Chapter 106 Yellow Skin Pork Rib Soup.
Last time, Rao Xiaoqing recommended Gu's Private Kitchen in a patient support group, saying that eating more of it would have amazing effects. She shared the changes in her body during this period, saying that her strength and endurance had greatly improved. She also shared some change notes posted by netizens.
It sparked quite a discussion in the group at the time. Some people were curious and wanted to try it, some took a wait-and-see attitude, and naturally some people strongly opposed it, thinking that Rao Xiaoqing was deceiving people and advertising for the restaurant, and called on group members to remain rational and not to believe it easily.
Zhang Danyan missed the initial announcement and only managed to read through all the messages several hours later, gaining a general understanding of the situation.
She remembered that Hao Hao's mother was among those who disagreed, and what she said made a lot of sense and was agreed upon by many people.
Back then, everyone thought it was absurd that eating meat dishes at one more restaurant could increase a child's strength!
I can't believe it even in my wildest dreams. After all, many parents spend countless days and nights with their children in rehabilitation hospitals and still don't see such good results.
From having no medicine available to having medicine available and then being able to afford it, the changes in children after using the medicine they had been hoping for for so many years were far from what they expected, or even that there was little to no progress. Parents in the group had expressed their disappointment in their conversations several times, which is probably why they reacted so strongly to Xiaoqing's message.
Back then, just looking at the group messages, everyone's conversation ended unhappily.
After some group members posted questions about children's care and rehabilitation, parents immediately responded. As the conversation progressed, the slightly confrontational messages from before were pushed away, and everything seemed as if it had never happened.
Of course, Zhang Danyan knew that everyone was definitely discussing it privately. Just like she and her husband had discussed it and even researched Gu's Private Kitchen online, they decided to find time to bring Peiqi to Gu's Private Kitchen for a meal and give it a try.
Other parents may not have mentioned it in the group chat, so it's uncertain whether they brought their children to Gu's Private Kitchen for a meal.
Knowing that posting it in the group might cause another round of controversy, Zhang Danyan still posted it, naturally unafraid of the questions raised by some parents in the group.
Zhang Danyan first quoted her previous replies to some parents, and then replied to Rao Xiaoqing's reply.
[Peggy's Mom - Type 2 - 6 years old: @Xiaoqing - Type 4 - 25 years old, the restaurant uses foldable ramps. When customers need them, the staff will proactively bring them out and set them up, which is very convenient. Perhaps because you can still walk and don't need them, and because you haven't encountered any need for them every time you go to the restaurant, you've never seen the restaurant provide ramps. This is definitely a plus; it made us have a super good impression of Gu's Private Kitchen even before we tasted the delicious food!]
[Peggy's Mom - Type 2 - 6 years old: @Xiaoqing - Type 4 - 25 years old, we're hoping that eating at Gu's Private Kitchen will have unexpected benefits. We'll share any good news in the group. Thank you for your recommendation; it helped us discover such a hidden gem of a restaurant!]
After replying to Rao Xiaoqing, Zhang Danyan noticed that after Hao Hao's mother posted her objection message, the other parents remained silent, creating a somewhat tense atmosphere. She thought for a moment and then replied.
[Peggy's Mom - Type 2 - 6 years old: @Haohao's Mom - Type 2 - 7 years old, I understand your concerns, and I know they are valid. However, I believe Xiaoqing's sharing must have some basis, and her intention is for everyone's benefit. Eating at a restaurant is different from taking traditional Chinese medicine or undergoing stimulating treatments. In our family, we think if there are no miraculous effects, we'll just consider it as bringing the kids here for a few more meals. Gu's Private Kitchen's dishes are truly delicious. Ultimately, whether we believe it or not depends on ourselves; we each bear the consequences of our choices.]
[Peggy's Mom - Type 2 - 6 years old: I won't say much about this now. I'll share any changes later. Sorry (bows)]
After typing and sending the message in one breath, Zhang Danyan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It was the first time she had said something so forceful in a group chat.
That's exactly what she thought. Today, she'll only share the fact that Gu's Private Kitchen has delicious food, good service, and can provide mobile ramps. She'll share more if there are any pleasant changes in the future.
She will not respond to this matter again.
If other parents are interested in trying Gu's Private Kitchen after seeing her post today, that would be great.
Zhang Danyan felt that taking her child to Gu's Private Kitchen to enjoy the restaurant's accessible service and delicious meat dishes would be an excellent dining experience.
She didn't leave the group chat immediately. She noticed that the previously stagnant chat became a little more active after she replied, with several parents sending messages to try and reconcile the situation.
Hao Hao's mother also replied with a message.
[Haohao's Mom - Type 2 - 7 years old: I understand, I was just reminding you. Please share any good news; we're all looking forward to it!]
Zhang Danyan smiled after reading the message. Even though she thought she wouldn't reply anymore, she couldn't help but reply with "Okay".
After that, she left the group chat, put down her phone, and talked to her daughter. After parking at a shopping mall near their home, the couple took Peiqi to a boutique. They bought two things that the little girl particularly liked, and then browsed some other things. They also bought Peiqi a pink princess dress. The family of three then happily went home.
Around 12:50 pm, all the customers in the dining area on Surrey Street had finished eating, paid their bills, and left. Unlike the earlier bustle, it was quiet and empty now.
It wasn't until Gu Qingqiu and the other three sat down to eat lunch that the place became a little more lively.
Gu Qingqiu first made herself a bowl of lotus seed and pork rib soup. The soup was clear and tasted quite sweet, not bland at all.
Because the pork ribs were cooked together for a long time, the aroma of the meat and the seeping oil infused into the soup, making it taste quite mellow, with the fragrance of lotus seeds.
Perhaps neutralized by the sweetness of the Solomon's Seal and longan, there was no bitterness from the lotus seeds at all. In addition, the addition of Job's tears and yam during the cooking process made the soup thicker, which, in terms of texture, was perfectly in harmony with its clear appearance.
Gu Qingqiu was very satisfied with the soup. It was refreshing and delicious, and she felt much better after drinking it. The fatigue from working in the kitchen for several hours was also relieved.
She didn't eat any rice at noon, but instead used the glass noodles from the braised cabbage and pork with glass noodles as her carbohydrates.
The glass noodles look thin and round. Soaked in the broth, they are rich in color and savory. They are smooth and delicate with a bit of chewiness. You can slurp them into your mouth and swallow them after chewing them three or four times.
The pork belly was also delicious, tender, savory, and not greasy at all; it melted in your mouth after just a bite or two. The cabbage was crisp and refreshing, and it even released some sweet juice, though it wasn't very noticeable under the savory sauce.
Gu Qingqiu's favorite dish is garlic-flavored perch with a split tail. The plating is so beautiful that it looks like a work of art. It's a very impressive meat dish, perfect for a grand banquet.
She first picked up a shrimp and used her mouth and chopsticks to bite off the shell, so she didn't have to use her hands. Then she ate a whole shrimp, which was firm, sweet, and had a strong garlic flavor with a hint of fish.
She ate two shrimp before picking up a piece of sea bass. The sea bass she bought today was very fresh, and after she cooked it, the few impurities were removed and tiny specks of spiritual energy condensed, making it taste even fresher.
The fish is fresh and fragrant, and incredibly tender. Dipping it in the fish sauce makes it even more tender and smooth, with a savory and flavorful taste. The combination of the fish and garlic flavors is simply delicious.
After finishing a piece of fish, Gu Qingqiu picked up another piece and started eating. Once she started, she was hooked and couldn't stop.
Out of consideration for Zhou Jie and the other two, Gu Qingqiu ate a total of three shrimp and five pieces of fish before turning her chopsticks to pick up some crisp pickled cucumbers.
Cucumbers are naturally crisp and juicy, and if prepared properly, they will be even crisper. Gu Qingqiu pickled them well, so they taste sour, salty, and spicy, which is very appetizing.
While eating the crisp pickled cucumbers, Gu Qingqiu was still thinking that she should make a garlic-flavored perch for dinner.
Generally speaking, she and Sister Zhou eat lunch and dinner using ingredients provided by the restaurant, which is simple and convenient. Because the restaurant updates its menu every day, they don't get tired of eating the same things over and over again, and it's quite refreshing.
Unless there are special circumstances, Gu Qingqiu usually cooks two meat dishes and one vegetable dish for lunch, and then changes the menu to two meat dishes and one vegetable dish for dinner. The soup is always the same. Even after Wang Meiyu was hired by the restaurant, this amount was still enough for everyone.
Of course, the menu often features a combination of three meat dishes, one vegetable dish, and one soup, meaning that one meat dish is often repeated in the evening. Zhou Jie and the others never get tired of it; on the contrary, they are quite happy.
Gu Qingqiu had almost finished eating and said with a smile, "How about we make some garlic-flavored sea bass and three-cup chicken tonight?"
Crispy pickled cucumbers and lotus seed and pork rib soup are must-haves, needless to say.
Sister Zhou nodded repeatedly: "Sure, I've never had Three Cup Chicken before. I heard the customers praising it, and I've been wanting to try it ever since! This Garlic-Flavored Bass is also very fragrant. Both the fish and shrimp are incredibly fresh and sweet, and the garlic and salty flavors are absolutely amazing!"
She admitted that she couldn't make such delicious dishes on her own. The boss was really clever to be able to combine sea bass and fresh shrimp into a dish that was so delicious and tasteful!
Sister Tang also really liked this garlic-flavored sea bass: "Great! I've been craving this fish and shrimp. Being able to have it again tonight would be the happiest thing ever!"
Wang Meiyu had just finished the last bite of fish and was still savoring the salty, savory, and sweet taste in her mouth when she heard the news.
She said, "I really think this fish dish looks like a work of art, truly living up to its name. It looks like a sea bass with its tail feathers spread out, so beautiful that it attracted the garnish of fresh shrimp, which added a lot of color. Meat dishes like this are not common, and it would be wonderful to have it again tonight!"
Sister Zhou and Sister Tang were struck by her description, finding it incredibly vivid, and they both nodded in agreement with a smile.
Gu Qingqiu couldn't help but praise, "Meiyu is so good at describing things. To be honest, I was also craving fish and shrimp, which is why I was thinking of having them again tonight. It would be wonderful if we all enjoyed them!"
The three women, including Sister Zhou, smiled and nodded, saying they liked it. Their anticipation of eating the garlic-flavored perch again surpassed their excitement for the three-cup chicken, which they hadn't yet tried that day.
Of course, when they ate Three Cup Chicken that evening, they naturally came to love its tender, savory, and slightly sweet aroma with hints of rice wine.
Now that everyone had eaten enough, they chatted casually for a while. Sister Zhou talked about the family of three she had served at the restaurant at noon. She mentioned the little girl who looked a bit thin and was sitting in a special stroller. She was very cute, well-behaved, and polite. Her words were filled with heartache and regret.
The fear of offending the customer, which I had been hesitant to express earlier, is now clearly evident.
Both Sister Zhou and Sister Tang are mothers, and when they heard about this, they couldn't help but sigh, feeling sorry for the little girl.
Sister Tang: "The child is probably sick. He must be so envious of his peers who are running, jumping and playing around! Fortunately, his parents are reliable, so the child's life is still somewhat secure."
She was being honest, as she had seen many similar situations in rural areas, where children were neglected or even abandoned by heartless parents.
Wang Meiyu also felt sorry for the little girl, but her perspective was a bit more novel: "I hope this child will be happier after eating such delicious food from our restaurant today."
At that moment, she really hoped that the saying "good food soothes the soul" was true.
Sister Zhou and Sister Tang smiled after hearing what she said.
Sister Zhou: "She must be happy. I saw her eat quite a lot of meat and vegetables today!"
Aside from the brief exchange when serving food, even when busy attending to customers and serving dishes, Sister Zhou would occasionally spare some attention to the little girl's table, so she could go over promptly if the little girl needed anything.
Occasionally, when I went over to those tables nearby for a meal, I could hear the little girl and her family talking; it was quite friendly and heartwarming.
Sister Tang smiled and said, "There are very few people who don't like our dishes after entering our restaurant. I hope she will come often in the future!"
She felt incredibly happy eating Gu's private kitchen dishes every day, and she hoped the little girl could experience that same happiness as well.
Gu Qingqiu felt sorry for the little girl after hearing about this.
She thought that every dish in her restaurant contained a tiny bit of spiritual power, and that eating it regularly would be good for one's health. In the past, many customers had shared their physical changes online, with minor illnesses or pains disappearing or lessening, and even serious illnesses receiving some relief.
If the little girl really enjoys the family's food, coming over to eat there regularly might be good for her health.
Gu Qingqiu smiled and instructed Sister Zhou, "Sister Zhou, if you see the little girl and her family coming over for dinner again, please let me know. I'll see if I can bring her a drink that the child likes."
Eating more fruit can replenish vitamins. Although freshly squeezed juice may lose some nutrients, its sweet taste and lack of pulp make it more appealing to children, much like drinking a beverage.
She wanted to eat something from a restaurant that had just opened and didn't yet have a variety of drinks in stock. The little boy wanted a drink, so she made him freshly squeezed orange juice, and he was very happy.
If this little girl comes to the restaurant again, I'll see what fruit I have at home and make her some fresh juice so she can absorb more spiritual energy.
Sister Zhou smiled and nodded: "Okay, then if I see the little girl and her family coming to dine again, I'll tell the boss."
Gu Qingqiu agreed, then changed the subject and chatted with Sister Zhou and the other two for a while longer.
Chatting was just a way to relax; afterwards, everyone went back to their own business.
Tang Jie cleared the dishes and went into the kitchen to wash them. Wang Meiyu helped carry the plates in, washed her hands, and then came out to say goodbye and go home to rest. Zhou Jie took a dishcloth with dish soap and wiped the dining table in the dining room. Gu Qingqiu stood at the entrance of the restaurant to get some fresh air.
A gentle breeze blew by, and the heat was as intense as ever. Gu Qingqiu stood there listlessly for a while, and after taking in the view at the doorway, she picked up her phone and opened Xiaohongshu and Weibo to continue her daily interactions.
The previous two waves of trending topics brought Gu's Private Kitchen to a new business peak, with many customers coming to dine every day.
At first, many customers were fans of Yang Shuyi or came to join the fun. Now, there are still some. No matter what, after eating the dishes at their restaurant, they all fell in love with the taste, and there are many repeat customers.
On platforms like Xiaohongshu and Weibo, the daily menu posts often leave traces of unfamiliar netizens brought by this wave of traffic in the comment section. These netizens either have IDs that strongly resemble Yang Shuyi's fans or express curiosity and excitement in their comments.
Fortunately, as time went on, customers dining at Gu's Private Kitchen regained their top spot with their vivid and detailed descriptions and tempting food photos that made the food look, smell, and taste delicious.
Gu Qingqiu remembered that several netizens were saying that this was great. They couldn't eat Gu's private dishes every day, so they looked forward to clicking into the comments section to watch the virtual food. The front row was so eye-catching, they saw it as soon as they clicked in.
This will be a similar situation.
[Lychee Fan: Went to Gu's Private Kitchen again today! The food and service are still as superb as ever! Eating at Gu's Private Kitchen really makes my whole day happy!]
Today I had lotus seed and pork rib soup. The broth was light and refreshing, and the ingredients were plentiful, including pork ribs, longan, Solomon's seal, barley, and yam. I tried them all and they were all delicious! Braised pork with cabbage and glass noodles is quite common in Northeastern Chinese restaurants, and Gu's Private Kitchen makes it very well. The pork belly is fatty but not greasy, the cabbage is crisp and sweet, and the glass noodles are smooth and chewy—all very savory and flavorful, perfect with rice!
The garlic-flavored sea bass was beautifully presented, truly living up to its name, and tasted even sweeter. The shrimp was firm and sweet, the fish tender and flavorful, and the strong garlic flavor combined with the savory aroma was delicious! The three-cup chicken was also excellent, with tender, savory meat and a delightful sauce; the sweetness of the rice wine permeated every inch of the chicken. The crisp pickled cucumbers were crunchy, juicy, and refreshingly sour with a hint of spiciness. I sincerely recommend that anyone dining out today eat plenty of the crisp pickled cucumbers if they feel a bit full, so they can enjoy more meat later (laughs).
Lotus seed and pork rib soup.jpg; Braised cabbage and pork with vermicelli.jpg; Garlic-flavored sea bass.jpg; Three-cup chicken.jpg; Crispy pickled cucumber.jpg
There are many similar long reviews, all of which comprehensively, meticulously, and vividly share the feelings after eating the dishes at noon. The pictures posted are even more delicious and tempting, attracting countless netizens to click and like the posts, and the comments section is even more lively.
Gu Qingqiu scrolled through the comments, laughing as she read, and would reply to interesting ones as a form of interaction.
After finishing her interactions on Xiaohongshu and Weibo for the day, Gu Qingqiu turned around and went back to the restaurant. After saying goodbye to Sister Zhou and Sister Tang, she went back to the second floor to rest.
Business was still good in the evening, and Gu Qingqiu continued to work in the kitchen.
As the summer vacation drew to a close, on the 30th at noon, Gu Qingqiu was cooking in the kitchen when she received a message from Sister Zhou that the little girl and her family had come over for lunch.
There happened to be peaches on the second floor, so she took some time to go up and squeeze a glass of peach juice for the little girl.
Peiqi was both surprised and delighted. Only after her parents nodded in agreement did she reach out and take the food, flashing her brightest smile as she said, "Thank you, sister! Your family's food is really delicious, I especially love it!"
Wu Wensheng and Zhang Danyan thanked her repeatedly, not expecting that the restaurant owner, who was so young, could make such delicious dishes, and even more surprised that she would specially make a glass of freshly squeezed peach juice for Peiqi.
Gu Qingqiu smiled and said, "No need to be polite. I just bought some peaches yesterday. You are welcome to come and have a meal."
She pointed towards the kitchen and said, "You guys enjoy your meal. I'll go back and get busy."
Wu Wensheng and Zhang Danyan nodded in agreement and thanked them again. Peiqi, sitting in the special stroller, waved from her hand on the dining table, saying, "Goodbye, sister!"
"Goodbye!" Gu Qingqiu smiled and waved to Peiqi, hoping that the little girl would get better and better.
She turned around and went back to the stove in the kitchen to continue cooking.
On the last day of the month, as the business closed, Gu Qingqiu tallied up the monthly bills. Seeing the record-breaking monthly revenue and profit, her lips curled into a wild smile, wishing she had a swing to sit on and sway wildly.
She saved these bills and forwarded them to her phone for safekeeping. Then she verified the salaries of Zhou Jie and the other two, went upstairs to print out the detailed pay slips, cut them up, and asked the three of them to confirm and sign them before transferring the money to the other party's account.
The restaurant was doing exceptionally well this month, keeping everyone twice as busy, but they all performed exceptionally well. Gu Qingqiu gave all three of them bonuses as usual, so they could all be happy together.
The three women, including Sister Zhou, were naturally happy with their wages and said in unison, "Thank you, boss! We'll keep working hard in September!"
Then the three of them burst into laughter again, saying that the happiest time for them at the restaurant was when they received their paycheck at the end of the month. They loved their job to death, and of course, they loved the lunch and dinner meals at the restaurant even more!
Gu Qingqiu chuckled and shook her head. The joy she had been suppressing was brought out by the cheerful laughter of Sister Zhou and the other two, so she simply laughed out loud as well.
One day in early September, Zhao Yuanzheng brought several friends, or rather colleagues, to Gu's Private Kitchen for a meal, just as the restaurant was opening. They were all tall and walked with upright postures, looking quite extraordinary.
As usual, Sister Zhou invited them to take their seats.
Zhao Yuanzheng said smoothly, "I'll order everything on the menu. The longan and water chestnut soup will be served after the meal, depending on the number of people. And I'd also like a pot of Pu'er tea. Thank you."
Sister Zhou smiled and nodded in agreement. She first went to the cashier to print out the receipt for the customer, then pressed one down at the glass window, and then went to get the bowls, chopsticks, teacups, and washing utensils. Soon after, she brought over a pot of Pu'er tea.
Zhao Yuanzheng and his group each washed their own bowls and chopsticks while chatting.
Rong Chuan asked curiously, "Old Zhao, why did you suddenly decide to invite us out for dinner?"
Lin Gangjie also asked, "Yes, and they even picked a new restaurant, coming all this way to eat."
They are all busy with work, and when they occasionally get together, they usually choose the nearest place. This time, it was Zhao Yuanzheng who insisted that everyone come here, even though it's at least a half-hour drive away.
Zhou Hongyuan and Ma Yongjun both raised their eyebrows, waiting for Zhao Yuanzheng's reply.
This dinner was entirely organized by Zhao Yuanzheng. Everyone was from the same system and used to be good colleagues and comrades-in-arms. Later, they were transferred to different branches and were busy with their own things, but their friendship remained unchanged, and they would get together several times a year.
Meeting their gazes, Zhao Yuanzheng calmly said, "I just wanted to get together with you all after so long, and we came to this restaurant because the food is delicious. My whole family loves eating here now, so I invited you to try it today!"
Rong Chuan and the others knew immediately that this guy was hiding something, but he was keeping it to himself for now. But it didn't matter; he would tell them eventually.
Everyone laughed and said that since he was treating them, they had to eat and drink to their hearts' content.
A group of people chatted while drinking Pu'er tea.
Soon, a waiter came and served a pork rib soup with dried tangerine peel.
The large soup bowl was about eight or nine-tenths full of soup. The soup ladle was milky white and translucent, and you could see pieces of yellow-skinned, evenly shaped pork ribs. The sweet and sour aroma of the soup wafted in the air.
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