Roger is a veteran, and soldiers are most accustomed to obeying orders.
In his mind, Lin Chengyu was his leader, and it was enough to listen to his leader.
Even if he has doubts about other things, he won't bother with them; he'll just forget about them.
With familiar faces like Roger and Wang Shitou by his side, Song Ziqing was in an exceptionally good mood.
After returning to Hong Kong, they found they had plenty of time and could catch up with Professor Jones's class.
As soon as the bell rang, Professor Jones called out to Song Ziqing with a smile and asked, "Song, are you free at noon? Shall we go to your restaurant for lunch again? I've tried many delicious meals in other parts of Hong Kong these past two days, and they've all been great, but I still have a special fondness for your spicy dishes. They're really addictive."
Upon hearing this, Song Ziqing was also very happy.
She has loved hot pot since she was a child, but she doesn't really like sharing it with others, as she always felt it wasn't very hygienic.
For this hot pot at Xiangmanyuan, she asked the restaurant's chef to modify the way she ate the hot pot according to her own preferences.
Now, Jones, her new friend who shares the same love of food, can't wait to share her favorite dishes whenever lunch is mentioned.
"Let's call this hot pot! Each person gets their own pot, and there's a wide variety of side dishes. This is a new menu that Xiangmanyuan has launched for the upcoming winter."
When Jones saw the hot pot with two broths, he was so surprised he couldn't stop smiling: "My God, this design is amazing! One side is clear broth, and the other side is spicy broth, it's a perfect combination."
His eyes were filled with surprise and anticipation, as if he could already taste the deliciousness of the hot pot.
"For appetizers, we can eat some vegetables in clear broth, which is refreshing, while for main courses, meat dishes are more flavorful in spicy broth."
While speaking, Song Ziqing also discussed with Jones the various vegetarian dishes, meats, and seafood that the two of them wanted to eat.
When Jones saw small plates, each no bigger than the palm of his hand, filled with a few different kinds of vegetables, seafood, and meat, he found this mini hot pot to be really interesting.
"Song, this mini hot pot looks so interesting! It makes my mouth water just looking at it!"
Soon, all the ingredients were served.
"Let's cook the beef first; it needs to cook a little longer to taste good." Song Ziqing poured a plate of beef into the red broth.
“I like shrimp dumplings.” Jones then put a few shrimp dumplings into the clear soup.
While waiting for their food to cook, the two continued chatting. The conversation expanded from food to various fields such as culture and art.
"Jones, do you have any favorite Chinese artists?" Song Ziqing asked curiously.
“I am deeply impressed by Zhang Daqian’s paintings. His landscapes and figures are all painted very vividly,” Jones said.
"I also really like Zhang Daqian. His paintings have a unique charm that captivates the viewer. I have a few of his works here; would you like to come to my house this afternoon and have a good look at them?"
"By the way, I recently bought several paintings, including traditional Chinese paintings and oil paintings. I think those oil paintings are quite interesting." Song Ziqing smiled faintly.
As they were talking, the beef was already cooked. Song Ziqing picked up a piece, gently blew on it to cool it down, and put it in her mouth, savoring the rich flavor.
"Mmm, it's really delicious!" she exclaimed with satisfaction.
Jones also tasted a shrimp dumpling from his clear broth pot and nodded in agreement.
Next, they tried other ingredients, each bringing a different texture and flavor.
This lunch not only allowed Jones to taste authentic Chinese cuisine, but also gave him a deeper understanding of Chinese culture.
"Song, I feel like I've fallen in love with life in Hong Kong. There's so much delicious food here. Not only is your family's restaurant delicious, but there are also many other kinds of food."
I've been in Hong Kong for almost two months now, and I've never eaten the same food twice. I really admire your Chinese food culture!
"If you go to mainland China, you can eat the same food for a year and still not eat the same dishes twice. Our country has eight major cuisines, each with its own unique flavor, from spicy and savory to fresh and fragrant."
We also have 56 ethnic groups, each with its own unique cuisine. Not only do the foods differ, but the folk cultures of each ethnic group are also distinct.
Due to differences in seasons, climate, and environment, each region in the east, west, south, and north has its own unique cuisine.
Song Ziqing enthusiastically introduced Jones to the food culture of mainland China, which drew repeated exclamations of amazement from Jones.
"I really want to go to mainland China!" Jones said longingly.
"You must go and experience it if you have the chance!" Song Ziqing said with a smile. "By the way, are you still coming to my house to look at paintings this afternoon?"
“Of course!” Jones replied eagerly. “I’m already really looking forward to those paintings. I’ll come straight to your house to see them after I finish my afternoon classes.”
After finishing their meal, Song Ziqing and Jones left the restaurant together.
They agreed to meet again in the afternoon to admire the exquisite paintings and further explore the charm of art.
In the afternoon, when Jones arrived home, he found that Song Ziqing had been painting in the studio for several hours.
At this moment, she is completely focused on painting her new work, a painting depicting the scenery of Shanghai's river and sea.
Jones was captivated by the painting and couldn't look away for a long time.
"Song, your work is truly fascinating!" Jones exclaimed sincerely. "It possesses both the meticulous realism of oil painting and the ingenious integration of freehand elements from traditional Chinese painting. These two seemingly contradictory styles have achieved such harmony in your work, which is truly delightful!"
Jones knew that Song Ziqing's painting skills far surpassed those of the average beginner in oil painting.
Each of her works displays a unique style and traces, as if it has been given her own soul.
For those familiar with her, this is her masterpiece at a glance.
Jones deeply admired Song Ziqing's artistic talent; she could almost feel Song Ziqing's love and dedication to art in his paintings. Every stroke and line was infused with her heart and soul, containing her rich emotions and profound thoughts.
Looking at this stunning painting of rivers and seas, Jones couldn't help but imagine Song Ziqing's focus and perseverance during the creative process.
She must have spent a lot of time and energy to truly experience the charm of Shanghai in order to present it so vividly on the canvas.
This painting filled Jones with anticipation for Song Ziqing's future; she believed that this talented young painter would surely achieve even greater success on his artistic journey.
This painting of rivers and seas will become an important milestone in Song Ziqing's artistic career.
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