It was nearing noon.

However, the queue at Huang Tao's booth did not dwindle with the approaching lunchtime.

People continued to line up in droves.

Most of those who lined up were local fans of a few popular food bloggers on Douyin.

Originally!

They had no plans to visit this year's food festival.

Every year, the food festival is just the same—crowded and overpriced, with nothing new to offer.

The gourmet food made by the hotels and restaurants is just average, nothing particularly spectacular or memorable.

Even though there were a few innovations this year.

They added two eye-catching projects: "Live Cooking Demonstrations" and "Red Envelope on Payment."

These didn't interest them either.

A person who orders takeout every day and can't cook might end up mess up the kitchen if attempting to try these at home.

Besides, they never won any significant prizes growing up.

At some company annual dinners, if they get anything, it's just the consolation prize.

The only third prize anyone ever received was winning another pack of melon seeds—what an excitement!

And the small winning slip got lost...

With such bad luck with prizes, naturally, they aren't thinking about the red envelope giveaway.

On a rare day off, staying home, sipping fizzy drinks, watching soap operas, gaming, catching up on live streams, and ordering pizza or sushi is also a nice choice.

At least they wouldn't have to push through the crowds!

These thoughts vanished after watching some food bloggers' live streams!

Indeed!

They were enticed by the bloggers' indulging eating and vivid food descriptions!

And then, they ran to the Delicious Restaurant booth to satisfy their cravings!

"Wow~ it's nearly noon, and there's still such a long line! The bloggers were right; this booth is so popular!"

"Wow, so many people queuing up! I remember the blogger saying the busiest booth is the Delicious Restaurant. Lining up here can't go wrong."

"I could smell the aroma of marinated dishes and the sweet and savory scent of the Fish Ball Soup from a distance. Just the smell tells me the taste won't disappoint. I better hurry and queue up, or they'll be sold out, and I'll have to wait even longer."

"Oh my! This Delicious Restaurant booth is actually a small eatery! For this little restaurant to stand side by side with big hotels and restaurants at the food festival, it shows the booth owner must have some serious skills—impressive!"

Attracted by food bloggers, these people joined the queuing crowd while chatting.

Huang Tao was busy as always!

He was busy serving the customers who had ordered in front.

He ran like a high-speed, precise machine, continuously cooking nourishing fish soup, Fish Ball Soup, slicing roast duck, and checking the heat of the lotus leaf steamed pork ribs.

Everything was orderly!

The serving speed was incredibly fast!

Customers who got their orders began tasting eagerly.

Whether they started with the Fish Ball Soup, nourishing fish soup, roast duck, marinated dishes, or lotus leaf steamed pork ribs, their faces spontaneously radiated happiness.

They praised incessantly while eating.

"Wow! This Fish Ball Soup is way too delicious! I've never tasted such smooth, juicy, bouncy, and flavorful fish balls!"

"Mm-hmm~ fish balls soaked in chicken soup are refreshingly sweet and soft, with a delicious and unforgettable texture."

"Oh my... how does the owner make these marinated dishes? The aroma is almost healing my sinusitis!"

"Ain't that the truth? This marinated aroma is against the rules!"

"The roast duck is perfect, crispy golden skin, one bite, crispy skin and tender meat, rich and delicious flavor, fatty but not greasy, amazing taste!"

"This nourishing fish soup is also good, no fishy taste at all, but still retains the fresh flavor of the fish! This bowl of fish soup is small, but it holds a lot of cooking techniques!"

"This Fish Ball Soup is incredible! So fresh my eyebrows are flying up!"

What pizza.

Sushi.

In front of these delicacies, they're nothing!

Huang Tao kept his head down, continuing to cook and serve food to the diners.

At that moment, another customer approached the booth.

Lin Yuhan greeted the customer in front with a polite smile, "Hello, may I take your order?"

However, she didn't receive a response from the person.

The person regarded her boss with surprise, and somewhat uncertainly uttered, "Huang... Huang Tao?"

Upon hearing someone directly call his name, Huang Tao instinctively raised his head and curiously looked at the person.

He didn't know... but when he saw, it was quite a surprise...

It was his former university classmate and roommate, Gu Zhihao!

They had a good relationship.

They took care of each other during school.

But after graduation, they went their separate ways.

With different careers and everyday interests, naturally, they didn't have much in common, gradually drifting apart.

Additionally, Huang Tao married early and started a family, making Gu Zhihao hesitate to be a third wheel. Their contact became even less frequent.

It was only last year when something happened to Huang Tao's family that Gu Zhihao, somehow finding out, visited the hospital with gifts and quietly left them 2,000 yuan.

When he had the chance, he'd send messages to check in on him and offer comfort.

After his wife passed away, he helped him with the funeral, busy with all the arrangements.

Afterwards, he would occasionally send messages to comfort him, telling him to pull himself together for his daughter.

During holidays, the two would also exchange messages to catch up on each other's lives.

Huang Tao hadn't proactively told Gu Zhihao that he opened a restaurant.

Initially, it was because his restaurant was just starting, and he wanted to wait until it was stable before telling him.

But later, when the restaurant was doing well, he was too busy and forgot.

On top of that, he was preparing for the food festival, and he completely forgot about it.

Running into each other unexpectedly at the booth today, he was quite surprised.

With a look of surprise, he said, "Zhao Hao..."

"Tao... it really is you! I almost didn't recognize you in this outfit. By the way, why are you wearing a chef's uniform? Cooking fish balls here?"

At that moment, Gu Zhihao was sure he hadn't recognized the wrong person.

But seeing Huang Tao in this outfit, he was quite puzzled.

Huang Tao chuckled, "This booth is mine; if I'm not here, where would I be..."

Understanding the implication of Huang Tao's words, Gu Zhihao's eyes widened like copper bells.

"Oh my~ You opened this Delicious Restaurant?! So, the charming owner and chef they talked about is you, Tao?! It's like a flood flushing out the Dragon King's temple—family not recognizing family!"

He smiled and nodded, "Yes, this restaurant is indeed mine!"

"Wow! Tao, I had no idea you were such a good cook after all these years! And you quietly opened a restaurant and became the boss! And you even made it to the food festival! Business is booming!"

"Tao, you've kept it well hidden!"

Gu Zhihao was verbally chastising Huang Tao but was truly admiring him deep down!

He was thriving in the culinary world!

Look at this business!

It's thriving!

He was genuinely happy for Huang Tao.

This must be the end of hardships and the beginning of good times...

Seeing his friend doing well, he felt at ease.

Huang Tao explained, "I've just been open for over half a month, thinking I'd tell you once business got on track, but I got so busy I forgot..."

"Seeing how busy you are, I won't hold this against you, but don't let there be a next time!"

"Alright, got it. Come in and have a seat! Try some of my cooking!" Huang Tao invited him with a smile.

"Hey, Zhao Hao!" At this point, Huang Yide's couple noticed the commotion, recognized Gu Zhihao, and were a bit surprised, quickly inviting him, "Come, have a seat."

"Hey!"

Gu Zhihao greeted with a smile, "Auntie, Uncle, Xuanxuan, hello, long time no see!"

Xuanxuan recognized him, and with a sweet smile, said, "Hello, Uncle Zhao Hao~"

"Hey! Xuanxuan, you've grown taller and even more beautiful!" he complimented with a smile.

"Thank you for the compliment."

Xuanxuan politely responded, patting the chair beside her, indicating for him to sit, "Uncle Zhao Hao, you can sit here..."

"Thank you!"

After sitting down, Gu Zhihao began chatting with Huang Yide and his spouse.

From their conversation, he learned the exact location of Huang Tao's restaurant and how Ma Deqiang personally invited him to the food festival, among other things.

While surprised, he admired Huang Tao even more.

Of course.

Huang Yide and his spouse, being older, couldn't avoid asking about such things.

They started inquiring about Gu Zhihao's marriage prospects.

Upon finding out he was still single, they earnestly advised him not to be too picky and to hurry to find a girl he fancies to marry, instead of ending up an aged bachelor...

At this moment, Huang Tao took a moment to bring some food over for them, to fill their stomachs a bit.

"Zhao Hao, here, try this fish ball soup and braised dishes first!"

"Okay, thank you, Tao, you go on with your work, don't mind me..."

"Alright, you go ahead and eat!"

Huang Tao smiled, then instructed his parents and Xuanxuan, saying if they were hungry, they could also start eating some braised dishes to hold them over, then went back to work.

Gu Zhihao didn't hesitate, and immediately picked up his chopsticks to try a braised pig trotter.

"!!!"

"Wow, this braised pig trotter is incredibly fragrant!"

If he had known his friend had such skills, why suffer all those years of takeout misery!

Feels like he missed out on a fortune!

"Tao, your skills are simply amazing!"

Huang Tao smiled slightly, "Just so-so!"

"Hey, hey, hey! You're really going overboard with praise."

"But where did you learn to cook like this? We slept in the same dorm for four years in college and have known each other all these years after graduation, yet I never knew?"

"Learned online~"

"I..." Gu Zhihao twitched at the corners of his mouth.

Learning online can teach someone to cook this well?

He must be a culinary genius...

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