Faced with the auntie's serious tone, the nearby customers couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"What are you all laughing at?"
"Miss, you really have to keep up with the times. These Penguin nicknames are just randomly made up, not real at all."
"Oh, so they're fake? No wonder Boss Lu has so many wives!"
Lu Qin shook his head with a bitter smile. The customers in the message group chat were just too mischievous.
One group of customers left, and another arrived.
Now that Lu Qin's stall had made a name for itself, there was no need to worry about business.
Basically, before his three-wheeled food cart even arrived, customers had already started lining up.
After just an hour and a half of opening, Lu Qin would sell out everything.
At this moment, some neighbors from the residential community near Lu Qin's rented apartment came to visit.
Old Ge arrived with a white-haired elderly man.
"Old Ge, it's rare for you to treat me to a meal, and it's breakfast no less!"
"What's so good about breakfast?"
Old Ge said mysteriously, "Once you've eaten it, you'll know. I tell you, Old Mai, this will definitely satisfy your royal taste buds!"
This seemingly ordinary white-haired man named Mai had once been a national banquet-level chef.
Now he enjoyed a carefree retired life.
"Oh? Then I have to see for myself."
Mai Dejun said this out loud, not wanting to embarrass Old Ge, but inwardly he was skeptical.
There were delicious things in the streets, but nothing he'd really seen on the official stage or could proudly recommend.
Some things considered gourmet by the public were just piles of seasoning that couldn't withstand close scrutiny.
Especially the "delicacies" from street stalls — it's all about the sauce and seasoning, which gets tiresome after a while.
Old Ge and Mai Dejun came to Lu Qin's stall.
"Old Ge is here. How many portions of Stir-Fried Rice Noodles today?"
"Two portions of Stir-Fried Rice Noodles and two cups of Mung Bean Paste. I brought a friend — this is Old Mai."
"Hello."
Lu Qin smiled and nodded at Mai Dejun, then started stir-frying the noodles.
Mai Dejun took a look around the stall and found it very hygienic — even the bottom of the pan was clean.
People often say the best food hides in dirty corners of the city.
That's nonsense.
The most important thing for a cook isn't just the cooking, but keeping ingredients clean and hygienic.
That way customers can eat with peace of mind.
On this point, Lu Qin almost scored full marks.
Mai Dejun was surprised — such a street stall should normally be very dirty.
Outsiders see the show, insiders see the skill.
With a flick of the spatula, Mai Dejun's smile faded.
Flipping the pan isn't about brute force, but about skill and experience.
It relies mainly on a clever technique.
Lu Qin expertly used his wrist power to toss the rice noodles in the pan without breaking them apart.
The fire's intensity and the flipping strength determine the flavor and texture of the Stir-Fried Rice Noodles.
This skill showed about seven or eight years of practice.
Mai Dejun could tell.
If another chef used the same spatula and ingredients, the taste would be totally different.
"Good kid, your skills are quite impressive."
Mai Dejun sincerely complimented.
Old Ge was puzzled. "Old Mai, you're praising it before even tasting it?"
Mai Dejun had a pretty high status in southern culinary circles; getting his approval wasn't easy.
Old Ge dared to bring him here because he was confident in Lu Qin's cooking.
But for Mai Dejun to praise the Stir-Fried Rice Noodles before trying them was surprising.
The Stir-Fried Rice Noodles were served.
Mai Dejun first smelled the aroma, then looked at the presentation.
After saying "good" twice, he eagerly took a bite.
The delicate and smooth texture made Mai Dejun's eyes light up.
"Better than I imagined."
He closed his eyes to savor it carefully, then took a second and third bite...
Only after finishing the entire portion did Mai Dejun let out a long breath.
"Delicious."
Mai Dejun looked at Lu Qin — this young, handsome guy actually had such skill.
Indeed, talent comes from all over the country!
Seeing Mai Dejun's endless praise, Old Ge's face could not help but show some pride.
It was as if Lu Qin was his own son, achieving great things and being praised.
"Come, Old Mai, try the Mung Bean Paste that Xiao Lu made."
" Mung Bean Paste?"
Mai Dejun took a sip — smooth and sandy in texture, sweet but not greasy.
"This Mung Bean Paste is really good, with tangerine peel and yellow rock sugar added."
"Yes, you're absolutely right."
Lu Qin nodded, giving Mai Dejun a look — the other man must be a chef too.
"Old Mai, there's also Ice Crystal Cake — that's the real masterpiece."
Old Ge's pride swelled once again.
"Xiao Lu, even though I came with Old Mai, can everyone buy two boxes of your Ice Crystal Cake?"
"Yes, that's right." Lu Qin nodded.
Old Ge scanned the QR code to pay, then took four boxes of Ice Crystal Cake, handing two to Mai Dejun.
Mai Dejun was stunned when he heard "Ice Crystal Cake."
Why did it sound so familiar?
After a moment of thought, he was shocked.
His apprentice had called him yesterday asking about "Ice Crystal Cake."
He'd been wondering — this kind of niche regional pastry should be rare.
Unexpectedly, that person was this young man in front of him.
What a coincidence!
Full of anticipation, Mai Dejun opened the box of Ice Crystal Cake.
He had eaten Ice Crystal Cake before, but didn't have a deep impression.
When he was young, he'd gone to a small northern town where street vendors sold this pastry.
Ice Crystal Cake was basically a kind of rice cake made from glutinous rice.
But it had an icy skin layer, giving a cool feeling when eaten, almost like a cold dessert — quite unique.
However, the Ice Crystal Cake Mai Dejun ate back then tasted mediocre, a bit too sweet and sticky.
He bought it once and never again.
So he had a vague impression but nothing more.
Looking at Lu Qin's Ice Crystal Cake, Mai Dejun's eyes brightened.
This Ice Crystal Cake was made very delicately, about four centimeters square, crystal clear like fine jade.
On top of the icy skin were garnishes of osmanthus honey and marigold leaves.
Through the translucent skin, the internal patterns were clearly visible.
Mai Dejun couldn't resist picking up a piece.
It felt smooth as glass.
He took a bite.
The taste was cool and refreshing.
Compared to the Ice Crystal Cake he'd had in youth, it was worlds apart.
"This is the real Ice Crystal Cake!"
Mai Dejun closed his eyes, savoring the unique texture.
First cool and sweet, then after a few chews, another unique mellow fragrance spread.
It left a lingering fragrance in his mouth, unforgettable!
Though retired, Mai Dejun had spent most of his life tasting countless delicacies as a national banquet-level chef.
He even knew famous pastry masters, but even their pastries couldn't compare to Lu Qin's Ice Crystal Cake.
There were hundreds of kinds of Chinese pastries, and Mai Dejun had tried more than half of them.
But the only one that truly shocked him was this Ice Crystal Cake!
After swallowing a piece, Mai Dejun couldn't help but ask:
"Boss Xiao Lu, how exactly do you make this Ice Crystal Cake?"
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。