Chapter 304: No One Can Make Me Work Overtime
Lifting the bowl, Qi Han took a large sip. The warm white porridge smoothly slid into his mouth, leaving behind a faintly sweet rice soup flavor after a gentle swish before flowing into his stomach.
After swallowing the first mouthful, Qi Han silently nodded in approval—this restaurant's white porridge was quite impressive.
It must have taken at least several years of experience to turn an ordinary bowl of porridge into something this delicious.
His gaze soon shifted to a small dish beside him. The pickled radish on the plate was cut into small cubes, its surface tinged with a light yellow hue, with bits of chili flakes clinging to it.
Qi Han had to admit that the chopsticks he introduced had, to some extent, influenced the food in other restaurants across Shrek City.
Take this pickled radish, for example.
What Qi Han didn't know was that before his arrival, the radish pieces served here were five to six times larger than they were now—so big that it took two bites to finish one. This was to accommodate forks for quick serving. However, radish cut that large neither absorbed flavors well nor was convenient to eat, something that had troubled the middle-aged restaurant owner for quite some time.
Now, with the introduction of chopsticks, the pickled radish could be cut smaller and absorb more flavor while still being easy to pick up. The middle-aged owner was deeply grateful to Qi Han for this.
Qi Han picked up a piece of pickled radish with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth. Immediately, a salty and spicy taste surged through his senses. The radish had been pickled to a crisp texture, producing a satisfying crunch with every bite.
It was indeed quite good.
Still, it lacked a sour and spicy kick—something that would have made it even better.
Qi Han noted this small regret in his mind and then took another sip of the white porridge.
Eating the pickled radish on its own would be overwhelmingly salty, but that wasn't a flaw in the radish itself.
As a side dish, it was meant to be saltier than regular food so it could better complement the porridge.
The moment the white porridge entered his mouth, the excessive saltiness and spiciness were instantly balanced. Not only that, but the residual flavors merged with the mild sweetness of the porridge, enhancing its taste. The soft, slightly broken rice grains added another layer to the experience.
After having a few more bites of porridge with the pickled radish, Qi Han turned his attention to the plate beside him.
On it lay the other items he had ordered: a meat bun, a plain steamed bun, and a jade-colored cake.
The meat bun of Douluo Continent, despite sharing the same name as those on Earth, was actually quite different.
In fact, it resembled a steamed bun more than a traditional meat bun.
Both were round and slightly flattened, giving them a shape somewhat akin to a flying saucer.
The difference between the two was that the meat bun, containing a filling of meat or vegetables, appeared plumper, while the plain steamed bun was more flattened.
Aside from one having filling and the other not, there were no other differences—not even in size.
Although they looked simple, if made well, their taste wouldn't be much different from those on Earth.
After all, the basic principles behind them were the same.
Qi Han first picked up the meat bun and took a big bite.
Compared to Earth's meat buns, the dough here was noticeably thicker. However, because of the restaurant owner's unique fermentation method, the bun didn't feel bland at all. On the contrary, its fluffy texture made Qi Han nod approvingly.
Not bad—the fermentation was done very well.
The structure of the dough played a significant role in its texture.
The reason steamed buns became sweeter the more they were chewed was that the starch in the bun was broken down into maltose by the salivary enzyme amylase.
The looser the texture of the dough, the greater the surface area for saliva enzymes to interact with the starch, speeding up the breakdown process.
In other words, it tasted sweeter.
Clearly, this middle-aged owner was quite skilled at kneading and fermenting dough.
The first bite barely reached the meat filling, but with the second bite, Qi Han fully tasted both the filling and the bun together—bringing a completely different texture to his mouth.
Unlike some meat buns on Earth, which included pork jelly to create a juicy bite, the meat filling here had no such trick. However, the owner had cleverly used a mix of lean and fatty meat, along with a small amount of finely chopped mushrooms.
During the steaming process, a fair amount of meat juices seeped out, slowly infusing into the inner layers of the bun.
Thanks to the dough's porous structure, it absorbed the juices efficiently. The once airy bun became slightly denser but also softer due to the absorbed broth, melting almost instantly in the mouth. Meanwhile, the meat filling remained tender with a slight chewiness, making it exceptionally delicious.
The unabsorbed dough, the juice-infused dough, and the meat filling gradually blended together as Qi Han chewed, creating a unique texture that made him sigh in admiration.
One should never underestimate the local cuisine of another world.
Although the culinary development of Douluo Continent still lagged behind Earth in many aspects, a truly dedicated chef would always strive to enhance the flavors of their food.
Food is the people's primary necessity.
That saying was absolutely true.
Just mastering the kneading of dough and the preparation of meat filling for these buns required years of refinement.
The plain steamed bun was similar to the meat bun, as both shared the same dough. However, without a filling, the steamed bun lacked the surprising depth of the meat bun but was still soft and delicious.
After finishing both the meat bun and the steamed bun, Qi Han took another sip of white porridge and then turned his gaze to the last remaining item on the plate—
A green-colored pastry.
Qingyu Cake.
Qi Han had never heard of this type of pastry before. He had ordered it purely because the name sounded appealing.
The surface of the Qingyu Cake was glossy, not transparent, yet it had a smooth luster reminiscent of jade. Its vibrant green color was eye-catching, making it well worthy of its name.
In terms of size and shape, the Qingyu Cake bore some resemblance to a traditional snack from Earth—
Put chai ko.
It had a cylindrical shape, resembling an inverted bowl. When Qi Han lightly tapped it with his chopsticks, it wobbled slightly, showing its soft and bouncy texture.
Interesting.
Curious, Qi Han picked up the Qingyu Cake with his chopsticks and took a cautious bite. As his teeth sank into it, the cake subtly deformed, stretching slightly at the bitten edge before finally breaking apart.
After chewing a couple of times, his face lit up with surprise.
The Qingyu Cake might have looked like put chai ko, but upon tasting it, he realized it resembled something else entirely—
Mochi.
As he continued to chew, a rich yet delicate texture spread across his tongue. The cake wasn't overly sweet but had a faint, refreshing fragrance. With each bite, the subtle aroma deepened, accompanied by a hint of fruity sweetness.
Qi Han couldn't quite place the fruit—perhaps it was a native ingredient of Douluo Continent.
Despite its sticky texture, the Qingyu Cake didn't cling to his teeth. After just a few bites, it was easy to swallow.
Finishing it in one go, Qi Han's smile deepened.
This Qingyu Cake was truly good—he liked it.
The portion wasn't large, just two or three bites in total. After eating it, Qi Han finished his breakfast with another round of white porridge and pickled radish. Satisfied, he patted his slightly full belly and stood up.
Despite eating so much, the total cost was surprisingly affordable—just eight copper coins.
After paying for his meal, he picked up Pururu and prepared to leave.
Now that he was full, it was time to head back.
Should he consider adding breakfast to Han Shi's menu?
The thought had barely surfaced in his mind before he crushed it immediately.
No one can make me work overtime!
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