Chapter 889 - 621: Stuffed
Looking at Lu Ruian's pleading gaze, Xia Liang's mouth twitched.
How to eat it?
How the heck do you eat it?
Of course, you eat it with your mouth!
"Mr. Lu Ruian, there are two ways to eat soup dumplings. The first way is to use chopsticks to break open the bun's skin, let the broth flow out, and then you can eat it directly with the dipping sauce."
"The second way is to eat it in one bite, putting the whole soup dumpling in your mouth. As you bite through the skin, the broth will stay in your mouth."
"But be careful with the second method, so the broth doesn't splatter."
Although he was displeased with Lu Ruian's earlier behavior, as a high-quality tour guide from Dragon Country, Xia Liang couldn't be bothered to argue and explained diligently.
Lu Ruian nodded, thought for a moment, and chose the first method. As the bun's skin broke, he could see the delicious broth flowing out from inside.
"There's really soup inside this soup dumpling."
Lu Ruian was a bit surprised. He thought it was just a name for the food, like when he was curious about a dish called 'Volcano Snowfall', which turned out to be just tomatoes sprinkled with sugar.
Curious, Lu Ruian took a sip of the broth, instantly feeling a delicious taste flood into his mouth and smoothly down his throat.
"Gulp..."
He swallowed, his eyes filled with shock. He hadn't expected the broth to be so tasty.
"What about the taste of the bun..."
Thinking this, Lu Ruian couldn't wait to grab the bun that was now without broth, but found he couldn't manage with chopsticks at all.
In a moment of resolve, he went hands-on, grabbed the bun, rolled it in the sauce, and swallowed it in one go.
"Mmm..."
Soon, Lu Ruian made a strange sound, attracting glances from the crowd around him.
"This bun is fragrant and tender, not only with a thin skin but very chewy as well. It's greasy but not at all cloying, I didn't expect these soup dumplings to be so good."
He swallowed the bun, his eyes sparkling; these soup dumplings were definitely among the top of all the foods he had eaten.
Then he looked at another soup dumpling; he had only tried the first method and not the second.
He went hands-on again, carefully wrapped the dumpling in a layer of dipping sauce, and put it in his mouth.
"Sizzle..."
With one bite, he felt the broth splash inside his mouth, and the rich umami flavor exploded within his palate.
"Mmm mmm mmm..."
He wanted to exclaim but didn't expect the broth to start dribbling down his chin as soon as he opened his mouth, so he quickly closed it, not wanting to waste a drop.
After a few seconds, he swallowed the whole dumpling, his face still full of joy.
"Mr. Xia Liang, these soup dumplings are incredible! And to think of keeping the broth inside them, what a bold idea."
Lu Ruian stood up, gesturing as he spoke highly of the soup dumplings, amusing the onlookers.
"This foreigner is hilarious. Is it just a soup dumpling that makes him so excited?"
"I heard they eat raw veggies and gnaw on bread abroad. This foreigner must have come here to improve his meals with all our Dragon Country's delicious food."
"Poor foreigners, how do they even manage to consider bread a meal?"
"..."
As they spoke, people looked at Lu Ruian with a hint of sympathy, thinking his golden hair was proof of malnutrition.
"As long as Mr. Lu Ruian enjoys it, we can leave now, right?"
Xia Liang chimed in. This little foreigner didn't suffer from Dragon Country's attitude; his ability to shift moods was quite something.
Earlier, he seemed so serious, but now he was all smiles again.
Lu Ruian noticed Xia Liang's cooler demeanor, less enthusiastic than before, feeling a bit awkward himself.
Initially, he thought Xia Liang was tricking him into eating the bad food of Dragon Country.
But these tasty soup dumplings left no reason for deception.
There was only one possibility left: this shop must have really run out of soup dumplings.
Now he understood why the shop was so quiet: it wasn't that the food was bad, it had simply all sold out.
Realizing this, Lu Ruian felt awkward looking at Xia Liang, especially after causing a fuss about wanting to report him to the embassy in error.
"Ahem, Mr. Xia Liang, I was wrong earlier, please forgive me."
Hesitating for a moment, he still got up and apologized, knowing he was the one at fault.
"It's okay, Mr. Lu Ruian is new here; being cautious is normal."
Xia Liang waved it off with indifference. After all, he would be leaving Dragon Country in two days, not worth the fuss; otherwise, it would make Dragon Country seem petty.
"Oh, sir, thank you for letting me have such delicious food. How much was it? Let me pay you."
Lu Ruian spoke to the man next to him, reaching for his wallet.
In his mind, with Dragon Country being so poor, he couldn't take advantage; he should not only pay, but pay double to show sincerity.
"No need, it's just two soup dumplings, enjoy them. I have other things to attend to, so I'll be on my way."
The man waved it off and left with his wife and kids.
But before leaving, he gave Xia Liang a look.
"Brother, foreigners' brains are structured differently from ours, just consider him a good son of yours."
With that said, the man left, leaving only his suave back view.
A good son?
Xia Liang paused, looking at Lu Ruian, suddenly finding the situation a bit more pleasing.
What parent would argue with their own good son?
"Mr. Xia Liang, why did they leave? I haven't even paid them yet."
Lu Ruian approached, puzzled.
Wasn't Dragon Country supposed to be poor? How could they be so generous that they didn't even want money?
"He said there's no need, so just leave it. Would Mr. Lu Ruian like to continue to try more food?"
Xia Liang glanced at his already bulging belly.
"I can't eat anymore."
He patted his stomach, feeling a bit stuffed indeed.
At eight, he had hot pepper soup; around nine, he had lamb stew, then bought a date cake, and just now ate two soup dumplings. Even with a large appetite, he needed time to digest.