347: Chapter 345: The Mighty Cook Soldier of the Gluttonous Empire 347: Chapter 345: The Mighty Cook Soldier of the Gluttonous Empire The sauce was a bit salty, but there was no helping it, putting in less salt might spoil it.
As for the taste, to Gao Yang, there could be no flavor better than this in the world.
Cui Bo rolled noodles that were actually quite decent, not bad for someone who had been a chef for two years, even though Cui Bo had only been able to work as a chef in so-called Chinese restaurants that specifically rip off foreigners.
But he had the basic skills, at least the noodles he made were quite chewy.
Everyone knew what that jar of sauce meant to Gao Yang, so consciously or unconsciously, Gao Yang upstaged the host and became the one treating everybody at Frey’s home.
When Gao Yang served bowl after bowl of the noodles, the person receiving the bowl would thank him solemnly and then sit up straight, waiting seriously for Gao Yang to start eating with them.
The mood during the meal was solemn and respectful, even more formal and serious than gourmets assessing a fancy dish.
After Gao Yang sat down at the dining table with a large bowl, he said loudly, “Why hasn’t anyone started yet?
Come on, eat up quickly, noodles can’t wait, they need to be eaten as soon as they’re lifted from the water, otherwise they’ll clump together.”
Only foreigners like Glolov could eat a bowl of noodles with the feeling of a Western meal.
Meanwhile, both Gao Yang and Cui Bo held large bowls and slurped noisily, especially Cui Bo who outrageously ran back to the kitchen to grab two bulbs of garlic.
After peeling a few cloves, he bit into a clove and then took a mouthful of noodles, visibly enjoying himself.
In Gao Yang’s hometown, people liked to eat noodles with garlic, but Gao Yang would only do this at home.
However, seeing Cui Bo’s example, after hesitating for a moment, Gao Yang finally could not resist the temptation.
He bit into a clove of garlic and took another mouthful of noodles, feeling incredibly delighted.
Gao Yang thought the noodles were delicious to die for.
And the others, out of respect for Gao Yang, would be full of praise whether they genuinely liked it or not.
But after eating halfway through a bowl, their polite compliments turned into sincere ones.
After finishing a bowl of noodles, Glolov remarked with emotion, “To tell the truth, this type of noodle may not look very pretty, but it is indeed delicious.
Mm, please give me another bowl.”
Bruce shrugged and said, “I have never had fried sauce noodles, but I have tried many kinds of Huaxia noodles.
I like Italian pasta, and I like Huaxia noodles.
There’s a Chinese restaurant near my home where you can have at least eight different kinds of noodles.
How should I put it?
Italian pasta boasts many varieties, but it’s basically various kinds of noodles with tomato sauce, while each Huaxia noodle dish has different accompaniments, each one offering a completely different style.
Mm, I think Huaxia has at least twenty different kinds of noodles, I mean truly distinct ones.”
After listening to Bruce’s earnest explanation, Cui Bo chuckled and said, “Twenty types?
I’ll tell you, add a zero to that number and it still won’t be enough, believe it or not?”
Gao Yang, without changing his expression, said, “If we’re talking about all of Huaxia, claiming only two hundred types would be too few, right?”
Bruce shrugged and said, “Don’t make fun of me, as if you have tried every kind of noodle dish in Huaxia.”
Glolov laughed heartily, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and then smiled, “The fried sauce tastes very good, and the noodles aren’t bad either.
Rabbit, you should have shown us your skills earlier.
In the mercenary circle, Huaxia people are indeed rare, but there is one type of soldier that is most popular from Huaxia, do you know which type that is?”
Gao Yang shook his head and said, “I don’t know, what type?”
Cui Bo said excitedly, “You’re not going to say cook soldiers, are you?”
Gao Yang waved his hand and said, “Please, don’t talk nonsense, since when is a cook soldier considered a type of soldier.”
Glolov laughed and said, “In other countries, a cook soldier might be just a job position, but for Huaxia soldiers, cook soldiers are indeed a type of soldier.
So, Rabbit is not wrong, if you guys claim to be retired Huaxia cook soldiers, believe me, you would be snapped up by all the major mercenary groups.”
Gao Yang, dumbfounded, said, “Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?”
“Exaggeration?
No, there wasn’t any exaggeration.
Back when I was with Trident, I worked alongside a group from the Happy Mercenary Corps.
I’ve since forgotten their original name, but we all called them ‘Happy’ because they had two Huaxia Cook Soldiers.
When each of us had to carry extra bullets or take on someone else’s rocket for them, the Happy Mercenary Corps guys would instead opt to bring a bottle of Huaxia soy sauce or a bag of rice.”
After pausing, Glolov said with deep emotion, “Think about it, when we could only gnaw on hardtack, the guys from the Happy Mercenary Corps would be enjoying hot, steaming meals.
No matter the conditions, they never lacked for food.
The key is, the Huaxia People are so skilled that they can make anything taste delicious.
While we were fighting, then struggling to swallow a chunk of biscuit, the cook officers of Happy Mercenary Corps could just find a few sticks of firewood, then use the big pots they carried to steam a pot of rice, along with dishes we couldn’t even name.
Ah, those dishes smelled truly amazing.
And those two Huaxia Cook Soldiers could use their military shovels to fry eggs, while we could only throw any eggs we found straight into the fire.”
Swallowing involuntarily, Glolov continued with a longing look, “You all remember Fart Fire, right?
That time, after we’d finished all our dry rations and everyone was searching for anything edible, Fart Fire suffered terribly for eating something he shouldn’t have.
Meanwhile, the Happy Mercenary Corps were still able to enjoy hot, steaming meals.
Although our camp was very far from theirs, I have a vivid memory of the delicious smells wafting from their camp.
I never knew snakes were edible, but people from Happy Mercenary Corps said their Huaxia cook officers made a snake soup that was extremely tasty.
Ah, I think snake soup must be delicious, definitely much better than eating those snakes raw.”
Glolov turned his gaze to Gao Yang and said, “Huaxia has a kind of canteen, made of aluminum, that can be reused.
The canteen is inside a lunch box which can also be used as a pot, and there’s a green cloth cover for it.
Every member of the Happy Mercenary Corps had one, and we all envied them to death.
But I don’t know the name of that kind of canteen.
However, it’s a thousand times better than any canteens any of us had.
The Happy Mercenary Corps guys could use their canteens to boil hot water, cook meat soup, and even stew rice.
They could do everything with that pot.”
Gao Yang and Cui Bo chimed in unison, “It’s called the ’78 canteen’!”
Glolov nodded and said, “That sounds like the name.
Hmm, I think that kind of canteen must be expensive, right?
Thinking back, I still really want to buy one.”
Gao Yang said with a grin, “They are expensive, costing more than twenty or thirty Yuan each.”
Immediately following, Cui Bo added, “The price has gone up now, probably fifty or sixty Yuan each, I guess, in Renminbi.
Thinking back, when Yang and I used to go outdoors, we always cooked our meals with the ’78 canteen.’ Damn it, why didn’t I bring a few more when I came back this time.”
Looking stunned, Glolov said, “So cheap?
Okay, Gao, try to get more of them.
They are great stuff.
Back then, Fart Fire offered a thousand US Dollars for one of Happy Mercenary Corps’ canteens, but no one would sell.
You know, being able to drink a sip of clean, hot water and being able to cook whatever food you find before eating, that was a luxury back then.”
Gao Yang laughed and replied, “Sure thing, I’ll handle it for you.
Keep going, it sounds very interesting.”
Glolov shrugged and said, “It may seem interesting now, but back then we felt like it was hell.
Many mercenaries wanted to mooch off Happy Mercenary Corps, but sadly, they only had two Huaxia People and no time to process food for us.
Everyone envied them, and there were a few times fights nearly broke out after other mercenaries were refused.
So, in the end, the commander of Happy Mercenary Corps made an agreement with us.
They would draw lots each day to choose a few lucky ones to go over and mooch a meal.
Regrettably, I had such bad luck that I never got to eat there even once.”
Gao Yang shook his head, “Whether it’s for the regular army or mercenary bands, good food is extremely meaningful.
But is it too extravagant to keep two Cook Soldiers who just cook for us?”
Glolov looked disdainfully and replied, “Extravagant?
Just cook?
Gao, you must be joking.
They cook during ceasefires, fight during combat, and they’re also very formidable.
Once when we were under a strong attack, and dozens of enemies had sneaked behind the Happy Mercenary Corps’ position, each of those two Huaxia Cook Soldiers defended one direction and held for forty minutes.
By the time the Happy Mercenary Corps’ reinforcements arrived, the enemies had already retreated.
And those who went to assist the Happy Mercenary Corps arrived just in time for a meal.
Did you know, those two Huaxia cooks earn as much money as the Happy Mercenary Corps’ commander?”
Gao Yang skeptically said, “That capable?
It doesn’t seem likely, does it?
Cook Soldiers are just for cooking, right?”
Cui Bo immediately interjected, “Brother Yang, you’ve got it wrong.
I don’t know what the second-tier troop’s Cook Soldiers are like, but for first-tier units, the cooks definitely aren’t just there to make food.
When the Huaxia military wants to assess combat effectiveness, their favorite unit to surprise inspect is the cook squadron.
Hence, those who make it into the cook squadron of such troops are all elite strong soldiers with outstanding military qualities.
If you don’t believe me, ask Jinfang.
I’m definitely not mistaken about this.”
Gao Yang was truly tempted to call Li Jinfang and ask if Cui Bo was right.
And just then, Bruce also said wistfully, “Back when I was in Iraq, those Huaxia-heritage soldiers had a kind of extremely delicious hot sauce, with a very nuanced flavor.
It tasted great with anything and was truly delicious.
I think it was called something like ‘old mom brand.'”
After exchanging a look, Gao Yang and Cui Bo said in unison, “It’s ‘Lao Gan Ma chili sauce’!”
Frey said with a yearning look, “Boss, the way you talk about it makes me jealous.
You, Rabbit, and Toad are all Huaxia People, so you have the conditions to get us a Huaxia Cook Soldier.
Let’s act on it.”
Gao Yang nodded and replied, “Hold on, I’ll call Toad right now and ask his comrades if they can find a professional Cook Soldier for us.” (To be continued.
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