No One Can Stop Me From Grilling Skewers

In fact, Hong Kong did have barbecue, dating back to the 1960s.

There were chicken wings, steaks, chicken chops, pork chops, and lamb chops, all typically marinated beforehand with seasonings like black pepper, minced garlic, lemongrass, and shacha sauce. Common barbecue items also included sausages and various meatballs like beef balls, fish balls, and pork balls. Seafood sometimes made an appearance too, such as capelin or squid.

However, none of these could satisfy Wang Xuan's palate. He still preferred the large skewers from the north: marinated beef and lamb threaded onto large iron skewers, sprinkled with cumin, chili, Sichuan peppercorns, and salt, then grilled over charcoal. The fat dripped onto the coals, sizzling and releasing a rich aroma of meat, along with a faint gamey scent that made his mouth water just thinking about it.

He couldn't stand it anymore, and he wouldn't endure it any longer!

He made a phone call to Ah Wai, explaining the need for a long grill and other tools. He also needed a chef who knew how to barbecue. Ten pounds each of fresh beef and lamb were required, and they had to be delivered before the afternoon.

He was confident Ah Wai would handle it, and that the chef would gladly accept his invitation under Ah Wai's "persuasion."

As expected, before 2 PM, a burly chef and all the necessary equipment were brought in.

Wang Xuan waved his hand, directing everything to the rooftop.

He looked up and down the stout chef with a thick neck and asked with a smile, "Did they force you?"

The chef secretly glanced at Ah Wai beside him and forced a smile onto his face, "Boss, they didn't force me. I came here willingly."

"Good, that's all that matters." Since the man said so, Wang Xuan immediately chose to believe him. He was that straightforward!

"You can't have worked for nothing, Ah Wai. Give the master 500 yuan for his labor."

With a wave of his hand, he didn't care about such a small amount. When you have money, spend it. Money, after all, is neither brought nor taken away in death. Whenever he thought about this, Wang Xuan's heart ached.

The chef looked at the 500 yuan in his hand, then at Wang Xuan, and his face immediately lit up. "The boss is truly generous!"

Watching the chef tuck the money into his pocket, Wang Xuan smiled slightly and pointed at the tools. "I need you to make barbecue, grilled beef and lamb. The flavor should be strong, in the style of Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang. Do you know how?"

The chef frowned and shook his head, indicating he hadn't eaten or seen it before. Wang Xuan wasn't like those previous diners; he didn't dare to brag to these gang bosses, as it could be fatal.

"Then I'll tell you, and you'll do it," Wang Xuan said, gesturing to the beef and lamb. "Cut the meat in two ways: one is about three centimeters long and as thick as a thumb, and the other is thick slices about two centimeters wide. Marinate them separately in bowls. Besides the normal marinating seasonings, add soy sauce and peanut oil. You can also try different marinating ingredients yourself. My requirement is a strong flavor, and it must be fragrant!"

"After marinating, thread them onto iron skewers, three lean pieces to two fatty pieces per skewer, then grill them over charcoal. Sprinkle cumin and chili while grilling. Your task today is to experiment continuously until I'm satisfied."

"Any problems?"

The chef thought for a moment. He had plenty of experience with grilling temperatures. The only difficulties were the marinating ingredients and the boss's taste. With a few more tries, it shouldn't be hard. Thinking this, he nodded in agreement.

Wang Xuan's face lit up. He patted the chef's shoulder twice and pointed at Ah Wai. "Do a good job, and you won't be shortchanged. If you need anything, ask him. How many people you need, what materials you need – all your requests will be met!"

After a flurry of activity, it was time for dinner. Wang Xuan, Shen Leman, Ah Wai, Ah Ying, and a few other subordinates gathered around a table on the rooftop, with several cases of iced beer.

To meet Wang Xuan's requirements, the head chef had prepared five or six flavors and began grilling. Moments later, a meat aroma with a hint of gamey flavor wafted out. Wang Xuan took a deep breath.

"This is the life!"

Shen Leman and the others had never tasted this northern mainland style before, but they were drawn to the unique, rich meat aroma. Compared to the lighter dishes they usually ate, this intense fragrance made them all hungry.

Especially after the chili and cumin were sprinkled on, Wang Xuan's mouth was watering.

Once grilled, they were served on different plates. Everyone watched expectantly as Wang Xuan tasted each one. The chef also appeared a bit nervous.

After tasting them one by one, Wang Xuan expressed satisfaction with two of them, though he felt they weren't spicy enough and lacked salt. A little more would be perfect.

The chef secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face. He patted his chest and said, "Small problem, it'll be ready right away!"

"Try them all!" Wang Xuan urged when he saw everyone hesitating. "Don't just go by what I say. Everyone's taste is different. Try them yourselves and see which one you like."

This was true. Wang Xuan was used to chili and Sichuan peppercorns and liked things saltier, but that didn't mean these native Hongkongers could enjoy it.

As it turned out, the skewers that Wang Xuan found not spicy or salty enough were already making the other four people pant and gasp, their mouths constantly making "hissing" sounds. Yet, the unique, intense flavor stimulating their taste buds made it impossible to stop.

They gulped down beer while devouring skewers.

The men, in particular, loved the fatty pieces that were grilled until they were dripping with oil. Each bite was a mouthful of grease, a greasy satisfaction they had never experienced before.

Shen Leman tried a few bites of the fatty meat but dared not eat more; it was too rich and greasy. Besides, she was a bit afraid of gaining weight, so she picked out all the lean meat and ate only that.

After eating and drinking for over two hours, they finally finished. They were so full they could barely move. Wang Xuan felt he had eaten fifty to sixty skewers, finally satisfying his craving.

Seeing everyone leaning back in their chairs, gently patting their bellies with slightly narrowed, languid eyes, Wang Xuan picked up a skewer and tapped a beer bottle, the clinking sound drawing everyone's attention back.

"Now that we've eaten and drunk our fill, it's time to talk business." Seeing their confused expressions, Wang Xuan chuckled. "You don't think I just did this for myself, do you!"

Seeing the affirmative look on their faces, Wang Xuan tapped his fingers a few times, looking profound. "This barbecue isn't just for beef and lamb. There are many other things we can grill, like kidneys – big kidneys. What you eat replenishes that!"

Ah Wai and the other three exchanged strange glances. Wang Xuan coughed. "There's more, like beef brisket, lamb chops, chicken wings, chicken gizzards, silkworm pupae, corn, and chives – vegetables too. We can develop dozens of items. The flavors can range from not spicy to extremely spicy. In short, there are endless varieties."

"It's especially suitable for a group of friends gathering for drinks and chats in the evening. You can also buy them to eat on the go or take them home. I think we should do some internal testing. Once we're ready, we can open a barbecue city. What do you guys think, will this be popular!"