An Unforgettable Culinary Inspection

"This... this..." Director Li stammered as if he had been cast under a spell.

As a food connoisseur who had even dined for free at a three-star Michelin restaurant, he was eating an unforgettable Twice-Cooked Pork in this dilapidated shop.

This twist was more shocking than his wife's shopping bills.

He quickly took another large bite, fearing that this might be some kind of culinary hallucination.

The meat slices were cooked to perfection, and the proportion of the ingredients was nearly flawless; the skill level was more seasoned than his twenty years of work experience.

Director Li couldn't help but mutter to himself: Could it be that some Michelin chef had lost his memory and taken refuge in this shabby shop?

Xiao Zhang, watching from the side, was agape; it was the first time he had seen his picky boss, who was usually so critical, eating like a hermit who hadn't eaten for three days.

Xiao Zhang also quickly took a bite, and as soon as he did, he was struck as if by lightning, standing there in a daze.

The taste was completely at odds with the atmosphere of this shabby shop like a beggar suddenly pulling out a black card.

Instinctively, he took another large bite, fearing that this might be some kind of culinary illusion.

Good heavens, a shop whose sign was about to fall off could make a plate of ordinary Twice-Cooked Pork so stunning.

The plate was cleaned even more thoroughly than when they sealed off a black-hearted restaurant, leaving only a layer of oil glistening under the light, lonely and forlorn.

The two investigators then realized that they had just gobbled down their food like hungry ghosts reincarnated, an image that could destroy the professional dignity they had accumulated over the years.

Xiao Zhang suddenly realized something and quickly picked up the menu: "Director Li, let's investigate some other textures. We can't conclude anything from just one dish." As he spoke, he laughed...

"Ahem..." Xiao Zhang feigned seriousness, straightening his tie that had already been loosened by the spiciness, "This, for the sake of completeness of the investigation, I think it's necessary..."

"Yes, yes!" Old Li grabbed the menu, fearing that he would be too slow, "We must sample several categories. This is..." He racked his brain for a professional term, "This is comprehensive evidence collection!"

"The 'Asura Hellish Eggplant'," Xiao Zhang pointed at the menu with his pen, pretending to take notes, though his mouth was almost watering, "seems to have significant investigative value."

Old Li also chimed in, "And this 'Dark Destroyer Twice-Cooked Pork' must be thoroughly inspected as well."

As soon as the waiter left, the two couldn't help but exchange glances, both seeing an unspoken understanding in each other's eyes—this was probably the most delicious "investigation" in their law enforcement careers.

"Let's also have some home-style tofu," Xiao Zhang suddenly became serious, "we need to test the quality of their regular dishes."

"Yes, and some green pepper shredded pork," Old Li nodded solemnly, "only then will the report be comprehensive."

While speaking officially, both unconsciously polished their chopsticks to a shine, waiting for the next round of "evidence collection" to begin.

They looked nothing like serious professional investigators, more like two elementary school students waiting for their meal.

The two regular customers nearby watched the scene with smiles on their faces, their expressions more playful than when seeing their grandchildren taste spicy food for the first time.

They were used to this kind of scene—

Every new customer who fancied themselves well-traveled would eventually play out a "Cinderella-to-Princess" culinary fairy tale in this shabby shop.

In less than 5 minutes, Xiao Li, the waiter, neatly carried out five dishes on a large tray.

"How could it be so fast..." Xiao Zhang stared agape at the dishes being served. He remembered that he hadn't even had time to put the pen cap back on after ordering, and the dishes were already here.

"This speed..." Old Li's mouth was half-open, looking at his watch and then at the dishes on the table, "It can't be pre-made, right?"

But the aroma hit them, and each dish was steaming, clearly just out of the wok.

The surface of the "Asura Hellish Eggplant" was oily and shiny, with the eggplant pieces evenly coated with sauce; the slices of "Dark Destroyer Twice-Cooked Pork" were as thin as paper, with the curled edges showing an enticing golden hue.

Xiao Zhang picked up a piece of eggplant, instinctively on guard—dishes served so quickly couldn't possibly be good. But as soon as he took a bite, his expression froze.

The eggplant skin was crispy, and the inside was soft and not greasy at all. The savory sauce and the sweetness of the eggplant were perfectly blended, making one want to lick the plate clean.

Old Li had already forgotten about his image, his chopsticks flying as he moved between the dishes. He didn't look like a rigorous investigator; it was as if he were racing against time.

"This tofu..." Xiao Zhang, with tears in his eyes (from the spiciness), couldn't speak, "The control of the heat is just too amazing..."

They looked at each other, both seeing shock in each other's eyes—this wasn't an investigation of a blacklisted shop; it was a culinary exploration!

In no time, Xiao Zhang was slumped in his chair, as if he had just finished a tough battle. He touched his round belly, regretting having eaten so much at Fu Man Lou earlier, yet unwilling to waste the remaining delicious sauce on the table.

"Director Li..." He struggled to straighten up, "Shouldn't we..."

"Yes, yes," Old Li quickly took out his notebook, pretending to write something seriously, but his hand kept glancing involuntarily at the last piece of Twice-Cooked Pork, "We need to make a summary..."

Looking at the plates on the table that had been cleaned spotless, both felt a bit embarrassed. Especially the dish of "Asura Hellish Eggplant," even the sauce had been completely mopped up with buns by them. This kind of eating behavior didn't look like they were here to investigate at all.

Director Li quickly wiped his mouth with a napkin, trying to salvage his already tattered professional image.

He straightened his tie, an action more formal than when he inspected hotel hygiene: "Ahem, waiter, tell your boss that, according to the procedure, we need to take a tour of your kitchen."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Li immediately went into the kitchen to call out Liu Yang.

Liu Yang nodded with a smile, an expression that seemed to say, "You're welcome to inspect, but I won't be responsible for any medical bills."

This confidence was more unsettling than the names of his dark cuisines.

As soon as Liu Yang took off his apron, he saw the two inspectors already taking out their work IDs. With a mysterious smile on his lips, he gestured, "Ladies and gentlemen, please come in."

Xiao Zhang and Old Li exchanged glances, both seeing a hint of nervousness in each other's eyes. They had seen too many kitchens—some so dirty they could breed cockroaches, others so messy it looked like they had been robbed. But this smile gave them an indescribable sense of dissonance.

"You see..." Xiao Zhang was about to say something when he was left speechless by the sight of the kitchen.

The cooking counter was spotless, the cutting boards were neatly categorized; the pots and shovels on the wall were arranged by size, as meticulous as an army; the bottles and jars on the condiment rack were all labeled, with the writing neatly done.

The most unexpected was the large wok—glossy black, clearly well-maintained.

"Is this... a kitchen?" Old Li's hand holding the notebook was trembling.

"Yes," Liu Yang's smile grew even wider, "Would you like to check the refrigerator? Or perhaps take a look at our restroom?"

The two investigators looked at each other in dismay. They were ready to deal with all sorts of hygiene issues, but they were not prepared to face a kitchen cleaner than their own office.

Now what? With such a clean kitchen, where were they supposed to find any problems?

Initially, the two inspectors followed Liu Yang into the kitchen, only noticing its spotless cleanliness. Suddenly, Director Li noticed a detail! He was instantly struck by the scene before him—

A wave of heat hit them as six stoves were neatly lined up, like six giant dragons spewing fire.

Blue flames rose and fell, some as gentle as a stream, others as vigorous as a fountain, dancing under the dim yellow light.

Smoke curled up, swirling under the exhaust fan above, like a troupe of ballet-dancing sprites.

Against the wall, on the three large stoves, woks clanged noisily, filled with the sizzle of cooking;

On the two medium heat stoves in the middle, soup pots bubbled and burbled, releasing fragrant steam;

On the smallest stove at the edge, a delicate little copper pot was tenderly simmering soup, with fine white vapor escaping from the edges, as soft as morning mist.

With all six burners working simultaneously, waves of heat radiated outwards, the thermometer on the wall nearly touching the red line.

The sound of the spatulas flipping, the "sizzle" of seasonings hitting the hot oil, and the roar of the exhaust fan wove together into a kitchen symphony.

Looking at Liu Yang, his figure moved in and out of the firelight, like a solo artist dancing on stage.

His left hand held the wok with a light touch, his wrist trembling slightly, causing the shrimp at the bottom of the wok to tumble with the firelight,

Arcing perfectly through the air before landing back down;

His right hand, gripping the spatula with a slightly open tiger's mouth, flexibly pressed the handle, each stir perfectly timed.

The tip of the spatula lightly touched the bottom of the wok, producing a clear "clang," as if keeping the rhythm for this culinary performance.

The green pepper strips in the wok quickly changed color under the controlled oil temperature,

Shifting from dark green to bright green, the aroma of garlic burst forth in an instant, mingling with the unique freshness of the shrimp, weaving a net in the air.

The moment the soy sauce hit the wok, a "sizzle" accompanied by a burst of rich fragrance rose into the air, swirling upwards in the airflow of the exhaust fan.