"I owe you one!"
At an estate hidden deep in the forest, Mr. Patu raised his wineglass, and his face wore a rare smile.
He clinked glasses with Lin Qi, then each took a small sip.
The quiet outdoor lunch consisted only of the two of them and a butler. Everyone else had been sent far away.
"Try this..." Mr. Patu had the butler bring Lin Qi a steak.
The butler brought the steak over from the cooking cart in front of the chef in the distance. Along with the steak came dipping sauce and some pickles. It looked delicious.
"Looks great!" Once the butler had set the steak down securely, Lin Qi picked up his knife and fork and cut off another piece.
The steak was exceptionally tender.
It was not the kind of tenderness that came from leaving it undercooked. It was tender despite being fully cooked.
The knife and fork met almost no resistance as they did their work.
The steak speared on the fork had beautiful marbling and a bright appearance. In truth, it simply had a slightly higher fat content, and special methods had been used during the curing process to preserve its texture.
This steak came from a very special breed, a top-grade ingredient prepared specifically for members of the Upper Class. It was not cheap.
Even when cooked well-done, this carefully selected beef would not taste dry or tough.
The fat between the muscle fibers had already turned semi-translucent. Even before putting it in his mouth, one could imagine the unique, rich fragrance and flavor of the butterfat.
Lin Qi dipped it in a little sauce and put it into his mouth. The way it melted instantly made him nod in satisfaction.
That was true tenderness. It was quite different from the kind