Chapter 16-016 Pancake with Pork Intestines [First Update]

Wu Na arrived at the library early in the morning and was shocked when she saw Lin Miaomiao.

"You...how could you..."

Lin Miaomiao gave a self-deprecating laugh: "It's very different from school, isn't it?"

Lin Miaomiao's cheeks were sunken, her eyes were dark and bluish-black, and a shallow wrinkle had appeared between her brows. Although she was still wearing her old clothes, she had clearly lost a lot of weight, and even the bones protruding from her wrists were frighteningly thin.

The two of them had always agreed to lose weight together, but they had never succeeded. It had only been a little over a month since they last met, and Lin Miaomiao had become so thin?

However, this unhealthy thinness did not make Wu Na envious; instead, it made her feel particularly sorry for him.

"Aren't you preparing for exams? You seem completely drained."

Lin Miaomiao said weakly, "I get up at six every morning and go to bed at one at night. I study intensely during the day and never see the sun. You would have to do the same."

Unlike the final exam week at school, the academic pressure at this time is not only pressure, but also mixed with the panic of an uncertain future. Even when she sleeps, Lin Miaomiao can't sleep soundly. She always wakes up in the exam room in her dreams, covered in sweat.

The pressure was immense, which is why Lin Miaomiao broke down so much yesterday when her parents suggested she prepare more options.

She desperately wanted to yell at her parents, "Do you know how much pressure I'm under?"

But Lin Miaomiao didn't say anything, and instead went back to her room and cried her heart out.

Wu Na: "...How about we go out and have some fun?"

Seeing Lin Miaomiao like this, Wu Na thought it would be better to take Lin Miaomiao out for a walk to clear her mind.

Go to karaoke? Or an internet cafe? Or maybe an amusement park?

Having known each other for so long, Wu Na knew that Lin Miaomiao had no interest in those things. Their biggest hobby was buying a cup of milk tea and then finding a place to eat.

Lin Miaomiao really didn't want to go anywhere, but she also didn't want to eat anything. Lately, it seemed like she had lost her sense of taste. She woke up with stress every day and fell asleep with stress every day. The food she ate every day was so dull, just like her life.

Wu Na thought for a moment and said, "I'll order takeout for you at noon."

Thinking that her summer heat had been cured by the Wen family's food, Wu Na felt a rare determination. She couldn't help Lin Miaomiao much, but wouldn't improving Lin Miaomiao's appetite be a form of help?

Lin Miaomiao asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why don't you eat at a restaurant?"

Wu Na rolled her eyes: "Look at the temperature outside, isn't it?"

Today's temperature broke new records. It was okay to go out for a walk in the morning, but going out for lunch in temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius at noon? You'd probably get sunburned before you even got out of the house.

The two strolled from the first floor to the fourth floor of the library. When Wu Na saw rows and rows of dark, densely packed people, she couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

"Is this all for exam preparation?"

"What do you think? It's getting harder and harder to pass the exam every year. There's no way you can pass without putting in the effort. There are plenty of people here who have been preparing for the exam for a year or two."

Lin Miaomiao led Wu Na up to the fifth floor. The fifth floor of the library has two spacious balconies, where she would usually rest when she was tired.

Lin Miaomiao has been here for a while and has made a few friends.

As I stepped onto the terrace, I saw several acquaintances chatting.

After a brief introduction, Wu Na, ever the friendly type, asked them what they were discussing.

One of the boys chuckled and said, "Isn't this just sharing today's food?"

The days of preparing for exams are all the same. If there's anything that can cheer everyone up, it's nothing more than the daily takeout.

If someone finds a delicious takeout meal, they'll recommend it to each other. If someone finds a terrible one, they wish the library had a public message board so everyone could write in big letters, "This takeout is absolutely awful, a complete disaster!"

Lin Miaomiao also concluded that the ratio of delicious to bad food is always 30/70, which is because there aren't many good snack shops nearby besides a large shopping mall.

However, the group was unusually united today.

A girl mysteriously showed her phone to Lin Miaomiao.

"This is what we're having today. Da Huang found it. This restaurant is really delicious."

The boy named Da Huang said, "I told you not to call me Da Huang... My mom ordered it for me, saying it's a small restaurant across from her school."

Lin Miaomiao: ...

"Is this a small dining table?"

It's clearly a set meal for children, and it's not even from any takeout shop, just a small group of dining tables!

Da Huang explained, "This place already has its own restaurant, and since it's summer vacation now, they deliver meals to the library every day. If you order a day in advance, the owner will post photos in the group chat the next day. It's definitely not pre-made food."

Wu Na clicked her tongue twice: "People these days really know how to do business."

She had just been having a headache from the noise of those elementary school students in the first-floor reading room, but little did she know that a small restaurant had already set its sights on this place.

Lin Miaomiao: "...Are you full?"

Children eat smaller portions, so it's never enough for adults.

"That's more than enough! If you're still hungry, just tell the owner and we'll add another lunchbox of rice for an extra dollar. How about it? Want me to add you to the group?"

Lin Miaomiao: "Pull it."

Once she joined the group, Lin Miaomiao burst out laughing when she saw everyone's nicknames.

He handed the phone to Wu Na: "Look."

Seeing the increasingly abstract nicknames displayed, Wu Na couldn't stop laughing.

But when she saw the store's name, Wu Na stopped smiling.

"Wen Family Restaurant"—isn't this her hidden gem of a restaurant?

They even offer set meals!

Wu Na was instantly flustered.

You know, she suffers from decision paralysis every day. There are so many toppings for rice bowls, but she can only eat one at a time. But here at the small dining table, she can eat three different toppings in one meal!

Wu Na felt a sudden pang of betrayal and injustice: "Why? Is it just because I didn't come to the library?"

She didn't even know that the meal packages existed!

Seeing Wu Na's distress, Lin Miaomiao's mood strangely improved.

Although she hadn't even tasted the legendary food yet, Lin Miaomiao already had a new goal in mind.

"How about it? Why don't you come to the library too? We can have lunch together."

Wu Na asked, sounding aggrieved, "Don't they deliver it to my home?"

"Then ask them when their delivery person arrives at noon."

Yang Tao and Qu Xiaoyu arrived at noon to deliver food under the scorching sun. In just two days, Yang Tao's arms were tanned into two distinct shades, a stark contrast between black and white.

He called out names with a strong voice from the doorway.

"Are the potato family members here? Are the potato family members here?"

A burst of laughter erupted nearby, and someone interjected, "Did they give birth to a boy or a girl?"

Yang Tao immediately chimed in: "A chubby little boy weighing six ounces! He's delicious whether steamed or stir-fried!"

Big Yellow shamelessly stepped forward to collect its meal.

"Oh, thank you, doctor!"

A large group of people burst into laughter.

After everyone had received their meals, Yang Tao noticed there were two more meals left in the box.

"Ms. Wu! Your rice bowl has arrived!"

Wu Na received the meal, and Yang Tao was delighted.

"Hey, I was wondering why the address has changed today."

Wu Na pouted: "You have set meals, why don't you order takeout?"

Yang Tao chuckled: "This is a small dining table; the owner didn't expect a bunch of college students like you to order here."

"I don't care, I want to eat too."

Yang Tao pointed to the library behind her: "I suggest you come to the library instead. We deliver the set meals for a minimum of ten."

The profit margin for set meals is smaller, which is why Wen's mother decided not to offer them for takeout after careful consideration.

If we list our food on a delivery platform, firstly, the time from preparation to delivery will be inconsistent, and the taste will suffer. Secondly, the price for single delivery will definitely increase, and higher prices will lead to longer sales times, which is not conducive to the store's operation. Thirdly... my daughter will be going to school after the holidays, and we won't have enough time to make the set meals. Will we have to take them off the menu again then?

We decided to focus on small dining tables and provide unified delivery, which is simple and convenient.

Yang Tao took out two bottles of mineral water from the lunchbox: "Here, these are the two good reviews from yesterday."

Wu Na took the water: "Goodbye!"

Ugh, I have to get up early again tomorrow.

Looking at Lin Miaomiao again, she no longer seemed depressed. She was holding her rice bowl and exchanging dishes with the others.

"Wow, this rice bowl looks delicious! I'm ordering it when I get home tonight!"

"I never used to eat pig intestines, but this smells so good."

"Give me a bite of chicken nugget."

"La la la, this braised broad bean with scallions is so delicious!"

...

Wu Na: ...

I'll start learning tomorrow!

*****

Wen Fan made several sesame seed cakes, split the hollow cakes open, and stuffed them with stir-fried pork intestines with green peppers.

The large intestine was cleaned thoroughly and had no odor. It was then placed in a braising broth that had been simmering for two days and braised until it turned a dark brown color. A thick layer of fat also appeared in the braising pot. The aroma of the braised large intestine spread powerfully, and only then did Wen Fan take it out.

Cut the pork intestines into sections, add green peppers to the pan, and stir-fry throughout.

The braised pork intestines are exceptionally fragrant, tender, and bouncy. The outer skin is chewy, while the inside is soft and chewy. Each bite is like a crunchy, bouncy texture encased in a layer of fatty oil.

It smells good, but it can be cloying.

However, when paired with perfectly baked flatbread, the greasiness transforms into a pure fragrance.

The aroma is so enticing, it's almost overwhelming.

Wen Fan ate a palm-sized sesame seed cake with meat filling and then stopped. After wiping his fingers, he went to adjust the ratio of the braising liquid.

Father Wen ate three sesame cakes and was so full he kept burping. Mother Wen also ate two large ones and was so full she couldn't sit down, so she went to clean the house.

Yang Tao stuffed four into his mouth, staring intently at Qu Xiaoyu.

Qu Xiaoyu has already eaten her fifth one.

Mother Wen didn't feel that the two young men were going to eat her out of house and home; she just marveled at their good appetites.

No matter how you look at it, large intestine is too fatty. She ate two sesame cakes, and after eating them, she felt the oil rising up.

"...You two should eat some vegetables later."

I'm afraid of getting an upset stomach.

The rice and noodles were sold out at noon today, so Wen Fan used the shop's stove to make sesame seed cakes to eat.

I never imagined that sesame flatbread with pork intestines could taste this good!

This instantly transported Mr. and Mrs. Wen back to their difficult past, when life was tough and even eating a piece of fatty meat during the Lunar New Year was a treat. Forget about greasiness, forget about high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar; fatty meat was simply delicious.

Now that there's no shortage of meat, they can no longer find the satisfaction they once felt from eating fatty meat.

Who would have thought that eating pork intestines now would evoke the same feeling as before?

After finishing their meal of pork intestines, the two of them unanimously decided to abstain from meat for a few days.

On the other side, Wen Fan tossed a few things into the braising pot, smelled the aroma, and then said with satisfaction, "Dad, take good care of this braising broth. I'll put some things in today."

"Okay, what should I put in?"

"Anything is fine, just don't put seafood in it. Tomorrow, we'll add two new dishes to the menu: a platter of braised dishes and a cold dish."

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Author's Note: There will be two more updates. My sleep schedule has been a bit off these past few days, and I couldn't stay up last night, so I had to go to sleep. Updates from now on will be at night. I'll let you know in advance if there are any exceptions.