ocean-life Chapter 52 Bet
Chapter 52 Bet
As Chen Feng wielded his ladle, plates of bright red, tempting shredded pork with glistening sauce were steadily carried to each table by Zhang Qiang, like a grand relay race.
Lu Ming sat down and looked at the brightly colored, almost artistic dish in front of him. The slight regret he had felt for not getting to eat the rabbit buns vanished the moment the domineering aroma of sour, spicy, sweet and savory flavors filled his nostrils.
"Holy crap..." Lu Ming's Adam's apple bobbed violently. He first imitated Lin Xiaoyu by taking a picture and sending it to the group chat. Then, amidst the wails of his fellow "rabbit friends," he couldn't wait to pick up a large chopstick of shredded meat and put it into his mouth.
At that moment, his expression froze.
The tender shredded pork, the crisp bamboo shoots, and the rich pickled peppers, all enveloped in the warm sauce, are like countless gentle little hands, dancing a light waltz on his taste buds.
"Brother Chen, what exactly did you put in it?!" Lu Ming shouted incoherently while frantically shoveling rice into his mouth.
"This shredded pork with garlic sauce is definitely not worth 38; it should be at least 388!"
Forget about the shredded pork with garlic sauce, I, Lu Ming, am going to devour this whole plate today!
The young man sitting next to him, who was into cultivating immortality, chimed in, "Brother Lu, you already have a plate to eat. If you don't want the shredded pork with garlic sauce, share some with me. I feel like I could eat a whole cow right now!"
"You wish! I'll lick this rice clean, licking it clean with all the broth!"
The increasingly loud exclamations of praise were like water being poured into an already sizzling oil pan, eliciting laughter from the other diners in the restaurant.
As everyone ate, they listened to the young people's antics, and the whole "Human Fireworks" restaurant was immersed in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
Chen Feng stood behind the kitchen counter, still holding a warm chef's spoon in his hand.
He wiped the sweat from his face, looked at the harmonious scene in the shop, and laughed out loud.
He was actually a little worried. He was afraid that the environment of the shop would be too noisy, that the customers coming and going would be of varying quality, and that the noise would affect Mengmeng and leave her with a shadow, which would be detrimental to her growth.
But now, he's looking at Mengmeng.
The little sign girl, dressed in a pink bunny outfit, was sitting on a tall cashier stool.
Hearing the older boys shouting, she wasn't scared at all; instead, she was amused and giggled, patting the cash register with her chubby little hands and her eyes curving into two beautiful crescent moons.
"Dad, that boy said he wanted to eat the plate. He's so silly! The plate is hard and doesn't taste good at all!"
Mengmeng turned around, stuck out her tongue at Chen Feng, and looked just like a carefree little elf with her mischievous and clever appearance.
Looking at his daughter's pure and innocent smile, Chen Feng finally felt a weight lift from his heart.
He turned his head, his gaze falling on Xingruo, who was intently processing wood ear mushrooms in the corner.
This poor child, when I saw her yesterday, looked like a withered blade of grass struck by frost, her whole being exuding a deathly stillness.
Just now, listening to Lu Ming's exaggerated praise and the good-natured laughter in the shop, Xing Ruo's hands didn't stop moving, but the corners of her usually downturned mouth unconsciously curled up into a small smile.
Although it was very slight, and didn't even make a sound, Chen Feng saw it clearly—Xing Ruo smiled.
It was a smile that carried a hint of anger, which reassured Chen Feng a lot.
"That's great," Chen Feng murmured to himself.
He regained his composure, his gaze becoming serious again, and he once more supported the iron pot with his left hand.
A thought arose in Chen Feng's mind: he should work even harder to maintain this warm atmosphere.
He knew that in order to protect the smiles of these two children, he had to make his "Fish-Flavored Shredded Pork" even better, so that he could safeguard this "human touch" of home even more firmly.
While laughter and chatter filled the "Human Fireworks" restaurant, two middle-aged men were walking side by side on the old street's stone-paved road not far from the store.
The person walking in front is named Wu Deshun.
Old Wu is a typical poor and honest man. He was one of the "lucky ones" who ate the rabbit-shaped buns yesterday.
Today I wore a faded gray work vest and a pair of cheap cloth shoes that cost a little over ten yuan, with worn edges.
Old Wu is known among his neighbors as being very stingy.
They would wait until the market closed in the evening to find bargains when buying groceries, they would wear a vest for five years, and they would even save up their water bottles to sell as scrap.
The main principle is to be frugal and hardworking, saving every penny possible and never spending more.
But at this moment, Old Wu's weathered face was filled with a kind of fanatical excitement.
"Old Zhang, I'm telling you, you have to come with me today!"
Those bunny-shaped steamed buns yesterday... oh my... the taste was absolutely amazing.
Three for twelve yuan, I don't think it's expensive at all, in fact I think the shopkeeper is losing money!
As Old Wu walked, he gestured animatedly to indicate the name.
The man next to him was named Zhang Weiguo.
Zhang Weiguo was dressed much more presentably, with a navy blue polo shirt tucked into his suit pants and a bunch of shiny car keys hanging from his waist.
He and Lao Wu had been friends since they were little kids, and he knew all the troubles Lao Wu's family had gone through—because he had to support his child's postgraduate studies and save money for his wife's medical treatment, Lao Wu was extremely harsh on himself.
When the two brothers go out, Zhang Weiguo wants to treat Lao Wu to a decent meal at a restaurant, but Lao Wu always looks disgusted and says that it's a "waste of money," and insists on dragging him to a roadside stall for a bowl of noodles that costs five yuan.
But today, this person who wouldn't even buy a bottle of mineral water actually spent half an hour haggling with him over a bun that cost four yuan each, insisting on dragging him here to "see it for himself".
Zhang Weiguo found it amusing and also filled with curiosity to see Old Wu's unusually excited, childlike demeanor.
"Old Wu, I'm not trying to be mean, but you've changed so much!" Zhang Weiguo teased as he walked leisurely.
"You usually haggle with people for ages when you buy a watermelon, and you say a steamed bun is cheap when it costs four yuan?"
Even if that steamed bun really was a rabbit transformed, it's still just a lump of dough.
I think you were starving yesterday; you'd even find a rock delicious.
"You don't know anything!" Old Wu got angry when he heard this.
He stopped, turned around, his eyes wide open, as if he had been subjected to some great questioning and humiliation.
"Zhang Weiguo, you can question my aesthetic sense, but you can't question my taste!"
Those steamed buns... is it just about the dough? It's about craftsmanship! It's about the soul!
"If you dare say that again after you've had a bite, I... I, Old Wu, will never take you out for good food again!"
When Zhang Weiguo saw that Lao Wu was actually arguing with him over a steamed bun, he was not angry at all, but instead amused.
He knew that Lao Wu was proud and that his family was usually struggling, so he had to find all sorts of excuses to help him.
Old Wu usually has a "good enough" attitude towards everything, but today, this stubbornness with a "living spirit" made Zhang Qiang feel that the spirited young Old Wu from before seemed to have returned.
"Alright, alright, I'll question my own views. You lead the way." Zhang Weiguo chuckled and patted Old Wu on the shoulder.
"How about this, let's make a bet. If those steamed buns are really as amazing as you say, I'll treat you to dinner tonight."
If that doesn't work out... hehe, Lao Wu, you'll have to treat me to a good meal tonight, how about it?"
Zhang Weiguo had his own plans in mind.
He had been wanting to find an excuse to treat Lao Wu to a nice meal for a long time. If he won, no, there was no way he could win. He had to pretend to have lost.
If he loses, he can legitimately take Lao Wu to that newly opened seafood private restaurant, which is one of his favorite private restaurants.
"Let's bet! Who's afraid of who!" Old Wu said, his neck stiff and his face full of confidence.
"Get your wallet ready, you're about to be ripped off for a big meal tonight!"
As they talked, they turned into an alley.
"Hey, listen." Zhang Weiguo suddenly pulled Old Wu aside, raising his eyebrows slightly.
In the usually quiet old streets and alleys, a series of noisy yet lively sounds suddenly came from ahead.
The sounds were lively, including the silvery laughter of a little girl, as well as bursts of praise and hearty laughter. The sounds carried a warmth that seemed to penetrate to the very bone.
"Look! Look!" Old Wu stretched out his hand, pointing quite proudly to the wooden door in front of him that was emitting a warm orange light.
"Am I wrong? If it's not tasty, how could it attract so many people? Look at the motorcycles parked at the entrance, and look at those young people sitting and waiting for a table."
Old Zhang, it looks like you're not going to be able to hold onto your money today!
Zhang Weiguo followed Lao Wu's finger and looked over. The teasing in his eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by a deep curiosity.
That is indeed a very interesting little shop.
Against the backdrop of the old street filled with gray and blue hues, the shop's decor seemed out of place, yet it was so harmonious that it brought a sense of peace. In particular, the two red lanterns hanging at the entrance exuded an atmosphere of "home."
"The warmth of everyday life..." Zhang Weiguo murmured the words on the signboard, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his lips.
"Well done, Lao Wu. Looks like you really didn't lead us astray this time."
As the two approached, the rich, almost overwhelming aroma of fish, with its sweet, sour, and slightly charred scent, wafted into their nostrils on the breeze.
Zhang Weiguo's eyes brightened slightly. What was originally just a joke to play along with his old friend turned into something serious at this moment.
"Come on, Lao Wu, let's go in and check out this 'heavenly' restaurant."
The two strode off toward the bustling, human world.