Chapter 69: The Perfect Balance of Strength and Gentleness
Finally, the legendary grand finale arrived: crab roe crispy noodles, both sides fried to a golden hue, filling the air with a tantalizing aroma. Placed on the plate, a thick gravy was poured over the noodles, allowing them to soak up the rich sauce.
When served to the guests, even the method of eating was refined—one must flip the noodles over to enjoy the perfect contrast of crisp exterior and tender interior.
Yet, the result…
Ah…
Zhuang Chen was deeply disappointed—another letdown. Michelin truly lives up to its origins in tires! The meal failed to impress, even less so than yesterday’s surprise; the bill came to over five thousand, far less satisfying than a few sets of gigantic value meals—after all, those included two or three hundred genuine Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs.
Perhaps the girls of the city enjoy this sort of style; the place was still bustling as he left, faces basking in bliss. One can only say: tastes differ, and so do opinions.
Back in the car, he searched on his phone and discovered he wasn’t alone in his picky palate. Many people were complaining: why are Michelin-recommended restaurants in the country so unpalatable?
Only one city in the country was eligible for Michelin’s selection, and only one restaurant achieved three stars—eleven fewer than Tokyo. In 2016, one-third of Michelin’s chosen establishments in the city were Western cuisine, leaving food aficionados bewildered.
It was as if Michelin were rating French cuisine but ended up awarding British eateries—utterly baffling. The so-called food critics judged Chinese cuisine entirely by Western standards, much like asking an Indian to evaluate foreigners eating beef—absurd and laughable.
The six scoring criteria: quality of ingredients, technical skill, harmony of flavors, innovation, value for money, and culinary standard.
One would soon realize these standards suit Western cuisine; Chinese food holds no advantage at all. Even foreign netizens began to protest: this is a complete misunderstanding of Chinese cuisine, sheer nonsense.
According to Zhuang Chen’s recent experiences, the Michelin standard simply doesn’t fit the country. The sophistication and artistry of Chinese cuisine far surpass the six criteria—especially the most ridiculous one: value for money.
Take everyday foods like chicken feet, pig trotters, pig lungs, sheep’s eyes—all can be elevated through culinary skill into gourmet dishes, loved even by many foreigners. But Michelin’s “value for money”—where exactly does that manifest? Are these offcuts only valuable when tossed as trash?
A foreign netizen who had lived in the country for six years offered a widely accepted verdict: Chinese cuisine is the most complex and diverse food in the world, with no direct or effective way to fully comprehend it.
When judging, it’s best to see it as continental cuisine—truly distinct from Western food, the most unique in the world. In many respects, Michelin’s standards simply don’t apply here!
To sum it up in one sentence: Michelin in the country is a joke!
Zhuang Chen wholeheartedly agreed. In Western countries, Michelin can certainly serve as a gourmet guide—after all, the cultural aesthetic is similar, not too far removed. But here—
Better take a break!
Returning to Nine Chambers, he napped and then went swimming and worked out at Ten Joy Club. With Xia Long, the gold-medal coach, around, he saved quite a bit on personal training fees, and his custom fitness plan was yielding increasingly obvious results.
“Mr. Zhuang, we have a yoga class today. Would you like to try it?” After his shower, the charming head hostess explained, piquing his curiosity. “Isn’t yoga for women?”
“That’s a misconception. In fact, men benefit even more from yoga,” she replied, flashing a cute tiger tooth. “Especially for restoring energy—it's outstanding. You should give it a try.”
Zhuang Chen rolled his shoulders; truth be told, he did feel a bit stiff. Changing into yoga attire, he entered the studio and met the senior instructor.
“Yoga isn’t nearly as difficult as you imagine. We’ll begin with the basics—just a few minutes each day, and men can gain immense benefits…”
“Let’s warm up with a few movements. Here’s the first—”
He followed the instructor, finding it quite easy; after all, he had been used to physical labor since childhood and was quite robust. The coach herself was a vision—curves in all the right places, especially in her fitted pants, where mystery lingered just beyond sight…
“Your foundation is excellent. We can start right away. Begin with the half-lotus pose, straighten your back. Loop your right leg over the outside of your left calf, placing it at the thigh’s root. Hands on thighs, knees on the floor, tighten your abdomen…”
“Yes, very good. Hold for two minutes, relax, and breathe…”
“Excellent. Relax for three minutes, take a deep breath, exhale slowly…”
“Next, basic standing posture. Stand on one leg, stretch the other leg backward, bend forward, align your body and leg in a straight line, palms together, arms stretched forward, maintaining balance.”
“Good, very nice. Use both legs, now can you feel the muscle tension?”
“Yoga for men trains muscle endurance, boosts strength, and builds core muscles—most crucial for the human body.”
“Let’s try another, side plank. Keep your body aligned, left hand on the floor, right hand grabs your right toe and stretches upward, arm straight, eyes to the sky…”
“This pose is important—when you’ve done a lot of exercise and feel muscle pain, stiffness, or excessive lactic acid buildup, it helps the body quickly flush out lactic acid and release muscle tension.”
“Yes, grip the rail with both hands, step your legs onto the rail, legs straight, extend your back, tighten your abdomen, feel the stretch in the backs of your legs, and strengthen your arms…”
“Watch my movement…”
It was Zhuang Chen’s first time practicing yoga, and after a few poses, he was drenched in sweat—more exhausting than regular workouts. The coach was highly professional, guiding him one-on-one, her feet pressed against his, fingers intertwined, helping him stretch.
Full bosom, slim waist, sculpted abs…
Long legs, snowy feet, red lips…
Their eyes met,
Her breath scented with orchids,
Saturated with feminine hormones, making Zhuang Chen quite stirred!
No wonder the wealthy prefer young beauties; though lacking maturity, their youthful exuberance makes one feel ten years younger.
After the class, he showered again, looked at his spirited little brother, and called Song Qiao, selecting a professional yoga coach, arranging to meet that evening at the Hilton to unlock some new poses.
Isn’t there a type of yoga called—
Dual cultivation?