Chapter 192 [End of Main Text] Steamer...
Director Team: ...
"Put it down quickly!"
The assistant director quietly shifted to the side, thinking to himself that the director's anxiety was genuine; he just didn't know if he was worried about Su Tiantian or the pot of food…
After all the commotion, Su Tiantian managed to get a meal.
After eating and drinking her fill, she swaggered out to do her mission.
Of course, Wen Fan also handed over the clues he had in the end.
Su Tiantian's eyes darted around, and she went out to "bump into" the other people.
then--
When the production team started eating again in the afternoon, several guests suddenly jumped out and acted as if they were robbing someone.
So the director just watched helplessly as the steamed chicken he had just served was taken over by these people.
One of the guests picked up a piece of chicken; the chicken, infused with the delicious flavor of mushrooms, was incredibly tender.
"Hmm... If Sweetie hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known you guys were hiding here eating delicious food."
The purple earthenware steamer pot contains a clear chicken broth, but if you think it's a bland soup, you'd be sorely mistaken. A spoonful at the bottom reveals a rich variety of ingredients, with golden chicken fat spreading out, releasing an aroma that assaults your senses.
Chicken cooked in a steam pot isn't dry like boiled chicken, nor mushy like steamed chicken; instead, it possesses a tender, original flavor. It's as if a layer of silk has been placed over the otherwise parched taste buds—smooth, supple, and awakening humanity's primal understanding of freshness. The chicken's fibers are delicate, releasing delicious broth. The skin, thanks to the steam pot, becomes a thin, translucent layer, soft, smooth, and succulent.
Then take another sip of soup. The broth is infused with the umami of mushrooms, and upon closer tasting, it even has a hint of sweetness. The smooth broth flows down your throat, and the freshness of wild mushrooms spreads all the way to the bottom of your stomach, a unique aroma from the mountains.
Eating a bowl of this during a break from filming the show feels like coming back to life.
The guests lingered, reluctant to leave, and devoured the entire pot of steamed chicken.
"fresh!"
Aside from the word "fresh," it's hard to find any other words to describe it.
The director, expressionless, said, "Are you finished eating? If you are, let's move on to the next stage... We've changed the rules at the last minute; we must be at the mountaintop before 6 a.m. to take a sunrise photo."
I thought the guests would complain, but they just waved it off like they were nothing.
"Don't worry, let's rest for a bit before we start climbing!"
They wanted to savor the delicious soup again and again!
Director: ...So annoying!
The director's lament reached its peak when Wen Fan revealed that only two batches of this steamed chicken had been made and there wouldn't be any left if they wanted more.
After sending the mischievous guests off to go hiking, the director went to the kitchen to see if there was any late-night snack.
Wen Fan had already left, and the waiter who stayed behind pointed to the back: "We have braised beef ribs and rice."
Knowing that the group would need to eat after he left, Wen Fan stewed a large pot of beef ribs early in the morning. Whether the group ate rice or opened a box of instant noodles, it would be very convenient.
The director finally felt a bit better as he ate the delicious beef ribs.
"Phew, let's finish eating quickly and get to work. We have a Qixi Festival party tomorrow night."
****
Wen's father drove his daughter home first, and then, despite Ji Boyi's refusal, insisted on taking Ji Boyi home as well.
Although the store has expanded and Wen's mother has bought a new car worth over 200,000 yuan, Wen's father still prefers the family van. The van inevitably bumps along the road, and Wen's father stares at the road ahead, occasionally chatting with Ji Baiyi about everyday things.
"Baiyi, you're a junior now, right? What are your plans after graduation?"
Ji Baiyi sat up straight: "I want to open a clinic like my master."
Wen's father glanced at Ji Baiyi in the mirror and thought to himself that he was really worried.
This kid doesn't look like a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner at all!
He sits there looking like a pretty boy.
"...That's good. Are you planning to start working right after graduation?"
Ji Baiyi: "No, Uncle, I still need to take the postgraduate entrance exam. If all goes well, I'll need to go to the hospital for standardized training... It will take at least four or five years."
Father Wen: "I heard your family owns a traditional Chinese medicine company? What's your family's opinion on that?"
“My parents are often away from home and don’t really get involved in these things. My grandfather respects my ideas more.”
A red light appeared ahead, and Wen's father slammed on the brakes, causing Ji Boyi to lurch forward.
"Oh... your parents are usually very busy with work?"
Ji Baiyi hummed in agreement: "When I was little, they were quite busy. My family ran a Chinese medicine company, so we had to go everywhere to collect herbs and deal with the farmers who grew them. There were batch and document regulations, which was quite troublesome. We basically only saw each other for a few days during the Chinese New Year. At first, my parents told me to get more experience and gave me money to buy groceries and cook for myself. But when I started junior high school, time became a bit tight, so my grandfather came to stay with me..."
Wen's father unconsciously softened his tone and exclaimed, "Then you were able to get into medical school, that's really amazing."
The car turned the corner and soon arrived at the destination. Ji Baiyi got out of the car and thanked Wen's father politely.
Wen's father drove out and then reversed back, taking a package from the front of the car seat and handing it to Ji Boyi.
"These are steamed wontons that Xiao Fan's mom asked you to bring. You've been bringing Xiao Fan a lot of food lately... Don't give them to her next time. Too much chocolate will cause cavities. She went to the dentist recently and her teeth aren't feeling very good."
Ji Baiyi: ...
"Okay, I understand, Uncle."
****
The next day was the Qixi Festival, which was also the liveliest day at Qingtang Mountain.
Director Hao has innovated upon last year's program, making this year's atmosphere even more lively.
As more tourists arrived, the queue at Wen's restaurant grew longer and longer, forcing them to urgently redeploy staff. Wen's parents were also busy running around the shop.
The crew had reached the mountaintop and enjoyed the beautiful scenery before the show ended. Su Tiantian and the others couldn't wait a second longer and took the cable car down the mountain. When the cable car reached the halfway point, they saw the dazzling lights at the foot of the mountain gradually lighting up.
Along the cultural street, warm yellow lights climb up the roadside trees. What started as scattered lights quickly converged into a bright stream, like a shimmering skirt adorning Qingtang Mountain, instantly creating a lively scene of thousands of lights.
Su Tiantian couldn't help but stand in front of the cable car and take a picture.
"So beautiful!"
Su Tiantian wasn't the only one to utter this exclamation; at the foot of the mountain, Shi Xiaolei was also captivated by the scene.
She ate at Wenji again today. Before leaving, she asked the waiter to give Wen Fan a small box containing a piece of agate she had acquired after returning to her hometown.
Fate is a kind screenwriter; after enduring the heavy pressure of the workplace, she found what she truly loved: stone. She became a sculptor in her hometown, starting as a hobby, and now she has her own studio.
The stone she gave to Wen Fan was simply polished, but half of it retained its rough outer layer, while the other half was polished to a shimmering sheen.
Wen Fan opened the lid; there was a note under the stone.
As Wen Fan was reading the note, Ji Baiyi had already silently appeared beside him.
He asked casually, "Who delivered it?"
Wen Fan saw the signature and a smile appeared on his lips: "A friend."
Ji Baiyi was about to press for more information about what kind of friend Wen Fan was, but Wen Fan had already put away the stone and started making phone calls.
On the other end of the phone was Han Lulu, and Wen Fan asked her if she had arrived yet.
Han Lulu shouted, "We're here! We've got a fantastic spot! I'll send you the location later!"
The crowd was bustling and noisy. Han Lulu was dizzy and disoriented under He Yuzhen's guidance. It wasn't until they walked up the mountain path for several dozen meters and got some distance away that they saw the street at the foot of the mountain that looked like a silver river.
He Yuzhen: "Isn't it amazing? Wait until you come and film the lighting up next time, it'll be even more amazing!"
Han Lulu: "...I need to call Qin He and the others to come over."
The event at Qingtang Mountain attracted so many people. Luckily, they arrived early; otherwise, they would have had to limit the number of visitors.
...
With things getting busier outside, the shop was finally able to catch its breath.
Feng Huijuan and her family arrived at the shop early. The adults exchanged pleasantries, while Lou Heng and Lou Yue went out fishing.
Yao Qingqin brought Yao Huang along. When Yao Huang saw that his older siblings had gone fishing, he insisted on going too. In the end, he didn't catch any fish and almost fell into the fishpond, getting all wet but still laughing. Yao Qingqin then dragged him to the back to change his clothes.
Song Hui entered the store alone, and Wen's mother asked her where Yang Tao was.
Song Hui pointed outside and laughed heartily: "I went out shopping with someone!"
Wen's mother understood: "Then let's not stay here, let's go out for a walk." There are many programs tonight, and it is said that there will be Cowherd and Weaver Girl dressed up.
When asked if he was going, Wen Fan said he would finish cooking a pot of soup that was simmering in the kitchen first.
"You go ahead, Mom. I'll come find you later."
Once the soup was ready, Wen Fan clapped his hands and gave instructions to the employees who remained in the shop.
"We'll open it when we get back; let it sit for now."
Following the mountain road upwards, Wen Fan found a good spot for a view.
The bustling crowd included couples holding hands, family members supporting each other, and friends laughing and joking...
Amidst the commotion, Wen Fan calmed his inner panic for the first time.
She took out the note that Shi Xiaolei had given her earlier.
I possess a bright pearl, long locked away by worldly cares. Now, the dust has settled, its light shines forth, illuminating countless green mountains.
Putting away the note, Wen Fan looked up at the moon in the sky; the moon wasn't full tonight.
But there's nothing to regret.
Even with a full moon for a thousand years, not everyone can be reunited.
A figure walked over from not far away.
Ji Baiyi spoke first from more than ten meters away, clearly afraid of startling her.
"Wen Fan, your aunt and uncle are looking for you!"
The phone rang, and Han Lulu's voice was even louder.
"Wen Fan, where are you? The fireworks are about to start!"
Wen Fan held up his phone and shouted at Ji Baiyi, "I'm here!"
Wen's father and mother held Wen Fan's hand.
Be careful not to get lost.
Wen Fan clenched his hands: "It won't get lost."
The first firework exploded in the sky, perfectly round and enormous, just like her life, where brilliance had just begun.
-----------------------
Author's Note: The main story ends here. There will be a few side stories later. Just so you know, one of the side stories is quite long, about 50,000 words. Please subscribe with caution.
Looking back at this book now, there are still some aspects I'm not satisfied with. Later on, due to various real-life issues, updates slowed down. I might consider having more drafts before starting the next book... Thank you all for your continued support. I look forward to meeting you all with a better work in the future.
P.S.: I've always been writing this offline, so I often don't read comments very promptly. I only recently discovered that some lovely people have given me quite a few Moonstones in the backend. Thank you all.
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