"Lao Qian, this dish is your specialty. Try it first and give us a good evaluation!"
As he spoke, he deliberately emphasized the word "evaluation".
Everyone present wasn’t foolish; He Dazhuang’s intention was clear—he wanted Qian Yunfan to pick apart the flaws of this Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Chilies!
Therefore, even though the room was filled with the rich and spicy aroma of chopped chilies and the fresh fragrance of fish head, everyone resisted the urge to take a bite and let Qian Yunfan evaluate it first.
This was, after all, the main reason they had come all the way from Jiangxia, and they couldn’t ruin it by giving in to their craving.
Qian Yunfan was the head chef at Xiangchu Flavor Building in Jiangxia.
As the name suggests, Xiangchu Flavor Building focuses on the specialties of Xiang and Chu regions. Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Chilies is one of the most famous traditional dishes of Xiang Cuisine and is naturally a signature dish at Qian Yunfan’s restaurant.
Qian Yunfan was renowned for his skill in making this dish, turning it into the hallmark of his grand restaurant, showcasing his excellent culinary skills.
That’s why He Dazhuang directly asked Qian Yunfan for his evaluation without considering anyone else.
Qian Yunfan hadn’t expected to be the first to step up and evaluate the dish; he was surprised but also a bit excited.
He didn’t expect He Dazhuang to be willing to give him the chance to be the first in the spotlight. To know, being the first means more exposure, and if their purpose this time is truly achieved, his reputation will surely soar.
But this clearly wasn’t the time for such sentiments. Qian Yunfan pushed all miscellaneous thoughts out of his mind, took a deep breath, and solemnly stood up from his seat.
He first carefully examined the appearance of the dish, then leaned in to gently smell it before slowly speaking:
"This Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Chilies has a bright red color, tender white fish meat, and, when steamed with fresh red chopped chilies, the aroma is pervasive..."
Before he could finish speaking, He Dazhuang waved his hand to interrupt him, looking displeased, and said:
"You’re supposed to criticize, not praise it. What are you talking about?
The quality of a dish is based on color, aroma, and taste. But just because it looks good and smells good doesn’t mean it tastes good. The taste is crucial!"
Qian Yunfan’s expression froze, and he nearly choked with anger!
What the heck, Lao He, what’s with your tone?
You’re a chef, I’m a chef too, and besides, we’re not from the same restaurant. You’re not my boss, so how dare you talk to me like that?!
Who gave you the audacity?
As his face changed shades of blue and white, Qian Yunfan managed to hold back his temper. Not because he was afraid of He Dazhuang—everyone here is a chef, who fears whom?
He simply considered the purpose of their visit, which was to target this No. 7 Dining Room and Jiang Yu, to step on him as a stepping stone to elevate themselves. It wasn’t the time for internal conflicts.
If they start in-fighting, wouldn’t that mean this trip was in vain?
He wasn’t like He Dazhuang, who seemed brainless and oblivious of his position, imagining himself as the leader just because he’s a few years older.
And to think he dared to reprimand him—what a joke!
Forget it. I’m not bothered to argue with you. Promoting my reputation is what matters most now.
Thinking of this, Qian Yunfan didn’t even spare He Dazhuang a glance. He reached for his chopsticks, gently poked below the fish’s face, above its gill, and picked out a piece of fish meat no larger than 2 centimeters square and slowly placed it into his mouth.
This small piece of fish meat might not mean much to the average person, but for someone like Qian Yunfan, who frequently makes fish head, it was all too familiar.
The fish meat in this area is closely connected to the gills. Since the fish breathes continuously throughout its life, this meat becomes more elastic and vibrant due to the movement, making its taste exceptionally fresh.
The quality of a fish head depends on whether this small piece of fish meat has absorbed flavor and whether it has any fishy taste.
As this red and white fish meat entered his mouth, Qian Yunfan’s initial disdain immediately vanished. In his two or three decades of continuously making Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Chilies, he had never tasted fish meat this succulent and flavorful, let alone fishy.
Where was the fishy taste? As soon as it entered the mouth, all that was left was the fresh taste—the kind that came sincerely from the fish head itself.
Moreover, with Qian Yunfan’s decades of seasoned experience, he could easily discern that this flavor could only be had by the head of a lively wild bighead carp: an unmatched freshness that couldn’t be achieved by any means of modern or traditional culinary expertise.
The freshness and tenderness of the fish meat, combined with the unique salty spice of the chopped chilies, seemed to awaken every cell in the body.
As this rare exquisite taste found only occasionally over decades passed through him, Qian Yunfan even forgot He Dazhuang’s earlier reprimand and couldn’t help but squint his eyes in delight.
To hell with it, who cares about He Dazhuang or any "great chef"—they’re nothing! Worthless!
As Qian Yunfan picked up the chopsticks to taste the Steamed Fish Head with Chopped Chilies, He Dazhuang and others around the table couldn’t help but hold their breath, focusing their gazes on him.