Chapter 136 The flavors of life, so rich and enduring…
Pang Ru still had work to do and couldn't hug Song Yu for too long, but she was a little reluctant to leave, and touched his head again and again.
Fu Fu was overjoyed and excitedly asked him, "Song Yu, I'm your best friend, right? Everyone else doesn't have a gift, but I do!"
Even children love this feeling of having something that no one else has.
Song Yu nodded: "Yes."
Actually, other good friends also received gifts, but Song Yu felt it wasn't appropriate to say that at this time.
You can have many good friends, and Fufu is one of them.
Fu Fu was even happier this time. She put the red ceramic doll aside and shoveled rice into her mouth, saying, "I'm so happy!"
Lin Jingyuan felt that as an adult, he should at least not show his joy like a primary school student, but he couldn't help but feel happy.
"Thank you for the gift, Xiao Yu."
Song Yu probably only gave him a gift meant for an adult...
But Lin Jingyuan was too embarrassed to ask as directly as Fufu.
Song Yu said, "You're welcome, I'm glad Uncle Lin likes it."
Lin Jingyuan: "I really like it, I read it as soon as I get home."
Song Yu nodded in a pretentious manner, mimicking the teacher's tone: "Reading is good, reading is very good, everyone should read more books."
Fu Fu immediately replied, "I'll watch it when I get home."
Song Yu nodded: "You're a good kid."
Fu Fu: "Hehe."
Although it feels a little strange to be praised like this by someone your own age, who doesn't like to be complimented?
Lin Jingyuan finally shut up; he didn't want Song Yu to praise him as a good adult.
After dinner, Lin Jingyuan took the bookmark to Song Xinran. He needed to suppress his emotions in front of children, but not in front of adults: "This is a bookmark that Xiao Yu gave me. I like it very much."
Song Xinran looked at him with amusement: "Are you showing off?"
Lin Jingyuan: "No, I'm just so happy. It's the first time I've ever received a gift from a child."
Song Xinran: "Then be happy while you can. This bookmark cost Song Yu twenty yuan, all of which was his own saved pocket money."
Looking at it this way, the gift seemed even more precious. Lin Jingyuan couldn't help but smile, looking at the bookmark over and over again several times before finally putting it back in the box and asking her, "Was Beijing fun?"
Song Xinran said, "It was fun, but also tiring."
Lin Jingyuan nodded in agreement: "Indeed, although the attractions are classic, they are too far apart, and the area inside the attractions is very large, so it is easy to get tired walking around."
Song Xinran finally found someone to confide in, saying that she almost couldn't get out of bed this morning, her legs felt like they were filled with lead.
Lin Jingyuan said, "This should be due to overwork leading to depletion of qi and blood, and blockage of meridians."
Upon hearing his use of technical jargon, Song Xinran couldn't help but ask, "Have you studied traditional Chinese medicine?"
Lin Jingyuan said, "I had read a few books on the subject before because I was interested."
Song Xinran felt that he was truly knowledgeable in all aspects and could be described as erudite.
Lin Jingyuan also gave her some treatment methods, and finally said, "Actually, you can massage her to unblock her meridians."
Song Xinran: "...Hmm?"
Lin Jingyuan: "I know a massage parlor with pretty good techniques. My mom used to get massages there and had great results. It's just that the masseuses are a bit rough. I can recommend it to you if you need it."
Song Xinran: "...No need."
She had suffered from massage in her past life when she was just learning to cook. Her hands were so sore that she couldn't lift them, so her parents found her a massage therapist. As a result, Song Xinran cried out in pain on the spot.
In contrast, Song Xinran decided to wait for her muscles to recover gradually, believing that a step-by-step approach would be better for her health.
Lin Jingyuan said, "In that case, it seems I can't invite you and Xiao Yu to go mushroom picking in the mountains for the next few days."
Song Xinran: ?
She immediately perked up: "Do we have wild mushrooms around here?"
Lin Jingyuan nodded: "It's in Yang'an Lake. My friend has a shop there. There are many in the mountains there. I used to go there every year."
Song Xinran said energetically, "Now is the season when there are many wild mushrooms, so we can go if the weather is nice these days."
She loved this kind of activity the most. In her past life, she would steal time from her busy schedule to go. She would also ask locals to take her up the mountain and help her identify the mushrooms. In the end, she would take them home and either boil or stir-fry them to eat. They were so delicious.
Moreover, Song Yu really enjoys these kinds of activities, like picking wild vegetables and strawberries, and he always has so much fun that he forgets about going home.
Lin Jingyuan said, "We haven't set a time yet, but we'll talk about it when you're feeling better."
Song Xinran said that such muscle soreness is a minor problem, and she felt better the next day after a massage, as she is very experienced.
Needless to say, she suffered a lot during the massage that day. Also, because Song Yu was outside, she had to endure the pain because she had to maintain a strong image as a mother in front of her child.
However, Song Yu felt sorry for her. After listening to the masseur's advice, she applied a hot towel to her calves when they got home and looked up at her with concern, asking, "Does it hurt, Mommy?"
Song Xinran felt a warmth in her heart and touched his little face: "It doesn't hurt at all."
However, the massage had a noticeable effect. Song Xinran felt much better the next day, and was basically fine by the third day. She called Lin Jingyuan to ask when she could go mushroom picking.
Lin Jingyuan's voice held a smile: "Anytime."
Song Xinran: "Then Monday or Tuesday, shall we?"
Monday is Songji's official closing day, so taking an extra day off on Tuesday is nothing.
Lin Jingyuan naturally agreed.
Song Yu was overjoyed when she learned they were going to pick mushrooms, and kept humming the song "The Little Girl Picking Mushrooms," clearly showing how much she liked it.
The employees of Songji were thunderstruck when they found out.
"Manager, we only had one day off last week, are we going to have another one next week? Isn't that a bit too arbitrary?"
"Manager, we don't need a break, I can get back to work!"
After a moment's thought, Song Xinran said, "In that case, we can put on the sign that the manager has gone to buy fresh wild mushrooms in order to provide a better dining experience for our customers."
Shen Hui hesitated: "Manager, what if other customers come and want some wild mushrooms?"
Song Xinran said, "Then give it to him."
Seeing Shen Hui's hesitant expression, she suddenly realized: "I really went to buy wild mushrooms, not to go out for fun."
Song Xinran felt a little guilty when she said this, but she wouldn't let anyone see it: "Wild mushrooms are only available during this season of the year. Fresh wild mushrooms are fragrant, crisp, and tender. Songji should let more customers taste this delicacy."
Upon hearing this, everyone believed it, because in their minds Song Xinran was indeed a meticulous, serious, and capable person.
Moreover, Song Xinran has never taken a break from her business without a reason since Song Ji opened. Last week, she took Song Yu on a trip.
Shen Hui felt a little guilty, realizing that she had really overthought things.
He Zhi said, "Manager, are you sure you can go to buy wild mushrooms by yourself? I'll go with you; I can do some heavy lifting."
Everyone wanted to help, but Song Xinran said, "No need, I can go by myself. The buyer was introduced to me by Lin Jingyuan, and he will come with me."
Upon hearing this, Shen Hui's eyes lit up, and she quickly stopped her colleague who still wanted to contribute, saying, "Since General Manager Lin and the store manager are going together, we can rest assured."
Song Xinran smiled slightly at her.
Before next week's bookings begin, Shen Hui will receive a call to reserve Tuesday for other times.
Shen Hui received her approving smile and felt a surge of excitement welling up inside her, a feeling even happier than when she was in love.
*
Monday and Tuesday were both sunny days. It rained on Saturday, and wild mushrooms sprouted up after the rain, making it easier to pick them.
Yang'an Lake is located at the border of two provinces. It takes three hours to drive there from Yongyan. After getting into the car, Song Yu became excited, holding a small shovel in his hand, which was used for picking mushrooms.
After a three-hour drive, we finally arrived at Yang'an Lake. Song Yu was the first to run off the bus, but was immediately stopped by someone:
"Kid! Ah, you're Song's kid!" The young man's voice was full of surprise.
Song Yu turned his head and saw a stranger. He felt a little timid, leaned back slightly, thought for a couple of seconds, and then politely said, "Hello, Uncle."
"You're from Song's family, right? What brings you here? Where's your mother?"
Song Xinran got out of the car and was immediately greeted with even more enthusiasm: "Manager Song, oh my god, it really is you! I never expected to see you here, what a pleasant surprise!"
Turning to Lin Jingyuan, he said, "Why didn't you tell me that Manager Song was coming? I could have made some preparations!"
Then, turning to his friend next to him, he said, "This is the manager and head chef of Song's Restaurant that I mentioned to you. Her dishes are absolutely delicious..."
Finally, he solemnly said to Song Xinran, "Manager Song, I really like Songji. I am a loyal fan of Songji."
Song Xinran was still a little confused. There was no need for Lin Jingyuan to introduce them. She gave a professional smile and said, "Thank you."
Lin Jingyuan couldn't take it anymore and shoved Zhong Wei away, asking, "Why are you here?"
"Of course I came too, otherwise I wouldn't have known you brought Manager Song along. When did you two become so close? You've been secretly eating Manager Song's food behind my back. Don't forget who took you to Song's in the first place." Zhong Wei turned to Song Xinran and complained, "Manager Song, when I first introduced Song's to Jingyuan, he didn't think much of it..."
Lin Jingyuan's forehead veins throbbed slightly; he really wanted to shut Zhong Wei up.
Fortunately, the local business owner who invited them was also a friend of the two. He quickly grabbed Zhong Wei, preventing him from saying anything more, and even as he pulled him away, he didn't forget to express his welcome to Song Xinran.
Lin Jingyuan said, "Let's rest for a while, then we'll go up the mountain."
Upon hearing about going up the mountain, Song Yu became excited and gripped his little shovel tightly: "Okay!"
My friend runs a guesthouse in Yang'an Lake. Song Xinran is very familiar with this industry; it's the future of folk customs. However, this person doesn't seem to lack money. The guesthouse is just for show; the main thing is for him to rest here.
After a short rest at the shop, Zhong Wei returned before heading up the mountain. He was much more serious afterward and started praising Lin Jingyuan to Song Xinran, saying that he was upright and responsible, and most importantly, he had never been in a relationship...
Song Xinran looked bewildered.
Lin Jingyuan couldn't take it anymore: "Let's go up the mountain."
He left Zhong Wei far behind. He knew the place well. During the ascent, Song Xinran learned that he came several times a year and had signed cooperation agreements with some local wild mushroom sellers.
Song Xinran caught the key information and asked, "Are there any other wild mushroom sellers? I'd also like to buy some to take back to Song Ji as a seasonal dish."
Lin Jingyuan laughed and said, "Manager Song is truly dedicated; he doesn't forget his work even when he's out having fun."
Song Xinran said, "You're no different."
Lin Jingyuan said, "I'll take you to the market tomorrow morning; it's full of fresh wild mushrooms."
Song Xinran responded with a "yes".
Hearing this conversation from behind, Zhong Wei smiled kindly and couldn't help but say to his friend, "You have no idea how good Song's business is, how delicious the food is. Ordinary people have to queue up to eat there. Jingyuan got in through the back door, that kid is really lucky."
"I'll pick some extra mushrooms to take back to Manager Song; I'd also like to pull some strings and get a meal out of the way..."
My friend rolled his eyes. This guy's life is ruined by his mouth; he's hopeless.
Lin Jingyuan comes every year and has a good memory. Some mushrooms, such as termite mushrooms, can easily continue to grow in places where they have grown in previous years. Sure enough, he found termite mushrooms in this mushroom nest.
Clusters of umbrella-shaped mushrooms stood among the leaves, the larger ones with smooth, outstretched caps, and the smaller ones resembling tiny conical hats, numbering about a dozen or so.
Song Yu, with her sharp eyes, spotted it immediately and ran over quickly. She squatted down, hesitant to touch it, and looked up at Lin Jingyuan, asking, "Uncle Lin, is this edible?"
"Of course, these are the most delicious mushrooms."
Upon hearing Lin Jingyuan's words, Song Yu became excited. He touched the mushroom; the stem was slightly cool, the flesh was thick, and it felt smooth. He gently plucked it and put it in his small basket.
Picking mushrooms is so easy! I didn't even need his little shovel.
Song Yu still felt a little regretful.
"Xiao Yu, can I borrow your shovel?" Lin Jingyuan asked.
Song Yu immediately handed it over, and Lin Jingyuan took a shovel and stuck it into the soil next to a matsutake mushroom, digging into the soft soil.
Song Yu then discovered that the mushroom stem was still a long section underground. Lin Jingyuan easily dug it out and, under Song Yu's bright eyes, handed the small shovel back to him: "Little Yu, give it a try."
Song Yu nodded sharply: "Yes!"
He imitated Lin Jingyuan's actions and carefully dug out a long section of termite mushroom, even removing the stem perfectly.
"Xiao Yu is really amazing."
Song Yu laughed, his teeth showing but his eyes not, and put the mushrooms in the basket.
After finishing digging up this nest, Song Yu moved on to a new place. After his first harvest, Song Yu was completely excited. He counted the mushrooms in his basket, held a wooden stick in his hand, and tapped and banged around with a very serious expression.
There was no set route for mushroom picking. The group of us chatted and laughed. The sun wasn't too strong today, and the trees provided ample shade. The birdsong was melodious, and a gentle breeze blew by, giving us a feeling of going on outings during our school days.
Song Yu didn't hear what the adults were saying; his mind was completely focused on the mushroom. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. He used a stick to push aside the fallen leaves, squatted down, pointed at the small mushroom that was the same color as the leaves, and asked, "Uncle Lin, what is this?"
Lin Jingyuan took a look and said, "The grayish-brown boletus is edible."
Song Yu immediately picked it happily and put it in his basket.
The group continued walking, and Song Yu spotted another red mushroom. He hesitated, remembering that his mother had explained to him on the way that most brightly colored mushrooms are poisonous and should not be picked casually.
He chose to ask, "Uncle Lin, is this mushroom poisonous?"
Lin Jingyuan bent down to take a look and laughed, "This is called a red mushroom. It's not poisonous and you can eat it."
Song Yu then picked the few mushrooms with pink stems and red caps from the vicinity and put them into his small basket.
After walking for a short while, Song Yu's small basket was already half full of mushrooms. Song Xinran looked at her own basket with satisfaction. Apart from the cluster of termite mushrooms she had picked at the beginning, the few scattered ones that followed were all found by Song Yu, who had given her a few.
Lin Jingyuan said to her, "There are also a lot of termite mushrooms in the cornfields of my hometown. It's perfect to pick them and cook them into noodles."
Song Xinran waved her hand: "I'm not going to say anything more, I'm going to look for mushrooms too."
You can talk anywhere, but you can only pick mushrooms here.
Lin Jingyuan: "...Okay."
Perhaps adults' eyesight is not as good as children's, or perhaps finding mushrooms requires a bit of luck. Therefore, even after Song Xinran diligently picked mushrooms, Song Yu still found most of them.
However, Song Yu is a very generous child. After discovering the mushroom nest, he asked everyone to pick them together, and everyone had a few in their baskets.
Zhong Wei sighed, "What an adorable child. I wish my future children would be this cute."
Lin Jingyuan glanced at him: "I prefer you to have your own child."
Zhong Wei: ?
He was just expressing his feelings, not trying to steal anything, but what a terrifying man.
After walking in the mountains for two or three hours, everyone's baskets were full. Fortunately, they had brought baskets on their backs, so they put the contents of their baskets into their baskets and continued searching.
Lin Jingyuan, considering that Song Xinran was sore all over after returning from her trip, asked her in a low voice, "Do you want to rest for a while?"
Song Xinran was having a great time and didn't feel tired at all. She kept shaking her head, but suddenly her eyes lit up and she pointed to a spot not far away with her wooden stick: "There are mushrooms over there!"
She strode forward and brushed the leaves aside with her hands.
Lin Jingyuan took one look and exclaimed, "This is poisonous!"
Song Xinran: "...Okay."
Lin Jingyuan casually smashed the poisonous mushrooms to prevent the people coming up the mountain later from picking them.
They brought some bread and bottled water up the mountain, ate a little something for lunch, and didn't come down the mountain until three or four in the afternoon. Everyone returned with a full load.
Song Yu's little face was flushed from running, and her hair was slightly damp, but her smile was bright: "Mom, I found so many mushrooms!"
Song Xinran: "Okay, let's stir-fry mushrooms for dinner."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Wei almost burst into tears of joy. My God, to be able to eat dishes personally prepared by Manager Song outside of Song Ji's restaurant—what incredible luck!
Lin Jingyuan said, "You've been walking for so long today, go back and get some rest. I'll cook, you can try my cooking."
Zhong Wei's excited expression froze instantly. He shouted in his heart, "No!" Although Lin Jingyuan's cooking skills were considered good among their friends, and Lin Jingyuan usually cooked the mushrooms they picked, how could he compare to Song Xinran?
That's the difference between humans and gods!
Song Xinran smiled and said, "Sure, I always hear you talk about it. I'll try it today too."
Zhong Wei's heart shattered instantly.
After getting to know everyone, Song Yu became more outgoing and asked enthusiastically, "Uncle Lin, can you cook too?"
"Yes, I know quite a few. What would you like to eat, Xiao Yu?"
"I like everything Uncle Lin makes."
Lin Jingyuan laughed heartily.
Upon arriving at the shop, washing mushrooms was a major task, so the chefs naturally took a break, and Zhong Wei and his friends became the ones doing the work.
But Song Xinran wasn't idle while cooking. It would be such a shame if she couldn't cook the mushrooms she picked herself, so the dishes that were finally served were probably half cooked by her and half cooked by Lin Jingyuan.
As soon as the dishes were served, Zhong Wei couldn't wait. The aroma alone was enough to make one feel dizzy, confused, and weak-willed.
When his friend saw it, his eyes lit up. All day, Zhong Wei had been talking about how amazing Song Xinran was, and now that he saw her, it was true.
The dishes made by the two were clearly different, with differences in color, aroma, and taste. Naturally, everyone picked up a piece of mushrooms made by Song Xinran first.
The mushrooms stir-fried with cured pork are crisp, tender, and chewy. They burst with sweet juice when you bite into them. The mushroom flesh absorbs the rich flavor of the cured pork and is coated with a little soy sauce. It is salty and fresh with a natural sweetness. After swallowing, there is still a long-lasting fragrance in your throat.
Try a little more of the red mushrooms that have been stewed with chicken. The caps have soaked up the broth and are so delicious that you don't want to let them cool down before swallowing them. You feel that once they're in your stomach, they're the safest thing to eat.
The wild mushrooms, freshly picked from the mountain, have a unique, refreshing aroma and taste completely natural, with no unpleasant smell. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed them.
Song Xinran's creations became highly sought after, while Lin Jingyuan's were initially ignored.
Zhong Wei said, "Jingyuan, this plate of mushrooms is a bit overcooked."
My friend said, "There's a lot of room for improvement."
Song Xinran frowned almost imperceptibly, picked up a slice of mushroom, put it in her mouth, and said, "It's quite delicious."
Song Xinran's idea was simple: Lin Jingyuan had worked so hard to make it, and she couldn't let the chef down.
Besides, she felt that as an ordinary person, Lin Jingyuan's cooking skills were already quite good.
Upon hearing this, Zhong Wei wanted to tell Song Xinran that she didn't need to lie through her teeth. Lin Jingyuan didn't need anyone to comfort him. In the past, when they were cooking, Lin Jingyuan had never hesitated to criticize them.
However, his friend, who had just been on his side, immediately switched sides: "Manager Song is right, Jingyuan did a really good job."
Clearly, his friend was completely won over by Song Xinran's cooking. Even if Song Xinran said that raw mushrooms taste good, he would agree.
Seeing this, Lin Jingyuan couldn't help but smile: "There are still many shortcomings. I will have to learn more from Chef Song in the future."
Song Xinran: "Sure, as long as you have time."
Lin Jingyuan laughed and said, "Then I'll have to come to Song Ji more often in the future."
However, he had visited Song's restaurant quite a few times before.
Zhong Wei nudged Lin Jingyuan with his elbow and gave him a wink, signaling to his friend to bring him along when they went to Song Ji's in the future, as he also wanted to use connections.
Lin Jingyuan turned his face away, pretending not to have seen Zhong Wei's obvious hint.
Song Xinran's stir-fried mushrooms were limited, and since everyone was still hungry, they reluctantly ate the ones made by Lin Jingyuan, ultimately putting the "Clean Plate Campaign" into practice.
For two consecutive days, everyone ate mushrooms and still wanted more. When Song Xinran left in the afternoon, her friend was reluctant to part with her: "There have been mushrooms on the mountain for the past few months. Manager Song, just give me a call whenever you want to come over."
Song Xinran smiled and said, "Okay."
Song Yu stood to the side, still reminiscing about the past two days' journey; picking mushrooms was really fun.
On Tuesday evening, Song Xinran returned home with a large bag of wild mushrooms. As she got out of the car, Song Yu waved to Lin Jingyuan and said, "See you tomorrow, Uncle Lin."
Song Xinran patted his head, saying that Uncle Lin might not come to Song's Restaurant tomorrow.
Lin Jingyuan smiled and replied, "Okay, see you tomorrow."
As soon as they got home, Song Yu started rummaging through the bag of mushrooms, holding one in each hand, and asked her, "Mom, are we going to eat mushrooms again tomorrow?"
Song Xinran thought he was getting tired of the food after eating it for two days in a row, so she said, "If Xiao Yu doesn't want to eat, then we won't eat."
Song Yu shook her head frantically: "Yes, Mom wants it. I want to eat it again tomorrow."
Seeing his anxious look, Song Xinran smiled and said, "Okay, let's make mushroom hot pot tomorrow."
Song Yu likes hot pot and mushrooms, and the combination of the two must be delicious. The day is not over yet, but he is already looking forward to tomorrow.
The next day, when Song Xinran went to the store, the staff surrounded her, saying that she had worked hard on her business trip and that they were very concerned about the progress of purchasing wild mushrooms.
Song Xinran felt a slight pang of guilt. In fact, she had spent most of the past two days having fun. Purchasing was a very simple task, especially with Lin Jingyuan, an industry insider, and his friend, a local, by her side.
She cleared her throat and said, "The procurement went smoothly. Several boxes will be delivered this afternoon, and they will be delivered regularly in the future. However, the varieties delivered each time will vary, since picking wild mushrooms depends on luck."
"Can we put stir-fried mushrooms on the menu tonight?" Shen Hui asked.
Song Xinran thought for a moment: "We don't need to change the menu. We can just add some items to the signboard at the entrance. We can introduce them if customers ask."
Pang Ru said, "I'm sure a lot of people will be interested!"
Sure enough, when the diners who came for dinner saw the new dish on the signboard, which was a seasonal wild mushroom, they were all interested. After Pang Ru introduced it to them, they ordered the stir-fried mushrooms with great anticipation.
The taste was even more amazing after it was served. I couldn't help but admire Manager Song, who is a restaurateur who never forgets his original intention and keeps making progress. On the basis of Songji's already excellent business, he continues to launch new products. What they said on TV is really true!
He Zhi stole a moment from his busy schedule and glanced out from the kitchen. Seeing the guests at each table eating with beaming smiles, he felt incredibly gratified and happy. What could be more satisfying for a chef than this moment?
He said to Song Xinran, "Manager, the newly launched wild mushrooms are very popular with customers, that's great."
There were so many people ordering mushrooms today that Song Xinran was very busy. Without even turning her head, she said, "You learn how to make it. I'll teach you this dish from now on."
He Zhi's eyes widened: "Give it to me?"
So, should we entrust him with the newly launched dishes that are so popular?
What merit or ability does he possess!
Having once been neglected, He Zhi was filled with immense emotion and passion. He said solemnly, "I will definitely study hard and strive to live up to the store manager's expectations!"
Song Xinran smiled and said, "Okay."
She likes employees who are ambitious like that.
Tonight is another staff dinner, and Song Xinran plans to cook all the mushrooms she brought back into a mushroom hot pot.
The employees were overjoyed when they first heard the news. Songji not only offered excellent benefits on the surface, but also had outstanding hidden perks.
Song Xinran also told them that Lin Jingyuan would be coming.
Everyone understood, since these mushrooms were collected by Lin Jingyuan.
At 8 p.m., Song Ji closes for the day. The staff set up small stoves on the tables and served a pot of piping hot mushroom hot pot. Just smelling it made you imagine how delicious it must be.
With a soft creak, the shop door opened, and two young men walked in.
Shen Hui turned around and said, "President Lin is here. We are so grateful to you for making this mushroom hot pot today."
Looking to the side, I saw that Lin Jingyuan had brought someone else with him.
Zhong Wei smiled broadly: "I'm just here to freeload a meal."
However, there are rules for freeloading meals: you must bring a gift. Zhong Wei brought three bottles of drinks with English labels on them.
Lin Jingyuan gave a brief introduction: "My friend Zhong Wei, we all went mushroom picking together this time."
He didn't want to talk to Zhong Wei at all. He hadn't planned to bring him today, but Zhong Wei had shamelessly followed along.
But once inside the store, all the proper etiquette was observed.
Song Yu called out in a clear voice, "Uncle Lin, Uncle Zhong."
Lin Jingyuan also brought a gift: a pot of jasmine flowers, with pure white blossoms and a delicate, captivating fragrance.
Looking at this pot of flowers, Pang Ru was reminded of the ranunculus that Su Hang had given her last time. The flowers looked beautiful and added some vitality to the shop.
Lin Jingyuan handed the flower to Song Yu: "Xiao Yu used to grow Ophiopogon japonicus, so I'll give you this pot of flowers to grow as well."
Song Yu has many hobbies, including growing flowers. The liriope that he grew when he was in kindergarten followed them from the town to the city and is still growing well at home.
Song Yu accepted it with both hands, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "Thank you, Uncle Lin."
Song Xinran smiled helplessly, "You bring him things every time you come, it's such a hassle."
Lin Jingyuan said, "It's no trouble at all. I just happened to see it and thought Xiao Yu would like it."
He paused for a moment, then said, "There's some for you too."
Song Xinran was slightly taken aback.
Lin Jingyuan pondered for two seconds, then left the store and went back to his car, seemingly to get something.
When she returned, she was carrying a bouquet of flowers. The bouquet wasn't large, but it was arranged very harmoniously. The combination of jasmine and white roses was elegant. When Lin Jingyuan handed it to her, he looked slightly embarrassed: "I bought it because it looked nice when I was buying potted plants."
Zhong Wei rolled his eyes. He clearly only bought the jasmine potted plant when he saw it while buying the bouquet.
Song Yu glanced at it curiously and exclaimed with delight, "Mom, yours has jasmine too!"
Song Xinran paused for a second, then took it: "Thank you."
Pang Ru thought the shop manager would leave the flowers in the shop for her to look after, just like last time. She really enjoyed taking care of flowers and thought Lin Jingyuan's bouquet looked very relaxed.
But Pang Ru never heard those words again.
*
The chicken and mushroom soup hot pot was boiled and cooked in a large pot in the kitchen, and finally poured into a small pot and placed on a round table. The soup was bubbling and boiling, emitting the unique aroma of mushrooms, which easily evoked images of mountains and the land.
Each person has a plate of special dipping sauce in front of them. This sauce is for dipping the chicken, while the mushrooms are already extremely delicious without any seasoning.
Zhong Wei took a sip of the soup and immediately stood up excitedly: "As expected, it really has to be Manager Song who makes it! These mushrooms deserve to die!"
Song Xinran chuckled: "Keep it low-key, keep it low-key."
He Zhi: "The store manager doesn't need to be low-key at all; the store manager deserves to be high-profile!"
"These mushrooms were picked by the shop manager himself, and he even cooked them for us. The shop manager is so kind." Pang Ru was so moved that she almost cried.
Shen Hui: "A casual wave of the hand produces an exquisite delicacy."
Being praised with extremely exaggerated words by everyone made Song Xinran blush a little, and she almost suspected that they had been drinking tonight.
But everyone only drank the mushroom soup.
This mushroom isn't poisonous; she didn't have any strange reaction when she ate it right after picking it.
Song Xinran felt slightly embarrassed and didn't want to talk, so she buried her head in her soup.
Lin Jingyuan suddenly laughed, and the laughter was quite obvious.
Song Xinran looked up and gave him a slight glare.
Lin Jingyuan laughed and said, "What everyone says is delicious is truly delicious, without the slightest exaggeration."
Zhong Wei nodded, expressing his complete agreement.
As she ate, a flood of emotions welled up inside her. Looking at Lin Jingyuan, she thought, "You're really lucky, kid... Manager Song..."
He spoke softly, his words coming out in broken sentences, and probably only he himself knew what he meant.
Lin Jingyuan heard it clearly, and because he had something on his mind, he was also terrified. For the umpteenth time, he thought that he would never bring Zhong Wei to Song Ji again.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the mushroom hot pot meal. The aroma of mushrooms blended into the warm yellow lighting, making it an unforgettable experience.
After the shop was tidied up, everyone prepared to leave. Pang Ru suddenly remembered something and wanted to ask Song Xinran what to do with the flowers, but she saw that Song Xinran had already taken the flowers and was about to go home.
In that instant, Pang Ru suddenly understood everything. Her gaze swept back and forth between Song Xinran and Lin Jingyuan, and finally she chuckled twice. She felt that she had discovered something extraordinary. However, Shen Hui stood aside, smiling but saying nothing, everything was understood without words.
"It's late, let me take you home," Lin Jingyuan offered after they left the store.
Zhong Wei really wanted to ask, "What about me?"
He came in Lin Jingyuan's car today, but it's clear that he'll have to take a taxi back by himself.
He answered the phone in a mock manner: "Okay, I'll be right there."
He put down his phone and said to Song Xinran, "Manager Song, I have to go now. Jingyuan, you must take Manager Song and Xiaoyu home!"
She bent down slightly and smiled at Song Yu, saying, "Goodbye, Xiao Yu."
Song Yu was looking at her jasmine bonsai when she looked up and politely waved to him, "Goodbye, Uncle Zhong."
As Zhong Wei was leaving, he winked at Lin Jingyuan: Good luck, don't back down!
Lin Jingyuan turned his head away, unable to bear looking at him.
Seeing Zhong Wei's bewildered expression, Song Xinran had a fleeting thought, but she quickly dismissed it.
This wasn't the first time Song Xinran and Song Yu had ridden in Lin Jingyuan's car. Song Yu said first, "Thank you, Uncle Lin."
After getting off the bus, he said, "Thank you, Uncle Lin. Goodbye, Uncle Lin."
Lin Jingyuan didn't leave immediately, but stood there hesitantly. Song Xinran, holding Song Yu's hand, stopped and asked him, "Is there anything else?"
Lin Jingyuan finally spoke, but his words were unusually hesitant: "I passed by a flower shop today and saw that the flowers were blooming beautifully, so I bought a bunch, hoping..."
He paused slightly, then said, "I hope you won't hate it."
Song Xinran paused for a second, then smiled slightly: "Thank you, I don't dislike it."
She lowered her head, gently stroked the delicate petals, looked at Lin Jingyuan, and said in a gentle voice, "Very beautiful flowers."
In that instant, Lin Jingyuan couldn't hide the joy on his face. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, his words were incoherent: "Thank you, I'm glad you like it. I'll give you one again next time..."
Perhaps realizing he had misspoken, he said with a slight embarrassment, "See you tomorrow then."
He turned and left in a hurry, with a hint of panic in his expression.
Looking at his retreating figure, Song Yu said strangely, "Mom, Uncle Lin is so strange."
Song Xinran smiled slightly and patted his head: "Does Xiao Yu like jasmine?"
Song Yu nodded, picked up the potted plant, ran to the door, took out the key, and struggled to open the door. He couldn't hide his joy: "Mom, I think I've grown taller!"
When he first moved here, he had to stretch his arms to open the door, but now he can open it with just a raise of his hand, which is much easier. Song Yu thinks it must be because he has grown taller.
Song Xinran measured his height; it was 1.25 meters.
Song Xinran said in an exaggerated tone, "Xiao Yu has really grown taller, she's 1.25 meters tall now!"
Song Yu jumped up with joy, clenched her little fist, and said with great ambition, "I want to keep growing taller!"
Song Xinran nodded: "That's for sure."
Song Yu was really happy, humming an off-key song as he placed the jasmine next to the ophiopogon japonicus.
He stroked the wider leaves of the liriope with his little hand, and said joyfully, "You've grown up, and I've grown taller too."
Then he said to Jasmine, "You must grow up healthy too."
Ophiopogon japonicus represents his past life, while jasmine represents his present; both are witnesses to his gradual growth.
Seeing his happy expression, Song Xinran's heart melted; children's happiness is always so simple.
She found an unused vase, carefully inserted the bouquet, and the jasmine and white roses were elegantly paired, making it very pleasing to the eye.
Her hand brushed against the petals, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
Song Yu has finished her homework and taken a break from reading. She has decided to watch cartoons tonight.
Song Xinran sat on the sofa and watched with him; these days, cartoons are suitable for all ages.
During a commercial break, Song Yu looked up and asked her mother the question she always asked: "Mom, what are we eating tomorrow?"
Looking into his bright eyes, Song Xinran pondered for a moment and asked, "Is mushroom fried rice okay?"
She thought Song Yu really liked mushrooms, and that he had eaten more mushrooms than chicken tonight.
Song Yu: "Yay! I love mushroom fried rice!"
Song Xinran chuckled softly, her fingers brushing against his soft bangs. He was an easy child to feed, loving to eat anything, or perhaps it was because of his complete trust and love for her that he would like anything she made.
The cartoon continued playing, and the light and shadow from the TV screen quietly shifted on the wall, reflecting the figures of a large and a small child nestled together.
A simple meal is ordinary, but the flavors of everyday life are enduring.
Author's Note: It's finished! Thank you to all the little angels who read this far! [Sprinkling flowers]
I've actually thought about writing a couple of side stories, but I don't know what to write about because everything feels so complete.
Finally, I sincerely thank everyone for your continued support! [heart emojis] Wishing you all happiness every day and lots of delicious food!
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