tofu cubes, and the rich, fragrant meat topping.
This combination was simple and pure, but the taste was far from ordinary.
At the very least, Director Li felt that it had been many years since he had eaten such delicious noodles.
"Director Li, this bowl of noodles isn't much. Why don't you try a bowl?" Grandpa Su urged.
"Then I'll try a bowl. I've truly never seen noodles like these before." Director Li became less reserved and directly agreed.
Su Xiaoliu quickly placed a bowl of noodles in front of Director Li, then brought another bowl and placed it in front of Teacher Yu.
"To eat changmian, you need pickles," Grandpa Su said with a smile, directing his grandson to place several small pickled dishes on the table.
The simple yet exquisite noodles were served, pleasing to the eye and strangely appealing.
Director Li picked up the noodles, scooped a mouthful with his chopsticks, and said, "These noodles are really chewy!"
Su Xiaotian smiled and said, "These are hand-pulled noodles from my hometown, made by my grandmother."
"Hand-pulled and hand-cut?" Director Li asked in surprise.
This skill was incredible.
It was comparable to a master chef's knife skills.
Director Li suddenly understood why the Su family dared to move from the Northwest to the capital to open a restaurant.
Their culinary skills were truly formidable, and it was likely they would soon make a name for themselves in the capital!
"Director Li, please try them. If you like them, please come often," Grandpa Su said very politely.
This was a director, an important figure. Especially with the children needing to attend school, they couldn't afford to offend him!
Director Li ate elegantly, but Teacher Yu was uninhibited, quickly finishing his bowl of noodles.
The noodles were truly chewy, and the sour soup tasted wonderful.
Even he, who didn't like vinegar, found it rich, fragrant, and delicious.
"Teacher Yu, would you like another bowl?"
Teacher Yu looked at the noodles, then touched his stomach. He was truly full and couldn't eat anymore.
He began to regret not eating the second bowl of rice earlier.
"No more, no more. I'll come back another time."
The food belonged to others, but his stomach was his own. Teacher Yu ultimately suppressed his desire to feast further.
Director Li was also full after just one bowl.
After eating their fill, both of them had a new understanding of the Su family.
If before they had only thought that this family might be relying on Professor Chi to live in the capital, now they had completely changed their minds.
This was a truly capable family, and they would surely establish themselves in the capital very soon.
Although living in the capital was not easy, it was not difficult for those with truly good skills to find a place.
He decided to maintain friendly relations with the Su family.
Not just for Professor Chi, but also for the delicious food at Yimingxuan!
When he returned, he would have a good talk with Zhou Yuan.
This Zhou Yuan was becoming increasingly out of line, relying on his status and not knowing his place!