The sun grew stronger, and the shops and stalls along South Street River gradually opened for business.
Fine white noodles were boiled and then cooled in cold water. They were tossed with shredded chicken and oil, topped with cucumber strips, and seasoned with vinegar and garlic sauce according to taste. After a quick mix, one could take a big bite.
The noodles were chewy, the chicken tender and smooth, and the cucumber refreshing. The vinegar was sweet and tangy, while the garlic was fresh and spicy. All the different flavors filled the mouth, each distinct yet complementing the others, making one eager to chew.
But after just a few chews, the completely blended flavor would conquer the taste buds.
One bite after another, more than half a bowl of cold noodles disappeared into Lu Ping’s stomach.
Lu Ping still wasn’t satisfied.
He raised his hand, intending to ask the stall owner for another bowl, when suddenly, a strong aroma drifted over.
It was spicy!
And numbing!
Mixed with the fragrance of hot oil, it was an aroma he had never encountered before!
He glanced down at his bowl and quickly shoveled the remaining noodles into his mouth.
Yet the noodles that had tasted so delicious just moments ago suddenly seemed bland.
They weren’t fragrant enough, spicy enough, or flavorful enough!
He even drank up the last bit of soup left in the bowl before turning toward the noodle vendor.
“Um…”
The vendor looked at him expectantly.
Lu Ping was a regular customer and famously had a big appetite. He normally started with at least three bowls of cold noodles.
So, was he ordering one more bowl or two?
Lu Ping scratched his head.
“Um… did you smell that?”
“?”
The vendor froze.
“Smell what?”
“That aroma. It suddenly drifted over. Isn’t it coming from over there?”
Lu Ping pointed toward a shop not far away.
The shop was closed. He remembered that it used to sell braised dishes, but it hadn’t opened in a long time.
“Is it really that fragrant?”
The vendor rolled his eyes inwardly.
He told Lu Ping what had happened that morning.
“Anyway, they all went inside afterward. They’ve been coming and going all morning, so I guess they’re cooking lunch in there.”
“Oh.”
Almost without thinking, Lu Ping ran over to the shop.
The moment he stopped at the entrance, there was a loud sizzle from inside!
Inside, Su Wan’ning had just poured a spoonful of hot oil over the deep bowl of boiled sliced pork.
The oil instantly bubbled and exploded.
The dried chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, and green Sichuan pepper were hit by the hot oil one after another.
First came the intense spiciness.
Then came the sharp numbing sensation of the green Sichuan pepper and the rich, pungent fragrance of the Sichuan peppercorns.
Just those three flavors were enough to make everyone inside’s heads buzz. They were so stunned by the aroma that no one even wanted to blink.
But then the oil seeped down into the next layer—fresh minced garlic and wild scallions, followed by the slices of meat stacked like flower petals.
The fresh scallions and garlic brought an exceptionally refreshing kind of heat.
The hot oil sealed everything beneath it, locking five layers of flavor onto the meat.
The meat slices had originally looked ordinary.
But now, they were like fireworks suddenly ignited.
The savory flavor that had already seeped deep into the meat during the marinating and cooking process suddenly burst forth without reservation, blending perfectly with the meat’s natural tenderness and aroma.
“Can we eat it now?”
Xu Lingxi nearly wanted to cry.
It was such a familiar boiled sliced pork!
They had actually recreated it!
However, someone suddenly began pounding hard on the door.
Everyone froze.
Only then did they notice a huge shadow standing outside.
The shadow spoke.
“Uh, sorry. It smells so good! What are you guys eating?”
Everyone:
……
Su Wan’ning hurried over to open the door.
Lu Ping quickly stepped back, looking embarrassed, but still shamelessly asked again,
“Miss, what are you eating that smells so good?”
He stretched his neck and peeked inside.
The table was covered with dishes.
There was braised pork, tofu soup, several stir-fried dishes, and a few others he had never seen before.
Which one was producing that amazing aroma?
Wait!
There was also a huge, huge bowl on the stove!
Steam was rising from it.
That had to be it!
Su Wan’ning and the others exchanged glances.
They could all see why this man had come.
They would be opening the restaurant soon anyway, so Su Wan’ning took the initiative.
“One look at you and I can tell you’re a true food lover. My shop will be opening in a few days. Since you’ve come at just the right time, why don’t you come inside and help me taste-test some dishes if you have time?”
“!”
Lu Ping nodded immediately.
“Would that really be appropriate?”
His mouth said one thing, but his feet had already carried him into the room, as though he were afraid the owner might regret the invitation if he waited even a moment longer.
“Of course. Do you have anything you don’t eat?”
Su Wan’ning gave him a bowl and chopsticks.
“No, no. I just have a good appetite.”
Lu Ping shook his head repeatedly and introduced himself, explaining that he had been drawn over by the aroma.
“You’re definitely in for a treat today!”
Xu Lingxi didn’t want anyone stealing her meat.
This was the world’s very first serving of boiled sliced pork!
But she also understood the bigger picture. If they chased this man away, he was obviously a food lover. Who knew what he might say afterward?
How could they open the shop then?
So she immediately grabbed her chopsticks and began eating as quickly as possible.
The meat was tender and smooth, fragrant and spicy.
Ahhh, it was so delicious!
She almost wanted to cry.
She missed home.
She wanted to recreate every delicious dish from her memories together with her bestie, Wan’ning!
“It’s just a simple home-cooked meal. Mr. Lu, please help yourself.”
Su Wan’ning didn’t pay him much attention.
Instead, she prepared a separate serving for Mu Xun: braised pork, boiled sliced pork, spicy stir-fried lotus-root shoots, stir-fried winter melon with dried shrimp, and a bowl of spinach and egg soup.
She didn’t give him much of each dish.
But Mu Xun couldn’t stop eyeing the fish.
“Can’t I have some of that fish too?”
The fish had been grilled first and then stewed, with a layer of tofu underneath and chili peppers on top.
The sauce was thick, and even the tofu had turned dark brown.
It would surely burst with juice when bitten into.
“It’s better for you to wait a few days before eating fish. I’ll make something even better for you then.”
Su Wan’ning coldly refused.
She told him to focus on tasting the other dishes first and handed him a cup of mint chrysanthemum tea.
“You can drink this tea for now. It helps clear heat and reduce internal fire.”
Mu Xun could only agree.
He first picked up a slice of the boiled pork.
The familiar spicy flavor hit his tongue.
Then a rich numbing sensation took over.
It felt as though ants were crawling across his tongue and lips.
But the tenderness of the meat and the fragrance of the peppers unfolded layer by layer, rushing all the way to the top of his head.
His voice trembled.
“Medicinal food can actually taste this good?”
He couldn’t help it.
He was so excited!
If medicinal food tasted this good, why had he been drinking those bitter herbal soups all this time?
“Oh, this isn’t medicinal food.”
Su Wan’ning corrected him.
“But you need to gradually reduce the amount of spicy food you eat. Having a little is fine.”
She slightly turned her palm and pointed toward the other dishes.
“The winter melon and lotus-root shoots both help clear heat and reduce internal fire, so you can eat more of those. The braised pork and spinach-and-egg soup are ordinary home-style dishes. You can use them to replace the heavily spiced food you usually eat. Give them a try.”
Mu Xun hadn’t really wanted to eat the other dishes.
But since the boiled sliced pork was so delicious, perhaps he could try them?
His eyes swept over the dishes before quickly settling on the braised pork.
After a few bites, he piled rice onto his plate and covered it with meat.
“Delicious! This is the first time in so long that I’ve thought a non-spicy dish was actually good!”
Every grain of rice was coated in the rich meat sauce.
The large chunks of pork were mashed apart, and he stuffed a huge spoonful into his mouth.
Lu Ping decided that having no shame wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
What he regretted was eating that bowl of noodles earlier!
After eating two huge bowls of rice, he actually felt full!
Looking at the few remaining dishes on the table, he wished he could take them all home.
But he still had some dignity left.
“Miss Su, make sure the opening is lively. I’ll be waiting!”
With that, he took out two taels of silver and placed them on the table.
“This is for my meal. Don’t think it’s too little, Miss Su. If you get another chance, ask me to taste-test your dishes again!”
“This is enough to eat a meal at a restaurant. You’ve given me too much.”
Su Wan’ning politely declined a few times, but Lu Ping simply waved his hand and strode away.
While continuing to eat, Mu Xun praised her.
“With Miss Su’s cooking skills, you won’t have to worry about your shop not becoming popular. And as the very first customer to try Miss Su’s medicinal cuisine—ah, what an honor!”
“Shopkeeper Mu, does that mean you’re ready to buy my medicinal food?”
Su Wan’ning smiled slightly.
Her first business deal had arrived just like that.