The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 462 Something doesn't taste right?
"This lady."

Qin Lang couldn't help but speak up.

"You mean this is the Hai Sheng Yan Restaurant?"

“Yes!” The woman nodded matter-of-factly, then looked at Qin Lang and the other two with a strange expression, seemingly puzzled as to how they had managed to get in line when they knew nothing about it.

However, Qin Lang and his two companions no longer cared about the other party's suspicious gaze.

After learning from Fang Yifei at noon that Hai Sheng Yan also had a restaurant in Xianyu City, it became the biggest suspect for Hai Ba Wang Restaurant due to its previous record. Qin Lang and the others had not yet had time to learn about Hai Sheng Yan's situation, but they did not expect that this restaurant was so close to them.

"Qin Lang, we..." Cao Dongdong's expression was somewhat unpleasant. He turned his head as if to leave, but Qin Lang grabbed him.

"Let's get in line," Qin Lang said with a smile. "Perfect timing, let's also try the delicacies of this Sea Feast and see what they taste like."

“Indeed.” Zhao Qian nodded in agreement. “There’s a saying: Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle.”

"Since we're already here, shouldn't we check on them?"

"Alright." Cao Dongdong reluctantly agreed, but then touched his stomach with a helpless expression, "I can't eat anymore right now, it seems I can only eat with the two of you."

"How could that be?" Qin Lang patted Cao Dongdong on the shoulder with a bright smile. "Dongdong, you have a big mission to complete."

"Huh?" Cao Dongdong blinked. "What mission?"

"I remember you once mentioned to me that you learned piano when you were a child?" Qin Lang coughed lightly.

"You heard what that lady said earlier: as long as the piece you play is well received by other guests, the performance will be free."

"Hey, hey, hey!" Cao Dongdong immediately showed a speechless expression. "I only mentioned it once, how come you remember it so clearly?"

"The last time I touched a piano was when I was twelve years old, which is four or five years ago. How can this be allowed?"

"You can do it!" Zhao Qian placed her hand on Cao Dongdong's other shoulder and gave him a firm look. "I believe in you!"

Seeing that Cao Dongdong still seemed reluctant, Qin Lang sighed and put his arm around Cao Dongdong's shoulder.

"Dongdong..."

"You don't want us to send money to Hai Sheng Yan, do you?"

Cao Dongdong: “…”

"Fine," Cao Dongdong gritted his teeth, "Then let me make this clear: if the meal isn't free, I'm not paying for it!"

"No problem!" Zhao Qian waved her hand. "It's just a meal. If you can't get it for free, then I'll treat you!"

Although not as well-off as Cao Dongdong's family, Zhao Qian's family was still quite well-off.

The group chatted and laughed as the line ahead gradually shortened.

Finally, it was their turn to eat.

"Would you like to have your meal first, or would you like the performance first, gentlemen?" the welcoming waiter asked with a smile.

"Play first?" Qin Lang looked surprised.

"Yes, many guests have chosen to play first. If their performance doesn't impress the other guests, they'll simply leave," the waiter explained.

The three of them suddenly realized.

This kind of customer is obviously there to get a free meal, so they first play a performance to confirm that they can get the meal for free before they are willing to eat.

No wonder there were so many people ahead of them, yet their turn came much shorter than expected. "The person who came up with this event is quite clever," Qin Lang remarked casually, then changed the subject, "Let's eat first."

"Let's talk about the performance after we finish eating."

"Alright!" The waiter nodded slightly and led the three to an outdoor table near the beach. "What would you three like to order?"

"Let me check the menu first." Qin Lang gestured to the waiter to ignore them for now. The waiter nodded in understanding and said, "Just press the bell if you need anything," before turning and leaving.

After the waiter left, Cao Dongdong asked curiously, "Qin Lang, you just said that the person who came up with the idea for the event was brilliant. What makes them brilliant?"

"This is Stringfish City, the 'Music Capital' of Mingjing State," Qin Lang explained with a smile. "When we arrived, we could clearly feel that this city has a very strong musical atmosphere."

Cao Dongdong and Zhao Qian nodded at the same time.

Here, you can see various musical elements everywhere, and locals often talk about music.

“Residents who grow up in this kind of environment can’t possibly have low musical literacy. Those who have the confidence to try for a free performance must know a little bit of playing.” Qin Lang paused slightly.

"They felt they were there to get something for nothing, so they would perform first, and if they were appreciated, they would stay for dinner; otherwise, they would leave."

"Unbeknownst to them, the restaurant was also taking advantage of their performance to attract more customers."

"Although there was a free meal promotion, if you do the math, the restaurant owner definitely made a profit, and even more."

After explaining the reason, Qin Lang ignored Cao Dongdong, who seemed to be deep in thought, and looked at the menu in front of him.

After only a few glances, Qin Lang showed a surprised expression, "This Hai Sheng Yan restaurant really is a competitor to Hai Ba Wang."

In terms of ingredient quality and menu prices, the two restaurants are on par. With such obvious competition, it seems more likely that Hai Sheng Yan is the mastermind behind Hai Ba Wang.

"Let's order first." Qin Lang checked off a few dishes and handed the menu to Zhao Qian and the other person. "Let's see how the food here is."

While having lunch at Haibawang Restaurant, Qin Lang noticed that although some of the restaurant's signature dishes were of inferior quality, there was one other thing that left a deep impression on him: the chef's culinary skills.

The other party's exquisite seasoning almost completely masked the negative impact of using inferior ingredients, which is no easy feat.

If it weren't for the unexpected event, Qin Lang had originally planned to see if he could meet the chef after the meal.

Now that he's arrived at Hai Sheng Yan Restaurant, he naturally wants to see how skilled the head chef is.

After all, besides service and a stable supply of ingredients, the most important thing for a restaurant is the chef's culinary skills.

After the three of them had chosen their dishes, Qin Lang rang the bell to call over the waiter from before and handed him the menu, saying, "We've ordered."

"Please wait a moment, we'll arrange for the kitchen to prepare it." The waiter took the menu, bowed slightly, and left politely.

The first dish was served shortly afterward.

"Clams cooked in hot oil, please enjoy~"

Looking at the dishes that looked so appetizing and smelled so delicious, Qin Lang and Zhao Qian were very tempted. Even Cao Dongdong, who was already full, swallowed hard, as if he had suddenly developed a taste for food.

Picking up a shelled clam and putting it in his mouth, Qin Lang chewed it slightly, and his eyebrows immediately rose in satisfaction.

But then, his expression gradually became puzzled.

this smell...

its not right?
(End of this chapter)