The plump waitress inside saw Gao Yuzhu’s shabby appearance and sneered disdainfully. A country bumpkin is just a country bumpkin, seizing any opportunity to take advantage, buying three flatbreads and still asking for three cups of water from the restaurant—it’s really stingy!
Ah, I wonder from where that beautiful man (He Xuewen) hails? Ever since he last ate noodles here, I haven’t seen him again. Even just seeing him once more would be great! The smitten plump waitress had a dreamy smile on her face, pining for her dream lover.
"Waitress, I’d like so braised pork, stead crucian carp, pan-fried tofu, vegetable roll, and two pounds of rice."
At the sound of the pleasant voice, the plump waitress imdiately snapped back to reality. The man of her dreams had descended upon her just like that. The full-figured girl instantly blushed, her heart pounding wildly. Oh rciful and compassionate God, I’ll offer incense to you tonight.
"Waitress? I want braised pork, stead crucian carp, pan-fried tofu, vegetable rolls, and two pounds of rice." Seeing the waitress out of focus, He Xuewen smiled and repeated himself.
The plump waitress, blushing, hastily said: "Just a mont, the dishes will be served shortly."
After speaking, she ran to the kitchen to fetch the dishes. The hefty cook was tossing pans over the stove, and there was a pan-fried tofu dish ready on the counter. She scooped it up and walked away with it, then said to the hefty cook: "Daddy, make sure there’s a good amount of braised pork, stead crucian carp, and vegetable rolls!"
It turns out that this hefty cook was the plump waitress’s own father. Because their restaurant was small, the chef and waitress were just this father and daughter duo, so even though the restaurant was publicly owned, it essentially operated like their own family business. Upon seeing his daughter take away the pan-fried tofu that was ant for their own lunch, the big chef beca worried.
"Guiyuan, why are you taking our lunch away? Isn’t this the pan-fried tofu you asked Daddy to cook for you? I even put extra at in it for you!"
"Ah, I’m taking it to the custors first, you can make another one later. Oh, and the three dishes I just ordered, Daddy, you better bring out your A-ga, did you hear?" the plump waitress nad Guiyuan yelled at her father.
"Got it, got it. Have you taken a liking to another male custor again? Guiyuan, not to scold you, but when choosing a man, you can’t just go for looks; you have to consider character. Look at your Mama; back in the day, she was the belle of the town. She married over because she saw your Daddy had a good character, and then she gave the Niu family four strapping sons and a plump daughter like you. Guiyuan, I’m not finished talking—"
Niu Guiyuan had long since run off with the pan-fried tofu. The hefty cook chuckled and shook his head, "This darn girl, alas, young ladies are so outgoing!"
Feeling a bit lancholic, the hefty cook resignedly cooked the three dishes his daughter specifically asked for. Of course, making the at plentiful, picking the freshest and largest crucian carp, and preparing more vegetable rolls than skins. The hefty cook, nad Niu Sanxian, had learned the culinary skills passed down from his ancestors and was a genuine practitioner of Hangzhou cuisine.
Speaking of the Niu family’s Hangzhou cuisine, it was also quite famous. The older generation of Hangzhou people would surely have heard of it. In the past, both Niu Sanxian’s father and grandfather had been chefs at the Hangzhou restaurant Lou Wai Lou. However, later on, due to the unrest in the big cities, his father began to think of retiring.
Plus, at that ti, his Daddy had a disagreent with the young owner of Lou Wai Lou, who wanted to promote soone else. So, they took this opportunity to return to their hotown, and he started cooking in the town’s restaurant while his old man brewed liquor for banquets in the village. Life was quite relaxing.
There were two middle-aged n with He Xuewen, one looked rugged, in his forties and seed like he worked a physical job; the other was in his thirties, wearing glasses with gold rims, holding a black briefcase, and was called Yang Wenbin, with a cultured appearance.
These two were accompanying He Xuewen to Yuequan Village to buy dried bamboo shoots. "Xuewen, you’re lucky to look good; that’s an advantage. Look at these four dishes, such generous portions, almost enough for eight bowls, tsk tsk. That chubby waiter must have taken a liking to you," said Yang Wenbin, who was very familiar with He Xuewen, speaking quite casually.
"Eat your food, you’re the chatterbox. Master Wang, don’t be shy, eat more at. The chef’s skills at this restaurant are pretty good. I think it’s even tastier than the food at Lou Wai Lou," He Xuewen called out to the driver.
Yang Wenbin had also eaten at Lou Wai Lou. Hearing He Xuewen speak like this, he hastily picked up a piece of stead fish and put it in his mouth. With that taste, he couldn’t help but nod repeatedly. The fish was stead to perfection, neither over nor undercooked, tender, and flavorful, truly showcasing the natural deliciousness of the carp. Indeed, it was tastier than the stead carp at Lou Wai Lou.
Master Wang had already started digging in. He didn’t like fish, which he found too bony and fussy, and kept picking braised pork to eat. The pork was stewed perfectly, fat but not greasy, fragrant and ltingly soft, much tastier than what his wife made at ho. He and He Xuewen were very familiar with each other; every ti there was business with Yang Wenbin, it was Master Wang who drove, so he said with a laugh:
"Master Wang, don’t just eat at, have so vegetables too. You need your vitamins."
"Us rough guys don’t understand all this vitamin stuff, I just love at. This at is stewed authentically, much more so than the fancy places. Honestly, I think those big restaurants are just fooling people; they can’t compare to the chefs in a small diner like this one."
Master Wang grabbed another piece of at and stuffed it into his mouth, eating heartily, and making it look very appetizing.
He Xuewen and Yang Wenbin exchanged smiles and shook their heads, leaving Master Wang to his al, clinking their glasses and started eating. The alcohol was a regular liquor brought by He Xuewen, but even this flavor was enough to earn Yang Wenbin’s high praise. He had bought several hundred pounds of alcohol from He Xuewen a while ago, not intending to sell it, but planning to give it away as gifts. This kind of good liquor was extrely popular with leaders in the army.
Originally, this Yang Wenbin was from Beijing, with family mbers holding important military positions. Hence, in that era, he dared to engage in such high-risk business. Moreover, the recent incident with Gao Yuzhu was also resolved with Yang Wenbin’s help; he simply had a friend make a call to the head of the Revolutionary Committee in Sui City, and the matter was settled.
Yang Wenbin didn’t need to co personally to buy dried bamboo shoots this ti, but because He Xuewen said that the liquor could only be brewed with the good water and grains of Yuequan Village and the fine dicinal herbs from Yuequan Mountain—He Xuewen was referring to the diluted Qiong Wine.
He once told Yang Wenbin about the dicinal wine brewed using forty-nine different herbs, which is why Yang Wenbin personally took charge this ti. He wanted to see for himself what kind of feng shui treasure Yuequan Village was, not only to have the resources to brew such good liquor but also to rejuvenate He Xuewen’s deteriorating health.
Yang Wenbin had also heard about He Xuewen’s background but didn’t care at all; he was a businessman, and he would side with anyone who could bring him profit. Moreover, he was acquainted with He Xuewen’s sworn enemy, and although that person was influential, Yang Wenbin was no nobody and had no fear of him.
However, that person was in politics, and the Yang Family was in the military, so neither side could interfere with the other. Even if Yang Wenbin wanted to help, he was powerless. This ti, He Xuewen’s dicinal wine reminded him that another political powerhouse who loved wine and was very particular about health and wellness would likely appreciate it. As long as he paved the way with the dicinal wine, given He Xuewen’s cleverness, building a good relationship with that powerful figure shouldn’t be a problem. (To be continued. If you like this work, welco to Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian to read.)
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