Chapter 66: Delicious Rougamo

Liu Heming sent out a big invitation to everyone for lunch, and it was an important event.

Actually, he didn’t gather many people, just those he usually hung out with the most.

It was George’s family, John’s family, Anderson, and also Lewis.

He had originally invited Lewis and his wife to come together, but since Lewis’s wife had to look after the inn and that fast food shop, only he showed up.

They were all fairly close friends to Liu Heming, and even though he knew the other townsfolk well too, the ties weren’t as strong.

“Dexter, you know, I looked forward to this lunch of yours for such a long time. George often came to me talking about things he ate at your place, but you still never invited us before,” Anderson said to Liu Heming with a grumpy look.

“Oh my goodness, that’s unfair to blame me. Didn’t I keep getting ready? This time, you’ll definitely eat your fill. Also, I plan to start a small food business myself, so you can help me taste whether it suits your taste buds,” Liu Heming said with a laugh.

“Is it that Pig Liver thing? Really smooth, really tender, and really yummy?” Anderson asked curiously.

“Not that one. After all, lots of people in the United States don’t like to eat animal insides except for Foie Gras. I did not want to end up losing money. For now, it’s a secret. When I finish preparing it, you’ll taste it straight away,” Liu Heming said, his eyes twinkling.

He had prepared plenty that day, including not just Rougamo but also Dumplings with Beef Filling.

He was genuinely worried that these folks weren’t used to pork.

If he invited guests to dine but they didn’t get full, there was no point in the invite.

While making the Dumplings, George felt very proud because he had learned it from Liu Heming, while others hadn’t.

But they weren’t shy either and just treated it as play, pitching in to help.

Aside from the shapes looking a bit off, with too little or too much filling now and then, the rest went fine.

“Dexter, is this what you wanted us to taste, the one boiling in that pot? The smell was quite nice and got my appetite going,” George said after the Dumplings were made, pointing at another barrel on the kitchen stove.

“It’s in there. Once the Dumplings are ready, everyone can eat some first. Then I’ll work on this next one, because it tastes best made fresh right then,” Liu Heming nodded.

“I guess I’ll go easy on my lunch intake, to make sure I taste your new dish,” George said, rubbing his chin.

The others weren’t too hungry yet, but the Bear Kids seemed eager almost to drool, so Liu Heming took out a small pot and boiled a batch made just for them.

As the hot Dumplings were served, everyone crowded around the table.

George didn’t say a thing and just grabbed some to eat.

Anderson did the same thing as him, dipping them in some Chili Oil, and wow, it got him really spicy.

“Soy Sauce, vinegar, Chili Oil, Garlic Paste—mix any that suit your taste to create your dipping sauce,” Liu Heming said with a smile after glancing at him.

“The Dumplings tasted really nice, not greasy at all. Plus, having two cute Bear Cubs join us for the meal felt truly wonderful,” Lewis said, beaming.

This kind of experience wasn’t easy for just anyone to have; probably only at Liu Heming’s place could you enjoy it like that.

The Dumplings went well with beer, and between chatting and laughing, the bowl filled with Dumplings got emptier fast.

But then everyone set down their utensils at the same time.

They could have eaten more, but they hadn’t forgotten—they still had to help Liu Heming taste-test his dish that day.

Liu Heming also put down his fork and walked over to that barrel that had been simmering on low heat, lifting the lid.

A rich meaty smell spread fast and filled the whole room, making the Bear Kids stop eating their joyful Dumplings and twist around to look at Liu Heming.

He pulled out a big piece of reddish-bright pork with tongs and placed it on the cutting board, and they all guessed the dish had to be with this meat.

Liu Heming then went near the oven and brought out the mo already baked and warmed inside.

The mo sat in a tray; since it was oven-baked, not like in the homeland, it had fire-like patterns around the edges, still nice to see.

Liu Heming picked up a knife, chopped the large meat piece, and then cut up some green and red Chili Peppers plus Cilantro to have handy.

By then, everyone couldn’t sit still at the table and surrounded him, curious since they’d never seen such a dish before.

He made a cut in the middle of the mo without splitting it, then stuffed in the chopped meat mixed with the green and red Chili Peppers and Cilantro.

One Rougamo was ready, and the first one he handed to Megan.

Next, he made another, then a third.

The later ones he just placed near the cutting board for everyone to grab themselves since deciding who got the rest wasn’t easy.

“Anderson, how does it taste?” Liu Heming asked, seeing him already half-finished after each got one.

Anderson tended to be blunt: yummy meant yummy, average meant average, no sugarcoating.

That made him the best taste-tester; if it were George, even if he didn’t like it, he’d say something nice.

“The meat was savory and mixed with Chili Pepper’s kick, really good to eat. The outer bun was crunchy but soft inside, giving two different feels,” Anderson said, then went right back to chomping on his Rougamo.

Liu Heming looked over at the others, but no one paid him any mind since they were busy looking at their own Rougamo as they ate.

He made one for himself and tried it earnestly.

His brow furrowed then relaxed, then furrowed again.

The taste was amazing—this mo might be the most delicious mo he’d ever had.

The meat aroma seemed to imprint right into his brain as he chewed.

He frowned because the goodness caught him off guard, then relaxed remembering how special the System’s creations always were.

Frowning more made him fret over setting the price, but relaxing again made him feel he could earn big money.

Liu Heming was still tasting it carefully when Anderson, the quickest eater, helped himself, grabbing a mo, chopping it open, and roughly stuffing meat in before taking huge bites.

“No rush, folks—tons of meat and plenty of buns left,” Liu Heming said with a laugh.

“Dexter, this Rougamo is just as tasty as your Dumplings. But what do we call this one?” George asked, making another for himself.

“Hmm… let’s go with Chinese Hamburger,” Liu Heming hesitated before replying.

If he said Braised Marinated Meat with mo or Rougamo, these people wouldn’t get it; since it looked a lot like Hamburger, that name fit fine.