Food Stall: Customers Chase Me across the Country

Chapter 609 - 574: Alligator Feast and Bàbà Banquet

After getting used to the usual types of meat, trying crocodile felt quite refreshing.

But that’s only for farmed ones; he would never open his mouth for wild ones, including other wild animals. He’s adamantly against eating them.

Risking one’s life for a bite to eat is truly unwise.

And after so many years of taming and improvement, the taste of farmed livestock is indeed the best.

Wang Fan didn’t know if he had activated some weird "eager to teach" setting, spending the afternoon helping this fan improve the taste, and before he realized it, it was almost dark, making it impossible to climb Mount Emei.

Li Jie felt quite apologetic: "It’s already dark, there’s no way to climb the mountain now. If you don’t mind, the two of you can stay at my place; I have guest rooms."

Wang Fan somewhat apologetically said to Zhuo Qianqian, "I’m really sorry, once I got into it, I forgot the time."

Zhuo Qianqian chuckled, "It’s okay, a man who works seriously is the most handsome. My eyes have feasted on ice cream all afternoon, it’s a great win!"

Li Jie was stunned looking at Zhuo Qianqian, and then recalling his own sweet darling, he suddenly felt the gap in having a girlfriend was just too big!

If it had been him delaying time like this, his sweetheart would definitely make him "cute" to death!

Eventually, Wang Fan stayed the night here, but didn’t use the guest room; they’re more accustomed to resting in their own RV.

In the evening, Li Jie brought out his karaoke equipment and prepared some small dishes and drinks, enjoying eating, drinking, and playing.

...

"This year nothing can stop us from going to Mount Emei to see monkeys! Not even if an emperor came!"

Wang Fan and Qianqian set this flag early in the morning.

Because time was short, and the tourist crowds were already arriving soon; if delayed further, they’d only be seeing people everywhere.

But still, the saying goes, don’t set flags willy-nilly; not even an emperor can stop Wang Fan from going to Mount Emei, but a BaBa Banquet can.

BaBa Banquet, also known as "Nine Bowls," is a traditional folk-style banquet from Zigong City and rural plains.

It originated in the countryside, usually set at the courtyard dam with cold dishes, steamed dishes, and stir-fried dishes.

The taste might not be particularly exquisite, but it’s definitely plentiful, ensuring all guests leave well-fed and satisfied.

BaBa Banquet is part of Zigong’s salt gang cuisine, a unique kind of rural Hakka banquet, commonly used for celebrating harvest, weddings, funerals, birthdays, and spring feasts, inviting friends and family to gather and enjoy meals.

Watching the lively scene, Wang Fan and Zhuo Qianqian couldn’t resist wanting to join in the fun.

Although Wang Fan isn’t fond of crowded places, the quantity of dishes allows him to temporarily overlook the crowd. Yet, he hesitated, wondering if they’d be chased away if they crashed in uninvited.

Qianqian whispered, "Should be alright, right? We can say we’re here to join the festivities and later give a big red envelope, so we might manage a meal, don’t you think?"

"Right!"

Zhuo Qianqian’s eyes lit up as she said, "I have a classmate from Sichuan. Let me call and ask him if we can join a BaBa Banquet."

After saying that, she picked up the phone and dialed, answering with a couple "uh-huhs" before hanging up.

"Boss, my classmate said if you encounter a BaBa Banquet, you simply sit down and eat, then give a symbolic red envelope to bless at the end!"

Wang Fan was delighted to hear this; these BaBa Banquets are much like rural banquets, don’t judge by appearance, the taste is surprisingly good. Some chefs’ specialties can rival large restaurants.

And as the kitchen is open, there’s no worry about the freshness of the ingredients, nor concerns about using pre-made dishes.

The two quietly found a table with empty seats and sat down.

By then, the table was already half-filled with dishes, with chefs wearing brand-new uniforms serving more food, determined not to stop until the table was full.

Initially, both were quite reserved, only picking from the food in front of them, their faces blushing, heads too shy to look up.

The others at the table noticed these two bashful quails, exchanged knowing smiles, and began turning dishes towards them cooperatively.

With fresh enough ingredients, high enough dish temperature, and chefs who aren’t amateurs, the dish’s quality wouldn’t falter too much. Although this table of food didn’t reach the taste of Laoliang’s Bistro, it was certainly better than the last big restaurant he tried.

Especially the Dongpo Pork, the skin is tender and smooth, and the meat is flavorful, surpassing the hundred-yuan servings by miles.

But Wang Fan felt uneasy, whispering to Zhuo Qianqian next to him, "You eat first, I’ll go wrap some gift money."

In the north, gift money is usually given before the feast. Giving it afterward felt uneasy, like eating for free.

But when he stood up to find the accountant, he was baffled.

Because looking around, aside from a few chefs bustling among guests, everyone was elderly with gray hair!

What’s going on here? Elderly outing?

Scanning left and right, he couldn’t spot an obvious host, leaving Wang Fan puzzled.

Finally spotting someone who looked in charge, Wang Fan quickly walked over.

Director Geng seemed over fifty with curled hair tied at the back. After listening, she laughed heartily, "Don’t worry, eat to your heart’s content, no need for gift money."

Wang Fan’s tall and clean appearance particularly appealed to the elderly, and they were always quite kind when speaking to him.

Wang Fan felt very apologetic, "But isn’t that improper? Just a little token of appreciation from me and my girlfriend."

Director Geng laughed, "Today there’s no host to give it to! This is organized by our neighborhood office, with National Day coming up, we’re giving haircuts to the elderly and treating them to a BaBa Banquet."

Wang Fan felt embarrassed, "Well, ma’am, can anyone join this BaBa Banquet then?"

Director Geng shook her head, "No, it’s only prepared for the elderly over sixty."

Yikes!

If a crack opened up, Wang Fan would dive in without hesitation, it was terribly awkward!

Seeing Wang Fan’s embarrassment, Director Geng quickly reassured him with a smile, "It’s okay, it’s okay, you’re clearly tourists, we Sichuan people are hospitable, we just want you to enjoy this meal."

Wang Fan repeatedly shook his head, "I can’t eat for free; should I pay for the meal?"

Director Geng feigned anger, "Are you stubborn or what? That’s not good behavior."

She clearly treated Wang Fan as a younger family member, and her warmth was evident in her tone.

Unable to stomach free food, Wang Fan, seeing the busy stove, suddenly had an idea, his eyes lit up: "Ma’am, I’m a chef myself, and I’m quite good at northern dishes, how about I cook a few dishes for these grandpas and grandmas?"

Director Geng replied, "Sure, these elderly folks haven’t had much northern food, but no need to cook several, just your best dish will do; we have plenty already, making too many would be wasteful."

Wang Fan was overjoyed, agreeing to cook one was enough to avoid eating free food.

Leading him to the stove, Director Geng warned, "Even though I agreed, the chefs must agree too. If they don’t, just return to your meal."

Wang Fan nodded promptly, "Alright, ma’am."

There were three chefs, each at their own stove; the first chef was stirring a dish, frowning upon hearing the intent, thinking this was trouble, immediately wanting to decline.

However, before he could speak, the chef beside him excitedly said, "Boss Wang, come to mine, I’ve almost finished my dishes."

"Huh?"

Director Geng asked in surprise to the middle chef, "Xiaoliang, you know each other?"

The other two chefs looked at Xiaoliang in confusion, unsure why he’d let someone else use his stove.

For chefs, the stove and equipment are like a warrior’s weapon, they don’t casually lend them out.

Each chef’s spices are fixed on the stove, and unknowledgeable hands could easily mix them up.

Chef Xiaoliang laughed, "I know him, although he doesn’t know me; he’s a very famous chef. The elderly will surely enjoy his cooking today."