"Let's not talk about this anymore!" Zhongshi suddenly felt a bit dispirited. Matters of the heart are truly mysterious. If there is a connection, one can tell at first sight that the person is meant to be with them for life. If there isn't, even after a long time together, they will only be close friends. Just like the lyrics say: "If there is a connection, even a thousand miles apart, you will meet; if there isn't, even if you are face to face, you won't."
Given Zhongshi's current situation, with the body of a teenager and the soul of a forty-year-old, his half-century of experience has long made his heart as calm as water, with little chance of being stirred. Moreover, his social circle is narrow, making it difficult to meet the right person.
However, it's still too early to talk about these things. Zhongshi is not in a hurry. On the contrary, Liao Xiaohua has reached marriageable age, and Liao Chengde is already troubled by this matter.
Life in Hong Kong is stressful, so the age of marriage is also delayed. The average working class usually considers marriage around the age of thirty. However, the Liao family doesn't have this problem. Liao Chengde is eager for a grandson and has repeatedly urged Liao Xiaohua to settle down with a girlfriend.
Liao Xiaohua is at the age where he loves to play and can't resist the allure of beauty. As a well-known bachelor in the city, he has countless women vying for his attention, more than he can count, including some minor celebrities.
The 1980s were the most intense period of competition between Asia Television and TVB. Both networks were backed by wealthy businessmen, and the quality of their TV dramas was outstanding. The fierce competition spurred the development of the TV industry, and many young people joined the two companies, pursuing their dreams of stardom.
Many of the stars of later generations made their debuts during this time, appearing in the TV dramas of the two companies. However, by the late 1980s, TVB, with shows like "The Bund" and "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," had launched a batch of young actors and actresses, firmly surpassing Asia Television.
These handsome men and beautiful women in the entertainment industry rarely resist temptation. Many female stars, once they gain a bit of fame, set their sights on the city's wealthy, and someone like Liao Xiaohua, who is young, handsome, and rich, is naturally their top choice.
"Old Liao, you must have made a lot today!" Zhongshi tidied up a bit and said goodbye to Andrew before leaving the futures company.
Beside him was the respectful Liao Chengde, followed by the diligent Lu Hu and the often ignored Liao Xiaohua.
Whenever Liao Chengde thought about having a grandson, he became furious, and his gaze toward Liao Xiaohua turned unfriendly. Zhongshi and the others rarely spoke to Liao Xiaohua, clearly finding him far from qualified.
"Mr. Zhong, thanks to you, I made a small profit today. I'll treat you to a late-night snack!" Liao Chengde beamed and boasted.
"Are you being so stingy? You must have made several million! Are you going to feed me with some street food?" Zhongshi chuckled and teased.
Liao Chengde's face turned red at Zhongshi's words, but fortunately, it was already late, and it wasn't easy to notice. He struggled for a while but couldn't come up with a good response.
"Why don't we go to the Gaddi's Restaurant at the Peninsula Hotel? Their French snails are the best." Liao Xiaohua's eyes lit up, and he quickly suggested. He was most skilled at eating, drinking, and having fun, and seeing his father struggle, he took the initiative.
"You only think about eating! If you put half the effort you put into eating and playing into your work, I'd be over the moon!" Liao Chengde glared, clearly annoyed. "Don't you realize what time it is? Do you want us to change into suits and drink red wine?"
Hearing this, Liao Xiaohua realized it was the middle of the night, and the famous restaurants had already closed. At this hour, only some tea houses and street stalls were open. He scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Mr. Zhong, Mr. Liao, I have a good place to recommend!" After a long silence, Lu Hu suddenly spoke.
"Oh? Really? Tell us!" Everyone was used to Lu Hu's usual silence, so hearing him speak today was a bit surprising, but it also piqued their interest.
"It's in Central. Besides the restaurants that do business during the day, there are some that cater to late-night customers, though the prices are a bit... " Lu Hu hesitated, not sure where he got this information.
"As long as the food is good, I'll treat!" Liao Chengde saw another opportunity to show off.
"It's a Spanish restaurant! It's called something like 'Echid' or 'Esid.' I've only heard about it from a friend; I haven't been there myself!" Lu Hu scratched his head, a bit embarrassed.
"Spanish restaurant?" Liao Xiaohua's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but swallow hard, earning a collective eye roll from the others.
Feeling wronged, Liao Xiaohua mumbled, "Why are you looking at me? If you try it, you'll definitely love it!" But no one listened to him; they just instructed the driver to go.
The Spanish restaurant was in Central, located in Taikoo Place, a prime location. It seemed to be a good restaurant.
This time was when the U.S. capital market closed, and even at four or five in the morning, the Echid restaurant was bustling with people. Many young talents in high-end suits, carrying briefcases, sat at the tables, whispering to their companions, their faces filled with anticipation.
For those who worked in the U.S. or European markets, their biological clocks were completely reversed. This was their evening, the time to enjoy dinner. It was also the weekend, so many people rushed here as soon as they finished work, eager for a sumptuous meal.
Despite the crowd, the four of them easily found a seat after Liao Xiaohua showed his VIP card. Once they were seated, Liao Xiaohua didn't even look at the menu and ordered: "Caviar, ham, borscht, salt-baked sea bass, shrimp paella, red wine, and cheese for dessert. That's it!"
After he finished, he noticed the others looking at him with a "I knew it" expression. Even with his thick skin, he felt a bit embarrassed, coughed, and said, "Why are you looking at me? These are Spanish delicacies, and I rarely come here!"
However, the others found it hard to believe his words, given his ease. Liao Chengde sighed, closed the menu, and said to the waiter, "The same as his order."
"Mr. Zhong, what about you?" Lu Hu, nervous about the high-end restaurant, asked Zhongshi, who had become his main support.
"Any good recommendations?" Zhongshi closed the menu and smiled at the waiter.
"Sir, our specialty is paella. I strongly recommend it!" The waiter spoke fluent Cantonese, clearly having been in Hong Kong for a while.
"Is that so?" Zhongshi thought for a moment and then ordered, "Foie gras, ham, medium-rare steak, fruit salad, tiramisu, and a cup of espresso after the meal. Thank you. And a paella for this gentleman." He pointed to Lu Hu.
"Besides the main course, I'll have the same as this gentleman!" Lu Hu, relieved, closed the menu and nodded to the waiter.
Western formal dining is quite different from Chinese dining, with courses including appetizers, soups, side dishes, main courses, desserts, and drinks. However, at this hour, no one was in the mood for such formalities. They were all starving.
When the waiter brought out several plates of thinly sliced ham, Liao Xiaohua's face lit up with delight. He eagerly reached out to one of the plates, ready to pick up the ham with his hands. "This is the famous Iberian ham, very expensive and rare!"
"How can you use your hands?" Liao Chengde tapped his knife and fork, reminding Liao Xiaohua. He didn't know that in Spain, it is acceptable to eat ham and shrimp with your hands.
"What? This is Iberian ham?" Zhongshi looked at the thin slice in front of him, truly surprised.
Why is this ham so famous? This ham is a national treasure of Spain, made from the hind legs of the Iberian black pig, which is raised in oak forests and fed acorns. This diet reduces the cholesterol content in the pig's fat, making it clean and transparent. The fat is similar to olive oil, a very good type of fat.
The black pigs are usually ready for use around 18 months old. The hind legs are cured with coarse sea salt and then placed in a refrigerator at 4 degrees Celsius to dehydrate. They are then moved to a low-temperature storage room to dry for four to six weeks.
After these steps, the ham is hung in a well-ventilated drying room. Under the influence of the Mediterranean and Atlantic climates, the ham loses about one-third of its weight and develops a fragrant aroma. The dried ham is then placed in a cool, humid cellar for final low-temperature maturation, which takes about 14 months. By the time it is mature, it has been at least 24 months, and sometimes even 30 months. The entire process takes several years.
The mature ham has a rosy color, with a delicate layer of fat around the muscle, like a cloud. It is rich but not greasy, lean but not dry, and leaves a lingering aroma in the mouth.
The best way to eat this ham is raw, as only raw eating can do justice to its supreme flavor. In Spain, where etiquette is important, eating Iberian ham is done with the hands, never with a knife and fork.
Zhongshi knew all this because in a later era, a high-ranking official in China was brought down, and in his confession, he mentioned this meat. The official's son had brought it from Africa at great expense, insisting that it should be eaten raw, while the official insisted on cooking it, leading to a bit of a quarrel. In the end, the ham was cooked and eaten.
At the time, some food critics commented on the official's wasteful behavior: "Don't cook it! That's a waste!"
When Zhongshi read this, he laughed for a while. Now, seeing the real Iberian ham, his interest was immediately piqued! (Please click, recommend, and collect)