dinner
You Jiale was thinking about going to the vegetable market area to check things out, and he needed to make proper arrangements for the "dinner party" that evening.
The evening breeze carried a mixed scent as it drifted in from the alleyway entrance: the rich aroma of braised food from the street vendors, and the smoky atmosphere of a few stir-fried dishes stalls. This area of Caishikou was naturally bustling.
You Jiale discreetly wore a hat and round-framed sunglasses, deliberately making himself look like a secret agent filming an underground movie. Entering the small restaurant near the vegetable market in the southern district, he walked ahead, then turned back and gestured with his chin to Qin Zheng: "This is the place. Good location, lively atmosphere. Come on, let's go in and try their signature sweet and sour carp, I've heard it's good."
Qin Zheng glanced at him indifferently, said nothing, and followed him inside.
"I'm treating you to dinner, why are you still looking so grumpy? Cheer up!" You Jiale's restless hand tried to put it on Qin Zheng's shoulder.
The two chose a window seat, and a waiter quickly ran over, handing them the menu with an enthusiastic smile. You Jiale casually flipped through a couple of pages, ordering without even looking up: "One serving of their signature sweet and sour carp, one plate of salt and pepper pork ribs, and a shrimp and tofu dish too. For soup, we'll have some old duck soup. Oh, and two bowls of rice." While ordering, he chatted casually with the waiter, quite familiarly: "Hey buddy, are you familiar with this area? The food in the old town is really authentic. Any recommendations for established restaurants?"
The waiter paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Old brands... There used to be a few, but now we have to talk about 'Fuxingzhai' and 'Deshunguan' at the street corner. If you want to find something even older, you'll have to go into the alleys."
"An alley?" You Jiale smiled slightly and continued the conversation, "Like... Li's or Wang's?"
"Wang's Breakfast is still around, but Li's... I haven't really heard of it." The waiter scratched the back of his head. "It's probably closed down a long time ago."
Qin Zheng didn't say a word from beginning to end, just quietly pouring water, his eyes occasionally glancing out the window. Once the waiter was out of sight, he asked, seemingly casually, "Assistant You, are you dressed like that because you're afraid the restaurant staff will recognize you? Or are you worried about being watched?"
You Jiale rested her chin on her hand, a sly glint in her eyes: "I've always preferred to keep a low profile."
The dishes arrived quickly, steaming hot, their aroma filling the air. You Jiale handed her chopsticks, her mouth babbling as she said, "You've had a tough time traveling with me all this time. Thank you for your hard work."
You Jiale's mind was racing with calculations, and she kept talking: "I'm serious, this is really my first time here. You used to work for the government, so you must be very familiar with these streets, right? This place... looks quite interesting, there must be a lot of stories behind it, right?"
Qin Zheng glanced at him, raising his eyelids: "Where isn't there a story? This old town area underwent several planning changes during the concession era. There are many streets and alleys, and the shops are quite diverse, a real mixed bag."
“That’s why it’s a place where hidden talents reside.” You Jiale took a bite of a rib and mumbled, “For startups like ours, the thing we fear most is those ‘seniors’ hiding in the nooks and crannies.”
"Oh?" Qin Zheng smiled enigmatically. "Who do you consider to be the 'senior'?"
“I wasn’t talking about anyone.” He looked up, a bright smile on his face. “I’m just curious, like some old-fashioned craft shops, or… those sauce shops that have been open for decades? Like Li’s or Song’s, have you heard of them?”
Qin Zheng wiped his mouth calmly: "I don't remember. It's probably long gone."
You Jiale nodded and continued to smile: "That's true. I just asked casually, don't take it to heart."
After finishing their meal, the two left the restaurant, and You Jiale insisted on dragging Qin Zheng around the neighborhood. His eyes darted around, pretending to casually glance at their surroundings. The street corner was a three-way intersection, with all sorts of signs vying for attention: "XX Zhai" and "XX Guan" huddled together.
You Jiale glanced at a row of old-looking storefronts and suddenly noticed the entrance to a small alley on the right. Several yellowed notices were pasted on the mottled wall, and there seemed to be a "Li" character in the corner.
He was about to take a closer look when Qin Zheng stopped abruptly: "We need to go back to the company."
You Jiale had no choice but to pull back her foot, and smiled nonchalantly, "Let's go back, we have to get up early tomorrow."
Qin Zheng nodded slightly and walked ahead of You Jiale.
Just as Qin Zheng turned around, You Jiale finally made out the blurred, ink-stained characters of the old signboard in the shadows of the mottled corner:
— Li Ji Sauce Shop was founded in the year x of the Republic of China.
His eyes narrowed sharply, and he felt a lump in his throat as if something had choked him.
But with that relaxed smile still on his face, he quickly followed Qin Zheng's steps, his pace so light that it was as if he hadn't seen anything at all.
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