Supreme Delicacy

Xiao Yao deftly placed the dishes on the table, then took a bottle of Maotai from his suitcase and said, “Dad, a friend gave me this Maotai—produced in 1965. Why don’t you give it a try?”

“Produced in 1965? Are you sure?” Xiao Zhenshan was incredulous. “Do you realize how rare a 1965 Maotai is? A bottle like that is worth hundreds of thousands. Who are your friends, that they can give away such treasures so casually?”

“I made this friend in the capital. You don’t have to believe me now. Whether it’s real or not, you’ll know after you taste it.” Xiao Yao quickly opened the bottle and placed it on the table.

Xiao Zhenshan, fond of a good drink, was naturally intrigued by his son’s claim of a ‘65 Maotai. He picked up the bottle and examined it carefully, ready to teach his son a lesson.

But after a thorough inspection, he found no signs of forgery. On the contrary, the more he looked, the more genuine it seemed.

“The counterfeiters these days are truly skilled—the bottle and packaging are just like the real thing, not a single flaw to be found. With enough investment, they could easily fake new Maotai, and few would know the difference. Such a pity for this superb packaging. If it were for collection, no one could tell it’s fake.”

Turning to Xiao Yao, Xiao Zhenshan scolded, “You’re usually not this diligent. Why did you open the bottle so quickly? If this was meant for collection, it would be quite impressive. Now that you’ve opened it, fake wine remains fake, and even if it’s real Maotai inside, it can’t become a fifty-year aged brew. What a waste of such good packaging.”

“A son’s heartfelt gift! He’s giving you wine for free, and you’re still nitpicking. If you don’t want it, then don’t drink it,” Bai Yuzhen interjected, defending her son.

“Dad, you’re jumping to conclusions. You won’t know unless you taste it first.” Xiao Yao picked up the bottle and poured a glass. “Let me pour you a cup. Try it for yourself.”

He then turned to Bai Yuzhen, “Mom, I brought some red wine as well. Would you like to try it?”

“I don’t like red or white wine. You two go ahead.” Bai Yuzhen rarely drank, except for very important occasions.

“Honestly, the color of this wine is yellowish and thick, just like aged spirits,” Xiao Zhenshan mused, never having tasted such old wine before. Though inexperienced, he felt this was no ordinary drink. “I’ll have a sip. I refuse to believe it’s genuine.”

Xiao Zhenshan raised his glass, took a small sip, and after savoring it, swallowed.

“Well? Not a fake, right?” Xiao Yao pressed.

Xiao Zhenshan frowned. “This is the best wine I’ve ever tasted. Whether it’s a ‘65 Maotai or not, I can’t say, but I’m sure it’s a fine aged spirit.”

“My friend is no ordinary person. He’d never give me fake wine. This is definitely a 1965 Maotai. Drink as much as you like today—enjoy yourself.” Now wasn’t the time to reveal everything; otherwise, the meal wouldn’t go smoothly. He planned to share his recent experiences after dinner.

“Even if it’s not Maotai, it’s definitely aged, and the price isn’t low. I never knew you had such influential friends who’d gift you something so expensive.” Xiao Zhenshan felt his son was hiding something.

“It’s a long story—hard to explain quickly. I’ll tell you everything after we eat.”

Xiao Yao shifted the topic. “My cooking has improved a lot lately. Mom, Dad, try it and see what you think.”

Bai Yuzhen was the first to take a bite of the seasoned potato strips. After tasting them, her face lit up with surprise. “This is amazing! How can potato strips taste so good?”

She continued eating, grabbing several more bites, and mumbled, “I’ve eaten at five-star hotels, but even those delicacies can’t compare to this plate of potato strips. It’s truly delicious—son, you’re incredible!”

“Is it really that good? Aren’t you exaggerating?” Xiao Zhenshan was skeptical about his wife’s unusual enthusiasm.

Bai Yuzhen pulled the plate closer. “This plate is mine. You eat something else.”

“At your age, you’re still guarding your food. Let me try a bite—what’s left is all yours.” Xiao Zhenshan tried a mouthful and was immediately stunned.

“Son, you’re amazing! Since when did your cooking become so refined?” Owing to his work, Xiao Zhenshan had tasted the cuisine of many top chefs, but turning simple potato strips into a supreme delicacy was a first for him.

He truly couldn’t believe that such ordinary potato strips could be so delicious. This indescribable flavor surpassed even the most exquisite delicacies.

“Let’s eat first. I’ll explain everything in detail after dinner. Otherwise, you and Mom won’t be able to focus on eating.” With that, Xiao Yao started eating as well.

After inheriting Pan Wu’s culinary skills, this was Xiao Yao’s first time cooking himself. Though there was still a slight gap compared to Pan Wu’s mastery, he was already very close to the taste in his memory. After one bite, he couldn’t stop.

Xiao Zhenshan and Bai Yuzhen were completely conquered by the extraordinary dishes. Xiao Zhenshan even neglected his fifty-year-old Maotai, the three of them bent over their meal, too absorbed to speak, their chopsticks moving nonstop.

The meal was finished in less than twenty minutes. Except for the oil-braised prawns and red-braised lamb prepared by Bai Yuzhen, which were left untouched, the other four dishes were devoured completely, while the bottle of fifty-year-old Maotai was barely touched.

After clearing away the dishes and tidying up the kitchen, the family sat together on the sofa. Xiao Zhenshan looked at his son seriously. “You’ve changed a lot in just half a month. Tell us—what happened?”

“Well, it happened like this. One night, after closing the shop…” Xiao Yao recounted his experiences over the past period in detail. Of course, anything that needed to be concealed was glossed over.