Chapter 105 Crispy Pickled Cucumbers.
The square, deep bowl was filled to about eight-tenths full with cucumber slices, each about the thickness of two coins. The cucumber skins were still very green, while the flesh in the middle was a tender green, even a little translucent.
Each slice of bright green cucumber is mixed with a touch of light yellow minced garlic and bright red chili peppers. The aroma wafting in the air is more complex, with salty, sweet, sour, and spicy notes.
The flavor is rich and enticing, making you want to quickly taste it and see if it's just as delicious.
When the waitress brought out the dish, Peiqi looked up and said thank you, then stared at the crisp pickled cucumbers for a while.
She thought the lush greenery was quite beautiful, with the small red chilies adding a striking touch, but the crisp pickled cucumbers weren't as appealing as the three-cup chicken, so she calmly continued eating the half-eaten chicken she had on hand.
Wu Wensheng and Zhang Danyan were really looking forward to this dish. They felt that with the Gu family's private kitchen skills, even a simple pickled cucumber could be made into something special.
Zhang Danyan picked up three slices of cucumber and put them in her bowl at once to save herself the trouble of picking them up from different places. Then she picked up a slice of cucumber from her bowl and tasted it.
The moment the cucumber touched my tongue, I tasted a flavor even richer than the smell. It was salty, savory, and sour, with a hint of spiciness and a touch of sweetness—quite delicious.
The cucumber slices are smooth and tender, making a crisp sound when you bite into them. You can taste the juice that overflows when you chew them. The flesh is soft, tender, and fragrant. The flavors preserved in the cucumber gradually spread out, a mix of sour, salty, and sweet. The spiciness is mixed in as a seasoning, adding some flavor, but it's not so spicy that you need to drink water to relieve it.
She quickly finished a piece of crisp pickled cucumber and found it quite refreshing and helped cut through the greasiness. Especially after eating pork belly, shrimp, fish, and three-cup chicken, the pickled cucumber was so pleasantly sour and salty.
Wu Wensheng was also eating crisp pickled cucumbers. The cucumbers were crisp and delicious, and the juice that overflowed when chewing was rich and sweet. The cucumbers had a refreshing and slightly spicy flavor that was very appetizing. It was very enjoyable to eat and also helped to cut through the greasiness.
I was already 90% full after eating so much meat and vegetables, and I was almost too full to eat anymore. But after eating two or three pieces of crisp pickled cucumber, I felt much better.
He ate four or five more pieces of pickled cucumber, which were refreshing, crisp, and sour and salty, making them very appetizing. The rich juice moistened his lips, teeth, and throat, which was very comfortable in the hot summer.
Wu Wensheng was still comparing the spiciness of the pickled cucumbers, and it seemed to be not much different from the grilled skewers that Peiqi occasionally ate. So Peiqi should be able to handle it and not be too spicy.
While eating the pickled cucumbers, he kept an eye on his daughter's movements. Seeing that she had finished another piece of chicken and seemed unable to eat another one anytime soon, he said, "Peggy, do you want to try these crisp pickled cucumbers? They're especially crisp and juicy, sour, salty, and a little spicy. They taste really good!"
It's funny, but when the meat dishes were served, Peiqi's eyes lit up, clearly full of anticipation. After eating them, she praised them repeatedly. But now she wasn't very interested in this crispy pickled cucumber.
However, whether she is at home or eating in the hospital canteen, she prefers to eat meat, and she will only eat some vegetables after she has eaten enough meat.
Peiqi is quite picky about the vegetables she eats. She only eats a few kinds of vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, bok choy, water spinach, watercress, and spinach. Sometimes she will also eat some cucumber stir-fried with meat slices.
To encourage her to eat more vegetables and get more dietary fiber, and to ensure a balanced diet, the couple tries their best to cook vegetables that she likes.
For example, when we ate at Gu's Private Kitchen today, the menu only had five fixed dishes, and there was only one dish, crispy pickled cucumber, which we couldn't choose. Besides, Peiqi can eat some cucumber.
Peiqi was so satisfied after finishing the chicken that she didn't plan to eat any more meat. She felt her tummy was already bulging, but she didn't dare tell her parents that she was full, afraid they would say she didn't know how to control herself.
The idea that she should eat vegetables and fruits with every meal is already deeply ingrained in her mind. Besides, she can accept cucumbers. Just now, it smelled sour and a little salty, which seemed nice. She really wanted to try it.
Peiqi said slowly, "I'll eat later. I need to rest; my hands are too weak."
This reason was perfectly valid, and Wu Wensheng and Zhang Danyan laughed after hearing it.
They were wondering why, since the child usually eats for a while and then rests, the meat and vegetables at lunch must have been so delicious that Peiqi was so engrossed in eating that she barely rested her hands and didn't seem tired at all.
This is normal now.
Wu Wensheng and Zhang Danyan relaxed and continued eating the crisp pickled cucumbers. The cucumber slices were quite refreshing and appetizing. They were already quite full, but eating these crisp cucumbers made it feel like their stomachs weren't full at all. The more they ate, the faster their stomachs seemed to digest, and the more comfortable they felt.
Of course, both of them controlled the amount they ate, and they didn't eat very fast. They were also preparing to stop eating.
When Peiqi isn't eating chicken and resting her hands, her little mouth never stops, chattering away about all sorts of things.
She started by talking about how delicious her lunch was, then went on to talk about what she chatted with her friends, and then mentioned how, while she was recovering at the hospital, her therapist praised her for being diligent and obedient during exercise, and how one of her friends was scolded by her mother for being disobedient...
Wu Wensheng and Zhang Danyan listened attentively to what was being said in front of them. When the conversation turned to the hospital, Zhang Danyan picked up her water glass and drank chrysanthemum tea, knowing that Peiqi was mainly talking to her father who wasn't often at the hospital.
After saying what she wanted to say, Peiqi felt a little more comfortable as her stomach felt less bloated, so she asked her mother to put some crisp pickled cucumbers into her bowl.
Zhang Danyan agreed, picked up her bowl and chopsticks, and asked, "How many slices do you want?"
"Three slices, please," Peiqi said after thinking for a moment, wanting to taste them first.
After her mother put three slices of cucumber on her plate and returned the bowl to her, she picked up the spoon again and scooped up a slice of crisp pickled cucumber to eat.
The cucumber has a stronger sour and salty taste, accompanied by a slight saltiness, along with the unique fragrance of cucumber. It tastes crisp, refreshing, tender, and juicy. The small chili peppers that were seen in the large plate of crisp pickled cucumbers also have a noticeable spiciness.
It wasn't very spicy; Peiqi could tolerate it while chewing the cucumber, and it even became more fragrant the more she chewed.
The sweet, refreshing juice of the cucumber soothed her throat, which was very pleasant. Peiqi ate one slice of cucumber and then another. The sour, salty, and spicy flavor unexpectedly suited her taste, and she seemed to be able to eat more and more. This must be what her mother meant by "appetizer"?
After swallowing another piece of cucumber, Peiqi expressed her feelings.
Zhang Danyan smiled after hearing this: "These crisp pickled cucumbers are indeed quite appetizing. They are sour and salty without being too spicy, and they taste crisp and juicy. But you should only eat a little to satisfy your craving. Don't eat too much. I guess you're already quite full after eating so much meat earlier."
Peiqi didn't expect her mother to expose what she was trying to hide. Meeting her mother's knowing look, she smiled awkwardly and said, "Okay, I understand. Don't worry, Mom."
Then she asked her mother to add three more slices of crisp pickled cucumber, and promised, "I'll stop eating after these three slices of cucumber. I'm really full. I won't eat the glass noodles or the soup either."
Zhang Danyan and Wu Wensheng naturally agreed with a smile. They had stopped eating a long time ago and were still feeling a bit full. They didn't know how the child could eat so much.
However, Peggy probably eats slowly, so she naturally eats less than the others.
Peggy continued eating the crisp pickled cucumbers, savoring the last few bites of lunch. The sour, salty, spicy flavors lingered in her mouth, mixed with the crispness and juiciness of the cucumbers—everything was so delicious.
As she finished eating and put down her spoon, she couldn't help but exclaim, "I feel like this crispy pickled cucumber tastes even better than the cucumber stir-fried with pork at home; the flavor is much richer."
Peiqi glanced at her mother and added, "Of course, Mom, your cucumber and pork stir-fry is also delicious, I like it very much too."
Zhang Danyan laughed and said, "My cucumber and pork stir-fry is indeed not as good as this crisp pickled cucumber. It's normal that you like it, I like it too. But thank you for liking my cucumber and pork stir-fry. I'll make more for you when we get back."
She also wanted to diversify her daughter's diet with fruits and vegetables, instead of just focusing on a few types.
Because the crispy pickled cucumbers were quite delicious and left a good impression on her, she also became somewhat looking forward to cucumber stir-fried with pork, which she hadn't had in a long time. Peiqi nodded: "Okay, I quite like the taste of cucumbers."
Wu Wensheng and Zhang Danyan smiled and agreed, making no mention of her earlier complaint that the cucumbers tasted so-so.
The family of three had finished eating, and there were still many customers queuing outside waiting to dine, so Zhang Danyan simply waved to the staff to bring over takeout boxes and bags.
Apart from the garlic-flavored sea bass, which was eaten until only a large fish bone and some minced garlic remained, there was still a considerable amount of other dishes and soup left, and it was not easy to mix them up and pack them away.
She simply packed each item in a separate takeout box, and in the end, the three takeout boxes and the soup bowl takeout box required two separate takeout bags to fit them all.
Zhang Danyan carried two takeout bags, while Wu Wensheng pushed the special trolley that Peiqi was sitting in, and the family walked towards the cashier.
Sister Zhou had just served a table of customers a Three-Cup Chicken when she saw them rushing over to the cashier. After quickly settling the bill, she unfolded the mobile ramp, reminding them, "Take it easy."
"Okay, thank you." Wu Wensheng and Zhang Danyan thanked them almost simultaneously with smiles.
Wu Wensheng pushed the stroller backwards down the slope. Peiqi sat comfortably in the stroller, and he walked with ease as if on flat ground.
Zhang Danyan stood by without needing to lend a hand, and could even take out her phone to capture that moment.
The couple looked at the shop assistant and thanked him again with smiles.
Peiqi smiled broadly and sincerely thanked her, "Thank you, Auntie, I really like your restaurant!"
Sister Zhou nodded happily, "I should be thanking you all for your support. Welcome to come again next time!"
She waved to Peiqi: "Bye-bye, little sister, see you next time!"
"Bye-bye, Auntie, see you next time!" Peiqi waved to the shop assistant as well.
After thanking them again, Zhang Danyan and Wu Wensheng pushed Peiqi out of the restaurant and walked towards the end of Suli Street. The moment they turned around, the three of them were all smiling, brighter than the midday sun.
This half of Suli Street isn't very long, but it was enough for Peiqi to keep saying that she wanted to come to Gu's Private Kitchen to eat more often in the future. Wu Wensheng exclaimed that the dishes at the restaurants here were actually quite cheap. This whole meal, including the takeout fee, only cost a little over 260 yuan, which was a great deal!
Zhang Danyan said she would post the photo she had just taken to the patient support group and give a proper shout-out to Gu's Private Kitchen.
The couple hadn't mentioned bringing Peiqi over for dinner in the group chat.
I was thinking of coming over to try it out myself. If it didn't have that magical effect, I'd just consider it as coming over for a few more meals. If it really did have that magical effect, then everyone would be happy, and I'd share it in the group.
After finishing lunch, I felt that this restaurant not only had good food but also a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Even without that magical effect, I would still be willing to come here to eat often.
Zhang Danyan couldn't wait any longer and wanted to share the heartwarming story of the restaurant being equipped with a mobile ramp in the group chat.
Just like in the past, people in the group would share which places to visit and which attractions had good accessibility, or some parents would share the accessibility facilities their children encountered at school. This allowed everyone to feel a little warmth from society.
They drove over today; Peiqi has difficulty getting around, so having her own car makes things much easier.
After leaving Suli Street and finding a nearby parking space, Wu Wensheng first unbuckled Peiqi's seatbelt, then picked her up from the stroller and put her in the car, using pillows to cushion her position so she wouldn't fall over due to insufficient support.
Zhang Danyan followed closely behind and got into the car from the other side, sitting in the back seat.
Actually, they initially wanted to install a special car seat in the car, but Peiqi didn't like to sit in it, saying that car seats are for little babies and that she could sit steadily on her own.
With Zhang Danyan watching over them from the back seat, the couple went along with her and simply placed some pillows around her for support.
After folding up the special trolley and putting it in the trunk, Wu Wensheng got into the driver's seat and drove home.
Their home is in the suburbs, a little over an hour's drive from Yunjiang District, and they made a special trip here today.
As always, Peiqi was very talkative on the way, chatting with her dad who was driving in front and her mom who was sitting next to her. She knew that her dad had to concentrate on the road while driving, so she mostly talked to her mom.
When her mother was engrossed in looking at her phone and typing messages, she couldn't help but talk to her father, and thoughtfully told him, "Dad, just focus on driving and listen to me. You don't need to reply to me."
Wu Wensheng was driving with his eyes on the road when he heard this. He glanced at the rearview mirror during a break at the traffic light and saw Dan Yan holding her phone, typing away happily. She was probably sharing something in the patient support group. He then saw Peiqi's face, which was also looking at the rearview mirror with a grin. He said softly, "Okay, I understand. Peiqi, just say what you need to say."
Peiqi agreed and continued talking about her experiences at the rehabilitation hospital. She mentioned which exercise was the most difficult. Teacher Xu kept encouraging and comforting her, saying that she was the most diligent and well-behaved child in the entire hospital. After working hard for half a month, she was already able to complete the four-point support exercise with Teacher Xu's support.
She added with great enthusiasm, "Next time I go to the hospital for rehabilitation, I will definitely exercise hard and listen to Teacher Xu's advice, and try my best to be able to crawl for a little while."
Wu Wensheng was very comforted and happy to hear this: "Peiqi is great! I'll be looking forward to your progress. We'll go to the boutique later, and Dad will reward you by letting you pick out something you like!"
The boutique is in a shopping mall near their home. We'll stop and take Peiqi in for a look when we pass by later; she loves shopping malls.
Peggy clapped her hands happily: "Yay! That's great, thank you Daddy!"
Wu Wensheng smiled and said, "I should be thanking Peiqi. Thank you for being so diligent and hardworking!"
Zhang Danyan sat to the side looking at her phone, listening to the father and daughter's conversation without interrupting, a slight smile playing on her lips, before continuing to edit a message and send it to the group chat.
[Peggy's Mom - Type 2 - 6 years old: Sharing a heartwarming story: Today, my partner and I brought Peggy to Gu's Private Kitchen for dinner. There was a step at the entrance, and we were thinking of just lifting the stroller up as usual. But the staff saw this and quickly stopped us. They immediately brought out a ramp from the cashier and laid it down. So my partner smoothly pushed Peggy and the stroller up into the restaurant.]
The shop assistant said they'd had this ramp in stock for a while, specifically to provide accessibility for customers who needed it. This kind of small detail is really touching; my partner and I were incredibly moved!
[Peggy's Mom - Type 2 - 6 years old: Ramp in front of a restaurant.jpg]
Zhang Danyan posted a photo in the group chat of her husband pushing their daughter in a special stroller backwards down the ramp outside the restaurant.
Then he edited new content and posted it in the group.
[Peggy's Mom - Type 2 - 6 years old: I wonder if everyone still remembers Gu's Private Kitchen? It's the restaurant that @Xiaoqing - Type 4 - 25 years old recommended half a month ago. It's said that eating there regularly is good for your health. My partner and I thought we'd take Peggy there to try it out. If it works, that would be great and everyone would be happy. If not, we'd just consider it a treat for the kids.]
We don't know about the effects yet, but this restaurant is definitely worth recommending! Not only is the service excellent, with great attention to detail for a small group like ours, but the food is also exceptionally delicious. Peiqi had a great time today!
Our lunch today included lotus seed and pork rib soup, braised pork and cabbage with vermicelli, garlic-flavored sea bass, three-cup chicken, and crisp pickled cucumbers. Every ingredient was incredibly fresh, and the flavors were exceptionally delicious, far surpassing those of other restaurants. Personally, I think it's the best in its price range. Our entire lunch only cost a little over 260 yuan.
[Peggy's Mom - Type 2 - Age 6: Lotus Seed and Pork Rib Soup.jpg; Cabbage and Pork Stew with Vermicelli.jpg; Garlic-flavored Bass.jpg; Three-Cup Chicken.jpg; Crispy Pickled Cucumber.jpg; Group Photo of Dishes.jpg]
[Peggy's Mom - Type 2 - 6 years old: Regarding Gu's Private Kitchen, I'll only recommend it based on the food and service for now. If you have time, you can bring your kids to try it; the food is really delicious! My partner and I will often bring Peggy here to eat, and if it really has any amazing effects, we'll share it in the group chat.]
After sending the message, Zhang Danyan let out a soft sigh.
She's not one to chat in groups, but this SMA patient support group in Jiangsu Province is an exception.
When Peiqi was first diagnosed, the parents in the group gave her and her teammates a lot of encouragement when they were feeling lost, helpless, and even desperate. They patiently answered some of the questions that Peiqi, as parents of newly diagnosed patients, had, and shared their own experience in caring for and nurturing their children.
People don't usually chat casually, but as soon as someone asks a question about their child in the group, the group immediately becomes lively, with everyone trying to answer the question for the parent.
Zhang Danyan has felt countless warmth and help in this group. It can be said that she is able to take care of Peiqi to this age without the help of the parents of the children in the patient support group. So she also wants to share some good news with everyone.
Restaurants like Gu's Private Kitchen, with delicious food and accessible facilities, are definitely a great choice for people in the group to take their children to. If it really has the magical effects that Xiaoqing mentioned, that would be even better.
Not only will our family be overjoyed, but the parents of the entire SMA support group will be ecstatic! And there are so many SMA patients across the country…
As Zhang Danyan thought about it, a smile spread across her face. Beside her, Peiqi was excitedly recounting the fun she'd had at the rehabilitation hospital over the past two weeks, talking about how the teachers in the social rehabilitation department organized games for the children…
She listened attentively, occasionally responding with a few words. Wu Wensheng, who was driving, responded to his daughter's monologue with "hmm," "good," and "great" from time to time, truly fulfilling Peiqi's earlier request that she only talk and her father only listen.
Peiqi got more and more excited as she talked, and Zhang Danyan reasonably believed that the child could talk all the way home before stopping. She chuckled and shook her head, picking up her phone to continue looking at the messages that had already popped up in the patient support group.
[Linlin's Mom - Type 3 - 9 years old: Wow, seeing this restaurant's amenities is truly amazing! Few restaurants are this well-equipped; they really consider the needs of kids like us! I suddenly have a really good impression of this restaurant. I'm saving this; I'll take Linlin to try it out when I have time, haha!]
[Yangyang's Mom - Type 2 - 7 years old: I was really touched after reading this. It feels so good to have your needs recognized! Although my child is still small and not heavy, and it's not a big deal for us to lift him, it's hard not to like such a considerate and attentive restaurant. If it were me, I would definitely eat here often! @Yangyang's Dad - Type 2 - 7 years old, this restaurant isn't far from our home, we should try it sometime.]
[Yangyang's Dad - Type 2 - 7 years old: Okay, I'll take Yangyang to eat there later.]
[Fengfeng's Mom - Type 3 - 12 years old: You guys actually went to that restaurant Xiaoqing mentioned! Putting everything else aside, just looking at this ramp, you can tell that this restaurant is pretty good. No wonder Xiaoqing recommended it to the group.]
Actually, when we saw Xiaoqing's post last time, although we thought it was unlikely, we were still somewhat willing to try our luck. After all, even if eating doesn't have that effect, at least we enjoy it. However, Fengfeng developed a fever after taking the medicine, and then caught a cold which he only recently recovered from, so I don't dare take him out for a while.
[Lele's Dad - Type 1 - 4 years old: My Lele gets easily infected whenever we go out, so I'm afraid to take him out at all. Otherwise, I'd be thinking of taking him to this restaurant to try it out. Sigh, his nutrient absorption has only improved a bit since he had a gastrostomy, and he's gained a little weight in the past six months.]
[Xiaoqing-Type 4-25 years old: @Peqi's Mom-Type 2-6 years old, wow, I didn't expect Gu's Private Kitchen to have a movable ramp! That's amazing! I've been there several times and never seen one, so it's a movable ramp that the staff only bring out and put up when customers need it, right?]
[Xiaoqing - Type 4 - 25 years old: I'm so glad to see that you're willing to take Peiqi to try Gu's Private Kitchen. The food there is really delicious. My friends and I have eaten there many times and we still crave it! Trust me, eating at Gu's Private Kitchen will really surprise you! It's not just good for kids, it's good for adults too (I'll say it one last time)]
[Haohao's Mom - Type 2 - 7 years old: I thought this was over after we talked about it last time, but I didn't expect that so many parents in the group still believe that eating at a different restaurant can make their children stronger?]
I understand everyone's desire for their children to improve, but please be rational! In the days before medicine, we tried giving children traditional Chinese medicine, supplements like pig's feet tendons to make up for deficiencies, and even medications to stimulate their neuromuscular responses... Ultimately, all of these proved to be unreliable!
[Haohao's Mom - Type 2 - 7 years old: Now we have the appropriate medication available, and the national medical insurance helps ease the burden of medication costs for families. The doctor has clearly stated that this is currently the only appropriate medication, and even if the child doesn't improve after taking the medication, it can at least prevent further regression! Parents, please remain rational, give your children and yourselves more patience, and don't be fooled!]
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