"The first dish is ginger duck, which I won't elaborate on too much. I'm sure you're all more familiar with it than I am. It's good for replenishing blood and energy, and nourishing the yin while reducing heat. Uncle and Auntie, please eat it while it's hot. The other dishes will be ready soon, so please bear with me a little longer."

After speaking, Wang Fan returned to the kitchen, and Shen's father's words to persuade him to stay could only be swallowed back down.

He looked at Shen Teng somewhat reproachfully and said, "It's really quite rude. You must take him around here more often and make sure he's satisfied."

Shen Teng nodded repeatedly, "Don't worry, Dad. I know where he likes to go."

From what he knew about Wang Fan, taking him to bars or karaoke would definitely not work, but taking him to various food streets and specialty restaurants would be something he would absolutely enjoy. He'd already prepared a detailed plan to ensure that Wang Fan would eat and drink well.

But for now, I should enjoy eating and drinking too, hehehe...

The stewed ginger duck was still in the white clay pot, with wisps of steam occasionally emerging from the vents. The rich aroma had escalated several levels from when it was in the kitchen.

Auntie Wu took a deep breath and smiled wryly, "I initially wanted to compare culinary skills with him, but with just this ginger duck, he's already left me far behind in East Creek."

Shen Teng consoled her, "Auntie Wu, don't be discouraged. There aren't many in the country who could outperform him."

Um...

Auntie Wu looked at Shen Teng with a complex expression. Although his words sounded like consolation, they somehow felt even more irritating.

The main issue is that he's just too young, which makes everyone else feel as if they've wasted half their life.

Shen's father laughed and said, "Alright, Sister Wu. Some people just have a natural advantage in certain industries. We're just a bunch of ordinary folks. Why compare ourselves to such geniuses?"

As he spoke, he already had his hand on the knob of the clay pot lid, ready to uncover it. "Let's taste this ginger duck we've been eating for half our lives and see what's special about it when made by the strongest wild gourmet boss."

This dish is basically popular in the Min Nan region, and Shen's father had tried it in various small and large restaurants over the years. Flavor-wise, the one before him was undoubtedly top-notch.

"Shhh..."

As the clay pot lid was lifted, there naturally wasn't any blinding golden light, but there was thick white mist. Moreover, the rich and unrestrained aroma of the duck meat quickly spread in all directions, causing everyone to take deep breaths instinctively until their chests were raised high, not willing to exhale even a bit of that old air.

"Whoa, why does the duck meat smell so fragrant?"

"I think so too. Compared to before, the spices smell a bit milder, but the duck meat aroma is charging into my nose like a dump truck."

"The color also looks so bright, such a vivid red. Just the scent and color make me feel this is better than any I've ever had."

Shen's father, Shen's mother, and Auntie Wu were full of amazement, one after another. This pot of ginger duck was truly astonishing to them.

The duck pieces were not chopped too small, and after simmering, had shrunk a bit but became firmer. They lay arranged among slices of old ginger in the clay pot, the dark golden, slightly charred ginger edges forming an interesting contrast with the bright red, glossy duck meat. The temptation was absolutely maxed out.

Shen's father chuckled lightly and said, "Our birthdays are usually pretty low-key, and this time is no exception. With these delicacies before us, let's not stand on ceremony; let's dig in."

The tradition in the family was that whoever's birthday it was would take the first bite. After saying this, Shen's father picked up a piece of small duck leg meat, his favorite part.

He eagerly put it into his mouth, and with a light bite, the full elasticity of the texture surprised him.

Duck leg meat is arguably the firmest part of the duck, and while the piece of leg meat is slightly smaller than the thigh, the texture is even more elastic. The texture of the duck leg meat in his mouth told him it must have been flash-fried.

The fresh, salty, and fragrant flavor began to permeate his mouth the moment his teeth bit into it, quickly captivating his taste buds, starting from the tip of his tongue.

The spiciness of the old ginger surpasses that of young ginger. The trace of spiciness within the duck leg was especially distinct, but primarily it was that unique and concentrated aroma of the old ginger.

When combined with the flavor of the duck leg, that intense savory aroma even gave him a sense of richness so overwhelming it felt like it might knock him over.

Of course, the most impressive thing was the texture of that little duck leg.

The initial bite of elasticity was already impressive, and after another bite, the fiber of the duck leg meat was clearly perceptible. Yet, this texture didn't feel dry; instead, it was pleasingly chewy.

Although some of the moisture in the duck leg had been cooked out during the flash-frying, more rich broth had seeped back into the duck meat, making it even juicier. With every chew, the rich juice burst forth, which was utterly surprising.

To be honest, having eaten ginger duck for so many years, this piece could undoubtedly take first place, even compared to those established restaurants!

After all, no matter how old the restaurant is, the chef is still just a chef, and culinary skills invariably differ. Wang Fan undoubtedly stood at the top.

But considering his age, it was truly mind-boggling. Some people are naturally suited to certain vocations, and once they find the right direction, they can advance rapidly, leaving many other talents trailing in their wake.

Closing his eyes to savor the tender, elastic texture and the unbeatably savory and delicious flavor in his mouth.

"Phew..."

After a long while, Shen's father finally opened his eyes and praised, "Fame is well-deserved. To be adored by you youngsters truly shows he's extraordinary. This ginger duck could easily rank in the top three in all of Min Nan."

Shen's mother chimed in with agreement, "Exactly. The duck wings just now not only retained the gelatine very well, but the meat inside was incredibly tender. What amazed me most was the aromatic flavor of the gravy; it packed all of the duck's freshness, without the large amount of spices masking even a bit of that aroma."

Auntie Wu's eyes held a hint of bewilderment and astonishment, "I never thought in my life that ginger duck could be this delicious. If these ingredients weren't the ones I bought, I would have seriously thought he used Phoenix Meat. It's just too fragrant."

Shen Teng remained silent as he buried his face in his bowl, using his chopsticks to pick meat pieces from the clay pot, chewing away at speed. A whole duck is only about three pounds, and chatting too much would mean fewer pieces to eat!

Seeing him like this, the three were initially taken aback, before realizing, once they noticed a noticeable reduction in the pot's contents.

"You little rascal, it's your father's birthday today, and you don't know how to yield!"

"Exactly, it's your dad's birthday today, and you really ought to let him have some."

"The Mr. and Mrs. are right, quack!"