Chapter 5

The originally faint aroma of roasted meat was instantly overwhelmed by a strong smell of burning, and everyone in their hearts exclaimed, "Oh no!"

But the thick piece of meat, along with the fish, immediately began to sizzle and release oil, which dripped continuously onto the charcoal, instantly turning into white smoke with a sizzling sound. A rich and fragrant aroma of meat filled the air, completely different from the small-scale street skewers, exuding a bold and hearty flavor!

There was no process of brushing oil or seasoning on the meat; it was just roasted raw!

Some people began to understand the technique. One of the cafeteria workers, pretending to be an expert, said, "Is it intentionally using the oil from the large piece of meat to keep it moist? The burnt parts will be discarded later, right?" This roasting method is similar to Turkish kebabs but is very popular in Eastern Europe.

Even Bao Ke was a bit annoyed by this premature revelation. He waved to the helpers to bring over a plate. With his left hand, he lifted a scorching hot skewer, holding it steadily despite the considerable weight and leverage. With his right hand, he began to slice the meat quickly!

Like peeling a pencil, he first knocked off the charred outer layer and then shaved off the tender, juicy parts underneath in strips, rotating the skewer with his left hand while his right hand's knife seemed to envelop the meat, slicing off the most suitable layer and then putting it back to roast. The women holding the large plates were puzzled: "Is this all white meat? It smells good, but it has no flavor?"

The cafeteria worker had already figured it out and saw Bao Ke reaching for the lid of the pot containing the seasonings. He quickly called for help: "Pour this sauce over it?"

Bao Ke scratched his neck and nodded, gruffly saying, "Pour the sauce and the vegetables together, one plate per person." Since someone was helping, he focused on slicing the meat.

Sure enough, when the iron lid was lifted, a thick, fragrant aroma of sauce rose in a cloud of white mist. Using a spatula, the sauce was poured directly over the roasted meat. The aroma... well, it was a mix of the meat's natural fragrance, the seasonings, and the various flavors of the vegetables, suddenly assaulting everyone's sense of smell. Several people couldn't help but exclaim in approval!

The large piece of meat, with its outer layer of honey-brown char, revealed tender, white, and succulent meat inside, still glistening with oil. This made several young women watching laugh and step back, afraid of the greasiness, but they quickly reached out to help with the plates because everyone had already caught the aroma and was eagerly gathering to eat.

For over an hour, Bao Ke stood by the hot grill, maintaining the same posture, holding the iron skewer at the same angle, like a machine, continuously slicing the meat into plates, one after another. The skewers in his hands, initially full of meat, gradually turned into skeletons.

Just the physical effort alone made the onlookers from the neighborhood start to marvel!

Bao Da Cheng was so worried that he wanted to help his son, but when he tried to pick up the skewer after setting down his cane, he realized the weight and control required were beyond his capabilities.

Cheers and applause filled the air!

The flavor was very unique. Although the seasonings used were common, the strong sour and fragrant notes, combined with the heavy flavors of black pepper and finely chopped celery and onions, gave the dish a distinct exotic flavor, which was quite special.

Of course, the highlight was the meat. It looked fatty, but when eaten, it was surprisingly not greasy, with a fresh, fragrant, and tender texture.

The cafeteria worker showed off: "All the fat has dripped out; this is genuine green-roasted meat! Xiao Ba, I think you've got it!"

But someone who had seen the world chimed in: "I've traveled the Northeast line! I've eaten Russian kebabs in the Northeast, and it tastes just like this! But it's a bit different from Xiao Ba's! I had authentic Russian women's kebabs that time!" In the railway dormitory, train conductors and drivers who traveled frequently were the most common.

Another person joked: "Is this the party you saw on TV? Xiao Ba, you really experienced foreign life... Why didn't you bring a foreign wife back to show off?" As soon as he finished speaking, a few acquaintances shoved a beer into his hand and dragged him away. If he had found a foreign wife, would he have come back to roast skewers? What a lack of tact!

So everyone else cheered, and Bao Ke noticed several men sitting on a row of new car seats, eating and drinking. These workers, who had started as mechanics and repairmen, were indeed skilled at disassembling parts.

The usually dilapidated and poor-looking dormitory area was now lit up by many people pulling their lights to the windows to illuminate the courtyard. People from several buildings came over, drawn by the smell, and joined in with smiles. Some were curious and ate for free, while others brought bottles of wine and their own dishes to contribute. A rare gathering scene had formed without anyone realizing it.

The neighbors, holding plates in one hand and chilled beer in the other, had a distinctly Western party atmosphere, which was quite novel. After Bao Ke had sliced a large amount of meat into the iron box, Liu Shufen quickly took over to let her son rest. These men dragged Bao Ke to drink, congratulating him on his successful business, which would surely thrive!

He must carry forward this skill learned abroad!

Bao Ke smiled with a bit of a simple, honest grin, taking each glass of beer in turn. The drinking capacity he had developed with the men in Eastern Europe wasn't afraid of a little beer, but the large amount of alcohol did help to ease his vague and heavy mood. Life should be like this: drinking heartily and eating large pieces of meat, regardless of setbacks, always looking forward.

His smile became more frequent and brighter...

In fact, there were many young women in the dormitory area, who came in groups to toast Bao Ke. Some of the women who worked on passenger trains were quite bold, pulling Bao Ke to drink from the same glass, which made Liu Shufen scold them protectively. In her heart, she felt that her son, who had been abroad, should find a wife from outside; the girls from the railway didn't match her son.

Amidst the bright lights and noise, Bao Ke's mind was slightly dazed, but not from the alcohol. He was familiar with such scenes in Eastern Europe, with beautiful women, large glasses of wine, and roasted meat... and the roaring fireballs!

He shook his head vigorously and, in the midst of the noise, heard an out-of-place voice: "Zhi Ming... I heard you left the country and removed your household registration? Are you planning to move it back?" It was Old Ji from the police station.

Bao Ke had returned by crossing the border illegally!

He had no passport or visa!

He might be back, but his identity was still floating abroad.