Chapter 5: Chapter 4: The Soul Is Intoxicated.

The issue wasn’t the price, but the sheer difficulty of gathering these ingredients from all over the country while keeping them fresh.

The pure, natural corn oil he bought would further enhance the sweet fragrance of the waxy corn.

The free-range eggs were to be mixed with the shrimp meat to enhance its savory flavor and preserve its tenderness.

The salt was a refined sea salt from an island, with a delicate taste.

Jiang Liu first added mountain spring water to the flour and kneaded it. Once it formed a ball, he added the golden corn oil, baking soda, and white sugar, continuing to knead and work the dough quickly.

Ten minutes later, a bright, white, and glossy ball of dough was ready.

He poured in the yeast, placed the dough in a clean basin, and covered it to let it rise.

Next, Jiang Liu soaked the translucent lobster meat and the white, crisp corn kernels in saltwater to absorb the saltiness.

After this step, there would be no need to add any more salt.

The main ingredients would have their own natural, savory flavor.

He drained them after ten minutes, yielding a large bowlful. Jiang Liu cracked two eggs, precisely added various seasonings, and mixed everything with the lobster and corn.

Forty minutes had already passed.

The dough was more or less done proofing.

’It’s a little short on time, but it doesn’t matter since I’m the one eating it. The main thing is that I’m in a hurry.’

He precisely tore off a piece of dough, sprinkled it with dry flour, and rolled it into a perfectly round wrapper.

Jiang Liu filled each bun with exactly ten grams of filling.

His movements were incredibly skilled, fast, and precise,

like a technique that had been carved into his very bones, honed since childhood.

In total, he made thirty-two lobster and corn buns.

He tested the temperature of the steamer and felt it was ready.

Jiang Liu arranged the buns in neat rows and began to steam them.

"All done! From the moment they go in, it’s twenty-five minutes and thirty seconds. I need to set an alarm."

Truly top-tier culinary arts demand strict precision. A little too much salt was unacceptable; being off by a minute was also a failure.

This was the result of countless people spending vast amounts of time to test and perfect things, bit by bit.

It was approaching perfection!

Soon, time was up.

A surging, fragrant steam filled the back kitchen.

The unique, clean aroma of high-quality wheat was released wildly by the heat.

Mixed within that clean scent was the sweet fragrance of corn, the fresh, savory taste of shrimp, and the milky aroma of the free-range eggs.

Jiang Liu took a deep breath, and his mouth almost started watering.

His very soul was intoxicated, and his stomach growled with longing.

"This aroma is just incredible. I’ve never smelled such a natural and rich fragrance in my entire life."

Rubbing his hands together, Jiang Liu moved the steamer to the front dining area.

He opened the basket. The perfectly arranged buns were white, tender, and tempting. Every single one had been folded identically in his hands.

A small flower shape was twisted on top, while the bottom was round, plump, and squat.

Each was about half the size of an adult’s fist, nearly double the size of a small soup dumpling.

"Whoa! Hot, so hot! It’s burning me to death!"

The bun trembled as he juggled it between his hands.

Grinning with his pearly whites, he couldn’t help but let a curse slip out.

The aroma was intoxicating. It wasn’t the kind of fragrance concocted from additives, but a primitive, simple, and rich scent.

This kind of aroma was mesmerizing.

Ignoring the heat, Jiang Liu took a bite of the tender white bun.

The moment he did,

He froze, then couldn’t help but swallow a large mouthful.

The bun’s wrapper was fluffy yet springy, carrying the unique fragrance of wheat and corn oil. Then, the tender lobster meat met his tongue, its rich, savory flavor instantly dominating his taste buds. With a firm bite, the thin-skinned, plump corn kernels burst, releasing a stream of sweet, piping-hot juice across his tongue that made his mouth water uncontrollably.

Finally, the milky fragrance of the free-range eggs and the inherent aroma of the seasonings

swirled endlessly across his palate. When he exhaled, a rich, savory aroma filled the air.

’This... is... way too good?!’

After one bite, Jiang Liu couldn’t resist taking a second.

He couldn’t stop. He simply couldn’t stop!

He no longer cared that it was scalding hot. It tasted best when it was scalding hot!

He stuffed a bun into his mouth with his left hand while his right hand reached into the hot steamer for another.

"So delicious, so damn delicious! This flavor is simply indescribable!"

Top-tier ingredients, primitive seasonings, and the most meticulous, professional technique.

They had created an incomparably delicious bun.

Of the thirty-odd buns, Jiang Liu devoured ten in just ten minutes.

His stomach was stretched taut, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable feeling. Instead, it was a warm, harmonious satisfaction.

"Hah... hah... I can’t eat anymore."

Jiang Liu lay back in his chair, eyes rolling up, gasping for air.

His expression was like that of a chain-smoker who hadn’t had a cigarette in a month and was suddenly taking a deep drag.

Just then.

Xue Guang from next door had followed the scent over.

As he walked into the shop, he sniffed hard and was immediately stunned.

"What is that smell? Why is it so fragrant??"

Multiple aromas blended together perfectly, without a hint of discord.

"Jiang Liu, did you steam some buns?"

Xue Guang looked at Jiang Liu, who was lying in the chair with his eyes half-closed, then glanced longingly at the steamer on the table.

The aroma was coming from there.

He couldn’t stop swallowing.

Even though he had just eaten lunch, he felt hungry again.

He found the aroma too strange. Yes, strange. He had been eating for so many years and had never smelled anything so natural yet so intensely fragrant.

"Hm? Uncle Xue, you’re here?"

Jiang Liu finally snapped out of it and sat up.

He had been so lost in a daze that he hadn’t even noticed someone come in.

"Yeah. Jiang Liu, did you steam some buns?"

Xue Guang prompted.

"Oh, I steamed a few buns. Would you like some, Uncle Xue?"

"Ahem, yes, I’ll try your handiwork. Give me one... give me a few, so I can give you some feedback."

Jiang Liu rolled his eyes.

He had a new understanding of his neighbor’s personality. ’He clearly wants to eat but has to be so concerned about his pride.’

’Why is he so thin-skinned?’

"Here, Uncle Xue. This is a type of bun I plan to sell tomorrow, filled with shrimp and corn. Give it a try and tell me what you think."

Jiang Liu opened the lid, and a plume of steam billowed out, making the aroma even more enticing.

"Shrimp and corn filling? My goodness, that can’t be cheap."

Xue Guang hesitated. He didn’t like to take advantage of people.

Despite his words, his eyes were glued to the plump buns in the steam.

They seemed to be saying: ’Hurry up and tell me to eat them!’

"Oh, come on, Uncle Xue, it’s not that much. I sell buns for a living, am I going to be stingy over a few buns? The cost of one isn’t much. Eat as many as you want. If it’s not enough, I’ll steam more for you!"

Jiang Liu said with an amused smile.

"Come, come, have a seat."

With that, he pushed Xue Guang to a seat at the table.

He handed him a piping-hot bun.

"Try it?"

"Well then, I’ll help you appraise it!"

Xue Guang took the bun and bit into it without hesitation.

The next moment.

He chewed with a stunned expression on his face.

An indescribable deliciousness! It completely exceeded his expectations.

The aroma went straight to his head. It was a rich fragrance without any MSG or additives—a natural, perfect, ultimate aroma!

His taste buds trembled amidst the tender shrimp meat and corn juices.

He felt like he couldn’t even feel his own tongue anymore. His entire mouth was flooded by an explosion of flavor.

The first bite, second bite, and third bite were gone.

He reached for another, and in a few bites, it was gone too.

"Delicious! This is incredibly delicious!!"

"Mmph, wait a sec, let me try some more!"

Xue Guang turned into a ravenous beast, devouring one bun after another.

He ate a full twelve before he couldn’t take another bite.

His face was a picture of wanting more, not much different from how Jiang Liu had looked.

Xue Guang leaned back in his chair and took a long while to recover before exclaiming in amazement,

"Jiang Liu! Honestly, these are the best buns I’ve ever eaten in my life. That is absolutely not an exaggeration!"

The taste reminded him of his childhood, of the time his mother made him a roasted chicken for the New Year after he hadn’t eaten meat for a year. That was a flavor he had never forgotten.

Nowadays, eating felt like just filling his stomach; he no longer had that feeling of satisfying his body and soul.

Jiang Liu smiled without a word. Hearing someone else’s praise and approval made him genuinely happy.

[Favorable Review Points +50.]

The text flashed in his mind, and Jiang Liu immediately dismissed it.

Xue Guang looked at the buns and asked curiously,

"How did you make such delicious buns?"

Realizing his question was too blunt, Xue Guang gave a dry laugh. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Uh, I’m not trying to get your recipe. I’m just curious. These buns taste too good. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them the most perfect buns in the world!"

"Heh. It’s not that difficult."

Jiang Liu chuckled and held up a finger. "First, you must select the world’s finest ingredients. Even the water has to be clean mountain spring water. Second, you need an intimate understanding of those ingredients, professional technique, precise ratios, and perfect timing."

"And that’s what created this."

Jiang Liu pointed to the buns on the table.

"This...!!" Xue Guang’s mouth hung open, his shock beyond words.

He suddenly understood why they were so delicious. With all top-tier ingredients combined with top-tier cooking skills, how could they not be delicious?

Even a state banquet would be at a similar level, right? Though he had never been to one.

’So, so I just ate a delicacy that even those high-ranking officials and nobles might not get to eat!?’

Xue Guang tried to process his shock.