In no time at all, a special aroma of fermented black beans mixed with a rich, fragrant smell of meat quietly wafted from the steamer cabinet, filling the entire kitchen, making everyone’s appetite soar.

"Gurgle... gurgle gurgle..."

The group in the kitchen who caught the scent first, despite having just filled their small temples of appetite, suddenly found themselves rumbling in protest.

"So fragrant! I’m practically drooling."

"It’s not just drooling... my belly, which just had a meal, feels hungry again just from the smell..."

"Exactly, exactly, whenever our boss gets involved, the fragrance fills the room! Just by the smell, you can tell this steamed ribs with fermented black beans is going to be amazing!"

"Of course, when our boss makes it, when hasn’t it been delicious?"

"Exactly, exactly, anything made by our boss is guaranteed to be delicious. I think, once this steamed ribs with fermented black beans is launched, it’s definitely going to be as popular with new and old customers as the sweet and sour ribs and garlic ribs."

Suddenly, the kitchen was filled with the voices of the five kitchen staffers, leaving a bright smile on Huang Tao’s face.

Seeing the time was about right, he opened the steamer cabinet door...

In an instant!

The steam gathered in the cabinet billowed out in all directions as the door was opened, revealing four dishes of steamed ribs with fermented black beans on white porcelain plates.

This amount was a tad bit much, but when you eat, you want to enjoy it thoroughly!

Plus, Huang Tao wanted the staff to help taste and evaluate how this dish was. If it was good, they’d go ahead and launch it at lunchtime.

After all, the method for this dish was quite simple and easy to handle.

However, the flavor...

Could use a bit of adjustment.

For instance, during steaming, you could sprinkle some chopped peppers or fresh chili rings on top, which would give the final dish a spicy kick, making it more appetizing compared to the original flavor.

But that would overshadow the freshness of the ribs and the rich aroma of the fermented black beans.

So, he followed the best method provided by the system, skipping that step of adding chili peppers.

He put on cotton gloves and took out the four dishes of steamed ribs with fermented black beans, placing them on the stove.

He casually grabbed a handful of chopped green onions and sprinkled them over the four dishes...

The tender green onions adhered beautifully to the snowy white tender ribs.

The color and aroma were both perfect.

Huang Tao’s Adam’s apple couldn’t help but roll slightly.

Just missing the taste!

Not accustomed to eating alone, he cheerfully called out, "Come, come, come, the steamed ribs with fermented black beans are done, everyone come give it a try!"

No sooner had the words been spoken.

The employees, already craving the dish, hurriedly put down what they were doing and made their way to Huang Tao in just a few quick strides.

Before them were the white porcelain dishes, with the steamed tender white ribs perfectly arranged inside, black beans mixed among them, and a brown broth of meat juices and seasoning soaked at the bottom of the dish, topped off with vibrant green onions, looking remarkably "fresh".

Yet, despite the "fresh" appearance, it came with an indescribable aroma of garlic, the savory ribs blended with the fermented black beans, a tantalizing smell that was beyond words.

The boss’s expression of satisfaction after taking a bite of the ribs told the whole story.

The taste was certainly exquisite!

The staff swallowed their saliva, reluctant to look any longer, quickly fetching chopsticks and eagerly digging into the steamed ribs with fermented black beans.

As they tasted.

The ribs were extremely tender and smooth, without any greasiness.

Gently chewing a bite, a burst of rich juice exploded in the mouth.

The fresh taste of the meat and the rich aroma of the fermented black beans unfolded in the mouth, the ribs absorbed the black bean aroma, and the black beans absorbed the meaty aroma, blending perfectly together, creating an unparalleled deliciousness.

And since they used all soft bones, there was no need to worry about spitting bones, you could just chew and eat them with the meat and bones together.

Simply divine!

"Delicious! Absolutely wonderful."

"Wow, this flavor is simply extraordinary."

"Whoa! A simple dish of steamed ribs with fermented black beans can be made so tender and falling off the bone, soft but not mushy, and even chewing with the soft bones is so invigorating."

"Exactly, exactly, popping one into your mouth, the perfect blend of fresh black beans and tender ribs, spreads through your mouth, the soft bones crunching with a delightful sound, so full of texture and flavor, it brings utter satisfaction and a burst of joy!"

While they praised, they couldn’t help but eat several pieces of ribs each, leaving a lingering fragrance on their lips and teeth!

What was even more rare was that even after eating several pieces of ribs, they didn’t feel greasy at all.

Just then.

Old Qin strolled in, fanning himself with a folded fan and smiling, "Boss Huang, are you experimenting with a new dish again? I smell fermented black beans."

Oh~

It must be said, Old Qin’s nose is really sharp!

Huang Tao sometimes wondered if Old Qin was just camping at his store’s front door, how else could he arrive so promptly?

Huang Tao nodded with a smile: "I’ve indeed tried making some steamed ribs with fermented black beans, Qin Lai, your timing is perfect, come and taste how it is!"

"Couldn’t be more eager, couldn’t be more eager indeed..."

Old Qin closed his fan, gleefully striding over like an old kid.

Li Chengzhan joked with a smile: "Qin, do you have a radar installed in your nose? Otherwise, how come every time we test a new dish, you’re the first to appear? It’s not scientific at all!"

"Really not very scientific! The place you live now is hundreds of meters away from our store, even if the aroma from the store is enticing, it wouldn’t drift that far! Besides, it’s not even 9:30 yet, not even business hours, why are you here so early, or have you been stationed near our store’s entrance all this time?"

Old Qin: "..."

Why state the harsh truth!

During these days since Huang Tao’s new place didn’t serve breakfast, Old Qin hadn’t enjoyed a satisfying breakfast that filled his stomach and lifted his spirits.

Like this morning, he bought two meat buns and a cup of soy milk from a nearby breakfast store, but the taste was so-so, nowhere close to Huang Tao’s pan-fried buns, or even worse than those made by Xu Hao and the others!

Such breakfast, to the picky Old Qin, was like chewing wax!

So.

He wanted to come over to Huang Tao’s, smelling the aroma of braised meat from the store, to finish off his last bun.

Unexpectedly, just as he arrived, he caught a whiff of a different aroma wafting from the store, which instantly made him realize Huang Tao was up to something new in the kitchen.

He offered an awkward but polite smile in return: "Radar? Does my nose need a radar? I was just happening to take a walk nearby, got a whiff of the aroma from the store, and followed it inside."

"Just lucky, I guess, showing up every time there’s a new dish to try."

As he spoke, Old Qin picked up a rib, immediately sensing its tenderness and freshness through his chopsticks.

With just a bite.

The meat and soft bone separated easily, the texture smooth, tender but not tough.

Nor dry at all.

The juices enveloped the meat.

That one bite felt akin to bursting a soup dumpling, the delicious juices erupting instantly, leaving a fragrant taste akin to bursting bubbles—simply savorous!

The soft and tender rib, the taste of the fermented black beans, not the rich flavor of sweet and sour ribs or garlic ribs, but deliciously mild and fresh.

Having devoured an entire rib, Old Qin found himself longing for more and immediately picked another piece, savoring it carefully.

Seeing Old Qin’s expression, Huang Tao knew this new launch was definitely a hit!

"Such deliciousness, I can’t find a single flaw."

Old Qin smiled, asking, "Boss Huang, when will this steamed ribs with fermented black beans be launched, today at noon?"

Huang Tao replied with a smile, "Yes, it’ll be sold at lunchtime."

Since everyone thought it was delicious, and they had the ingredients ready, naturally, it should be launched while it’s hot.

"That’s wonderful!"

Old Qin’s eyes lit up.

It was nearly ten o’clock now.

Doesn’t that mean, in just about an hour, he’ll be able to enjoy another serving?

Old Qin didn’t leave, instead, he stayed at the store, patiently waiting for the moment Huang Tao opened for lunch service.