Chapter 76 A New Beginning in the Wilderness
She gazed at the gradually rounding moon outside the window and nodded gently. The sweet aroma of mooncakes seemed to still linger in her nostrils, but all the sleepless nights spent perfecting the recipe and testing the heat had transformed into confidence with these numbers. The world is so big; one should always go and experience the flavors of other places.
"Sister Su! Are you really leaving?"
Ye Feifei's voice boomed from outside the door. When Su Yingxue turned around, she saw Ye Feifei clinging to the doorframe with red eyes, clutching a crumpled tissue in her hand. The usually decisive and efficient proprietress was now like a cat with its fur standing on end, even her carefully painted mauve nails trembling slightly.
"I...I approve your extended leave!" Ye Feifei rushed in, her high heels clicking rapidly on the floor. "Business at the shop has just started to pick up, and although Chef Wei can make your signature dishes, his cooking always seems to be missing something..." She suddenly covered her mouth, her eyes reddening further. "Shen Yu asked me yesterday when she could eat your spicy duck neck again, and I...I promised her!"
Su Yingxue crouched down and gently ruffled Ye Feifei's hair. The girl's hair was as soft as a cloud, carrying a faint scent of jasmine shampoo. "The world is so big, I want to see it," she said softly, yet firmly, "but..."
"But what?" Ye Feifei suddenly looked up, her eyes shining like stars.
“I’ll leave you the recipe.” Su Yingxue stood up and took out a leather notebook from her bag. The first page was filled with recipe names. “For braised pork belly, you need three-layered pork belly; for lotus root soup, you need nine-hole lotus roots from Honghu Lake; for spicy duck neck, you need Chongqing Shizhu red chili peppers…” She paused and added, “Also, Chef Wei, remember to simmer the caramelized sugar over low heat, don’t rush it.”
Ye Feifei, sobbing, took the notebook and suddenly lunged at her, hugging her tightly. "No way! You have to let me know where you're going! I... I've saved up so many things I want to eat!" She counted on her fingers, "Spicy rabbit heads, braised beef, dan dan noodles... Oh, and you have to make me spicy duck necks, fried chicken, takoyaki milk tea, and spicy crab! I want to eat them today! Turn your grief into appetite, understand?!"
"Alright." Su Yingxue chuckled, turned around and tied on her apron, "Then let's prepare a farewell feast."
The Mid-Autumn Festival moonlight streamed into the kitchen, where Su Yingxue and Chef Wei worked together seamlessly. A clay pot simmered with pork rib and lotus root soup, a few goji berries floating in the rising steam; spicy duck necks sizzled on the hot plate, the aroma of chili making mouths water; freshly fried chicken legs were golden and crispy, crackling with every bite.
"Braised pork, pork rib and lotus root soup, spicy duck neck..." Su Yingxue placed the last dish, spicy crab, on the table. Turning her head, she saw Ye Feifei secretly putting three pieces of duck neck into her bowl and chewing them vigorously with her cheeks puffed out.
The dinner table gradually became lively. Meng Cong, holding his chopsticks, exclaimed, "Why is the boss eating so much today?" Before he could finish speaking, Meng Hui tapped him on the head: "Shut up!"
Liao Ming's stern face finally broke into a smile, and he picked up the conversation: "How can we not enjoy Xiao Su's cooking?"
Master Wei took a swig of baijiu, his tongue slurring, "I knew it! I could tell Xiao Su was someone special the moment he arrived! That fried chicken..." He smacked his lips, "...ten times better than my wife's!"
"You said last time that she couldn't cook well!" Meng Cong glared defiantly, only to be tapped by Meng Hui again.
Chen Ru raised her glass, the liquor shimmering in the air: "I'd like to toast the boss! Our shop made a profit this month!"
She looked around and said, "Thanks to the boss for giving everyone red envelopes!" Everyone responded, and even Su Yingxue, who usually doesn't drink, took a sip of beer.
Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing everyone's faces and making their smiles appear especially warm. Su Yingxue gazed at the osmanthus tree outside the window; petals were quietly falling, like a golden rain.
The next morning, the entire street was still shrouded in a thin mist. Su Yingxue dragged her suitcase past the entrance of "Golden Brilliance KTV," the signboard gleaming in the morning light. The once mottled walls were now painted an antique beige, and the green plants at the entrance were lush and verdant, with several succulents peeking out from the flower stands, so cute that one couldn't resist poking them.
She stood by the roadside, watching the busy figures inside the gate—remembering how Chen Ru was tiptoeing to adjust the promotional posters, Master Wei was checking the kitchen equipment, and Meng Cong was chatting and laughing with Meng Hui at the front desk.
The wheels of her suitcase rolled over a fallen osmanthus petal, making a soft sound. Su Yingxue took a deep breath, the fragrance of osmanthus mingling with the sweetness of last night's mooncakes filling her nostrils. She didn't turn around, but simply waved towards the door, as if she could see through that transparent barrier and into the surprised yet warm smiles of everyone inside.
"See you next time," she whispered, dragging her suitcase toward the station. The morning breeze lifted the hem of her clothes, carrying the gentleness of autumn, and a new story awaited around the next corner.
Golden Brilliance KTV
Hou Defa stomped his feet in anger, slamming his cane heavily on the ground, making the tiles vibrate. "I told you to take the plane! You insisted the high-speed rail was safer, and now look what's happened! Little Su is gone!" He glared at his grandson, his mustache bristling with rage. "That girl's Tujia-style savory pancakes were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, every bite was bursting with flavor! And those steamed buns, the filling was so generous you could squeeze oil out of them! And the Fuding meat soup was so delicious it would make your eyebrows fall off!"
Shen Yu sighed and tugged at Hou Defa's sleeve: "Grandpa, don't rush, sit down first." She turned to look at Zhu Xiaoxiao and suddenly froze—Zhu Xiaoxiao was staring at Ye Feifei with a complicated expression.
Shen Yu narrowed her eyes, sneering inwardly: So Ye Feifei had been hiding Su Yingxue for so long!
Ye Feifei clutched the mooncake box left by Su Yingxue, her fingertips gently tracing the lid. Her voice was muffled: "I shouldn't have agreed to her request... She said she wanted to go out and see the world, and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to keep her..." She lowered her head, her eyes reddening again. "The day the mooncakes were gone, I regretted it..."
Shen Yu hugged her tenderly, saying, "Feifei, don't be sad."
Hou Defa snorted and turned to leave, but Ye Feifei grabbed him, saying, "Grandpa Hou! Don't go!" She quickly instructed Chef Wei, "Uncle Wei, please use Sister Su's secret seasoning to make another meal! Spicy crab, fried chicken, spicy duck neck... and the dessert recipe she left behind!"
Master Wei nodded, put on his apron, and went into the kitchen.
Soon, the table was filled with the aroma of food. The spicy crab was still sizzling in its red oil, the fried chicken was so crispy you could hear it crackling, and the spicy duck neck was so tempting you could almost swallow. The dessert left by Su Yingxue—osmanthus-flavored sweet rice balls—was sweet but not cloying, with a refreshing osmanthus fragrance.
Hou Defa took a bite, his eyes lighting up, then he frowned: "This girl's cooking is absolutely superb! But it's just..." He clicked his tongue, "...it feels like something's missing."
Shen Yu asked, "What's missing?"
Hou Defa shook his head: "It tastes like Xiao Su's."
Everyone fell silent.
Ye Feifei said in a low voice, "She said she wanted to see the vibrant life of other places."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com