Chapter 80 Gastrodia elata and fish head soup.
Gu Qingqiu read the comments for a while, her lips curving upwards, her eyes crinkling with laughter. After being busy, having some free time to read the netizens' enthusiastic comments was really stress-relieving and made her feel happy.
She browsed through the posts, picking out brief replies to interact with. Once she had read enough, she exited Xiaohongshu and went to Weibo to interact with netizens in the comment section of today's post.
Although there are fewer followers on Weibo than on Xiaohongshu, the number of followers has increased recently. In addition, more and more netizens who previously only followed the restaurant online have come to dine at the restaurant and found that the food tastes just as good as it looks online, without any of the online celebrity scams. Their enthusiasm has soared, and the comment section has become much more active.
Gu Qingqiu looked at the comments; some of the humorous comments from netizens made her burst out laughing at first glance. She laughed as she read, replying to some of the more amusing ones as a form of interaction.
She didn't read through all the comments on Weibo. After finishing the top comments with the most likes, she exited Weibo and didn't look at any other apps. She looked up at the green trees and blue sky outside the door to relax her eyes.
Feeling a bit sleepy, Gu Qingqiu stood up, greeted Sister Zhou and Sister Tang and told them to go back and rest after they finished their work, while she went upstairs for a nap.
By evening, Gu's Private Kitchen was still packed with people, and there were still many customers queuing outside.
Most of the chairs provided in the store were occupied by elderly people, while young people stood at the door playing on their phones and chatting without showing any impatience, just hoping to be able to enter the store for a meal as soon as possible.
Business was even better than at noon.
Sister Tang arrived early; the dishes hadn't even been washed yet. Instead of sitting idly, she came over to the dining area to help Zhou Meizi serve dishes and carry bowls. The two were so busy they barely had time to breathe. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Gu Qingqiu was wielding a spatula, her turn causing flames to erupt.
Just like at noon, they couldn't eat earlier. Around eight o'clock, there were only one or two tables of customers left in the dining area. After all the dishes were served, Gu Qingqiu simply stir-fried some scallion oil crab and mushroom scrambled eggs for her family.
She gestured to Sister Tang to take the two dishes to the dining table outside, and then she took out three sets of bowls and chopsticks herself.
The rice cooker is usually placed near the glass window so that Sister Zhou can easily serve rice according to the customers' needs. Seeing the owner bring out bowls and chopsticks, Sister Zhou quickly reached out to take them and fill them with rice.
Gu Qingqiu casually glanced at the remaining two tables of customers, and walked over with a hint of surprise when she saw familiar faces: "Grandpa Lin and Grandma Lin, it's been a long time! Why are you two so late for dinner today?"
She realized as soon as she said it that eating dinner at eight o'clock wasn't too late, strictly speaking.
However, the elderly always eat early. When Grandpa Lin and Grandma Lin come to the restaurant, they are usually among the first to arrive without having to wait in line. They are rarely seen as the last or second table of customers.
Grandpa Lin explained with a smile, "Hello, Xiao Qiu. We went to the bank this afternoon to take care of some things, but we ended up waiting in line for so long that we didn't finish until almost six o'clock. By the time we got back, it was already late."
He and his wife were just relieved that they had arrived at the restaurant a few minutes early to get a number. Those who arrived a little later were politely refused by the staff, and a sign saying "Ingredients Sold Out" was hung at the door.
Grandma Lin looked at Gu Qingqiu's face and saw that it was as rosy and healthy as before, and that she was in good spirits. Her smile was genuine, and she couldn't help but feel relieved.
"Yes, Xiao Qiu, it's good that we can eat here. You haven't been open for three days, and not only are the customers outside not used to it, but even many of the old ladies and gentlemen in our Suli Street say they're not used to it."
On weekends, their son would take them to his house to stay. In the morning, the two of them would take their grandchildren to school, pick them up from school at noon, cook for them, and then take them back to school. It was a rare opportunity for them to experience the joy of taking care of and picking up their grandchildren.
Having missed the lunch at Gu's Private Kitchen, I didn't want to miss the dinner, so I rushed back to Suli Street.
One reason was that he had been craving the taste of this dish for three days, and the other was that he was worried about Xiao Qiu's feelings.
On the surface, the restaurant said the owner had some private matters to attend to, and others didn't know the details. But Grandma Lin and her husband knew perfectly well that it was the anniversary of Huifen and her husband's death, and Xiaoqiu had gone back to her hometown to pay respects to her parents.
She pondered to herself, but couldn't help asking in a low voice, "Xiao Qiu, did your trip back to pay respects to your parents go smoothly?"
Gu Qingqiu was stunned for a moment, then a warm feeling welled up in her heart, realizing that quite a few people still cared about her.
She smiled and said, "Grandma Lin, thank you for your concern. Don't worry, the trip back went quite smoothly. My uncles and aunts back home helped prepare the offerings and cleaned my house in advance, so I didn't have to do anything when I got back. They also care about me a lot. When I was paying respects, I told my parents and grandpa about my restaurant. I told them that the restaurant is doing very well, many people like my dishes, and I'm doing well, so they can rest assured."
As she spoke, Gu Qingqiu's almond-shaped eyes shone brightly, and a gentle, comforting smile graced her face, making it clear to everyone that she was speaking from the heart.
Grandpa Lin and Grandma Lin finally relaxed, breathed a sigh of relief, and smiled.
Grandpa Lin nodded: "That's good. Tell your parents and grandpa about the restaurant's current situation. They'll be happy and relieved to hear that."
Grandma Lin sighed, "Yes, if Huifen and Yunjiang knew that you run the restaurant so well and it's so popular online, with customers from other places making special trips to eat here, I don't know how happy they would be."
"Yes, I think my parents and grandfather would be happy." Gu Qingqiu said this softly, with a hint of longing in her voice.
She looked at Grandpa and Grandma Lin and smiled, "Thank you both for your concern. It makes me feel much better."
Grandma Lin waved her hand and smiled, "Xiao Qiu, we've watched you grow up since you were little. There's not much else we can do to help you, so we can only say a few words of concern."
Grandpa Lin nodded: "Yes, seeing how well you look now, we are relieved."
"I'm doing fine now. People always have to move forward. Living a good life is the best way to repay my parents," Gu Qingqiu said.
She thought that if she gave Grandpa and Grandma Lin a discount, the two elders would definitely disagree, fearing that she would suffer a loss and not make any money. For a while, she didn't know how to repay them.
Suddenly, an idea struck him and his eyes lit up. "Grandpa Lin, Grandma Lin, I brought back a lot of vegetables that my uncle and aunt grew themselves from my hometown. Let me give you some to take back and eat together."
Grandpa Lin quickly waved his hand: "No need, no need, Xiao Qiu, don't be so polite. We can just go to the market to buy groceries; they're quite fresh there."
Grandma Lin chimed in, "Yes, Xiao Qiu, you went through so much trouble to bring this all the way from your hometown. It's also a token of your uncle and aunt's affection. You should keep it for yourself."
Gu Qingqiu explained, "My aunt and uncle brought me back two big bags of vegetables. There are all kinds of vegetables. As you know, I usually eat restaurant food for lunch and dinner, and I rarely cook vegetables separately for breakfast. These vegetables don't keep well and will easily turn yellow and spoil. I'm sharing some with you so you can take them back and eat them while they're fresh. My aunt and uncle will definitely be happy to know that you care about me."
That sounded reasonable. Grandma Lin thought that Xiao Qiu was sincere and never just said polite words, so she simply smiled and nodded: "Okay, okay, thank you Xiao Qiu. We'll take some back to try the vegetables your uncle and aunt grow. You should keep some for yourself too. If you're eating the restaurant's food for lunch and dinner, you can stir-fry some vegetables for breakfast. It's not good to waste food."
Grandpa Lin also said, "Thank you so much, Xiao Qiu. You see, I came here just to have a meal, and now I'm even taking some of my own vegetables home. I'm almost embarrassed to say it's not true."
"It's alright, Grandpa Lin and Grandma Lin. I'm actually happy that you're willing to take some vegetables back to help us eat," Gu Qingqiu said. "You continue eating, I'll go upstairs and get the vegetables."
"Okay, Xiao Qiu, don't take too much, okay?" Grandma Lin reminded her.
"Okay, got it."
After Gu Qingqiu finished speaking, she told Sister Zhou and Sister Tang not to wait for her to eat first. She then quickly went upstairs to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and neatly arranged the two bags of vegetables she had brought back from her hometown yesterday in the crisper drawer.
It includes water spinach, chives, cabbage, spring greens, and motherwort.
Gu Qingqiu took out half of each, packed them in the bag she had brought back earlier, and carried them downstairs to give to Grandpa and Grandma Lin, who had finished eating and paid the bill.
Grandpa Lin smiled and accepted the food, saying, "Thank you so much, Xiao Qiu, for giving us so many dishes."
Grandma Lin opened the bag and glanced at it: "Is this enough for Xiao Qiu?"
Gu Qingqiu nodded: "Grandpa Lin, you don't need to be so polite. I've kept enough vegetables for myself, so don't worry."
Grandpa and Grandma Lin smiled and agreed. After chatting for a few minutes, they said, "Xiao Qiu, you should eat first. You must be hungry after being so busy for so long. We can chat again when we have time."
Gu Qingqiu nodded in agreement and waved goodbye to the two of them.
All the customers who were dining in the restaurant had left, so she walked back to her own table and sat down. She saw that Sister Zhou and Sister Tang had eaten quite a bit and seemed quite satisfied. Fortunately, the two of them hadn't just been waiting for her without eating.
Sister Zhou swallowed the food in her mouth and said, "Boss, you must be starving."
Sister Tang nodded in agreement: "The scallion oil crab and the mushroom scrambled eggs are both delicious. Boss, you should try them."
Gu Qingqiu smiled and agreed, then picked up her chopsticks and ate a piece of crab meat.
The crab shell is hard and brittle; it can be easily cracked open with a little bit of force. After removing the shell with your tongue and teeth, the crab meat is very tender and juicy.
The crab roe was even more delicious, with a strong grainy texture and a sandy feel, giving it a unique salty and savory flavor.
Even eating crab legs is fun. When you remove the shell and bite into the thick, meaty leg, savoring its fresh, tender, and sweet flavor, it's incredibly satisfying.
Gu Qingqiu ate two pieces of crab meat in a row, occasionally shoveling a bite of white rice into her mouth. With the crab meat as a base, even the white rice tasted sweeter.
She then picked up a piece of mushroom and scrambled eggs with her chopsticks and ate it.
The mushrooms, coated in a thick sauce, are slippery and chewy, with a wonderful mushroom flavor.
Gu Qingqiu exclaimed, "These crab mushrooms look rather small, but they taste quite good."
Sister Zhou had already eaten this dish: "These mushrooms are quite delicious. If you hadn't told me in advance this morning that they are called crab mushrooms, I really wouldn't have recognized them when customers asked me. I usually don't buy them."
We usually eat shiitake mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and king oyster mushrooms.
Sister Tang nodded: "I didn't expect that crab mushrooms would taste so good when made into mushroom scrambled eggs. I will make this dish at home often when I have the chance."
She smiled after saying that, "But it probably won't smell as good as the one you made, boss."
Gu Qingqiu: "I'm glad you two like it. Actually, as long as you buy the right ingredients, the taste should be pretty much the same. You can try it and see how it tastes."
Sister Zhou and Sister Tang smiled and agreed, saying they would find time to try the dish when they got back.
Gu Qingqiu lowered her head and continued eating. The mushrooms coated in sauce were delicious, fresh, fragrant, and salty, and the scrambled eggs were just as tasty.
Scrambled eggs are tender and smooth, even softer than marshmallows. They have a rich egg flavor with a hint of saltiness and absorb the umami of mushrooms. They are even more delicious when mixed with rice.
After eating several bites of mushroom and scrambled eggs, she still took a bright orange-red crab shell, put it in her bowl, and poked at the crab roe hidden on it with her chopsticks. She felt that the crab roe here was more fragrant than the crab roe on the crab body meat, and there was more crab oil oozing out.
After dinner, Sister Zhou and Sister Tang went about their respective tasks, while Gu Qingqiu stood at the door and felt much more refreshed by the breeze.
She wasn't in a hurry to go upstairs to rest. She sat in the main room playing on her phone for a while, waiting for Sister Zhou and Sister Tang to finish their work and leave. She closed and locked the wooden door, shut the windows and doors, and went upstairs to wash up and start her nighttime life.
Since reopening, every day has been busy and fulfilling. Business has been good, and revenue has been relatively stable, with weekends seeing slightly higher figures than weekdays.
Gu Qingqiu still takes a break every Tuesday, and Sister Zhou and Sister Tang also take a break according to the restaurant's closing time.
In addition, she also posted a job advertisement on a recruitment website for a vegetable cutter, specifying the job tasks of assisting with grocery shopping and preparing vegetables for lunch and dinner, as well as the requirement of some cooking skills. The hours and salary were also clearly stated in the advertisement, saving some recruitment skills and probing, and emphasizing sincerity.
We received a steady stream of resumes and applications, and we even discussed some details on the job application platform, but none of them made it to the interview stage.
Either Gu Qingqiu was dissatisfied with the other party, or the other party complained that the restaurant's conditions and treatment were not good enough.
Fortunately, this matter wasn't urgent, and she could manage it for the time being. She preferred to take her time choosing a better one rather than settle for something less.
At the end of the month, Gu Qingqiu received a message from Lan Jingcheng, saying that she had finally won a big case and could rest for a few days. She asked if Gu Qingqiu was free the next day and if she wanted to come to the restaurant to have dinner with her.
Gu Qingqiu saw the message and asked if she was free to answer the phone. After receiving an affirmative reply, she immediately made a WeChat call.
Gu Qingqiu: "Hey Jingcheng, it's been so long since we last talked. How are you?"
A voice similar to one in my memory came from the other end of the phone: "Hey Qingqiu, long time no see. I didn't hear your voice clearly last time, but now when I call you, I feel that your voice is exactly the same as before, without any change."
The two had just contacted each other via WeChat this month, and both knew that when the other said "long time no see," they meant they hadn't seen each other or been in much contact since graduating from high school.
Gu Qingqiu smiled and said, "Your voice is about the same as before. No, it's even more crisp and clear, with the air and confidence of a top lawyer."
"Thank you! I said I wanted to come to your restaurant to eat and try your cooking, but I got busy and it's been delayed until now. Are you free tomorrow?" Lan Jingcheng asked.
Gu Qingqiu: "Jingcheng, you're welcome to come over for dinner anytime. It's just that I'm in charge of the kitchen here, so I'll be cooking in the back kitchen during lunch and dinner hours. I won't be able to eat with you until 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. when I'll have some free time to get together with you."
After listening, Lan Jingcheng couldn't help but sigh, "You've really worked hard; you've single-handedly supported the entire restaurant."
Gu Qingqiu smiled and said, "It's alright. I'm currently recruiting a vegetable cutter to help out, but I haven't found a suitable one yet. I've also hired a cashier and a dishwasher to help out. I'll be responsible for purchasing ingredients and cooking."
At this moment, Lan Jingcheng stood in her living room, gazing at the distant night view. Countless car lights formed a dazzling Milky Way on the ground. Even though she knew the other person couldn't see her, she couldn't help but nod and smile brightly as she listened.
“That’s great. I really think you’re amazing. You’ve succeeded in starting your own business. I’ve heard my colleagues mention your restaurant recently.”
Gu Qingqiu smiled and said, "That would be my honor."
Lan Jingcheng said, "If you're this busy, do you usually only sit down to eat lunch or dinner after the last table of customers has finished eating and you no longer need to cook?"
“Yes, I used to say I could squeeze in some time to eat around 12:45 pm and 7:45 pm. But business has been really good lately, so I basically have to wait until 1 pm and 8 pm to have lunch with my employees,” Gu Qingqiu said.
After hearing the suggestion, Lan Jingcheng said, "How about this, I'll go over a little later tomorrow at noon, and we can have lunch together at one o'clock? It'll just be a bit of a hassle for you, since you'll have to cook for me."
“That’s a small problem, as long as you’re willing to come,” Gu Qingqiu said. “How about this, Jingcheng, come to the shop for lunch tomorrow at noon or whenever it’s convenient for you. Don’t go hungry while waiting for me.”
"I'll chat with you after I'm done with my work. I'll have to watch you eat then."
Lan Jingcheng laughed after hearing this, knowing that Gu Qingqiu was probably worried that she would have to wait too long, so she didn't hesitate and readily agreed.
"Okay, then I'll go over at the usual mealtimes tomorrow to try the food. You just go about your business and don't worry about me. We can talk more when you're done."
Gu Qingqiu didn't dwell on the issue and nodded in agreement: "Okay, it's settled then. I look forward to your arrival tomorrow."
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
After ending the call, Gu Qingqiu didn't lie down on the bed anymore. She had been lying down for a while while she was on the phone, and her waist and legs had relaxed, making her feel much more comfortable.
She sat at her desk, preparing to flip through the recipes and decide on tomorrow's menu.
In addition to looking at the cookbooks she had bought, Gu Qingqiu also considered and decided on combinations based on some dishes she had recently wanted to make.
She looked at the menu for tomorrow in her notebook, still a little conflicted about the steamed chicken with five-finger peach, though a better idea was vaguely in her mind.
Tomorrow, Lan Jingcheng is coming to eat at her family's restaurant. It's been a long time since she met her high school classmates, and she can't help but reminisce about her high school days. Plus, she's currently working on the menu, so it's inevitable that she'll think about some of the dishes she ate in high school.
The high school she attended had one of the few A-level canteens in the city, which was always a major selling point for recruitment. The food was indeed delicious, with signature dishes such as sesame chicken, deep-fried fish, broccoli and squid stir-fry, and onion and sausage stir-fry. These were dishes that Gu Qingqiu loved to eat and often ordered back then, and thinking about them now still makes her crave them.
Gu Qingqiu thought for a moment, then simply picked up her pen again and crossed out the Five-Finger Peach Baked Chicken recipe in her notebook, changing it to Sesame Chicken.
After finalizing the menu, she picked up her phone again, sat back down on the headboard, and started scrolling through short videos.
The next morning, after getting up and breathing in the fresh air while looking at the beautiful scenery outside the window, Gu Qingqiu called her bosses to order ingredients: thirty catties of pig's trotters and twenty-five fried chickens. She would buy the rest at the market later.
She put down her phone, turned off the air conditioner, changed her clothes, and went to the bathroom to wash up.
Around noon, Lan Jingcheng parked her car near Suli Street, then walked into Suli Street carrying a bag and a gift box, wearing high heels.
She was from Jiang City and had occasionally passed through this area over the years, but she had never actually walked into this old street.
The surrounding environment looked quite clean, and the buildings looked very old. Lan Jingcheng didn't need to use navigation. She followed the alleyway and walked in. Last night, she checked the official account of Gu's Private Kitchen again and knew roughly where the store was located.
As you walk forward, you'll see a bend in the road where there's a peach tree with only leaves. The wooden restaurant there looks quite nice, with several tables full of smiling customers who seem to be looking forward to lunch.
Lan Jingcheng inevitably quickened her pace as she entered the restaurant, found a small table to sit down, and finally breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, she hadn't arrived too late; at least she had a seat without having to wait in line.
The shop assistant quickly came over to greet me: "This customer, please take a look at the menu on the wall and tell me what you would like to order. We also offer Pu'er tea, Tieguanyin tea, barley tea, chrysanthemum tea, and lemonade. We have room temperature and iced lemonade. Which one would you like?"
"Chrysanthemum tea, please," Lan Jingcheng said. She wasn't particularly interested in tea and usually relied on coffee to stay awake at work, but suddenly she wanted something healthier.
As for the menu on the wall, she had already seen the latest notes on Gu's Private Kitchen's official account before coming here. She said, "I want a plate of braised pork knuckle with sand ginger, sesame chicken, braised lettuce with water and oil, and gastrodia elata fish head soup."
Actually, I was quite interested in the salted fish and eggplant stew, but Gu Qingqiu wouldn't be eating with her later, and I was afraid we'd order too much and not be able to finish it, so I had to reluctantly give up one dish.
Sister Zhou smiled and nodded: "Okay, please wait a moment."
She went to the cashier to get some menus, and while she was at it, she placed another one under the glass window. Then she brought out bowls, chopsticks, and washing utensils, and poured a pot of chrysanthemum tea.
"Thanks."
After rinsing the bowls, chopsticks, and teacups, Lan Jingcheng poured chrysanthemum tea into the teacup, filling it about eight-tenths full. It tasted warm, sweet, and refreshing.
She looked out the glass window and saw a tall, slender girl busy at the stove. Her beautiful hair was tied up and tucked into her chef's hat. She wore a white floral top with a ruffled collar and a white apron over it. Her slender arms showed some muscle definition as she tossed the wok, displaying a kind of resilient and powerful beauty. It made her seem like a very good cook.
Looking at this figure from behind, it seemed to overlap with the slender figure I had seen many times in high school. However, back then, she was holding a book and reading, and even the stray hairs hanging down her temples were gentle and peaceful. Now, she was holding a spatula and stir-frying vegetables, and the contours of her face and the hair tucked behind her back looked much neater and more crisp.
She smiled, looked away, continued drinking her chrysanthemum tea, picked up her phone to reply to some messages; even during her rest, she still needed to handle some things.
Soon, a waiter came and served a fish head soup with gastrodia elata. The soup in the large bowl was thick and white, almost like milk. The large, eye-catching fish head was half-hidden on the surface of the water, with a few red goji berries adding a touch of brightness. Floating on the surface were some soup ingredients, but I don't know if there was any gastrodia elata in them.
She ladled a bowl of soup into the bowl with a spoon. Because the fish head was too big and the soup ingredients looked like medicinal herbs, she simply ladled the soup and didn't ask for any of the ingredients.
Lan Jingcheng scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it, and then drank it. The moment the soup entered her mouth, she tasted the fresh, savory flavor of fish, as rich as its milky white color. Then came a sweet, slightly savory aroma, which she guessed might be the fragrance of gastrodia elata, given that the soup's name only listed two main ingredients.
The soup was very fresh and sweet. Every spoonful was an exquisite experience. After drinking half a bowl, Lan Jingcheng was no longer satisfied with just sipping it. When she felt the soup was at the right temperature, she picked up the bowl and drank it in big gulps, letting the rich fish flavor and sweet aroma fill her mouth.
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