In the 1980s, Quanjude was still the favorite of the old people in Beijing.
Compared with the magnificently decorated restaurants decades later, which cost two hundred yuan per piece but served worse-tasting roast duck, the current Quanjude Roast Duck is the real deal and a true calling card of the capital's gourmet food.
After getting off the bus at the Qianmen Street bus stop, Chen Wang asked someone for directions.
Following the instructions of passers-by, I walked about 500 meters and saw the target from a distance.
It is a plain-looking two-story building with three big bright red characters "Quanjude" on it.
There was a long line of customers outside, including men, women, young and old, locals from the capital, and tourists from all over the country.
"Wow, brother, there are so many people, let's go and line up!"
The little girl couldn't wait to urge, holding Lin Xiuqin's hand and walking quickly forward.
Lin Xiuqin covered her slightly bulging belly with one hand and kept pace with her steps with a smile on her face.
"Slow down, why are you panicking?"
Chen Wang let out a low growl.
The little girl also realized that she was walking too fast and immediately slowed down.
Not long after they reached the end of the line, more people started to line up behind them.
"How about you guys wait in line here while I go walk around and buy some things?"
Chen Wang made a suggestion.
It looks like it would be difficult to get in without two or three hours, and it’s a bit of a waste for three people to stand in line together.
Lin Xiuqin smiled and nodded.
"Brother, where are you going?"
The little girl looked up and asked.
"You don't want cake on your birthday?"
Chen Wang asked back with a smile.
The little girl's eyes lit up and she nodded repeatedly: "Yes, brother, I want to eat cake."
"Then you guys line up here, I'll go see if there's a cake shop nearby and buy something smaller."
"Yes, brother, go ahead, I will take good care of my sister-in-law."
"Then I'll go!"
Chen Wang chuckled and rubbed her head, exchanged a glance with his wife, and then left the team.
The streets are bustling with people, and on both sides are various time-honored shops selling various special snacks such as steamed buns, mending meat pies, and braised steamed buns, as well as various cultural relics.
Walking on this famous commercial street of the imperial capital decades ago, Chen Wang felt the historical charm of the imperial capital and felt inexplicably relaxed.
Soon, Chen Wang saw a small cake shop.
As Chen Wang stepped into the store, a sweet scent hit him in the face.
There were all kinds of old-fashioned pastries and cakes on the counter, and a woman was sitting behind knitting a sweater.
"Hello, would you like to buy anything?"
The woman heard footsteps, looked up at Chen Wang and asked.
“Can I make a birthday cake now?”
Chen Wang asked with a smile.
"Sure, how big do you want? When do you want it?"
"Can we do it now? The sooner the better. Six inches will be fine."
"Okay, what kind do you want? I have a picture here."
The woman stood up and picked up a cake album.
"Help me choose. The birthday is my sister's, it's her 6th birthday."
Chen Wang said directly.
"A 6-year-old girl. OK, I'll help you choose one."
The woman nodded and shouted inside: "Husband, come here!!"
“How soon can I get it?”
Chen Wang asked.
"Well... about an hour and a half!"
The woman thought for a moment before answering.
Chen Wang looked at the watch on his wrist and said, "It's 7 o'clock now, I'll come to get it at 8:30!"
"OK."
"Then I'll go shopping first."
After saying that, Chen Wang turned around and left the cake shop.
After strolling around for a while, Chen Wang bought two cups of scented tea ice cream at a century-old tea shop, as well as a portion of Mending meat pie and a portion of braised steamed bun, and packed them up and took them back to the Quanjude store.
The line was still as long as before. Lin Xiuqin and the little girl moved forward about four or five meters.
"elder brother!"
The little girl noticed him with her sharp eyes, waved with a bright smile, and then stared straight at the snacks in his hand.
Chen Wang walked over with a smile and said, "The cake has been ordered. It looks like it will take a long time before we can get in. Let's eat something first."
"Brother, what did you buy? It smells so good!"
"Meat pie, stewed pork, or ice cream, which one do you want to eat first?"
"Wow, bro, I want some ice cream."
The little girl cheered.
Chen Wang handed her a portion of ice cream, then handed the braised pork to Lin Xiuqin, and said with a smile: "Wife, try this braised pork first. There are also many people queuing here. It looks good."
Lin Xiuqin smiled and nodded, took it and looked at it curiously, then took a bite with disposable chopsticks.
"How about it?"
Chen Wang took a big bite of the crispy outside and tender inside meat pie and asked with a smile.
Lin Xiuqin nodded vigorously, indicating that it was delicious.
"Brother, sister-in-law, this ice cream is delicious too. Ugh, I have a headache!"
The little girl praised happily, but ended up feeling a pain in her head from the ice, so she frowned and covered her head.
"Eat slowly!"
Chen Wang glared at her with amusement.
"Sister-in-law, let me switch with you. You eat some ice cream and I'll have yours."
The little girl said with a smile.
Lin Xiuqin then exchanged with her.
"Wife, you should eat less ice cream. Give it to me and you can eat this meat pie."
Chen Wang watched her eat some ice cream and then exchanged ice cream with her.
The three of them took turns eating and the team moved forward a few meters.
"Brother, everything here is delicious. I want to eat more."
The little girl looked up and begged.
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!
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