I Run a Restaurant in a World of Natural Disasters

Chapter 52: Chapter 48: Completion

Aside from Ning He, the guests were already gathered around the long table under the tent, eagerly waiting. Their stomachs were rumbling. Although they had just eaten quite a few tortilla chips, the refreshing salsa had only whetted their appetites further. Coupled with the tantalizing aroma of food filling the air, everyone was growing impatient.

In truth, today’s hunting haul had left much to be desired, yielding only relatively common ingredients. However, at this moment, no one cared to be picky; they just wanted the food served immediately. Annie led a few people acting as temporary waitstaff. They served dishes, poured wine, and attended to the guests, looking quite professional.

Meanwhile, Ning He and Hansha entered a frantic, race-against-time phase of busyness. Just as the first appetizer—braised dried tofu paired with grilled asparagus—was plated, Ning He quickly fired up the stove to give the cream of mushroom soup its final blending and seasoning.

The pace of eating at the dining table was incredibly fast. The moment Ning He ladled out the soup, Annie brought her team over to carry the bowls away.

Hansha breathed a small sigh of relief when he saw the empty plates they brought back. The appetizer featured Grandpa Miao’s signature braising technique combined with Hansha’s own solid grilling skills. The quality was guaranteed, and it seemed the guests were quite satisfied.

When the second course arrived, the man in the suit sitting at the head of the table frowned at the sight of the cream of mushroom soup. As a regular of these gourmet tours who frequently dined at Level 3 Restaurants in the first and second rings, he had eaten this dish far too many times. Even after the soup was placed in front of him, he made no move to pick up his spoon. The middle-aged man with glasses next to him also displayed a resigned expression. Leaning back in his chair, he seemed equally uninterested in eating it.

"It seems Grandpa Miao can’t come up with anything new anymore," the man in the suit said mildly, looking at the middle-aged man.

"Even the most talented eventually lose their touch. I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon," the middle-aged man replied with a shaking head and a smile.

After a moment of silence, the man in the suit added, "Looks like we’ll have to find a new place again."

The middle-aged man sighed but said nothing.

"Mommy, can I have another bowl? This mushroom soup is so good. I want a little more." A little girl’s soft voice rang out across the table.

"Of course you can." The girl’s mother immediately turned to Annie and requested another serving.

"I’ll have a little more too, then," the red-haired young man chimed in.

"I’ll take another portion as well." Jia Mei, sitting nearby, hesitated for a moment before deciding to order seconds. The mushroom soup was incredibly comforting to drink. Compared to the ones she had in the past, it was more savory and appetizing. Having a little more wouldn’t hurt, and it shouldn’t affect her appetite for the later courses.

"Right away, please wait a moment."

Annie quickly brought out extra portions of the mushroom soup for them. The man in the suit and the middle-aged man exchanged a glance, both catching the surprise and curiosity in each other’s eyes. Picking up their spoons in unison, the two men took a sip.

It was a familiar yet distinctly different flavor.

However, this slight difference made the dish’s profile as a soup stand out even more. Especially for someone like the middle-aged man, who was sensitive to the taste of milk, swallowing it didn’t feel like drinking an overwhelmingly rich and cloying condensed milk anymore. Instead, it was a genuinely appetizing soup.

The two men slowly savored the nuanced differences, and before they knew it, their bowls were empty. Their hungry stomachs received gentle comfort, bringing a sense of calm to their minds. Raising their glasses, the two clinked them together, faint smiles playing on their lips.

When the third course was served, everyone was taken by surprise. There were actually two distinct dishes. One was golden yellow, and the other a deep, glossy red.

"This is a fried fish fillet made from Blue-scaled Fish. It tastes even better paired with our newly mixed dipping sauce. And this is sweet and sour tenderloin made from Rock Snake. Please enjoy," Annie introduced.

Following her words, the gazes of the man in the suit and the middle-aged man locked onto the glossy red chunks of meat, their eyes burning with fervor. They spent fortunes year-round to travel outside the city and join these expensive gourmet tours, primarily to taste novel ingredients unavailable within Beiluo City. To seasoned epicures like them, nothing was more appealing than this.

The platter holding the main courses was enormous. Tender green radish sprouts served as a partition between the fish fillets and the snake meat, and a small dish of white dipping sauce sat next to the fish. The man in the suit didn’t even spare the fish a glance; he directly forked a piece of snake meat and popped it into his mouth.

The moment it entered his mouth, an intense sourness hit him, instantly stimulating his salivary glands to produce a flood of saliva. Immediately after, a rich sweetness bloomed on the tip of his tongue.

Sweet and sour dishes were common enough in the top-tier restaurants of the first and second rings, but the man in the suit astutely detected a hint of difference. It wasn’t just the more refined ratio of sour to sweet; there was also a faint trace of ginger in the base flavor. This subtle ginger note provided his taste buds—momentarily overwhelmed by the robust sweet and sour impact—a brief window to relax and recover. It allowed his palate to repeatedly embrace the intense flavor stimulation without quickly growing fatigued or cloyed.

As for the snake meat encased beneath the sauce, it featured a thick, crispy outer crust thoroughly soaked in the glaze. Inside, the snake meat was lean but not tough—tender, juicy, and entirely devoid of any gamey odor. Clearly, both the preparation and cooking techniques were absolutely on point.

The man in the suit revealed a satisfied expression. For him, having such a novel culinary experience made the trip out of the city entirely worth it.

As for the accompanying fish fillets, although the other guests were highly satisfied and thoroughly enjoyed pairing them with the tartar sauce, the man in the suit and the middle-aged man instantly tasted the flaws in the fish itself. They ate only one piece with the dip before setting their forks down. However, the middle-aged man did taste the dipping sauce on its own a few times; judging by his expression, he was quite fond of it.

The next main course was Hansha’s specialty: fragrant roasted lamb chops. Also on the plate was a serving of white rice and a bright red portion of stir-fried tomatoes, which seemed to contain eggs as well.

Yes, the tomato and egg stir-fry had made its grand debut.

When Ning He learned that Hansha intended to pair the rice with the lamb chops, she simply couldn’t accept the combination. She suggested bringing out the stir-fry alongside it. Hansha now highly valued her suggestions, and after taking a bite of the tomato and egg stir-fry, there was no way he could disagree. Thus, this combination was served to the table.

The golden roasted lamb chops, bright red tomatoes, and snow-white rice proved to be an unexpectedly enticing combination. The aroma shot straight to their heads.

Following Annie’s recommendation, they first tasted the charred, juicy lamb chops. Rich and dripping with fat, it offered a rapidly satisfying, carnivorous experience. Next came a bite of the refreshing, sweet and sour tomato and egg stir-fry. It reigned supreme in whetting the appetite and cutting through grease; instantly, the heavy richness of the lamb chops vanished. Cramming in a mouthful of rice simultaneously, swallowing it mixed with the abundant tomato juices, made it feel as if the lamb chops were almost unnecessary.

No one spoke at the table. The only sound was the clattering of knives, forks, and chopsticks against plates.

"Excuse me, I’ll have another serving of this tomato and... egg stir-fry with rice. A larger portion, please. Thank you!" The red-haired young man was the first to polish off his plate, raising it as he flagged down Annie.

"I want more too."

"Me too."

The man in the suit and the middle-aged man shared a glance before ultimately joining the chorus of requests.

Although Ning He had prepared extra in advance, it was still not enough. She immediately fired up the stove to make more on the spot, with Hansha acting as her assistant, chopping vegetables and beating eggs.

Macken, who was leading a patrol, caught sight of this scene. His eyes flickered thoughtfully.

Once all the tomatoes they had brought were consumed, Ning He finally filled everyone’s stomachs. However, the honeydew melon fruit platter she had painstakingly prepared and carved ended up being affected by this, becoming a slow seller.

By the time the meal ended, it was already two o’clock. The guests dispersed into their respective activities, and Johnny and the others came in batches to grab some food to fill their bellies. Security work could not be neglected. Everyone’s lunch, including Macken’s, typically consisted of nutritional paste or compressed biscuits—just a simple, make-do meal.

Ning He brought out the pot of boiled snake soup, ladling out bowls for everyone and inviting Johnny and the others to drink as much as they liked. Meanwhile, she carried a small plate of prime leftovers she had set aside earlier to the tent, enjoying a delightful meal of her own.

Sipping the incredibly savory snake soup, Macken glanced at Ning He, who was buried in her food. His lips twitched. "How is she?"

Hansha paused mid-sip and also cast a complex look in Ning He’s direction. Lowering his voice, he sighed in admiration, "She’s young, but she’s got serious skills. I think she could fill Uncle Miao’s vacancy. If she joins us, we’ll never have to worry about our gourmet tour business again."

"I understand," Macken said. He tipped his head back, draining the soup in one gulp. Setting his bowl down, he turned to Hansha. "Thanks for your hard work today."

Hansha let out a bitter laugh. "Why are you being so polite with me? Besides, if it weren’t for this girl, who knows what would’ve happened today. My cooking skills are becoming less and less passable! I might just become a burden to you someday."

Macken patted him on the shoulder. "Stop with the defeatist talk. I can’t do without you here. Just stay here and put your mind at ease."

After filling her stomach, Ning He helped Hansha pack everything up. During the process, she clearly noticed that Hansha was looking at her somewhat strangely. He hesitated to speak several times, and she immediately guessed what was going on. Sure enough, Johnny ran over not long after.

"Um... the boss wants to invite you to his vehicle for a chat."

Ning He had been waiting for this very moment. Without hesitation, she followed Johnny onto an armored vehicle.

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