Chapter 47: High-profile Debut

  As the year-end approaches, the weather is getting colder and colder. The north wind blows into the city all day long, and the sky in the north is dark and gloomy. Looking at this scene, it's likely that a big snowfall is coming again. The stray dogs that usually roam the streets are almost nowhere to be seen, except for two mangy yellow dogs lying on the edge of the sheep stall near Yaya's place, guarding it. They don't know what's going on either. Today, there seem to be more people at Yaya's sheep stall than usual. Who cares? The more people, the better. Maybe someone won't finish their food, and then they won't go hungry. Thinking about that mutton, it smells so good! The mangy dog's eyes stare fixedly at those people.

  "Have you heard? Fulaiguesthouse has launched new food again." - Passerby A.

  "I've heard it all before, what you're saying happened a few days ago. Now, the latest news is..." Passerby B paused, looked around and saw that people nearby were showing interest and perking up their ears, then took another sip of his soup, shook his head and coughed, but didn't continue speaking.

  "Come on, come on! What's the latest news?"

  "Hmm!" Passerby B cleared his throat: "At the Rich Come Inn, Xiaodong's place, you can get a pot of wine just by listening to interesting stories..." He said, staring at the mutton soup in front of him.

  "That's it, I'll treat you to a bowl of mutton soup." Yu Jie couldn't help but feel a bit fed up. Isn't this all about Xiaodongjia's business? I know more about it than any of you, but he helped us out, and if not for Xiaodongjia's guidance and later entrusting the task to Fugui Inn, we would still be living our simple lives as before. And I wouldn't have been gossiping behind your backs either. Everything you said was spread from my side, how could you have known about these things if Xiaodongjia hadn't specifically come to explain? And yet you dare to show off in front of me? But to avoid suspicion, it's better for someone else to say this instead. You're lucky, kid.

  "I told you, this wind is really cold. You, come over here and help me block the wind, so it's not too loud and everyone can hear clearly." Passerby B pointed at Passerby A. Passerby A reluctantly stood in the wind: "Hurry up and speak, even Xiaodong's family isn't as arrogant as you."

  "I can say that, I heard that the food previously launched by Fuli Inn was all written by Xiao Dongjia." Passerby B slowly took another sip of hot mutton soup before slowly saying this.

  "Nonsense! Xiaodong is still so young, how can he make such delicious food?" Some people didn't believe it.

  "It's just that, he needs to learn the skills, unless Xiao Dong started learning from his mother's womb, but who would have taught him? His master can't be an imperial chef, that's highly unlikely."

  "It's like that, it's about teaching, and finding someone with a good foundation to teach, right? That Master Kuang is skilled at making delicious food, it should be his handwriting."

  "Nonsense, when Master Kuang wasn't here, Fuli Inn already had mud eel and taro, as well as that dish with the sauce, it definitely wasn't him."

  "It wasn't Master Kuang, then who could it be? It definitely wasn't Master Wang. I had tasted a bowl of the first batch of loach taro at Fuli Inn that day, and it was much more delicious than what Master Wang made later."

  "Not Master Kuang, nor Master Wang, could it really be Young Dong?"

  "This I can attest to." Just as Yihua was about to make his move, he grabbed a ladle and tapped on the large clay pot of hot mutton soup. The crowd immediately left bystander B and gathered around, and bystander A, who had been allowed to block the wind earlier, felt a bit resentful. With a burst of strength, he pushed bystander B to the windy side.

  He didn't dare to sell out, this was a task entrusted by Xiaodong's family and he had to do his best. He also cleared his throat: "I suppose everyone knows that I, Yihuo, have been in Jian'an for many years, running this mutton soup stall, usually just barely enough to fill my belly, with little left over. Now look at me." After finishing speaking, he turned his body around with a somewhat complacent expression.

  "It's just a new robe, what's there to show off about?" passerby B said with a smirk.

  "Why don't you wear your new clothes and try it out? If you're not chased by your wife all over the streets, then there's a ghost." Retorted passerby A. As soon as he said this, everyone around who knew that passerby B was most afraid of his wife burst into loud laughter. Passerby B's face turned bright red, and it was unclear whether it was from the cold or embarrassment: "What are you making such a fuss about? Let's just listen to what old man He has to say."

  "This brother is right, normally when people go out to do things, they are reluctant to wear new clothes, and always choose the ones that have been mended and worn before. Just two years ago, I, Yikui, only had new clothes to wear during festivals and holidays, but now, even on ordinary days, I can wear new clothes, why is this?" Yikui pointed proudly at the sheep soup in the ceramic pot: "It's all because of this."

  It wasn't until then that everyone remembered, two years ago, the mutton soup made by Yaoyue was not as delicious: "Could it be that this is Xiaodong's family teaching you, Old Yao?"

  "That's right, it all started two years ago when Xiaodong fell ill. At that time, he hadn't met Sun Sanlang yet. He fell ill at the entrance of the broken Taoist temple on the front street and didn't even see a doctor, but recovered on his own. So I thought to myself, this must be the blessing of the Long Life Heaven for Xiaodong, so I left him a bowl of mutton soup every day. Later, when Xiaodong got better, he taught me some tricks, and now look at me, I'm living a comfortable life! After the New Year, if you want to drink mutton soup, go to Li's shop on the front street, I've rented it out and will open for business after the New Year. Everyone should come and give us some support!"

  "No wonder, I said that the Li family's shop had been closed for many days, but why were there so many people bustling around these two days? It turns out that you old man bought it, and it seems that you've saved up quite a bit over the past two years."

  "That's right, you also take a look at what kind of person Xiao Dongjia is. He usually smiles and I said why Xiao Dongjia always likes to sit on Lao Tou's stall, it turns out that this is the case. Lao Tou, you are also a good person with good fortune, in this life you will be blessed."

  In just two days, the entire Jian'an City knew that all the new dishes at Fuli Inn were almost all created by that smiling young man. People said that this little Dong must be a star from heaven who has descended to earth, only unfortunately not Wenchang Star, but probably some other star god in charge of culinary arts.

  It was Sun Mingqian's intention to spread the news, but according to Wang Kuang's original intention, he still wanted to wait for a year or two, until his relationship with the Lin family took another step forward, and after Wang Ling had established himself in the state government. However, Sun Mingqian said that now that Wang Kuang has registered as a resident and the injustice of Wang Village has been redressed, as one of the three remaining people from Wang Village, Wang Kuang is also considered a minor celebrity in Jian'an, which provides a certain level of safety guarantee, and others will not dare to treat him lightly. Moreover, releasing the news early would attract the Lin family's attention earlier, which would be more beneficial for deepening the relationship between the two parties. Besides, judging from the current situation, the Lin family is also a decent business family, and they should only try to win Wang Kuang over without resorting to underhanded tactics. With these several layers of meaning, it was natural for Wang Kuang to take the initiative.

  Lin Xuanmiao also heard the rumor and came to the inn to ask, after getting a definite answer from Sun Zhanggui, he returned with mixed emotions to report back to Lin Zhushi. Before leaving, he only said one sentence to Wang Kuang: You're really very seductive.

  Wang Kuang knew what he was saying, and just shrugged apologetically, smiling as he handed him a package wrapped in oil paper, saying it was for Lin Zhubu to drink with.

  The package contains fried peanuts mixed with salt, a simple snack that is the best match for wine. Foodies who love to drink have almost all fallen in love with it at first bite, and a small plate of peanuts costs only two cents. Add a pot of warm water and a few grains of peanuts, and you can sit in the Fuli Inn for half a day, watching people come and go outside, sipping a small mouthful of wine, and then throwing a few peanuts into your mouth. The peanuts crackle under the action of the teeth, and then the fragrance follows the wine into the belly, what a comfortable thing! In the words of the young master of Fuli Inn, sitting alone, quietly, smiling to see the world's hundred flavors. Look, how knowledgeable, worthy of being a star descending to the mortal world, although it is only a star of eating and drinking, but also on an equal footing with the star of Wenqu!

  Huang Biejiu occasionally comes to the inn, but always in disguise. Ordinary people rarely see him and can't recognize him, only knowing that this suddenly appearing thin old man seems very friendly to Xiaodongjia, but has a kind of dignity towards others. They don't know which family's noble he is, probably also coming to see Xingjun. The guests who come to eat think about it and enter the inn, always being affected by Wang Kuang, smiling slightly at each other. Those who are acquainted with each other, separated by one or two tables, raise their cups from afar to toast and quietly enjoy themselves.

  On the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, Li Dabao returned to the inn early in the morning. According to himself, he was dragged out of bed by his old mother in the middle of the night and sent over, saying that the inn usually had a lot of work to do before the New Year's Eve, and she was afraid that there wouldn't be enough people to help with the preparations. However, Wang Ling is probably still on his way to Chang'an now, so the three brothers won't be able to spend their first New Year together. When Wang Ling left, Wang Rong was tearfully reluctant to let him go, but Wang Ling himself took it lightly: "There will be many days for us brothers to be together in the future. What's most urgent right now is Er Lang's matter; others can't be trusted."

  Now that Li Dabao was back, Wang Kuang simply arranged for Sun Zhanggui to send someone to pick up Li Dabao's elderly mother. They also found a small courtyard nearby and had the inn staff tidy it up in no time. All the household items were arranged properly, and the New Year's goods were prepared perfectly. By the time they brought back Li Dabao's elderly mother, the place looked just like home. The mother and son stood in the courtyard, looking at their new home, somewhat at a loss for words, and kept bowing to each other.

  Sun Er naturally wouldn't let go of this opportunity to educate these newcomers, so he put on a serious face and began lecturing the three high school students: "See? As long as you do things with dedication, Xiao Dong will not forget about you. Put away your petty thoughts and red eyes, focus on doing your job well, and you'll have a house and a wife to worry about."

  Division

  It's not that the gray sparrow is incompetent, but it went to apply for Sanjiang, maybe because of insufficient recommendation, or maybe because of insufficient words, and even more likely because of Shiwang itself. The result was not passed. Ashamed. Sanjiang is nothing, Gray Sparrow will still write well about Shiwang with all its heart.

  Still asking for recommendations, votes and collections, your support is the motivation of gray sparrow.

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