Once I heard Mr. Xu Zhiyi say a sentence: "If someone comes to Chengde and doesn't try the noodles from a hundred families, I look down on them." At that time, I was young and thought it was too exaggerated, maybe even unrealistic. Even if he had a unique taste, a mere noodle shop couldn't possibly be the best in the world.
Later, when my wife was taking the CET-4 exam and had to return to her alma mater in Chengde, I was worried she might have an accident on the way, so I accompanied her. In the evening, when we were looking for a place to eat, I suddenly remembered Mr. Xu's words and decided to give it a try with my wife.
As soon as we sat down, we felt it was extraordinary; after trying a few dishes, it was indeed outstanding; taking a few sips of the noodles was truly amazing; upon careful tasting, the aftertaste was endless. Especially the dish of cauliflower in a small pot, the cauliflower crown was soft and smooth, the stem was crunchy and refreshing, a small handful of chili peppers added freshness, a small handful of minced meat added fragrance, and then a few cloves of garlic were stir-fried on high heat, stirring up love, hate, and all kinds of emotions, stirring up the complexities of the world. Fragrant and delicious, truly a masterpiece!
After that meal, when we returned to our hometown, we felt dazed for two or three days, until my mother ate two bitter gourds and finally woke up, finally understanding the true meaning of Mr. Xu's words.
I wanted to find an opportunity to go again, but as work became increasingly demanding, I never went back. After a few years, I suddenly heard that the shop had closed due to unforeseen circumstances, and from then on, it was impossible to taste those flavors again, feeling a sense of loss. Thinking back to the phrase "If someone comes to Chengde...", I smiled, understanding the concept of "originating from emptiness."
Later on, I often heard stories about the hundred families, becoming a great regret in the hearts of many food enthusiasts. Some tried to recreate those unique flavors, and some were indeed interesting, but those who had tasted them knew that those flavors that once danced on the tip of diners' tongues were now like the dishes described by Wang Zengqi, forever stuck on paper, forever tantalizing those who had encountered this noodle shop.
Deeply, leaving a mark.