Chen Xing'er grabbed his hand and pulled him forward without explanation. "The fried skewers will be ready soon!"
"Don't look at the long line; they serve one person after another. It won't be an hour, maybe even half an hour before it's our turn!"
As she spoke, Chen Xing'er couldn't help but smack her lips. "Their most popular item is the pork tenderloin. People who come here usually order at least ten skewers of fried tenderloin to start!"
Chen Xing'er rubbed her hands, her face full of anticipation. "Their fried tenderloin is marinated in a special starch blend. After adding chopped scallions, it's deep-fried. When it comes out, the surface is golden. Take a gentle bite, and it's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a slightly charred texture that has a hint of sweetness!"
"Just thinking about it makes my mouth water!"
Chen Fan felt no emotion. In his opinion, this was no different from the grilled skewer shop not far from Luosheng's house.
More importantly—
The grilled skewers didn't require waiting.
Chen Fan had very little patience. Looking at the endless line before him, he even wanted to pull Chen Xing'er away. "Can we go to another place?"
"Fried skewers and grilled skewers are everywhere by the roadside. There's no need for us to waste time here."
Chen Xing'er immediately became anxious. "How can that be the same!"
"Let's not even mention the difference between grilled and fried skewers, but even within fried skewers, there's a lot of detail!"
"The marinade for fried skewers itself doesn't carry much flavor; it's very simple. The reason this 'Hu Ji' is so famous is because they have their own secret dipping sauce recipe!"
She looked as if she was about to explain everything to Chen Fan.
Chen Fan immediately surrendered and pleaded, "We'll eat!"
"We'll eat this!"
What gave Chen Fan a bigger headache than waiting in line was Chen Xing'er's incessant chatter.
Forty minutes later, it was finally their turn.
"What would you like to have!"
The owner deftly covered a metal plate with a plastic bag and looked at Chen Fan and his companion with great enthusiasm, waiting for them to place their order.
Chen Xing'er leaned forward and gazed at the variety of fried skewers in the glass display case, her eyes lighting up.
"Twenty skewers of fried tenderloin!"
"This chicken leg! These lotus root slices! This, this, and this..."
Chen Xing'er seemed intent on trying everything in the display case. Chen Fan rubbed his temples and pulled her back. "Alright, there are only two of us."
Interrupted by him, Chen Xing'er's enthusiasm waned.
She let out a soft "Oh."
Then she stood aside and nodded to the owner, "Let's start with these."
The owner smiled, weighed the items in his hand, and then placed them on the scale to announce the price.
Chen Fan paid.
"There are no more seats upstairs. You two can sit in the back hall."
"Although it's not as spacious as upstairs, it's well-lit outdoors and the air is fresh."
Chen Xing'er waved her hand and dragged Chen Fan inside.
The two of them sat down.
The back hall was very quiet, with only two or three tables occupied.
Chen Xing'er propped up her chin, her eyes full of anticipation as she watched the busy figure of the owner in the front hall. "Freshly fried skewers—"
She took a deep breath. "Just smelling this scent makes me feel so satisfied."
"What do you think?"
Chen Fan: ...
Chen Fan felt nothing. He was simply relieved that it was finally over.
"Here are your fried skewers—"
A crisp voice, like that of a yellow oriole, sounded from the side.
It was a pretty young girl.
Petite and cute, she instantly inspired goodwill with just one glance.
Chen Xing'er, having done her research on Hu Ji, recognized her immediately. "Are you the boss's youngest daughter?"
The girl's eyes curved into crescents. She nodded, then pointed to the fried skewers on the metal plate before them. "Eat them while they're hot; they taste even better."
Chen Xing'er nodded repeatedly. Just as she was eagerly reaching for a skewer to try—
"Bang!" a noise from Da Feng Novel Network.
"Boom!"
A commotion erupted in the front hall, and at the same time, the door to the back hall was kicked open.
"Slam!"
The door panel, with precise aim, landed directly on Chen Fan's table.
And so, the batch of fried skewers that Chen Fan had waited nearly an hour for was gone.
Chen Fan's face turned cold enough to freeze everything.
"Everyone get out! Hu Ji is closed for today."
The newcomer had a pig-like face, overflowing with fat.
He dragged a chair and placed it directly in the center of the hall. He then gestured to the pale-faced youngest daughter of the boss, "No matter what, you must hand over the recipe today."
The girl's face turned extremely grim. "This is Grandpa's secret recipe. It cannot be sold!"
The pig-faced man was unfazed. "The old man has been dead for so many years. What's the use of you stubbornly clinging to that tattered piece of paper?"
"I told you, Ruixing'er Hotel is willing to pay two hundred million to buy our recipe. Isn't this a great deal? Don't you have any sense of proportion?"
The pig-faced man waved his hand, clearly not wanting to talk to the girl any further. "Go, go, go, and get the recipe."
"As a member of the Hu family, I also have the right to dispose of this recipe."
The girl's face was filled with determination, unmoved.
"Heh!"
The pig-faced man let out a cold laugh and beckoned outside. "Stubborn until you see the coffin. Bring that old man in!"
As soon as he finished speaking, several bodyguards escorted the boss of Hu Ji from the front hall.
The boss of Hu Ji bore fresh marks of a beating.
His eyes were bruised and swollen.
The furious rage in his eyes turned into a tangible sword upon seeing the pig-faced man sitting in the back hall. "You beast!"
"Hu Dechang! I wish I had never given birth to you!"