Chapter 23: Shining and Radiating

Setting aside the increase in popularity mentioned in the intelligence reports, Chen Zhou wanted to treat Elder Yu to some steamed buns out of gratitude, simply because the old gentleman had been willing to spend two thousand yuan on his blue-and-white porcelain plate previously.

Yu Shaochun was a straightforward and generous man. After thanking him, he accepted the buns with grace, not sparing any polite compliments like, "These buns are truly excellent; you have quite the skill, young Chen."

However, it was clear that he was still more interested in the other item at the small stall. Yu Shaochun lifted the corner of the large sign to reveal the smaller one underneath.

"Pickled cucumbers, and made with ancient methods?"

Chen Zhou nodded. "That's right. Would you like to try a couple of pieces?"

Yu Shaochun’s interest was piqued. "No wonder you took a fancy to that blue-and-white intertwined lotus plate—you had discovered the recipe on it!"

Chen Zhou laughed. "You have to consider what line of work I’m in."

Elder Yu waved his hand. "Whatever the trade, it’s all the same. There’s no such thing as high or low, as long as you do it well and perfect your craft. Even play should be mastered to the point of artistry."

He thanked Chen Zhou again for the pickled cucumbers and continued, "Let me taste how you’ve prepared these. Personally, I’ve always felt that the *Suiyuan Shidan* (Recipes from the Sui Garden) is clearly prone to exaggeration. As a collection of prose essays recording the social customs of the time, it’s just something to browse through. You shouldn't take the recipes in it too seriously."

Yu Shaochun had tried following those recipes himself many times and found the "ancient methods" to be rather mediocre. However, when he tasted the cucumber pickled by Chen Zhou, he quickly noticed something different. He murmured, "This isn't right, this isn't right."

The pickled cucumber, taken from a small refrigerator, carried a hint of chill. To Elder Yu, it was a bit cold on the teeth. But once he took a bite, with a crisp "crunch," the refreshing texture immediately perked him up.

The cucumber itself had a fresh, clean taste. During the pickling process, it had been soaked in the marinade, gaining layers of sour, sweet, salty, and savory notes. This made the pickled cucumber both appetizing and refreshing. The garlic cloves tucked inside were also a culinary marvel; after pickling, their pungency was mellowed, lacking any sharp irritation.

After tasting it, Yu Shaochun asked in confusion, "This is different from the way I make it."

"Did you try making it at home, too?" Chen Zhou asked.

"I did, more than once," Elder Yu nodded, and then he began to exchange notes with Chen Zhou on the method of pickling cucumbers.

After a simple comparison, Chen Zhou realized that apart from the fact that Elder Yu’s ingredients were generally much more expensive, there was no real difference in the technique. At the end of the day, tastes are hard to satisfy, and even if there were slight variations in seasoning, the balance of sour, sweet, and salty was something one controlled oneself. It should have been palatable enough. How did it manage to evoke such a look of "shock" from Elder Yu?

Chen Zhou couldn't help but recall the mention of the Daqu liquor.

"Which liquor did you say you used?"

Yu Shaochun replied, "This time it was Shuanggou Daqu. I’ve also tried the others—'Yi, Mao, Wu'—but none of them worked."

Chen Zhou was slightly stunned. "Sir, why don't we try some cheaper liquor? Isn't yellow wine pretty good? You can get a large jar for thirty-five."

Upon hearing this, Yu Shaochun slapped his thigh. "Why didn't I think of that? People in Jiangnan drink yellow wine! I’ll go back and try it again. Which brand do you buy, young Chen?"

Chen Zhou laughed. "Given your style, sir, just go with an eighteen-year-old Nu'er Hong. No need to go through as much trouble as I do; mine is quite heavy."

"Hahaha!"

A hearty laugh from the old man echoed at the small stall. Having eaten some pickled cucumbers, which were excellent for whetting the appetite, Yu Shaochun couldn't resist the buns after all. He began to taste them right there.

"These buns of yours are truly authentic; they remind me of things from the past."

*Oh, sir, that’s a bit of a cliché...* Chen Zhou thought. Whenever diners start reminiscing, they inevitably circle back to their homeland and old acquaintances. It’s a trope played out in every TV show and novel. However, as a stall owner and a cook, this was a first for Chen Zhou, so he was more than happy to listen to his stories, assuming the posture of an attentive listener.

Yu Shaochun recalled, "I think I ate these buns in the capital, too, but it was so long ago that I can't quite remember."

*Getting a story out of someone isn't easy, and now I have to help you remember too...* Chen Zhou couldn't help but recall that his bun recipe came from a state banquet chef. He said, half-jokingly, "It wouldn't happen to be the Beijing Hotel, would it?"

"That's exactly it! Yes, the Beijing Hotel, the China Banquet Hall." Yu Shaochun tapped his finger. "I never expected to taste that flavor again here with you today. I must promote you when I get the chance. It’s rare to come across such authentic buns. That year, I was in my thirties..."

Elder Yu left satisfied with his trip today. He had both resolved his inner doubts and rediscovered a taste from his past. Chen Zhou took a moment to check his own intelligence reports. A rare [Diner Dynamic] had landed here, so he would just wait for Elder Yu to work his magic.

...

Business at the bun stall on the weekend was sporadic rather than concentrated. There were office workers, but clearly not as many as on weekdays. Therefore, Chen Zhou stretched his hours slightly.

Later in the evening, he encountered his neighbor from the Jin Da Tobacco and Liquor shop. Meng Da could keep an eye on his own store from in front of the stall, so after buying some buns, he began to chat with Chen Zhou.

"Brother Chen, I think I saw an old man at your place this evening. Did you talk to him for a while?"

Chen Zhou replied, "I met him while browsing antiques. Do you know him?"

"Is his surname Yu?"

"Yes."

"Then that's him," Meng Da nodded and continued, "This old man is quite something. I saw him on a 'Daily Treasure Appraisal' livestream last time. There were thousands of viewers at the time, all spamming: 'If you do not abandon me, I wish to serve you as a foster father.'"

"It seems Elder Yu is indeed remarkably wealthy."

"Who’s to say he isn't? Born into a good family, he never had to worry about money his whole life."

Chen Zhou could only sigh that the joys and sorrows of people are not the same. Thinking of his own father, who was nearing retirement and whose career had already reached its end, he figured there wasn't much hope left there. He would just have to provide his daughter with a higher starting point himself. Yet, seeing Chen Taotao happy for a long time just by holding a small megaphone, Chen Zhou felt that it was also fine for a child to grow up healthy and happy like that.

...

Packing up the stall to go home, after a few days of hard work, Chen Zhou’s number of positive reviews reached exactly 700/700 just past nine o'clock. He didn't know which customer was eating dinner so late, but since it was a [Positive Review +1], they must have been very satisfied with their meal.

Chen Zhou was gratified to learn that although his bun stall was small, it could still shine and bring warmth in its own way. He checked his gourmet intelligence system. He wondered what new information he would unlock after this upgrade. He waited for the new changes to arrive tomorrow morning.

These past few days, it had been nothing but fresh meat buns. Now that he had established a certain reputation, it was time to find some intelligence and research other fillings. If he were to open a shop in the future, shouldn't he also arrange for porridge, wontons, noodles, soy milk, and pancakes?

If only there were intelligence on how to make money by finding hidden gems...

Ms. Lin walked out of the room, interrupting Chen Zhou's thoughts.

"What are you thinking about? Standing here so late at night?"

Chen Zhou looked toward the bedroom. "Is Taotao asleep?"

Ms. Lin remained silent for about half a second, then gave a soft "Hmm."

"Come on, come into the room with me."