Chapter 692: Second Stop: The Home of Folk Arts (2)
Old Master Chen stood up and circled around Zhou Chao twice.
“Well, well, I didn’t expect it. You, with your gentle appearance, actually have such a good alcohol tolerance. Xiao Chao, tell me the truth, how much can you drink?”
“Ahem, I’m okay, it’s not like I can drink a lot!” Zhou Chao didn’t explicitly state his capacity, fearing it might dent Old Master Chen’s confidence.
“Your speech lacks any hint of masculinity!” exclaimed Old Master Chen, clearly offended.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chao stopped being modest and directly raised his right index finger!
Seeing this gesture, Old Master Chen asked in confusion, “What does this mean? Can you drink ten catties?”
“What ten catties? It means drinking continuously!” Old Master Xiao, sitting in the chair, exclaimed.
Old Master Chen curiously glanced at Zhou Chao. “Impressive!”
That evening, Zhou Chao didn’t personally cook. Instead, Old Master Xiao specifically arranged for several chefs from the sanatorium to come and cook!
As the top-notch sanatorium, logistical support was essential. They had top chefs of various cuisines, and any dish could be arranged at any time!
That night, nobody drank alcohol, mainly because Old Master Chen also learned about Zhou Chao’s drinking capacity and didn’t want to spoil the fun!
While dining and chatting, they listened to the two old masters recounting their heroic and tumultuous years during wartime.
It wasn’t until around nine or ten o’clock in the evening when sleep overcame the two old masters, bringing an end to the banquet.
The next day, in the morning!
“Are you really leaving? Won’t you stay a few more days?” Old Master Xiao looked at Zhou Chao and the others.
Zhou Chao glanced at Jiang Li before turning to Old Master Xiao and shaking his head. “Old Master, we won’t stay any longer. We’re planning to go to other places to have fun for a few days. You know, I might get busy again soon, so I want to spend some quality time with Jiang Li while I can!”
Old Master Xiao understood what Zhou Chao was up to and the meaning behind his words, so he didn’t insist on them staying.
“Alright, you can go. Be safe on the road. If anything happens to Xiaoli, you’ll have to deal with me!”
“Don’t worry, Old Master. Even if something happens to me, I won’t let Arli get hurt!” Zhou Chao said as he hugged Jiang Li.
“Where are you headed next?”
“We’re planning to go to Jinmen and taste the local delicacies!”
Old Master Xiao nodded at the response and didn’t say much more.
After bidding farewell to the two old masters, they left the sanatorium in their RV!
“Boss, are we really going to Jinmen?” Lin Wu turned to ask.
“Of course, why? Any problem?” Zhou Chao, sitting in the passenger seat, looked at him puzzled.
“No, no problem. I was just thinking about whether the Goubuli Baozi in Jinmen is really as delicious as rumored!” Lin Wu said, licking his lips.
“Alright, when we get to Jinmen, we’ll give it a try!”
Zhou Chao had long heard of the fame of Goubuli Baozi in Jinmen. Although he had never been to Jinmen before, this trip provided a perfect opportunity to explore this historically rich city!
Setting off from Beidaihe, they drove for a full three hours before reaching the Jinmen downtown area.
It was already one o’clock in the afternoon. They had initially planned to cat something at the service area to fill their stomachs, but when they thought about the delicacies in Jinmen, Zhou Chao and Jiang Li decided to wait until they reached Jinmen to dine.
“Boss, where are we going to eat? We’re completely unfamiliar with Jinmcn!” Lin Wu looked at Zhou Chao and asked.
Zhou Chao pondered for a moment before saying, “We definitely have to try the Eight Great Buildings in Jinmen. I wonder how the food tastes there. Is it truly as unforgettable as the rumors say?”
“The Eight Great Buildings?” Lin Wu was puzzled. He wasn’t familiar with Jinmen, so he didn’t quite understand what Zhou Chao meant by the Eight Great Buildings.
When in doubt, consult Baidu. Lin Wu immediately took out his phone and searched. Soon, he understood what Zhou Chao meant by the Eight Great Buildings!
The original Eight Halal Restaurants in Jinmen were renowned throughout the region, commonly referred to as the Eight Great Buildings. Nowadays, they are mostly century-old establishments!
After searching online, the nearest one to their current location was Yan Chun Building!
Soon, Zhou Chao and the others arrived at Yan Chun Building located in the Hongqiao District. It was situated at a three-way intersection, making parking difficult. After Zhou Chao and Jiang Li got off the RV, Lin Wu drove off to find a parking spot.
Zhou Chao and Jiang Li entered Yan Chun Building Restaurant, which was mostly empty at this time.
“Welcome to Yan Chun Building. Are you here for lunch?” A waiter greeted them with a smile.
“Can we still order food now?” Zhou Chao asked with a faint smile. After all, it was almost two o’clock in the afternoon, and many restaurants were resting in the kitchen during this time!
“Yes, you can. Please come inside. Are there just two of you?” the waiter asked.
“Three, and one more will arrive shortly!” Zhou Chao was quite satisfied with the attitude of the waiter at Yan Chun Building. They didn’t refuse them just because it was almost lunchtime.
The waiter led Zhou Chao and Jiang Li to a table by the window, which provided a nice view outside.
After receiving the menu from the waiter, Zhou Chao briefly glanced at it. Because it was halal, there were no pork dishes.
“Mustard Duck Feet, Braised Ox Tail, Grilled Beef Strips, Sauteed Shrimp with Celery, Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce, and finally, a bowl of Fish Ball Soup!” Zhou Chao ordered.
The waiter wasn’t surprised by Zhou Chao’s extensive order. After confirming, he took the menu and headed to the kitchen.
Zhou Chao also took this time to assess the layout of the restaurant. It was not grandiose but rather simple, giving off a modest vibe.
“Brother Chao, where arc we going after dinner?” Jiang Li was also curious about Jinmcn. Although she had always lived in Jingdu, she had never been to Jinmen before, so she was quite curious about the place.
After all, she was also a fan of traditional Chinese performing arts, especially fond of xiangsheng (cross talk).
As the famous birthplace of traditional Chinese performing arts, “Gendu” Jinmcn, who wouldn’t be curious?
Lin Wu arrived quickly. Even before the dishes were served, he hurriedly walked in through the door.
As soon as he sat down, he saw the waiter carrying dishes out of the kitchen.
“You must have timed it perfectly!” Zhou Chao joked.
“If I had that skill, I’d be able to crash your meals every day!” Lin Wu replied with a grin.
Soon, the dishes Zhou Chao ordered appeared before them. Jiang Li, who was already famished, picked up her chopsticks and started eating.
Zhou Chao took a bite and confirmed that the dishes indeed tasted good, each with its unique flavor.
The three of them ate quickly, their stomachs growling with hunger. Soon, only a few condiments were left on the table, and even those were soaked up by
Lin Wu to eat with rice.
“Although it’s not as good as the boss’ cooking, it’s still much better than what I usually eat!” Lin Wu leaned back in his chair, patting his round belly with satisfaction.
“Alright, stop flattering me. Be careful, or you won’t get any next time!” Zhou Chao glanced at Lin Wu with some amusement. Fortunately, the waiter was far enough away; otherwise, it might cause some trouble if they overheard.
After enjoying a satisfying meal and resting for a while, they called the waiter to settle the bill. To their surprise, it was less than three hundred yuan, which was unexpected for Zhou Chao.
As a well-known century-old establishment, the price was quite affordable.
“Let’s go, let’s take a stroll!”
When the three of them emerged from Yan Chun Lou, it was already 3:15 in the afternoon. They could only wander around nearby since it was already this late, and there weren’t many places left to go.
They leisurely strolled along the road.
After just a few steps, several ancient buildings caught their eyes.
“Tianjin Ancient Culture Street!” Seeing the large sign, Zhou Chao and the others became interested and headed towards the Ancient Culture Street.
“This seems to be a commercial complex. I wonder what fun things there are inside!”
After passing through a parking lot and a shopping mall, they were greeted by a row of quaint buildings, with many young girls wearing Hanfu strolling around..