I used to be a chef...

Pan Tiezhu looked nostalgic, remained silent for a long time, and then shook his head.

"No, he must have figured these out himself. He studied interior design in college and worked as a designer for the past few years."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Zhihua nodded, thinking to himself: Could it be a special talent?

Why don't we take him on as an apprentice?

He has now founded his own sect and has many disciples.

After becoming a master craftsman, he has been searching for exceptionally talented apprentices, hoping to pass on his skills.

They just haven't found a suitable candidate yet.

I never expected to run into him when I went back to my hometown.

It's true what they say: you may try to plant flowers, but they won't bloom; you may plant willows, but they will thrive.

Can I try some?

Zhang Zhihua spoke up, understanding that a chef cannot only focus on appearance; the most important thing is taste.

"Uncle Zhang, this doesn't taste good."

Pan Tiezhu didn't want someone else to eat the lunchbox he was so eager to have, so he told a lie.

However, he regretted it as soon as he told the lie.

What should I do? Will I be exposed in front of everyone?

He was a little nervous; his palms were sweaty.

"Really?"

Zhang Zhihua's words seemed to be giving Pan Tiezhu a chance.

He's a smart man; he can tell at a glance that this braised pork looks good, so how could it not taste good?

If he can't even tell this, then he's wasted over twenty years of cooking skills!

"I personally think it's alright, but compared to you, Uncle Zhang, it might still be a bit lacking."

Pan Tiezhu still had good emotional intelligence; he not only covered up the lie but also flattered Zhang Zhihua.

But that's not what he really thought...

"I'll try it myself and give you some pointers if there's anything I don't like."

Zhang Zhihua felt very comfortable being praised; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

He held his head high, ready to act as a mentor and offer some guidance.

But.

When he tasted a piece of braised pork, he was stunned.

The rich, savory aroma of the braised pork immediately stimulated his taste buds.

Rich yet not greasy, tender yet not mushy, sweet yet not sticky, flavorful yet not salty – it's simply a delicacy!

It's so delicious!

Although Zhang Zhihua could appreciate the "subtleties" of braised pork, he was ultimately not a cultured person and wouldn't use flowery language to describe the dish.

All the words of praise turned into one "Holy crap!" after another!

He couldn't resist taking another bite, and it was still soft, glutinous, and savory, without feeling greasy at all.

After finishing the braised pork, Zhang Zhihua tried two other dishes, which surprised him even more.

He never expected that even braised chicken and scrambled eggs with tomatoes would taste so good.

Especially scrambled eggs with tomatoes.

Even though it's a vegetarian dish, when prepared in the afterglow of the setting sun, it's just as delicious as braised pork.

At this moment, Zhang Zhihua couldn't help but marvel.

This is a genius!

I am ashamed of myself...

Pan Tiezhu, standing to the side, naturally wouldn't care about any genius or good-for-nothing.

He just silently watched Zhang Zhihua, silently reciting something in his heart.

Uncle Zhang, please, I'm begging you~~~

Let's leave some for the children...

————————

A shift in perspective.

At a table in the food street.

The two meals that Wang Xiaojing bought were quickly finished by Shen Ziling.

This was the first time she had ever witnessed how much a girl could eat.

"Xiao Shen, when did you start eating so much?" Wang Xiaojing was clearly startled.

"Oh, don't worry about it. A person's stomach can shrink. It might be big this time, but small next time. You never know."

Shen Ziling wiped the grease from her mouth, then patted her round belly, feeling very satisfied.

The two chatted for a while and played on their phones for a while; it was almost time to meet up.

They discussed it and decided to buy several boxed meals to stock up, as the mountaintop was just too difficult to climb!

I don't know when I'll be able to come back again.

......

Cherry blossom scenic area.

Lin Yu stood under the landmark sign, holding a small notebook.

"Now let's count the number of people. Call out the names we hear. Once everyone is here, we'll go back to the guesthouse to rest."

"Zhou Yong!"

"arrive!"

"Han Meijuan!"

"arrive!"

Yang Yang!

"arrive!"

"Shen Ziling!"

"arrive!"

"......"

Every time someone called out their name, Lin Yu would put a checkmark next to it.

54 people were expected to attend, and 52 people actually attended.

Two tourists had not yet arrived at the meeting point, and Lin Yu saw their names in his notebook.

Xia Chenchen, Yang Xiaoli.

Lin Yu called their names three more times, but neither of them responded.

Have you seen Xia Chenchen and Yang Xiaoli?

“They were whispering about where to eat a few hours ago,” a boy in the group replied.

Xia Chenchen and Yang Xiaoli left a deep impression on everyone; almost everyone in the tour group knew them.

At each shopping stop, they would go on a spending spree, spending at least 10,000 yuan, and at most over 100,000 yuan, all to buy that string of beads.

In fact, Shen Ziling and Wang Xiaojing's family backgrounds are no worse than theirs, but they are much more low-key and never flaunt their wealth.

"Eating?" Lin Yu frowned. "Did you run into them in the food street?"

The people in the tour group looked at each other, then all shook their heads at Lin Yu.

Why!

Where have those two gone again?

Lin Yu sighed, took out his phone, and prepared to call one of them.

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