Chapter 196 Welcome to set up a stall at Yuda
Her words were incoherent and even she felt embarrassed.
Principal Lü walked up to the stall, his gaze sweeping over the steaming pot of beef brisket soup, then at the more delicate pot of cordyceps flower chicken soup next to it, before finally settling on Su Yingxue's nervously flushed face. He spoke gently, his voice still calm, yet it made Su Yingxue's heart skip a beat: "Hello. I didn't come for a walk; I came following a song."
"A song?" Su Yingxue and Zhang Wei and the others next to her were stunned.
Principal Lü seemed quite pleased with their confusion. She smiled slightly, a smile that softened her usually serious face and even made her look somewhat cute.
"A rap song that's been really popular at our school lately. The lyrics go something like, 'The beef brisket is stewed until it's tender and soft, and the radish absorbs all the flavors of the meat,' and it also goes something like, 'Beef brisket soup, golden and delicious, the aroma fills your lungs.'"
As an educator, I'm very interested in this kind of 'campus culture phenomenon' that inspires students' creativity. Therefore, I want to personally verify whether the soup here truly deserves the title of 'the radiance of Yuda University.'
The room fell silent upon hearing this.
Xia Yao's jaw nearly dropped. She stammered, pointing at Su Yingxue, "Principal...you mean 'The Light of Yuda'? That hit song with millions of plays? We...we are the authors of that song!"
Bai He and Mu Yu exchanged bewildered glances, their faces filled with disbelief. Who would have thought that they were only separated from the principal by a single viral internet song!
Su Yingxue was both surprised and delighted. The huge weight in her heart was instantly lifted, replaced by an overwhelming sense of gratitude and excitement.
It turns out the principal wasn't there to "seize" her property, but to "chase after" her!
"I see." Principal Lü nodded, his gaze refocusing on the two pots of soup with a scholarly rigor and anticipation. "Now, may I have a taste?"
"Yes! Of course! Absolutely!" Su Yingxue almost shouted, then quickly softened her voice and hurriedly picked up two clean bowls. "Principal, please wait a moment, I'll serve you the best!"
She started with the cordyceps flower chicken soup. The milky white broth simmered, with golden cordyceps flowers floating in it, like a work of art. She carefully ladled a full bowl with a long-handled spoon; the soup was clear and yellow, glistening with an enticing layer of "golden coating" clinging to the sides of the bowl.
She sprinkled a few bright red goji berries on top as a garnish, then respectfully presented them to Principal Lü with both hands.
Principal Lü took the porcelain bowl, her fingers slender yet strong. She didn't drink immediately, but instead, mimicking the way food critics in the video reviewed food, she first brought the bowl close to her lips and took a deep breath.
At that moment, for the first time, undisguised surprise appeared in her eyes, which were always as sharp as a hawk's.
"It smells so good." She uttered two words softly, her tone filled with a sense of being conquered and admiring. "This fragrance... is so clean and pure. It's the original flavor that can only be released after the ingredients have been patiently simmered. There's no artificial flavor at all."
Su Yingxue stared nervously at her expression, her heart pounding in her throat.
Principal Lü gracefully picked up a porcelain spoon, gently scooped up a spoonful of soup, and slowly brought it to her mouth. She didn't swallow it immediately, but savored it carefully in her mouth, closing her eyes as if she were tasting a fine vintage wine.
Time seemed to stand still at that moment. The surrounding students held their breath, and even the wind stopped blowing.
One second, two seconds...
Principal Lü slowly opened her eyes. Her previously tense jawline completely relaxed, and a clear, childlike satisfaction and surprise appeared on her usually serious face.
The sharp light in her insightful eyes was replaced by a warm, soft glow.
"Mmm..." she hummed in satisfaction, then scooped up another spoonful, this time bringing a few plump cordyceps flowers into her mouth. "Delicious! Rich! This soup must have been cooked for at least two hours. The sweetness of the chicken has been fully brought out, and the mushroom aroma of the cordyceps flowers has been cleverly integrated, serving as the finishing touch."
Most importantly, its saltiness was just right, perfectly highlighting the original flavor of the ingredients. It was even better than I expected.
A series of professional comments came from the university president, leaving Su Yingxue dumbfounded and Zhang Wei and the others beside her in awe.
"Principal, you're really a hidden talent!" Zhang Wei couldn't help but mutter to himself.
Principal Lü seemed to have heard him, a faint smile appearing on his lips as he turned his gaze to the pot of radish and beef brisket soup: "Well, this soup is quite good too? Let me see it."
"Alright!" Su Yingxue felt like she had been granted a pardon and quickly ran to serve the beef brisket soup. When the bowl of soup, with its rich, dark sauce, translucent radish, and trembling beef brisket, was placed in front of Principal Lü, its domineering aroma once again proved its strength.
Principal Lü took a big gulp, the tender beef brisket and the sweet radish melting on her tongue. Her tense brows completely relaxed, and she even took another big spoonful, swallowing it along with a large piece of beef brisket that was stewed until it melted in her mouth.
The sunlight fell on her face, magically softening all her serious features, making her look like an elder who had found her favorite candy.
"Wonderful!" She put down her bowl and couldn't help but exclaim, "The radish is stewed until it's completely tender, absorbing the essence of the meat broth. It melts in your mouth, sweet with a hint of saltiness—that's the soul of this dish."
The beef brisket is of excellent quality, with a perfect balance of muscle and tendon, and stewed to perfection, tender yet not dry. This is more than just a snack; it's a well-prepared dish made with skill and dedication.
She used the word "good, good, good" three times in a row, which was the highest praise for Su Yingxue's cooking skills.
Su Yingxue was so excited that her eyes welled up with tears. She bowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, Principal! Thank you for the compliment!"
Principal Lü stood up, his gaze sweeping over the bustling and welcoming stalls once more, finally settling on Su Yingxue, his tone solemn yet gentle:
"Young lady, your craftsmanship is not only a source of pride for Yuda University, but also a rare warmth in our city. Keep up the good work. Our school is holding a campus food festival in a few days, and we would like to invite you to set up a stall."
After saying that, she didn't say anything more. She turned around and walked away with steady steps, leaving behind only a reassuring silhouette and a faint, warm scent mixed with the aroma of chicken soup and beef brisket.
Even after the principal's figure disappeared around the corner of the teaching building, Su Yingxue remained rooted to the spot, forgetting to scoop up the soup with her spoon, her face beaming with an uncontrollable, radiant smile.
She succeeded. Not only did she win over her old classmates with a bowl of soup, but unexpectedly, she also won the approval and blessing of the highest authority on campus with a bowl of soup.
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