On a whim, Xiang Nanzhi picked up a cup of tea and stood up, saying, "Then I'll plant a few cherry trees here. Next year when the season comes, I can treat you to cherries."
Her life is so carefree; she does whatever comes to mind, and if she likes a man, she'll treat him well.
She loves the carefree life in the city, loves wearing designer clothes, driving luxury cars, eating well, and living in nice places...
Shen Shixun wanted to take her back to the grasslands all the time, but he also felt that they were from different worlds.
Tonight, we're having Saigon cuisine at the Xiang family's house.
The family had never tasted such a specialty dish before. Even Xiang Zhengyi, who had lived for so many years, had never seen Saigon cuisine before.
The bluish-green tsampa was shaped into balls, and the cook's fingerprints were still on them.
A pot of half-cooked beef, still bloody, with a knife beside it. Sheep intestines filled with blood, black and unsightly, looked like something indescribable.
A piece of uncut sheep intestine was hanging to the side.
The beef tongue was bland and tasteless, making it completely unappetizing.
Xiang Ciyuan stared in disbelief, pointing at the half-cooked beef, "This is still bleeding, are you sure it's cooked?"
"This is freshly slaughtered beef; this is how it's eaten."
"Enjoy your meal..."
The only thing worth noting was the cup of oil tea in front of each person and the plate of steamed buns with milk curds placed in the center.
Not to mention her family, Xiang Nanzhi couldn't eat any of this either. She took a sip of oil tea and lowered her head. Xiang Zhengyi also took a sip and almost vomited from the smell.
"dad……"
"Sehun, since Jiji is treating you, please eat more, this..."
He looked at the mess on the table. "Is this to your liking?"
Of course, he was in such a hurry when he went back last time that he didn't even have time to have a proper meal. He picked up a steamed bun with his chopsticks before the others started eating.
This Saigon meal was arranged by Xiang Nanzhi, so we couldn't upset her. Everyone took turns picking at their food, but no one dared to touch the plate of raw beef except for Shen Shixun.
Xiang Nanzhi watched as he used his knife to cut into the beef, a piece of beef with bone in it. The outer layer was already slightly cooked. As he cut inward, fresh blood dripped down the silvery-white knife onto the table. Without hesitation, he put it into his mouth.
Xiang Nanzhi held back from vomiting, but Xiang Zhengyi couldn't help it.
He took a bite of the bun, thinking it was an ordinary bun, but he didn't know what was inside. It tasted sour and fishy, so he immediately ran to the side and vomited.
The chef later explained that these were milk curd buns, a local specialty...
Xiang Zhengyi took another bite of the blood sausage, then put down his chopsticks.
This table of dishes represents a high level of hospitality among the Gong people. Shen Shixun ate well and even served Xiang Nanzhi a piece of beef tongue.
Xiang Nan forced herself to swallow, and he put more food on her plate.
The man simply thought it tasted good and wanted to share it with her, but Xiang Nanzhi covered her bowl, shook her head, and refused to open her mouth to eat anything.
Shen Shixun finished off the entire Saigon meal by himself, and finally, while biting into tsampa, he ate the last piece of blood sausage.
There was only a small half bowl of beef tongue and almost a whole plate of steamed buns with milk curds left on the table.
The meat on the beef bone had been mostly removed with the silver knife, leaving only scarlet flesh.
Xiang Zhengyi and his two sons had already left the table, but Xiang Nanzhi was still there with him, her chin resting on her hand. The man picked out a piece of tender meat that was still attached to the beef bone, cut it off, sliced it into a very thin piece, and handed it to her.
Xiang Nanzhi was lost in thought when he was startled by the meat in his hand.
The piece of meat was right there on the knife. Xiang Nanzhi's lips twitched. "This is..."
"Try it, it's delicious."
Xiang Nanzhi mechanically shook his head, "If you like it, eat more."
Don't give it to her! She thinks even a medium-rare steak is bloody, let alone this one that's just been briefly boiled in water. "Xiang Nanzhi, you have to believe me."
"Shen Shixun".
She quickly got up from her seat, saying, "You eat, I'm scared."
It's not that I can't eat, it's that I'm scared.
After dinner, Shen Shixun went upstairs, full and satisfied. Xiang Nanzhi sneaked downstairs and, sure enough, saw Xiang Zhengyi having a private meal with his older brothers.
They hadn't expected Saigon cuisine to be so strong-flavored; lamb intestines stuffed with lamb blood—such a bizarre dish could actually be served…
Several people felt like throwing up just looking at it. And the milk curd buns—Xiang Zhengyi would never forget the sour, stinky taste of those milk curds after taking a bite.
The chefs may have made authentic dishes, but they're not Saigon locals and can't handle those strong flavors.
The meal served on the table, which was a takeout set from the hotel, was naturally lavish.
"Cough cough..."
Xiang Nanzhi coughed lightly at the corner of the stairs, turned past the blue and white porcelain vase, and saw the three people looking up at her.
"Dad, what's wrong? Aren't you full?"
“Zhizhi…”
"Big brother, second brother, why didn't I see you eating earlier? Now you're giving me special treatment. This is so disrespectful."
Compared to Saigon cuisine, even the bizarre dishes that Xiang Nanzhi personally cooked seemed much more palatable.
Xiang Zhengyi was momentarily at a loss for words, but Xiang Ciyuan cleared his throat, handed her a plate of sweet and sour lotus root, and set the chopsticks apart, saying, "Eat quickly."
Xiang Nanzhi held his tongue, not looking at the plate of sweet and sour lotus root, and said to Ciyuan, "There's also cold jellyfish salad, lemon chicken feet, and donkey meat sandwiches."
“This is not right of you. I went to great lengths to hire a chef to help me cook Saigon dishes, and you’re having a private feast here. Why didn’t you eat earlier?”
"Zhizhi, we are, after all, people from the ancient city."
"I've seen the food from that kind of place before."
Xiang Ciyuan had gambled in the Golden Triangle before. The food there was heavy; at most, they would eat scorpions and centipedes, targeting insects. He could easily ignore that.
But Saigon cuisine is simply amazing. It's made from ordinary ingredients and looks so delicious. He just shakes his head when he thinks about it.
"Zhizhi, you should eat something too. You didn't eat much earlier."
"Brother, don't talk nonsense. I ate quite a lot just now."
Xiang Nanzhi smelled the fresh aroma of the cold jellyfish salad, and Xiang Jingyi served her a bowl of turtle soup. "Zhizhi, I've cut off all the hem of your skirt."
Xiang Nanzhi couldn't hold back any longer and casually pulled up a stool to sit down. "Second brother, braised duck leg."
"Roast goose leg, please."
Xiang Ciyuan tore off a braised duck leg for her, and Xiang Jingyi cut a roast goose leg for him. The family enjoyed the meal together happily.
Everyone started eating.
"Will Shen Shixun be unhappy if we do this?"
With his mouth full of meat, Xiang Nanzhi said, "I have to hurry up."
Upstairs, the man came out of the shower and found the bedroom empty. Xiang Nanzhi had a unique fragrance on her body; the clothes she wore, the blankets she slept in, and the whole house all smelled of her.
She took out her pajamas; the closet was open, and a hand-sewn dress stood out conspicuously among the pile of designer brands.
It's not understated luxury, but rather vibrant and full of rustic charm.
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