togophonebook Chapter 18 Damn it, 1 point! 1 point!
Chapter 18 Damn it, 1 point! 1 point!
Rewind a few minutes to the moment when Lu Yuan had just stepped into "Human World".
The onlookers at the store entrance, who were hesitant and undecided, all stared at Lu Yuan's back.
"Hey, look, there really is a sucker who's gone to jail."
A middle-aged man, carrying two steamed buns, chewed on the dough with a sour taste in his mouth while nudging the person next to him with his elbow.
"Twelve yuan a serving, only three!"
I want to see if this steamed bun is made of gold or silver, to have this young man so infatuated.
"Tsk tsk, these days, young people just can't save money. They're so obsessed with ambiance and trendy shops."
A stylishly dressed woman next to him shook her head. Although she said that, her eyes never left Lu Yuan's movements.
"But then again, the taste... it really is delicious. If the owner had saved the money spent on renovations and sold the buns cheaper, the business would definitely be booming."
"Who can argue with that? We're all old neighbors, who wouldn't want more good restaurants on this street?"
Another old man sighed and switched the vegetable basket he was holding.
"But this price is just too expensive for the average person."
"Let's see how this young man reacts after eating it. If he shakes his head after eating, we don't need to waste our time here."
This subtle psychology permeates the crowd:
Curious yet skeptical, eager to try yet afraid of being ripped off.
They used Lu Yuan as an experimenter, trying to assess whether the twelve-yuan "rabbit buns" were worth the price based on his reaction.
While people outside were buzzing with discussion, Lu Yuan had already paid and sat down.
They saw Chen Feng carefully placing the raw dough pieces in his hands into a new steamer.
Then he reached out and lifted the lid of a steamer that had been prepared and was steaming hot.
"Whoosh—"
As the steamer lid was lifted.
The steam, which had been confined to the small space, rose into the sky in a swirling motion, like a dragon finally freed from its cage.
The aroma that had been lingering over the old street reached its peak at that moment, becoming more than ten times stronger!
The onlookers standing at the door were all overwhelmed by the smell.
"My God... this taste... it's amazing!"
"Glug—"
In the crowd, someone swallowed hard, the clear sound particularly jarring in the now quiet doorway.
At this moment, the scene seemed to be paused.
Back to Lu Yuan, he was staring at the rabbit-shaped steamed buns that Chen Feng had brought over.
They are only about the size of a baby's fist, with a white and delicate crust that gleams softly under the light, like the luster of mutton fat jade.
Each bun was shaped into a cute little bunny:
Its round body, two long ears standing up playfully, eyes adorned with red beans, and even the lines of its nose and mouth are delicately outlined.
At that moment, a kind of "cuteness" that seemed to heal the soul wafted from the plate, perfectly matching the rabbit wallpaper and soft lighting in the store.
"This presentation...it's amazing," Lu Yuan thought to himself.
"If we're giving it a perfect score of ten, its appearance, creativity, scent, and the warm atmosphere it creates alone are enough to earn it nine points."
The remaining portion is the final test for the taste buds. Lu Yuan made this decision in his heart.
After Lin Xiaoyu and the others left, Chen Feng reserved some steamed food.
The buns are at the perfect temperature right now, so you can eat them immediately.
Lu Yuan couldn't wait to reach out his fingers and gently pinch a "little white rabbit".
The moment my fingertips touched the dumpling skin, a wonderful, soft, and elastic sensation, like touching a baby's skin, came through.
Lu Yuan took a deep breath, as if trying to inhale the last bit of fragrance into his body.
Then, he opened his mouth and bit down hard on the delicate little rabbit.
The next second, Lu Yuan's world completely exploded.
What kind of steamed bun is this?
The bitten dough wasn't soft or sticky like other steamed buns I've had before; it melted in my mouth with just a gentle bite!
But what shocked him even more was the meat filling wrapped inside the dough.
The moment you touch the minced meat, an incredibly delicious burst of juice floods your mouth.
It instantly captured his taste buds with unparalleled momentum.
What a taste it must have been!
The rich aroma of the oil, the savory flavor of the lean meat, and the perfectly balanced flavor of the secret spices create a harmonious blend at this moment.
They intertwine and merge, creating an indescribable, overwhelming taste sensation in the mouth, like a flash flood.
There is no fishy or greasy smell at all, only pure, ultimate freshness, aroma, and mellowness!
"Holy crap—"
Lu Yuan's exclamation suddenly rang out in the deserted shop, even creating a slight echo.
Lu Yuan stared wide-eyed, as if he had been frozen in place.
With half a bun still in his mouth, the "scrutinizing gourmand" expression on his face had completely vanished.
Instead, there was an extreme sense of awe, even a touch of...reverence.
He screamed wildly in his heart, his voice so loud it almost shattered the top of his head:
"What?! Nine points?! Ten points?! A hundred points! A hundred points!"
These steamed buns, the taste—they're simply works of art!
"This is the best steamed bun I've ever eaten in my life, bar none!"
The shock was so intense that he didn't even have time to savor the aroma of wheat.
How the aroma of meat intertwines on the tip of the tongue and slides down the throat.
His body reacted faster than his brain—he didn't even have time to swallow the bite in his mouth before he impatiently stuffed the remaining half of the bunny bun into his mouth.
"Uh-huh--"
Lu Yuan chewed frantically, making a series of almost dreamlike, extremely satisfied moans.
At that moment, the previously noisy discussion at the store entrance suddenly quieted down.
Because everyone's eyes were now fixed on Lu Yuan's face.
From their perspective, all they could see was Lu Yuan taking a bite of the bun, then standing there stunned for a full three seconds, as if struck by lightning.
In those three seconds, his expression was incredibly interesting:
First came shock, then disbelief, and finally... an extreme sense of satisfaction and ecstasy, as if the soul had ascended to heaven.
Immediately afterwards, he let out a "Holy shit—" that could echo throughout the entire street.
Then, he went mad.
The way he ate it was hardly the way one would eat a twelve-yuan deluxe steamed bun.
They're clearly consuming some incredible elixir!
Every chewing motion he made seemed so forceful and so full of passion;
The expression on his face could only be described as "ferocious yet holy".
"This...this is way too exaggerated!"
An elderly woman carrying a shopping basket rubbed her eyes, her voice filled with disbelief.
"This young man eats like he hasn't eaten in ten lifetimes. Are these steamed buns... really that delicious?"
"Glug—"
"Glug—"
The sound of swallowing saliva rose and fell among the quiet crowd.
The aroma, already enhanced to its peak by the steamer, now seemed to possess a tangible allure, amplified by Lu Yuan's expression and actions.
Every onlooker felt as if a tiny hand was reaching out from their stomach, tickling them relentlessly.
They watched as a drop of golden, thick meat juice accidentally dribbled from the corner of Lu Yuan's mouth.
Looking at the crazed expression on his face as he chewed the noodles, only one thought remained in my mind:
"I want to eat it! I want to eat it! I really want to eat it!"
But at that moment, a discordant voice rang out.
"Do you think... this young man's exaggerated behavior might be... a shill hired by the boss?"
A middle-aged man holding two fried dough sticks looked at Lu Yuan with a sour expression while lowering his voice, trying to get some sympathy from the person next to him.
"Who knows? These days, nobody in business is honest."
"With such a gaudy decor and such expensive steamed buns, it's not impossible that they'd hire a couple of people to put on a show."
Another aunt pursed her lips, but her gaze never left the two remaining steamed buns in front of Lu Yuan.
A subtle commotion arose again in the crowd.
This suspicion was like a bucket of cold water, temporarily suppressing the fire in their stomachs.
Although they were still drooling and tempted by the aroma and Lu Yuan's expression, they remained cautious about their wallets.
They are still hesitant, still observing.
Amidst the murmurs of doubt, hesitation, and the constant swallowing of saliva, a figure emerged from behind the crowd.
This is an uncle who is about fifty years old.
He was slightly plump, wearing a set of work clothes that, although a bit worn, were clean, and carrying a cloth bag in his hand.
He has no other hobbies except eating steamed buns.
He tried almost every steamed bun shop on the old street, whether it was a long-established brand that had been open for more than ten years or a newly opened noodle shop.
He was also drawn here today by that overpowering aroma.
Like everyone else, he hesitated at the door for a long time, comparing prices in his mind and wondering if Lu Yuan was a shill.
However, when he saw Lu Yuan take his second bite of the bun, the look of satisfaction on his face was so intense it seemed to make his very soul tremble.
And the burst of juice that seemed to fill the entire mouth at that moment.
The once impenetrable defense in his heart completely collapsed.
"call--"
The uncle, a steamed bun enthusiast, took a deep breath, and then, as if making a decision, suddenly raised his head:
Who cares if he's a shill or not!
"I'm not doing this for anything else today, just for that taste, I absolutely have to try it!"
The voice was loud and clear, standing out starkly in the noisy environment, instantly drowning out everyone's whispers.
Ignoring the surprised looks from those around him, he impatiently stepped into the store and headed straight for the cashier.
"Boss, give me a serving of bunny buns!" he said, already eagerly pulling out his phone.