Chen Kai searched for nearby restaurants on his phone and found a Sichuan restaurant with an astonishingly high rating. As an old establishment, it actually had a perfect score of 5.0.
Looking at the comments below, they were all praises.
“Too strong, too fierce!”
“Too amazing.”
“Simply invincible.” … …
Although Chen Kai felt that these comments didn't sound like typical praise for a restaurant, he figured the place couldn't be bad.
“This one!” Miraidon was already eager to dig in.
As soon as Chen Kai stepped out of the hotel, he ran into Yelena and Su Yuexi.
Chen Kai glanced at Yelena and said, “Whoa, didn't you say you wouldn't follow me?”
Yelena put her hands on her hips and retorted, “Who's following you! We just came down for dinner!”
Su Yuexi also quickly nodded, “Chen Kai, we really just happened to run into you.”
Since Su Yuexi said so, Chen Kai didn't think much of it and walked towards the restaurant according to his phone's navigation.
“Miraidon, tonight, we absolutely must order some hearty dishes at this Sichuan restaurant. Boiled fish must be on the menu. The tender white fish soaked in bright red chili oil, one bite, and the numbing, spicy, and fresh flavors instantly burst on the tongue. It's incredibly satisfying.” Chen Kai said, unconsciously swallowing his saliva.
Miraidon's eyes lit up, and it nodded repeatedly, “Hearing you say that, I can't wait. Besides boiled fish, Mapo Tofu can't be missed either. The tender, smooth tofu coated in spicy sauce melts in your mouth, and with steaming hot rice, it's simply the best taste in the world.”
The man and his Pokemon continued walking and talking, with Su Yuexi and Yelena's voices discussing what to eat coming from behind them.
Yelena said calmly, “Su Yuexi, when we go to the Sichuan restaurant tonight, I think Kung Pao Chicken is a must-order.”
“Exactly.” Su Yuexi nodded in agreement.
Yelena continued, “But Shredded Pork with Fish Flavor is also very good.”
Su Yuexi continued to echo, “Indeed.” … …
Su Yuexi was like a professional straight man in a comedy duo, agreeing all the way.
Chen Kai was almost at the restaurant when he finally couldn't help but turn around and complain:
“Didn't you say you weren't following me? How are you two like a crosstalk performance, talking all the way?”
“We were just planning to come to this restaurant to eat!” Yelena replied directly.
Chen Kai looked at Su Yuexi suspiciously, and Su Yuexi quickly nodded nervously, “Yes, Yelena said she wanted to come to this restaurant before she left her room.”
How could it be such a coincidence? Chen Kai mumbled to himself, but since Su Yuexi said so, he no longer doubted it. Anyway, it was just a meal, so he didn't care too much.
Before long, they arrived at a bustling street. The Sichuan restaurant Chen Kai had chosen had a unique style. First, it was very large. To have such a big restaurant in Cheng City's urban area certainly showed significant strength.
Then, unlike the surrounding buildings, it was constructed with a wooden structure. Its simple yet grand style stood out among the towering buildings, appearing rustic and uniquely charming.
The restaurant's exterior was like a steady elder who had weathered the years, exuding a unique charm that came from the passage of time. Thick logs supported the entire building, their wooden textures clearly visible, as if quietly narrating stories of the past.
The logs were dark in color, with a deep, textured feel from enduring wind and rain, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding modern buildings.
The restaurant's signboard was a wooden plaque with “Evil Eatery” written in large golden characters. The calligraphy was strong and powerful, but it was a very strange name, not quite fitting for an eatery, though Chen Kai didn't think much of it.
The edges of the plaque were carved with exquisite patterns, cleverly blending traditional cloud patterns with chili motifs, fully showcasing the unique elements of Sichuan cuisine.
The restaurant's main entrance consisted of two double-leaf wooden doors, inlaid with rustic bronze handles. On either side of the doors were wooden windows, carved with delicate hollowing out patterns. Through the windows, one could see the lively dining scene inside.
Benches were neatly arranged at the restaurant's entrance for waiting customers.
At this moment, the benches were full of people, forming a queue.
There were stylishly dressed young people with expectant faces; elderly people supporting each other, waiting leisurely; and families with children, who were excitedly chasing and playing with their Pokemon nearby.
Su Yuexi, seeing so many people, couldn't help but feel discouraged and whispered to Yelena, “There are too many people. Should we try another place?”
Yelena, however, kept her eyes on Chen Kai, watching what he would do.
Chen Kai's and Miraidon's thoughts at this moment were completely different from Su Yuexi's. If no one was patronizing it, they might not necessarily go in to eat. But with so many people queuing, even if it was a pile of *shit*, he had to go in and see what was going on.
Chen Kai and Miraidon exchanged glances, nodding in understanding, and then Chen Kai stepped forward and took a number.
The waiter, seeing Chen Kai was young, proactively asked, “How many in your party, sir?”
Chen Kai asked, “Just me. Can Pokemon come in to dine?”
The waiter nodded and replied, “Yes, sir, but because there are too many people today, each guest can only bring one Pokemon companion, and please do not bring excessively large Pokemon, such as Onix.”
Chen Kai looked at the five Pokemon hanging on his waist and Miraidon beside him, falling into a brief thought. He finally decided to bring Miraidon, who had the largest appetite. He couldn't help it; its drool was almost dripping onto the floor.
Seeing Chen Kai take a number, Yelena also stepped forward and said, “Two people.”
“Ah! Do I have to wait too?” Su Yuexi was about to reach for a number but it was already too late.
After waiting for over an hour, it was finally Chen Kai's turn, and the waiter enthusiastically welcomed him and Miraidon into the restaurant.
“Sir, what would you like to order?” This restaurant still retained the traditional manual ordering method.
The waiter handed over the menu. Chen Kai took the menu and examined it carefully, finding that there weren't many types of dishes.
“This…” He pointed at the menu, frowning slightly, a bit hesitant in his heart, secretly thinking that the choices were too few. However, since he was already here, he decided to first order Mapo Tofu and two portions of rice to try.
The waiter smiled and asked, “Sir, how many servings?”
Chen Kai pondered for a moment, deciding to try the taste first, and said, “Two servings to start.”
The waiter's smile stiffened slightly, then he asked, “Do you have any requirements regarding the cooking temperature?”
Chen Kai was a bit confused. Chinese cuisine actually had such a thing? After a moment of thought, he replied, “High heat?”
The waiter's smile completely vanished, and he pressed on, “Do you need any side dishes?”
Chen Kai had been waiting outside for a while and was very thirsty, so he casually said, “Then I'll have a glass of lemonade.”
The waiter immediately panicked and turned to shout to the kitchen, “Master! Someone's here to smash the place!”
“Huh???!!!” Chen Kai was full of questions at this moment.