This time Lin Duzhu was truly baffled.

In past food festivals, last-minute additions of vendors were not uncommon.

He had handled some himself.

But generally, they were all well-known hotels and restaurants in the city.

But this Delicious Restaurant!

He really had never heard of it!

He went over it in his mind.

Logically speaking, after running the food festival for so many years, he was well aware of which restaurants in the city were delicious and unique.

But this "Delicious Restaurant" that Ma Deqiang mentioned, he had no impression of it at all.

But...

It shouldn't be!

After all, this time it was Ma Deqiang who personally came over to ask him to add a slot!

This is no small matter!

Lin Duzhu, feeling puzzled, poured a cup of tea for Ma Deqiang, and when handing it over, he couldn't help but ask, "Deputy Director Ma, this Delicious Restaurant? Why do I have no impression of it at all? Is it a new restaurant?"

"Indeed, it's newly opened, over at West City Old Street, but it's not a restaurant, it's a small eatery." Ma Deqiang, sitting on the sofa chair, smiled as he took the teacup.

"Ah... it's a small eatery?!"

Lin Duzhu looked surprised.

Uh~

That obviously doesn't match the level of vendors they typically select...

Though Ma Deqiang was his superior, the two were long-time friends in private.

The kind of friendship that is really strong!

So, he jokingly asked, "Deputy Director Ma, this Delicious Restaurant? Could it be opened by one of your relatives?"

Hearing this, Ma Deqiang was momentarily stunned.

Once he understood, he shook his head and said with extreme certainty, "No!"

"No?"

Lin Duzhu was momentarily stunned, then laughed and joked, "Old Ma, you didn't take some money from them, did you?"

Ma Deqiang glared at him, "Stop it! Another word and I'll smack you!"

Lin Duzhu knew that Ma Deqiang wasn't genuinely angry, so he laughed and sat back in his original seat.

This guy...

Ma Deqiang shook his head in exasperation, "Old Lin, the reason I want this restaurant to participate in the festival is simply because the food there is so delicious. Dare I say, it's the best I've tasted in years. It would be a shame not to have such good food showcased at the festival!"

Hearing this, Lin Duzhu felt a bit surreal.

When did food from a small eatery become so amazing!

How would this make other famed hotels in the city feel!

Of course!

He still trusted Ma Deqiang's character!

It's just...

Seeing Lin Duzhu still skeptical, Ma Deqiang directly suggested, "Old Lin! Why don't we go to Delicious Restaurant for lunch?"

After all, no matter how much others say it's delicious, it doesn't mean much.

Only after personally tasting it can you know how good it is!

Alright!

He admitted, he also wanted to try the food at Delicious Restaurant.

Lin Duzhu thought for a moment, nodded and agreed, "Alright! I'll go with you to try it."

He wanted to see just how delicious this food that Ma Deqiang praised highly was!

...

Over at Delicious Restaurant, breakfast had already been sold out in advance.

Ding Suqin was busy cleaning the kitchenware, while Xu Hao helped on the side.

Huang Tao, who had just returned from dropping Xuanxuan off at school, started his teaching mode back in the shop.

At this moment!

The shop door creaked open.

"Excuse me, who's Huang Tao?"

A postal delivery guy opened the door halfway and asked.

Hearing the call, Huang Tao walked out of the kitchen, "Hello, I'm Huang Tao, what's the matter?"

"Oh, your package has arrived, could you please come and sign for it?" The postal guy caught a whiff of the marinated scent and couldn't help but sniff.

Huang Tao figured it must be his takeaway bowls that had arrived.

He went over to check.

After confirming everything was alright, he signed for it.

The postal guy helped carry the box into the shop.

Smelling the enticing aroma, he couldn't help but ask, "Boss, your marinated dishes smell amazing! How do you sell them?"

"There's a price list over there, you can take a look, but the marinated eggs are already sold out in the morning. The marinated pig trotters and duck necks will be available around noon."

"Is that so!"

The postal guy left with some regret.

He was determined to come back at noon to buy some marinated dishes to try.

Xu Hao, coming out to help carry things into the kitchen, asked with a smile, "Boss, what did you buy? It's such a big box."

"I ordered some customized takeaway bowls online, they just got delivered."

Huang Tao took out a takeaway bowl, examined it closely, and found the quality quite good.

He planned to go online later to order more for use at the food festival.

Xu Hao looked at it, surprised, "Boss, the three words 'So Delicious' on this bowl are so fluid and composed, they don't look like printed fonts... Boss, could this be your handwriting?"

"Yes!"

Huang Tao nodded.

Xu Hao couldn't help but feel that his boss was truly a treasure of a boss~

...

It was nearing eleven-thirty.

Having finished his work, Ma Deqiang felt a bit restless.

He glanced at the time.

Five minutes before the end of his work shift, he walked out of his own office and went to Lin Duzhu's office.

"Old Ma, it's just a meal, do you really need to be this anxious..." Lin Duzhu, who hadn't tasted it yet, naturally couldn't understand Ma Deqiang's itchy anticipation.

"Let me tell you, that place is really popular, if we get there late we might not get to eat, hurry up, stop dawdling…"

Ma Deqiang dragged Lin Duzhu out.

They got into the car.

Ma Deqiang stepped on the gas and zoomed towards West City Old Street.

Almost reenacting a real-life version of Fast and Furious!

Luckily Lin Duzhu had a strong heart, otherwise his adrenaline would have shot up!

By the time they arrived outside Delicious Restaurant, it was only 11:48, but there was already a long line.

Seeing that queue!

Lin Duzhu suddenly understood why Ma Deqiang was in such a hurry.

He suddenly started to believe Ma Deqiang's words.

After all, he was an experienced person.

Restaurants with people lined up even before mealtime generally have better food than those with no lines.

If it weren't tasty, no one would come!

If it's the store paying people to line up just to attract customers, well, there's nothing you can do about that.

However, he believed it was more likely to be the former.

Because he smelled the enticing aroma of braised flavors.

"This place really seems to be bustling with business! Old Ma, let's go line up." Lin Duzhu became enthusiastic.

They joined the queue one after the other.

Ma Deqiang craned his neck to see how many people were still ahead of them in the line.

Lin Duzhu casually started chatting with the person behind him.

"Hey! Young man, by the look of you, you're probably still in school, why'd you come over to West City Old Street for food?"

Coincidentally, this young man was a regular and quite chatty.

Seeing someone engage with him, he naturally responded politely.

It also helped pass the boring queue time.

"I'm from Lijiang University, a few days ago, there was a campus post saying the fried buns here were especially delicious. I happened to pass by and bought some to try, only to nearly have them all snatched away by my dorm mates. After tasting it, both my dorm mates and I found it super tasty and instantly loved it, so I've been coming here often to get takeout since it's not that far."

As he recounted the whole experience, his eyes lit up.

He vividly described how the live stream, and how students from school, were drawn in,

And how scrumptious the crab fried cake and braised duck neck were. While attending classes at school, he kept thinking about this meal.

Though lacking in ornate diction, his words brimmed with evident delight.

Even Lin Duzhu was tempted by the description.

And he was more convinced that those lining up were here for this restaurant's food.

When it was their turn, Lin Duzhu thanked the young man and then walked with Ma Deqiang to the counter.

Plates of abundant braised pig trotters and braised duck necks emitted an alluring hue, vibrantly appealing.

The aroma of braised meat grew stronger.

Even more enticing.

He couldn't help but constantly sniff the air.

Delicious!

Indeed, it was irresistibly fragrant!

"Gentlemen, what would you like to eat?"

Ding Suqin greeted with a smile, recognizing Ma Deqiang, and nodded towards him.

Ma Deqiang replied with a grin: "I'll have a crab fried cake, a nourishing fish soup, one braised pig trotter, and a braised duck neck. Old Lin, what about you?"

"I'll have the same, both eating here," Lin Duzhu didn't know what was best, so he followed Ma Deqiang's order.

"Okay, gentlemen, find a seat, and I will bring it to you once it's ready." Ding Suqin maintained her smile.

Having paid, the two found a seat to sit down.

Lin Duzhu noticed the table was clean, unlike other small restaurants that were greasy even after being wiped down.

His impression of this small restaurant improved significantly.

"I must say, the sanitation here is pretty good. To be honest, looking at those braised pig trotters and duck necks was already pretty tempting, and I'm getting a bit hungry." Lin Duzhu, inhaling the rich aroma of braised flavors in the restaurant, felt it was truly soul-stirring!

"In many people's stereotypical view, small diners are unhygienic, with non-fresh ingredients, just street shops, but yesterday Elder Qin brought me here, showing me a different sort of small diner; clean and hygienic, with customers drawn purely by the incredible food, even willing to dine here every meal."

Ma Deqiang watched the dining customers, musing: "Here, small diners seem to provide a unique significance; could be the satisfaction of a meal after a day's labor, the inexpressible joy and happiness from eating a desired dish, and also potentially therapeutic."

Listening to his friend's insights, Lin Duzhu thought of the young man from earlier standing behind him in line.

Thinking of his animated expression when talking about the buns, coupled with the camaraderie of dorm life, it all seemed so different.

Perhaps this is the essence of food!

It was likely Ma Deqiang's intent for recommending this eatery for the food festival!

Feeling profoundly touched and enlightened!

He decided to add it to the list!

Soon.

Their order was served.

The two were engrossed in eating,.

and wasted no time digging in.

"The chef's skill here is truly amazing, delicious!"

"Yes, indeed, these braised pig trotters and duck necks are at the top among the braised dishes I've tasted, not only are the meat fresh, but they're excellently prepared, maximizing the flavor of the meat, and the mastery of the spices is superb."

"I dare say, if this restaurant makes it to the food festival, it'll absolutely be popular."

Lin Duzhu continued to praise while eating.

Hearing this, Ma Deqiang suddenly got it, laughing he said: "Hey, Old Lin, from what you just said, I take it you agree with having Delicious Restaurant in this year's food festival?"

Lin Duzhu nodded seriously: "Yes, it should definitely be there, it'd be a waste not to feature such delicious food at the festival!"

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