As they were talking, a car brake sound came from outside the courtyard gate, and Cheng Xiaofan knew it must be Han Cheng arriving.
Tang Guoxing said, "Mr. Cheng, it's getting late, I need to go to the kitchen!"
Cheng Xiaofan smiled, "Old Mr. Tang, you can't handle it all by yourself. Shall I call a couple of people to help you?"
"Haha, Mr. Cheng, please don't worry, I'm enough by myself. In the Chinese culinary world, I'm known as a swift hand!" Tang Guoxing said with great confidence.
In fact, Cheng Xiaofan had already heard his granddaughter, Tang Xiuchuan, introduce her grandfather.
Tang Guoxing was indeed known for his speed in the Chinese culinary world. From selecting ingredients to preparing them, to firing up the stove and cooking, things that normally required five or six people, he could accomplish alone in the same amount of time.
As soon as Tang Guoxing left, Han Cheng entered with a few people.
"Sect Leader Cheng!"
Han Cheng's eyes fell on Cheng Xiaofan, and he rushed forward excitedly. He immediately knelt on one knee and said loudly, "Your subordinate Han Cheng pays his respects to the Sect Leader!"
Cheng Xiaofan raised his hands and smiled, "Brother Han, there's no need for such formalities. Get up quickly!"
Han Cheng immediately said, "Sect Leader Cheng, according to the rules of our Chinese culinary world, as the Sect Leader, you must not call me brother. You should address me by my name."
"Although I am a few years older than Sect Leader Cheng, I dare not presume to be superior. Please, Sect Leader Cheng, call me by my name!"
"..." Cheng Xiaofan looked speechless.
It seemed that if he didn't address him by name, the other party would remain kneeling on the ground.
To be honest, Cheng Xiaofan really didn't know there was such a rule in the world's Chinese culinary community.
He once again raised his hands and smiled, "Han Cheng, get up!"
"Thank you, Sect Leader Cheng!" Han Cheng then stood up happily from the ground.
Afterward, Han Cheng introduced the few people who came with him, who were his friends from the culinary world.
Among them were three people with somewhat peculiar appearances. They stood to the side with their arms crossed and their chins raised, looking down on everyone else in the world.
These three were all elderly men in their eighties, rosy-cheeked and full of vigor. Most people didn't know their names.
But each of them had a very distinctive nickname.
Han Cheng pointed to the three old men and was about to introduce them to Cheng Xiaofan when the three of them said in unison, "No need for you to introduce us. We have mouths, and we can announce ourselves."
Hearing this, Han Cheng had no choice but to awkwardly step aside.
The old man with a round belly said to Cheng Xiaofan, "The three of us only give our nicknames, never our real names. In the culinary world, everyone knows our nicknames."
He patted his belly, "I am known for my large appetite and the nickname 'Taishan Belly' was given to me. You, young man, can call me Taishan Belly!"
Another old man with a pointed mouth chuckled and said, "I have always been very picky about food. Chefs in the culinary world are all somewhat intimidated when they see me, hence I was given the nickname 'Zongzi Mouth'!"
The third old man was neither fat nor thin. The most striking feature was his nostrils pointing upwards, making one worry for him. If it rained and he didn't have an umbrella, wouldn't all the rain pour in?
That old man stepped forward, glanced at Cheng Xiaofan with disdain, and said loudly, "Since birth, my sense of smell has been exceptionally keen. No matter how good or bad the dishes made by any chef, they cannot escape my nose!"
"Therefore, the world has given me a resounding nickname, 'Tiangou Nose'!"
Cheng Xiaofan was stunned when he heard this. Tiangou Nose was also used?
Fortunately, his naughty pet wasn't here. If it heard this, with its arrogant demeanor, would it be so angry that it would rush up and bite off his nose?
As soon as Tiangou Nose finished speaking, the previous Taishan Belly interjected, "You are Cheng Xiaofan, right? Do you know that the three of us are known as the Three Great Gluttons in the culinary world?"
"Every person who wins the title of Culinary God must personally invite the three of us to prepare a feast for us to taste."
"Only by gaining the approval of the three of us Great Gluttons can one be considered a true Culinary God!"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan asked Han Cheng, "Han Cheng, is this true?"
Han Cheng said awkwardly, "I heard from the senior chefs in the industry that this is true, but it was some years ago."
"It seems to have been canceled for the last two sessions!"
"Shut up, you brat!"
Zongzi Mouth yelled at Han Cheng, "What canceled? It's just that we, the Three Great Gluttons, are low-key and no longer wish to interfere in the culinary world's affairs."
"The reason we are willing to come out this time is that we heard that this young man named Cheng actually declared himself Culinary God in this competition, and we also found out that two important judges, Liu Ting Shu and Miller, have a close relationship with the man named Cheng. We judged that he must have cheated to win the title of Culinary God!"
"In order to preserve the purity of our Chinese culinary world, we, the Three Great Gluttons, have specifically come to seek an explanation from Cheng Xiaofan."
After Zongzi Mouth finished speaking, Cheng Xiaofan smiled slightly and asked Han Cheng, "Han Cheng, how did you all meet?"
Han Cheng replied, "I was just about to visit the Sect Leader when they found me and said they wanted to come with me. I couldn't refuse, so I brought them along."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan burst into laughter and said, "Isn't it a joy to have friends from afar!"
"Three Great Gluttons, it's not appropriate to stand in the courtyard and talk. Everyone, come inside and sit down. Don't you want an explanation?"
"The best explanation is a good meal."
"When my chefs have prepared lunch and it's served on the table, won't that be the best explanation?"
Tiangou Nose nodded and said, "You're a sensible young man!"
Guests should be treated with respect.
Cheng Xiaofan could see that although the three elders were arrogant and acted as if they were the only ones in the world, they held no ill intentions.
Upon entering the room, Cheng Xiaofan immediately boiled a kettle of water, took out some Golden Tea, and brewed a cup for each of them.
"So fragrant, what kind of tea is this?" Tiangou Nose sniffed and asked in surprise.
Cheng Xiaofan chuckled and said, "This is the Golden Tea I cultivated. The biggest characteristic of this tea is that it contains rich spiritual substances. Drinking this tea not only benefits health but also helps cultivators improve their realm!"
Zongzi Mouth looked skeptical, "Is it that magical?"
Cheng Xiaofan replied, "Whether it's magical or not, you'll know after you drink it!"
Gulp!
The Three Great Gluttons took a large sip simultaneously.
They smacked their lips, looking as if they hadn't had enough, and took another large gulp.
The sound of them drinking tea was louder than an ox drinking water.
They say tea is meant to be savored, but for them, it was meant to be drunk.
After drinking, they would ruminate to savor the taste.
Taishan Belly nodded and said, "Indeed, it's no ordinary tea. I can't believe this young man named Cheng can cultivate such fine tea!"
"Ah, what is this taste!" Suddenly, Tiangou Nose exclaimed in surprise again.