Chapter 31 Taste Buds Win Hearts
"Old Gao, is it really that exaggerated?"
"Let me have a taste!"
The closest few greenhorns could no longer hold back and pounced with a roar. A forest of chopsticks instantly created a bloody storm in the large bowl.
"Don't you dare try to take it from me! This is mine!"
"Get lost! You've already taken two pieces!"
"What kind of meat is this?! These shredded potatoes! My goodness, I've never eaten such crisp shredded potatoes before!"
The wind swept away the clouds.
Ye Manrou's carefully prepared, exquisite Western-style pastries ordered from the state-run hotel were relegated to a corner of the table, all alone and untouched.
A refined-looking young man, his glasses askew, finally managed to snatch the last piece of braised pork, stuffed it into his mouth, and was so happy he almost cried.
His friend next to him, who hadn't managed to get any, was so angry that he pounded his chest and stamped his feet. He simply picked up the plate, poured the little bit of oily broth into his rice, and started shoveling it into his mouth.
Ye Manrou's face changed from white to green, then from green to purple, and finally turned into a liver color.
Zhao Linlin and Liu Sisi, who were standing next to her, stared wide-eyed at the group of military elites who looked like they were starving ghosts reincarnated.
This script is wrong!
What happened to the humiliation banquet we were promised? What happened to making her look bad in public?
How did it turn into a food launch event for her alone?
Are we the clowns?
Gao Jianjun ate with grease all over his mouth, then let out a satisfied burp. He wiped his mouth, strode over to Su Wantang, and slapped his chest with his large, fan-like hand, his voice booming.
"Sister-in-law! Your cooking is amazing! I've traveled all over the country and never eaten such delicious food!"
His address of "sister-in-law" was sincere and resounding.
People around them gathered around, their previous disdain and amusement vanishing, replaced by an almost fanatical worship.
"Yes, sister-in-law! How did you make this braised pork? My mom has been making it for decades, and it doesn't even have a tenth of the aroma of yours!"
"And those shredded potatoes! Crispy, fragrant, and refreshing! How do you do it? Sister-in-law, can you share your secret?"
"Sister-in-law, do you need a younger brother? The kind who can eat a lot and fight!"
Surrounded by the crowd, Su Wantang wore a calm smile. She showed no unease, as if she had anticipated this scene. She simply untied her apron and leisurely wiped her hands.
"There's no secret recipe, it's just a home-style cooking method. When the heat is just right, it will naturally taste delicious."
Her words were as good as saying nothing at all.
No one thought she was being perfunctory. In their eyes, this was called the demeanor of a master! True skills aren't just passed on to outsiders.
Gao Jianjun thumped his chest loudly: "From now on, if anyone dares to say a bad word about my sister-in-law, they're messing with me, Gao Jianjun! I'll be the first to beat them up!"
He brought his mouth close to Su Wantang's ear, lowered his voice, and said in what he thought was a very soft voice:
"Sister-in-law, let me tell you, things run deep in this compound! Zhao Linlin's mother works in the propaganda department, and she's the most gossipy one! And that Liu Sisi, don't let her quiet demeanor fool you, she's full of tricks and Ye Manrou's strategist! If they cause you any more trouble, just tell me, and I'll take care of them for you!"
A smile flashed in Su Wantang's eyes, and she nodded: "Thanks, Brother Gao."
Gao Jianjun chuckled, scratched his head, and looked like a child who had just received candy.
Just then, a commotion arose at the courtyard gate.
Everyone turned around and saw Grandma Lu, leaning on her cane and supported by a guard, walking in with a sullen face. She had been sulking inside, but the overwhelmingly fragrant aroma, as if hooked, kept wafting into her nose, and she couldn't resist coming over to take a look.
Ye Manrou rushed over as if she had seen a savior: "Grandma, why did you come out? Look at Wan Tang, she's made a complete mess of the yard..."
Before she could finish speaking, Grandma Lu's gaze had already passed over her and was fixed on the empty plate on the table that had been licked clean.
Gao Jianjun, with his sharp eyes, saw the old lady arrive and quickly snatched the last half of braised pork from a comrade's bowl and handed it to her.
"Madam, please try this! It's made by my sister-in-law, it tastes heavenly!"
Grandma Lu frowned, her face full of disdain. What delicacies hadn't she eaten in her life? How could a piece of greasy braised pork possibly taste good?
But the aroma was just too tempting.
She hesitated for a moment, then opened her mouth.
The moment the meat entered her mouth, Grandma Lu's stern and rigid face froze. A glint of disbelief flashed in her cloudy eyes. Rich yet not greasy, it melted in her mouth, its unique aroma exploding on her tongue, warming her all the way down her throat to her stomach, leaving her feeling completely comfortable.
After a long while, she slowly swallowed, and her gaze towards Su Wantang was no longer so sharp and sarcastic, but rather filled with many complex emotions.
"Hmph, it's...not bad, I guess."
The old woman left without saying another word, then turned and walked away. But her more agile steps than usual betrayed her inner turmoil.
Ye Manrou, Zhao Linlin, and Liu Sisi were completely dumbfounded.
Even the most stubborn old lady was won over by a piece of meat?
This meticulously planned trap turned into a complete personal show for Su Wantang. The three of them, from beginning to end, were nothing more than the most ridiculous backdrop on the stage; I was the clown myself.
In a corner of the crowd, Lu Jingyan leaned against the wall, silently watching everything.
He watched the woman calmly wash and chop the vegetables, skillfully tossing and stir-frying them. He watched her easily win over this group of arrogant and unruly soldiers with the simplest ingredients. He watched her remain humble and confident amidst the adulation of the crowd.
She seemed to be glowing.
This realization gave him a jolt.
The coldness and scrutiny in his eyes had unknowingly melted away, replaced by an appreciation and a deeper exploration that he himself was unaware of.
After the party ended, the courtyard was littered with cups and plates.
Gao Jianjun put his arm around Lu Jingyan's shoulder and whispered to him, "Jingyan, you're something else! Where did you find such a treasure of a wife? She's stunning, ruthless, and most importantly, her cooking is deadly!"
Lu Jingyan shook off his hand without saying a word.
Gao Jianjun's expression turned serious: "I'm being serious with you. Be careful of that Ye Manrou. I saw her exchanging glances with Uncle Lu's secretary today. I heard that their two families have been getting very close lately."
Lu Jingyan's gaze suddenly sharpened.
The Ye family, and my second uncle...
The invisible net in his heart tightened even more.
That evening, in the small building.
Su Wantang had just finished showering and was wearing a silk nightgown, drying her wet hair.
Lu Jingyan pushed open the door and entered, bringing with him a chill.
He stood at the doorway, gazing at the woman's beautiful, fair neck under the light, and the alluring curves faintly visible beneath her nightgown. His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
"How were those dishes made?" he asked, his voice a little hoarse.
Su Wantang paused in drying her hair and looked at him in the mirror.
“It’s a secret recipe passed down from my mother, and I never share it with anyone.” She answered casually, then turned around and looked directly at him with her misty eyes. “But you, Chief Lu, I have a question I’ve wanted to ask you for a long time.”
"explain."
Su Wantang put down the towel and walked towards him step by step.
The fragrance is delightful.
She stopped in front of him, tilted her small face up, and breathed softly.
"Your younger sister, Lu Jingyao, has disappeared. What exactly happened?"
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