Chapter 40 Why the Doctor Hadn't Eaten It
"Red dates, goji berries, and a handful of seaweed." Su Yingxue pointed to the glass jar on the windowsill. "The patient drinks this to warm up."
“So that’s how it is…” Can Can touched his nose, suddenly finding those “dirt” on the internet particularly laughable. He looked up at the window—the light shone through the cafeteria’s screen window, casting dappled light on Su Yingxue’s apron. She was bending over to tidy up the cutting board, her silver bracelet glittering in the light.
“Um…” Can Can paused the video on her phone and deleted the prepared吐槽 (tu cao, a form of online commentary/criticism) text she had prepared. “Master Su, can I post the soup video I just filmed on social media? Just… a simple compliment.”
Su Yingxue was making the last spoonful of meat slices when she heard this. She looked up and smiled, "Do whatever you like, as long as it tastes good."
Can Can raised her phone, pointing the camera at the last few slices of meat in the soup pot, deliberately letting the fill light shine on Su Yingxue's flour-covered hands—those hands were deftly pinching the meat slices, as if they were handling some precious treasure.
He pressed the record button, his voice much more sincere than usual: "Today I ate a bowl of Fuding sliced meat in the hospital cafeteria. The soup was fresh and the meat was tender. Even a picky food blogger like me was won over. It turns out that the secret to delicious food is not some trendy recipe, but heart."
He turned off his phone and said to Su Yingxue, "Master Su, I used to always think about making 'blockbuster' videos, but now I understand... what's truly good is food that can bring warmth to others."
Su Yingxue placed the last plate of meatballs into the soup pot. The steam blurred her features, but it couldn't obscure the faint smile on her lips. She watched Cancan's retreating figure, then lowered her head to continue pounding the minced meat on the cutting board—the soup in the pot was still bubbling away, its fragrant aroma filling the entire cafeteria, as if trying to dispel all the chill.
Can Can's videos went viral online, but he didn't respond to comments, only saying one word when asked: "Delicious." This led many to suspect that Can Can had been paid to do so. Can Can remained silent and even became much more low-key online.
Su Yingxue's life gradually returned to normal. Only the number of customers queuing up was increasing.
She noticed something odd. Most of the customers were nurses. Doctors were rare. And even when they did come, it was just a few familiar young doctors. She didn't seem to see any older doctors. Looking at the long queue, she wondered, "Maybe doctors are more health-conscious? Don't they eat late-night snacks?" But she didn't dwell on it and continued with her business.
Yan Guoxiang is an experienced attending surgeon at Heping Hospital. Late at night, he rubbed his aching neck after finishing a six-hour emergency surgery. The smell of disinfectant still lingered in the corridor. He glanced at his watch—1:27 AM. As usual, he reached for his usual packet of braised beef noodles in his office drawer, but the moment he tore open the packaging, he smelled an unusual aroma wafting through the air.
It was a peculiar aroma, a blend of the caramelized scent of wheat flour and the spiciness of some secret seasoning, like an invisible hand pulling him by the nose toward the window.
"Director Yan, you can smell it too, can't you?" Lin Xiaoyu, a newly arrived intern nurse, sniffed as she passed by carrying a medical record book. "It's that savory pancake smell again!"
Yan Guoxiang frowned. As the head of surgery, he had always disapproved of young doctors bringing takeout food into their offices. Since taking over the department three years ago, he had established a strict rule—no food scraps were allowed to contaminate medical documents. He had repeatedly emphasized this at morning meetings: "Only medical records and surgical plans are allowed on our desks; no instant noodle smells or fried chicken smells!"
But recently, things have been a bit unusual.
"Niu Yue! Wang Fei!" Yan Guoxiang stood at the door of the doctor's office. His voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to make the two interns, who were furtively taking out takeout boxes, freeze in their tracks.
"Master, Master..." Niu Yue's hand trembled, and the plastic bag made a rustling sound. She was on the night shift today and had originally planned to take out the savory pancake hidden in the locker and enjoy it, as usual, after her master finished checking the rooms.
Yan Guoxiang strode over, his eyes piercing: "What are you two doing in the middle of the night?"
"N-nothing..." Wang Fei quickly hid the plastic bag behind his back, but accidentally knocked over the thermos on the table with a loud bang.
Yan Guoxiang squinted and snatched the plastic bag. Inside were two takeout containers, one containing golden, crispy savory pancakes, and the other...
"Fuding sliced meat?" Yan Guoxiang raised an eyebrow. "Where did you get this?"
Niu Yue stuck out her tongue: "Master, don't be angry... it's just that new food stall downstairs, it's really delicious..."
"Nonsense!" Yan Guoxiang said sternly. "Have you forgotten the hospital regulations? Bringing all sorts of random stuff into the office!"
"But Master..." Niu Yue blinked, then suddenly pulled a disposable lunchbox from her white coat pocket. "You've been up all night, so I specially saved you a plate of Fuding sliced pork... Try it, it's really delicious!"
Yan Guoxiang wanted to refuse, but the mild and fragrant aroma had already entered his nostrils. He hesitated for a moment, then took the lunchbox and saw several translucent slices of meat floating in an amber-colored broth, garnished with chopped green cilantro.
"Just one bite." Niu Yue blinked. "Just one bite!"
Yan Guoxiang reluctantly scooped up a spoonful of soup, carefully blew on it, and put it in his mouth.
After taking the first bite, he froze completely.
The broth was perfectly balanced, appetizing yet not pungent; the meat slices were incredibly tender, each one soaked in the essence of the broth, melting in his mouth yet still offering a satisfying chew. He couldn't resist taking another spoonful, then a second...
"Master?" Niu Yue and Wang Fei stared in disbelief as Yan Guoxiang devoured the entire box of sliced meat in a flash, leaving not even a drop of soup.
Yan Guoxiang held the empty box, his face filled with disbelief: "Where...where did you buy this?"
Niu Yue and Wang Fei exchanged a glance. Niu Yue cautiously said, "It's...it's the new savory pancake stall in the hospital cafeteria. The owner's surname is Su. Everyone calls her Sister Su..."
"Sister Su?" Yan Guoxiang frowned.
"It's that one that's been all over the internet lately..." Wang Fei interjected, "the one that Can Can recommended in her video..."
"Can Can?" Yan Guoxiang suddenly remembered, "Isn't that the one who makes food videos and always says 'delicious' in them?"
The two interns nodded vigorously.
Yan Guoxiang pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "No wonder the atmosphere in the department has been a bit off lately." He pointed to the empty box, "These sliced meat... what's it called again?"
"Fuding sliced pork!" Niu Yue answered quickly.
“Yes, Fuding sliced pork.” Yan Guoxiang said thoughtfully, “And that savory pancake…it was really good.” He looked up at the clock on the wall, “It’s already this late, aren’t you two little ones going back to rest?”
Niu Yue and Wang Fei felt like they had been granted a pardon and quickly slipped away.
Watching their retreating figures, Yan Guoxiang suddenly picked up his phone and sent a message to his old colleagues: "Old Zhang, Old Li, did you know a new food stall opened in the hospital cafeteria? I heard their savory pancakes and Fuding pork slices are especially delicious..."
“We know that, but a few days ago I casually asked one of my apprentices, and they all said it tasted bad and told us not to go there. They said it's not good to eat late at night.”
Yan Guoxiang recalled the delicious taste of the meal he had just enjoyed. He continued sending messages: "You guys got scammed. Let's go eat together tomorrow night."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com