As night falls and the stars twinkle, a barbecue stall on the corner is brightly lit, and the smoke is filled with the tempting aroma of food.
They had left the water's edge and were now sitting side by side at the simple little round table.
The table was filled with all kinds of barbecued delicacies. On the sizzling skewers, the fat and lean pieces of meat became golden and crispy under the roasting of charcoal fire. The occasional dripping of oil stirred up a tiny flame, accompanied by a "sizzling" sound, which added a bit of appetite temptation.
Next to it was a plate of freshly grilled eggplant, its soft flesh sprinkled with chopped green onions and garlic, a fragrant aroma. There were also a few perfectly grilled skewers of corn, the golden, plump kernels brushed with a sweet and spicy sauce, making them look mouth-watering.
Duan Shuce took a skewer of grilled lamb, blew on it gently, took a careful bite, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. The meat was tender and juicy, spicy and fragrant, which made him exclaim in admiration involuntarily.
Ning Xiwan preferred the vegetable skewers. She tasted the grilled mushrooms elegantly. The mushrooms were soaked in the sauce and tasted fresh and chewy, making her nod in praise as she ate.
Duan Shuce picked up another skewer of freshly grilled lamb, blew gently to remove the heat, and then handed it to Ning Xiwan, his eyes full of doting: "Try it first and see if it suits your taste."
Ning Xiwan took it with a smile, took a bite, and her eyes immediately lit up as she praised it endlessly: "It's delicious. The barbecue restaurant you chose is really good!"
After saying that, she also picked up a skewer of squid that was grilled to perfection and carefully handed it to Duan Shuce's mouth. The two of them shared each other's delicious food naturally, as if this was the most ordinary interaction between them.
While waiting for the next batch of grilled food to be served, Duan Shuce took out a pack of tissues from his pocket and carefully wiped away the oil stains that accidentally got on the corners of Ning Xiwan's mouth, his movements gentle and natural.
"By the way, do you remember when we were little and we secretly roasted corn in an open field?"
Ning Xiwan suddenly spoke, changing the topic and bringing up their shared memories.
Duan Shuce heard this and a nostalgic smile appeared on his lips: "Of course I remember. Qingliu was really naughty back then. He would snatch every corn I roasted. But the corn was really fragrant."
"But didn't you also take away Qingliu's favorite food later?"
"Can't you just let the kid go?"
"Hey, Sister Wan, why do you always help Qingliu?"
"Because he's cute..."
"Am I not cute? If you say that again I will be angry."
"Yes, yes, you are the cutest."
The two looked at each other and smiled, as if the innocence and happiness of that moment were reappearing before their eyes.
At this moment, the lively scene was interrupted by a sudden argument. Two men stood facing each other, their voices rising in pitch, the tension between their words making the air around them seem to freeze.
"What makes you say my grilled meat isn't tasty? If you can do it, come on!"
The man in the black T-shirt had a flushed face and was pointing at the barbecue on the table. His muscles were trembling slightly with excitement, as if he was ready to explode at any moment.
"I said, what's wrong? Even my dog wouldn't eat your grilling skills!"
The man in the fancy shirt responded provocatively, his gold chain gleaming brightly under the light, his words filled with disdain.
The surrounding customers began to look at him with curiosity and surprise, and discussions broke out one after another.
"Oh my, what's going on? They can make such a fuss over a barbecue. I'm really impressed."
A lady in a dress shook her head and said to her companions, forgetting to eat the skewers in her hands.
"I guess he drank too much. Alcohol makes cowards brave."
Her companion, a man wearing glasses, guessed, with a hint of disdain in his eyes.
"I don't think so. There was something wrong between these two people from the beginning. I guess they have some grudge against each other."
An old man next to him spoke slowly, shaking the beer glass in his hand gently, as if he was not surprised by such scenes.
As the argument escalated, more customers were drawn in. Some stood aside, craning their necks to see what was going on, while others whispered to their companions, sharing their opinions.
"These two are so impulsive. It's just a barbecue, what's the big deal?"
A young girl said, the kebab in her hand had gone cold, but her attention was completely on the two people arguing.
"That's right. Whether barbecue is delicious or not is a matter of taste. Everyone has their own taste. The fact that they're arguing like this makes people think they have a problem with their character."
Another girl echoed, a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes.
"Try saying that again? I'll beat you up!"
The man in the white T-shirt suddenly roared and leaned forward, as if ready to attack at any moment. This action made the surrounding customers even more nervous, and some began to retreat, fearing that they would be affected.
"Come on, who's afraid of who!"
The man in the fancy shirt did not back down. The distance between the two men was getting closer and closer, and the atmosphere was extremely tense.
At this moment, the owner of the barbecue restaurant, a burly, amiable middle-aged man, walked over quickly. He first glanced at the barbecue on the table, then turned his gaze to the two men who were arguing.
"Oh, brothers, what's going on? Calm down, calm down."
The boss spoke in a calm yet powerful voice, his tone revealing an unquestionable majesty yet also a touch of friendliness.
The man in the white T-shirt blushed and seemed to want to say something, but was stopped by the boss's gaze.
The boss patted him on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Young man, we're all here to have barbecue and have fun. Everyone has their own taste in barbecue, so there's no need to ruin the relationship over such a small matter."
Then, the boss turned to the man in the fancy shirt and said with a smile, "You too, big brother. We are all adults, so don't be so petty. I've heard your opinion, and I'll ask the chef to make improvements. But for now, let's just enjoy the food, okay?"
The boss' words seemed to have a magical power, gradually easing the tense atmosphere. Although the two men were still somewhat unwilling to give in, they both chose to back down under the boss's mediation.
"Okay, the boss is right. We are all here to eat barbecue. There is no need to argue."
The man in the white T-shirt spoke first, his tone revealing a hint of compromise.
"Yeah, I think so too. Boss, give us some more skewers so we can have a good meal."
The man in the fancy shirt echoed the voice, a smile gradually appearing on his face.
Seeing this, the boss nodded with satisfaction. He waved to the waiter and asked for more skewers and beer.
Then he turned to the two men and said, "That's right. Harmony brings wealth. Come, let's have a drink to celebrate our reconciliation!"
After saying this, the boss raised his beer glass and gestured to the two men. The two men also raised their glasses and clinked glasses with the boss.
After a glass of beer, the previous arguments and dissatisfaction seemed to disappear, and the barbecue restaurant once again returned to a lively and harmonious atmosphere.
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