Chapter 296: Making a Decision That Betrays a Brother
One bite after another, Paide kept sending the Exploding Honey Badger Intestine into his mouth, his smile growing wider with each bite.
This is amazing!
The dish had a soft yet chewy texture, a delightfully rich and savory flavor—it was absolutely perfect for his taste.
Unfortunately, Exploding Honey Badger Intestine wasn't an official dish introduced for the food festival. Otherwise, he would have voted for it without hesitation.
Wait a minute.
Didn't Han Shi offer a recommendation vote after a meal?
If that was the case, could he use his vote to show his appreciation for this dish?
It seems possible.
But then, Paide quickly shook his head in frustration.
Tonight's vote had already been promised to Darn's favorite, Honey-Glazed Grilled Ribs.
Tomorrow then.
Tomorrow's recommendation vote would go to Exploding Honey Badger Intestine!
Having made up his mind, Paide dug into the dish with even greater enthusiasm.
There was something oddly satisfying about biting into the intestines and experiencing the burst of flavorful juices inside.
It was addictive!
Unfortunately, the portion wasn't quite enough to fully satisfy him, and soon, the plate was empty.
Paide briefly considered ordering another serving but glanced at the untouched Xiaolongbao beside him and decided against it.
Forget it. If I order too much and can't finish, I might get blacklisted. That wouldn't be good.
But then—
Paide suddenly remembered something. The sign outside mentioned that a dish called Mo Wu Tuan was somewhat similar to Exploding Honey Badger Intestine.
Having just tasted Exploding Honey Badger Intestine, he suddenly found himself intrigued by Mo Wu Tuan.
After finishing dinner at Han Shi, maybe I should go try them out?
Since Mo Wu Tuan was just a snack, even if he was full from dinner, he could surely manage a bite.
Decision made! I'll drag Darn along after we eat!
But first—
Let's see how these Xiaolongbao taste!
Grinning, Paide pulled the steaming bamboo basket toward him, carefully picking up one of the plump, round dumplings with his chopsticks. He recalled the instructions from the menu and began tasting.
Soon, he realized—
Though they resembled regular steamed buns, these dumplings contained a rich, flavorful broth, with juicy meat filling and a slightly chewy, well-textured wrapper.
They earned his full approval.
A fantastic dish!
Not only was it unique, but it was also incredibly delicious!
While it wasn't quite as addictive as Exploding Honey Badger Intestine, the Xiaolongbao still managed to surprise Paide.
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Setting down his now-empty plate, Darn sighed in satisfaction.
What an amazing dish.
Bodhi Vegetarian Dish.
At first glance, it seemed simple—no vibrant colors, just a modest pale jade hue.
But for someone with Darn's heightened sense of smell, this was nothing short of a feast.
He loved this kind of dish.
After placing his plate aside, Darn turned expectantly to his beloved Honey-Glazed Grilled Ribs.
It was no longer displayed on the menu wall, but to him, it remained the best dish.
That was another reason he insisted on voting for Honey-Glazed Grilled Ribs—he wanted to see it return to the menu.
Unlike dishes like Dongpo Pork Knuckle or Qing Dynasty Blessed Pork Meat, which combined fat and lean textures in a soft yet firm balance, Honey-Glazed Grilled Ribs used rib meat, ensuring an even distribution of fat within the muscle fibers. During cooking, the fat melted into the meat, enriching it with intense, savory juices.
This dish, created by Qi Han using Western steak techniques, offered a completely different dining experience from other meat dishes—one that Darn adored.
Rosemary-infused melted butter blended with the deep, complex aromas produced by the Maillard reaction, creating an irresistible fragrance that had captivated Darn time and time again.
He picked up his knife and gently sliced along the grain of the meat.
Beneath the seared, deep-brown crust, the rib meat revealed a tender, juicy, myoglobin-rich interior. It wasn't raw and unappetizing—it was a dark red, bursting with tantalizing juices, making it nearly impossible to resist taking a bite.
Spearing a piece with his fork, Darn brought it to his mouth, letting the meaty aroma fully envelop his senses.
A look of sheer bliss appeared on his face.
Indeed—Honey-Glazed Grilled Ribs is my true love.
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Once both of them had cleared their plates, Darn raised a hand to signal to Fu Ya. Then, grinning, he turned to Paide and reminded him cheerfully,
"Brother, you promised to vote for Honey-Glazed Grilled Ribs tonight!"
"Mm..." Paide nodded.
What a pity. If he hadn't already promised, he would've loved to cast his vote for Exploding Honey Badger Intestine.
Soon, Fu Ya collected their payment and handed them two recommendation votes.
"Brother, let's go vote!" Darn's face lit up with excitement.
Two votes!
With these two votes, Honey-Glazed Grilled Ribs would surely surpass that heretical dish, Exploding Honey Badger Intestine!
As they approached the voting wall, Darn quickly scanned the real-time rankings of the dishes.
Exploding Honey Badger Intestine: 102 votes.
Honey-Glazed Grilled Ribs: 101 votes.
They were right next to each other.
Just one vote apart!
Darn was so thrilled he nearly burst into laughter.
Soon, Honey-Glazed Grilled Ribs will overtake Exploding Honey Badger Intestine!
Completely caught up in his excitement, he failed to notice the change in Paide's expression as he stared at the numbers.
The dish Darn wants me to vote for is ranked right below my beloved Exploding Honey Badger Intestine?
And if I vote for Honey-Glazed Grilled Ribs, it will push Exploding Honey Badger Intestine down the rankings?
No! Absolutely not!
He had assumed that the two dishes weren't directly competing, that his vote wouldn't affect Exploding Honey Badger Intestine. But now, it was clear that wasn't the case.
Paide clenched his recommendation vote tightly, stealing a glance at Darn, who was practically glowing with happiness.
Sorry, Darn, but I have to make a decision that betrays my brother.
Darn stepped forward eagerly, holding his vote with both hands as if he were making a sacred choice. With great care, he slipped his vote into the Honey-Glazed Grilled Ribs box.
Only then did he turn around, beaming.
"Paide, your turn! Don't forget, vote for Honey-Glazed—"
His words were abruptly cut off.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he watched Paide silently drop his recommendation vote into the Exploding Honey Badger Intestine box.
Then, Paide turned to him with an expression full of guilt.
"You— you—" Darn clutched his chest, looking utterly heartbroken. "Why would you do this?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't let my favorite Exploding Honey Badger Intestine be overtaken by your Honey-Glazed Grilled Ribs!" Paide's face was solemn and resolute.
"But..." Darn's face darkened with frustration. "But I was the one who paid for this meal!"
Paide suddenly grinned and slung an arm around Darn's shoulders.
"That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about," he said cheerfully. "Come on, I'm taking you somewhere else for something delicious."
"This time, I will treat you. That makes us even, right?"
"What?"
For a brief moment, the temptation of good food made Darn forget the pain of being betrayed by his brother. He followed Paide out of Han Shi, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked.
Paide's expression was exceptionally sincere.
"Brother, to thank you for introducing me to Exploding Honey Badger Intestine. I'm taking you to try Mo Wu Tuan."
Darn: "..."
A few seconds later, a wailing scream echoed through the street.
"Let me go! Let me go, you traitor!"
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