By the time the waiter brought over Zhang Xiaohua's order of spicy chicken giblets and five large bowls of white rice on a tray, Zhang Xiaohua had already drunk three pots of tea, and his stomach had long been growling with hunger.
But when Zhang Xiaohua saw the plate of chicken giblets covered in chilies, red and glistening, he was dumbfounded. He asked blankly, "Waiter, is this the dish I ordered?"
The waiter said with a smile, "Yes, sir, that's right. This is our restaurant's famous special-price dish, spicy chicken giblets. Numbing within the heat, heat added to the numbness—it's very tasty, and a must-order dish for anyone who likes chilies."
Zhang Xiaohua pulled a long face. Of course—the menu had clearly said spicy and numbing. Why had he not asked another question? The waiter had even asked him several times. How had he failed to notice? Alas, he had been blinded by cheapness. Perhaps the dish really was delicious, but he had never eaten spicy food.
With no other choice, he could not very well ask them to change the dish, could he? Would that not cost more silver? Zhang Xiaohua could only grit his teeth, pick up his bowl and chopsticks, and cautiously put a piece of chicken giblets into his mouth. Instantly, a fiery heat surged from his mouth to his head and then to his eyes, nearly bringing tears to them. Zhang Xiaohua hurriedly shoveled several mouthfuls of rice into his mouth, and only then did the burning ease slightly. After taking several large gulps of tea, he finally found the courage to take another bite.
Though the chicken giblets were extremely hot, they were also excellent with rice. Caught between not wanting to stop for fear of wasting it and not daring to eat for