Chapter 39 A Delicious Feast

A barely perceptible blush rose on his wheat-colored face. He coughed lightly, raised the raw skewers he had just received, and explained earnestly, "Ahem, Lao Xu, I'm just... just a little curious whether what Haoran said is really as exaggerated as it sounds. Practice makes perfect, right?"

He observed Xu Zhixian's expression and tentatively invited, "Um... Old Xu, would you like to... have a skewer to try?"

Now that things have come to this point, even the most serious and rigid Zhao Liming has "taken the plunge," so Xu Zhixian felt that if he continued to act aloof, he would seem a bit out of place.

In addition... the aroma was just... too tempting.

His inner struggle was quickly defeated by his appetite.

“…Alright, then I’ll give it a try.” Xu Zhixian tried his best to make his tone sound like he was reluctant.

So, the three of them naturally walked toward the sunshade that Su Xiaonuan had set up and sat down at the table closest to the stall.

As luck would have it, the cool air from Su Xiaonuan's RV was blowing out through the open door, mixing with the heat from the barbecue skewers to create a wonderfully cool and comforting atmosphere, making it feel surprisingly mild and not hot at all.

Not long after they sat down, Su Xiaonuan finally sold out the last few skewers of ingredients.

[Ding! Daily quest (Sell 1000 Deadly Barbecue Skewers) has been completed! Reward: 450 Merit Points! Current Merit Points: 2900.]

She let out a long sigh of relief, wiped the fine beads of sweat from her forehead, and wore a tired but incredibly satisfied smile.

She deftly tidied up the grill, then came over carrying an even larger, overflowing deluxe platter of skewers—a generous portion that included the skewers she had saved for herself and the last few she grilled.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" She placed the huge platter of fragrant, varied skewers in the center of the table, pulled up a chair for herself, and sat down, one for each of them.

She wiped the sweat from the tip of her nose with the back of her hand, her eyes curving into crescents. She pushed the plate towards her, her voice carrying a hint of anticipation and smugness: "Officers, would you like to try some?"

Qin Haoran stared at the ultimate temptation in front of him, his mouth watering uncontrollably, and his hand involuntarily rose slightly.

But with the two seniors present, and especially with Xu Zhixian still not moving, he could only forcibly suppress his restless hand that was about to pounce, and looked at Xu Zhixian expectantly, urging with his eyes: "Brother Xu, please go first! Please go first!"

Xu Zhixian looked at the visually striking plate of grilled skewers in front of him.

The caramel-colored pork belly is glistening and tempting, the beef skewers have distinct muscle textures and exude a bold aroma of black pepper and cumin, the squid tentacles are chewy and curled, the bright green chives are covered with glistening minced garlic and chili powder, the golden steamed bun slices have crispy edges... each one seems to be extending a warm invitation to him.

He took a deep breath and finally reached out his hand.

His movements remained somewhat refined and reserved. Unlike Qin Haoran, he didn't grab a large handful of mushrooms, but instead carefully chose a skewer of grilled mushrooms that looked relatively mild in spiciness.

The mushrooms were roasted to perfection, with a slightly dry surface that locked in their juices.

He blew on it gently, then carefully took a bite.

The first thing you notice about mushrooms is their unique, meaty texture and sweet, natural flavor, brought out by the high temperature!

Then, the incredibly rich flavors of the outer layer of seasonings come rushing in like a tidal wave—the mellow richness of cumin, the aroma of sesame seeds, the perfect touch of chili powder, and the finishing touch of the secret sauce with a slightly sweet aftertaste…

All the flavors blended together perfectly, not only without masking the mushroom's natural deliciousness, but also bringing it to its fullest!

The texture is incredibly rich and layered, with salty, fragrant, fresh, sweet, and slightly spicy flavors intertwining and colliding in the mouth, ultimately creating an extremely harmonious and irresistible deliciousness!

Xu Zhixian's chewing movements involuntarily slowed down.

His eyes widened slightly, a look of disbelief and amazement flashing across them.

He had eaten countless delicacies and Michelin-starred restaurants, but he never imagined that a simple skewer of grilled mushrooms could bring such a shocking taste experience!

This is completely beyond his understanding of "street vendor barbecue"!

He even forgot to be polite and subconsciously took another big bite, carefully savoring the complex yet harmonious flavors. His usual gentle smile disappeared, replaced by a focused and enjoyable expression of complete absorption in the food.

Qin Haoran and Zhao Liming stared intently at Xu Zhixian's expression. Seeing the subtle yet obvious change in him, their hearts skipped a beat at the same time, and a surge of excitement, "Just as I thought," welled up within them.

"Brother Xu, how was it? I didn't lie to you, did I?" Qin Haoran asked impatiently, his eyes shining like searchlights.

Xu Zhixian did not answer immediately, but slowly and solemnly swallowed the food in his mouth, as if he were performing some kind of ritual.

Then, he raised his head and looked at Su Xiaonuan, who was gazing at him expectantly. His eyes were filled with undisguised admiration and amazement. He nodded very seriously, his voice slightly higher than usual.

"You're not just telling me... Comrade Xiao Su, your cooking skills are absolutely superb! This is the most delicious roasted mushroom I've ever eaten, bar none."

Upon receiving such high praise from Xu Zhixian, Su Xiaonuan's face instantly blossomed into an incredibly bright and proud smile, even more dazzling than the sun.

Xu Zhixian's words were like the starting gun!

Qin Haoran and Zhao Liming, who had been holding back for a long time, immediately made their move at the same time with lightning speed!

Qin Haoran grabbed two skewers of fatty pork belly and a skewer of beef covered in chili peppers!

Zhao Liming, on the other hand, precisely targeted the grilled squid tentacles and the chicken cartilage!

The next second, all that could be heard under the awning was the sound of unrefined chewing, satisfied sighs, and hissing sounds from the spiciness that couldn't be stopped.

Xu Zhixian looked at his two colleagues who instantly revealed their true colors, shook his head helplessly, but couldn't help but smile.

He no longer held back and reached out to pick up the second skewer—this time, he bravely chose a skewer of grilled chicken wings that looked incredibly spicy.

The delicious feast has only just begun.

The four of them sat around a small table, enjoying this unexpected and satisfying lunch.

The aroma of grilled skewers lingered, mingling with the refreshing scent of iced drinks, dispelling the afternoon's sweltering heat.

Qin Haoran and Zhao Liming completely abandoned their airs as police officers, eating with their hands covered in oil and praising the food highly.

Although Xu Zhixian ate relatively politely, he was not slow at all, and his eyes were always filled with amazement at the delicious food.

After a satisfying meal, the atmosphere relaxed.

While picking his teeth with a toothpick, Qin Haoran casually started talking about work: "Sigh, speaking of which, the case I took on yesterday was quite a headache."