Chapter 28 I've Got Your Sauce Pancakes!
Wang Ailan smiled shyly, reached out and handed the last intact savory pancake to her son, lowering her voice as she said, "Son, this is from the new savory pancake stall in the cafeteria downstairs. Mom noticed you hadn't had much bone broth today, so I thought I'd buy some to whet your appetite. Just now in the ward, Xiao Sun and I both tried some, and the taste..."
Before she could finish speaking, she couldn't help but swallow hard.
Li Xiaofeng took the pancake, and the moment his fingertips touched the paper bag, he could feel the warmth of the crust. Through the translucent wrapping paper, the golden, crispy crust gleamed like honey under the hospital room light, with scallions and sesame seeds scattered on the surface, like tiny, glowing suns.
He took a careful bite, and the moment his teeth touched the crust, there was a crisp "crack" sound, like biting through a thin shell made of sunlight. The crisp texture exploded between his teeth.
Then, the rich sauce flavor washes over your tongue like a tide—salty and savory with a hint of sweetness, like the first taste of honey melting in spring, while the inside is as soft as a cotton quilt that has just been sun-dried, layer upon layer, and you can feel the gluten gently bouncing between your teeth with every bite.
"Wow! This is so delicious!" Li Xiaofeng's eyes widened instantly, and his mouth involuntarily formed an "O" shape. The surprise and satisfaction on his face were practically overflowing from his eyes. He didn't bother to say anything, taking big bites of the pancake, his cheeks puffed out like a greedy little hamster. In no time, the pancake was gone.
He licked his lips, still savoring the taste, and mumbled indistinctly, "Mom, this is so delicious! It's the best pancake I've ever eaten! A hundred times better than the ones sold near the school gate!"
Sun Zhaozhao listened intently, her eyes wide, a gurgling sound coming from her throat. She couldn't help but tug at Wang Ailan's sleeve: "Xiaofeng, is it really that delicious? Can I have another bite...?"
As she spoke, she generously picked up another bag of wafer biscuits from the small table beside her bed, "I'll trade you my biscuits!" But as soon as the words left her mouth, she took a deep breath of the lingering aroma of the biscuits and immediately changed her mind, "Oh no, no, I still want to eat the biscuits!"
Li Xiaofeng looked at the empty wrapper in his hand, then at his mother, and scratched his head reluctantly: "I haven't had enough yet... But Sister Zhaozhao, if you really want some, I'll ask my mom to buy some more tomorrow, and we can eat together!" As he spoke, he secretly glanced at the small piece of biscuit left in his mother's hand and swallowed.
Seeing the two of them looking at each other expectantly, Wang Ailan's heart melted. She was about to say something.
The ward door was suddenly and gently pushed open. Nurse Li, dressed in a crisp white uniform and carrying a medical record, tiptoed in. Seeing the children huddled together, their faces beaming with contentment, she couldn't help but ask curiously, "Oh, what delicious food are you eating that makes you so happy?"
Wang Ailan quickly hid the remaining half of the pancake behind her back, and explained with a smile, "Nurse Li, this is a new savory pancake from the cafeteria downstairs. It's delicious. My son and grandson both love it." As she spoke, she secretly pointed to the little sesame seed still stuck to the corner of Li Xiaofeng's mouth.
Nurse Li leaned closer and took a sniff. The rich aroma of soy sauce immediately filled her nostrils, and she couldn't help but swallow, her eyes lighting up: "It smells so good! I'm on the night shift today, and I was starving, but this smell makes me even hungrier..."
She turned to Li Xiaofeng, smiling, and asked, "Little guy, where did you buy these pancakes? I'd like to buy some to try too."
Upon hearing this, Li Xiaofeng immediately straightened his back and patted his chest like a proud little soldier: "Nurse Li, you must go early! These pancakes are in high demand! My mom said she was the first one there and managed to buy some!"
He paused, then lowered his voice mysteriously, "And you know, it's best to go just after ten o'clock, when the pancakes are fresh out of the pan and the crispiest and most fragrant! My mom says that girl's pancake-making skills are amazing, and her sauce is specially made, better than anywhere else!"
Sun Zhaozhao, listening intently, nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes, yes, yes! I've never had such a delicious savory pancake before! The outer crust is so crispy it crumbles with every bite, while the inside is soft and fluffy. The sauce is just right—not too spicy, not too salty, and with a hint of sweetness. It's simply perfect!"
Listening to the two children's description, Nurse Li couldn't help but laugh: "Okay, okay, I'll go try it soon too. But now..." She glanced at her watch, "I have to go do my rounds now, you two rest well."
As she spoke, she turned to leave, but just as she reached the door, she couldn't help but look back. "Where's that pancake stall? Where exactly in the cafeteria is it?"
Wang Ailan quickly pulled Li Xiaofeng aside and whispered, "That empty stall at the very back of the cafeteria, the one that used to sell beef noodles, is now a savory pancake stall, and it's incredibly popular!" She paused, then seemed to remember something, "Oh, and the girl there is so nice. I bought two, and she gave me an extra small piece!"
Nurse Li smiled and nodded, then turned and left the ward. Wang Ailan looked at the half-eaten pancake in her hand, then at the expectant looks in the two people's eyes, and finally couldn't resist. She broke the pancake into three small pieces: "Here, let's each have a small piece. I'll buy the rest tomorrow."
Li Xiaofeng and Sun Zhaozhao cheered immediately, and the three of them shared a piece of the sauce, their mouths filled with its rich aroma. The warm, lingering scent of the sauce, mixed with the children's laughter, made the otherwise quiet night exceptionally cozy.
Meanwhile, Su Yingxue was extremely busy in the cafeteria. Her carefully made savory pancakes were sold out as soon as they came out of the pan. Just as she was about to knead the next batch of dough, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the cafeteria entrance, accompanied by the sound of wheelchair wheels scraping against the ground.
A burly man in black strode out. He was dressed in a suit and tie, and the faint muscle lines on his arms exuded extraordinary strength. His square face and sharp eyes made him look exactly like a professional bodyguard. He pushed a gleaming black wheelchair, in which sat an elderly man wearing a blue and white striped hospital gown.
Although the old man had a full head of white hair, he was vigorous and had an imposing presence between his brows. He leaned forward slightly, his nostrils flaring rapidly, and his cloudy but sharp eyes were fixed on the last few golden and crispy savory pancakes on Su Yingxue's workbench.
Suddenly, he took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently, and then boomed into the cafeteria in a thunderous voice: "I've got my hands on all your savory pancakes!!!"
Before the words had even finished, the entire cafeteria fell silent. The people in line stopped in unison and turned to look at the source of the sound. The bodyguard in black slightly stepped aside to make way for the elderly man in the wheelchair, while simultaneously scanning the surroundings warily, as if asserting his dominance. Several family members who had originally intended to buy pancakes exchanged bewildered glances, their hands holding money awkwardly hanging in mid-air.
Su Yingxue paused slightly with her rolling pin, then looked up and saw the old man's age-spotted hands gripping the wheelchair armrests tightly, his knuckles white from the force, and his cloudy eyes gleaming with a childlike eagerness.
"Grandpa, my pancakes..." Before Su Yingxue could finish speaking, the old man in the wheelchair suddenly raised his voice and interrupted her with great vigor, "Young lady! I'll pay double! No, five times! I'll take all of these pancakes!" As he spoke, he forcefully slapped the armrest of his wheelchair, making a "thump thump" sound, which attracted the attention of the surrounding diners.
The bodyguard in black promptly handed over a bank card, his tone firm: "We'll cover everything; if you don't have enough cash, you can pay by card." His gaze swept over the queue, carrying a subtle warning.
The atmosphere in the cafeteria suddenly became subtle. Several people who were originally at the front of the line began to whisper among themselves. Some shook their heads and sighed, preparing to leave, while others stood there unwillingly watching.
Su Yingxue frowned involuntarily as she looked at the few remaining savory pancakes on the operating table—they were specially reserved for the nurses on the night shift.
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