madnovel Chapter 69 Time to Eat
Chapter 69 Time to Eat
Cheng Zheng took a deep breath, then calmly locked the car: "It's hot outside. Let's go."
Lin Shuyao shielded her forehead with her hand, looked up at the sky, and it did seem quite sunny.
She smiled slightly and looked away.
The roast duck restaurant ahead was bustling with customers. Lin Shuyao was following Cheng Zheng and was about to go in when she saw Cheng Zheng walk straight past the restaurant and continue walking forward.
"Aren't we going to eat at that restaurant?" Lin Shuyao asked curiously.
Cheng Zheng continued walking: "I'll take you to another one."
"oh."
Lin Shuyao followed him, turned into an alley, and then wandered around before finally stopping at the door of a house deep inside the alley.
The old, vermilion wooden door looks like a residence. A simple solid wood plaque hangs above the door, bearing the words "Yang's Private Kitchen," the characters of which are somewhat faded and show signs of age.
Cheng Zheng pushed open the door as if he knew the way well.
Lin Shuyao followed her inside and discovered that it was a completely different world inside.
There was a courtyard in the middle, with four square tables in the middle of the courtyard. They were quite clean, but no one was sitting at them.
Five side rooms are arranged around the courtyard, with curtains hanging at the entrances of each room. Laughter and conversation can be heard from inside, suggesting that diners are enjoying their meals.
A middle-aged man dressed in a navy blue work uniform lifted the curtain and came out. Seeing Cheng Zheng, his face immediately lit up with a smile: "Little Zheng's here!"
Cheng Zheng nodded: "Uncle Yang."
The man called Uncle Yang sighed apologetically, "Unfortunately, all the rooms are full today, so you'll have to make do outside."
"It's alright." Cheng Zheng casually picked a square table in the courtyard, pulled out a chair and sat down, then pulled out the chair next to him and gestured with his chin to Lin Shuyao, "Sit down."
Seeing his actions, Uncle Yang glanced at Lin Shuyao, his eyes visibly brightening. He deftly grabbed the teapot from the table, poured two cups of tea, placed them in front of the two, and looked at Cheng Zheng with a smile:
"Xiao Zheng, aren't you going to introduce him?"
"This is Shen Qing, a colleague from our factory. This is Uncle Yang, my father's old comrade-in-arms."
Cheng Zheng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then introduced the teacups to both sides.
Lin Shuyao sweetly greeted, "Hello, Uncle Yang."
"Hello, hello, what does Xiao Shen like to eat? We have some local specialties..."
Uncle Yang enthusiastically recited the names of the dishes.
Lin Shuyao looked at Cheng Zheng: "You decide, I'll listen to you."
"Then it'll be the same as always," Cheng Zheng said to Uncle Yang.
"Okay!"
Uncle Yang turned around and quickly went into the kitchen next door.
A moment later, she brought over two small dishes: one of pickled garlic and the other of homemade pickled radish peels. She placed them on the table with a smile: "These are for you, have some to whet your appetite. The roast duck will be ready soon, I'll go in and get started. You're lucky to have come, you don't need to wait."
Uncle Yang went back into the kitchen.
Lin Shuyao held the hot tea, sipping it slowly. She blinked her bright, almond-shaped eyes and looked at Cheng Zheng: "Do you often eat here?"
"Occasionally."
"So, have you mentored other female colleagues as well?" Lin Shuyao put down her tea, tucked a stray hair behind her ear with her fingertips, pursed her red lips, and asked casually.
Before Cheng Zheng could answer, the kitchen curtain was lifted, and Uncle Yang came out carrying freshly steamed noodles. He overheard the question and answered for him.
"No, there's no Xiao Shen! Besides his sister, you're the first girl this kid brought here!"
"Really?" Lin Shuyao's smile widened as she looked at Cheng Zheng.
Cheng Zheng awkwardly looked away, but did not deny it.
Uncle Yang placed the dough on the table, glanced at the two of them with a smile, and then went back into the kitchen.
Lin Shuyao asked curiously, "Uncle Yang, has this shop been open for a long time?"
Cheng Zheng: "Yes. Uncle Yang used to be in the army. He injured his back during training and was transferred to the cooking squad. Later, his back injury relapsed, and he couldn't handle such a heavy workload, so he retired from the army and came back to open this restaurant with his family. It's been open for about ten years."
"If it can stay open for so long, the cooking skills must be amazing." Lin Shuyao looked at the kitchen with some anticipation.
Uncle Yang came out carrying a large tray.
A whole, glossy, date-red roasted duck, served with shredded scallions, cucumber strips, hawthorn strips, and two bowls of sauce.
After setting the food on the table, Uncle Yang picked up a slicing knife and began slicing the duck with practiced ease.
Thin slices of duck meat with golden, crispy skin are neatly arranged on a plate, emitting a wonderful aroma.
"Xiao Shen, the roasted duck I make is different from the ones outside. I use the old method, roasting it with fruitwood. The skin is crispy, the meat is tender, and it's not greasy at all."
"Mmm, it smells much better than the roast duck from Quanjude! It looks so delicious, no wonder it was roasted by you, Uncle Yang!"
Lin Shuyao praised him enthusiastically, her expression sincere.
Uncle Yang beamed with joy: "Not only roast duck, but my stir-fries are also superb. Back in the army..."
Uncle Yang talked on and on, which Lin Shuyao listened to with great interest, nodding admiringly from time to time. Then, she picked up a pancake with her chopsticks, rolled up a piece of roast duck, and put it in her mouth. After tasting it, her eyes widened in surprise, and she gave a thumbs up: "Wow, Uncle Yang, this is the best roast duck I've ever eaten!! The sauce is also very special, sweet but not greasy, it's really delicious!"
"Really? Hehe, as long as it's delicious, come again often. Uncle won't charge you, it's free!" Uncle Yang, who was in his fifties, was praised like a young boy, his ears turned red, and he didn't know what to do with his hands and feet.
Who doesn't like being praised by a beautiful woman?
And the praise was so genuine.
When Uncle Yang returned to the kitchen, Cheng Zheng looked at Lin Shuyao and said indifferently, "I didn't realize you were so good at flattery."
Lin Shuyao raised her eyebrows, her almond-shaped eyes widened, her lips were red and her teeth were white, and her little face was full of lively expression: "How can this be called flattery? This is called providing emotional value, and I'm telling the truth! Uncle Yang's roast duck is really delicious, otherwise you wouldn't have brought me here specifically to eat it."
"Sweet talk." Cheng Zheng curled his lips and commented with four words.
"Hehe." Lin Shuyao laughed playfully, her lips curving into a sweet smile. Her skin was so fair and delicate in the sunlight that it was almost translucent. Her nose was small and upturned, and her smile caused it to wrinkle slightly, making her look so bright and lively that it was hard to look away.
Cheng Zheng, his mouth dry, looked away, picked up the rough porcelain teacup on the table, and took a sip.
"Cheng Zheng, is there a place to wash your hands here?" Lin Shuyao had just used chopsticks to roll up a pancake, but chopsticks were still not very convenient, so she still had to use her hands to roll up the roast duck.
"Yes." Cheng Zheng got up and led her around to the backyard.
There is a small pond in the backyard, and soap for washing hands is placed on a stone stool next to it.
This private restaurant is doing well for a reason. Not only is everything kept spotless, but they also use high-quality materials, such as porcelain tableware, unlike some restaurants that use the cheapest earthenware.
Even handwashing is now provided with soap, but a bar of soap costs 2 cents, and nobody is willing to give that to their guests.
"Uncle Yang is quite good at business."
Lin Shuyao wet her hands and tiptoed to reach for the soap on the stone block.
Cheng Zheng casually rolled up his sleeves: "The guests who come to eat are either comrades-in-arms or friends, they're all family."
The implication is that it's normal to be generous to your own people.
Lin Shuyao nodded in agreement, finally touched the bar of soap, took it off and rinsed it under the tap before applying it to her hands. Just as she was about to hand it to Cheng Zheng, her fingertips suddenly slipped, and the soap flew out of her palm like an eel, tracing an arc in the air.
"oops!"
Lin Shuyao exclaimed in surprise, stretching out her arm to chase the soap's trajectory, her upper body tilting to the right, but her feet remained rooted to the spot.
She missed the soap, but the sudden movement caused her to lose her balance completely, causing her to fall to the right. By the time she realized what was happening, it was too late. She only managed to let out a soft "Ah!" Her soap-covered hands flailed wildly in the air before she tilted and tumbled to the right.
Just as she was about to fall into the stone-lined pool, Cheng Zheng reacted extremely quickly, turning around almost instantly. He swiftly reached out with one hand and firmly grasped her slender waist, steadily supporting her entire weight.
He used his large hand to straighten her body, but Lin Shuyao hadn't even stood properly yet, her hands were covered in foam, and she couldn't hold onto his body to maintain her balance. In her panic, she wrapped her arms around his neck and fell into his arms, her chest hitting his hard chest, and her red lips just touching his collarbone.
She threw herself into his arms.
Fortunately, the person has stabilized.
She exhaled, still shaken. Cheng Zheng felt a tingling sensation spread from his collarbone throughout his body. His legs went weak for a moment, and he staggered back half a step. The person in his arms also fell forward with him. He subconsciously raised his hand and placed his large hand on her waist.
His large hands fit perfectly into the hollows on either side of her slender waist.
Feeling the touch on their waist and hands, both of them were stunned for a moment.
Lin Shuyao tilted her head back, her watery eyes still lingering with fear, like a startled fawn. Her fair face was flushed with a faint blush, and her cherry-like lips were slightly parted, revealing a hint of pearly teeth and the tender color inside, making her appear even more beautiful and charming.
Her pure, timid, and beautiful appearance was breathtaking.
Cheng Zheng looked at her face, his breath hitched almost imperceptibly, and his large hand supporting her slender waist tightened. The soft touch under his palm was clearly felt through the fabric, as if he could crush it with the slightest force.
The soap fell to the ground with a "plop," and the faucet was running.
Time seemed to stand still at that moment.
Several seconds passed before they both came to their senses. Cheng Zheng released his grip as if he had been burned, and Lin Shuyao steadied herself, her gaze wandering, her pearly teeth lightly biting her lip, looking somewhat shy and timid.
Although she had been actively trying to win Cheng Zheng's heart, she hadn't really put much thought into it before. But in the instant their eyes met just now, she clearly felt that her feelings for him were a little different, and she had fallen for him a tiny bit.
She recalled the moment they had locked eyes. His features were cold and dark, his gaze deep and unfathomable. He had a high nose and thin, diamond-shaped lips. His appearance actually matched her aesthetic standards quite well.
While Lin Shuyao was biting her lip and lost in thought, Cheng Zheng had already turned to the side, picked up the soap, and washed his hands as well.
Just as I was about to turn off the tap, I glanced to the side and saw her still standing there: "Aren't you going to wash?"
"Oh." Lin Shuyao snapped out of her daze, smiled at him, and put her hand under the tap.
After washing their hands, the two sat back down at the table.
Lin Shuyao rolled up a roast duck roll and handed it to Cheng Zheng, looking at him with bright eyes: "Here you are. It's good that you reacted quickly and caught me in time, otherwise I would have fallen very badly."
Cheng Zheng took the tortilla roll she handed him, his fingertips inadvertently touching hers. He paused slightly, as if an electric current had passed through him, and his heart pounded wildly. "Be careful next time."
He muttered something under his breath and put the wrap in his mouth.
Lin Shuyao hummed twice, rolled up another roast duck roll, brought it to her lips, took a bite, and chewed slowly. She ate very gracefully, her cheeks puffing out as she chewed, her eyebrows and eyes curving, looking very satisfied. It was a pleasing sight to watch, and anyone eating with her would enjoy their meal more.
Cheng Zheng took a couple of bites, but his gaze kept involuntarily falling on her. When he saw that she wanted to take a pancake, he pushed the steamer basket containing the pancake toward her. When he saw that she wanted to dip it in sauce, he quietly placed the sauce dish over to her and put the small dish of condiments next to her so that she could easily take it.
Seeing her chubby cheeks and how much she enjoyed eating, his appetite seemed to improve as well, and he ate several roast duck rolls in a row.
A breeze ruffled her hair, and a strand clung to her cheek. Lin Shuyao's hands were covered in something, making it inconvenient to brush the strand away directly. So she used her little finger to pick at it, but even after two tries, a few strands remained, tickling her face. She frowned slightly in annoyance, turning her head to look at Cheng Zheng, her almond-shaped eyes showing a hint of annoyed charm.
"Cheng Zheng, your hair is stuck to my face, can you help me remove it?"
Cheng Zheng pulled out a tissue from the table to wipe his hands, then leaned over and extended his clean fingers, his calloused fingertips touching her soft, smooth skin. He repeated this several times before brushing away a few unruly strands of hair from her cheek.
"alright."
He withdrew his hand, sat up straight, and the fingers that had just touched her cheek curled up almost imperceptibly.
"Thank you, this is for you," Lin Shuyao said, feeding him the freshly rolled pancake. Seeing that he kept his lips pursed and didn't move, she urged him sweetly, "Open your mouth."
"I can do it myself." He reached out and took it from her hand, his ears turning slightly red.
This time, Lin Shuyao realized it wasn't because of the heat, but because she became famous.
Her lips curled up almost imperceptibly. Instead of pulling her hand back, she pushed the crepe roll forward, touching his lips, and said, "No~".
"Open your mouth, ah—"
Her almond-shaped eyes were curved, her chin was slightly raised, and she had a spoiled and sweet appearance. Her voice sounded like it could be squeezed to release water.
Cheng Zheng's eyes darkened, his expression a mixture of indulgence and helplessness: "Don't be ridiculous."
Lin Shuyao tilted her head slightly: "So, are you going to eat it or not?"
Cheng Zheng took her hand and bit it with his lips. Lin Shuyao released her hand, a triumphant smile on her face. Looking at his noticeably red earlobes, she waited for him to finish chewing and swallow, then deliberately asked, "Cheng Zheng, your ears are red again. Are you too hot?"
She hadn't noticed before that his ears turned red so easily.
Cheng Zheng coughed twice, grabbed his teacup, took a sip of water, and said with an unchanged expression, "Hmm, it's too hot."
Lin Shuyao didn't call him out on it, but she knew in her heart that he wasn't indifferent to her. If he wasn't, why would his ears be red?
A man who is secretly passionate.
Lin Shuyao curled her lips and said nothing. Suddenly, she heard the courtyard gate being kicked open. She turned around and saw Su Wan walking in with Hu Zi.