To be honest, seeing Tian Xiaodu with a fat face and a happy smile appearing at the barbecue stall, Ye Chui couldn't help but admire the patience of this guy.
After looking around and seeing that there were no other troublemakers, coupled with the confirmation from the meat stall owner in the morning about this guy's identity, Ye Chui's attitude towards him had somewhat changed.
Of course, there was still a certain level of vigilance.
Without much ado, Ye Chui took Tian Xiaodu's money and handed him five skewers of grilled lamb.
Tian Xiaodu had come here in the evening after hearing from Fang Jun that Ye Chui had opened a lamb skewer stall.
As a head chef, he originally looked down on such snacks, but at this moment, he was drawn in by the aroma of the lamb skewers. Walking to the side with a serious expression, he took a bite, and then a look of shock appeared on his face.
As a head chef, his taste buds were far more sensitive than an average person's. He could make the most direct judgment on whether these grilled lamb skewers were good or not.
Although he had carefully prepared grilled lamb skewers himself, the taste of these seemingly simple grilled lamb skewers was several levels above his.
A look of intoxication appeared on Tian Xiaodu's face as he chewed carefully, like savouring a good wine or admiring a beautiful painting. Immersed in it, he forgot himself.
Then, his fat face seemed even more obscene...
However, Ye Chui couldn't help but admire him when he saw him like this. It was evident that this fat guy was truly a master in the field of taste. He could genuinely taste the extraordinary aspects of these simple lamb skewers. His expression of intoxication was a genuine expression that only a true food enthusiast could reveal.
Tian Xiaodu spent a full ten minutes to finish all five skewers. With a look of amazement, he murmured to himself, "This lamb meat is marinated before being charcoal grilled, removing the gameness of the lamb perfectly while retaining its freshness. Oh, there's another flavour, a seasoning that almost acts as the finishing touch, elevating the taste of the grilled lamb skewers to perfection...What is that?"
Tian Xiaodu mumbled to himself and seemed unable to figure it out. He looked at Ye Chui with some urgency, "What is that last seasoning? I use high-quality spices to season grilled lamb, but I still can't achieve this taste. Did you use some precious seasoning to enhance the flavour of the lamb? What is that seasoning?"
"It's cumin, I added cumin," Ye Chui replied with a smile.
"Cumin?" Tian Xiaodu was stunned.
"Yes, just ordinary cumin. Dry-roast it in a pan, then grind it into powder and sprinkle it on the lamb skewers," explained Ye Chui.
"Cumin?" Tian Xiaodu suddenly realized, "Indeed, that taste is cumin. But the magical combination of cumin and lamb meat is extraordinary. Brilliant, truly brilliant!"
Watching Tian Xiaodu's ecstatic expression, Ye Chui couldn't help but laugh. Cumin is an essential seasoning for grilled lamb skewers or other barbecue foods. It can be said that the best way to use cumin is to cook it with meat.
However, due to the absence of meat in the past eighty years, this seasoning, known as the 'king of spices,' gradually faded from people's view. Even top chefs like Tian Xiaodu did not taste the flavour of cumin and mistook it for some extraordinary spice.
"You are indeed the person I've been looking for!" Tian Xiaodu came back to his senses from the lamb skewers, looking at Ye Chui with excitement. "Young man, I can..."
"I'm busy right now," Ye Chui interrupted Tian Xiaodu. He flipped the lamb skewers on the grill in front of him. "If you have something to say, you can wait until I finish work. Of course, I don't mind if you want to help me work."
Letting a five-star chef help sell grilled lamb skewers together? This statement would usually be treated as a joke by Tian Xiaodu. However, at that moment, he didn't find it funny at all.
In fact, he felt a sense of honour, a subtle feeling of privilege. The large plate of chicken from before had already piqued Tian Xiaodu's interest in Ye Chui's culinary skills, and now the grilled lamb skewers had earned Ye Chui his respect.
Without hesitation, Tian Xiaodu rolled up his sleeves and stood beside Ye Chui.
Observing Tian Xiaodu's reaction, Ye Chui nodded in satisfaction. The title of a five-star chef meant nothing to Ye Chui, the Food God. However, Tian Xiaodu's genuine response to the food had impressed Ye Chui enough to give him an opportunity.
Of course, to seize this chance, Tian Xiaodu would need to put in the effort –that is assisting in selling lamb skewers.
"When grilling the lamb skewers, ensure even heating, cook them to perfection, and grill until the lamb turns golden brown," Ye Chui instructed while flipping the skewers.
Tian Xiaodu earnestly learned from Ye Chui. With his considerable skill, he quickly grasped the techniques. Consequently, the people queuing at the lamb skewer stand spontaneously divided into two lines – one line in front of Ye Chui and the other in front of Tian Xiaodu.
At this moment, a subtle competition emerged, resembling a duel, with the outcome determined by which side attracted more customers.
Despite the seemingly simple technique of grilling lamb skewers, achieving the perfect cooked result is not as easy as it appears. It is a common sight in night markets to witness two adjacent lamb skewer stalls, using the same ingredients and grilling equipment, yet customers overwhelmingly prefer one over the other, believing that one stall's flavour is more delicious.
This is the level of mastery.
When Tian Xiaodu first took over, he did consider surpassing Ye Chui, fueled by the pride of being a master chef. However, he gradually realized that the line in front of him never matched the length of Ye Chui's, and the feedback from customers who bought lamb skewers from him was not as satisfying as those from Ye Chui's stand.
It wasn't just because regular customers favoured Ye Chui's skill; there was a subtle difference in flavour. Though the gap was slight, it was always there.
At this moment, Tian Xiaodu had no more disdain for the young man beside him, who was nearly half his age.
Due to their joint efforts, by the time it was a little past ten o'clock that night, the inventory of lamb skewers had officially sold out. Customers who missed out left with regrets.
Tian Xiaodu helped Ye Chui load the equipment for grilling lamb skewers onto the three-wheeled cart. As they slowly made their way back to the residential area, Ye Chui smiled and asked, "So, what do you want from me?"
"A few days ago, the recipe for that chicken dish..." Tian Xiaodu pondered for a moment before speaking, "Can you sell that recipe to me? Because, in a few days, I have to entertain a very important guest, and he specifically wants to eat a dish made with chicken."